How is the AP Literature class?

I cut and paste this from a post that I wrote that is very similar to your question, so I beg you pardon, for some of this information is not what you requested.

I'm going into AP Literature; we have to read "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" by Thomas C. Foster and "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" by Tom Stoppard.

From what I understand about this class, you will have to do in-depth analysis of literatures by obscure and famous authors. Research papers (in MLA) will most likely play a part, but mostly just essays that tare apart the books by looking at the authors meaning, hidden meanings, relations to other books, etc.

AP Language, the class before Lit, is all about improving your writing technique. You write on everything using analysis, descriptive, persuasive, research, etc. Debates are common practice in most language classes. Here some basic Lit groundwork is laid, as you do read a multitude of books for analysis, but you dissect them based on how they are written, instead of why. Plus, you learn how to write correctly on various topics.

The work loads are heavy; classes can read anywhere from ten-fifteen chapters a night (some chapters are not even five pages) or none at all. Plus you are timed on your essays- like 90 minutes for two essays or something like that. And you write a lot. Reading material ranges from tenth grade level to collegiate level. Your vocabulary is revamped a plethora of times. Most of your tests are essays to see how you grasp the material and to see how you write; some are multiple choice, and they are used to measure your knowledge of literary devices and reading cognition; but few are fill in the blank (with a word blank-depends on teacher), and those are mainly for vocabulary assimilation.
Some teachers give lots of in-depth homework, while others give none but reading assignments. Discussions pertaining to literature are common.

Take notes; everything in language/literature can relate to one another; study, for it is a lot of memorization; and if you have questions, ask.

That's all I got for ya. But remember, I base all of this on my experiences with my teachers and the course guide for my school-yours may be different in the details, but you won't get out of analyzing or writing.

Yeah, it's hard, but I'm not sure how hard. I've been dealing with workloads like this for a while, and I haven't actually taken the class yet, this is just what I know/infer.

Luck with your classes next year, (again, sorry for the extra information, but it's late and I really don't feel like re-typing all of this)

Greenlover17

I'm enrolled in AP lit this year, and we have yet to write a research paper. Also you do NOT have to take AP Lang before Lit. At my school Lit and Lang meet the two senior english req's so you can go AP in both, one, or neither. In my AP Lit class we are required to present a recitation of a passage of poetry or shakespeare once per quarter, in addition to weekly vocabulary tests, poetry responses, essays on works we study, as well as MWDS on each work we study. Group projects and AP Practice tests are also integral to the course. Lit is not a difficult class, but will require lots of reading (the ability to read and think critically), and lots of essay writing skills (which can be acquired in Lang or just inherent if you are good at writing). I strongly recommend Lit as it is a fun class, and really helps you to understand better reading/thinking skills.

I adore AP Lit. I'm not sure if you're an English nerd like me, but it's so great. I was incredibly above average before, and hadn't learned anything new from an English class in three years. So I was skeptical about it.

I've learned so much. Honestly, the learning curve is crazy. There are some kids who just don't learn, but the majority just keep revising and learning.

You should really take it. You'll be amazed at how much your writing and reading skills improve.

Yeah I used to hate Shakespeare before AP Lit, and now I appreciate it a lot more. My teacher is also really good and everyone he's taught has gotten at least a 3 or 4 on the exam.