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English Language & Composition

Master Teacher: Kristen Slone
Duration:
Yearlong course offered in fall/spring (32 weeks).
Suggested High School Credit Value: 1 credit.
Suggested Grade Level: 11th grade level and up.
Tuition: $746 for HSLDA Members / $829 for non-members

Description: AP English Language & Composition prepares students for reading and writing at the college level. The first semester guides students through the writing process of a 200-level college course. Students then practice these techniques in a 5-7 page research paper. The second semester uses this deeper understanding of high-level writing to prepare students for the specific challenges AP English Language & Composition exam, culminating in a full practice AP exam. Assignments use a repeating 3-part cycle to support student success: instruction and information, application and practice, and feedback and fine-tuning. This cycle shows students how the instruction applies directly to their personal writing styles, strengths, and challenges.

Watch a sample clip of an Academy live class session.

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Live Online Class Session Schedule

Dates: August 19, 2024 - May 2, 2025

Class Section

Weekly Meeting Time

Instructors

Section 1 Mondays, 10:00–11:30 a.m. Eastern

Mrs. Kristen Slone

Section 2 Tuesdays, 9:00–10:30 a.m. Eastern

Mrs. Kristen Slone

Section 3 Wednesdays, 2:30–4:00 p.m. Eastern

Mrs. Lisha Coles

Additional class times may be added to the schedule later in the registration period. Please note: all class times are subject to the availability of each individual instructor. See this page for more information. If you have questions, please call 540-338-8290 or email academy@hslda.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • Students Will Learn

    • How reading and writing contribute to an informed biblical worldview
    • How to use advanced vocabulary, grammar, and structures
    • How to communicate effectively to diverse academic audiences
    • How to accurately infer an author’s purpose and test the assumed values of written messages
    • How to understand, research, and respond to college-level written assignments using argument, rhetorical analysis, and synthesis
    • How to succeed on the AP English Language & Composition exam and other standardized exams requiring academic essays
  • How much homework is in English Language & Composition?

    We estimate that the course workload will take 10+ hours per week. During a typical week in this course, students will complete the following:

    • 60–90 minutes of live class instruction
    • 5–10 minutes of video or audio lecture
    • 1–2 short writing assignments, which may include half-page or one-page essays, paragraph rewrites, timed essay writing, essay analysis quizzes, or discussion forum posts
    • 30–40 pages of textbook reading
    • 10 pages of nonfiction selections for reading comprehension and analysis
    • 1 vocabulary quiz
    One key feature is a required essay at the start of the course, graded only as complete/incomplete, but given detailed instructor feedback. The goal of this assignment is to show students how to apply instruction in their own writing. At the end of the course, students rewrite or revise this first essay to serve as their final essay for the course, allowing them to observe the growth of their reading and writing skills. Other assignments throughout the year include vocabulary quizzes that prepare students for the multiple choice section of the AP exam, and six timed practice AP essays assessed in the style of the AP exam.
  • What books will I use in English Language & Composition?

    The official AP®  English Language & Composition Booklist is now available. In the official booklist, you will find information about the editions, book descriptions, and the reasons why HSLDA Online Academy selected these books.

    You can order course materials for competitive prices through the Christianbook.com bookstore. Use the Textbook Finder to locate the required resources for your courses. Please note that while most books are available through Christianbook.com, some titles are not carried and will need to be purchased elsewhere.

  • Prerequisites

    This is a rigorous, college-level course. To succeed, students should already have strong reading and writing skills. We recommend that students complete at least one advanced high school English course before enrolling. Please visit the College Board page about AP English Language & Composition for more information about the material and skills students will study in the course and will need to master for the AP exam in this subject.

  • What is a Live Online Class Session in Language and Composition?

    In every HSLDA Academy course, students meet weekly with their instructor and classmates in an online classroom for additional teaching, discussion, Q&A, or group activities. The class sessions are interactive and are conducted using a web meeting software with video, audio, chat, and application sharing capabilities.

    Scheduled, real-time sessions in the online classroom are not the only form of instruction available in a HSLDA Online Academy course, but are offered in addition to lectures or other instructional materials that students are able to access online at their convenience.

    When they register, students will need to select a particular class section and live class meeting time. Additional class sections may be added to the schedule at a later point in the course registration period. Registered students will be notified of any changes to the live session schedule.

  • What if I have a schedule conflict with listed Language and Composition class times?

    All live class sessions are recorded for later viewing. While it is recommended that students attend each live class session, students can make arrangements with their instructors to watch the recordings and receive full participation credit.

    Students should contact their instructor at the start of their course to inform the instructor of any foreseen schedule conflicts.