AP English Language focuses on developing students' writing and analytical skills through the study of various texts and rhetorical strategies.
Every text has a purpose, and most non-fiction texts in AP English Language are making some kind of argument. Your job is to figure out what that argument is and how the author builds it.
Break down the text into its basic parts: thesis, support, and strategies. Look for the "why" behind each move—why did the author include this fact, or use that tone?
Learning to analyze arguments sharpens your critical thinking. It helps you evaluate news articles, advertisements, or political speeches in everyday life.
Identifying the central claim in an editorial and evaluating the evidence used.
Explaining how an author tailors their message for a teenage audience.
Analyzing argument and purpose helps you understand and critique what you read.