Pre-AP English II

This year you will be expected to think and work on a level that will prepare you for success in college-level work.  Pre-AP English II students are expected to develop skills necessary for success on the AP English Language (11th grade) and AP English Literature (12th Grade) exams.  Pre-AP English II students must be well-read citizen scholars and are more likely to succeed in AP Language and AP Literature if they challenge themselves to read a greater variety of works and to practice a wide array of writing techniques. Do not expect busy work; instead, expect to participate in discussions and many informal and formal writing exercises as you work to develop the following skills:

1.    Thinking Skills: Rather than relying on just remembering and understanding facts and details, you will be expected to analyze, evaluate, apply, and create. These skills should prove valuable not only in your academic life, but also in the way you make connections and extract meaning from your life experiences beyond the classroom.

2.    Close Reading: Rather than reading just well enough to regurgitate facts on a test or quiz, you will be expected to read with a critical eye, examining the varied texts we will use by habitually looking at each line, what is between the lines, and what is beyond the lines. You will be expected to analyze the author’s work, and to support assertions you make about the work with evidence found in the text.

3.    Grammar: Rather than relying on fill-in-the-blank worksheets to practice grammar, you will be expected to analyze how writers use language to serve their purpose. You will be expected to use Standard English conventions when writing, and to be aware of how your grammar can enhance or obscure meaning.

4.    Composition: Rather than relying on formulaic patterns of writing, you will be expected to experiment with a variety of forms depending on your purpose, topic, and audience. You will be expected to use your own distinctive voice and to learn from the models established by the authors you read. You will write often and fluently, and you will revise your writing, not only to correct errors, but also to enhance the impact of your writing upon its reader.

(Adapted from Laying the Foundation, A Resource and Planning Guide for Pre-AP* English Grade Ten.)