AP Exams (Advanced Placement) AP English and Literature Syllabus

AP English and Literature syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for AP English and Literature in AP Exams (Advanced Placement), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   AP English Language and Composition

   4 topics

   • Rhetorical Analysis
     • Speaker, audience, purpose, and context
     • Appeals: ethos, pathos, logos
     • Rhetorical strategies and devices
   • Argumentation
     • Claims, evidence, and reasoning
     • Building a defensible thesis
   • Synthesis Writing
     • Integrating multiple sources
     • Citation and attribution
   • Style and Composition
     • Syntax and diction
     • Tone and coherence
2. 2

   AP English Literature and Composition

   4 topics

   • Reading and Interpreting Prose Fiction
     • Character, setting, and narrative structure
     • Point of view
   • Reading and Interpreting Poetry
     • Figurative language and imagery
     • Meter, sound, and form
   • Literary Argument Essays
     • Thesis and line of reasoning
     • Evidence and commentary
   • Drama and Longer Works Analysis
3. 3

   Literary Analysis Skills

   4 topics

   • Theme and Symbolism
   • Tone, Mood, and Voice
   • Structure and Contrasts
   • Contextual and Comparative Analysis
4. 4

   Composition and Revision Process

   4 topics

   • Pre-writing and Outlining
   • Developing a Controlling Idea
   • Transitions and Cohesion
   • Editing for Grammar and Mechanics

AP English and Literature flashcards for AP Exams (Advanced Placement)

21 of 51 cards from the AP English and Literature deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In rhetorical analysis, what are the three Aristotelian appeals (rhetorical proofs)?

   Ethos (appeal to credibility/character), pathos (appeal to emotion), and logos (appeal to logic/reason).

2. What is the rhetorical situation, and what are its key elements?

   The context in which communication occurs, defined by SOAPS: Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, and Subject (plus exigence, the issue prompting the response).

3. What is the difference between diction and syntax?

   Diction is an author's word choice (connotation, formality, etc.); syntax is the arrangement and structure of words in sentences.

4. Define rhetoric.

   The art of effective or persuasive speaking and writing, especially the use of language to influence or persuade an audience.

5. What is a claim in argumentation, and what are its main types?

   A claim is the central arguable assertion. Types: claims of fact (what is true), value (what is good/bad), and policy (what should be done).

6. In the Toulmin model of argument, what are the claim, data, and warrant?

   Claim: the assertion being argued. Data (grounds): the evidence supporting it. Warrant: the underlying assumption or reasoning that connects the data to the claim.

7. What is a counterargument, and what is a rebuttal?

   A counterargument is an opposing viewpoint acknowledged by the writer; a rebuttal is the writer's response that refutes or limits that opposing view.

8. What is a concession in argumentation?

   Acknowledging that part of the opposing argument has merit, which builds credibility before refuting or qualifying the opposing view.

9. What is the purpose of synthesis writing on the AP exam?

   To combine and integrate multiple sources into a coherent argument that develops and supports the writer's own original position—not merely to summarize the sources.

10. In synthesis writing, how should sources be used to avoid mere summary?

    Sources should be cited and incorporated as evidence in service of the writer's own argument, with the writer commenting on and connecting them, rather than letting sources drive the essay.

11. What is the difference between summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting a source?

    Summarizing condenses the main idea in your words; paraphrasing restates a passage fully in your words; quoting reproduces the exact words in quotation marks with attribution.

12. What is a rhetorical (rhetorical strategies) and what are some common ones to identify in style analysis?

    Techniques authors use to achieve purpose, e.g., parallelism, repetition, juxtaposition, imagery, figurative language, anecdote, rhetorical questions, and shifts in tone.

13. What is parallelism (parallel structure)?

    The use of similar grammatical structures, words, or phrases to create balance, rhythm, and emphasis (e.g., 'I came, I saw, I conquered').

14. What is juxtaposition and why do writers use it?

    Placing two contrasting ideas, images, or characters close together to highlight differences and create meaning or emphasis.

15. What is the difference between denotation and connotation?

    Denotation is a word's literal dictionary meaning; connotation is the emotional or cultural association the word carries.

16. In prose fiction analysis, what is characterization, and what are its two types?

    The way an author reveals a character. Direct characterization tells the reader traits explicitly; indirect characterization shows traits through speech, thoughts, actions, and others' reactions (STEAL).

17. What are the main points of view in prose fiction?

    First person ('I'), second person ('you'), and third person—which can be limited (one character's mind), omniscient (all minds), or objective (no minds).

18. What is the difference between a flat and a round character?

    A flat character is one-dimensional with few traits; a round character is complex, fully developed, and often undergoes change.

19. What is the difference between a static and a dynamic character?

    A static character does not change over the course of the work; a dynamic character undergoes significant internal change or growth.

20. What is an unreliable narrator?

    A narrator whose credibility is compromised, so the reader cannot fully trust their account of events, requiring interpretation beyond what the narrator states.

21. In poetry, what is the difference between meter and rhythm?

    Meter is the regular, patterned arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables; rhythm is the actual flow of sound, which may vary from the strict meter.

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