(376) AP English Language: Analyzing How Word Choice Reflects a Writer’s Understanding of Audience

Introduction

The AP English Language online session focuses on how an argument considers an audience's beliefs, values, or needs, led by Mrs. The Lightest from North High School in Naperville, Illinois.

Course Overview

  • The course spans Units 8 and 9 from March 25 to April 7.

  • While these units won't be directly assessed, they are crucial for developing skills as a reader, writer, and thinker that will be foundational for the exam.

  • These classes will address key skills relevant to the AP exam, despite the uncertainty of the exact format or questions.

Recent Lesson Recap

  • The previous lesson focused on earning the sophistication point in rhetorical analysis.

  • Key points involved contextualizing and understanding rhetorical choices, as students often address situations in a too general manner.

  • The main text discussed was a letter written by Abigail Adams to her son, John Quincy Adams.

Key Elements of the Letter

  • Abigail Adams expresses pride and love for her son while encouraging him during his travels abroad.

  • John Quincy Adams is facing challenges, including war, tyranny, and desolation, during his experiences in France.

  • The governor advises him to understand and witness these hardships to grow in character and develop qualities of a statesman.

Analyzing Responses to the Prompt

  • The lesson included a summary task where students synthesized their understanding of the letter's message into coherent sentences.

  • Example summaries showcased how some responses were too generic, lacking nuance.

Sample Responses

  • Sample B: "Though John Quincy Adams has encountered struggles on his journey abroad, his caring mother composes her letter to reinforce that the challenges he is facing are worthwhile experiences and will benefit him."

  • Sample C: "While Abigail Adams acknowledges John Quincy Adams' reluctance to travel abroad, she writes a letter reinforcing that the challenges he is facing will ultimately make him a better thinker, statesman, and citizen, which is what she desires of her son."

Reflection

  • Students are encouraged to compare their own written responses to Samples B and C, evaluating which aligns better with their understanding of the rhetorical situation.