AP Course:

AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION

Agile Milton

CONSULTANT: Agile Milton

Agile has taught AP English Language and Composition at Viera High School in Melbourne, Florida since 2014. Beginning as a first-year teacher in 1999, Agile has taught all levels of English and has become a Teacher Consultant for the National Writing Project under the auspices of the University of Central Florida and Bethune-Cookman University. After graduating from Rollins College as Class Valedictorian with her Bachelor's in English and then earning her Master’s in English Language Arts Education from the University of Central Florida, Agile became a National Board Certified Teacher. In 2019 she presented at the College Board’s Advanced Placement Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. Later on that year, she presented a one-day workshop at Texas Christian University for AP English Language teachers in Fort Worth. Currently, she serves as an AP Reader for the AP English Language and Composition exam. Currently, she serves as an AP Reader for the AP English Language and Composition exam and as a College Board AP Independent Contractor for Assessment Development.

Course Description:

This workshop is designed for AP English Language and Composition teachers. Using the College Board’s 2020 AP English Language Course and Exam Description, we will explore units and lessons proven to effectively teach the three primary skills required for success in the course: argument, rhetorical analysis, and synthesis. Participants will receive multiple sample composition exercises and assessments, including a comprehensive overview of AP Classroom resources (question banks, progress checks, etc) to use with their students. Because AP English Language students need many opportunities to discuss and interact with complex texts, participants will gain hands-on experience with rhetorical-reading approaches to various eclectic texts. We will conduct a simulated reading of recent Free-Response exam questions using the 6-point analytical scoring rubrics, and participants will receive full sets of sample student papers along with strategies for using those samples to inform teaching and learning.

Goals of the APSI:

  • To identify and apply the standards of the AP English Language and Composition exam to classroom practices

  • To explore and develop effective AP English Language units, lessons, and syllabi

  • To practice applying the scoring guidelines from the recent AP Exam to samples of student work

  • To expand participants’ repertoire of successful instructional strategies

  • To explore print and electronic resources such as AP Classroom and AP Daily

  • To develop a network of valuable colleagues

  • To promote the cross-disciplinary benefits of AP English Language curriculum AP Summer Institute Agenda

Day 1

  • Overview of AP English Language Course and Exam Description

  • Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Access

  • Exam Overview

  • Cross-Curricular Value of AP Language

  • Course Design

  • Syllabus Requirements

  • Unit and Lesson Planning

  • AP Classroom, AP Daily, AP Central

  • Examining Multiple-Choice Questions

Day 2

  • Argument

  • Exam Task: Free Response Question #3

  • Arguing Convincingly (units and lessons)

    • Fallacies: What Not to Do In an Argument

    • Establishing a Logical Line of Reasoning

    • Support, Rebut/Refute, or Qualify

  • Rhetorical Writing Strategies

    • Gathering Evidence: REHUGO

    • Historical Access of the American Dream (Year-long study)

  • 2023 AP Argument Essay Question

  • Sample Essay Reading with 6-Point Analytic Rubric

  • Featured Essay Assessment Technique

    • Color Coding

  • Unit Planning

  • Suggested Text: Teaching Arguments by Jennifer Fletcher

Day 3

  • Rhetorical Analysis

  • Exam Task: Free Response Question #2

  • Reading Rhetorically (units and lessons)

    • Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” and “Letter From Birmingham Jail”

      • Digging Deeper into Analyzing a Writer’s Line of Reasoning

  • Analytical Writing (units and lessons)

    • Rhetorical Precis

      • Air Asia Letter by Munyee Lau

    • STAARS-TEAR AND DIDLS Journals

    • Sample Outline

  • AP Rhetorical Analysis Essay Question

  • 2023 Rhetorical Analysis Prompt

  • Sample Essay Reading with 6-Point Analytic Rubric

  • Featured Essay Assessment Technique

    • Peer Evaluation

  • Unit Planning

  • Suggested Text: Writing Rhetorically by Jennifer Fletcher

Day 4

  • Synthesis

  • Exam Task: Free Response Question #1

    • Consider FRQ 1’s from 2021 and 2022

  • Collegiate Research Writing

    • Opposing Viewpoints and AllSides.com Research Project: Socratic Seminar and Essay Assessment: Pro, Con, Neutral/Qualifying Approaches to Topics

    • Sample Outline

      • Support, Rebut/Refute, or Qualify to what extent

  • AP Synthesis Essay Question

  • 2023 Synthesis Prompt

  • Sample Essay Reading with 6-Point Analytic Rubric

  • Featured Essay Assessment Technique

    • Stack the Deck

  • Larger Applications of Rhetoric

    • How to earn the coveted sophistication point

      • Discussing the topic within a broader context

  • Syllabus Development

  • Unit or Lesson Sharing

  • Wrap Up

  • Evaluations

  • Suggested Text: Teaching Literature Rhetorically by Jennifer Fletcher (for teachers who are mandated to integrate American Literature in their AP Language course)

    What APSI participants need to bring with them to the workshop

    Items you should have access to during the week include:

  • A laptop computer/ tablet

  • A favorite lesson or practice to share

  • A copy of your school’s academic calendar

  • A copy of the textbook you will be using next year (if you have access to one)

    Special note: I will do my best to address all participants’ needs and questions throughout the week, and I will encourage discussion of best practices within the scope of our work together.