Two wonderful years
Posted by Campbell Collins on 05/13/2023These two English classes have been the best courses I've ever taken. I've learned and grown so much from each class. I'm terribly sad that I won't get to wake up to a morning message each day next year! If you'll be taking AP Lit or Lang next year, I'm jealous—you have such a treat in store for you.
I've been pushed to write and think in ways I couldn't even have imagined two years ago. I still can't quite believe that I wrote a 2,000-word paper on theology, which is a topic I wouldn't even have considered attempting on my own. I had such fun book clubs, and I loved getting the chance to try out personal narrative writing this year.
Mrs. Inspektor, thank you so much for such an incredible two years. I feel so prepared to take on my next four years as an English major, and I have so many wonderful memories from each week of class—even the email MM's from last year around exam time when the website crashed! It's hard for me to imagine what high school would have been like without these classes.
[Insert obligatory joke about these classes being a 6/6 or worthy of an EXEMPLARY! here]
Take This Class!!
Posted by Vera Snead on 05/12/2023I'm so sad that this class has to end. :( It has been a wonderful year!!
This class was absolutely amazing and I learned so much! My writing skills improved so much and I see improvements everywhere--from journaling to history assignments. I am much more confident in my writing as well and am no longer embarrassed when someone reads my work. I read--and enjoyed--several challenging books this school year and can find the deeper meanings in books so much easier. I also have found myself analyzing the rhetoric of so many random things--whether a sign I see on a bus, one of President Biden's speeches, random movies (we watched Pride and Prejudice and I was analyzing the scene of her staring at the statue...I had never really noticed it before and my siblings thought I was crazy), etc. I also can debate and argue so much better, know how to address counterarguments, and be convincing.
I've also written so many essays that I'm proud of! My favorites were the place essay and literacy narrative, where we got to be a bit more creative and write about something more personal. The John Locke essay competition was also very valuable. To be honest, I was not excited about the assignment at all when I first saw it, thinking that it could be THAT helpful. I was so wrong! My essays improved so much after this assignment and I had much better argument abilities. Mrs. Inspektor really doesn't have any busywork: all of her assignments have a purpose and are very helpful.
We were also so prepared for the AP exam! I had no stress before the exam and walked in confident, finishing all of the sections without running out of time.
In summary, there are so many benefits to this class, not just doing well on the AP exam! Anyone willing to work hard should take this class, whether or not they enjoy English, because it will give them a deeper appreciation for it and improve other areas of school/life!
Class Review
Posted by Josiah Godbold on 05/11/2023This class prepared me for the essay section of the exam fantastically. None of the essays were especially hard and they all went well because I was used to writing with time limits. This class also prepared me for the MCQs but not as well as for the essays: I wished there had been more practice MCQ assignments. But as it is, I think I did well on those in the exam, so it is just a quibble. I only put around an hour per day into this class when we didn't have any huge essay assignments when we did it was closer to 3 hours per day. My favorite assignments were the John Locke essay and the Place Essay. Both of these helped me expand the depth at which I wrote.
The only thing that would have made this class better for me would have been the points system as is used in APUSH. Being competitive this would have motivated me to spend more time on the class. Also, I would have liked a place to post creative writing assignments.
Amazing course, extremely skilled teacher
Posted by Peter Daudelin on 05/10/2023Before starting this course, I was kind of dreading it. AP English is notorious for being a hard course with a difficult AP exam at the end, and I did not really see myself as a good writer or someone who enjoyed writing. However, I was quickly surprised at how passionate Mrs. Inspektor was about writing, and it really had a tremendous effect on all of us students. I went from dreading having to write a "rhetorical analysis essay" at the beginning of the course, to, at the end of the course, loving it. Mrs. I broke down the exam for us, and had us approach it one step at a time, so that by the time I actually took it, I found it to be an easy test that I was very well prepared for. This is definitely a course that requires a lot of work to be put into it (I would spend at least 1-1.5 hours a day on it), but it was so worth it, and all the student interaction that takes place makes it a very fun course :) I highly recommend to anyone seeking to do excellently on the AP exam, because Mrs. I knows how to teach her students well and she loves what she does, and it can be very evidently seen by the way she teaches.
Excellent course!
Posted by Annika Shivam on 05/10/2023This is the course you want to take if you want to learn to deeply analyze texts and arguments and improve your own writing skills. My argumentation, organization, complexity of writing, and creativity improved because of this class and Mrs. Inspektor.
I like how Mrs. Inspektor varied the assignments. We would have discussions about a new passage almost every week, and the morning messages would always stretch a different part of our thinking. The class took me around 1.5-2 hours every weekday, with occasional work put in on the weekends during a busy week or the John Locke essay writing period. It is a lot of work, especially during the fall semester, but it is essential to laying the foundation to be able to consistently score well on the many essay practices during the spring semester.
This course will prepare you well for the AP Exam and challenge your writing and thinking skills - I would highly recommend it!
One of the best classes I have ever taken!
Posted by Emma Bingei on 05/10/2023Although I do not particularly enjoy writing, I have to say that I have IMMENSELY improved throughout the course of the school year. I never imagined that I would have so much more confidence in writing now! Mrs. I is also one of best teachers you can get; she's extremely encouraging, supportive, and patient with each and every student of hers. Not only is Mrs. I fair in her grading, but she truly wants to help you to be the best writer you can be in her class! If you feel like writing is not your strong suit (just like what I felt at the beginning of the year), you will not have to worry too much if you are willing to persevere throughout this class. Although the course load was relatively heavy for me, I believe that it pushed me to be the writer I am today! I would highly reccommend taking this class :) Thank you so much Mrs. I for making such an amazing class!
This is an awesome class!
Posted by Benjamin Leman on 05/10/2023I learned so much from Mrs. Inspektor in this class! She is an awesome teacher that not only fully prepared us for the exam, but also challenged us to think critically and deeply about the materials we read in this class. What I have learned in this class has affected other aspects of my life, too. I have become a stronger debater, a more polished writer, and a better communicator through the exercises and assignments in this class.
It took work to get where I am at now, though. If you want to get all that you can out of this class, you need to be willing to work. There are a lot of assignments, and each and every one of them is designed to help you grow. Nothing comes easy, and the valuable skills gained from taking this class are no exception. However, I do strongly encourage anyone who is interested in taking this class to do so, because it is an amazing class with an amazing teacher that will definitely prepare you for the AP exam and set you up for success in college and beyond.
My AP Lang Experience! (Sorry this is a bit later)
Posted by Clara Dornbirer on 07/05/2022 1I felt very prepared for the exam from this class, but I also learned so much more beyond exam prep. This class focuses on critical thinking. I learned to think deeper about issues that I had only brushed the surface on before this class. My classmates and I held intelligent and deep discussions on different topics throughout the year, and my classmates' responses encouraged me to examine and explore topics more thoroughly. We had a blast learning together! We all connected during the year, and I still keep in touch with my classmates even though this class is over. Thank you so much Mrs. Inspektor for inspiring me and pushing me this past year!
If you are planning to take this class, prepare to work hard. Don't give up! It is so worth it in the end.
Thank you so much for a great class!
Posted by Jack Buss on 05/31/2022- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
- Yes I did. I liked the way you de-emphasized the terms like "Alliteration" and others, because I have friends in an in-person AP Lang class who were talking about using those types of terms on the Rhetorical Analysis Essay, and I could not help but think that those would not help them. The practices essays we did and your comments were extremely helpful for preparation.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
- It depended on the week. Sometimes the week was lighter and I only needed about an hour and a half. Other weeks I needed that full two hours. Occasionally I went over.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
- I thought the We the Student's Essay pushed me to really focus on redoing the essay, so I think it was a good lesson in the benefits of revision. I really liked the discussion questions for the material we read, whether those were yours or ours that we wrote and then answers. I just thought they were valuable in helping me to think more deeply about the material.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
- I think it definitely did. It helped push me into reading more (which I plan to do over the summer, or at least listen to audiobooks), but it also just helped me to write better, which also made me like writing more.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
- I liked communicating with my classmates, and their insights often helped me to look at things from a different perspective, especially for the discussion questions. Their comments on my essay drafts were also really beneficial and appreciated.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
- I think if you are willing to put in the work, anyone could take this course. I definitely think the student needs to be willing to participate in discussions and be willing to write a decently long response to things, but if the student is willing to put in the work, the student will see benefits.
Very good course, fun and challenging, also very good for preparing you for the AP Exam
Posted by James Leman on 05/16/2022First, I'll discuss what is probably the most important part of any AP class (as opposed to a non-AP class): does it get you prepared for the AP Exam? This one definitely does. Though the AP English Language Exam isn't very content-based, it does require a firm grasp on writing skills, and Mrs. Inspektor's class does a great job of teaching you these skills. I knew what I was doing through the whole exam and felt very confident in my answers.
The class is also enjoyable if you're into writing. Every few weeks we wrote three essays (They don't take long to write.) corresponding with the three types of essays on the AP Exam: a synthesis essay (an essay where you make an argument based on provided sources), a rhetorical analysis essay (where you analyze and explain a short passage), and an argument essay (where you write an argument in response to a prompt). Mrs. Inspektor also has a page called "writer's corner" where you can submit creative writing like stories and poetry for extra credit. You also get the chance to read quality writing and discuss it through book clubs.
As far as workload goes, this class really isn't all that bad. Maybe an hour a day, maybe even less, depending on the week. English Language is more of a skills-based, not knowledge-based, subject, and so a lot of the work is just working on your writing skills until you feel confident in them. I took three AP courses in the 2021-2022 year, and this one was one I very seldom had to worry about not getting everything done on time. I think I only had to ask for a due date extension once for a family trip to Louisiana.
Mrs. Inspektor is a great teacher; she is very good at engaging the class through Morning Messages, writing assignments, and other things that keep you active and energized in the class. The one time I had to ask for a due date extension, she granted it.
I have only one warning about this class. As is inherent in any Pennsylvania Homeschoolers class, you're going to "meet" (or at least communicate with) people from around the U.S., and even a few from foreign nations. You are going to interact with people who have different religious, political, and philosophical beliefs than you. You need to be able to respect those beliefs, even if you don't agree with them or understand them. That being said, in most Pennsylvania Homeschooler classes, this isn't a huge problem because those differences don't really come up because they're not related to the issue at hand. But that's not the case in AP English Language. Those differences come up when we discuss philosophical questions. The Debate Room in particular, a totally optional activity where students can go and discuss political, philosophical, and even religious issues, really brings on debates between people of wildly different worldviews. I myself, a conservative Catholic, found myself arguing with evangelical Protestants, atheist utilitarianists, progressive Christians, and many people whose full worldview I never learned but with whom I discussed issues as heated as abortion or as not-heated as Daylight Savings Time.
My point is that not only are you going to have to respectfully disagree with other people's views, you are going to need to respectfully disagree with them while respectfully refuting their reasons for believing what they do, while defending your own view. A reassuring word, though, some of the debates are optional. You could go through the whole class while never really getting to the core of what you or anyone else believes. But you're definitely going to have the opportunity to say your two cents about what you think about pretty much everything from natural rights to whether or not a national language is a good idea, and I would certainly recommend you take that opportunity. At least for someone like myself who loves a good argument, I enjoyed discussing controversial issues with people who agreed with me, people who didn't, and people who agreed with some of my points and disagreed with others.
This course, overall, was really great and I definitely encourage you to take it, especially if you currently plan on taking the AP Exam.
You can get a lot out of AP Lang with Mrs. I!
Posted by Espen Slettnes on 05/16/2022Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
This course has been very beneficial; I would say it prepared me well to write timed synthesis, rhetorical, and argumentative essays. Mrs. Inspektor is a great teacher, and AP Lang is a necessity for preparing students to take on college-level writing assignments. I believe that it'll be academically helpful beyond merely AP exam preparation.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
This is an intense, rigorous course. On average, I spend 2-3 hours per day on reading and writing assignments and more when nearing a major deadline for an essay or research paper. It is through the time that one puts into this course that one grows as a writer and thinker.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I particularly treasure the policy research paper assignment. We each chose a contentious policy proposal/issue to research and write an essay on, arguing for or against it. I chose a topic I'm highly interested in, one that I had already changed my mind on in the past, and I thought that my essay would be in defense of this opinion. However, the research process actually led me to change my mind on the issue yet again and defend an entirely new opinion distinct from my prior two. It was one of the more engaging assignments I've had across all my high school classes.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
My experiences in this course have demonstrated the immense power of rhetoric. It's extremely fascinating how merely the way one phrases an argument can make it seem more compelling to the untrained mind, even if the underlying argument itself doesn't improve. Throughout this course, recognizing and analyzing the usage of rhetorical devices has helped me to be a better reader and argumentator.
What sort of student would do well in this course?
Any student who is able and willing to put in the work and effort needed to significantly improve can succeed in this class. However, there are a few traits that will greatly help a student to this end, most notably creativity and a capacity for logical reasoning. I would definitely recommend this class to others.
AP English Language: An Experience Worth Taking
Posted by Julie Potter on 05/15/2022When I first signed up for this course last year, I wasn't sure what to expect. This was my first time taking an AP class of any sort, as well as joining the online PA Homeschoolers group. Writing creatively has always been my passion, and I'd always felt fairly confident in all of the English classes I'd taken. For a while I considered taking the AP Lit course instead, settling into further exploring a subject I was familiar with. However, after talking over email with Mrs. I, I realized that I wanted to challenge myself for these two semesters. And oh, what a challenge it was!
I'll be honest with you: this course was extremely hard for me. There were times that I felt like I wasn't making progress. There were times that I was challenged to look at a situation from an angle completely unfamiliar to me. There were times that I felt like I didn't understand, or was stretched in a way I thought I never could be.
Yet (and this is one of the most important things I was reminded of here) trying my best to reach a goal was enough. I didn't have to be perfect, I just needed to be willing to pick myself up and keep going. By doing that, I began to truly improve, up to the point where I could note where I'd improved on my essays and felt confident on exam day.
Rather than solely focusing on acing exam questions, Mrs. I encouraged each of us to think in a critical and analytical manner. She assigned readings from a variety of different sources, authors, and backgrounds. She gave us a variety of essay prompts (both from and outside of AP testing) that pushed us to examine different geographical, political, and socioeconomic issues in an unbiased and authoritative way. She and our co-teacher, Ms. Garner, gave us feedback that targeted specific mental and linguistic areas they saw we could improve on. Her teaching rested on rooting the ways we read and responded to ideas and arguments in general, and then applying those to exam questions, essay prompts, and even our everyday lives.
Rather than treating us like another group of students or another class, Mrs. I focused on us as people: celebrating our individual journeys, personalities, and perspectives. I'll never forget one moment during "TA takeover week" after our wonderful TA, Sari, posted about dealing with current life struggles. Many students (including me) responded with thoughts about school stress, packed schedules, and personal worries. The next day I checked the Morning Messages page and discovered that Mrs. I had made several assignments during the rest of the week optional, as her response to all of the difficulties that her students were sharing. That deeply touched me and several others in the class, and just goes to show how much Mrs. I cares about her students outside of AP Lang work. I personally believe that the focus on individual growth, not just in critical thinking or writing but as another person trying to understand the world, helped me to succeed the most this year.
Taking AP Lang is not just a class, it is an experience. If you take AP Lang, you will be challenged and stretched. But most of all, you will see yourself grow. You will find yourself learning more about what you believe in, and why you believe it. You will find yourself grappling with both current and personal topics. But most of all, you will be encouraged to think in a deeper, realistic, purposeful way, using words that not only help your audience to understand your thoughts, but you to understand them too.
My first post this year was titled "I can't keep thinking like this." I knew I viewed the world in a simplistic, confused way, but wasn't sure how to change that. Now I do. I wish I could go back to my past self and show her how far she's come.
A must-take class
Posted by Aidan Bach on 05/15/2022I took AP Lit with Mrs. I last year and absolutely loved her teaching style. At the end of the year I felt more prepared for the AP test than I had for any other test in a long time. So, naturally, I had to take AP Lang as well -- it was just as good.
As always, Mrs. I made the class work educational AND enjoyable. In fact, if I were to write a tagline for AP Lang with Mrs. I, it would probably be exactly that. The work is high in quantity and comprehensive, so by the end of the year we were all well prepared for the exam. For example, Mrs. I has us do practice essays almost weekly, with in depth feedback on how they would be scored, and how to increase the score. But even more than that, Mrs. I focuses on making sure that we're able to write well, regardless of the end score. We have multiple student book clubs throughout the year to introduce us to well written works (and how to analyze well written works). At the end of each book club we're required to submit notes on how the book was written, and what the author did effectively -- this was invaluable when it came to bettering my own skills as a writer.
The students are also kept dialed into politics, and how to intelligently write about social issues, through assignments like our policy research paper. For this, each student chose a specific social issue (mine was the death penalty), created a bibliography synthesizing sources on both sides of the problem, and then proposed a specific solution or policy idea based off of the information we gathered. I can confidently say that this helped me (and my fellow students) a lot when it came to writing essays.
At the same time, Mrs. I always makes sure we're having a fun time, and that the work itself is enjoyable to do. Whether it be inter-student debates or satire writing competitions, she helped to build a great community between the students, that made completing class work every day fun.
So, if you're looking for an AP Lang class to take, your next AP class in general, or maybe your very first AP class ever, stop the search and apply for this one.
AMAZING course!
Posted by Jessica Liu on 05/13/2022This course is one of the most transformative classes I have ever taken. I went into this year generally apathetic about writing, ambivalent about my own writing abilities, and intimidated by this course. This course is challenging, sometimes frustrating, but so incredibly rewarding. It pushed me outside my comfort zone more than any other course, and it completely changed my outlook on both reading and writing.
Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely! AP Lang is a skills-based exam, and each assignment we did throughout the year functioned as AP exam preparation in some way, whether directly or indirectly. From discussion questions to debates to major writing assignments, each assignment focused on training the skills required to do well on the exam (three handwritten essays in 135 minutes!). Mrs. Inspektor broke down every aspect of each of the AP exam essays, but she also places emphasis on truly becoming a stronger writer and taking these skills beyond the course, not just on scoring well on the AP exam. Earlier in the year, we started with targeted practice of each individual essay style, and by the second semester, we completed several full sets of AP FRQs plus several multiple choice practice exams. Mrs. Inspektor provided detailed, valuable feedback on each practice essay, and her comments helped me to focus on improving areas of difficulty. All of the strategic practice over the course of an entire year methodically builds the foundational skills needed to score well on the exam, and thanks to a whole year of practice, I felt prepared to take on the AP exam!
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I would say I spent anywhere from 1-3 hours per day on AP Lang work—including responses to the daily Morning Messages, assigned reading, discussion questions, and full-length essays—for an average of 8-10 hours a week. When we had major assignments such as the policy paper or the We the Students essay, I'd say it could have been as many as 12-14 hours.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
During the second semester, we wrote essays to enter in the We the Students essay competition. The first time Mrs. Inspektor first introduced this assignment, I dreaded even thinking about it. This year's prompt was "How does an understanding of natural rights and respect build a free society?" The first time I read the prompt, it meant absolutely nothing to me. I couldn't generate even a semblance of a response. Over the course of the next several weeks, Mrs. Inspektor provided Morning Messages with thorough exploration of what the prompt means and detailed guidance on every step of writing and revising a concise, compelling argument essay. This essay was probably the single most difficult assignment of the entire year for me, but I learned so much about what makes a strong argument. Cutting my essay down from over 1500 words to 800 words taught me the power of concision. Writing this essay taught me to embrace challenges instead of avoiding them, and I hope to carry this lesson with me into other subjects.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Prior to this course, writing always felt like a mundane, routine task. If you asked me a year ago if I would ever take AP Literature, I probably would have answered no without hesitation, but now, I'm looking forward to taking AP Lit this upcoming year! Mrs. Inspektor's teaching philosophy and enthusiasm for writing have instilled in me an appreciation and respect for both the technical skills required to write well and the beauty of language itself.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
As others have said, you'll get out of this course what you put into it. AP Lang was one of the hardest courses I've ever taken. It forced me to work harder than I've ever worked before to translate my thoughts into words, and it pushed me to reason in ways that were completely unfamiliar to me. If you're considering this course, know that it will be challenging, and you have to be able to take the challenges in stride and aim for growth over perfection. I would recommend this course to any student who is willing to dedicate time and energy into becoming a better writer.
Thank you to Mrs. Inspektor, Ms. Garner, the TAs, and all my classmates for an incredible year!
Warning: side effects may include loving English, loving Mrs. I, and doing well on the AP exam
Posted by Naythan Chan on 05/13/2022English was never my favorite subject. I liked it, but I was never skilled at it. Walking into AP English with Mrs. I was quite daunting to be frank because I was scared all my literary shortcomings would be exposed in front of 30 other classmates. My experience, however, was quite the opposite. Not often will you find a teacher that genuinely cares for you - now of course most teachers care and should care about their students, but Mrs. I goes beyond that in a way that's hard to describe with just words. Her passion for nurturing her students is quite evident throughout her morning messages, which are daily messages rich in information to help you succeed in the course. Every time I encountered a difficult circumstance, such as an overwhelming workload for a specific week due to an extra exam, Mrs. I would accommodate me to the best of her ability which helped to reduce my stress and allowed me to manage my workload. She encourages students to come together and learn from each other through quality assignments that force students to elevate their own ability. She also manages to strike the balance between uplifting comments and honest, constructive advice, which is often hard to achieve.
Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Most definitely. Every assignment prepared us in some way even if we couldn't see it at the time. In addition, she included explicit exam prep and made us take multiple MCQs and FRQs to prepare for the exam and gave valuable feedback each time.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
1.5 hrs each day usually. For the weeks where a big project or essay was assigned, I worked an extra 4 hours on the weekend. I would say 8-12 hours on average depending on the week's workload.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
There were so many, but I especially loved the literacy and policy assignment. One made me reflect while the other made me debate.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
100% The book clubs fostered my reading ability. The class discussion influenced my critical thinking and communication skills. And the assignments made me genuinely interested in English as a subject. And of course, Mrs. I's teaching style naturally sparked my interest in the subject.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable
Honestly, student camaraderie was one of my favorite parts of the class. I ended up forming close friendships with multiple classmates, and the Skype group chat was always so much fun.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Most students who are willing to commit their time and effort will get something out of it and walk away loving the class. I wouldn't even say you have to have a really big passion for English to do well in this course because Mrs. I does such a great job encouraging her students that you will eventually develop some sort of affection for English as a whole whether you like it or not :)
"Do you like AP English with Mrs. I?" "Only with my oxygen."
Posted by Joanne Moh on 05/13/2022Language is practical. A majority opinion. A job application. A Wall Street Journal article. However, I feel that it is most importantly something beautiful—the fabric that connects every single human being in the world. Mrs. Inspektor most definitely integrates both the practical and beautiful parts of language into her AP Language course.
I have taken two years of AP English with Mrs. Inspektor—AP Literature in 11th grade and AP Language (this year) in 12th grade. Over the course of those two years, I have learned close to 90% of what makes me the writer I am today. AP classes are designed to help you earn a 4/5 on the exam in May and to gain a basic college-level understanding of a topic, but Mrs. Inspektor takes it a step further than that, encouraging her students to be interested in the topics she teaches and the assignments she gives.
- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes. There isn't much to say here but yes. You'll be practicing for the (whopping) 2 hour and 15 minute straight essay section of the AP Language exam essentially throughout the entire year—but towards the end, if you've really put in the work, it shouldn't feel too daunting (and I say this as someone who struggles with writing under a time limit). You'll also complete multiple choice practice sections throughout the second semester that helped me feel prepared to take the AP exam in May.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I would say about 1-2 hours per day, so around 6-10 hours per week, depending on how heavy the week is (a week with normal discussions may be around 5, while a week with a research project may be around 10). Now— this did seem like a lot to me when I was first considering taking AP Literature/Language in the summer before 11th grade, but I have learned that it is completely worth it. It will probably be one of your heavier course-loads; for reference, I took AP Calc A/B, AP Micro, AP Psych, and AP Bio along with AP Lang this past year, and AP Lang was one of the more demanding courses. But again, if you're willing to fit it into your schedule, I highly recommend it!
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
- The literacy narrative—this assignment was given in the late fall (November-ish, if I remember correctly). Essentially, the assignment was a personal memoir-type essay about our personal "literacy" journey throughout our lives. I loved reading to death as an elementary/middle-schooler (still do!), and reading and writing have gotten me through some of the most challenging parts of my life. This assignment allowed me to not only develop what I call the more "beautiful" language skills, but also forced me to take a step back, look at my life up to this point, and think: how have reading and writing shaped the person I am today, at this very moment? I also won a gold key (regional) for my literacy narrative after I submitted it to the Scholastic Art & Writing awards—obviously, I didn't write it just for the awards, and Mrs. Inspektor definitely does not model nor give the assignment just so students can submit to the contest to win an award, but a gold key is a nice reminder of the quality of writing you can achieve through this class and hard work :)
- The policy research project—this assignment was given right in the beginning of the second semester. The project was as its title implies—a research project arguing for or against some prominent policy issue. I had never researched a project on policy issues before, so this was a daunting assignment at first. However, Mrs. Inspektor was there every step of the way, guiding us daily (literally) through what we need to complete in order to not end up doing 20 hours of research in one day. I learned so much about making clear, concise, assertive arguments through this assignment. This assignment exercises more of the "practical" language skills that you'll learn through this course, and it left me feeling completely prepared for any sort of research project I would have to do in college or beyond.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I had already taken AP Literature with Mrs. Inspektor in 11th grade, so I was quite interested in English already. That doesn't mean that AP Language didn't further that interest, though! As I have said before, language is both beautiful and practical.
If I had to choose one thing to talk about in terms of this class enhancing my interest, I would say this: what surprised me the most about this year was how much personality you can infuse into a (maybe otherwise boring) argument. I may even say that I could recognize some of my classmates' through just their tone or style of writing. Mrs. Inspektor champions that idea of "keeping your voice" through any medium of writing you do, and that is one of the reasons why I love her class.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes! As a homeschooler, it's hard to make friends as readily/easily as a public schooler might (in my opinion). However, this class has an excellent sense of community between writers of all levels that I really cherished. I knew three students already from my AP Literature class the previous year, but made many new friendships with the AP Language class this year! I asked my peers to read over my work throughout the year (both AP Language related and non-AP Language related), and there was always someone willing to trade essays or to give me advice on a poetry submission to Scholastic.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I recommend this course to any student willing to grow. Being a good writer isn't easy! You probably won't start off the year with 5s or 6s on the very first essays you write (I definitely didn't), and that's completely fine. In fact, that means you're in the right place because you're going to learn! If you are willing to grow and be interested in what you're growing in, I would recommend this course to you a thousand times over.
You won't want to miss this class!
Posted by Viviana Chan on 05/12/2022Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely--100%! Before I started the course, the AP exam felt like a mountain of an obstacle that would certainly be impossible to overcome. But by the end, I felt confident and prepared for the exam, and was even super excited instead of super stressed.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I'd say 7-9 hours per week should do for most, but I deliberately threw in around 13-16 hours per week because I had the desire to excel. Echoing other students, you get what you put in this class; I can guarantee you that true hard work pays off every single time.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
To be quite frank, all the assignments were quite valuable, but I think I enjoyed the creative essays the most. I'm personally particularly fond of the Literacy Narrative assignment, though, because it showed me that I can actually write, and that I have my own unique writing voice--facts unknown to me before. Also, prior to this course, I've always detested writing, but the Literacy Narrative was the turning point for me, and now I can honestly say that I enjoy writing!
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I don't think I'd be able to stress this enough, but this course changed a person who absolutely hated writing to a person who absolutely loves it--it's truly that amazing!
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes! I made quite a few friends, and I owe that to this course. The discussions we had were thought-provoking, and it was more than interesting to discuss with various individuals whose worldviews differed from mine. I had a great opportunity to rethink my own worldviews through those discussions, and I came out more confident in my own beliefs. (You actually get to debate and defend your own beliefs in this class, for those who love to debate!)
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I highly, highly recommend this course to any student who wishes to sharpen his/her writing skills. Work hard and do your best, and what you get in return is something far more valuable than a mere exam score.
This is more than a class
Posted by Jonathan Oh on 05/12/2022The first thing you have to understand about this class is that Mrs. Inspektor is not a teacher. A teacher gives you the material, helps you understands it, and walks away. I've had those kinds of 'teachers.' Their sole role is to make sure you know what is being told to you. No, Mrs. I is a mentor. She takes the role of a teacher (and does her job excellently) and goes two steps beyond that. She really does invest in each and every one of you to the point of personal interaction, and I'm not simply saying these cliched words for the sake of baseless compliments. I took her college application essay workshop ~3 years ago in 8th grade (for what reason I don't remember), and when applying to her AP Lang class this year, she distinctively remembered me - I doubt that could be said of many others.
Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely. I took several other APs this year like AP Macro and AP Calc, and I can say that AP Lang was by far the test I was most confident in (this is coming from someone more STEM oriented, by the way). Not only is the entire course modeled after the exam, Mrs. I has you write through numerous essays and take several multiple choice tests all from previous exams. It doesn't matter if you've never written a timed essay before, much less one of substance on an obscure topic like eminent domain, or if you struggle with reading comprehension. Mrs. I will guide you until you're cranking out 600 word essays in 40 minutes like they're nothing. But perhaps most of all, you won't just feel prepared for the AP Exam, but you'll likely enjoy it as well - I know that I did. Mrs. I prepares you in such a way that you don't just feel confident, but comfortable to the point where you stop stressing about the time remaining and can freely enjoy the test. It sounds weird, but it's true. You'll have fun, both in this class and on the exam.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
Around 7-10 a week. It varies from week to week, but expect to put in a solid 1-2 hours per day. As others have said before, what you put into this class will absolutely reflect what you get out of this class. If you want to actually enjoy the class, then you need to put in the subsequent work, and it will absolutely be worth it. The more effort you put in, the more you will grow as a writer, and the more Mrs. I can help you grow as well. Sometimes, such as when you have schedule debates or major projects, I would spent 3 hours on a single post of 4000 words (but that was excessive), and other times, the homework is intentionally lighter so that we can focus on other classes or even relax. If I haven't made it clear yet, this is the epitome of a rewarding class. It's by no means a walk in the park, but because it's a challenging class, putting in the deserved attention and diligence will pay off exponentially later on.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
Two things: writing the actual essays, and the literacy narrative assignment. I've often found that the best way to prepare for a test is to take tests, and so naturally, writing 20+ various essays taken from past exams was inexplicably beneficial in my growth as not just an AP Lang test taker, but as a writer as a whole. Admittedly, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses as a writer, and so while the essays might have helped me grow in my area of rhetorical analysis, it might also help someone else to be able to efficiently synthesize various texts into their argument. What I can say with certainty, though, is that writing these essays was one of the most valuable assignments for me, and likely you too. Another assignment I personally liked was the literacy narrative assignment. It's the first of three major 'assignments' in this class (along with your policy paper and We The Students competition), but the reason why I liked this assignment so much was because it went so far beyond "English" as the subject or class. I titled this review as "this is more than a class," and one fo the major factors was because of assignments like this. I won't give too much away so as to spoil the assignment haha, but I will say that the literacy assignment will give each and every person an opportunity to break away from writing about disjointed and distant topics about things you'll rarely ever encounter, and offer a unique chance to reflect and write about something more introspective. You'll examine yourself personally in a way you might not have done before, and let's be honest: self-reflection is never a bad thing.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
No. Now, hear me out because I wouldn't address this if I didn't have something positive to say about this class haha. This class is not meant to make you more interested in English as a subject, nor is this course designed to pique your curiosity in English Language and Composition. First and foremost, this class is designed to shape you as a writer and give you necessary life skills that you will undoubtably continue to use and sharpen through life, through the specific medium of English Language and Composition. I don't have much of a liking towards English; I doubt I will. In fact, I doubt many people enjoy the subject English in of itself as opposed to the lessons you learn while taking an English class. What I do 'like' is having the skills to write well because 1) these are necessary skills that can apply themselves into things like job applications or even teaching people something new, and 2) it has helped me formulate my own opinions on various subjects better.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Absolutely. The Debate Room is perhaps the biggest and best proof that teenagers can indeed engage in meaningful conversation, and in a way that is not only respectful but helpful to the overall discussion! *gasp* Yes, you will address touchy topics like abortion, controversial figures like Trump, and modern debates like reparations for slavery. It's not required, so don't worry if that seems like too much, but I would encourage people to at least skim the Debate Room. It's an opportunity to really determine/define what you know and believe, whether that be through having your beliefs challenged or affirmed. The book clubs were also a great opportunity to interact with classmates in a semi-informal way where you could bring in personal examples or experiences and relate them to the more academic subject at hand.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Anyone willing to work hard. Please, please, please I can't stress this enough - if you want to take this class, make sure you work for it. This class is amazing and great, but you need to put in the work. Unfortunately, there are people in this class who submit minimal-effort work or don't turn in anything at all, and this is such a double-edged sword - not only are they taking up a slot that will undoubtably help someone else if they got into the class, but they themselves won't benefit by submitting work that doesn't accurately reflect them as a writer (not to mention the money wasted). But, if you're willing to work hard and diligently, it would be wrong on my part to not recommend this class to you. Take it - there's nothing to lose and everything to gain.
What Goes Up Must Come Down
Posted by Isaac Jo on 05/11/2022As you might have been able to tell from the title here, I'm going to say a lot (probably too much) but you probably only need to know one thing, which is---just like most classes---what you put into this class is what you will get out of it. It's what nearly every coach of any sport I've played has always told me: the only way to win games is to be as intense at practices as you would be at a game, because if you do nothing but joke around at practice, all you will look like you are doing on game day is joking around.
I'm glad to say I didn't quite learn this the hard way; as I've become increasingly interested in writing in the past few years I came into this class expecting to have to throw all I had at it. Now, obviously, I didn't do that all the time, because of other school stuff, sports, or just plain laziness, but it was easy to tell when I was putting more effort in, especially as the workload varied up and down. Sometimes the reading seemed kind of insane and I spent at least 2 hours on it; sometimes we got simple thought exercises which ended in under an hour. Once I upended my lunch schedule by writing a several-thousand-word debate post in one go (yes, you'll have group debates which can get huge---bonus points are up for grabs!); once the teacher gave us an entire weekend off for mental health considerations (which I am very thankful for). If you want to take this class, you kind of have to be ready for anything---but at the same time knowing that the teacher isn't trying to kill you. Take what's thrown at you, and deal with it accordingly (and if you need it, send emails or talk to the TAs! more communication is better).
There are a lot of ways this could go, especially depending on how interested one happens to be in a particular assignment. I once semi-attempted an argument essay revision, but put barely anything behind it, and increased my score by only one half point (please don't do that). I also once trashed and rewrote the same assignment twice in two weeks, resulting in draft 3.5 of my Literacy Narrative (not advisable either---but if you had to pick one, pick this one, because it gets you a good score). Clearly, that was because I was very interested and invested in my literacy narrative as it was a personal topic, but I didn't care that much about that argument essay. It might sound weird, but for this class to do much of anything for you, you have to care for it. And if you care for it, you'll naturally 1) do well, 2) enjoy it, and 3) become more invested in the class and the subject in general, and care for it even more. That's what happened to me.
In the end I didn't do nearly as much preparation for the AP exam as many others I know, but I still ended up feeling pretty well prepared for the exam, and I think the exam itself went well. This might seem to say that you don't need to put too much into exam review to still get anything good out of it, but I think everything still depends on how hard one attacks the course as a whole. I found this class as one where what the essay rubrics measure actually does have to do with your skill as a writer (as opposed to world history, whose essays sometimes seem like throwing dice and ticking a bunch of boxes). So even if you aren't super enthusiastic about writing a bunch of 40-minute essays, as long as you know what's expected on the exam and are willing to work hard, you'll do well. A few essays given full power will help more than a bunch of half-hearted ones.
I'd say the same is true for the general Lang community. I happen to be less involved in the community than most, but that's not because of anybody except me. If there's one place one might say I'm seriously "missing out," it would be the Skype chats, where you can find people talking, thinking, or even organizing group calls at any given time. I don't have Skype, and decided not to get it, and so I've only talked very much with a few classmates---but that doesn't have to be true for you! I fully admit socializing is neither my top skill nor my top priority, but if you want a full-blown study support group you can have one, at least in this class.
One last thing---don't get stuck in anxiety land. And yes, even though I'm somewhat assuming that if you're reading this review you're going to take this class, I think this applies to most things in life. Giving a class your best effort doesn't mean working feverishly at it nonstop. Again, the teacher is trying to challenge you, but she's not trying to kill either you or your mental health. Do communicate if you need breaks! It's not unlikely you'll get some help. As a heads up for anybody reading this the year after it's posted, you'll probably have two relatively newly designed project assignments, a policy research paper and a We the Students contest essay. All the logistics for these are still kind of being worked out because this was the first year doing them---remember things aren't supposed to be perfect! Let the workload flow; all your classmates, and even to an extent the teachers, are in the same boat about how to write these. They're really interesting to write, too. And this all applies to the exam, too; you'll have worked enough over the year, given that you put effort in, that cramming and exhausting yourself isn't going to help. If you've truly practiced like it's game day, then on game day all you have to do is pretend that it's practice again.
I guess at this point I am and have been this whole time getting really off-topic into life advice instead of a course review. But to sum up: regardless of if you're a good or bad writer coming in, if you're willing to come in swinging at all those essays, discussions, and debates, then this class is for you, and you will come away with a lot more than just a grade.
(now just look at that---I wasn't even trying to, and I ended up writing this around evidence and commentary on examples, divided up into points supporting a thesis. Lang kind of becomes a part of you...)
Tough But Totally Worth It
Posted by Sonia Chan on 06/21/2021Note: One small but important edit!! :)
I didn't want to take this course, so I wasn't excited at all coming into the class. I didn't exactly determine not to like this class, but I guess I endeavored not to engage my emotions and instead doggedly focused on the workload. I didn't ever "fall in love" with this class, as I know many of my classmates probably did ;)) I didn't hate this class, but I didn't like it, either. I'm not gonna lie, this class had me overwhelmed for most of the time, especially earlier in the year (when everything was new) and when we had bigger assignments. Before this class, I actually wasn't accustomed to working very hard on academics. But I couldn't let myself do less than my best in this class, and that meant that I had to really exert myself during the year. I probably spent much more time on the assignments than most of my classmates did, which is a little embarrassing XD. My attitude throughout the class year was more like, I have to do this, so I'm going to it. But I can hardly wait until this class is over, and then I can do this and that.
I never thought that I would actually miss this class. Almost every day had been go-go-go, and I found myself feeling empty and at a loss at how to live life again without AP Lang. I actually felt sad, something that I would never have thought possible during the year XD. I'm an extremely nostalgic person, though, and I hate it when anything good ends or when something changes that has happened for an extended period of time. As I began to reflect over the past year, I appreciated my class more and more. I have learned so much. This course is tough, but through all the challenges I have become stronger and have grown a lot as a person. I didn't know how to write essays before the class, much less write three essays within time limits on a single day. However, after all the teaching and practice, I was able to write the essays in one sitting! I'm also so glad that I have (I think) discovered/developed my writing voice through all the different writing assignments that we did this year. I was so pleased to know that I could write well--that I do have an effective writing voice. And I certainly had fun times in this class as well! I can't ask for more from this class. So apparently, this class can turn someone who was sure she would never like or care about it to appreciating and feeling nostalgic about it. :)
Also, Mrs. Inspektor is simply a superb teacher. She guided us through everything, step-by-step. She is very gracious and understanding. For instance, when I finished writing my AFSA essay draft, my brain was totally toasted. But Mrs. Inspektor very kindly took it easy on us for a few days to let us recover. I'm also amazed at how much she cares about her students! She has so many students to teach, grade, and look after, but she cares about each student as an individual. She seems to be personally interested in you and wants to bring out the best in you. Then my TAs were exceptional! They invested themselves into this class and went above and beyond in helping, guiding, and encouraging us forward. Without their support, I'm not sure where we would all be today. I was so impressed at their dedication and ability as TAs. And my classmates!! They were wonderfully helpful and supportive. They took the hint from the TAs and went overboard (in a good way, of course!) to make this class amazing. Some of them did podcasts and wrote "Legendary Lectures" to give advice/insights/encouragement to the rest of us. I always loved to read those messages! Because they came from those who were in the same boat with me and yet who could pretend
to be so knowledgeable and assuring. Overall, this class is truly memorable and worth taking. My only regret, if there is one, is that I didn't appreciate it enough at the time.
Definitely take this. Definitely.
Posted by Hannah Ling on 06/11/2021I loved this course. While we did wrork on test prep, I never felt like this was just a result-producing machine; Mrs Inspektor focused on building analysis and argumentation skills that are applicable way beyond high school. I felt very prepared for the exam (in fact, the exam itself didn't feel like anything especially scary; we'd done so much practice). This course is worth at least two solid hours each day, although this of course varies with assignments. My favourite assignment was the AFSA essay assignment. It provides rigorous research and synthesis training, and although it is difficult, I found it to be extremely rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable. I also loved the interaction between students on the discussion board. We could engage with ideas and arguments and respond to each other. i especially liked the culture of respect that Mrs Inspektor, Mr Stewart, and the TAs helped to maintain -- although some topics were controversial, the discussions were never out of line. I would 100% recommend this course to any keen student of English or argument!
Are You Dedicated to Your Education and Prepared to Learn? Perfect; This Class is for You.
Posted by Maya Phillips on 06/07/2021This is an excellent class, and anyone who wants to become a skilled writer should take it. Our readings this year were always enlightening, our writing prompts were always intriguing, and it's obvious that Mrs. Inspektor has put a lot of thought and energy into making this class as engaging and educational as possible.
After spending roughly 10 to 15 hours per week reading Morning Messages, reading assigned books and/or essays, answering discussion questions, conducting research for my AFSA essay, and writing other essays of my own, I felt fully prepared for the AP exam. Although I have not yet received my score, I'm confident that I did well because -- compared to previous AP exams that I've taken in other subjects -- I never felt threatened or confused by the questions. I had practiced and prepared so much over the course of this class that answering a few dozen multiple-choice questions and whipping up three essays was no big deal.
Besides becoming one of the most relaxed AP testers ever, this class has also turned me into a better reader and writer. I've always loved taking English classes, but this class just felt different. I loved having so much contact with my fellow students and being able to discuss class readings with them through discussion questions and online book clubs. In fact, when Mrs. Inspektor first introduced the idea of online book clubs, I was hesitant, to say the least; first of all, in my entire school career, fun group projects have been a rarity -- usually they just left me feeling stressed -- and second, how were online book clubs going to work? I had never tried to do that before, as I had always discuss books with friends or family in person. But the online book clubs worked out really well in practice, and they became my favorite part of class. Whether discussing only through writing together on a Google Doc or scheduling a meeting over a Zoom call, it was surprisingly fun to get to know my classmates as induviduals, and I LOVED being able to discuss a book with three or four other people who were also enjoying it. I learned new ways to engage with the stories I was reading, and I began to see characters from new perspectives. Later, by learning from these new forms of reading and by learning from Mrs. Inspektor's and my fellow students' critiques on my essays, I learned new ways to write. I still for the life of me can't rattle off a list of the most important rhetorical devices -- although I'm sure a few of my classmates can -- but I know how to wield my pen more effectively and how to better engage with my reader.
Overall, I loved this class, and I am truly going to miss it. As I wrote earlier, I think that everyone who has any interest in improving as a writer should take this class. As long as they are dedicated to their education and prepared to learn, they will do well and have a wonderful time.
My Favorite Class This Year
Posted by Morgan Emery on 06/03/2021I really loved AP English Language. It's my favorite class of the ones I took this year, because in this class I gained a better understanding of how writers create persuasive arguments and because it prepared me well for the AP exam. Mrs. Inspektor and Mr. Stewart are great teachers who teach thoroughly and clearly, developing in students not only analyzation skills but also appreciation of and enthusiasm for fiction and nonfiction. I spent around 3 to 4 hours per day on this course, on average, although some students may need less time than I needed. I found all of the assignments valuable, as each assignment deepened my understanding of fiction and nonfiction and how writers create persuasive arguments, but I especially enjoyed the place-essay assignment, as I am creative, and the American Foreign Service Association essay contest, because writing for this contest helped me understand more deeply how to synthesize multiple sources to produce an argument, preparing me for the AP exam, while also teaching me important skills for research papers, such as how to find reputable sources. My communications with other students were both interesting and valuable, because each class discussion furthered my understanding of the topic being discussed. A student with a love of fiction and nonfiction works and a desire to understand writing more thoroughly, especially a student who is detail-oriented, would do well in this course. I would definitely recommend this course to other students! I loved it!
The best class you will find. Period.
Posted by George Nielsen on 05/30/2021This class was truly the highlight of my year. I've taken a lot of courses over the years with all sorts of providers, subjects, and levels of satisfaction. With this experience, I can confidently say that this is one of the best, if not the best, course you will be able to take in high school. Despite the seemingly simple description–an AP on the English Language–this course was so extensive and transformative that I would place it above my most specialized and advanced courses I've taken to date.
Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
To say that this course prepared me for the AP exam would be one of the greatest understatements since saying Thoreau wrote long paragraphs. This class prepared me so well that I went from barely scraping by 3/6s on the essays without a time limit to consistently nailing 6/6s under a time crunch. In fact, we did so much prep work that I actually looked forward to the practice, and ended up enjoying taking the exam (yes, I actually enjoyed taking an AP exam–that is how good this course was at preparing us).
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
On a "typical" week, I would spend around 7-10 hours to finish the work, with around 1-2 hours a day during the week, and then up to 2 hours for the essay(s) over the weekend. Yet, in more intense weeks when we had assignments such as the American Foreign Service Association Essay Contest to work on, book clubs to read or discuss, or when we were writing one of our larger creative essays, the work load could easily reach 12-15 hours for that week. However, I will add that I loved this course so much that I often went far beyond what was required to do well that week (for instance, doing more cooperative research, help editing paper drafts, or joining additional book clubs).
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
While I would say that every assignment was super valuable and helpful, one that really helped out subtly was the required response to a "Morning Message" (MM) each day during the school week. Every day, Mrs. Inspektor posts some MM related to the work we are doing, whether it is about an author we are reading, an essay we are learning to write, or just something interesting having to do with something we were discussing in class. Each MM is full of useful information in of itself, but at the end there is almost always a required response in which you either try out the concepts taught (for example, writing an introduction using approaches from the MM), or go beyond what it said with additional research, or just some thoughts of your own. These were super helpful both to bring a focused routine to my daily schedule, but also to really help cement the different concepts in my head.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Well, this would be hard to say, since "English" isn't even the real subject we learn. Rather, I'd say this course dealt with general communication skills, close analysis for rhetoric, and critical thought in general. With these in mind as the subject of this course, I would certainly say it enhanced my interest! I've always loved writing, and I've always thought I was pretty good at it, but this completely revolutionized my approach to writing and reading other good writing. I thought this course would be a little touch up and fine tuning of my existing skills, but I've grown so much more than this as a writer throughout this course! Thanks to this course, I'm even more motivated to pursue areas involving writing and communication, or finding ways to work that into whatever I do in the future.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Now this is what really made this class stand out above all other courses I've taken in the past. In the past, I've either actively disliked, been indifferent to, or liked but never really interacted with my classmates. The best experiences I've had were in classes with assigned discussions, but these never really evolved into much of a valuable relationship. Yet, in AP Lang, I ended up forming some of the closest friendships of my life with some of the most talented, interesting, and fun people I could possibly imagine. Even compared to all of the college and university classes I've taken, never have I found such a motivated and skilled class of students. And all of this great community was increased tenfold once I joined the class group chat. Suddenly, I found a side-community related to this class that went far above and beyond what I had originally anticipated. Once tapped into this community, close friendships blossomed, my personal drive increased, and new opportunities opened up to this class (such as a network of motivated editors and research buddies). What I've written here is a huge understatement of how amazing this community is and how much they impacted me, so you really have to join to see for yourself!
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Great class!
Posted by Elijah Zacharia on 05/28/2021- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes! This class was great both for teaching good writing skills and applying them specifically to the AP exam. When I signed into the AP exam, my computer locking me into one place for the next few hours, I was completely calm and assured of my abilities, having been prepped the best I could have been.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
This depends on your level of writing going into the class. For me, as a fledgling writer who had never written essays and discussion posts on a consistent basis, this took a while to get used to, so overall this year I would say I spent between 1-3 hours a day on the course. Most days, the commitment was closer to one hour, but sometimes, especially during the AFSA research period, the time commitment was much longer.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I had the most fun with discussion posts, especially responding to other's thoughts and ideas. Often, when reading someone else's posts I would come to a completely different and more nuanced understanding of the work being discussed, which was really helpful.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes! Before taking this course, I would definitely have classed myself as solely a STEM student. I was mortally scared of writing, but through taking this class, I have come to appreciate the ability to communicate through writing in a way I never valued before.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Most of the time. While responding to different people's posts late into the night was not always rewarding, in general listening to the other students' ideas, agreeing or disagreeing (mostly disagreeing) with their points helped me to better hone my own understanding and thoughts about the works we were reading, which was very valuable.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Take this class. You won't regret it.
Posted by Lily Park on 05/27/2021Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes!!!!! Mrs. Inspektor provides tons of multiple choice and essay practice throughout the school year, and during the end-of-year review, we're writing up to three essays a week. When it was time to take the exam, I didn't encounter any question I couldn't answer, and the exam actually felt much easier than all the practice exams we had taken!
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I usually put in 2-3 hours of work every weekday; during major assignments, such as AFSA and the creative writing assignments, I spent about 3-4 hours each day.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
My favorite assignments were definitely the creative essays! What I loved about these assignments was that I had the chance to write about something personal--something that truly mattered to me. Since the essays were entirely my own, they allowed me to develop my voice and grow both as a writer and as a person.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Definitely! When I first started this course, I absolutely dreaded writing, so you can imagine how thrilled I was when my parents signed me up for an AP English class! Not only did Mrs. Inspektor guide us through every assignment, but she made the assignments fun, and I began to enjoy what I was writing. While I still don't plan to become an English major, I'm much more comfortable writing essays, and I might even pick up creative writing as a hobby.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!! There's no other online class I've taken that placed so much emphasis on interaction; we constantly got to know each other by responding to discussion question posts, grading essays (yes, that's right! Some of our assignments were to be "exam-grader-for-a-day"), and participating in book clubs. We also had a Skype group chat which allowed us to interact with each other in a more casual setting.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
You absolutely do not need to be a good writer to do well in this course! As long as you're willing to both work and think hard, you'll be completely ready by exam day. It won't be easy, and there may be times when you feel like your essay scores will never improve, but trust me--they will. My essay scores stayed around 4/6 for most of the year, but once we started doing full exam prep in mid-April, I suddenly began earning no lower than 5/6 on every single one of my essays! Some people hit this breakthrough a lot sooner than I did, but by the end of class we had all reached that same high level of sophistication. No matter where you start on your journey through AP Lang, you will experience a breakthrough, and it will be just in time for you to tackle that exam!
The Metamorphosis
Posted by Aaron Shey on 05/26/2021
You run indoors, the heat radiating off the windows a slight whisper of the summer bygone. Exciting, isn't it? A brand new class, filled with promise. A quick scroll through the class bios shows row after row of attractive profile pictures, and you're momentarily reminded of something about the beautiful humanities.
Almost immediately you're plunged into work, debates and complex readings and nuance and terms pouring in from all directions. Forced to argue in support of things you don't, your head is just getting bigger and bigger; you brag to your friends how everyone should take this class and how it's so cool, but a faint storm gathers behind you. Another poorly executed essay, and you feel envy at others' stellar compositions.
The workload feels like a roller coaster, getting pulled up to the peak, and after winter break you're in free fall, blasting your way through practice after practice. But it's not immediate; in the dark of another rainy day, the gleaming 5 at the end of the ride looks dimmer and farther away. Another essay, another day... they all seem so difficult. And then all of a sudden, one slightly higher score and you're pulling up again - each essay prompt shatters beneath your fingers, the code cracked, and before you know it you've written almost every practice prompt since 1999. And when you walk into - no, sign in - to the actual test, it all seems so clear, everything falling into place.
--
TL;DR, this class is great prep. However, if you started out with sub-par writing skills (like I did), then you'll need to put in a lot of work to get them up to speed. In the last months, I would be spending close to 4 hours a day on prep! Nevertheless, it was quite worth it; soon enough I was criticizing the essays I was looking up to at the beginning of the class (AJ and GN, you know who you are ;). Asides from test prep, this class also taught me a ton about arguing and debating well, and I'm quite glad I took it. With no small effort from myself, but also with the support of my classmates and the teacher, I'm confident I did well on the AP Test. If you're willing to dozens of essay prompts or are willing to think really, really hard, this is a great class for you!
Expect an Everlasting Change
Posted by Sara Anees on 05/21/2021I've been writing ever since I can remember, so when I tell you I came into this class with the utmost confidence, you know what I mean. I never imagined that I'd grow so much as a writer, since I hadn't experienced that with an online class with a teacher who lives an ocean away. Coming into this class, I had some superficial goals like "improving syntax" or "developing a better use of punctuation." Little did I know that Mrs Inspektor would show me how to reinvent my whole entire voice and perspective as a writer. I admit I became discouraged when I wasn't receiving perfect grades like my classmates, and that's just because Mrs Inspektor is brutally honest, which is incredibly helpful if you want to succeed. I had to find the strength to try even harder and work better to be able to really apply the feedback and boost my grades, and it works. With the power of strong argumentation and speaking clearly as a writer, I went from getting 3s on every essay to getting 6s without even trying, and this is because Mrs Inspektor shows you the path of improvement, but gives you the rein. You're in control of your success in this class, but she's always there when you need more feedback. It's a difficult class, even for experienced writers, so you need to be a super hardworking student. I made some phenomenal friends here as well, and we're all in it together to prepare for the exam, which I think we all felt incredibly ready for after spending a good 10 hours a week on lang work, except for when we had big projects like AFSA or the Scholastic writing competition or super involved book clubs which is when we experienced sleepless nights. Between all the morning messages, discussion responses, practice essays from day 1, the creative writing assignments, book clubs, class readings like Walden or Hunger of Memory, or even AFSA, this class is a blast. And the most amazing thing is how you're able to see the growth over time, at the end. I'm truly a different person now from who I was in September, so it's the kind of class that shapes you as a person and you'll remember it when you've lost all your teeth.
I LOVE THIS CLASS!
Posted by Andrew Dalton on 05/19/2021If anyone is having the curse of the blinking curser (the problem of staring at the curser watching it blink on and off, while your empty document is staring back at you) or you don't feel like you are a good writer, this class is for you. Not only did Mrs. Inspektor get us ready for the AP exam, she also helped us unlock our potential as better writers and she banished my curse of empty pages. I spent about an hour or two everyday on this course, sometimes a bit more depending on an assignment or reading, and I loved it. I never really enjoyed writing before this class. Sometimes I would free-write but I tended to avoid all forms of writing due to the fact that I am Dyslexic, but after this class I have been writing more than ever. I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested and willing to work hard. It will help you become a better writer, analyzer, and a making writing become a blessing and not a curse.
If you don't like to write read this
Posted by Grace C. on 05/31/2020- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?: One hundred percent!!! I especially loved how flexible Mrs. Inspektor was when the AP format changed. I felt extremely prepared when I took my exam! She gives a lot of both required and optional practice so I felt prepared for the multiple types of prompts.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?: Most weeks I worked 1-2 hours per day.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? Absolutely! Prior to coming to this course I did not like writing. In fact, I wrote my literacy narrative(one of three very cool assignments!) on that subject. I used to dread writing so much that I could only write essays in the morning and it took a lot of will power. With all the practice that Mrs. Inspektor gave us I began to feel more comfortable writing essay. Not to mention, she gave amazing feedback on all of our essays. After she graded my essays, I always understood what to improve on. Mrs. Inspektor also made writing interesting by introducing us to all types of writing including satire, narratives and research papers! This is one of the best English classes that I have ever taken. I highly recommend AP Lang to anyone who is willing to work hard, even if writing is not your favorite subject!
My favorite class ever
Posted by Grace Wiratunga on 05/30/2020I am so glad I ended up taking this class. I had a really heavy load this year (11 classes once you add up both semesters) on top of college applications and all that, but this class made the workload a lot more bearable and fun. :) I made a lot of friends in this class, and also stayed in touch with friends from other PAH classes. This year was pretty chaotic, with a lot of family stuff on top of coronavirus. Mrs. Inspektor was always really understanding and helped me and all my classmates through all the changes that came at the end of the school year. I felt more prepared for the AP Language exam than any of the other 11 AP's I've taken throughout high school.
Mrs. Inspektor is by far the best English teacher I've ever had, and I learned more than I thought I ever could. I've always hated writing, and just focused on math and science. With Mrs. Inspektor's help, I learned that writing can truly be fun, just like any other subject. I went from someone who would literally stare at a blank paper/screen for hours to someone who could write top-scoring essays at the end of class. I know I have a long way to go before I'm a really good writer, but I'm so glad that I can actually think about writing now with a better mindset. :)
I enjoyed this class so much that I was actually sad when it was over. I never thought I'd miss a class at the end of high school, but I truly miss AP Language. Even so, I'm grateful for this class, and I'm looking forward to using everything I learned in the future. :)
If you think you don't need this class, you do
Posted by Cooper Ackerly on 05/29/2020I admittedly came into this class with a somewhat skeptical view as to its value. Not because I'm a STEM person, but because I have always adored writing and reading and was worried about what an AP English class would look like. Nightmares flashed in my head of 9 months of formulaic writing and mountains of busywork to prepare students for an exam that would end up testing speed writing and shallow complexity.
I was wrong. Yes, this class will prepare you for the AP Lang exam. But it won't just do that.
Along the way, you will answer discussion questions with growing enthusiasm. You will write exam essays that demonstrate a genuinely sophisticated understanding of the question and you will feel as if you grew just a little bit writing them. You will write a research paper about the American Foreign Service and have a bit more hope for our country. You will write deeply personal essays about yourself and the places that matter to you. You will read books for book clubs that make you laugh and cry and then you will discuss them with your classmates -- and afterwards maybe, just maybe, the world will feel a bit richer because you've explored another small part of it. You will write. Write with power, I think. The power to persuade and make other people feel things. And you will read with greater joy because you now know the power of words.
Mrs. Inspektor is one of the best teachers that I've ever had. Yes, her grading is strict. But it is always informative and always kind. Her morning messages will make you laugh and think, often at the same time. She will answer desperate and slightly incoherent emails written at 5 a.m. and give you extensions because you got behind while reading Ulysses. She will care about you as a person and, when those nine months are over, probably understand more about you than most people.
Take this class. Please. You will grow as a person and a writer. I think, in a way, that developing the first is necessary for the development of the latter. You will learn from and be challenged by your classmates -- your friends -- and you will reciprocate.
And when you write that final essay on the AP English Language and Composition exam, maybe you'll feel a bit like you've reached C. P. Cavafy's Ithaka. As you sit there, I hope you realize that your journey, like mine, has been long. I hope that you too have faced Laistrogynians and Cyclops when you stare blankly at an essay prompt, you too have felt that rare excitement when you get that allusion or make a connection. Because the exam, in and of itself, gives you very little. But:
AMAZING class!!!
Posted by Sarah Coppola on 05/28/2020- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely!! Out of all the AP exams I've taken, AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor prepared me the most for its exam. She had us reading and writing in depth every day with discussion questions, daily morning messages, book clubs, and practice essays. When the exam was changed due to COVID-19, she immediately tailored her class to best prepare us for the exam, focusing nearly every assignment to helping us improve our rhetorical analysis essays. Although this class has a heavy workload, none of her assignments were busy work; everything was valuable.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
The average amount of time I spent per day was probably around one to one and a half hours. Some days it was just thirty minutes and others, particularly during AFSA, it was around two and a half hours. Overall, I typically spent 8-9 hours a week on this course.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I loved ALL of the assignments and found all of them valuable, but my favorites were the book clubs! It was such a blessing to have the ability to form friendships with my classmates through these, even though we're scattered across the globe. I found them valuable in learning how to pick apart and analyze a piece of literature or nonfiction because there was always something more to consider as I got to actively hear and discuss different interpretations and analyses.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
For sure! In the past, I've always loved reading and writing fiction but never experienced much of a passion for reading and writing nonfiction. While we did read and analyze some literature, this class focuses mainly on nonfiction works and the use of rhetorical devices in them, and as I saw myself growing in my ability to analyze the works and express my own ideas more fluidly, I found myself loving both the reading and writing of nonfiction.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes!! We have a Skype chat where we ask each other for advice, comment on each other's essays, and chat.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would recommend this class to any student willing to work hard!! You don't have to have a particularly strong background in writing to do well; Mrs. Inspektor provides droves of advice, practice, and feedback. :)
A great class with a great teacher!
Posted by David Brodsky on 05/24/2020- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes! We wrote many practice essays throughout the year, especially toward the end of the course. Going into the (shortened) AP Exam, I was as prepared as I could be.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
The coursework was fairly light. I usually spent 1-1.5 hours per day on weekdays. Occasionally there were assignments I left for the weekend (i.e. finishing a draft of a major assignment), but those were usually very manageable.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I liked the reading, except for Walden (a book I strongly disliked). I didn't particularly enjoy AFSA or the creative assignments, but they were valuable experiences. Mrs. Inspektor always provided detailed feedback on essays, which I found very helpful.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes. I'm a STEM person who disliked English going into the class, but I saw the bright side of reading and writing. I found AP Lang to be more logical than I thought it would be. I learned how to read more carefully and dissect a piece of writing, to think more deeply, and to articulate my thoughts more fluidly.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
It was fun to meet classmates in book clubs, edit and comment on each other's essays, and even casually chat.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would recommend this class to anyone. You don't need to be a language arts person to do well in and learn a lot from AP Lang.
Cannot recommend enough
Posted by Jocelyn K on 05/24/2020This class was one of the major highlights of my high school years. AP classes can often focus too much on preparing for the exam, but throughout this class, Mrs. Inspektor and Ms. Pochily placed a strong emphasis on making us better readers, writers, and critical thinkers. This is not to say we didn't focus on exam prep, we typically did at least one assignment each week designed to prep us for the exam in the first semester, and sometimes a few more each week in the second semester.
I typically spent about 1-1.5 hour per weekday on this course, from reading and responding to the daily Morning Messages (~20 minutes) to completing assigned reading or discussion prompts, or doing a timed essay. My favorite assignments were the special creative assignments we did: the place essay and the literacy narrative. I also found the AFSA essay to be challenging, but an especially rewarding assignment we worked on this year. I loved that we got the opportunity to do these assignments that are a bit outside the norm for AP prep, but these definitely helped me to grow as a writer and a researcher.
I highly recommend this course to literally every high school student, if they're willing to work hard. I absolutely loved this course, and my interactions with my classmates on the wwwboard, discussion question threads, and the debate room were amazing. One final note: I was in Ms. Pochily's section of this course, and I went into it a little nervous about how being in this section would work. If you're in this section—you have absolutely nothing to worry about!! Every student has access to the same resources, and the only difference is that Ms. Pochily, rather than Mrs. Inspektor, grades and comments on your assignments. Ms. Pochily's feedback is encouraging, thorough, and constructive, and I am so grateful to have had her as my section teacher this year. If you have the opportunity-take this course!!
A Valuable Class
Posted by Grace on 05/23/2020- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely, I have never been more prepared for a test than for AP Lang.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
In the 1st semester, I generally put in one hour and thirty minutes a day and there were definitely days were I only ended up putting in forty minutes of work. During the AFSA essay, I put in around 15 hours throughout the entire week. I am someone who needs to be extremely prepared in order to feel confident for an exam so during the week before the exam, I spent around two to three hours a day writing the timed essays.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The AFSA essay was probably the gate opener for when I truly began to love AP English Language. The entire process of researching a topic that I personally chose was such a wonderful learning opportunity. Uncovering and searching for key information also became fun and entertaining. I also truly enjoyed both the Place essay and the Literacy essay as they allowed my creativity to flow free. These two assignments encouraged me to demonstrate my own abilities and also pushed me to explore the imagination of my peers. I also really loved the timed essays. They felt like a game, a quiz that I need to "beat" and as I kept doing them, I began to feel more comfortable with them.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I used to be horrible in the field of language. My grades for math and language were always vastly different and I could never get myself to enjoy the subject. But this course taught me how to write an essay organically and the beauty of the English language. I used to hold a deep disdain for the Rhetorical analysis, but that dislike has faded and it is now my favorite form of essay. I still can't befriend the multiple choice section but everything else has become a lifelong friend.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Extremely, I found that communication is such a vital key in broadening your horizons and world view. The book clubs were such a joy and I found many great friends and wonderful conversations through talking with other classmates.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
This is an excellent class as it promotes such healthy learning habits. I will recommend this class to students who are willing to receive criticism and willing to change. As well as anybody who is willing to learn and use the materials offered to the best of their abilities. Time management and diligence is very important in this class. There a lot of great assignments and once you start slacking off, it is very hard to get back on track. Keep a clear schedule and do your best to finish your assignments on time.
This course is AMAZING!
Posted by Adjan Boogaard on 05/22/2020This course was honestly amazing. I went into it high standards, really high standards actually. Quite a few of my close friends had taken this course, gotten a 5 on the AP, where full of praise for Mrs. Inspektor, and some of them took her summer college application essay workshop as well. I was slightly skeptical, it couldn't be that good, but looking back, it was so much better than what I expected. It is truly amazing, and I can guarantee you will learn a lot.
One of the things I really love about this course is the great variety of things we did, from daily responses, smaller book clubs, creative essays, AP style essays, the AFSA essay, discussing things we read as a class, and so much more. It is amazing how many different things we did and how it all contributed to preparing for the exam. I took this course in the 2019-2020 school year, and the COVID-19 pandemic threw a curve ball at us, we ended up only writing the rhetorical analysis essay and taking it online, but Mrs. Inspektor was there to guide us through all the changes, and specialize our final AP prep the last couple weeks to suit our specific needs.
The course is hard work, as good of teacher as Mrs. Inspektor is, you only gain as much as you invest into this class, but it was fantastic for getting ready for the AP but also becoming a more critical thinker and a better writer. How much time I spent on this course differed substantially. Normally, I spent roughly 8 hours a week on this course, but every now and then, such as with the AFSA research essay, I spent closer to 14 hours a week on it.
An amazing class!
Posted by Trevor Stepp on 05/22/2020Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Most definitely. The many practice essays throughout the year really helped me prepare. I was terrible at the essays at the beginning of the school year. But Mrs. Inspektor's feedback and morning messages really helped me elevate my work. By the time I was in the AP exam, I was very confident and ready.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
The homework is split per day, and it is important to try to follow those guidelines. Every day there is a morning message that usually takes 20-25 minutes to read and complete. The rest of the homework varied per week. I would say I put in 7-10 hours of work into this course each week.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The essay prompts were probably the most valuable assignments for me, but my favorites assignment was the place essay. The place essay is an essay where you choose a location that means a lot to you, and you write about that place with detailed descriptions.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes. I've always loved reading, but I've never been interested in writing. This class was a first for me. I usually don't enjoy writing classes, but this class was very interesting, and, dare I say it, fun! I now hold a newfound interest in writing.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes. There were a few assignments where we graded each other's essays, which was very helpful because it gave us a closer look at the rubric for the AP exam essays. We got to be the "exam graders" for the day. There are also discussion questions we sometimes did. The debate room was also a good way to discuss thoughts, as long as it didn't get out of hand.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
If you are thinking of taking this class, let me tell you: it's totally worth it! You do have to be willing to sometimes put in extra hours for certain projects and work hard. Even if you aren't a huge fan of reading/writing, I would still suggest this course! The class made me enjoy writing more, and I got to know some amazing classmates!
This class is unlike any other.
Posted by Delali Bruce on 05/22/2020This class is unlike any other AP prep class I have ever taken. Not only did this course adequately prepare me for the AP, but I learned so much more. So often AP classes can seem overly focused on getting ready for the test in May but what I admired about this class was that, although we did specific exam work weekly, I always felt that it was for the bigger more important goal of becoming better writers and critical thinkers and not just earning a perfect score on the exam. There are so many additional meaningful assignment and projects, such as the AFSA essay in which I learned so much about researching and about the Foreign Service. In general, I would spend about an average of 1 to 1.5 hours a day on the work. The workload or difficulty never felt overwhelming because the assignments were so well organized and structured - most of the time, when something is assigned, it is due that same day, making it very easy to stay on top of things and not fall behind.
One of the aspects that I was initially worried about coming into the course was the non-live component. Not once did that prove to be a problem. This class is built on discussion and interaction between students - from the discussion questions, to the WWW board, to the second semester debate room, I have engaged in deep, complex analysis and discussion that is actually unique, and I think better, than a live discussion as people have more time to formulate their thoughts and everyone is required to chime in.
I have grown as a writer and a person through this class.
Looking for a challenging course? Look no further!
Posted by Gabrielle Ly on 05/21/2020- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes, I felt extremely prepared. I thought that Mrs. Inspektor did a wonderful job of acclimating to the new exam format by completely changing our syllabus and coursework. She kept us informed on any changes and updates that the College Board offered. I felt less anxious about the new format, knowing that my teacher was invested into this along with us.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I spent roughly 45 minutes to an hour a day reading the morning message, answering any discussion questions, and reading any articles. During weeks with large assignments, I spent up to 9 hours researching and writing.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I especially appreciated the AFSA essay. It honed my research skills, my familiarity with citing and formatting, and most importantly, after almost completely rewriting my final essay on the weekend it was due, I learnt the importance of being excited about the subject matter. Even though I was very close to the deadline, I fully enjoyed the whole process of writing and researching.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes, I came into this course looking for something different than my history of literature classes. I enjoyed analyzing news articles, cartoons, and classics like Walden. I came away from this class loving research papers, something I never expected.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Part of my enjoyment was due to my interactions with my classmates. I enjoyed the camaraderie and getting the opportunity to discuss and talk with students from different walks of lives.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I recommend this to a student who is eager to work hard and loves to discuss and delve into ideas.
I cannot recommend this class enough
Posted by Caleb Alons on 05/21/2020Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
By all means, YES. Sure, taking any AP exam is nerve-wracking, but Mrs. Inspektor prepares us so thoroughly, I felt at home as if I was completing just another homework assignment on the exam.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
The homework is split into daily segments, which I highly recommend following the daily deadlines to stay on pace. Each "morning message" assignment ranged from taking 15 minutes to an hour (but I'd say 75% of them were about 25 minutes to complete). Discussion question responses take longer, and of course there are essays each week. I put in around 6-10 hours a week on classwork, depending on what we were doing. Creative projects like the AFSA research paper took hours, but there were also many weeks that were normal readings and DBQs that didn't take much time.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The morning messages are like daily mental workouts that build your abilities up gradually throughout the whole year. I highly recommend putting effort into these to get the most out of the course as possible. In addition, the creative essays and exam prep essays really ground you in excellent adult-sounding writing that all helps on exam day.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
YES. I am a math person. Always have been and always will be. But after taking this class, I now have a special place for reading and writing as well.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
VERY. I would go out on a limb to say that the interactions with my peers made the class as fun as it was. The class is filled with extremely unique and talented students, and it's super fun to get to know each other over the course of the year, collaborating and studying together. It's an incredibly healthy and enjoyable atmosphere to work in.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
All this said: this course is HARD. It's definitely not a cop-out "easy" class. You will be challenged, you'll probably feel horrible some weeks, and it can get stressful. Anyone taking this course should be well-organized (it's hard to juggle complex daily assignments) and have good discipline. I should clarify that any student eager to improve will totally thrive in this class! Trust me: you will NEVER be bored in Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lang.
My favorite class this year, and I've always hated English classes
Posted by Zach Schmidt on 05/21/2020Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes, I feel that I was well prepared for the AP exam. I think the discussion questions and the occasional exam-grader-for-a-day assignments we did throughout the year helped the most.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
Per day, I probably spent 1-1.5 hours on required work. A week, I probably spent between 6-10 hours depending on what assignments were due.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
In terms of assignments, the place essay was probably my favorite. As far as optional things go, I enjoyed participating in the debate room. It certainly had some major flaws, but the majority of the discussions were still quite fun.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
This is tough question, because I have traditionally disliked any and all English and writing classes. However, this class ended up being my favorite class I took this year. I am still uninterested in the subject, but I certainly find it more enjoyable.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
You have to be willing to work hard. Major projects like the AFSA essay often required several hours of additional research and writing per day. The first semester will be rough, but once you get the hang of the class, the amount of time you spend will go down.
My favorite class this year!
Posted by Kristin Beal on 05/18/2020Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely! I don't think I could have been prepared on my own, we generally wrote an essay every 1-3 weeks on one of the three prompts and also worked on analyzing passages to help us not only learn, but improve on our writing skills.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
It varies on the assignment, some times it will take an hour a day when other times the whole week is focused on one big project and timing varies per student in that situation. It's not terribly difficult to get into spending time on writing responses to MM's, student's discussions, or writing an essay and it becomes quite fun. A word of warning, I have fallen into the trap of procrastinating (it isn't worth it, you are going to have to do the assignment eventually) only to realize writing is not that bad, don't follow my mistakes.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I loved the place essay assignment! It was a hard task to describe with words something that I have seen with my eyes, but it was one assignment that helped me learn to write emotions more clearly. I also enjoyed several essay assignments, especially the recent timed essay that Mrs. I has added.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I dreaded writing essays, and when I would finally be drawn to it I would write the bare minimum, but I had a lot of fun writing essays in this course. Reasons being, sometimes other students will respond with their own encouragement and it is always graded intricately and highlights exactly what you could improve instead of using generalizations.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
The students in this class are very well-though, and in the case of the debate room, they can develop a very interesting idea that may contradict other ideas without coming across as aggressive. I have made some very interesting friends through book clubs and tricky discussions, and it has been quite fun!
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
You need to be willing to change some, if you are like me you would have been reluctant to join the class, and yet I'm still alive. Don't procrastinate, essays really don't take that long, especially if you have a general idea where you want it to go. I have learned that I can write beyond with my hand, I can write with my thoughts and it is really quite remarkable that Mrs. Inspektor (and the wonderful Ms. Pochily) helped me find that about myself. I am so sad this class is over, I have found not just a class but a community of wonderful writers that helped me grow.
This class will teach you how to communicate well through writing
Posted by Elisabeth Bloom on 05/16/2020This class definitely prepared me for this exam. Both teachers were very familiar with the rubrics for the essays and emphasized exactly what needed to be done to do well on the exam. It's hard for me to give an estimate, but I would say up to 10 hours a week, with more when we had major assignments due. I personally enjoyed the literacy narrative assignment! As someone who has always fled from creative writing, I didn't think it would go very well but I ended up proud of the result. This made me realize that I am capable of creative writing. All in all, this course helped me understand what qualities make good writing effective, and both the teachers and students were helpful in pointing out which areas I needed to improve in. If you want to work hard and become a (much!) better writer, I highly recommend this course. It's definitely one of my favorite classes I've taken, and probably the most beneficial class of high school for me.
I absolutely loved this class!!
Posted by Arabella Wronko on 05/14/20201. Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? It definitely did. I was super worried as the exam got closer, but the amount of rhetorical analysis essay practice that we did really put my mind to ease. Mrs. Inspektor always gives such amazing feedback which helps you grow as a writer, but also understand your mistake and learn how to fix them for next time.
2. How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course? This honestly varied per week. Sometimes I would spend about an hour/two hours depending on the reading and writing/video watching required. Other times it could be as little as 30 minutes. I think it was all worth it though.
3. Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? I'm not sure if this counts as specifically valuable for the exam itself, but my absolute favorite assignment was by far the Place Essay. That was the most fun and easy for me to write for the entire year and I absolutely loved it. I was actually kind of nervous about it at first, but once I started writing and read Mrs. Inspektor's MM regarding the project, it was so so fun. Mrs. Inspektor's feedback was so sweet it made me cry (happy tears, don't worry) This essay was such a fun break from the more intense Rhetorical Analysis essays.
4. Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? Definitely. I found everyone to be super nice and respectful and I've connected with a lot of them on social media. It's pretty cool that we're all in a class together and become friends without ever seeing each other face to face. Technology for the win!!
5. What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)? I think to do well in this course you really have to engage your mind. There can't be any surface writing; you really have to write. If you're like me and love writing, this is definitely a class for you. I would 100% recommend this class for any high schooler who loves to read and write. Mrs. Inspektor has an amazing teaching style, she's always super supportive and encouraging, and she always makes sure we know she's just an email away. I loved this class and I'm so sad it's over.
Thank you for an amazing class and a great year Mrs. I! :)
AP Lang: Hard Work and Understanding in the first semester is crucial
Posted by Erik Uerkwitz on 05/13/2020The course most certainly prepped me for the AP Exam. I could have done it on my own, as I have in the past for other APs, but having a course is a nice touch, and having an accurate grader helps a lot. The amount of time I invested into the course certainly reflected both my grade[s] and performance in the course. The class provides plenty of opportunities to do well, and work hard, such as the Discussion Questions, many essays, and general Morning Messages. Overall, I would put in about an hour a day, which may seem like little, but this excludes reading the texts and essays, as well as revising essays. With those included, I imagine the average input to be slightly higher.
The most valuable assignment, for me, was the Place Essay and Literacy Narrative. In both, I reflected upon myself as a personal, by deciding to examine my flaws. In my Literacy Narrative I explored my speech impediment and its relation to my view of writing, while in my Place Essay assignment, I made allusions to the idea of Proust's Madeline, and how we all have "wolves" within ourselves. At first, I believed the latter to be slightly misinterpreted by Mrs. I, but I think that the beauty of these assignments is that they can be taken anyway one wishes. The first semester was also a struggling time for me, and Mrs. I's comments on my literacy narrative certainly got me through a hurtle of self reflection.
If there is a piece of advice I can give to AP Lang students [this applies to AP students in general, however Language and composition especially] it is to build firm foundations in the first semester. To be frank, I tried hard in the first semester but I didn't value a high score on my AP essays simply because it felt "far away" - I did the same thing on AP Euro and Psychology, but listening to the morning messages, and truly trying to be the best helps establish firm foundations for the second semester. Instead, I had to sort of rebuild my understanding of AP essays in the second semester. I was able to do it, and will likely get 5s on every AP I am taking, but it's a brutally annoying process that takes time, I would have much rather just done well on early essays.
My largest criticism with the class was the Debate Room. It's not the idea that having a place to clash ideas upon each other is bad, but when you have a class full of 20 students with the exact same ideals, and then one or two students who disagree, then a problem arises. Either those two students are quite literally unable to argue their points as they are completely outnumbered, or the debate just cuts short because the former provides an irrefutable argument. This is not to blame on Mrs. I or the idea of debate, but an abolishment of the Debate Room entirely would suit the general atmosphere of the class far better. The other issue arises when nobody disagrees. Instead, it becomes an echo chamber of "I agree" and "Here's some more evidence" and "I agree" again and again, completely violating the idea of rhetoric which is to inform, persuade, and build arguments. As somebody who participated in the Debate Room almost daily at one point simply to make this argument, I'd propose for a reconsideration of its place in the course. Perhaps debates found in the Room are better suited for Reddit, or other classes. [This is a criticism of a feature of the class, aside from the DR, I found the class to be beautifully constructed].
Thank you for a truly awesome class. I enjoyed it.
Excellent class!
Posted by Leigh Stern on 06/30/2019I was definitely very uneasy going into this class. This was, afterall, an AP. But even more than that it was an English AP, and to a kid that was coming out of a small writing class which met in a library once a week with a friend, that was as daunting as you could get. The class proved itself right in this, but in such a good way. Ms. Garner and Mrs. Inspektor were incredible teachers and both amazingly supportive, while my classmates were all intensely dedicated to doing well.
But on to the points :)
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Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? Absolutely. I'd heard that after coming out of this class that you could crank essays out in forty minutes without any panic involved, but figured that I'd never be able to do that. But you know what? I did. I can now, just like everyone promised, crank out an essay in forty minutes or under, and can plan out an entire paragraph before I even write it because I know exactly what must go into it for me to get my point across. I did struggle a lot with getting a handle of exactly what I should be aiming for on the exam essays, but Ms. Garner, Mrs. Inspektor, the TA's, and my classmates were all so incredibly supportive! The criticism I was given was always tough, but it was never unkind. To add to the incredible amount of essays we wrote, we also did a good number of multiple choice exams in the spring semester, and there were all very helpful not only to get familiar with the type of questions that were going to be on the exam, but also in finding out what I tend to have trouble with in these types of exams in general. So after doing so many essays and practice exams, yes, I did feel very confident about walking into the testing room, and felt comfortable knowing that even if the exam writers did throw something unusual at us, I would be able to figure out how to handle it.
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How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course? I'd estimate that on average I spent around 1-1.5 hours per day, though it could easily go to 2 hours if I wasn't full-on with concentration. I could very, very rarely do my work under that range, but I did at times have to go over when we had big assignments (I think I spent around 3-4 hours per day when we were writing the AFSA essay). The class is definitely demanding, but I found that the more time I put into it, the more I got out of it and the more I loved it.
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Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? So many! I won't lie and say that I loved every assignment, because the truth is that I didn't. I wasn't crazy about the AFSA book club, nor was I exactly jumping up and down with joy during the AFSA writing period. But even when I wasn't totally on board with the current assignment, I could directly see the benefit it was truly having. But back to the point - what assignments did I love most? I loved the literacy narrative and quite a few of the book clubs, and I really liked reading the Morning Messages.
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Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? This is an interesting question. I already liked writing, so I can't say that the course had an impact on changing that aspect of it really. But it did make me feel much more confident about what I could already do and much more excited to try new things.
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Did you find your communications with the other students to be interesting or valuable? Of course! I actually regret not being more active in communicating, but I absolutely loved talking with the other students. The book clubs were perfect for getting more comfortable with people, and the feedback that I got on my essays from fellow classmates was always so constructive and kind!
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What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)? What sort of student would do well here? One who actually wanted to take the class. I don't think you'd enjoy it if you were only halfway invested in it. Yes, this class takes work. And yes, it's hard. But it's also rewarding. And it's fun, when you put the work into. Was it worth it for me to take it? Entirely, and I would oh-so-happily take it again. So if you're looking for a good English class that will challenge you and will push you to grow to levels which you never thought you could, then please take this class. You won't regret it.
Rewarding Class!
Posted by Christian Tessier on 06/24/2019Mrs. Inspektor's AP Language class improved my writing skill drastically and prepared me for the AP exam. However, this class did more than just prepare me for the exam. I learned about writing with clear, focused language and organization. In addition, Mrs. Inspektor focuses on bringing only the best writing out of her students. This helped me to raise my standards and improve my writing on many levels. Interesting debates and discussions with other students were also a valuable aspect of this class, as they offered us a chance to communicate, share ideas, and push each other. This is not an easy class, but it is extremely rewarding if you want to become a better writer and are willing to work hard to get there.
I'm going to miss it
Posted by Skylar Gaertner on 06/19/2019Going into this course, I was very nervous and a bit overwhelmed since I had never taken any classes like this one. Looking back, I realize that I essentially knew nothing about AP Lang, and my first few essay grades certainly reflected that :P. However, I am shocked at how quickly this course enabled me to raise my grades and grasp an enormous amount of information. Although it definitely required a lot of time and effort, it seems like this course did an excelent job addressing each student's personal difficulties, and by the end of the class, I actually felt pretty confident about the exam--something I would have previously thought impossible. One of my favorite aspects of the class was the student interaction. The book clubs and disscussions made made me feel far more engaged but also just made the class enjoyable. I actually found myself exceted to get up in the morning and read the Morning Message. All in all, I came away from this class with far more than an exam score. I've become more informed about government and foreign policy, I've learned about essay writing (something that will certainly be useful in college and beyond), I've explored debates and topics that I had not previously considered, and I've come away with the ability to better analyze and think about the world. I will miss this class!
This was a fantastic class!
Posted by Payton Lo on 06/08/2019When I walked into the AP test room, I was barely nervous at all, something I can solely attribute to the preparation this class gave me. From the get go, Ms. Garner and Mrs. Inspektor were encouraging us in the things we did well, and pushing us to grow in our abilities.
I was usually putting in around 1.5-2 hours per day. Between the reading, discussion questions, and morning messages, there were many different activities to complete. During the spring semester we took a bunch of past AP tests for practice, which were useful. It helped me get a feel for the tests so when I took the actual one, it felt more familiar. We did a few different book clubs where we got together with various students and analyzed an AP-level book together, something I thought was helpful for seeing other perspectives on the same text.
I think a student who is ready and willing to learn would do well in this class. If you want to do well on the AP exam and are willing to listen to (as well as give!) feedback, this class is a good fit for you. You'll not only be prepared for the AP exam, you'll also grow in your writing, analytical, and reading abilities.
Hard but Rewarding
Posted by Hope Liu on 06/07/2019When my parents and I were deciding what to do for my English/writing classes for high school, Mrs. Inspektor's name was constantly brought up. I would say more than 10 of my friends have taken her AP Lang or Lit (or both) class and have nothing but the highest praise.
When asked about Mrs. Inspektor's AP classes, my friends would always say "it's a very hard class, but you will learn so much." Going into this class, I will say I was a bit terrified. Some of the smartest kids I know have said that they struggled with her class. But after a few weeks, I didn't feel like it was difficult at all. I think it was because I truly loved what I was learning. Becoming a stronger writer was something that was very important to me and Mrs. I pushed me to strive for more. She taught me how to deeply revise even when I thought that nothing more can be done.
Mrs. Inspektor taught me how to truly love writing and to be proud of what I wrote. Most importantly, her class has taught me that I can learn to love something that I never thought I would. A class that seemed impossibly hard suddenly can seem easy with the right attitude and Mrs. Inspektor enabled that attitude. Thank you!
- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
I think this course made me feel very prepared for the AP exam. In a way, I was almost excited to take the exam so I could put all that I had learned into action.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I put around 1-2 hours a day into the course, depending on the day. Much of Mrs. Inspektor's work that she assigns is fairly flexible and she is very understanding when it comes to busy schedules so I was able to work with my schedule and get everything in.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The AFSA competition essay was probably one of my favorite assignments. I think it was really great to be able to work with the goal of entering the competition. It gave me a more short term goal that I could for rather than everything riding up to the AP exam. It was difficult but probably the essay I'm most proud of.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I wasn't planning on going into English or writing in college and I still am not planning on that but the course has shown me that it isn't as difficult as I thought it would be.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes, I loved talking to the other students and being able to discuss all the different things we read.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I think any student who wants to improve their writing skills and is willing to work hard can succeed in this class.
If you want to learn how to love writing, take this class.
Posted by Jake Dalton on 06/03/2019At the beginning of this year I thought I had writing down. I had already taken AP Lit from this same amazing teacher, and writing had turned from an abhorance to something that flowed naturally from my fingers. The amazing thing about this class is how much it can stretch you, if you let it. If you commit to the class, really give it everything, its return on investment is incredible. Every assignment pushes you in different directions as a writer, pushing you from creative writing to intense research essays. If you stick with this class and this teacher, you will grow as a writer, a person, and as a thinker.
Highly Recommended
Posted by Dorothy Johnson on 05/31/2019- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
I felt extraordinarily well prepared. We did so many essays throughout the year that I had hardly any anxiety when I read the exam prompts. - How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
One to two hours per day, and maybe eight hours a week. If you don't procrastinate, the workload is heavy but certainly manageable. I sometimes procrastinated, and during the AFSA season, I'd sometimes have to work for 5 hours periods. Bottom line: you'll sink if you don't keep up. - Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The Literacy Narrative and Place Essay helped us use creativity to enhance our writing and critical thinking skills. Since I love creative writing, these were fun assignments and somewhat therapeutic! - Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
YES! While I have always adored writing, editing, and analyzing words, I had not realized the nuances or extents of those interests. - Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
In class, our interaction was almost always valuable and enlightening. Outside of class, I made some wonderful friends. - What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would strongly recommend this course to students with any interests in writing or communication.
Amazing!!
Posted by Cynthia on 05/30/2019This is the best English class that I've taken! I was dubious about taking this class online due to the lack of face-to-face interaction for discussion. However, thanks to my high-level peers and Mrs. Inspektor's fabulous guidance, the discussions were rich despite their written format. We had many opportunities to organize live skype discussions for book clubs and there were numerous ways to interact with classmates, which cultivated a great environment!
Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely! The essay-section of the test was nothing new and it was easier than much of the writing we had been pushed to do. I personally struggled with a couple passages from the MCQ section, but Mrs. Inspektor was very helpful in preparation for these passages. Mrs. Inspektor is great at catering to our needs; we even had some live chat sessions as a class when we struggled with comprehension of older writing. Obviously, the test was still a challenge, but we were definitely equipped.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I generally averaged around 2hrs. Sometimes assignments took much longer, and sometimes I could knock them out in under an hour (if I concentrated). Talking to my classmates, their average times fluctuated depending on their interest and dedication to the class. Many of my classmates were able to do the bare minimum in under an hour each day – however, spending less time showed in grades. If anyone typically goes above and beyond or is a perfectionist, expect to spend 2+ hours a day. If you tend to do the bare minimum, you will still gain a lot, but the AP level really comes from what you put into it. If you follow Mrs. Inspektor's assignments and work hard you will reap loads of benefits and be prepared for the test!
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
Yes! I love research, so the American Foreign Service Essay Contest was particularly enjoyed. Even though I love research, an essay of mine without Mrs. Inspektor's and my classmates' and my TA's comments would have been a weak attempt. The feedback really brought my essay to fruition.
I did not enjoy the book-clubs as much as my classmates, but they were still a great motivation to read more books.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Of course! Formal and timed writing is much less intimidating. I do not plan to become an author or anything, but the skills that I learned will benefit any career. This class also boosted my passion for argument, logic, and research (but if research scares you, do not be scared of this class! Research is only a tiny part of it – sadly. There is much more language analysis and writing 😊)
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Very much so. I met people from all walks of life, with varied political and religious views, yet everyone was nice and encouraging and was willing to civilly debate differences in the "debate room." Everyone is driven and is performing at a high-level, which makes the class engaging. I have some life-long friends from the class!
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would recommend this course to anyone, but motivated and engaged students with a solid base in English and writing would do very well. There is not much grammar instruction and very little remedial anything. Mrs. Inspektor is very kind, gracious, and helps you in any area you struggle with, but the nature of the class is AP-level. As an AP class you are expected to come in as a high-level student for Mrs. Inspektor to turn into fabulous writers. Mrs. Inspektor turns each of us into writers with the ability to be published, but she does not use magic potions (sadly) – you have to put in as much effort as she requires to do this. If you are willing to work and are excited to learn, this is a class for you! Even if you aren't excited for English, this class will probably change that if you dedicate yourself to learning. Mrs. Inspektor will not disappoint!
*Side note: there are a lot of self-paced components to the course, which I struggled with. Especially at the end, you must be able to manage your time independently. The beginning of the course is good practice, though!
Fantastic Course! Thank you Mrs. I!
Posted by Gavin George on 05/27/2019Before I answer the bulleted questions, I want to say that, going into this course, I did not like writing. I was decent at it, but I did not enjoy the process, what I saw as the work that I had to invest. Mrs. I's AP Lang course completely altered these negative conceptions. Through her incredible guidance and well-planned-out coursework, as well as the encouraging "classroom" atmosphere, I was able to blossom as a writer, discovering a voice that up until now was lying dormant and growing massively in confidence for my own writing capabilities. From the beginning of the year, for each essay I turned in, Mrs. I gave me thoughtful, in-depth, personalized comments on both positive aspects of my writing and areas in which I could improve. This led from me agonizing over less than a page for two hours at the beginning of the year to pouring out two and three masterful pages of essay in forty minutes at the end. And while my writing is the area that saw the most direct nourishing, I also honed my analytical and perceptive abilities, developing a critical viewpoint through which I can delve into a writer's meaning and purpose, no longer hindered merely by the face value of their words.
Anyways, onto the points:
This course undoubtedly prepared me for the AP exam. From the beginning of the year, we wrote a balanced schedule of the three different exam essays, on all of which we were sure to receive insightful guiding commentary from Mrs. I. We also practiced amply the multiple choice question section of the test, for which Mrs. I once again had plentiful helpful tips and tricks. Each of the other bountiful activities Mrs. I assigned, although usually serving their own purposes as stand-alone work, also worked in some way to build necessary skills for the exam.
I spent two hours a day on average, doing less rarely and more - up to 4 hours if there was a particularly big assignment that I wanted to crush out - almost as rarely. The courseload was very balanced in general, however, and I felt that it was very manageable.
My favorite assignments were probably the Discussion Questions, in which we would answer short prompts that encouraged critical thinking into that day's reading assignment. I feel these stimulated my analytical growth (that I mentioned before) and prepared me for composing flowing essay paragraphs for the exam.
As I said in my preramble, this course completely revolutionized my outlook on writing.
My communications with my classmates was very valuable. Our interactions were all very positive, even when we were criticizing each other as best we could. More importantly, however, through reviewing others' work and having my own work reviewed by so many other growing writers, I was able to get many different opinions on what I might improve, as well as gather from others' writing what I might in my own writing polish and iron out.
I definitely recommend this course to students willing to invest time and hard work. You will improve your writing immesurably, and have fun doing it!
Highly recommend!
Posted by Ashley M. on 05/27/2019I certainly felt prepared to take the AP exam after this class. I felt that this course prepared me for more than the exam, though. I am a much stronger communicator- both verbal and written. Although I did not necessarily relish every assignment, each taught me something valuable. It took me more than two hours a day to complete the homework assignments and reading. A student who would excel in this class may have determination and curiosity as well as an appreciation of literature.
Amazing class, amazing year!
Posted by Crystal Mathew on 05/27/2019Taking this class was a big jump from learning on my own the previous year, but the material was never something I couldn't learn and pick up after practice. This course really prepared me for the AP exam, all the discussions that forced us to start thinking deeper into the passages we read, the numerous essays we wrote, and practice exams with feedback really helped me work on improving my skills in time for the test. During the first few weeks, I only spent about an hour (or two at the most). Later in the year, I would spend about two hours (more if I was working on an essay or another project). My favorite assignments were the ASFA essay, mostly because it was so hard. Despite the work and hours spent researching, writing, and revising, it taught me a lot about getting the research and writing the essay for a research paper. My other favorite was the Place essay, it was really fun to write a more relaxed (in the sense that we didn't have to complete any research or analyze a passage) essay about a part of ourselves in a place. It's the essay I'm most proud of!
I would definitely recommend this class to other students who are really interested in English or just want to improve their skills. The class is a lot of work, so one needs to be prepared for that. A student who stays active in their studied and strives to go the extra mile with creativity would do very well in this course.
Overall, this course has taught me a lot about writing and reading. I can't merely read any text without thinking about the author's meaning, tone, syntax, etc. This class was incredible and I really enjoyed it!
One of my favorite classes ever and I'm not even an English person!
Posted by Timothy Alexander on 05/26/2019I'm really sad for this class to end! I'm a math and science person but in many ways I have very similar feelings towards this course as I do towards my favorite math courses. At many times there was almost nothing I hated more than AP Lang but as soon as this tough period was over I would be grateful to what it had taught me. This course helped me appreciate and enjoy, and even absolutely love a subject that had always been an iffy one.
When I came into this course, I had two categorize for how most of my writing assignments. Some of them would be ones that was a subject I was interested in and I would be able to write a great essay that I was proud of, while others would be ones that I just couldn't figure out how to write a remotely decent one. There were few that were in the middle, either I could really display my best writing ability or I couldn't figure how to string two sentences together. In my goals from the beginning of the year my goal was to improve the second category of being able to write an "ok" essay quickly if I needed to. What I absolutely loved about this course is that I was able to improve both of these categories significantly. I can write a decent essay quickly on anything from all of the exam essay practice but we also had a number of big projects where I was really able to improve my best writing and keep working on a essay which was quick good to begin with and make it amazing. The AFSA research essay we had in the spring in particular was such an amazing project that I am and will be proud of for the rest of my life.
Mrs. Inspektor is an amazing teacher who gives great advice and is always looking for how she can help her students! I definitely felt well prepared for the AP test.
For people considering this, just know that what you get from it will be what you put in. I had an amazing experience with this course but it was hard and grueling quite often. A lot fo the responsibility will be on you to complete things and you will only suceed if you put in effort and not just half heartedly do the assignments. All of the assignments are meaningful and there's no busywork so apply yourself fully to it. I usually spent about 7-8 hours a week on it but it ranged from 2-15.
In short, I would highly recommend as long as you are willing to put in the work!
This Course Will Prepare You for the Apocalypse
Posted by Nate Kovscek on 05/23/2019All joking aside, if you want to do well on the AP English Language and Composition test and feel confident going in, this is the course to take. Every assignment was choosen with the test in mind. No matter what you did in this class, it would help with the exam if you put in the effort. I put in at least an hour and a half of work per day for this class. It would sometimes jump into the two and a half to three hours of work, though. This was necessary to get me to the confidence level I had at the end of the year. It may vary for each student, but one should go into this class expecting to put at least an hour and a half of work in every day if they want to succeed in the class.
There was no assignment that I found to be a waste of that time so, naturally, it is hard to choose an assignment that was most valuable. The assignments greatly enhanced my appreciation for good writting. It also made me aspire towards good writing. With that in mind, the most valuable (and actually favorite) assignment that we did this year was the essay we were suppose to write for the AFSA essay contest. I will say that, during this assignment, I spent more time with the class per week more than I ever had the rest of the school year. It was a tough assignment. However, the things one learns, not only about particular case studies on the world stage, but how to craft an argument while using sources (which is very important for the synthesis essay), was worth every minute of research, writing, and revising.
Besides the course content, I know that one of the things that I came away with this year were strong friendships. Even if they don't last forever, I know that I would have gained somethings that couldn't be learned in a classroom, but only comes from conversations with people. They give you different perspectives on things and give you advice. They encourage you, push you as far as you can go, and lighten up your day - especially those days with the big course loads.
In all, the kind of student that would do well in this course would be one that is self-motivated and doesn't despair when they have a ton of work to do. If you are good with those things, I would definitely suggest that you take this course!
Beyond just a Class
Posted by Owen Godbold on 05/23/2019At the begining of this class I made the lowest score possible on the essay rubric--a one. It was a rhetorical analysis essay on Shakespeare, and I BOMBED it. Really, the essay was GARBAGE. About two weeks before the exam I made the second highest score possible on the essay rubric--an eight. My level of growth as a student and more importantly as a person. This class, the students in it, and the teacher (Mrs. Inspektor) will not only push you to do better, but "better" is expected. It might not happen in the first semester, but over the school year you'll have a deeper appreciation for writing and other writers.
The class not only prepared me for the AP Lang Exam (I guess I'll truly find out when I get my scores back :P), but taught me how to schedule my schoolwork, get assignments in on time, and fully get an appreciation of good writing from Richard Rodriquez to Michael Pollan.
AP Lang isn't just "another class"--here you will grow, learn, and grown some more. From gaining appreciation for different writers to seeing how the authors bind their writing together, this class teaches you how to read, interact, and UNDERSTAND passages, books, and as well as how to write a coherent essay.
Hours total per day: I roughly spent over 1.5 hours a day. This really depends on how fast you can read, how dedicated you are, and whether or not you're the kind of person that thinks it's okay to be up at 2am working. Once crunch time started about three weeks before the exam I was spending about 2+ hours a day, but even during the school year be expecting to do 2+ hours a day--especially when you get to the American Foreign Service Association essay.
An amazing class! 10/10
Posted by Thomas P. Pohler on 05/23/2019Since you already have my WWW board response, I'll answer these questions instead.
- I felt the course prepared me very well for the AP exam. The reading we did was especially helpful (for reasons I am not allowed to say).
- These questions are always so tough to answer. Some weeks I didn't put very many, and other weeks I spent a ridiculous amount of time (the AFSA essay springs to mind like a springloaded jackrabbit). I'd guess an average of...I suppose 15 hours, more or less.
- Wow, I'm not sure. It's really hard to pick. The AFSA is the one that stands out in my mind, because it was both so informative and painful to write. Although it wasn't my favorite in a "I'd like to do this again!" kind of way, it'll probably be the one I'll still remember five years down the line.
- This class has made me want to finish writing my book, if that counts. I mean, I don't have the desire to start writing argument essays in my free time or anything, but I'd assume that's to be expected.
- I found it to be interesting and valuable, considering the relative grading skill levels of the other students.
- Students would do well in this course if they were willing to really improve throughout the course. I'd definitely recommend it!
Personal Growth
Posted by Serene on 05/22/2019- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes! We had lots of opportunities to discuss MCQs and review essays. I especially liked the "AP Grader for a day" activity where we graded each other's essays. It helped solidify what the exam essays require.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
On a typical week, I'd say ~6-9. I spent around an hour a weekday. On weeks when we worked on the ASFA essay, there were days where I spent 3-9 hours. For big projects, it all depends on how many days you spread out your work.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The AFSA was definitely very tough, but it broadened my understanding of the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy. It was completely worthwhile, though, as it introduced me to formal writing and forced me to improve my essay organizational skills. I came out of this assignment with a newfound interest in international politics and diplomacy, and now I always make an effort to keep up with foreign affairs because I can understand their basic terminology.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Absolutely! I came into this course fearing English and writing, but now I see how empowering it is to be able to communicate ideas clearly with your own voice. It also has prodded me to become a more knowledgeable and aware individual.
I grew up reading fictions books on a whim and never touched a nonfiction book (except for The Hiding Place and the Bible). I'm a HUGE fan of nonfiction now and I'm always working on reading a book or/and listening to an audiobook.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes!! Classmate comments are to be taken seriously and you are also expected to be considerate and encouraging in your own feedback. This is an invaluable component of the course that you must make the most of!
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Do you want to improve your writing? More importantly, do you want to learn from other people, to try to understand their perspectives, to improve your own thought patterns? If yes to all these questions, then I'd highly recommend you to take this class. You will gain a greater appreciation for other people...not only for the experts and incredible writers behind the nonfiction books but also for the people you are surrounded by every day who have become common.
Compete Review
Posted by Jacob Distelzweig on 05/22/2019- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes. I felt very prepared, walking into the AP exam.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I put in 1-2 hours a day during the year, but leading up to the exam, I upped my practice to about three hours a day.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
AP Lang Review
Posted by Rachel Shey on 05/22/2019- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes, very well! We had a lot of review near the end of the course, and the essays we did throughout the year were all exam essays. I hope I got a 5.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
6-8 hours. Sometimes, up to ten or 11 hours. The course is what you make of it. I did more work than some of my classmates because I polished my essays or composed long responses to morning messages. In general, I spent about an hour a day - reviewing at the end, I spent at least 3 -5 hours a day.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I loved the Place Essay assignment and I also enjoyed the discussion question responses a lot. The Place Essay was a great opportunity for me to flex my writing muscles, and finally write an essay that I had wanted to complete for a long time. Discussion questions were a great way for me to understand the difficult passages we read.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Definitely! Prior to this course my writing was generally more perfunctory, but now I can say that I write more honestly and complexly. I also have more confidence in my writing abilities. I'm sure that the skills I learned in this class will serve me well in college courses!
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Classmate interaction was a highlight of this class! We gave each other comments and interacted on the wwwboard. During Project Walden, classmate comments were a very enjoyable part of the challenge!
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Students who are willing to work, have an interest in English, and have good writing skills are a great fit for this class! I wouldn't recommend this as your first dedicated English class, however - Mrs. Inspektor focuses more on meaning and complex thought than on writing mechanics, so an understanding of mechanics is necessary already.
Take this class!!!!
Posted by Mary B on 05/22/2019Mrs. Inspektor more than fully prepared me for the exam in May. I felt extremely confident walking into the test room that day, and I left feeling like I'd aced the exam. I usually spent about 8-10 hours a week on the class, and spent more during the times of the year we has larger assignments. I think the American Foreign Service Award essay that the class was required to write and submit to the competition was especially valuable as it expanded my overall knowledge of world affairs, which, in turn, helped me on exam day. I now have a greater knowledge and appreciation for English non-fiction, and the wonderful class environment contributed greatly to this as well. I started the school year disliking the non-fiction writing required to complete in the course (to say the least), and I ended the year loving the synthesis, rhetorical analysis, and argument essays. I would definitley recommend this course to hard-working students. The class was not easy, but highly beneficial and rewarding. Thank you, Mrs. Inspektor and Ms. Garner for a truly wonderful year!!!
AP Lang Course Review
Posted by Odelia (Xiao En) Chan on 05/22/2019- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes--ABSOLUTELY!! I was totally unprepared for essay-writing at the very beginning of the course: but I could not have been more prepared for the exam after taking this course.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I usually spend 1-2 hours a day on AP Lang-related work: however, during the first two weeks of class and the last two weeks, I spent upwards of 3 hours each day. For the more intensive projects we've worked on, such as the ASFA essay, I've spent a couple of four-hour days.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I loved the literary narrative assignment and the Place essay. Those two assignments brought out a writing voice I never knew I had, and also helped me heal and grow as a person.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Definitely.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes! I've made new friends, and we've had some rather...interesting...conversations/debates/discussions over both serious and silly things. :P
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I think that self-motivated, hardworking, and interested students would do the best in this course. Lack of any of those three would make this class nearly unbearable, given the workload and subject matter.
AP Lang Review 2018
Posted by Tiffany Chan on 06/05/20181. Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes, definitely. I felt really prepared.
2. How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
It really depends on the assignments. On average I think I used around 8 or 9 hours per week. For the weeks leading up to the exam it was more like 13 hours, as I was doing a lot of optional practice exams.
3. Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I especially enjoyed the creative writing exercises and the ASFA assignment.
4. Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes.
5. Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes. I loved all the discussions we had. It was really nice to have other students respond to your work also.
6. What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Yes, I would recommend this course to all who really wants to learn. You would have to work hard and never give up, but it's worth it. This is definitely one of my favorite courses and I learned so much. You'll never regret taking this class. Mrs. Inspektor is just amazing!!
AP Lang Review
Posted by Shane Byrne on 05/30/20181. Yes, I felt that the course did prepare me for the AP exam.
2. The amount of time I put into work generally differed depending on the assignments. I'd say for a "normal" week it was up to the max of 10 and a minimum of about 7 hours per week, and for work heavy weeks where we had to finish big assignments it was a bit more than that. In fact, I believe the most I spent was about 11 hours one week.
3. I loved the AFSA assignment, as I love modern history and various aspects of it such as peace building. I thought that the creative / bigger essays in general were my favorite and the best I did in.
4. Yes, very much so! In fact, because of AP Lang I've been reading more and have been looking at text and writings in a different way. Each week, we get a copy of the Economist, and I generally disagree with most of their opinions and love to ramble on about how they write things and what they believe in and AP Lang has helped me to be more clear in my arguments and expressing opinions.
5. Yes, I very much so felt that the communication was valuable. I felt this more during the book club discussions, in that people were less like robots so to say responding to different responses or assignments and instead brought more their casual self out, as the discussions were pretty casual.
6. I think that a student with a lot of potential would do amazing in this class, and one that can find the value in a class instead of thinking of it as a requirement. I would recommend this class to other students, but with of course some warnings or helpful things in mind for them to succeed. :)
And you thought AP Lang would be boring?
Posted by Nora Olson on 05/27/2018Ok, I need to be honest. I didn't choose this class. My mom found the AP Lang course online and "highly encouraged" me to take it. I read through the course description and thought "Ok, I guess I'll do this." I turned in my application pretty late and was the last person admitted into Mrs. Inspektor's section of the class. Ha! What a change has occurred in my perspective on this class!
If you think that reading and writing nonfiction is boring, think again. As I read from brilliant authors such as Barbara Ehrenreich and Michael Pollan, nonfiction began to captivate me. I cared about what I was reading, reacting to it and engaging with it. I was enthralled by Ehrenreich's description of low-wage work, writing "disgusting: good description" in the margin of my textbook. I realized that Harry Potter and the Hunger Games aren't the only interesting pieces of literature out there.
A shift also occurred in my approach to writing. When I started out the year, my writing style was still undiscovered, not quite reflecting my true voice. I lacked confidence in my ability to carry a writing project to completion. Now I feel empowered to write. After completing several significant essay projects this year, I know that I can write efficiently and effectively. I know my voice: my humorous voice, my emotional voice, and my academic voice. I'm now planning to write during the summer to nourish the passion I've found.
At its crux, AP Lang is about thinking critically. Mrs. Inspektor trains her students to embrace complexity in the world and seek it out. I've begun to view the world as a place to make discoveries, observing things I would not have before, considering the implications of daily occurrences, thinking about how events relate to deeper issues.
This class would not have impacted me so deeply without Mrs. Inspektor as teacher. She engineered a class that means so much more to me than any AP Lang class from a public high school possibly could. Mrs. Inspektor never taught a formulaic approach to writing. No simple "just write an intro, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion." I actually feel that her class is more than just a high school class about reading and writing. Mrs. Inspektor facilitates an atmosphere of mature conversation among young adults. Everything from the discussion questions to the essay projects encourages deep engagement with ideas. I'm done with the class now, and though I'm sad that it is over, I've come away having gained so, so much that I will carry with me for a long time. Take this class. You will be deeply challenged, but it is well worth it. In fact, the challenge is what makes it so wonderful.
Wonderful Class!
Posted by Olivia Jordan on 05/22/2018Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
I felt like this class prepared me incredibly well for the AP exam! I felt my AP test went very well because I was so prepared. There weren't any curveballs and I knew exactly what to expect going in.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
The number of hours varied based on the week (If we had more than one essay that week, it generally took me a little longer) but I would say I spent an hour per day generally.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I really enjoyed the book clubs. We were able to choose what book we wanted to read (with some limitations) which was a lot of fun. I loved every single book I chose. After reading the books, our book club met over google hangouts or skype to discuss. It was neat hearing everyone's opinions on the books we read.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would definitely recommend this to other students! While challenging, I found it fun and definitely worth it. I learned so many things that not only apply to the AP English exam but also to everyday life! I think that all kinds of students could do well in this course, as long as they are willing to put the effort in.
!!!
Posted by Will Andrews on 05/20/2018Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes, it prepared me super well. Although I don't have my test results back yet, I thought it went very well, and it definitely wouldn't have before this year. If you put in the work, you will be about as prepared as you can be.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
It varied. At the beginning of the year I was spending about two hours per day, but later on I got faster at the assignments and could usually get everything done within an hour to 90 minutes. It was sometimes more when there were big assignments -- I spent stupid amounts of time on weekends during the AFSA essay, but that was due to poor planning. :D
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
Writing the literacy narrative was an amazing experience. The AFSA essay was also pretty awesome.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
The english language isn't really a subject per se, as it's used in all other subjects, but I got a lot better at using it.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
This course is the gold standard for student interaction.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
YES I would recommend this course. Someone with an open mind about different perspectives and opinions would do especially well. I definitely thought differently about a lot of issues by the end of the year.
Bottom line: If you want to get good at using English, don't overthink it--sign up!
AP English Language Class Review (Hint: It's very positive)
Posted by Emma Thomas on 05/20/2018This class is challenging and at times can be very difficult but it's all worth it if you want to be very prepared for the exam at the end of the year. The amount of work that is assigned in this class is a lot but there were hardly any assignments that felt unncessary or boring. Every discussion, essay prompt, or big project that I did in this class felt like it had a purpose and in some way (big or small) prepared me for the exam.
Personally, when I began this class, I thought that my essay writing skills and comprehension were fine and just needed some fine-tuning. Mrs. Inspektor and my section teacher, Ms. Pochily, showed me that there is always room for improvement, especially in the places where you don't think you need to change anything.
Although the whole project was very challenging, the AFSA essay project was a huge learning experience for me and I appreciated its difficulty because I feel like it has prepared me a bit for even more challenging classes in college. The creative writing assignments were also very fun and great ways to explore new ways of writing.
I would highly recommend this course to other students if they are willing to put in the amount of work, time, and dedication that is needed in order to 1) prepare themselves for a hard AP Exam and 2) really make a difference in the quality of their writing and comprehensive skills.
Constructive Criticism and Great Advice
Posted by Saige Caffey on 05/18/20181) Yes, I did feel the course prepared me for the AP exam.
2) Per day I put 2-2 hours and 15 minutes into this course. Per week, perhaps 13-15 hours (including weekends spent working on essays).
3) I loved the AFSA essay assignment as well as the assignment where we had to build our own Synthesis essay. I remember while taking the test (I've never been a fan of using the comic provided) the picture source we had to find and incorporate into our Build-Your-Own-Synthesis essays and I remember thinking 'I've done this before, so it won't be that hard to do it now.'
4) This course definitely made me think twice before dismissing a fiction book as boring. It has also helped spark my desire to continue writing.
5) I found communications with other students very valuable. While taking the test I remembered the advice given on one of my essays during the 'grader-for-a-day' exercise, which was to not focus narrowly on one portion of the passage but the whole thing.
6) A student who loves to write and who wants to be constructively criticized on their writing should take this course.
Fabulous class!
Posted by Aislinn Niimi on 05/16/2018Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes, I was very well prepared!
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
10 hours per week.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The Literacy Narrative, which is a creative writing project, was very valuable. I don't like personal writing, but this forced me to step outside my comfort zone and experiment in a new genre. The wonderful feedback I received allowed to make it better and I'm very thankful for this assignment.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I would say it enhanced my interests in many different subjects. We read essays about education and community, wrote a well-researched essay on foreign policy, and read several fascinating non-fiction books.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Absolutely! The feedback and encouragement I received was wonderful! This is a unique group of students who are motivated and talented, and I loved working with them throughout the year.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would definitely recommend this course! Everyone enters this class feeling daunted, some more than others. But no matter where you start, after a year with Mrs. Inspektor you not only feel confident about the exam, you feel you have grown as a student and as a person (I'm not exaggerating!). As long as you are diligent and patient, you will do well in this course!
A true learning experience
Posted by Spencer Min on 05/16/2018I found Mrs. Inspektor's class to be one of the most comprehensive classes that I've ever taken. Although I put in about 10-15 hours of work per week, I never felt like we were doing "busy work." Every exercise had its purpose (whether we liked it or not :P). While I probably won't become an English major in college, I found that this course stretched and grown me as a writer in ways that I didn't know were possible.
In terms of test prep, I felt more than adequately prepared for the test. I would recommend this course to anyone who is interested in working to improve their writing.
Mrs. Inspektor is incredibly kind, thoughtful, and goes above and beyond her call of duty to make sure every student is comfortable and prepared for the AP test and everything beyond.
Excellent'
Posted by Brandon Kuhl on 05/16/2018This course absolutely prepared me for the exam. Whether it was the book clubs, practice essays, multiple choice sections, or helpful feedback from classmates, this class prepared me perfectly for the AP exam. Both Mrs. Inspektor and Ms. Pochily were SO helpful and helped me work on aspects of my writing that needed help. In any given week, I would put in about 5-6 hours of work. Some weeks were more while others were less.
The timed, handwritten essays were most helpful. These assignments best prepared me for the exam as they replicated exam environments and guidelines, teaching me how to write quickly. Although the course didn't necessarily INCREASE my interest in writing, it definitely taught me how to write better, which, in the end, was more important.
If you're interested in taking this course, you should know that it will require a lot of time, hard work, and crushing defeat. I expected to do SO well on my first paper only to receive a two. Although this was frustrating, it drove me to write better and push myself. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants an excellent teacher(s) and a class that will drive them to write better.
The best English class ever!
Posted by Aditya S on 08/14/2017Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
I really think the course prepared us very well for the exam.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
Languages are not my strength and I had to work hard to achieve good results. I came into this class doubting myself, but with Mrs. Inspektor's support and help, I made huge leaps in my reading and writing skills. I spent between 10-15 hours per week on this course alone, but it was well worth the effort.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I liked writing my place essay and AFSA essay. Those were my favorites since I was able to dive deep and spend a lot of time polishing and revising these essays to my satisfaction. Writing the AFSA essay took me through the entire process of conducting research, brainstorming ideas, writing outlines and rough drafts, and revising and editing until the essay is done. This experience was invaluable for me.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes. I am registered for the AP Literature course next year. I am smiling since this would have been unthinkable for me a couple of years ago. I was greatly encouraged to register for the literature course after realizing how much I learned in this course.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes, it was invaluable to hear others' ideas and share my ideas with others. The discussion boards were very active throughout the year. Apart from Mrs. Inspektor's detailed feedback on our essays, we also commented on each other's essays. This exposed us to different perspectives on any given topic.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I think anybody can succeed in this course with some sincere effort. I am the perfect example. AP English Language can be indimidating for folks who don't have much prior exposure to formal writing, but this is one of your best options to grow as a reader and writer and learn from one of the best AP English teachers.
Great Class! (edit)
Posted by Joshua Crockett on 07/08/2017I posted a review of this class shortly after the school year ended, but I wanted to add to my review now that I know my AP scores. I scored a 5 on the English Language and Composition exam thanks to the valuable knowledge and skills I learned in this class. I would definately recommend this class to anyone who wants to do well on this exam.
AP Lang
Posted by Isaiah Garner on 05/29/2017This class was one of my favorite of my junior year, if not the favorite. I felt very prepared for the exam, especially the essays. I've taken a couple essay writing courses before, but this class surpassed them easily. I received excellent, in-depth critiques from Mrs. Inspektor and my fellow students that enabled my writing style to grow and mature. Although I have yet to receive my scores from the AP Lang Exam, I am fairly confident that I scored well on the essays. And even if I did not, I know my writing has improved dramatically.
This course took a lot of work, but none of it felt pointless. The assignments were engaging and diverse. My favorite was probably the "Project Walden" assignment; where we made a lifestyle change for a week and wrote about it. I spent between nine and ten hours a week working on AP Lang. I did occasionally spend around twelve hours a week while working on important essays. But even the more time-intensive essays were fun to write and edit.
Before I took AP Lang, I did some occasional nonfiction writing here and there. For the most part, though, I steered clear of writing, claiming it "just wasn't my thing." Now, I think that's nonsense. I believe that anyone can be a good writer, if they have a caring teacher and are willing to put in the work. Mrs. Inspektor takes care of part one, so all you need to do is provide part two.
The prompt for this review asks what kind of students would do well in this course. If it wasn't obvious from the last paragraph, I believe that anyone, as long as they earnestly try to improve their writing, would do well in this course. As for me, I will recommend this course to many of my friends, whether they are "natural writers" or not. In a world that relies increasingly on fast, written communication, being able to articulate your thoughts is more important than ever. This course has equipped me with the rhetorical tools I need to speak, debate, and, of course, write better than I ever have before.
So thank you, Mrs. Inspektor, for taking me from a novice, reluctant writer to a (perhaps still novice) student who jumps at the opportunity to write. And to any future students who may be considering this course, take it. It is worth every penny of the price and every minute of effort.
Best class I have ever taken
Posted by Fara Ling on 05/24/2017– Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely. Everything we did in class, from discussion questions to replies to Morning Messages to creative writing assignments to exam-specific practice, went into preparation for the exam. This course trains skills needed for the exam paper holistically, rather than plowing through mountains of essay questions and MCQ tests. Personally, I would have liked doing more full practice exams closer to exam day, but I could complete those out of class as well. I exploited the College Board's past year papers and practice MCQs to the extent of writing a full exam every week (that was probably a little extreme). Almost all my extra essays could be graded by the TAs. However, you do not need to do what I did to enter the exam day feeling confident and over-prepared :)
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How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
It depended on the workload, but I generally put in 2++ hours a day. When we had extra writing assignments like the literacy narrative, AFSA essay, or place essay, I definitely put in more. However, I sometimes put in as little as 30 minutes a day if I only had to respond to a morning message or write a quick discussion question response. Keep in mind, though, that those days were few and far between! I managed to speed up after a few months, and what took me 2 hours in September took me 1 or less in February.
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Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I loved the additional writing assignments; the literacy narrative, place essay, and AFSA essay. Writing the two former creative nonfiction essays was a breath of fresh air in the midst of academia. It pushed my writing onto another plane altogether. I grew so much just writing those essays. The AFSA essay posed the most daunting challenge I have ever faced in my academic career. Through the process of researching, crafting a solution, and presenting our ideas with sound rhetoric, I gained skills in research and synthesis (yes, it's excellent prep for the synthesis essay).
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Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes! And it piqued my interest in subjects beyond English. This class in language acted as a lens through which I explored so many other issues, such as community, language, cultural assimilation, the refugee crisis, and the list goes on.
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Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes! Class participation and discussion is a major part of this course, and they contribute hugely to preparation for the exam. The discussions built argumentation skills and helped us understand required reading passages better. And I truly loved the book clubs! I got to know my classmates better through these more informal discussions, and discussing complex AP-level works in groups helped us all understand them better.
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What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Absolutely. Take this course. If you're willing to work hard, you'll get a tremendous amount out of the course. You'll be equipped with skills that will take you to and far beyond the AP exam. I can guarantee that you will not regret your decision.
My favorite English class!!
Posted by Danielle J on 05/23/2017-
Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes! We were assigned past AP Lang prompts almost every week. Around January, I started timing myself so I would be more comfortable writing under time limits. Mrs. Inspektor also assigned us many multiple choice questions from past exams throughout the school year.
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How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
Usually around 6-8 hours a week. I am a slow reader, so I spent a lot of time reading the required texts and analyzing them. If there was a big project due, I would spend more time revising and polishing it.
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Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I really enjoyed the AFSA essay contest assignment because it was probably the most difficult assignment for me. It pushed me to work harder to find evidence to support my research paper. I also liked the weekly discussion questions. These helped me understand a passage better and I enjoyed reading the thoughts of my fellow classmates.
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Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Definitely! Before taking AP Lang, writing essays were a pain for me. I'm not the English nerd who always has her nose in a book. In the past, I would see each writing assignment as a burden, but now I actually am excited everytime I start a new essay. Reading has never been more enjoyable for me, and now I usually read with a pencil in hand to make notes in the margins.
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Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
For this class, there is a lot of communication with other students. For example, we are sometimes assigned to write comments on each other's essays and participate in the discussion questions. I thought these assignments were helpful and the comments my classmates gave me were very helpful when I was revising and editing.
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What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Anyone who is willing to work hard will do well in this course. There are many reading and writing assignments every week, so make sure to keep track of them. I definitely recommend this course! :D
HIGHLY recommend this class!
Posted by Harlan Gibson on 05/18/2017In all honesty (and without exaggeration), Mrs. Inspektor's AP English Language and Composition class has had a greater impact on my life than any other high school class I've taken thus far. As I look back at where I started at the beginning of the school year, I see an immense difference in my writing level. Not only have I become more fluent in writing various types of essays, but I've transitioned from hating any and all writing assignments to actually enjoying these essays. The exam style essays were probably my favorite assignment from this class, with the book clubs coming in a close second. Being homeschooled, it was refreshing to have some in-class interactions with my fellow AP Langers. Whether it be lively debates over political topics on the WWW Board or a group analysis of a certain passage for the discussion questions, I always enjoyed hearing the insightful and intriguing ideas of my classmates.
If the thought of an essay question in an exam makes you shudder, if you feel your writing is inadequate, if you are ready for a challenge, if you enjoy participating in interactive activities with classmates, then this class is for you! I cannot emphasize enough just how much this class has influenced my education, and I hope every highschooler gets to experience this awesome class. I had so much fun and enjoyed every bit of this class--the good, the bad--everything.
And of course, Mrs. Inspektor is the best AP Lang teacher out there! She provides detailed feedback on so many of our assignments and always does her best to make sure that we succeed. The tips she gives in the Morning Messages were always very helpful, pointing out mistakes I never would've caught otherwise. I have said it before, and I will say it again--whether you are a writer or not, I highly recommend this class. Because no matter what your relationship is with writing at the start, you will absolutely love it at the end of this class.
Best class ever
Posted by Ruthanne Teo on 05/17/2017What I loved about this class was that it not only helped me become a stronger, more confident writer, it also made me a better person and helped me develop such great friendships with my classmates.
First off, the course definitely prepared me for the AP exam. Mrs. Inspektor was very patient with us and thoroughly taught us how to approach the exams. Towards the end of the year, we were writing an essay every week, then almost every day. This was helpful in preparing for the exam. The best part was that she always gave encouraging, honest feedback that helped me improve my writing and made me feel confident in my writing skills. I usually put in about 1-2hrs every day for this course, more or less.
My favorite part of the class was how much interaction I got with the other students. We learned to coment on each other's work with grace and encouragement, and by the end of the class I trusted them enough to ask for their brutally honest feedback on my work. We also got the chance to form our own book clubs. Those were probably the most insightful, deep discussions I had ever been a part of. Overall, Mrs. Inspektor created this safe, encouraging environment where we could feel free to be honest about our progress, share our works, and have great conversations about things outside of school.
Finally, what I really appreciated about this class is that Mrs. Inspektor doesn't award you grades based on the number of points you receive. Instead, she urges students to try new things and to go above and beyond what's expected to receive the minimum amount of points. That made me feel safe to try a new strategy for approaching the exam which helped me feel more confident on exam day.
Overall it was an incredible experience working with Mrs. Inspektor, the TAs, and my classmates, and I'm really going to miss this class. Would definitely recommend this class to anyone who is willing to work hard and get the most out of the experience!
Wonderful Course!
Posted by Tyler D. on 05/17/2017-
Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely! In fact, I felt more confident in my abilities for the AP Language exam than I felt for previous open book community college course finals! This class prepared me extremely well for the AP exam, and nothing on the exam was new, frightening, or difficult to tackle because of this course.
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How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I don't know if I'm fit to comment on this question, as I enjoyed the course so much that in my free time I actually came back to revise, edit, and work on my assignments more than what was required. However, on busy weeks where I was only able to do what was required, the work typically took me between 1-2 hours per day to complete, depending on the assignment. It did fluctuate, however, with some assignments only taking 30 or 45 minutes per day.
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Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
Yes. I absolutely LOVED Project Walden and my Literacy Narrative essay. Another essay had a particularly large impact for me, though. My AFSA essay actually played a significant role in determining my major for college and possibly my vocation.
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Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I loved English before I took the course, and my love for English has only flourished more because I took the course. Mrs. Inspektor does a wonderful job of making assignments fun, intriguing, and also challenging.
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Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Absolutely! I made many friends during this course, many of whom I'm still in contact with now!
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What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
If you are a student who likes to learn and who wants to improve, you will flourish in this course. I enjoyed every moment in this class, and I'm extremely sad it's over. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in taking AP Language and Composition!
Sign up for this class before you read this review!
Posted by Greta Dornbirer on 05/17/2017Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely! I felt very prepared walking into the exam on exam day. I still don't know how I did, but I feel confident that I was prepared and did the absolute best I could on the exam.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
Hmm...it really depended on how much work there was on a certain day. When I was writing the AFSA essay (a research essay we wrote second semester), I probably spent at least 2 hours researching on some days. However, on days when there was just a Morning Message, I sometimes spent 1 hour or even less responding. In general, I would day about 1-2 hours per day, but it really just depends on the assignments that week. I would suggest starting reading early (meaning NOT the day it is due--something I definitely didn't do). :)
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I LOVED all of the major assignments we had this year. Scratch that. I didn't love writing the AFSA essay at first (it was so much work), but after going through all the hard work, I was proud of the final product that I produced. Although I didn't realize this while I was writing the AFSA essay, I learned so much from writing it. Not only was it incredibly helpful to write a major research assignment before writing synthesis essays on the exam (the synthesis essays seemed easy after writing the AFSA paper) but writing such a difficult research assignment (probably one of the most difficult of my high school career) forced me to work harder than I've ever worked before and to be motivated to create the best final product I could. So to answer the question, the AFSA essay was such a valuable assignment both for exam preparation and life skills. The other two assignments (the Literacy Narrative and Place Essay) were also incredibly helpful. From these two assignments, I learned how to edit well and cut unnecessary words to produce a piece that Strunk and White would have approved of.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
100% yes. I've almost always loved reading and writing, and I am, by nature, a literature nerd. However, before this course, I disliked nonfiction. This course exposed me to wonderful nonfiction works and also taught me how to write nonfiction well. While I still prefer fiction to nonfiction (especially when I'm reading for pleasure), I now appreciate the beauty in nonfiction and have decided that not all nonfiction is boring.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes! Interacting with other students was one of my favorite elements of this course. It was amazing to be surrounded by smart, motivated people and to discuss complex ideas with these people. I've never enjoyed getting feedback on my work before (except from the teacher), but my classmates' comments balanced pointing out faults in my writing and encouragment beautifully.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Would I recommend this course? Nope. No way. I've only be ranting and raving about it for the last few paragraphs. :) Yes, I would absolutely recommend this course! Anyone who is willing to work hard, who enjoys being challenged (not necessarily a requirement but this quality certainly helps one succeed in this class), and who is self-motivated would do extremely well in this class. Please don't avoid this course because you think you're a "bad" writer or because you're self-conscious about your writing. I didn't start this course as an "exemplary" writer, and I was certainly self-conscious about my writing. However, Mrs. Inspektor pushed me past what I thought were my limits as a writer, and, as a result, my writing grew immensely. If you take this course, your writing will grow and improve, as well as your critical thinking and reading skills. Please go sign up for this class!!!
My Review
Posted by Emily Mondrus on 05/16/2017I think the course prepared me for the exam well. I especially enjoyed writing personal essays this year. It definitely enhanced my interest in Enligh, particularly reading and deeply analyzing texts. A hard working and eager to learn student would do very well in this course, and I would recommend this course to many fellow students.
Experience with Mrs. I
Posted by Abby Kim on 05/15/2017Q: Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
A: Yes! This was actually the most prepared I've ever felt for an AP test (though I've only taken 4 in my highschool career so far.) I'm still not sure how well I did, but I definitely felt prepared and like I had done my best in preparation.
Q: How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
A: It depended on the workload per day I guess. The days that there were only a Morning Message I would say half an hour or less. Days with essays or a lot of reading I'd say an hour and more.
Q: Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
A: I think just the weekly discussions themselves were really valuable to my experience in the class. At first I didn't really understand their point and didn't enjoy it very much; but as the class progressed, I realized it actually did help me, not only in my articulation but also in my essays in general. (My ACT tutor and Literature teacher told me my argumentation and reasoning significantly improved this year.)
Q: Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
A: Yes, actually it did. There were several things introduced in the curricula that I hadn't read before and that I found really fun or interesting.
Q: Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
A: This was probably the hardest part for me in the class because I don't enjoy sharing my work or recieving criticism from anyone other than a teacher. I'm not inclined to class participation in the least and so this part of the requirement was the hardest for me. After a while, though I was able to share my opinions without any inhibition so this helped me a lot as well.
Q: What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
A: I would definitely recommend this course to other students. But be prepared to work hard and to constantly review and revise your work. The workload in this class isn't the hardest, but it isn't necessarily easy either. It's interactive, fun and enjoyable (especially when you choose to enjoy it!).
AP lang
Posted by Elijah Han on 05/15/2017Mrs. Inspektor's classes are fantastic. I took her AP lit class last year and both classes were thorough, challenging, and overall some of the best online courses I've taken. Mrs. Inspektor is beyond freindly and approachable, and her knowledge of langauge and the ap exam is unparralleled. I felt very confident walking into and out of the exam.
Take This Class!!!
Posted by Zoe Lin on 05/15/2017AP Language and Composition has been by far my favorite class I've taken this year and during my whole high school career...I think that says a lot, considering I'm a junior (so out of ~18 classes, it ranks first!).
The course DEFINITELY prepared me for the AP exam, and it also so happened that I took the SAT this year, so taking this course actually helped me prepare really well also for the writing section of it! By the time May rolled around, writing three essays wasn't such a daunting task, and I really enjoyed writing them during the exam.
Workload-wise, I probably spent around an hour to two hours every day, depending on how much reading or writing essays there was.
My favorite assignments were the ones where I got a lot of feedback in between drafts from my classmates...the one assignment that really stands out to me is the place essay (exactly what it sounds like). Getting feedback from creative, talented writers that are at somewhat of the same place as you with the same thinking is really helpful and relevant, and giving feedback requires being more invested and thinking deeper on your own part.
This course definitely enhanced my interest in the subject...at first, it was a little overwhelming to keep up with everything and change my thinking, but looking back now, my writing has really changed and the way I think about writing is much more thoughtful, strategized, and confident.
If you want to be surrounded by other talented writers, coached and mentored by the most incredible, thoughtful, and helpful teachers/TA's, grow your skills in writing, and altogether just become better at communicating your thoughts and making your opinions clear, this is the class for you! Be prepared to work hard, but know that it'll all pay off in the end :)
Highlight of my Highschool Career
Posted by Matthew Dena on 05/15/2017Without a doubt, this class has been my favorite part of the entire school year (where acedemia is considered). The teachers and TA's were extremely helpful throughout the course and I couldn't have imagined anything better. There were challenging times, yes, but everything you do has a purpose and is going to help you in some way.
I definitely felt prepared for the exam. What surprised me the most, however, was that I felt like I didn't prepare at all! Only in the last few weeks did I feel like I was receiving exam-specific instruction. I didn't realize that the entire year, every single assignment, every book, every discussion question, was preparing me. I couldn't tell at first, but when I compare my writing at the beginning of the year to now, it has improved drastically.
I can't say how many hours per day or week i spent on this course. I loved it so much, and English is just a passion of mine, that I never really kept record. Procrasinaton is not going to work in this class, though. Make sure you blot out however much time you need to do an assignment, because it is stressful working until midnight to post a response.
Here's how you will know if you should take this course:
1: If you love English
If this is you, you have no reason NOT to take this course! Just do it! Push yourself. It looks great for college.
2: If you love working hard
This course is tough. I won't lie. I loved English, but I was still challenged. While this is my favorite class I have ever done, it is also the hardest. What helped me through it was the amazing class enviroment. I was blessed to be in a class with many other intellectually gifted students who were able to offer helpful advice and constructive criticisms. Everyone was so encouraging and that made the entire class worthwhile.
If I haven't convinced you to take this class by now, then you missed something. Go back and read it again. This class is seriously incredbile! You won't regret taking it. :)
Class Review
Posted by Angelia on 05/15/2017- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes, absolutely! I felt very comfortable on exam day, due to both our work throughout the year and the practice exams we took leading up to it.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
One of our assignments was writing an essay for the AFSA High School Essay Contest on the current refugee crisis. I thought this was one of the most valuable projects I have taken part in. It stretched me out of my comfort zone as a writer and as a reader as I sifted through complex articles and overwhelming statistics that I otherwise wouldn't have picked up. I also felt bettered as a citizen and person, because now I understand more of what is happening in the world. Lastly, this helped me on the exam by learning to understand complex materials.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I've always been interested in reading and writing, but I do think that this course enhanced that. I want to read and write even more now!
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Definitely! Our class webboard was always full of interesting topics, and other students would respond right away to questions or discussion topics others posted. Also, we had several book clubs throughout the year when we discussed different books we'd read. All of my book club experiences were great and I learned so much discussing topics with the other students.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
A student who is willing to work hard, is open minded and wants to discuss/debate things while listening to the other side, is motivated, and enjoys writing and reading.
Thank you Mrs. Inspektor, Ms. Baert, the TAs, and all of my classmates for such a great year!
Great Class!
Posted by Joshua Crockett on 05/15/2017This was an incredible class! I poured countless hours into this class but it was definitely worth it because I felt prepared on exam day. I loved that this wasn't just a class designed to teach me how to pass the AP exam. While this class certainly did prepare me for the exam, it also provided me with so much beyond what I needed for the exam. Rather than learning a simple formula to pass the AP exam, I learned valuable skills that I can apply beyond this class. We tackled a variety of assignments, from practice exam essays to research papers to even creative writing. I came out of this class feeling like a better writer and a more engaged reader, and I feel confident about my performance on the AP exam thanks to the preparation this class provided.
Fulfilling class!
Posted by Amanda Crockett on 05/15/2017I definitely felt prepared for the AP exam. We worked extensively on the skills needed for the multiple choice questions and the essays throughout the year, so I felt comfortable and confident on exam day. I probably put in 10 or more hours per week, but it was worth it. I have always enjoyed creative writing, but this course helped me to write with more passion and interest on all assignments, whether creative or exam-style. You really get a broad range of assignments throughout this class - creative writing, research paper, discussion with peers, book clubs, exam prep, daily assignments focused on specific aspects of writing. Any determined and hard-working student will flourish in this class. There will probably be days where you feel frustrated or want to yell "if I have to write one more essay...!" but that is nothing compared to the wealth of knowledge you will gain from this course.
My review of AP Lang
Posted by Luke Shaffer on 05/15/2017I feel that this course did effectively prepare for the AP Exam; we wrote many essays and completed many multiple-choice sections similar to those that would be on the exam. I don't know a certain amount of hours I spent each week, especially because the work always varied, but I usally spent at least 6 hours each week on this course. I enjoyed the book clubs the most and found them very valuable (not most valuable) in understanding the book I was reading. The communication between students was wonderful. I believe we all had a great time, and I enjoyed seeing what other students were posting. Those that are hard-working would love this course. Overall, I really liked the course even though not everything was very fun to me, and I highly recommend the course to others in preparation for the AP English Language exam.
Excellente
Posted by Faith Ellen Lam on 06/30/2016This class was by far my favorite class over my entire high school career. It prepared me very well for the AP Exam, and the courseload was manageable: 1-2 hours a day (or sometimes even less). I really enjoyed the essay assignments we did outside of exam prep. The requirements were loose enough to allow for a lot of creativity and expression. This course definitely enhanced my ineterst in English, and interacting with my classmates was a daily part of the course. The book discussion clubs in particular were an amazing facet of the class. I highly, highly recommend this course to anyone-- even writers who are not confident, if they work hard, will excel and improve greatly in this course.
AP Lang Class Review
Posted by Emily Kam on 06/07/2016This course was wonderful! I recommend this course to everyone, whether or not they have an interest in writing. I love writing, and through this course I grew to love it even more.
Besides the new skills I have gained, this course also prepared me well for the AP Lang exam. Mrs. Inspektor is the best English teacher you could ever ask for! Her Morning Messages and comments were informative, engaging, and incredibly helpful. I felt so prepared for this exam that I didn't even feel nervous at all - I would even dare to say that the exam was fun! AP Lang was my absolute favorite course this year!
Excellent English Class
Posted by Natalie on 05/16/2016Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely. I've had some great writing classes over the years, but I'm definitely a math/science person. At the beginning of the year I would never have believed that the AP test I would feel most confident about come May would be the English one, but that was the case! If you work consistently throughout the class and really put effort into the assignments, you will be ready for the AP exam. I didn't even do any extra studying come May.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
This kind of varied. I'm a slow reader, so any time we had assigned reading it took me longer to do that day's assignment. I'd say work per day ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 hours. Once in a while (normally when we had a first draft of a big project due), I would spend 3 or more hours writing, but that was very infrequent.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
Literally any of the creative writing projects we did. The literacy narrative, the place essay, even the C&B art essay (one of the most challenging and rewarding writing projects I have ever completed) - all were assignments that I found hard but extremely valuable.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students?
I would absolutely recommend this course to other students! Even if you have a strong writing background, there is so much you can gain from this course. I came out of this course able to write well quickly. I learned to truly think through essays and express my thoughts in effective ways. Perhaps most surprising to me, I completed rhetorical analysis on a work of art and genuinely felt like I had something to say. This course will stretch you, but if you're willing to work hard, and if you're not scared of a challenge, this class will teach you far more than you could ever expect.
Quality class
Posted by Scott Driggers on 05/11/2016Okay, so I would like to thank Mrs. Inspektor for spending her time working hard to provide a great class that really taught me to be a better writer.
I felt extremely prepared for the exam, and I believe I got a 5. This class was alot of work, and you have to be diligent to complete both daily assignments and larger weekly, or monthly projects.
I especially enjoyed the literacy narrative, and, after spending many hours refining it, I feel that that is one of the best papers I have ever written, if not the best.
I have become better at writing through this class, and have steadily improved both in speed and quality of writing as the year went on. Although I did not become more interested in majoring in English, or inpersuing a further degree in it, I do feel that I have definitely improved in style and content of writing.
I definitely found communication with other students to be very valuable in this class. Mrs. Inspektor built much of the class around peer to peer discussions between students. There are discussion questions with every passage or book you read which the class answers and responds to each other in your answer. I had one discussion with Micah Long that was particularly interesting on food production and economics, shout out to him. There is also book clubs in which the students organize and run the book clubs themselves, and submit their discussion after a month or so to Mrs. Inspektor. This went very well for all 5 of my book clubs. Unlike all my other online classes, this class built peer to peer relationships and used them effectively in the class.
I think any student that is willing to put in the work could do well in this class. I came in with a deep inclination away from the humanities, but I am leaving with a deeper respect for quality writing, and a deeper control of my own pen. I hope yall will take the opportunity to learn alot and sign up for this class.
I loved this class!
Posted by Jenna Gaertner on 07/31/2015- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
This was my first AP class taken for me. I was slightly nervous going into the preparation and testing. However, I had nothing to worry about. Mrs. Inspektor and Ms. Baert were both incredibly helpful with the preparation, and I did feel like I was fell prepared.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I probably spent about 11 hours a week on this course. It was definitely worth it. :)
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
My favorite essay must have been the Place essay we composed. I love creative writing so I was very happy that Mrs. Inspektor has one or two Creative stores in the midst of all the essays.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I am definitely interested in this subject. I have always loved to read, so I was very happy to learn more about how to write like some of my favorite authors. :)
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
I loved being able to discuss and communicate with the other students in theis class. We all share a love of reading and writing and could bounce ideas and thoughts off of each other. They gave very helpful feedback and really tried to make you better. :) Thanks guys!
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would definitely reccommend this course to anyone who is thinking of taking an AP class. Yes, it is a lot of work, but it is worth it. Thank you so much to Mrs. Inspektor and Ms. Baert for preparing me for the exam and helping me become a better writer!
Altogether wonderful!!
Posted by Elizabeth Kim on 07/11/2015Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely. This was my fourth (or sixth depending on how you look at it) AP class, but the only class which made me feel so prepared that I had absolutely no worries going into the exam room. There is seriously no better feeling than the one you get knowing you're ready to ace a test--even the feeling that comes after actually getting the score!
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I am probably not a good person to answer this question as I generally spend less time on anything than do most people (I'm also not good at estimating). I'd say I spent 1-2 hours on average days. During the weeks we had big assignments/essays (such as the Dupont Challenge Essay or AP practice exams) I definitely dedicated much more time to preparing and studying. I think during January when I was preparing for Dupont, I spent up to 4-5 hours every day researching and writing and rewriting. Overall, I don't think it matters exactly how much time you put into the class as long as you are prepared to put in as much as needed to do your best. And then do your best (on both weekdays and weekends)
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I loved the Literacy Narrative and Place Essay! I'm not much of a creative writer so I had difficulty getting started in these assignments, but once I got the hang of it, they were both incredibly fun (hehe). The experiences I had writing them will be a great help in writing upcoming college application essays.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes. I can't say that I now love the subject or that I will pursue a career in it, but this class has really helped to improve my perspective on writing in general as well as making the task a whole lot easier.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would recommend this class to any student who is...willing to work hard. Aside from Mrs. Inspektors talent and dedication as a teacher, one of the reasons I believe this class to be so successful is the workload as it's quite heavy. Because students write so many essays throughout the school year in addition to additional analysis/critical thinking exercises outside of essay-writing, writing just a few more in the exam room is a breeze.
Mrs. Inspektor is simply an amazing teacher--she is always on top of everything, gives lengthy, detailed comments on every essay, and cares for her students. And of course, prepares them excellently for the AP exam.
Loved it (:
Posted by Lillian Ji on 07/07/2015- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes! We wrote exam-style essays about 2-4 times per month and completed several MCQ practice exams. The Morning Messages written by Mrs. Inspektor also gave excellent advice on how to improve in specific areas. I was a bit apprehensive going into the exam because a low percentage of students get 5s, but I did feel confident and comfortable overall! Mrs. I and the TAs made sure that we students were all thoroughly acquainted with the exam format, what exactly those mysterious AP exam readers are looking for, and so on. That's not something I can say for every AP course I've taken so far.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I don't know how accurate my estimation skills are, but I'm guessing an hour to two-and-a-half on each weekday. Obviously, the more time and effort you put into something (yes, those two can be exclusive sometimes), the more you gain...and the more you enjoy the experience. The times where I spent more time on this class (hehe, when we wrote the longer papers; more on those later) weren't carefree, but all the work was worth it.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The literacy narrative and place essays. Hands down. The DuPont science essay was challenging because I had to write about an argument essay which is also a factual/informative piece and work of creative nonfiction all at once. That sounds a bit crazy, doesn't it? This essay style was quite new for me, but I appreciated the opportunity to push myself and had fun with the assignment. But back to the literacy narrative and place essays. I haven't written personal essays very often in the past either, and these essays were probably the higlight of this year in AP English. They both took a lot of introspection and had me grappling to find the right voice and so on. Yes, I was a bit frustrated, especially when I revised something for the tenth time and it still didn't sound right. That's actually an understatement, but I'm incredibly thankful that I managed to write two relatively decent essays about experiences which were very meaningful for me. I'm not the best at conveying my emotions through writing and don't like talking extensively about my inner thought processes/emotions (unless they might make other people laugh), but writing the two papers improved my writing and also helped me better understand myself in the process.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
YES. I've always been somewhat ambivalent about writing, since it's something I find incredibly difficult but also amazing, probably because I love reading and appreciate the power that words have. But writing extensively about some of my personal experiences has solidified my appreciation for writers and helped me better understand the impact that various combinations of twenty-six letters can have. And of course, learning about rhetorical strategies was fascinating too--understanding how writers shape and mold their words, why a dash was used instead of a comma, why first person voice, and so many other choices and techniques which give words the power that they hold.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Definitely. This class is HIGHLY interactive; we frequently commented on each others' work and had a lot of discussions together through book clubs and discussion question assignments. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading my classmates' work. We all have various strengths and weaknesses, and so they've been an inspiration to me.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
There's daily assignments, and this is an AP class, so motivation and self-discipline would certainly come in handy. And you should probably have figured out by now that I 100% recommend this class to other students!!
Engaging, Effective, Enjoyable: 10 out of 10 stars (can't forget that Oxford comma!)
Posted by Abby Shaffer on 06/17/2015- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely. I felt fully confident and prepared as I walked into the test room, and as someone who normally suffers from at least some amount of test anxiety, it was a wonderful feeling. I wrote my essays and answered my MCQs with the fluidity and self-assurance which only constant practice and instruction in Mrs. Inspektor's class could have given me.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I would say about one and a half to two hours a day. However, this could fluctuate depending on the day's assignments, and it's partially because I am a slow reader and a perfectionist writer. I know my sisters (who also took the class) spent only about an hour or less per day.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The literacy narrative, place essay, and research essay all really pushed me to take enormous amounts of information and carefully whittle them down into a sculpted essay. With the first two essays, which highlighted personal topics, this meant cutting scenes or details -- even entire paragraphs -- that seemed too important or beautifully worded to be cut. But I learned to "kill my darlings," which in the end made my essays stronger.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the book clubs, which are extremely important in their own quiet way. They aren't exactly strictly guidelined (is that a word?) assignments, but they required us to read books we might never read otherwise (nonfiction and fiction) and look deeply into their meaning, structure, rhetorical strategy, themes, significance, etc. Also, I formed some wonderful friendships through these book clubs. Overall a wonderful experience, as long as you push yourself to pick challenging books. :)
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I already had a huge interest in English, but it was definitely enhanced and broadened by this course. I read and analysed nonfiction articles I would never have taken a second glance at otherwise. So my capacity to look deeply into unfamiliar or unappealing topics was widened.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Did I ever. As I already mentioned, I made some wonderful friends in this class. I loved the class environment because everyone was so intelligent and shared a common goal of learning and growing in the material, challenging me to produce my best, most thoughtful work. In-depth class discussion and peer essay review comments were a delight to exchange. Plus, the friendships I've made have extended way past the class environment, and our book club Skype chats have morphed into long-winded discussions about anything and everything. I really love those insanely talented dorks and I'm privileged that I got to know them...and I'm really indebted to this class for that. :)
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
A Whole New World (no reference intended)
Posted by Lara Zlokapa on 06/07/2015I came into this class with what I will now mildly call a disinclination towards writing. For me, the writing process was long, tedious, and unrewarding. I expected to be a better writer after taking AP Lang, but I never guessed just how much this class would do for me. Thanks to Mrs. Inspektor's experienced guidance, 9-10 hours of engaging work per week, and constant feedback from Mrs. I as well as my peers, I emerged from this class a much more competent writer, a writer with a voice. Much more than that though, AP Lang has opened up a whole new world for me: writing as a mode—an enjoyable mode—of expression. It's a world I will be able to enjoy and benefit from for my whole life.
I enjoyed this class so much that I decided to take AP Lit with Mrs. Inspektor this coming year. I hadn't intended to take it. In fact, I had rather intended to not take it. But, as this school year drew to a close, I realized how much I would miss the daily writing and responses, how much I would miss the class's conducive atmosphere. I knew, too, that I would profit from analyzing great literary works and that my writing would profit as well. However, those reasons weren't foremost on my mind when I signed up for AP Lit. Yes, I want to further these skills through the course, but I signed up because I loved AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor.
Without hesitation, I would highly, highly recommend Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lang class to anyone who is willing to put in the required amount of time. It took me 1.5-2 hours each day, but (once I learned to like writing) I enjoyed every minute of it. I believe you will too.
This Class is Something Special
Posted by Laurel Brunsink on 06/06/2015There's really not much that can be said about this class; or rather, I don't feel like anything I could say would do it justice. This was my first year tackling an online AP class, so I can't speak with much authority about how Mrs. I's course compares to others out there. Fortunately, I believe that this is irrelevant because I can't imagine any other course being able to measure up to Mrs. I and her brilliant tactics.
Simply put, Mrs. Inspektor knows how to raise champions. And what would a champion be without talent? I have come to believe that Mrs. I is an extremely gifted teacher capable of bringing out literary talent in anyone (no matter how deeply it's stuffed in there).
Throughout the year, I have come to realize the value of individual effort and the power of collective effort. With full confidence, I can say that I wouldn't have been able make it to the end of this year feeling as prepared as I did for the AP exam without my classmates. The constructive criticism assignments were invaluable. I was lucky enough to go through this course with a group of already very talented and intelligent people. With the combined efforts of Mrs. I and my classmates, I always knew what I was doing well and what I could be doing better. When I was clueless or confused there was always someone there to help, whether that was Mrs. I, another classmate or our wonderful teaching assistants (TA's). TA's, students who were previously enrolled in Mrs. Inpektor's class, were an invaluable resource; some of the most honest and gracious human beings I have ever come into contact with. Based on what I've experienced this year, I wholeheartedly believe that this course consistently attracts and produces disciplined students who have a sincere desire to learn. In my opinion, this speaks volumes about Mrs. I's quality of teaching.
This course also promotes self-confidence. In all truthfulness, this is a challenging course. My self-confidence was a big issue at the beginning of the year because I didn't feel like I would be able to keep up with such an intelligent group of people. Sure, there were times when I was pulling my hair out over response questions or sulking over an essay score, but there was never a moment in which my discouragement was not accompanied by an unearthly determination to improve. This, I believe, was wholly due to the encouraging atmosphere Mrs. Inspektor established from the very beginning of the year. Any individual can cultivate the self-respect and self-discipline that is necessary for this class (and life), but he must be willing to make mistakes and work hard in order to get there. So, yes, I would highly recommend this class to anyone with the desire and will to learn.
With that said, I must say that this was a fun class. The work was challenging, but the people were just absolute balls of sunshine. I never expected to spend so many minutes chuckling at a computer screen. If you're as lucky as I was, you'll get a group of witty and imaginative teenagers to learn and be confused with; to joke around (when appropriate, of course) or breathe a sigh of relief with when you realize Mrs. I just pulled a fast one on the entire class.
This class is a lot of work, but I would take it all over again if I could. In all honesty, Mrs. I is one of the most gracious teachers I have ever had. The skills I picked up in this class will stay with me forever. You can look, but I don't think you will find another class quite like this one anywhere else. If you pass Mrs. Inspektor's AP English Language class up, I think you're missing something special.
Best class ever! (No, that's not a hyperbole.)
Posted by Alexander Zlokapa on 05/28/2015When I sat down on exam day to take the AP Lang test, I felt like I was the most prepared student in the room. Some students around me were frantically trying to remember what a "synthesis" essay is, while others were wondering if it is technically possible to write an essay in fourty minutes. For me, the experience of writing many timed practice essays was especially helpful, as was the specific feedback from Mrs. Inspektor. Now, I find it easier to confidently write strong essays. More importantly (to myself, at least), I have come to truly enjoy writing them. Before, writing assignments were simply homework assignments. Now, it's actually fun to take out my pen (or Word document) and create a powerful essay. I would definitely recommend this class to any diligent student seeking to improve his writing skills! Thank you for a great year, Mrs. Inspektor, and see you in AP Lit!
Want to be proud of your writing? Take this course.
Posted by Andrew Bonney on 05/28/2015Before taking Mrs. Inspektor's course, my writing was awful. Unsophisticated, pretentious, and bland. But I didn't take notice. I thought that I was a spectacular writer! Heck, I believed that I might even be able to write a book. How wrong I was. Mrs. Inspektor's course was the remedy that my writing desparately needed. Throughout this course, my writing has matured and developed into something which I am proud of. Mrs. Inspektor did not beat around the bush when it came to refining essays! Her comments were specific and straight-forward, and she helped guide my writing into something that retained my personality and had a very clear argument.
Did this course prepare me for the AP exam? Definitely. Although the grading of the essays does have a degree of subjectivity, I believe that I will earn the score which I worked towards.
How many hourse of work per day did I generally put in the course? I put in approximately 1 hour a day or less for this course, but the time that I spent required a great deal of concentration.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? Each year, Mrs. Inspektor has her students participate in an essay contest. In previous years, it was the Peace Essay contest. This year, it was the DuPont science essay contest. I thought that I would find this research essay as fun as chewing gravel. However, it enthralled me. I enjoyed putting my research into words so much, it consumed most of my day. But I didn't care! I have always wanted to be a doctor, but this paper has influenced me to want to spend time as a medical researcher as well. Although I can't say that I speak for everyone in the class, the DuPont essay was by far my favorite assignment.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? Yes. If there is one thing which I've learned from this class, it is that writing well is difficult. Although innate writing talent does play a role in how beautifully a person can write, it is not the primary factor. Mrs. Inspektor showed me how hard work can help a person achieve writing talent, as I (who definitely did not possess any innate talent) have actually seen myself gain the skills necessary for great writing. Although I do not plan on becoming an English major, Mrs. Inspektor has enhanced my interest for learning how to put my thoughts into words. Picky critiquing, choice diction, and a complex argument are just a few of the aspects which, when combined, produce writing that people savor.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would I recommend this course to other students? If you have a degree of humility and are willing to work hard, this course is for you. However, if you are stubborn and don't want to change your style, or are flat out lazy, don't consider this course. Although this does require a great deal of self-motivation, it is all worth it. If you truly want to become a better writer, take this course. If I can become a better writer (seriously. You can't get much worse than me from the past), so can you. I've had my fair share of English courses, but this one was the most effective and most influential. Mrs. Inspektor is a fantastic teacher, and with hard work, dedication, and a desire to effectively present your argument, you can become a fantastic writer through her course.
Best Class Ever!!!!
Posted by Avery Gibson on 05/26/2015Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
This is THE best class to take if you want to prepare for the AP Lang exam. Mrs. Inspektor is the most amazing and dedicated teacher I've ever had. She made sure that we were well-prepared for the exam. I didn't have any qualms when the time came to take the exam. I was calm and confident (which is saying a lot for me.:)
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I usually spent about 12 hours a week working on Lang work, depending on how much we had that week.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
This was probably my favorite part of the course. Having my classmates comment on my work was a valualbe asset for me because I could see it from a critical audience's perspective and not just from the teacher's. As for interesting, I think the 2014-2015 class can say without a doubt that Abby and Katherine take the cake. Or caramel. ;)
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would say that any student who is willing to work hard, and perhaps, has an affinity for writing or grammar would do well in this course. But really, it's all about the effort.
Don't let the workload scare--it is totally worth it. The experience and teaching I got from this class is so valuable to me. This class made me grow in more than just grammar and writing.
Excellent AP Language Class
Posted by Sam Held on 05/26/2015I really enjoyed my time in this class. It was challenging at times, but it was worth it. I felt extremely prepared on the AP exam. I would have struggled with the exam if I tried to take it without this class, because the free response section would have given me trouble. However, with the preparation in this class, I felt comfortable during the test. I would spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours on the class, just depending on what day it was, what the assignment was, and what my other classes had due. Since Mrs. Inspektor gave us a week list of assignments, and a small daily one, it was possible to plan an approach to the assignments each week.
The constant communication between classmates and TA's was a major part of this class. Everyone was really helpful when I had questions about an assignment or feedback on a paper, and we had some really great discussions on the reading we did. There was an essay contest that we spent some time on over the winter. It was for the DuPont Science Essay Challenge, and it was an innovative topic, but really expanded my writing ability and I was proud of my final draft. I believe I drastically improved my critical reading skills and my writing on a deeper level through this class. Anyone who is interested in improving their writing skills or need help connecting the thoughts in their head to the words on paper should highly consider this class.
A fantastic class with a fantastic teacher
Posted by Janessa Hughes on 05/22/2015For any new student thinking about coming into AP Lang next year, let me just start with one negative thing about this class: if you get to the end of this class without learning anything, you can't blame the teacher. In some other classes I've taken, it can be fairly said that the teacher did not help you prepare for the final at all, but you simply can't make that excuse here. Mrs. Inspektor is an amazing teacher and if you do your part you WILL benefit from this class. Good luck!
- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely! I was very confident going into the exam that I knew how to analyze rhetoric and communicate effectively within time limits. This was due to the time we spent actively practicing this spring, as well as the time we spent this entire year indirectly learning the skills we needed. In other words, the exam practice was not detached from the rest of the year--the discussion questions, readings, Morning Message responses, papers, and exercises were all part of my preparation so that the spring was a more exam-focused continuation of my learning rather than a couple months of cramming. So yes, this course prepared me well for the AP exam.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
Hm this is tough to say but I'd have to go with 2-2.5 hours a day. Many days it was less, but many days it was more so this is a general estimate. If I spent these 2 hours per day diligently working, then this class was not overwhelming and I did not need to do any homework over the weekends. However, if I put bigger assignments off or waited till the very end of my day to complete Morning Message or DQ responses, then it was stressful. So if you are willing to put in a fair amount of time each week to work hard, you won't be in over your head.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I enjoyed writing the longer papers (the literacy narrative essay and the Dupont Research paper). As much as I liked writing timed essays throughout the year and receiving comments from Mrs. Inspektor, I really found these longer assignments to be valuable. It was helpful to have opportunities to use rhetorical strategies and receive detailed comments, while at the same time be able to polish and revise.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes! I took AP Lit with Mrs. Inspektor last year, and came away with a greater appreciation of literature. This year, however, I wasn't sure what I would take away from AP Lang. But let me say that this class is invaluable. I am not a person who adores reading and writing, and analyzing rhetorical strategies is not a natural strength. But looking back over the year, I can honestly say that I have progressed in my ability to recognize rhetorical strategies and use them in my own writing, and I often find myself using what I learned from Mrs. Inspektor.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
My classmates were lovely people, but I honestly didn't put much effort into building connections with them. When we did interact, they were helpful and kind, and much of their feedback was thoughtful and valuable. To new students coming in, let me say that this is a great place to build friendships if you put the work into it. And if you don't, you still have great working relationships with many wonderful people :)
*One suggestion I have for Mrs. Inspektor regarding communications with other students: I would suggest creating a simple feedback form that we could use when submitting Book Club Discussions. I was in a book club or two in which at least one member didn't pull his/her weight (didn't read the book, didn't contribute anything, or didn't even come to the meetings). It would be helpful if book club members could just give a little feedback so that everyone is held accountable and book clubs are less stressful for the "leaders".
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I think there are basically two types of students--those who put in effort and those who don't. The students who invest themselves in this class and put a fair amount of effort into completing assignments on time and receiving Mrs. Inspektor's teaching with an open mind will do very well in this class. Those who aren't willing to dive in won't do very well and will likely end the year frustrated and overwhelmed. So do what you can to get the most out of this class because it's a great opportunity to enhance your writing skills and Mrs. Inspektor really is a fantastic teacher.
Truly exemplary
Posted by Nathan Leung on 05/22/2015This class is a triumph. By far the best English class I have ever seen and probably the best online class as well, it not only did an extraordinary job of preparing me for the exam but was also truly enjoyable and stimulating. Was it difficult? Yes. Did it take a lot of time? Absolutely. But nuanced and complex thought requires time and this class forces you to invest that time week in and week out. It teaches you how to write yes, but it does so by teaching you how to think and how to condense your thoughts into words. It fosters a culture of considered discussion and through this class I've found a couple of brilliant friends. Yes, quite a bit of time is spent explicity on exam preparation, but other assignments like the Literary Narrative and Science Challenge allow every student to explore his or her writing in many different forms. They free us from the tyranny of the simple five-paragraph essay and give us license to improvise and make something entirely our own. I cannot recommend this class enough, and although it is a long journey, each step is completely worth it.
As much as I've learned about writing through this class, I can't seem to write a review to do it justice. <3
Posted by Katherine Ichinose on 05/21/2015As gushing and as enthusiastic as it may be, there is no way this review can fully capture how amazing this class is. I took this class in my 9th grade year, and I cannot express how much I enjoyed it. Not only was it the most fun class I've ever taken, but it was also beyond thorough in every aspect of learning. This class went beyond just preparing me for the exam and equipped me with an enhanced understanding of language, rhetoric, and I even learned about organ regeneration and the organic food industry. ;) The discussion questions forced me to think critically and deeply analyze elements of writing I might otherwise skim right over. Not only that, but the discussion questions were often thought-provoking and engaging. One of the amazing things about this class (only ONE of them, mind you) was the exposure to other students' thoughts and writing. I was amazed by the talent of my classmates and was honored to be part of the class. Almost every day we would read a "Morning Message" from Mrs. Inspektor, which including the teaching and instructions for that day. These Morning Messages could be quite lengthy, but I didn't mind the length, because Mrs. Inspektor was so engaging in her writing. It was easy to enjoy the learning process with Mrs. Inskektor and she is the best teacher I could ask for.
- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Oh, absolutely! I doubt any course could have completely quelled the pre-exam jitters I felt, but once the exam actually started, I was hardly nervous at all! On this side of the exam, I feel confident and expect at least a 4. The actual exam was easy compared to the much more challenging Cliff's AP practice exams we took throughout the year. The essays went smoothly, and I'm confident with my performance. At the beginning of the year, I was only getting 5s (out of a possible 9) on my timed exam essays, but at the end of the year, I scored all 9s on my last practice exam. The teacher comments I received on all my essays from Ms. Baert (my section teacher) were thorough, thoughtful, and helpful. Going into the exam knowing I could succeed in this challenging class gave me the confidence I needed to take the exam.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I put in about one to two hours a day, sometimes more when we had a major essay that we were working on, but that was partly (okay, maybe more than just "partly") because I just ENJOYED it so much. Especially when we had a major essay due, I would invest so much time in it that sometimes my mom would chide me for neglecting my other studies. As rigorous as this course is though, there is no superfluous work. It's all very significant and necessary to the course, and all of it is worthwhile.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
Well I honestly think that all the assignments were valuable! The timed essays that we wrote regularly were immensely helpful for the exam, and also in learning how to form a complex argument. Our biggest essay, the DuPont challenge essay, was extremely challenging for me because I am not at all a science-minded person, but going through it with many other students and following Mrs. Inspektor's guidance made it much easier and more enjoyable. I have to say my FAVORITE assignment was the Place Essay, where we picked a place and described it. I was up late on the night this assignment was due, exchanging essay revisions with a fellow classmate and frantically searching down the last fugitive tense changes.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I've always been an English-lover, but this class did enhance my interest in areas of English I'd previously found unenjoyable, particularly scientific non-fiction. We read The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan and participated in two non-fiction book clubs. While I still enjoy fiction more than non-fiction, my appreciation for non-fiction grew through taking this course and looking at pieces of literature that I would otherwise never have read.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Interesting is hardly a strong enough word to describe them. I've had unicorn wars and flown on squirrel gliders and met some amazing friends through this class. We exchanged essays, discussed books, encouraged each other, and had some very erm… lively… discussions on the taste of water. :P Aside from us goofing off together, I was SO impressed by all of the students in this class. They were talented, hard-working, friendly, and I was so thrilled to be part of this class. All of the students were open and welcoming. (I transferred into this class after my original class was cancelled, and everyone made me feel right at home in this class.) Not to mention they all had some really great feedback to give me on my essays. I really enjoyed reading their writing and getting to see their personalities and get to know them.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Honestly I think that any student who is willing to work to improve could succeed in this class, even if they don't like English or don't have strong writing skills. Where this class shines (which is basically everywhere, granted) is that the teachers and TAs are so willing to work with individuals. Any student can move from a mediocre writer to a spectacular one through this class if they are open to letting the teachers help them. If you are willing to plunge into this class, and are ready to enjoy English, make friends, grow as a writer, thinker, and person (and you might get some college credit as a bonus), you will get so much out of it, you'll never regret it! It was worth every late night and tough assignment.
Amazing Class and Amazing Teacher!
Posted by Megan Pollon on 05/21/2015Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes! Mrs. Inspektor prepared us VERY well. We did many practice essays and multiple choice sections. The nice thing about this exam is that there isn't a lot of studying involved. You just get prepared throughout the entire year.
How many hours of work per week did you generally put into the course?
I put in about 1-2 hours per day. It depends on the assignments for the week. Just plan on having 1-2 hours a day to get the homework done, because there is some due every day.
Are there any particularly favortie assignments that you found especially valuable?
I enjoyed reading the essays and discussing them. The topics were very interesting and it was good to learn how to look at multiple sides of an issue.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Hmmm... I don't think I want to major in English, but it did increase my interest in the subject. You can use the skills from this class throughout many areas of your life, so it is very valuable.
What sort of student would do well in this course?
Someone who is willing to work hard at improving. It is hard to improve your writing, but that is exactly what this course teaches you how to do. Go into this class expecting to learn and improve even if you're already a great writer. Keep trying if your grades start out low. If you work hard and listen to Mrs. Inspektor's comments than you will improve.
One of the best classes you'll ever take!
Posted by Grace Driggers on 05/21/2015I almost don't know where to start when discussing this class. It was an absolutely wonderful experience, and one that I'm so very glad I had.
I chose to take this course because I love writing. If I'm being honest, I thought that it would be fairly easy for me, since writing typically comes naturally to me. I was very wrong. This class has been a challenge in the best sort of way. It required me to slow down, read thoughtfully, write authentically, and think critically. Mrs. Inspektor does an excellent job of assigning homework that you can't just complete haphazardly. The Morning Messages often required time spent analyzing small portions of writing in detail, discovering the meaning behind something as deceptively simple as a cartoon, or analyzing your own work in an attempt to identify errors. The weekly Discussion Questions on various essays demand original thought; you cannot simply look these passages up on Sparknotes, y'all. ;) I personally loved the Literacy Narrative that Mrs. I assigned at the beginning of the year, because it emphasized what Mrs. I sought to teach all year: that you are an important source of knowledge and experiences, and you should be able to communicate your views to the world in a way that captures attention and exerts influence. It required me to ponder an experience that had shaped me as a writer, and then communicate it in a way that was enjoyable to read. I learned well the value of "showing, not telling" (using powerful words instead of stating things too plainly and obviously) and grew to appreciate the power of the stories that I am able to relay to others.
This class was excellent becuase it prepared me for the AP Exam almost without me knowing it. All year, you spend time weekly reading things and analyzing them, presenting arguments and defending them, writing practice essays, exchanging critiques, researching, and reading countless books. Those passages which we all analyzed were much like the Rhetorical Analysis essay on the exam. The practice we got piecing evidence together in both the DuPont Science essay and all throughout various other assignments mirrored the Synthesis Essay. The many times where we were presented with a basic issue in the Discussion Questions and were required to take a stance and defend it are like the Argument Essay. We were also assigned plenty of actual practice exams that left me feeling well-prepared for the exam. The bottom line is this: The class will absolutely prepare you for the exam. But this isn't a class that merely teaches to the test. Mrs. Inspektor goes far beyond that, and instills within you lessons and abilities that will reach far beyond an exam into many other areas of your writing life.
Overall, this class has been amazing. I learned, grew, and most surprisingly of all, made friends! I never thought I'd make actual friends in an online class, but I have. I've gotten to know people from all over the country (and even outside of it) who are brilliant, talented, fascinating people, whom I am very glad to know. From weekly book clubs, to WWW board chats, to emailing late at night about essay revisions, I've interacted with countless people whose love for learning encouraged me greatly. This class has provided one of the most enthusiastic, encouraging, friendly learning environments I've ever had the privelege of being in, and I would reccomend it to anyone. This class is not for the faint of heart-- I spent anywhere between 45 minutes to 2 hours daily on homework, and I'm an unusually fast reader and writer. Most of my classmates reported spending longer than that on their work. It will require you to really think, and to go beyond what has been required of you in any other writing class previously. However, I don't think that there's any particular kind of student who wouldn't do well in this class. I met students who hated writing, and students who loved writing, and both kinds of students were able to do well, provided they were willing to work hard. In fact, some of the students who ended up writing some of my favorite pieces to read were people who originally did not consider themselves to be writers. Mrs. I will work with you personally, and will go to great lengths to ensure that you grow as a writer, sand away at your weaknesses, and hone your strengths. Anyone can succeed in this class, as long as you are willing to admit when you don't understand something, and work hard.
This class taught me that there is no such thing as an insignificant piece of writing. All writing is powerful, and what gives writing its power is the author's willingness to hone their work carefully, and present themselves authentically in their work. As Mrs. I always reminded us, producing good writing should feel difficult. It will require strain, revision, and uncomfortable openness, but the end result is so rewarding. Words have power, and this class teaches students how to write words that will shape the world around them. I have grown to love words even more through this class, and regardless of the AP Exam (which I feel pretty confident about :) ) AP Lang has shaped my writing abilities, taught me life lessons, and given me friends that I wouldn't trade for anything.
Take the class. Just do it. You'll be so glad you did. :)
An EXCELLENT course!
Posted by Janelle Naegele on 05/20/2015Truly valuable experience
Posted by Noelle Chow on 05/20/2015In every way, I have loved AP Language with Mrs. Inspektor. I found wanting to write and wanting to work because I felt inspired. The interaction with classmates is what I most valued about this class. I feel that I've grown into my writing voice and have a much fuller understanding of how to express myself with words.
I felt very prepared for the AP exam. We wrote so many essays that I felt completely calm when I went into the exam. The multiple choice portion was something I was a little more anxious about. We took several full practice tests, which helped a lot.
My favorite assignments were the book clubs and the narrative essays. We had multiple book clubs and I found a few friends that I resonated really well with. There's nothing better than discussing literature with book nerds! The narrative essays were a lot of fun as well. I think these helped me to find my voice the most because they gave me the most freedom to explore and push writing boundaries like structure, metaphors, and every part of my style.
Students who want to become great writers would greatly benefit from this course. It's hard work and takes discipline, but the rewards are incredible. I would definitely recommend because I truly think every student would benefit from AP Lang.
Excellent Course
Posted by Margaret Sarnoff on 05/18/2015I really enjoyed this course. I definately write more maturely now than I did before taking AP English Langyage and Composition. My teachers (Mrs. Inspektor and Ms. Baert) were really encouraging while still helping me grow as a writer and critique my own work. The other students and the teachers asistants were all helpful and mature. The sources that we used may be troubling for some (profanity was used occassionally in one of the books we analysed), but overall there was nothing truly offensive.
I especially loved how the point of this course was not to be persuaded or dissuaded of beliefs or costumes, but to write effectively. The topics covered (from pop culture to politics) were just media to practice writing with skill, and you were welcome to disagree with a source as long as could backup your objection.
Those who would really benefit from this corse would be anyone who is able to work hard and become a better writer, and especially those who love writing. Writing is esentual to almost every proffesion, and taking AP English and Composition helps you be prepared for anything. The course load wasn't overpowering--just expect to spend 1--1 1/2--2 hours a day, and 1/2--2 hours on the weekends (if procrastinate like me). There will be days when you desperatly don't want to do anything like an asigments, there will be others where you wish you had more to do (yes, it happened to me).
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Posted by Jennifer Banda on 05/17/2015Since I'm not terribly original, I'm just gonna write my review FAQ style :P
- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely. I can honestly say that I was feeling a lot of different emotions sitting in front of that paper, but "unprepared" was (for once) not one of them. By the time the exam rolled around I'd already written so many synthesis/rhetorical/argument essays that pretty much nothing could phase me...which is interesting, since I feel this year got maybe some of the hardest prompts.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
Really depends on what's assigned and what kind of person you are. I imagine most reviews are gonna intimidate you with how much work there is, but really it's up to you. How fast do you read? For a totally non related example, my mom and I take part in a program called Great Decisions at out library, and we have to read a good few pages worth on that week's topic beforehand. I can read in 30 minutes what takes my mom 2 hours to process - she literally quizzes me on it because she doesn't believe that I can read (and process - this is important) it that fast, but that's just how it is I guess. Most assingments aren't terribly long unless you're working through a book, in which case buckle down cause you're in for a ride. (don't worry there's only like two or three in the year)
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
This course is designed to help you ace the AP Exam, so everything you do basically revolved around that. For me, I am TERRIBLE at the rhetorical analysis essays, and I'm not over-exaggerating when I say it basically took me the whole year to get anywhere near up to speed on them. But we never just tried it once and then sank or swam. We kept doing it over and over and over again, which, while totally miserable at the time DID really help me.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Ahahahhaa, uhmmm, no. Sorry Mrs Inspektor <3 English is not, nor has it ever been, my thing. I have always DESPISED writing essays. I barely survived this class ;~;
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I'd say this class actually requires more perseverence than hard work. It's less of a major-project-once-a-month class and way more every.single.day. go-at-it kind of class. I go to high school, do homeschool, do this class, and then go to work and you can bet there were some days where I didn't even wanna look at my computer because I knew what was waiting for me. But Mrs Inspektor was always super understanding and kind and sometimes I literally just breathed "thank you" when I saw those beautiful words: "A reply to this Morning Message is optional..." Mrs Inspektor always had a talent for just KNOWING the days when I was too exhausted to reply :3 Which leads to my final (and made up) question...
- What was your favorite aspect of the class?
Mrs Inspektor is an AMAZING teacher! I think the only thing that helped me survive through this class was her encouraging comments. She always made it very clear that if we were perfect on every type of essay we probably didn't even need this class! So when I was struggling through those rhetorical analysis essays, genuinely trying, and still getting bad grades, I didn't give up because Mrs Inspektor didn't just tell me - she honestly made me FEEL like I wasn't a bad student - I was just going through the learning process. And sure enough, I made it :)
I did feel prepared for the AP exam at the end of this course. A large portion of the homework assignments dealt with the essay portion, whereas the morning messages tended to focus on the multiple-choice questions and actual rhetoric. As a result, I felt ready to take the exam.
I generally put in 5-6 hours per week into the class. It takes some time to respond to the daily messages and there are weekly homework assignments. I put in more hours near the end of big projects, too, which happen a few times throughout the course.
There are a couple extended essays that are fun to write. The DuPont writing challenge was something that I enjoyed doing. It wasn't all that extended of an essay, it was actually pretty short, but it required research and good writing in a small space.
Especially because this is an English course online, excellent communication skills are necessary for the class. Being driven and willing to work hard and learn are also necessary.
Whoever you are, you gotta take this class.
Posted by Beatrice Lopez on 05/15/2015There are two sorts of people in the world. Those who like to write and those who don't. If you like to write, this class is for you; as a likely English geek, you'll enjoy the range of essays you'll get to write (from argumentative to narrative to descriptive), the books you'll read (each book has been life-changing for me), and all the discussions you'll participate in with your intelligent and highly capable classmates (really - one of the best aspects of this class is the people you'll meet, get to know, and discuss the greatest matters of human experience with).
If you don't like to write, this class is also for you. Because English is a means and not an end (well, except for the English geeks maybe), you'll learn to master the art of thinking well/expressing well/arguing well in order to talk about your true interests with brilliance. Don't be mistaken. This is not just a class for English-adoring maniacs. If you're interested in science or sports or politics or economics or art or music or anything that you can talk about with a degree of expertise, you'll enjoy this class; my class read, discussed, and wrote about each of the topics above (many to a very deep level). Oh, and there's a third sort of person - people like me who don't particularly love to write and who don't particularly hate it. This class is also for people of my breed. This was definitely one of my favourite classes this year. ;-)
- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely. I sat down to write the exam with complete confidence. I knew that my reading, analysing, and writing skills had grown tremendously through the class, and I believe I totally conquered the passages and prompts. In fact, if anything, I was rather disappointed that the essays for this year's exams were about issues not complex enough to write a truly grueling essay. Not as fun as the difficult stuff we wrote in class!
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I would say about 5-10 hours per week, depending on whether we were working on a big paper or reading a heftier work. I usually spent an hour in the morning finishing off daily assignments (Morning Messages and discussion board responses) and then the rest of the time reading or writing in the evening.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
Quite a few assignments come to mind! The literacy narrative and place essay were both enjoyable since they gave me room to stretch creative writing muscles. The Dupont Science essay taught me what research-writing truly is, and all the books and discussions we did truly strengthened my basic, critical thinking skills (and this, I believe, is the key to success on the AP Lang exam)!
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Well, if you didn't pick it up in my first paragraph, I am not the typical English geek. Writing is bleeding for me. Draining. That being said, my main takeaway from this course is not a love for English per se, but a love for complex thinking and complex argument that I can bring to any field, interest, or issue whether it be literary, scientific, or political in nature.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
As I already mentioned, an amazing aspect of this class is the amount of interaction among classmates. There is a perfect balance of individualism and interaction. You learn to develop your own skills, your own line of thought, your own argument, but you also learn to share, interact, defend, and challenge amongst your classmates.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
This course takes grit. It's best to keep up with daily assignments and devote the time needed to read challenging pieces and write challenging papers. A student will need good time-management skills and motivation to work hard. For sure, I'd recommend this to all students who haven't taken this course yet. But I'd also warn all students that AP Lang. with Mrs. Inspektor is challenging, life-changing, and addicting! I will sorely miss her Morning Messages!
Incredible Class!
Posted by Clare Cook on 05/15/2015Taking AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor was definitely one of my best academic choices this year. All the classes I've taken with PA homeschoolers have been quite excellent, but I'd say Mrs. Inspektor's was even beyond those. Not only did I feel very well prepared for the exam, but I know I grew as a writer too. I learned how to revise papers far beyond just editing for minor mistakes and how to let my voice come out even in formal writing. The other students in the class were fun and supportive, and we got to know eachother well through interactions on the webiste and "book clubs" we held a few times over the year.
While I felt really well prepared for the AP test, Mrs. Inspektor did not limit herself to just teaching us specifically what would be on the test. I don't think any of our essays were even timed until the second semester, and I believe we only took one multiple choice test in the first semester. In the mean time, she taught us in a more relaxed way how to really analyze and understand arguments, and had us write other papers which really challenged our writing abilities and were also fun. I found that when timed essays and multiple choice tests were introduced, I had no trouble adjusting.
Even with all this, I think AP Lang was less time cosuming than some of my other classes. I would check the webiste daily, but I think during the week I only spent 30 minutes to an hour on English, sometimes taking more time on the weekends to write essays and such. It is a considerable time committment, but definitely manageable, and Mrs. Inspektor is very willing to accomodate trips and other conflicts.
So basically, I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to improve in their writing, do well on the AP Lang test, and have a great time while doing it.
Awesome AP Class
Posted by Hannah Shaffer on 05/14/2015The main thing I took from this class was confidence. I began the year disliking writing because I felt that I couldn't write well. Now I am confident in my essay-writing skills thanks to this class. Mrs. Inspektor is the best teacher I've ever had. She can make a bad grade seem like a good one just by encouraging us for the future. The students in this class were awesome, too, so if you want to become a better writer and make new friends along the way, this is the class for you. I spent about an hour a day on this class, and anyone who truly wants to better their writing and will work hard would benefit from this class. This class prepared me so well for the AP exam, and confidence is a feeling I wouldn't trade for anything.
Maya Inspektor's AP Language Class
Posted by Becca Brewbaker on 05/14/2015Mrs. Inspektor's class was a really great experience. She did a great job of pushing you to your limit, but also having a lot of mercy and providing tons of encouragement. I felt that she was always available to help you with anything, even when she had given birth to her child 3 days before, haha. This class will prepare you for the AP test and also for college level courses!!!
Slowly Improving
Posted by Tucker Ervin on 05/14/2015Over the course of the year, I have watched as my writing has grown better and better. I know it's not anywhere perfect, but for the price of about an hour a day, I've seen vast improvements in my work. Mrs. Inspektor has provided very valuable feedback for me to learn from, not only for the AP exam (which I did not take, but from what I hear, went wonderfully for the other students), but for writing in general, which is what I took the class for in the first place. I feel much more prepared for college level writing now than I did when I started the course, and I am eternally grateful for that.
The Most Rewarding Class You Will Take
Posted by Rebecca Brown on 05/14/2015Taking the AP English Class with Mrs. Inspektor not only completely prepared me for every aspect of the exam, but it also improved my writing and language skills over all. Throughou the whole year I was anticipated this course to be over because it is challanging, but now at the end I am sad to see that its over with. I think this course is great for anyone who wants to do more that just well on the exam. All the students, TAs and Mrs. Inspektor were incredibially helpful and always offered comments for my improvement or benifit. I have no doubt that it will continue next year. This course was not easy, but it was worth all the time I put into it.
Comprehensive, enjoyable, useful--a great class!
Posted by Josephine Stockwell on 05/11/2015This class had a range of assignments which allowed material to be presented from different perspectives and in different ways. I liked Book Clubs because we were able to read books of our choosing (I'm an avid reader but didn't have as much time to read for pleasure senior year) and also learn from them rhetorically, content-wise, and contextually. My year's Language class competed in the DuPont Challenge for the first time--something which I would have never done on my own--and that was a rewarding experience. I think of myself as a Humanities person, and so winning an Hnorable Mention was quite a surprise to me. I enjoyed working with other students and getting feedback from them on my writing and ideas. I have always enjoyed English, but I gained a comprehensive understanding of how language is used, and the importance of HOW one says something, in additon to WHAT is said. I definitely reccomend this course to other students. It is an encouraging environment, and as long as you are prepared to be invested in what you are learning, you are guaranteed to improve your communication skills. Mrs. Inspektor is an open-minded, humorous, witty, wonderful teacher. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CLASS!
Great Class with a Great Teacher Who Gives Awesome Feedback!
Posted by Tessa Olson on 06/02/2014- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes! I was actually pretty nervous about 2-3 weeks before the exam, but then I looked back at all of the work we had accomplished throughout the year and I was convinced that I was well prepared. While I still had some jitters the night before exam day, I honestly felt much better than I usually do before I take big tests. I don't know what my score is yet, but I do know that when I walked out of the exam room, I felt confident.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
This is a tough question. I spent a ton of time on this class; many times 2+ hours a day. Expect to work on weekends, too (although that's kind-of true for most high school/college/AP classes ;)). One thing I learned early on in the year is to look ahead when Mrs. Inspektor sends out the next two weeks' assignments every Sunday. If you wait until the day-of to see what you need to turn in that day, you'll realize you're schedule probably doesn't allow for you to read 50 pages of a book and answer discussion questions right then and there. It's also hard to judge the time spent on this course because each week varies. Some days we took practice MCQs and analyzed our performance, which didn't take much more than an hour. Some days we responded to a few discussion questions, which took anywhere from 20-60 minutes. Other days—especially in December—I spent several hours a day working on essays or finishing up reading assignments. Don't procrastinate! However, if you manage your time well and make room in your schedule for this class, you should be fine.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I'm assuming most people will say "Peace Essay Contest!" for this question. Yes, the PEC definitely helped me grow as a writer, but I can't say I was thrilled about the assignment until I pressed the "submit" button (even then that might be stretching it). :) But, Mrs. Inspektor helps you grow in ALL areas of writing, and she caters to ALL types of writers. So if you hate research essays but love creative writing (me!), you can still enjoy this class! My favorite assignment was probably the literacy narrative essay. I also enjoyed the Place Essay (pLace, not pEace), which was a nice break toward the end of the year from writing monotonous exam essays.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
For sure! I've always loved creative writing, so it was awesome to be in a class full of enthusiastic writers of all different kinds. (Although be comforted; you don't have to be a writing-enthusiast to join this class. Just be prepared to work hard and you might even like writing by May!) Mrs. Inspektor is a FABULOUS teacher. She gives incredible, detailed feedback on every single essay, and her love for writing is definitely apparent. Her passion rubs off on her students!
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Absolutely! This is most interactive AP class I have taken. There are several book clubs throughout the year that allow you to engage in live discussion with your classmates, which is super cool. Also, almost weekly, we respond to discussion questions, and it's really great to be able to participate in thoughtful discussions and debates with classmates. At one point a month or so before the exam, Mrs. Inspektor even set up a Skype meeting to review a practice exam with us!
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I'm not a prolific reader, so this class did stretch me in that area. I think you need to have somewhat of a solid foundation of writing before you join this class, but you don't have to be a published author. ;) This class is a lot of hard work, so make sure you have time in your schedule for it. It is also an amazing class with an incredible teacher!! Mrs. Inspektor gives SO much time to this class. Go sign up! :)
Super inspiring, the AP grade is just a bonus!
Posted by Katie Zucker on 05/29/2014I have to admit, I was a little nervous when I signed up for this class last year. I knew it would be hard work, and writing wasn't even something I was good at (at least I didn't think so). Timed essays terrified me, and the Peace Essay was like some scary monster from the kids' books I liked to read.
Somehow, I went from that to getting perfect scores on big papers, enjoying writing 40-minute essays (!!!), and winning the Peace Essay in my state. I walked into the AP testing room feeling extremely confident, and I walked out with a huge delighted grin on my face. I think it was the effort. This was definitely my favorite class of the year; I put in 1-2 hours daily on a regular basis, and more sometimes, not so much because I had to to finish the assignments but because I was inspired. Mrs. Inspektor sorta does that to you. And the TAs and the creativity of your peers just add to it.
I'd VERY highly recommend this class for anyone who is motivated to write beautifully. Because this class WILL turn students into amazing writers. Mrs. Inspektor, my incredible TAs, and the fantastic writers who were my fellow students were all more than happy to help me grow as a writer in any way they could, and I'm sure future classes will be the same way. It is a lot of work (1-2 hours plus on weekdays), but it's SO far above worth it. I can now write comfortably and confidently, both structured essays and creatively, and the class even re-inspired me to write for fun again, something I hadn't done since I was little. Pretty much, if you want to be able to write, take this class!!
Fantastic Class!
Posted by Anna Cole on 05/27/2014This course definitely prepared me for the AP exam. We wrote so many practice essays and completed so many multiple choice tests, that, on exam day, I walked into the testing room feeling almost overconfident. I did struggle with time limits, however, so I would suggest beginning to write by hand and forcing yourself to stick within time limits as early as possible.
I generally put 1-2 hours of work a day into the course. During Peace Essay, I generally spent at least 2 hours a day, as well as time on the weekends. Most of this time was spent researching. I was a very slow writer at the beginning of the year, but by the end of the year I usually spent around 45 minutes to an hour on English assignments. The workload varies throughout the year, so some days will be extremely light and others will be a bit heavier.
I found the Peace Essay especially valuable. I didn't particularly enjoy it at the time, but, looking back, I learned so much about the process of researching and then synthesizing all of my research into a coherent paper. The place and literary essays were also quite valuable; they stretched me as a writer, since narrative and descriptive writing is not my forte.
I really enjoyed interacting with the other students. It was so much fun being in a class with so many ridiculously intelligent and talented writers. It was also fun getting to interact with students from around the world. My only regret is that I don't get to meet all of them in person!
I would definitely recommend this course to other students. Honestly, I think that anyone can succeed in this course, as long as they are willing to put in the time and work necessary to complete all of the assignments to the best of their ability. In conclusion, this was both the hardest and the most beneficial class that I have ever taken in my life. Mrs. Inspektor truly challenged me in my writing, and I think that I have emerged from this course with the ability to convey my thoughts quickly and clearly on paper. Just take this class. It's fantastic.
Wow!
Posted by Sarah Moy de Vitry on 05/26/2014I had no idea what the year was going to be like last fall, I was dubious about daily workloads, and I was intimidated by the size of the class. Now I look back at it as one of the most rewarding classes I have ever taken. Mrs. Inspektor is an attentive, caring, excellent teacher and I absolutely miss her Morning Messages already. Her day-by-day workload allowed me to keep up with the intense pace of the course, and also taught me that it is possible to manage a huge amount of material without staying up until midnight ;-). The day of the exam, I felt more prepared than for any other exam I have ever taken.
I probably put 1-2 hours into this class every week day, but aproaching the Peace Essay Contest I probably averaged 3 hours weekdays + more on the weekends.
My favorite assignment was probably the Peace Essay Contest, not because it was the most fun, but because I felt that it was during the whole grueling process that I grew the most as a writer.
I would recommend this class to anyone who is willing to work hard and take critisism well. While and interest in English language is helpful, I don't think that it is necessary; English was not my favorite subject at the beginning of the year, but now, it certainly makes the top three...
Take home message from all of this: TAKE THIS CLASS!
Awesome Class!!!
Posted by Abigail Opst on 05/24/2014
Now, at the end of the year, I can say I absolutely loved this class. Halfway through I had no idea of how it was changing me and the benefits it was inflicting on my writing. Of course, the Peace Essay was the misery of several months, but its an essay I'm so proud of now. Even some of the literature was a bit dry and even frustrating--but it has expanded my knowledge of what kind of books are out there.
Besides helping me prepare for the AP exam, this class helped me learn how to really write and analyze others' writings. Before coming to PHAA for AP English Language, I had taken three years of English at a different online school--one that promoted a very systematic, not-at-all-creative way of writing. Here my thoughts could just flow onto the paper without me having to worry about "be verb" counts or how many examples per paragraph I had. It honestly took some getting used to, but I'm so thankful I don't write like a robot anymore. I've already been recommending this class to my friends.
The Place Essay is another paper I'm very proud of. Getting to read each other's' papers was super fun and being a grader was interesting and helped me understand what exam graders are looking for when they grade essays. The discussion questions were another nice aspect of this class--though throughout the year I never really enjoyed them.
Anyone who has taken classes where writing is not a free-flowing spill of thoughts would definitely benefit from this class (I know I did!). I'm not saying there shouldn't be any organization, but there was just way too much of it before I took this class. (Counting "be verbs" per paragraph, never starting a sentence with the same word, avoiding identical adjectives, etc. was all crazy and super restricting now that I look back.)
A Rewarding Course!
Posted by Savannah Rigby on 05/22/2014- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
I felt completely prepared. I didn't feel like there was really anything else I could have done to ready myself. On exam day, there was nothing surprising or overwhelming on the test, because we had covered it all.
- How many hours of work per day did you generally put into the course?
I put around one to two hours of work on most weekdays. If there was a major assignment coming up, I would sometimes work a few more hours and work on the weekends.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The Peace Essay was a dreaded assignment to begin with, but one of my favorites once it was completed. I have used the information I learned through research many times, especially in speech and debate. It also gave me a better understanding of international cultures and the United Nations. Plus, it gave me more experience in writing research papers, which I know is a skill I'll use over and over in high school and college.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I have always been interested in writing and English, but I do think this course refreshed my interest in it.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes! The book clubs were great for communication with other students and I always found them to be fun and useful. Through the book clubs, WWW Board posts, essay comments, and discussion question answers, different ideas and perspectives on everything was revealed to me. I thoroughly enjoyed the disparity in everyone's views on certain projects or reading assignments.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Excellent Course!
Posted by Cj Shafer on 05/19/2014Mrs. Inspektor did a fabulous job preparing the class for the AP exam. She gave equal attention to all three essays for the test, and provided useful strategies for the test overall. What I appreciated most about her teaching method, however, is that the assignments tended to build on each other. For example, the Literacy Narrative assignment was a relaxing exercise that prepared the class for the tight wordcount for the Peace Essay.
She also made sure that everyone understood what a good essay was before she expected us to do it within the time limits. That allowed me to grow as a writer, as well as to learn how to write a complex essay that test graders would view favorably.
I would definitely recommend this course to other students. Not only did I grow as a writer, but I also grew as a reader and thinker. It is such an amazing experience, and I think anyone willing to put hard work into the class will reap many rewards.
A Challenging and Valuable Experience
Posted by Nathan Emery on 05/18/2014Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes. Throughout the year we wrote many essays like those on the exam, and Mrs. Inspektor (and sometimes the other students) commented with thoughtful, in-depth, and helpful feedback. Because of Mrs. Inspektor's comments, I was able to learn each time I wrote an essay–if I made a mistake once, I would know how to fix it the next essay. By the end of the year I felt confident in my ability to write essays for the exam. In addition, the assigned multiple choice sections (and consequent assigned analysis) helped me to identify my weaknesses on the section and improve going forward.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
My average time spent per day was probably between one and a half and two hours. On some days, such as when we wrote timed AP essays, the time was closer to an hour. However, when we had big assignments coming up, the time went up, sometimes over two hours. Thus it is difficult to give a completely accurate picture, but a general idea is about 6-10 hours a week.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
My favorite assignments were the three longest essays: the Literacy Narrative, the Peace Essay, and the Place Essay. Each was around 1,000-1,500 words and involved a few weeks (or, in the case of the Peace Essay, over a month) of work. We would write drafts, receive comments, revise, and post another draft. Mrs. Inspektor and my classmates gave in-depth comments on each, showing areas I needed to rework. I often ended up rewriting much of the essay after the first draft, not because the first draft was bad, but because I was able to make it so much better through revision. This process really showed me what good writing is made of and how I could achieve it, a skill that translated directly to my AP essays, which I couldn't revise nearly as much.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes. I had never really liked English before the class, but I came to appreciate it more afterward. English still is not my favorite subject, but that's not a detriment to this class–just personal preference.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes, especially the comments on each others' essays. They helped me to see where I could improve. The book clubs, too, were helpful and enjoyable in analyzing literature together.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
As with most, if not all, online courses, the student must be self-motivated and disciplined. Most assignments are due midnight on the day they are assigned, unless an extension is given. Thus a student must be able to plan ahead and be organized enough to meet deadlines. In addition, since it is an AP class, it involves more work than a normal English class would.
If students are willing to work hard, though, I would definitely recommend the course. Even to those who don't love writing (like me), the course provides valuable skills that will help them for years afterward.
Fantastic English class!
Posted by Abigail Mills on 05/18/2014Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP Exam?
Honestly, one of my favorite things about this course was that Mrs. Inspektor didn't exclusively focus on test prep. Our assignments were much more varied than just writing exam essay after exam essay and hoping to become better writers through mere repetition. Rather, Mrs. Inspektor actively sought to engage and expand our critical reading and thinking skills through assignments such as the discussion of other well-written essays with fellow students, rhetorical device exercises, and the reading and discussion of classic works by authors such as Henry David Thoreau, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Richard Rodriguez, Charles Darwin, and Azar Nafisi. Some of these works were assigned as part of the mandatory classwork and some were read as part of optional (but extremely popular) book club activities, where students met together through Skype or Google hangouts to read and discuss AP-level works. Altogether, the assignments for this class helped me to prepare very, very effectively for the exam by NOT focusing as much on actual exam prep as on the development of my own critical thinking and writing skills. (Don't get me wrong, countless essays in response to actual exam prompts are assigned almost every other weekend, and Mrs. Inspektor does a fabulous job of prepping everyone for the multiple-choice section starting around February, but I personally feel that the strength and excellence of this course lies more in its power to develop individual writing styles and push the student to write at a superior college level--a skill which will ultimately last the student much longer than the 3.5 hours period of time that is the AP Lang exam. ;))
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into this course?
At the beginning of the year, there were a lot of discussion questions and readings assigned, which I found challenging at first, in terms of time management. The way those assignments work is that Mrs. Inspektor will assign a 6-8 page essay reading from our textbook, Language of Composition, and then post a list of thought-provoking discussion questions, two of which we must respond to with roughly a paragraph per question. These paragraph responses are all posted on the class website, and then for the rest of the week, everyone will be required to post responses to four other classmates' initial paragraph discussion question responses. This makes for a lengthy and in-depth discussion of each essay or piece of writing. So, at the beginning of the year, when these discussion question assignments were most heavy, I would probably spend about an hour and a half per day to write out responses, answer MMs, and then respond to others' responses. I got much better at handling my AP Lang classwork throughout the year, though, and towards the end of the first semester, I spent about an hour a day on this class. During Peace essay time, though, I spent inordinate amounts of time researching, but if you spread your research and writing out over a period of a few weeks, you can still get by with only an hour and a half per day during this time too. Overall, I probably spent about 6-8 hours per week on this class.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I won't elaborate on this too much, considering that this review is getting dangerously long ;) and many others have already commented on the Peace essay, Place essay, and literacy narrative (all of which were amazing, of course!). But one of the most valuable assignments for me was actually an optional assignment for extra credit, to be completed over spring break. Called Project Walden, this assignment caps off our class study of Walden. In Mrs. I's words: "I'd like you to pick some experiment [to incorporate into your life from Monday to Friday of spring break] that seems personally worthwhile to you, that represents a challenging departure from your ordinary life, and that might have relevance or resonance for others." Like Thoreau in Walden, we were encouraged to push ourselves out of our comfort zones to new levels of self-awareness and capability. My project helped me immensely, not necessarily because my life was changed by my new routine (I chose to follow a strict daily schedule and work on time management), but because the actual act of writing about myself and how I process change was really revealing.
This doesn't necessarily fit under one of the questions, but...I just wanted to say that Mrs. Inspektor's feedback for all assignments is AMAZING. She is tough on her students, but she is also empathetic and keenly aware of what it takes to push each student to their highest level of writing performance. Personally (while this review might not show it ;)), I feel that, at the end of this class, I have never been a better writer or more equipped to handle college level work. I will dearly miss all of my amazing classmates, and I feel so privileged to have been Mrs. Inspektor's student and a part of this incredible class. :)
Amazing class! A must-take course =)
Posted by Shou En Chong on 05/17/2014- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? Definitely. This course teaches you everything you need to score a 5 on the AP Exam. No surprise, then, that I took the AP exam with perhaps unprecedented levels of confidence =)
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course? The total time varied from week to week, of course, but I spent an average of around 8 hours per week on the course.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? The literacy narrative was probably my favorite assignment, and the Peace Essay the most useful.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? Yes it did. =) English was already a favorite subject of mine, but this course made me love it even more.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? Both interesting and valuable. Providentially, I was blessed with an incredible bunch of classmates. One's classmates are so important to the overall experience, and I'm really grateful to have the priviledge of being in such a wonderful class of talented and amazing individuals.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)? Any student willing to work hard will do well =) And for those with a liking for English, this class will be an extremely enjoyable and useful experience. A must-take class for everyone, to be honest, but even more so for those interested in English. Highly, highly recommended. =D
- Final Thoughts: While this course will help you get a 5 on the AP Exam, it's also extremely fun. Take this course, and then dance your way to a 5! Mrs. Inspektor is a wonderful teacher =)
Don't Graduate Without Taking This Couse!
Posted by John Baert on 06/07/2013I felt extremely prepared for the AP exam after completing this course. I remember being so relaxed the morning of the AP. In fact, I kept on thinking I would be too relaxed. Day after day of assignments in Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lang will make the AP exam feel like a peace of cake. This is really a spectacular course. I know there are many other AP Lang teachers that are offered through PA Homeschoolers but Mrs. Inspektor has got to be the best. Taking her course is a win win situation. This is one of those classes where you will learn things that will actually benefit you outside of the classroom.
I put in about 12-15 hours a week of AP Lang per week. She does give quite a few weeks off during the year and some weeks will cause extreme stress. Overall, the class hours are very balanced if you stay on top of things and do not get distracted. The WWWBoard is great place to communicate but you may find yourself checking it too often and that may take away from the real work. If you attack the workload daily for an hour and a half you are bound to thrive in this class.
The essays will become particularly fun because they are all related to very cool subjects. Many assignments are very interactive which pushes you that much more to keep up with this fast pace class. In the end almost all the assignments are fun if you work hard to improve yourself. The harder you work the better your grades will be and the more fun the class will be. The class will help you enjoy school but also bring your mind to entirely new level. I think this has got to be one of the best pre-college courses that prepare you for college level activity.
At the start of the school year I was waking up pretty late in the day and dragging my feet when it came to multitasking and juggling the many AP Lang assignments. By the end of the year I was up before 6 am everyday and finishing AP Land in a minimal amount of time. This course will truly bring the worst or the best out of you. If you rise to the challenge, it will only make you better. This course increased my interest in English Language in tremendous ways. I made a personal record for amount of books read in one year and I'm looking forward to continue these reading activities apart from school work.
You won't regret taking this course!
Loved it!
Posted by Lauren Kam on 05/23/2013Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes, without a doubt! Mrs. Inspektor had us write a LOT of practice essays so when I walked in on test day, I knew I would be able to answer the essay prompts. She had us start working on the multiple-choice questions about 3-4 months before the exam which was just the right amount of prep. We took about 3-4 practice tests from the Cliffnotes book, then another 3-4 tests from the Collegeboard. We were definitely very, very, very prepared.
Also, I LOVED Mrs. Inspektor's Morning Messages! The tips she gave us in those messages were like gems! And they're even better than video lectures because I could go back and skim through them often and look for the exact bit of advice I needed. I think I read some of her messages at least a dozen times for essay help.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
Depending on the homework for the week, I spent about 8-12 hours a week. Of course, when it was Peace Essay time, the amount doubled for those few weeks.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
Project Walden! I didn't particularly love reading the book, Walden, by Henry David Thoreau, but the project definitely made his ideas come alive. Since Walden is about Thoreau's experience living out in the woods for the purpose of changing his life for the better, Mrs. Inspektor suggested we recreate a similar experience during our spring break. We didn't necessarily have to go live in our backyards for the week though; our projects ranged from getting up at 4am every day to eating healthy, from exercising more to disconnecting from the Internet. We were free to choose whatever project we thought we benefit most. I chose to practice violin 3 hours a day, which was a stretch for me.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes! I already loved English before this, and now I'm more confident that I want to major in English or something English-related.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
If – no wait, not if you take AP Lang, but when you take AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor, don't miss out on the book clubs! I loved, loved, LOVED doing book clubs! It turned out, my friend (who lives about 500 miles away) had also signed up for the course so we, along with another friend, met for book club the whole year. We read 5 books, The Grapes of Wrath, To Kill A Mockingbird, Heart for Freedom, Gone with the Wind, and Of Mice and Men. The really awesome thing about doing book clubs is when you're not quite sure what a certain character or quote is saying, you can ask your friends for their opinions! For instance, my friend explained to me why she thought the book was called To Kill A Mockingbird and not something else. I don't think I'd have come up with an explanation without her! In a nutshell, book clubs were a really fun way to read and truly absorb a book with friends, yet you still have the pressure of finishing the book by a certain time (the documentation of our discussions were due every 6 weeks or so).
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Any student who is willing to put in lots of effort and work hard would definitely succeed! There's no magic trick to taking AP classes, it's just hard work. There have been times this year when I didn't feel like writing another practice essay or taking yet another practice test, but you just have to push yourself! There's nothing like that moment when you click the 'submit' button and turn your essay in. And it totally makes my day when I open the 'My Messages' section of the website and find comments on my latest essay from Mrs. Inspektor. Getting feedback from her makes every essay worth it! And with each essay I wrote, my writing became better. I look back now, and I can tell, I've come a long way in writing since last fall.
Great Class
Posted by Michaela Miller on 05/20/2013Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? Yes, this class helped a great deal in making me prepared for the AP exam. I'm not a strong writer by any means, but the students and teacher helped me so much in becoming a better and more confident writer, especially in the essays for the AP exam. I had a harder time with the multiple choice section of the exam as we didn't practice for that part quite as much I thought we should have, but I still wouldn't have been as well prepared as I felt I was without this class.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course? I usually put about an hour of work in per day during the first few months of the class, with no or little work on the weekend. When the Peace Essay started it was about two and a half hours per day, including weekends. During the second semester it was a steady hour and a half a day, including during the Place Essay. The last two or three weeks before the exam was probably four or five hours a day for me, but I wrote or outlined almost every exam prompt on the College Board website, which is about 57 essays, and I also did all of the multiple choice I could find, including all the multiple choice tests in the Barron's AP English and Composition study book (not required for this class). This may sound overwhelming, but honestly it isn't bad, and the essays and multiple choice sections I did were just for extra practice I thought I needed, and were not required AT ALL.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? I LOVED the Place Essay assignment. I wouldn't say that this was especially helpful for the AP Exam, but it was the most enjoyable assignment we had all year, and it was one where I could really allow all of the best aspects of my writing shine through. I was a break from all of the structured writing and research we had to do with an assignment where we could just let our writing flow with the description of something very personal to us. It allowed all of the students in this class to show some of their very best writing, which made these essays both enjoyable to read and write.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? I used to not like English at all and now I find it quite enjoyable, so I would say yes, this course did enhance my interest in this subject. The assignments weren't just lists of books to read and papers to write individually but discussions to hold with other students and opportunities to improve our writing and help others improve theirs. All of the assignments focused on quality, not quantity, which is what made them both beneficial and enjoyable.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? Yes! I wouldn't have done nearly as well as I did in this class without the help of other students! All of the students were very willing to give me feedback on my work and the ones in my discussion groups always offered great insight on the topics we were discussing, allowing me to see things in different and interesting ways.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students? Any student willing to work hard will do well in this class. This class focuses on improvement from wherever the student is in terms of writing skill. I would definitely recommend this class to other students. I don't think there are many other classes that could build a students writing skill or prepare them for the AP exam as well as this class can.
Students, seriously, sign up- SOON!
Posted by Caroline Andrews on 05/20/2013Did you catch that alliteration? :)
Overview: AP Lang is an amazing class. Simply amazing. Mrs. Inspektor is a fantastic teacher!! She lays out our weekly assignments carefully in order to give us the focused prep we need for the exam, she's understanding, accomodating, and focused on giving you the skills and knowledge you need to ace the test. She cares about preparing you and is willing to do what works, but at the same time, she sets a high bar so that you work hard in order to prepare yourself. I really appreciated her willingness to cooperate with my speech and debate tournament schedule and other events; at the end of this class, I felt confident and prepared. Throughout the year, she gives insightful and meaningful comments about your work, allowing you to improve and gain the English skills you need. I'll honestly miss waking up every morning to read her Morning Message!
Exam Prep: We wrote a number of practice essays just like the ones that are on the exam in order to get to know the type of questions we'd face, and we took full sections of practice multiple choice questions to get a feel for understanding passages and answering questions about them. At the beginning of the year, my exam essay scores were pretty low, but by the end of the course, I was earning 9s on my essays and feeling confident about facing a variety of possible prompts. We analyzed our multiple choice questions and answers more than once, which helped me see what type of questions I was getting wrong, and why. Mrs. I led a fun skype discussion of one passage that we read and analyzed!
Not only did we write essays and practice MCQs, but we completed a huge assortment of other assignments in order to hone our analytical skills. Reading great books like Walden by Thoreau and Helen Keller's Story of My Life gave us the opportunity for meaningful discussions. Answers like "I thought so too!" to discussion questions weren't good enough :); rather, we worked on developing our answers and thoughts, with examples and textual support. Discussion questions were a big part of this class, along with various journal entries, short essays, and other writing assignments of the type.
Other Assignments: I probably spent about an hour to an hour a half a day on this course; give or take, depending on the particular assignments we were working on and the amount of time I had. During Peace Essay days, that was more like 3 hours. :) Speaking of the Peace Essay- amazing, amazing experience. To be perfectly honest, I didn't even know that this contest existed when my mom signed me up for the class. People were asking about it on the board, and I had no idea what they meant.. yep, I was in for a surprise! Writing the Peace Essay to submit to the worldwide contest was a major experience for me. I've always been a creative writing person; I love fiction and hate research papers. However, the Peace Essay gave me a new perspective on researching serious and real issues, and understanding how to write coherently and meaningfully about them. Not only that, but it was a huge help in providing me with great examples for giving impromptu speeches! ;)
I have to say though, the place essay was by far my favorite major assignment that we did. Project Walden, the Peace Essay, the literacy narrative.. all of those were fun and massive projects, but the place essay was the most fun for me. For this assignment, we chose a special place that meant something to us and was rooted in emotions, and then wrote a short essay describing that place and the connected feelings. This assignment was so meaningful for me, and I was able to bring out my favorite kinds of writing in order to hauntingly describe my place.
In regards to the assignments in this class, they were challenging, no doubt. Sometimes, the absolute last thing on EARTH I wanted to do was edit another draft. But at those times when you really hate Thoreau and don't want to think about personification or colloquialism for another minute, that's when you are truly honing your skills. The assignments Mrs. I gives are not easy; they'll push you to another level, beyond whatever English knowledge that you come into the course with. But appreciate that! You'll have to give it your time and effort, but when you walk into that exam room, prepared and ready, you'll appreciate all the work you did all year long. :)
Communication: In three words- you'll make friends! Everyone in this class was awesome; they're friendly, encouraging, and helpful on those weeks when we did "Exam Grader for a Day" and scored each other's essays. This course involves a ton of student-to-student feedback, which is definitely the best kind! Hearing it from one of your classmates makes you even more excited to work on a particular thing for your next draft. Over the course of the year, we got to know each other through Skype discussions and chats, studying our MCQ answers together, lots of discussions on the WWW Board, exchanging papers, having engaging book club discussions, and more. I've made friends in this class that I know I'll keep talking to and I really hope to meet someday in person. I'm excited to see some of them in AP Lit next year!
Overall, I'm so, so, so glad I took AP Lang this year. I love Mrs. Inspektor and her teaching style, I've made great friends, and I felt extremely confident when I walked into that exam room on May 10th. I felt ready for the exam and I had a great time, but I gained skills this year that I'll take beyond just that test. I've gained an appreciation for language and writing, my analytical skills have developed, and I've learned to push myself to give my best to everything I write. Granted, this course is tough, and it takes time and effort; but if you put in that effort, you won't regret the amazing things you'll get out of it! TAKE IT!!
Best English Class I've ever Taken!
Posted by Lauren Fuhr on 05/20/2013-Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? I felt this class prepared me very well for the AP Exam. I have taken other AP classes in different settings such as public school, and the preparation we did in class did not compare to that of this class with Mrs. Inspektor.
-How many hours of werk per day or per week did you generally put into the course? I spent about an hour each day generally, with a few exceptions of course depending on the work load or my procrastination, but overall the time committment was not overwhelming or impossible.
-Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? The communication that was constantly alive among students on the website made the class seem welcoming and the course more do-able especially at the beginning of the year. Students were helpful and respectful to each other answering questions and responding to discussions. I felt like this enhanced and nurtured my enjoyment of the class and the English language.
Highly (HIGHLY) Recommended -- in other words, TAKE THIS CLASS!
Posted by Emily on 05/19/2013This course is intensive, but you won't be disappointed. I got so much out of this course I wouldn't know where to begin. Beyond preparing me for the exam, this class made me look at things in an entirely new light, and truly analyze them. I've always enjoyed fiction over non-fiction, but throughout the year Mrs. Inspektor has challenged us to experiment with many different ways of getting our points across, I really look forward to essays now, knowing I'll be prepared to take a solid position and present it appropriately. The feedback from Mrs. Inspektor, the TAs, and other classmates is great for thoroughly revising your work and learning where you can improve. Mrs. Inspektor's comments have been invaluable to me, and have offered crucial guiddance for improvement. I know it might seem a little scarry to put your work out where all your classmates can see it (honestly I was a little intimidated at first) but their feedback has also been helpful for taking each revision to the next level. Class discussions are always fascinating, and I've loved all our thought-provoking reading, as well as the essay prompts. You have to be willing to really put the effort in, but it's worth it. This class has helped me develop not only as a writer, but as a person.
You don't have to be an expert, and I highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in writing (in any genre) and who is willing to work hard (and even those who aren't particularly fond of writing -- trust me, you will be converted). It does take time -- I spent anywhere from an hour to two hours per day, depending on the assignment, and probably three some days with the Peace Essay (it was definitely worth it though!), but it has been the best time spent. By far it has been my favorite class (ever) with great, supportive classmates and TAs and an amazing teacher. In summary, I will advise you to take this class!
Amazing class!
Posted by Nicholas Emery on 05/19/2013- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely! We did so many practice essays and multiple choice sections, so I felt well-prepared on exam day. The comments I received from Mrs. Inspektor, the TAs, and my fellow students helped me to continually improve on my exam essays.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I spent anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours per weekday on class work. During the Peace Essay (December and January) I often spent an average of 3 hours per day.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
My favorite assignments were the three major essays, the literacy narrative, peace essay, and place essay. The peace essay greatly improved my ability to form a researched analysis and argument. The other two essays really stretched me by greatly expanding my creative, descriptive writing, a skill that is not my specialty.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes, definitely! I always loved English, but this course gave me a greater appreciation for nonfiction writing. I enjoyed reading and analyzing such classic as Walden as well as crafting my own papers. The Peace Essay was an intriguing window into international issues and peacebuilding as well as experience creating an extensively-researched argument.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes! I couldn't have progressed in my knowledge as much as I did (or feel as prepared for the AP exam as I did) without their comments. I also enjoyed discussing literature in the class's many book clubs.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would say that students who are willing to work hard and stretch themselves would do well in this course. I don't think prospective students have to be particularly amazing writers, just writers who are willing to work hard all year to see their writing not only taken apart and critiqued but also taken to the next level. I would definitely recommend this class to others!
Awesome course!
Posted by Jonathan Moy on 05/19/2013- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely. I felt very prepared for the exam. While I came into this year thinking that I was decent with English, this changed. I feel that I improved quite a bit this year. I learned how to write 3 well-written, qualitative essays in 2 hours 15 minutes. Rhetoric is something I learned that I will definitely take with me to life; additionally, I learned marginalia, the process of marking up the text to take notes. This has definitely helped with some comprehension/understanding skills in and outside of the AP exam.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I spent about 90-120 minutes each day, so I'd say between 8 to 12 hours.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The Peace Essay Contest was a very tough yet interesting assignment. Although I wasn't too crazy about the prompt this year, I feel that I learned quite a bit about researching. Additionally, this understanding of women's oppression globally opened my awareness of this dilemma. In the end, I cited 89 times and researched up from about 65 different sources, so this helped me in research and development of a 1,500 word essay.
Another assignment I enjoyed was Project Walden, where I got to live like Henry David Thoreau. Okay, not really in the woods, but I lived in a week that changed my habits, and I was able to experiment with waking up earlier, reading my devotions every day, and time management. This helped me reorganize some priorities.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I don't think I plan to major in English, but I have been open to Business Management or Law, and English has helped me write up reports quickly (i.e. practice from writing timed essays); understanding topics (i.e. marginalia); understanding rhetoric; understanding arguments; understanding using different sources; etc.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes, it was interesting and valuable. I was able to have discussion forums with classmates, and one thing that Mrs. Inspektor did to stimulate discussion was making sure people just didn't say "Yeah, I agree." Rather, she made sure everyone created reasons from logic and the text on why we agreed or disagreed.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Anyone who works hard and has an appreciation of analysis, argumentation, and English can do well. I enjoy English, so this helped me in the class. I think anyone who works hard to keep up with each morning's MM (it's like a daily "lecture") and the assignments will enjoy this class.
Awesome class!
Posted by Carina Sturdy on 05/18/2013I feel that this class prepared me very well for the AP exam. The many different practice essays and MCQ sections made me more comfortable with the format as well as writing within the 40 minute time limit.
I put in about 8-10 hours per week or 1.5 hours per day including Saturday.
Though I enjoyed the Peace essay, my favorite assignment was the place essay! I loved being able to write in a more creative style than we normally did in this class.
Yes! This class pushed me from an "I write because I have to" person to an "I write because I like to" person. Even so, I will still be going into music and math.
My classmates were awesome! I received very helpful feedback from them (and our lovely TA's). During the discussions, we could refute and refine each others' ideas, which helped me quite a bit!
Any student (even if you are more math or music oriented like me) can do very well in this class if he is willing to put in as much effort as it takes to complete the assignments carefully and well. I have already recommended this class to a friend of mine, and I would recommend it to anyone else who is a motivated student and who wants to improve their writing dramatically.
My Favorite Class Ever!!!
Posted by Lauren Barger on 05/17/2013First of all, I wish to say that I was by far the most prepared person taking this exam. I felt confident going into the exam, and I felt equally confident coming out of it. While English has always been my strong suit and my passion, this course helped broaden my view and strengthen my writing and thinking skills. I spent about approximately an hour and a half every day on this course. But it was time well spent. We wrote essays, read books, analyzed passages, and discuss topics ranging from "Does man prefer fear or freedom?" to "Why did Thoreau write Walden?" Mrs. Inspektor and the TAs were always prompt in answering any questions. Mrs. Inspektor has been my favorite teacher during my high school years. She provides detailed excellent feedback to each student, and her Morning Messages are extremely helpful. Also, she wants us to have fun. I had a hard time deciding on a favorite assignment from this course. The Literacy Narrative allowed me to reflect how my growing love for science fiction has become a very special part of me, and it let me understand my classmates more. The Peace Essay Contest taught me how to research and really work hard, even if I don't like the subject. As my mom said, it was excellent for college preparation. I plan on entering again this coming year.
If you want an AP Lang course that will not only get you ready for the exam but also will improve your writing, this is the course for you!
AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor
Posted by Anna Mitchell on 05/17/2013- Did you feel the course prepared you for the exam?
Yes, absolutely! Mrs. Inspektor assigned us many practice exam essays throughout the year (everything from analyzing satire to our views on advertising), and multiple choice sections throughout the spring semester. Mrs. Inspektor's daily Morning Messages also had invaluable exam prep tips, from analysis of top-scoring essays to what to eat on the day of the exam (apparently tuna, whole wheat toast, and broccoli is best. ;-) ). When May 10 rolled around, I knew exactly what to expect and I felt completely prepared.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I probably spent about 7-8 hours per week on AP Lang. Since I had taken AP Lit last year, I had already written many discussion question responses and essays, and was probably better able to manage my time than if this had been my first AP English class. I also spent time outside the regular class assignments for the book clubs: every month, I would join a group of classmates to discuss a book on email, Skype, or Google chat. Just a few of the works I read this year were Candide by Voltaire, short stories by Flannery O'Connor, and Utopia by Sir Thomas More.
In the Peace Essay weeks, however (some of December and all of January), I probably spent 2-3 hours a day. I also spent more time on the literacy narrative and place essay.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The Peace Essay! Mrs. Inspektor requires students to write a research paper to submit to the National Peace Essay Contest. You must pick two case study countries, one where peacebuilding succeeded and one where it failed, describe and analyze them, and make recommendations for future peacebuilding. This year's theme was gender and peacebuilding. Though the paper was only 1500 words long, it required an enormous amount of research and planning (and struggle with MLA formatting). ;-) In December and January, my family could nearly always find me at my computer, with about ten different windows open on my screen. It was frustrating and stressful at times. But it also greatly improved my ability to research, argue coherently, and use sources to support my argument - definitely worth it! I look forward to meeting two of my classmates at the national awards program in Washington D.C. next month!
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes!! I loved how interactive this class was. All my 35 or so classmates were intelligent and enthusiastic! We commented on each other's essays, literacy narratives, Peace Essays, and discussion questions. Sometimes we also traded papers for the big assignments so we could provide each other more detailed comments. Several times, Mrs. Inspektor assigned "Exam Grader for a Week," where we graded each others' essays after reading the College Board's scoring guides. We also met on book clubs to analyze great works of literature. Preparing for the exam was a team effort!
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Anyone who wants to become a better writer. In my opinion, one of the best things about this class is that Mrs. Inspektor doesn't just single-mindedly focus on exam prep. She also requires research papers, personal, creative assignments, and book clubs. I improved at researching, arguing, creative writing, and understanding the great books. By the end of the year, not only did I know how to write a synthesis essay for the exam, but I'd also discussed the political philosophy of Thomas More's Utopia and learned Aristotle's rhetorical triangle.
Before I sign off, I just have to say that Mrs. Inspektor is a fantastic teacher! Her Morning Messages are encouraging and informative - they could be exercises in analyzing syntax and diction, background information on the works we read in class (like Walden or The Hunger of Memory), or tips on writing exam essays. She usually responded to questions posted on the WWWBoard within a few hours (unless they were posted later in the day - she's seven hours ahead in Israel!). Her responses to my essays were always very helpful - while she's always encouraging, she also offers solid suggestions for improvement. Also, the TAs were fantastic! They were always willing to comment on people's papers and promptly answer questions.
Gavin Sands AP class 2012-2013 review
Posted by Gavin Sands on 05/17/2013Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?=
Yes. This class really boosted my confidence in taking the exam, I definitely would have failed without the class. It also helped me to bring my writing skills to a college level.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?=
It depends. Sometimes I would spend 5 to 10 minutes working on a message some days, and other days I would spend a few hours on DQ's, comments on essays, ect. I probably spent an average of 2 hours a day, 6 days a week on this class. (I would spend a lot of time writing and editing essays)
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?=
I found the Peace essay to be especially valuable. It helped me to grasp a good understanding of how to write a college essay.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?=
Writing was always one of my least favorite subjects, mainly because I really didn't know how to write well. This class really helped me improve my writing skills, so now I don't hate writing, but I don't exactly love it.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?=
It was interesting to talk with people from all different parts of America, especially in the book clubs.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
A student would have to be willing to work hard, and would have to be open to writing things they are not used to writing. I would recommend this course to other students, but only if they are hard working.
Amazing AP Class!
Posted by Caroline Kimbro on 05/17/2013Did the course enhance your interest in the subject
Definitely! I enjoyed writing to begin with, but this class (and Mrs. Inspektor!) showed me that there are more types of writing and ways to analyze than I had ever known. This class caused me to begin thinking about pursuing English in college- I feel that I am a much more confident writer than I was going into the year.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes! The interaction with other students was one of my favorite parts of class! I learned so much from them- both in and out of class. The book discussions each month were a lot of fun and everyone was always willing to help each other, trade essays, or calm each others' nerves about the Peace Essay:)
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The Peace Essay was a big challenge, but I grew so much from the experience and would definitely do it again! It feels overwhelming at the beginning, but Mrs. Inspektor walks you through each step and she along with the TAs are always willing to help with anything you need. I spent much more time working on Language during the period where we were writing the essay, but looking back it was worth it. I also really enjoyed the literacy narrative and place essay. We wrote the literacy narrative at the beginning of the year and the place essay in the spring, and I noticed such a difference in my writing when comparing the two. I was able to write the place essay in half the time it took me to write the literacy narrative and I didn't struggle to find every word as I did at the beginning of the year.
I would highly recommend this class! If you are willing to work hard, Mrs. Inpektor can push you and help you improve your writing immensely. I am so thankful I chose to take this class!!
The Best English Class Ever!
Posted by Justine Staub on 05/17/2013- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely! At the beginning of the school year we already started writing responses to past AP English Language and Composition essay exam prompts. My first essay score was *cringe* a score of 3. However, the very last timed essay I wrote received a score of 9. What a great way to show how this course really did prepare me for the exam! All through the year we completed essay prompts and multiple choice questions, I cannot emphasize enough how well we really were prepared for the exam. Mrs. Inspektor, the TAs (Teacher Assistants), and students, all made sure that my questions were always answered and they were an amazing support system. Overall, this course prepares above and beyond what you need to feel confident about the exam!
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
Probably about 15-20 hours per week. Through the week, we had discussion questions, readings in a selected book, and other assignments. Also, there was usually an essay to submit over the weekend.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The literacy narrative, the peace essay, and the place essay! All of these assignments were amazing, but I will discuss the Peace Essay Contest. The contest prompt asked us to select, "two international or intranational conflicts from the past ten years and describe briefly the attempts at peacemaking and/or peacebuilding." The topic this past year was "Gender, War, and Peacebuilding." This assignment was grueling at first, but was definitely worth it! When I started, I never thought that my essay would turn out to be something I cherished and felt proud about. But it did. This assignment wasn't only valuable for what I gained as a writer, but I also learned so much about Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among other countries. I wish every student could experience this wonderful assignment!
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes! I always loved English, but this course made me love it even more! I read such interesting and informative books, and cherished the analytical discussions I had with the other students. This wasn't just a strict, boring, class including reading and writing. This class was amazing and made writing and reading truly an enjoyable experience.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Definitely! I can honestly say everyone in the class wanted to help each other grow as a writer and reader, and discussions were always kind and considerate. I'm going to miss my classmates and teacher!
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
A student would do well who is prepared to work very hard and not give up. Sometimes, the last thing I wanted to do after a long day at work and dance was to write an essay, but those were the times where I grew as a writer, because I had to push myself. Be prepared to give it your all, all the time! If you do that, you will only succeed. I would absolutely recommend this course to other students if they are willing to work hard-don't hesitate one more moment! Take this course! You will exceed your expectations for how much you think you'll grow as a writer in one school year, trust me. So go ahead, enroll in the best English class ever!
Great Preparation for College-Level Writing and the AP Exam
Posted by Jonathan Williams on 06/01/2012Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
The course definitely did prepare me for the exam. There were no serious surprises to me since our frequent practice multiple choice tests and essay prompts equiped me with the confidence and knowledge to handle the main challenges of the test. Come test day, it was a matter of sticking to the plan that I had practiced so many times on the past practice exams in class.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
Work times varied with the types of assignments (papers, practice essays, discussion questions, etc.), but most weeks required me to put 15-18 hours total.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The Peace Essay Contest was the most challenging and one of the most valuable assignments we had all year. It required us to research two foreign conflict environments and present recommendations for how new media can be used to promote peace in the world. Despite the many challenges of researching and writing this paper, I gained much knowledge of foreign conflicts and global peace building than I would otherwise, and I was required to think critically about realistic, effective ways of promoting peace in the world.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I still don't plan to major in English, but the class discussions we had definitely increased my awareness of and appreciation for the many discussion points and subtle meanings found while analyzing texts. I also came to enjoyed some of the creative writing assignments, which forced me to write more discriptively and think more imaginatively.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Communication with other students was particularly valuable during discussions and paper revisions. In class discussions, seeing other students' opinions on different topics from our readings helped me reconsider or change my own opinions.
For essay drafts (particularly during the Peace Essay Contest preparation) student feedback was very helpful while making revisions and polishing up final drafts.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students?
At the beginning of the year, one of the most intimidating things for me about AP English Lang was the timed essay portion the exam. I knew I wasn't very good at writing or planning essays in time limits. But, by the end of the year, we had done enough practice and prepared enough in advance that I felt ready for the challenges of the exam.
Overall, its ok to not feel ready for the exam at the beginning of this course. However, if you complete the different assignments throughout the year and consistently invest time to master the strategies and concepts, you will be ready by the time of the exam.
BEST. CLASS. EVER.
Posted by Hannah Kovscek on 06/01/2012Mrs. Inspektor's Lang class is beyond exceptional, and has definitely been my favorite class of high school so far. :)
To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
A student willing to work hard, and who has sufficient time to complete the assignments. When the peace essay roles around, especially, be prepared to forego food, sleep, and socialization as you battle the assignment—which, ironically, is focused on peacebuilding. ;)
What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
A solid background in grammar and English mechanics, a literate repertoire with an introduction into the world of classics and different writing styles, and the basic knowledge required to write an essay is excellent preparation. However, Mrs. Inspektor does a fabulous job preparing the class for the exam, so nothing special is required to significantly prepare for the class itself.
How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
I normally spent about 8-10 hours a week on the class, which comes down to about an hour or two a day. During PEC (Peace Essay Competition) time, however, I'd spend multiple hours a day researching or writing my paper.
To what extent was this class interactive?
Ohmygoodness, very interactive. Each weekday morning, Mrs. Inspektor posts a Morning Message on the class board which normally requires a response. These MMs are always fun to read (and sometimes include pictures of Mrs. I's adorable daughter!!). :) Classmate interaction is just as (no, even more!) prominent. For one thing, the class forms monthly book clubs that normally meet weekly through Gchat or Skype. However, you can go beyond "assigned" interactions and actually become super, super good friends with your classmates. I chat with classmates every single day, even though the class has been over for several weeks. I've made so many friends in this class, including one very special best friend. <3 I seriously feel like I know all 35 of my classmates!
What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
Mrs. Inspektor's feedback on our work is incredible, in both content and timeliness. Comments on our work are encouraging, yet constructively critical. By the way, Mrs. Inspektor read AND commented close to 1,000 class essays over the year. On top of that, she has another AP class, and a newborn baby! She amazes me. :)
Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
I have so, so many memorable assignments. The Peace Essay: the biggest project I've undertaken yet. Never would I have dreamed of entering that contest outside of this class… and never would I have dreamed that so much work would go into it. Everybody put so much heart and soul into PEC, not only in their papers alone, but in the words of encouragement that were posted on the WWWboard, on draft comments, in emails, even Google chat statuses. I'm so excited that a third of the class placed in the competition!! ProjW: Project Walden made me grow so much as a person. It was a fantastic way to wrap up our reading of Walden. The Place Essay and the Literacy Narrative: two personal assignments that I adored. The former focused on a specific "place," the latter basically focused on how we each became literate.
How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
Never did an assignment NOT prepare us for the exam, even if it didn't seem like it at first. DQs honed our essay writing skills, text book readings sharpened our analysis skills. Of course, there were obvious steps taken to directly prepare us for the exam. We wrote multitudes of essays similar to that on the actual AP exam, and also took 6 or 7 practice MCQ exams.
Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
TAKE IT. You will not be disappointed. :) I LOVE this class, this teacher, the TAs, the classmates. I don't want this to be goodbye… and although I'm so excited for my summer, I seriously can't wait for September and AP Lit MMs from Mrs. Inspektor. ;)
Now what are you waiting for? Go sign up. I'll wait.
BEST CLASS! TAKE IT!
Posted by Tejal Sarbaugh on 06/01/2012Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes! My first essay was very low, and, for many months, I struggled interpreting the passages required in the exam. By the end of the year, I felt confident that I could properly analyze and write any prompt on the exam. In fact, on exam day, I was not that nervous. This course prepared me emotionally and intellelectually for the exam.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
At first, I spent about 15 hours per week or 3-4 hours per day. However, as I became more accustomed to the load, I could spend about 12 hours per week and still feel prepared with a good amount of work done. Just for future students, additional time was put in for especially big (yet rewarding) assignments such as the Peace Essay!
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
First off, there is the Peace Essay! It was the hardest paper I ever had to write! At first, I really, really hated it. But after about a month, I began to see how rewarding it was. I learned how to write a college level paper, and how to do it with good time management.
As for the creative writing, my favourite assigment was the Place Essay! I poured out so much emotion into that paper, my paper was almost wet with tears! It was really emotional and really close to my heart.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I already loved writing, but now I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! In fact, I'm considering majoring in English in college.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
The friendships I've made in this class are priceless! My classmates are so encouraging, fun, and helpful. Communications with them outside of class as well as within class made the experience so much more rewarding.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Students who love writing would definitely do well in this course! No matter what your level is in the beginning, you are bound to improve in this course. As long as you have determination and are willing to work hard, you will excel in this course!
I would recommend this course to ANYONE! (Everyone, if more people were interested;P ) It's one of the BEST CLASSES EVER!!!
Fantastic Teacher = Fantastic Class!
Posted by Ryan Snell on 06/01/2012
AMAZING!!!!!!!! Three things you need to know in this review: TAKE THIS CLASS
Posted by Breeze (Brianna) Wronko on 05/31/2012I have been procrastinating on writing this...because I don't know how I can explain how AWESOME this class is! i will try to answer the bullets--but I warn you--this is so amazing I don't know if I can stick to bullets!
- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
- It most certainly did! Pretty much, AP Lang is unlike any other course--pretty much your whole focus
- is bringing up your writing and reading to college level.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
- I put in about 0.5-1.5 hours per day September-December, and April-May. During December-April, we had Peace Essay Competition Prep, so i spent about 2-3 hours per day, maybe even more--but that was on my own time, merely because I fell in love with my subject.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
- The PEC (Peace Essay Competition). This is an AMAZING report we have to do on a topic that varies from year to year according to what the national institute of peace deems. I did my report this year on Syria and the Saudi Women's revolution and for the first time realized how much women's rights means to me. Now, I went from being a hesitant writer to someone who CANT stop talking now, but I won't bore you on details. What I'm saying is that this research paper can show you whole new interests. Before, I really only like STEM classes--now I'm considering taking classes in international law.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
- Oh yes. I don't even know how I can give this enough praise. I found whole new interests--liguistics, international law, women's rights, how writing well can really allow you to spread your beliefs...and so much more. I could go on forever.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
- YES! This is a vital part of the class. Out of 36 students, I came in only knowing one. I found two old friends I hadn't met again for about 8 years, and I also came out with about 33 other new friends. Interaction is key, is valuable, and is amazing.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
- Any student who has a basic command of english grammar and writing will do well. You should all ready be able to write on a basic average highschool level, but don't be afraid if critical reading is your weak point. I personally am a major STEM person, and really disliked english when i first came to the class. Now I LOVE it. I will write just-for-fun. Yes, a self-avowed hater of writing has just turned into someone who can't stop writing. That's the impact this class has on people.
An Excellent Expirience
Posted by Gavin Gill on 05/31/2012This course was amazing. You do not need to be a master to begin, but you will have grown so much stronger as a writer by the end of the course that you might not recognize your own writing. This class is challenging, but the rewards for working hard and doing what you are supposed to are beyond valuable. Mrs. Inspektor is an exceptional teacher that worked hard every day to ensure that our time in her class was productive and interesting. We all learned so much thanks to her, and any who take this class will. Any student who is dilligent and has a passion for learning will grow and enjoy becoming a better thinker and writer.
Great class, great teacher, great classmates
Posted by Kelly Hughes on 05/31/2012- To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
Any student that is willing to work hard would benefit from this class. Mrs. Inspektor excels bringing your writing to the next level. She assigns (and guides us through) a wide range of assignments from the creative to the academic research. Likewise, she assigns a wide variety of reading. Overall, you will come out of this course a well-rounded writer and reader.
- What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
The student should be basically familiar and comfortable writing. They should know basic grammar, etc.
- How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
I personally spent 5-7 hours a week; however, I write and read very quickly. I spent much more during the Peace Essay contest although it was well worth it.
- To what extent was this class interactive?
Very interactive. Beyond assigned peer feedback, we had monthly book clubs in small groups and mc groups. I made some lasting friends in this class, and we continue to talk on skype daily.
- What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
I received great feedback. Mrs. Inspektor always gave detailed, helpful comments that helped us to refine our writing. Additionally, I got great feedback from my classmates. We always went beyond what was required, swapping drafts and really supporting each other. Frequently during major assignments, we would e-mail or skype each other for quick feedback.or to offer encouragement.
- How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
I definitely appreciate non-fiction now. Before, I used to think it was dry and lifeless. Now, I enjoy it as much as fiction. Additionally, the book clubs really helped me to further dive into literature as well. You get to choose your own books so you can pursue your interest in literature as well as challenge yourself.
- What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
For me, the main challenge was the creative-type assignments. I'm much more comfortable with academic, research writing. However, by the end of the year, I became just as familiar with creative writing and learned to enjoy them.
- Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
The Peace Essay! Although daunting, this assignment truly honed my writing skills. I learned to analyze my writing and strengthen it. The tight word limit required me to reconsider every single word until I could explain the reason and purpose behind every sentence. After cutting from 2300 words to 1477 while adding a whole conclusion, I learned to fine-tune my writing and the value of rewriting. Overall, I truly enjoyed this assignment, and it has made me reconsider my major in college to focus more on research writing.
- How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
Mrs. Inspektor did a great job directly preparing you for the class. We took a ton of multiple choice tests and practiced multiple real AP essays. During the beginning of the year, we start with unlimited time to really understand the format of the essays. By the latter half of the year, we have learned to produce the same quality essays in less than 40 minutes. On test day, I felt confident and well-prepared. That said, Mrs. Inspektor does not merely "teach to the test." Instead, she focuses on assignments that cause you to grow as a writer beyond the AP test.
A fantastic teacher and class!
Posted by Cody Min on 05/31/2012After taking AP Lang, I have learned to appreciate literature so much more. Everything I read -- from pamphlets to classic novels -- is now read with a more educated and critical mind. Thanks to Mrs. Inspektor's teaching, I find myself thinking about language and how the world is shaped by words. While I thought some of the assignments were boring (I have to be completely honest!), I now understand why they were assigned. If I wasn't forced to read Hunger of Memory, I don't think I would have learned about language and how others view language and culture. In a sense, this class has helped me to understand language and composition, but most importantly, I have developed a broader mindset.
Mrs. Inspektor is a fantastic teacher and absolutely prepared me for the exam. In fact, I felt most prepared for the AP Lang exam than any other standardized tests that I've taken so far. While on the surface, the class itself doesn't involve a huge amount of hours, it requires a high level of thinking that could become time consuming. I spent about 10-15 hours a school week on average, but that obviously fluctuated depending on the week.
I really enjoyed the Walden project and the photograph analysis assignments. Additionally, while the Peace Essay is known as the biggest and most draining project of the year, it was still rewarding and interesting.
If you are a student who wants to learn more about literature, enjoys challenges, broadening your view on the world, and enjoys having a fantastic teacher, then AP English Language and Composition is absolutely the right class for you.
How many times can I say this class is SO worth taking?
Posted by Alaina Woodford on 05/30/2012- To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
Potential students should be self-motivated, interactive, and willing to invest their time in the class. They should also be open to some constructive criticism (although it's always positive and encouraging).
- What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
I'd say students should have fairly good time management, at least some experience with writing essays, and a strong grasp on basic grammar and spelling. You don't need to be a veteran user of the active voice, or know the various uses of anaphora before you even start the class. If you work hard and listen to Mrs. I, you'll learn everything you don't yet know; in the meantime, you'll do just fine with the knowledge you bring to the table.
- How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
It varies a lot with assignment—there are some things you'll be able to whip through, and some that you can get hung up on, and some you'll just spend more time on because you want to make it as good as it can be. I'd say on average, I spent about two hours per weekday, for 10-ish hours a week. Weekend essays can add an hour or two on to that total. On assignments like the Peace Essay, the amount of hours increases dramatically; but, ask anyone, you will survive it.
- To what extent was this class interactive?
Extremely interactive. I got to know my classmates so well, thanks to book clubs, multiple choice discussions, and reading their writing for months. Getting to know them was one of my favorite parts of the class, too! Your classmates are your greatest resource; they'll review your work, they'll discuss with you, and they're going through exactly what you're going through. You should take full advantage of their presence, and be available for them so they can do the same!
- What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
I couldn't believe the extent to which all the feedback I received was simultaneously uplifting and helpful. Everyone's comments are equal parts constructive and enriching, and they observe everything from apostrophe misuses to overly informal tone to stiff syntax. You will get lots of feedback on your work, and it'll be an all-encompassing variety that includes the finer details and the grander points.
- How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
I'll admit that I was not the biggest fan of "classic" literature before this class. I wasn't the most analytical reader, either. My classmates would start discussing the pros and cons of Jane Austen or F. Scott Fitzgerald, and I'd get a little lost. But once we delved into book clubs, I discovered how fun it was to furrow out a book's meaning, or question its character development. I even picked up The Great Gatsby just for the heck of it, and read it on my own (and loved it!).
- Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
My most memorable assignment was the Peace Essay. It broadened my ideas about the world, taught me how to write the hardest research paper of my education thus far, and developed my interest in issues I hadn't considered. I think (and I think most of my classmates would agree) that it was the most difficult assignment of the class, but also the most valuable. I'm eternally grateful that we had this assignment, and that we had Mrs. Inspektor to guide us through it.
- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
How many different ways can I say yes? This class went above and beyond in preparing me for the AP exam. Not only was I confident on exam day (exceeding all my expectations) but I even became excited while writing, and found myself enjoying the process of crafting the essays. I'm still waiting on my score, but I know I had a huge advantage over the hundred-odd high schoolers in the testing room.
- How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
We took multiple practice exams and discussed our way through every aspect of the exam. As a class, we explored the various ways to get 9's on our essays, practiced applying the finer points of crafting memorable essays, and held study groups to pick apart and discuss multiple choice passages. Personally, I think it was the best preparation I could possibly get for the AP exam.
- Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
You may be feeling hesitant about taking this class, but trust me: you will not regret it. It's the perfect blend of helpful, challenging, and fun, and it's probably the best class I've ever taken. Also, if you're thinking your writing skills aren't going to blow anyone away—DON'T FRET. Your assignments, your classmates, and Mrs. Inspektor are all going to turn your writing into a thing of beauty. Above all, enjoy this class—it is beyond worth taking.
MRS. INSPEKTOR IS AMAZING! (and so is her cute little daughter)
Posted by Nina Camillone on 05/29/2012I learned SOOO much in this class! I feel like I didn't even know what good writing was, let alone how to attempt to do it myself, before this class. I have improved sooo much as a writer in being less wordy and repetitive. And, on top of the awesome time I've had all year, I was pretty much as prepared for the exam as I think was possible for me. It is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to recommend a class more highly than I recommend this one. :)
Here's a summary of what I did in this class and some of the significant things I learned:
The Peace Essay Contest, which had 3 official drafts and seemingly infinite revisions in between, definitely taught me he power of editing and he importance of revision (as well as the fact that I can survive what at first glance looks like an impossible task :P). Our rhetorical analysis Discussion Qestions and practice essays taught me how to really probe for what attitude an author's really conveying (I read so much deeper into things now!). Project Walden (which was one of my favorite assignments! ^ . ^ We made changes to our lifestyles for a week.) got me up before six in the morning and going running every day for a week straight. I absolutely loved writing our literacy narratives and place essays and getting everyone's feedback and reading everyone else's--I also definitely learned the value of peer-review. This class is VERY interactive and I made several good freinds through it! (Although I haven't met any of them in person yet.) Also, bookclubs are amazing--we form smaller groups and read AP-level literature and discuss it via Skype or email.
On most days, I spent 1 to 2 and a half hours on the homework, except it was much more during the PEC (Peace Essay Contest) with all the research (which was interesting). It depends on how much you want to interact with your classmates, though. For the major assignments, we would often swap drafts and give feedback, which was invaluable in the revision and polishing proccess, and that would require extra time and effort. It definitely brought my essays to a higher level, but our extra commenting was all optional. Also, interaction on the WWW board is partially optional as well as some other interaction, so it would be more or less time depending on how much you talk to your classmates.
Three other things you probably should know: 1) Although work isn't due quite every day, there is work assigned every day. The schedule was somewhat flexible, and we were told most of the work 2 weeks in advance so we could work ahead if we needed to, and some days if there was a lot of reading I would break it up and finish it the next day, but in general we don't make our own weekly schedules. 2) Everyone reads your writing and you read everyone else's writing. Discussion and peer review are huge parts of this class, and I love it. :) (Of course, Mrs. I gives detailed comments as well.) 3) More and more through the year, you get the feeling that preparing us for the exam isn't Mrs. I's only goal. For example, after the PEC she challenged us to do something to actually get involved and help our case study countries by writing letters or raising money. And for Project Walden, she challenged us to improve our lifestyles to be healthier or more productive or otherwise better. As far as test prep and learning go, Mrs. Inspektor is super super super nice and very understanding and always straightforward about what is required of us, giving clear and reasonable guidance for us to improve in our skills. But she also tries to go beyond that to give us an opportunity to live better and more educated lives and to understand our world and communicate with it more effectively. Also, she's friendly and funny and posts pictures of her beyond-cute baby daughter to inspire us to keep going. :) This class was without a doubt a lot of work, but it never became a drag because you knew you had a mini community of students, teacher, and child supporting you.
Bottom line:
take the class.
Class Review
Posted by Bryan Diem on 05/29/2012AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor was definitely an enriching experience. I think that anyone up for equal part challenging, rewarding, engaging, and even enjoyable work would be able to agree with me fairly easily. There will be days when large amounts of time may have to be sacrificed; but even then, you will be able to tell that these sacrifices are for a great cause. Also, a potential student must realize that to truly be benefit from this class, they will have to interact a hefty amount. Hopefully this will be no issue, and they'll be able to love their fellow students as much as I do. Feedback on work is readily given, and is always constructive.
While there will be considerable obstacles throughout the year, there will be even greater assistance along the way, and even daunting tasks such as the Peace Essay become conquerable. If there were only one thing to take to heart when taking on this class, it is that interaction is vital. Without all the criticism, comments, and concerns from other classmates, this class wouldn't have been nearly as beneficial nor rewarding. It will prepare you for the exam, just as long as you have to put your time and effort into it fully at points. But don't worry, it was worth all the work and worry.
Go for it :)
Posted by Katie Kerlen on 05/22/2012AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor was an adventure. It was my first AP class and it was great. I don't like to read. This is an English class. But I had no problem at all with the assignments. It never was too overwhelming or made me feel like I couldn't do the assignments. Mrs. Inspektor is really helpful and flexible and gives awesome assignments. (Except for the Peace Essay... But in the end, you're glad you did it.)
Oh that's one thing I would warn prospective students about-- the Peace Essay. Now, coming into this class I had NO idea what that was. The TA's kept telling us it wouldn't kill us, but I still never knew what this possible death threat was. (Could be due to the fact that I don't like to fully read things a lot of the time...) Anyway, the Peace Essay is basically just a big research paper in the middle of the year that has to do with some kind of political, peace-related topic. Not my first choice of assignments, but I am super glad Mrs. Inspektor made us do it. It's a great experience, especially if you don't write that many research papers.
Other than the peace essay and a few other smaller projects, the day to day assignments are very manageable and usually kind of fun. We read a variety of different literature and got to discuss what we thought via discussion questions. Most of the stuff we read I never in a million years would have picked up, but honestly, in the end, I really enjoyed reading the majority of it. Aside from those types of assignments we had to write an essay from a previous AP test prompt most weekends which was great prep for the test.
One thing I would say is that you have to enjoy writing to take this course, or at least be open to improving your writing skills. You do a LOT of writing. (Which I personally loved, but writing, in general, is fun for me.) This is suuuper helpful because 2 hours worth of your test is writing 3 consecutive essays.
The interaction in this class, honestly is up to you. Mrs. Inspektor gives you plenty of opportunities to work with different groups of your classmates for different things. So if you're in this to make friends you totally can! At the same time, though, you can also basically just do your own work and interact as much or as little as you want. It's really up to you.
As much as I am not a fan of reading or school work in general, this class was really valuable and helped broaden my literary horizons. So, I'd say go for it :)
You should take this class!
Posted by Luke Olsen on 05/22/2012To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
I would recommend this class to a student who is willing to work hard and wants to learn a lot. It might also be good for a student who wants to take an AP English class and is not fully confident in their analysis or writing skills. Science/math minded students may also find the straightforward nature of AP Lang more appealing than AP Lit which requires interpretation and analysis based on sometimes fuzzy "rules."
What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
Students should be able to read and write well. Honestly, I think any student who is willing to work hard will benefit from this class. The Peace Essay Competition is a difficult research paper so students who are unfamiliar with research techniques, MLA formatting, etc. may need extra help/preparation outside of class. That said, Mrs. Inspektor does a great job guiding her students through the process and there are always many classmates who are willing to work together.
How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
This is tough because during the Peace Essay this number increased dramatically. On average, though, when I wasn't working on a major project or paper I'd say I spent about 8 hours a week on AP Lang.
To what extent was this class interactive?
This class is highly interactive. Students respond to morning messages every day and are also required to participate in class bookclubs (of their own choosing) that increases participation. As a senior this year I wasn't able to interact as much as I did in Mrs. Inspektor's other class (AP Lit); however, I still emailed other students, responded to DQs, discussed books over skype in bookclubs, and responded to their essays. You will develop friendships in this class.
What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
I received feedback on many of my assignments. On all of the discussion questions I answered (and many of the essays I wrote) I received helpful feedback from other students. On my essays and paper I also received in-depth criticism and comments from Mrs. Inspektor that were amazingly helpful. I also received help and comments from TAs (especially during the Peace Essay) that helped me immensely.
How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
Coming into this class I was familiar with fiction; however, this class exposed me to the power and influence of good nonfiction writing. From speeches to essays to entire treatises I was invited to interact with various authors and analyze their thoughts while seeking to study and understand their methods of communication.
Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
The most memorable assignment this year is, hands down, the Peace Essay. The work required from this was incredible; however, the accomplishment of finishing it and the insight gained is well worth it.
How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
I felt very well prepared for the exam after taking this course. Mrs. Inspektor has students take many practice tests and write many essays. You will know, well before the exam, what track you're on and how you're doing. You'll also be given many opportunities to improve and work on your own problem areas as they arise. I seriously don't know how I could have been much better prepared. This class doens't just teach you what you have to do for the test, it teaches you how to think for the test. It teaches you how to approach and effectively think through difficult texts so that, on the test, whatever the topic, you'll be completely prepared.
Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
If you're hedging I'd say go for it. This class is an excellent preparation for college level writing and critical thinking. I just registered for my first semester clases yesterday and I'm feeling very confident about entering into several advanced classes because of what I've learned from Mrs. Inspektor.
Best class EVER!!!
Posted by Priya Stepp on 05/22/2012I've been putting off writing this review because I have so many good things to say about it that I was sort of afraid to get started, lest I leave out a huge aspect of the class or write it on a day that I felt grouchy. :P Before I answer the specific questions, let me just say that I LOVED THIS CLASS!! It was AMAZING. Wonderfully descriptive word, I know. I never really look forward to classes with huge workloads, but (most days) the amount didn't matter. Each morning I'd eagerly log on to the computer and read the daily morning message and immediately start on the day's work. Later in the year I actually bribed myself with my AP Lang work. I couldn't stand Precalculus and always procrastinated on it, so I started telling myself, "Okay, Priya, you can't do AP Lang until you do your Precalc work!" I didn't like it, but it was sooo effective. ;)
To what kind of student would you recommend this class? You definitely need to be willing and able to pour a lot of time into this class. As I was told upon entering this class last year, you get out of it what you put in. At the time I was thinking, "DUHHH!" but it is so true. The workload is pretty intense at times (especially during the Peace Essay months – oh my goodness!!!) so you need to be willing to work hard, NOT procrastinate, and be self-motivated. From choosing to do optional assignments – such as the bonus two-week unit this past fall or extra essays – to swapping drafts with classmates, the more you invest in this class, the bigger the benefits will be. You also have to be willing to participate. Yep. There is a LOT of interaction in this class (see the question further into my review about classmate interaction). When I first started the class I thought it was a waste of time but boyyy is it NOT! The interaction is extremely important, and commenting on others' work improved my own immensely. Basically it all boils down to being willing to work hard, put effort into responding to classmates, and having an open mind.
What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class? I don't think you need any "special" preparation before taking this class. Ever since elementary school I did a standard English curriculum which included grammar, writing, diagramming, etc and then as I got older separated my English textbooks from essay writing. It really helped me to have had previous rhetorical analysis experience, since that's a huge part of the course, but that's not really necessary. You'll learn as you go. Other than that, you really don't need much preparation – Mrs Inspektor will teach you what you need to know and tell you what habits you need to drop IMMEDIATELY haha. Of course, you should have some experience writing essays but you certainly don't need to be the best essay-writer. I mean, that's why you're taking the class, right? To improve your skills? When I entered the class I felt okay about the essays I had written in 9th grade. Now that I've taken this course I want to stick out my tongue and go "BLEHHH!" at them. :P I'm definitely not an *amazing* essay writer but I'm amazed at the progress Mrs. Inspektor drilled into me. ;)
How many hours per week did you spend on your class work? Ohhhkayyy. Hmm. The amount of time I spent on Lang EACH DAY varied immensely. Some days were very light (just responding to a morning message and commenting on classmates' essays or DQs) while others were crazy, with me responding to an MM, commenting on students' work, reading/analyzing several chapters of a book, writing DQs about it, and working on a larger project. But both types of days were somewhat rare – normally the workload would be definitely enough to justify it being an AP course but not so crazy as to make us jump off cliffs tearing our hair. ;) On average (which is sooo hard to say since it varied!!) I spent 2 to 2 ½ hours on Lang a day. Of course, during Peace Essay time I devoted at least 5 hours a day to Lang haha. Ahhhh the PEC – good times…I also did some Lang on weekends, especially when we were getting ready to submit a "big" assignment such as the Literacy Narrative or the Place Essay. So I'd say I spent about 15 hours a week on the course, except during Peace Essay time when who knows how long I did Lang for. :P
To what extent was this class interactive? I think I've covered this a lot already. SO INTERACTIVE!! Responding to the daily morning messages, commenting on students' essays, challenging others' views in discussion questions, participating in book clubs, posting in the creative writing portion of the site, swapping drafts, and answering fellow classmates' questions, to name just a few – and I'll be honest, at the beginning of the year I felt like I was wasting so much time with all the interaction. "Really," I'd think to myself as I read the Weekly Update in the first month or two, "Comment in detail on FIVE students' essays?! WHAT?! That means I have to read five essays AND take the time to respond. PLUS I have to respond to the morning message and work on my Literacy Narrative, which means swapping with people I barely know!" The interaction is extremely important, and commenting on others' work improved my own immensely. Because of all this interaction I've made some AMAZING friends in this class. Our interaction isn't confined to the WWWboard…we email, skype, chat, everything. I've met one classmate and hope others will follow! ;) These friendships have led to 2am discussions, email chains with over 1000 emails, conversations about everything from weddings to mad scientists to kittens and badgers. Good times. :) You'll walk out of this class with so many amazing, genuine, AWESOME friends!
What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful? Hmmm. I'll start by saying that Mrs. Inspektor is an AMAZING teacher. Her comments always pushed me to take my writing up a notch (or ten…) but they were never discouraging or belittling, even when I submitted a draft that just plain stunk. I won't forget the time I submitted a synthesis essay identifying a fallacy committed in one of the sources, and in analyzing it I myself committed that fallacy. Mrs. Inspektor pointed it out (very NICELY haha) and ooohhh…talk about embarrassing!!! :P But seriously, every comment she made on my work was constructive criticism – if she hadn't pushed us all so hard we wouldn't have improved! Oh, and she also had a baby this year (LOVE YOU NITSAH!!) and only took a whopping two weeks off! As soon as she returned she was back to grading essays and answering questions – many times while balancing a sleeping baby girl on her lap!
Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why. Oh my goodness, so many were amazing and memorable!! This is HARD. Well, I enjoyed writing the Place Essay SOOO much!!! We had to choose a special place and write about it. And this wasn't your typical middle-school "Choose-a-place-and-describe-it" essay, oh no. We had to pour our complicated (teen-girl haha) emotions into our essays and describe our places at a deep level and weave themes through them. I picked a place that means so much to me and it was pure joy (though it was quite hard to get started!) to write about that place. :) I also enjoyed Project Walden, which was a weeklong assignment that changed our lives – for a week. Literally. After doing our unit on Walden (which, by the way, is a very odd book – some chapters I'd be underlining every single line, scribbling in the margins " <3 <3 <3 <3" and others I'd have to force my eyelids open…) we had to implement some large change in lifestyle (whether one thing or several) for a week and write about our experience. It was amazingggg. But the huge project of the year was the Peace Essay. *gasps* *chokes* *dies* No it's not that bad. It only demanded over 6 hours of my time per day for several weeks. We entered the US Institute of Peace's Peace Essay contest and wowww it was an unforgettable experience. SO many hours of hard work – choosing case studies, deciding on recommendations, writing draft after draft, begging TAs for help at 2am, swapping drafts with classmates – but it was so worth it. Besides teaching us all how to write "true" research essays, many of us have used our knowledge in other aspects of school (I used one of my case studies from it in one of my "real" AP exam essays). It's a lot of work but it is SO rewarding!
How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam? Mrs. Inspektor had us write released AP exam essays from previous years about once a week (more as the exam neared), even in the fall. We also did MANY multiple-choice AP practice tests. Many morning messages were devoted to teaching us how to write top AP essays. We also had great practice for the rhetorical analysis essay on the AP exam (there are 3 different types of essays on the Lang exam) by reading, analyzing, and discussing tons of books, passages, and essays throughout the year. Mrs. Inspektor prepared us very well for the exam.
Whew this has gotten really long so I'll wrap up haha ;) This was my FAVORITE CLASS EVER, out of all my middle school and high school courses. I'm by no means one of those students who LOVES school – at the time I'm writing this review I'm actually quite sick of it and summer can't come soon enough – but I can say with 100% honesty that I LOVED this class. Bottom line: TAKE THE CLASS! You'll be glad you did. :)
1. I felt like this course prepared me very well for the AP exam. When I went in to take the exam, I felt totaly confident because I knew exactly what to expect on the test. We had done so much practice in both of the areas that were tested, I felt totaly confident in my ability to do well.
2. I probably put in about an hour to an hour and a half per day.
3. I felt that the creative essays were really valuable and fun for me to do. The first big essay that we wrote was on something that had impacted us, and I loved that essay! We also did one on our favorite place. It wasa nice to be able to use our creative nature and write something different then what we had been.
4. Yes, it very much did. It made me reconsider my science major and wonder if i should go back to my original plan: writing.
5. Yes, I did. It was not only helpful to get feedback from students, but to learn how to critically read others papers and comment in a way that explained the good aspects as well as those that needed improvement.
6. I would recommend this to a student who is already pretty skilled in writing, one who loves the subject, one who has lots of time, and one who is hard woring and able to work through tough situations both mentally and with their writing.
Just.....WOW.
Posted by Sarah Kane on 05/22/2012I can't rave enough about this course, the teacher, or the other students! It was PHENOMENAL! I worked harder, spent more time, ripped up more papers, and complained "IT WILL NEVER END" more often than I have for any other class. And the odd thing is....it's my favorite class. Ever. All this year, all of last too. I enjoyed it more than I enjoyed my middle school classes! Which is crazy, because I've never hated school.
I felt sooooo incredibly prepared for the exam. I actually...gasp....enjoyyyyeeeddd it. I felt confident and really really excited. I'm in agony waiting for my score. :P
A week with Mrs. I....well, it definitely required time and THOUGHT. The reading material is quite hefty, and skimming is not enough to really get involved with class discussions. I found myself spending around an hour a day between the morning message and discussion questions, not including the reading. An average night would be about an hour-hour and a half, sometimes two. I enjoyed the work a lot of times and didn't rush at all for discussion questions. In fact, as annoying as they were to have to do ALL THE TIME, this is a BRILLIANT plan. It's the most involved I've ever been with other students! This class is probably 50% social, be it grading essays, leaving comments on paper, participatng in discussion, replying to MM exercises....For everything we write, we read and comment on someone else's, or MANY someone else's papers. I loved this approach, I MADE FRIENDS!
Bookclubs....brilliant. The assignment is so free, and I made fabulous friends. The girls in my first bookclub are some of my closest buddies today! We talk all the time and I hope to meet one of them this summer. :) We also want to keep bookclubs going over the summer! And we don't just read and email, no, dude, we CALL. WE DO VIDEO. BooYAH, this is really cool. :)
I will take away so many pieces of writing I am PROUD of. Literacy narratives....the bane of my existence for a week or two, but....I absolutely LOVED that assignment. I don't know if I have ever spent so much time EDTING! I never used to edit. This class has DEFINITELY taught me how to edit. I've even started liking refining my work! I loved pretty much any free response essays that we did this year. The Place essays were phenomenal to read and to write. Mine is very special to me. And getting feedback, honest, HONEST feedback was fabulous. I'll never forget the guy who wrote "eew" all throughout my first draft. :) I promise the second and third drafts got better!
Haha, I love the list of questions above: "Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?" DID I. Hahahahaha, do we even need to go here? YES! Don't ask me how this works....but my friends in this class are seriously FRIENDS. They are not random people I know names of. Class is over and I still talk to one of them constantly and several of them daily, at least. These students are FABULOUS! Our messages are filled with <3 <3 <3 <3 s, and it's pretty acurate. I really care about these people. SO much. :)
Okay, confession time. I almost dropped out of this class....twice. It's my first year homeschooling for highschool, and it's definitely been the toughest year of my life. Also, my home has been in upheavhal. The last thing I wanted was a tough AP class. So in the fall I tried to leave. Literally, I just stopped doing the clsss. The first time, Mrs. Inspektor dragged me back kicking and screaming, but the second time, right after Christmas break.....tragedy had struck, and I was an absolute emotional wreck, having lost a very important person (this wasn't a breakup, and it was a hundred times more traumatic than one) and being in no mind at all to continue class, I honestly DID NOT CARE ABOUT APS. Or anything. Or anyone.
And emails started coming in from classmates, TAs, Mrs. I....the instant I got a facebook I could have sworn there were 22 new friend requests from my AP friends. They posted about it on the WWW board: "where's Sarah? Did she leave? Come back!!!!!" And hey...when a really nice guy hundreds of miles away breaks his curfew so you can cry--er, type your troubles to him...and tells you he has been praying for you before you even told him what was going on....well, I was kind of sort of devastated (in a good way) by all the caring going on. I left my other online classes and no one cared. But here...dropping out is LAME-O and they wouldn't let me. And I am SO GLAD they didn't! I made more friends, got back into the work, wrote hard, wrote well, took the exam, and DID NOT FAIL. This I know. :)
I would say you have to be super motivated to be in this class, but it's kind of not exactly true. I'm veryyyy unmotivated and veryyyyyy undisciplined. I get overwhelmed easily and I panic with longterm goals. But this class was marvelous. If a student is willing to trust Mrs. Inspektor for the day to day (by the way, the daily workload is HEAVEN, not Hell!) work and reading, those longterm goals happen easier than you can imagine.
And make the most out of the people. Hey, these are some pretty cool guys and gals. Who would have thought I'd be excited for NEXT YEAR so I can take Mrs. I's class again?! I'll be keeping these friends, all my fabulously proofread writing, and my GREAT EXCITEMENT about the AP exam with me. :) God has blessed me bigtime with this class and the people in it, and you know....the end of this class is so worth the tears, guys. *sniff*
Good luck to anyone taking AP Lang and Comp with Mrs. Inspektor. YOU WILL LOVE AND BE LOVED. That is my utmost warning. Oh, and you'll ace the exam, get college credit, and start writing poetry all the time just so you have an excuse to email classmates. ;)
Okay, I'll stop.... :P
This is the best class I've ever taken.
Posted by Michaiah Hughes on 05/21/2012Hi everyone!
At the beginning of this class, I was entering my sophomore year of highschool. I had no AP experience at all, I was accustomed to literary analysis, and I thought essays were boring, drab, and dull. This class was awesome. Splendid. Fabulous. Incredible. Marvelous. Okay, I'll stop showing off my synonym skills now and get to the part you really want to read... :)
- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely. I think I was actually overprepared for the test. (Is that even possible? Oh well, it was definitely a good thing.) Mrs. I did an absolutely outstanding job of preparing us for the test – we began writing practice test essays in October and kept up an intense essay-prep pace throughout the year. We also got fabulous, specific comments on our essays (from Mrs. I, the TAs, and our classmates) about how we could improve the rough drafts. During the year, we studied important vocabulary, worked through numerous multiple-choice practice tests, and wrote tons of practice essays as well. I'm ALWAYS nervous before tests…but I wasn't nervous at all before the Lang exam!
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
On average, I probably spent between ten to fifteen hours a week on this course. However, I both read and write abnormally quickly, so this time estimate may not be accurate for everyone. (If you struggle with either reading or writing, completing the assignments will require much more time. Oh, and typing quickly is a very important skill for this class, as all communication happens through the computer.) During the entire month of December (Peace Essay time!), I probably put in an average of three and four hours every day as I was revising my own paper, teaming up with some classmates to comment on their papers, and just working my tail off, basically. :) Completing the assignments took me a while at the beginning of the class, when my time management wasn't as strong and I was still figuring out the class structure. However, as I handled my time more efficiently and the Peace Essay assignment was completed, I spent less time - probably between 5-8 hours per week.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
Honestly, I loved the Peace Essay. Even though this project was so labor intensive (I sweated and slaved over this paper like I never have before), it broadened my perspective on world events and made me think critically about how to build peace. I also learned how valuable the revision process can be if you're dedicated to revising deeply. My essay was better than I thought possible, thanks to Mrs. I's critiquing and encouragement – and of course, I couldn't have completed the assignment without my classmates' help!
This isn't necessarily an "assignment" per se, but I'm going to write about it anyway. I loved any and all assignments where we had class discussions. Honestly, this class felt like our own academic version of Facebook – I was always checking to see who commented on my essay or reading the posts following my discussion-question responses. (In fact, I had to ban myself from the site in order to focus on my other subjects that weren't as fun and interactive as this class!)This feeling made learning fun and also built our class community.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Most definitely. I was relatively confident in writing before I took this class, but now I am absolutely confident. Additionally, I didn't realize that there were so many different ways to write an essay. I was only familiar with dry, dull literary analysis, but we were introduced to personal narrative essays, historical event essays, autobiographical essays, etc. This class definitely developed my interest in writing.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Hahaha, don't even get me started. When I signed up for this class, I couldn't even believe that we would be able to have online discussions. After all, if you never actually meet each other, you can't be friends, right?
Wrong! I have made a ton of friends in this class. Mrs. I. encouraged class participation every day, so even during the toughest assignments, it was encouraging to know that 35+ other people were sweating over the same challenges that you were facing. Then there was the social aspect…we have talked about everything from the literary merits (or lack thereof) in The Hunger Games to the health benefits of living gluten-free to the difficulties of gmail-chatting when your fingers are freezing during a Michigan winter. The daily interaction helped me to make friends very easily. It was awesome.
Besides the socialization and the feeling of community, the communications were so valuable academically as well. Mrs. I. wanted us to comment on each other's work, which helped us to think critically about writing (and by editing our classmates' papers, it was easier to see mistakes in our own work), made everyone improve as we received multiple sources of feedback, and ultimately drew our groups of students closer together.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
The type of student that has enough time to really work hard on the assignments and do their best in everything will do well. This isn't a "gimme" AP class that you can take for a quick and easy credit…prepare to work your tail off (especially during Peace Essay time). You simply can't get full benefit out of this class if you don't have the time to participate and to improve your writing skills.
I was planning to just answer the questions, but I have to tell you prospective students about the sheer awesomeness of Mrs. Inspektor. This lady is an amazing teacher. In October she had a baby girl (who proceeded to be our "class mascot" during the class/exam), but Mrs. I. took only two weeks off, then jumped right back into class. She literally held the sleeping baby and graded our papers at the same time…you have to be a fabulous teacher to multitask that way!
She is also mixes encouragement and critique so beautifully – I never felt "put down" (actually, her words made me want to improve and succeed) but her feedback was so extraordinarily helpful. I have grown so much as a writer and as a person through her encouraging critiques, and I've also picked up a few ways to be a better mentor/teacher through this class. She is the best teacher I've ever had (EVER), and I am so excited for you to experience this class as well.
What are you waiting for? Stop reading this, you silly student! Go sign up! NOW!
Take Mrs. Inspekor's class. You won't be sorry!
Posted by Suzanne McLendon on 05/21/2012
To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
This class was a challenge because, though I had some experience writing, it
wasn't on the same level. Especially at the beginning of the year, it took
extra time to learn the basics and move up from there. I would recommend
people who have some experience writing essays and an interest in literature
to take this class.
How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
This is a difficult question to answer because I never calculated the exact
time, but at least two hours on each week day, and depending on the
assignment, more hours on the weekend.
To what extent was this class interactive?
The online class environment consisted of a website that contained all the
information, assignments, and places to post on it. It had the feeling of a
web forum or a social media site. All your work is visible to Mrs.
Inspektor and everyone in class, but your specific grades are only
accessible to you. Having the class environment was wonderful, because a
major part of the course was commenting on classmates' work. As you read and
critique your classmates' work, it teaches you what to do differently or how
to learn from writers better than you.
What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they
helpful?
Mrs. Inspektor strives to give you feedback that will improve your writing
techniques. She normally gives feedback on essays or other major
assignments, while classmates and sometimes TA's will give feedback on every
assignment. Mrs. Inspektor teaches us how to give positive feedback and
constructive criticism in our comments so that each student can learn the
most. Mrs. Inspektor also helps with grammar, especially in the beginning
of the year.
How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of
this class?
Monthly book clubs helped me to think more critically about literature.
There is flexibility in the book club choices, because you can join any book
club or give your own suggestion. Discussion of literature in groups was not
something I was familiar with, so it was a great learning experience.
What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
Keeping up with the heavy work-load while not letting it run my school life
was the major challenge I faced in this class. It became easy to let other
schoolwork slide as different projects in this class arrived. Time
management was an aspect of this class difficult for me, but I learned
setting goals for myself was important.
Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
The Peace Essay Competition was the most challenging and memorable
assignment in class. It consisted of researching and picking two countries
for case studies, then writing an essay on them in reply to the year's
prompt on the United States Institutes of Peace website. I thought it would
get easier once I picked two case studies, but I was wrong. It gave me
experience writing a college-level essay. Estimating, I think I worked near
fifty hours on the assignment altogether. The project sounds overwhelming,
but Mrs. Inspektor guides the class through each step of the process.
Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
If you are considering taking an AP English Language class, take this one!
My experience in an online class environment with my other classmates and
Mrs. Inspektor was wonderful. Mrs. Inspektor is with no doubt, a gifted
teacher.
If you are considering this class, you should really try to work it into your schedule somehow. It will be worth it.
Posted by Jessica Olsen on 05/21/2012AP Language and Composition: Great Experience
Posted by Justin Yen on 05/18/2012I think a student applying for this class should realize that this is a community based class. You should be honest in the work that you give, but also with the work you critique. It is SO important not to sugar coat your comments an analysis, as to accurately give the other students the amount and areas of places they need to improve on. Also be willing to meticulously comment on people's essays/discussion questions. It's not that commenting is the worst part of the class, but it can get tedious at times, and when one treats it lightly it take away from your learning experience and that of the other. Expect to come into this class leaning on other people and helping others and yourself learn. This commenting aspect of class takes up a lot of time, but holds an important position to education and exam prep.
Frankly, that part of the course frustrated me at times. For me, I'm not one to interact with 30 other students trying to care about their work, but the fruit of it is priceless. So even if you are more of an independent person, come here and learn more than just AP English Language and Composition, but you'll learn some life skills as I did. There is so much to glean from this class.
The course load is not extremely large, but with the little given, you need to take full advantage of those small assignments and do them well. If sufficently completing these assignments, one will have a much easier time studying for the exams. Some of the reading gets overwhelming during the second semester, but the analysis aids with the AP essays as they require detailed analysis.
I think the most memorable part of this class was the Peace Essay. This few month long project resulted in my work having to be ripped apart a few days (a week?) before I had to submit this essay. I essentially had to rewrite this essay. I thought I had understood the prompt correctly, but a lesson learned: ASK QUESTIONS! The slightest thing can cause disaster. Of course don't ask obvious questions, read the Morning Messages and updates, but realize that again, there are 30 students plus more than a couple TAs and the teacher there to help, take advantage of it!
Take advantage of the time given to write essays. I did not, and my essay scores clearly reflected my lack of focus on the essays. A good writer is not one who gets the first draft down. A good writer writes multiple drafts if not dozens. I tend to write my essays in one day, if you are one of those people, finish it 3-4 days before you have to submit and fix it for 10-20 minutes. It does not take long, and you will improve your writing ability drastically.
Good Luck!
Justin Yen
AP Lang was amazing!
Posted by Hannah Rears on 05/18/2012I know this sounds crazy, but by the time our class reached exam day, I was incredibly excited to take the exam. Throughout the year, all of us progressed from barely being able to write passable essays in 40 minutes to being able to write 4-5 paragraph essays in that same amount of time. I can honestly say that when I got to exam day, it felt like the exam itself was very predictable. We had done so many practice essays and multiple choice passages that the exam didn't seem as scary as I thought it was at the beginning of the year. I don't have a particular amount of time I put in every week. I generally found that I spent a lot more time on English when I had a major paper due that week.
The Peace Essay (for the United States Peace Institute's national high school competition) was incredibly scary at first, but it paid off so much. Mrs. Inspektor was very understanding and helpful throughout the whole process. I remember I switched case studies about 3 times in the span of 2 days, and she was very patient throughout my furious brainstorming. This leads me to how great a teacher Mrs. Inspektor is. I wasn't crazy about other people reading my writing when I entered the class. I didn't truly know the meaning of revision and taking feedback and incorporating it into my work. The first paper I wrote, the literacy narrative, was a struggle, but in retrospect, I'm so glad that Mrs. Inspektor gave us her honest feedback. I truly think it made the difference between staying the same writer and becoming a better writer.
The other students were amazing. Everyone was super supportive, and I think everyone grew from other people's writing and opinions. It also made the actual exam seem a lot less daunting since all of my friends were taking it too. Skype book clubs, Facebooks chats, and posts on the class website really helped us grow closer as a class and support each other through rough assignments and ultimately the exam.
If you're scared of writing, don't be afraid to take this class. It changed my outlook on writing, and now I'm actually considering an English major in college (the class was that good!). If you love to read and love language, and you're looking to improve your writing, this class is worth all of the hard work and the stressful moments. Plus, the feeling of finishing a particuarly hard essay or paper is very rewarding :) I definitely recommend this course to anyone who's willing to work hard, take feedback, and ultimately grow as a writer.
Hard, but Totally Worth It!!
Posted by Rachel Venable on 05/18/2012- To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
Someone who has a desire to write...if you don't, you're either doomed to hate this class, or convert to a writing lover. Also, someone who wants to know what, why, and how, an author is exerting something like his point of view. If you don't want to know what you're reading, again, you're bound to want that by the end of the year.
- What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHY YOU'RE TAKING THIS CLASS.
I seriously can't stress that enough. Honestly, at the beginning of this class, I hadn't an inkling of what I was here for except to write, but by April I realized that I needed to get my hiney into gear and start seriously studying on that AP exam! If you know that this class' purpose is to help you pass the exam, you won't have a problem. I wasn't completely aware of this before hand, and I regret that. I wish I had been an avid studier from the beginning of this class. Key word: study.
- How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
Hmm, well the last few weeks we were all independent studiers so that's hard to compute, but the weeks before those were somewhat intense. I'd say that I spent at least an hour and a half per day each week. Many times on weekends I'd be sitting at the comp, beating myself up for waiting so long to finish homework. If you finish all your work by Friday, you must really love yourself.
- To what extent was this class interactive?
Immensely. I have, at least, 35+ new friends! Everyone was so friendly and patient...honestly this class' size was overwhelming at first, but I know the personalities of each person despite the fact that I've never met them in person! There were book clubs that almost everyone participated in and those are a bunch of fun, and you get to know each other better. The teacher, students, and TA's were all extremely helpful whenever I had a question. Never had I asked a question where it took forever to get responses. I started emailing groups with many of the students and we're all pretty close now! Crazy.
- What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
Everyone always gave me the feedback that I needed, and, for the most part, it wasn't sugar coated. I always knew what needed to be fixed in my essays from the feedback. The comments were spot-on; usually points on things that I hadn't noticed myself. In short, the feedback was awesome.
- How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
Well, ancient literature (Walden's Pond) would've killed me if I hadn't known how to disect the syntax to reveal the hidden meanings, which I learned to do in this class. Although I'm not admitting to liking the book, I'm just saying it was easier to read because of Mrs. Inspektor. I don't particularly enjoy literature much more than I originally had, but I definitely have more respect for it.
- What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
I almost dropped out. I was dangerously close to leaving this class during the Peace Essay Contest because of the rigorous work it required, but you know what? My sister convinced me to stay because of how brilliant I would feel after I had submitted the essay, and she was right! I remained a student in this class and recieved an honorable mention in the contest (3rd place for the state of Maine). I'm so proud of that piece of work, and I truly believe it was THE hardest thing I have EVER done.
- Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
Without a doubt, it was the Peace Essay. I've never worked so hard and long on an essay in my entire life, and I'm not sure I ever will again. That essay is my joy and pride. Another assignment that I really loved though, was the Project Walden. That was fun and difficult to stick to as well, but it was an enjoyable experience.
- How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
A million practice tests. Literally. Mrs. Inspektor assigned plenty of sample essay questions and multiple choice questions throughout the year to prepare us for the actual exam. She gave us a ton of tips and pointers from eliminating MCQ choices and impressing the essay judges. Let me tell you, during the exam yesterday, I took a little comfort in the fact that I knew what I was doing. Ok, a lot of comfort. I know that the kids I took the test with won't be getting as high a score as I am, because they finished writing their essays in an hour while I took the full 135 minutes to complete mine. Mrs. Inspektor taught me to be selfish with the time limit, and darn it, I was.
- Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
Be prepared to make a ton of friends (whether you want to or not) and to love your teacher. She's awesome. I know that the TA's will be awesome as well; they were in my class this year! Everyone's great, the assignments won't kill you - I promise - the book clubs are cool... so don't worry about being stuck with a mound of smart homeschooling geeks, cause they'll all be awesome. I mean we're all smart - ahem - and if anybody's a geek, he or she WILL make it known. They don't like to hide it. Believe me, I was worried for a second when I saw that plenty of the students were grades ahead of me, yet the same age, but hey. Don't be shy.
Best. Class. Ever. 'nuff said ;)
Posted by Amber Emerson on 05/17/2012- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? Yes. Yes. Yes. Definitely! Throughout the whole year she gave us assigments that strengthened our analysis and argumentation skills (which is what you need for the FRQs), and, of course, strengthened our general writing skills. After some weeks of those different assignments, she had us start working on real exam essay prompts, as well as some practice MCQ tests. Point is -- every assignment prepares you for the exam without being repetitive or boring.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? In truth, all of our major assigments were incredibly valuable. Warning though: One, deemed the Peace Essay, is absolute torture (My endnotes alone took hours:P). However, I learned soooo much from writing it that the torture was totally worth it. The assigment not only helps your writing skills grow, but also gives you a better view of the world (and makes you become a total pro at MLA formatting ;)). The assignments that I enjoyed the most though were the literary narrative, place essay, and project walden. (okay, all my fellow students are like, "wow amber. way to be selective. Those are pretty much all of our big assignments this year. sheesh." and i'm like, "SORRY. I loved them all. so deal with it." ;)) The literary narrative allowed so much creativity and thoughtfulness. The place essay was... Emotional. Haha:) It was also creative and thoughtful. Project Walden, on the other hand, wasn't the typical kind of essay assigment. The point of the assigment was to change something about your lifestyle for a week, and then go on to write about the experience. It was super fun, yet challenging, and writing about it was like writing detailed, thought-provoking journal entries.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? Most definitely. Mrs. Inspector is an amazing teacher and makes everything so engaging and interesting.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? Yes! Mrs. Inspektor has students comment on other students' work for feedback, and it is incredibly helpful. Also, I made some really wonderful friends this year partly because of how interactive the class is.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? One willing to devote a lot of time and effort to it.
I can't think of a good and original title.
Posted by Matthew Buonanno on 05/17/2012
The most helpful, challenging, and fun class I have taken!
Posted by Evan Booher on 06/01/2011- To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
Any student who is hardworking and desires to become a writer must take this class. Many of the students who take this class rank in the top percentiles of high schoolers nationally, but Mrs. Inspektor's teaching is so good and the atmosphere of the class so encouraging and stimulating that anyone willing to work can succeed.
- What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
I had taken two years of high school English and had done a fair amount of writing and felt highly prepared for the class. While challenging, this class does not require students to be great writers before they can take this class. Really the best preparation is to read good books - critical reading skills are necessary for AP English success. Then just have familiarity with basic English terms and rules and some experience writing argmuent-type essays and you're ready.
How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
Generally I spent one and a half to two hours per day on AP English, so from seven to ten hours a week. In January and February, while preparing for the Peace Essay contest, it was more like four to five hours some days.
- To what extent was this class interactive?
It was highly interactive. I really feel like I know many of my classmates through interaction in book clubs and discussion questions and just posts on the WWW board. We also grade each others papers a lot - really there is something interactive every day. All the kids in my class were really great people and students - the interaction was fun and always encouraging.
- What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
On discussion questions, all the responses were student-produced but still helpful; anyway, these questions are more discussion about arguments or points the students have made than about English mechanics. For all the essays, other students graded and commented and Mrs. Inspektor gave comments and a grade. Mrs. Inspektor's comments were always so helpful, pointing out what was good and what needed to be improved. Mrs. Inspektor also gave suggestions in reponse to my emailed questions about my peace essay. The student comments about my peace essay were also so helpful and detailed; one student even wrote me an email giving comments above what was required. Most of the students did comment not only to complete assignments but because they did care about helping others improve. Mrs. Inspektor uses her reponses to students' work as one of the two main ways she gives direct instruction (the other is through the Morning Messages).
How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
I already had a great love for reading and this class only increased that feeling. In this class I read a great variety of literature, from Dickens and Homer to Richard Rodriguez and Thoreau. I now enjoy a broader range of literature types than before this class.
- What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
Maybe the beginning of the class was the biggest challenge, just getting accustomed to it and adjusting to the course load. The peace essay was the biggest project of the year, so it probably was the biggest challenge.
- Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
I can still remember every AP essay I wrote during this class, with certain ones still being my favorites. I remember the first nine I scored and Mrs. Inspektor's comments on it. But the most memorable assignment would have to be the peace essay. I was a state winner and will travel to Washington DC for the weekong awards seminar. I am sure that will be one of the most amazing weeks of my life, and I can experience it because of Mrs. Inspektor and this class.
- How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
I felt completely prepared for the AP exam and was hardly nervous when I took the test. We took several full-length practice tests and had been practicing the essays all year, so I felt very confident and secure.
- Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
Take this class!!! The AP credit is great, but this class is so much more than an AP-prep course - it has turned me into a very strong writer and critical reader/thinker. Don't be intimidated or get discouraged if it's difficult at first; Mrs. Inspektor really knows how and what to teach and will help you succeed.
You NEED to take this class!
Posted by Hannah Newman on 05/31/2011At this point I have taken both AP English Literature and AP English Language with Mrs. Inspektor. They were both in my top three favorite classes of high school thus far, and I really can't rave about them enough. I learned more about writing, literature, and our world than I ever could have imagined. In addition to learning so much, I also had a ton of fun! Hopefully the following questions and answers will be helpful to you in your decision about this class!
Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely! Mrs. Inspektor begins exam prep early in the year (October, I believe) so that we can really hone our skills that directly pertain to the exam and format of the test itself. We wrote numerous essays to prompts from former exams, and took 5 practice multiple choice sections throughout the year. Mrs. Inspektor also gives extensive feedback about what you need to work on in your essays, and helps you along in figuring out a strategy that works for you on the multiple choice section. If you work hard in the course and complete the assignments, I think you are practically guaranteed a good score on the exam!
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
On average, I would say that this class took me 1 hour per day. There were a few days that were shorter, and some that were longer. For a challenging assignment that required outside research, I spent a couple hours on the weekend finishing the assignment. For a weekly average, I would say the course was 5-7 hours of work.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I loved the literacy narrative assignment at the beginning of the year. The purpose of this assignment was to bring to life an experience that shaped our view of literature, writing, or education. This assignment allowed for some creative expression, which actually ended up strengthening essay writing, in my opinion. The word limit of 1500 words made certain that we chose words that counted, and that were direct; this later helped me in writing essays, and in making sure that those essays were not vague in their language and word choice.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I have always loved English, but yes, I think that this course did enhance that love even further. This course also gave me reassurance that English is the right path for me to pursue in college!
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes! It is amazing how much you can learn about the other students without ever meeting them in person; I felt that we bonded through our responses to each others' essays, through our book clubs, and through casual interaction on the WWW Board. And my classmates were a great source of help during our major assignments, particularly during the Peace Essay assignment. I exchanged papers with a fellow student, and we gave each other feedback on what could be improved, and then revised our essays using both this information and the feedback from Mrs. Inspektor, and the feedback from others in the class who had responded to our essays on the site. We all bonded in our struggles to become better writers, and I know I learned a lot from my classmates.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
Students who are good at or who enjoy English would obvioulsy do well in this course. However, I don't think that loving English is necessarily a prerequisite to this class. Before this year, I read very little prose or essay writing. When I first saw the essays we were going to read, I thought they looked boring, and I wished we could read fiction. I was so wrong! This class basically introduced me to a whole new genre of writing, and I will most likely read many essays from The Writer's Presence this summer on my own. I would most definitley recommend this course to other students, but I think it is imperative that you work hard. You want to get the most out of this class as possible, so that you can learn a lot (and get a good score on the exam). It won't be worth it if you aren't willing to give it your all. As long as you come into the class with a good attitude, how much you love English upon entrance doesn't matter; you will have a great year!
I can't emphasize enough what a great class this was; and as many before me have said, Mrs. Inspektor is an incredible teacher, and she will help you so much throughout the class.
Go ahead and sign up now! :)
AP Lang Class Review
Posted by Clayton Ferrazzo on 05/26/2011 This year, I believe I felt more prepared for the AP Language exam than I have ever felt for any other exam. I spent anywhere from 1 to 3 hours per day working on the assigned homework. I found as the course went on that the homework was not difficult, it was challenging and took dedication to complete. Perhaps my favorite assignment from this class was the Place Essay which I enjoyed due to the "creative writing" nature of the piece. I must confess at the beginning of the course, I really did not have much of a heart for writing. I did it because it was assigned, not because I enjoyed it. That attitude and experience carried on through a greater part of the first semester with ups and downs in between. But by the time second semester rolled around, Mrs. I had instilled in my a love for writing that no other instructor has given me before. Her dedication to the class and her devotion to writing out Morning Messages and sharing them gave me an appreciation for writing.
The other students in this class have been a major help in enhancing my experience. Almost every single student writes often for the joy of it, and the comments I received in response to essays or discussion questions were most edifying and helpful. The class interaction was spectacular as compared to some other courses I have taken online. Other students were willing to discuss the daily news one day and then swap essays for correction and editing the next day.
A student who is willing to work hard on essays and able to read and respond daily to messages from the teacher is probably qualified. I would recommend this class to the student who wants to do something substantial for his or her writing course. I would also recommend this class to the student interested in becoming a well-rounded writer.
Take this class!
Posted by Caroline Harper on 05/17/2011Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Most definitely. At the beginning of the year I was nervous about having to write three timed essays all in a row on the exam, because even one essay seemed difficult! But we started off slowly, and Mrs. Inspektor gave great feedback on the practice essays. By the last few months we were writing an essay a week, and by the time we took the practice exam, and the real exam, I felt comfortable and confident with my writing. Also, the practice multiple choice sections we did were very helpful.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
No less than an hour a day. Every day, we responded to the Morning Message, which sometimes included a small exercise or grammar lesson, and then completed that day's written assignments. On particularly hard weeks, like when we were working on the Peace Essay or Project Walden, I spent more time, sometimes up to 18 or 20 hours a week.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I liked the Place essay and the literacy narrative. These were creative writing assignments that let me focus on capturing exactly what I wanted to say and using my words wisely. Another favorite assignment, but one that was a LOT of work, was the Peace Essay. It was like no other paper I've ever written before, because it focused on current issues and politics and I had to analyze lots of different sources. Everybody gave great feedback, though, and so it was easier to finish and polish my paper than if I had had to write it all on my own.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Yes. I've always liked writing, but I've never been a fan of the "essay style" of writing. Now, I realize that an essay can be just as interesting as a creative writing paper, and that it doesn't have to be a struggle to sit down and write a coherent essay in 40 minutes. This course has definitely sparked my interest in reading deeper, too, and discovering what the author really meant beneath all the fluff and wit.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes. If you are worried that there will not be student-to-student communication in this course because it's a distance learning online course, worry no more. Even though I have never met any of my classmates face-to-face from this year, I feel that I know each one of their personalities just through our conversations on the WWW board and through the book clubs. Everybody was so helpful when responding to essays and papers, and we got some really interesting conversations going on the discussion questions!
What sort of student would do well in this course?
Any student who is willing to work hard and spend a lot of time on the assignments will do well in this course. You also have to be open to suggestions and constructive criticisms, because there is a lot of revising and rewriting involved in any writing course. The amount of work Mrs. Inspektor assigns is manageable, but only if you stay on top of it. It is very easy to procrastinate, especially on the weekends, when assignments aren't due until Sunday. So if you are focused and willing to put in the time, you will definitely see it show in your work.
You must take this course! It's worth it!
Posted by Mary Hill on 05/16/2011Dear Student,
Please read the following questions and answers, and you willl discover if this class is for you!
Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Definitely. Everything from writing a TON of practice essays, to vocabulary studies and "thousands" of exam tips. The layout of the course was perfect; it started out slowly, giving me a feel for the difficulty ahead of me, and then it moved a bit faster as we all dove into exam study.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
Most often, I worked about two hours a day. A couple times I put in more than this; it really all depends on the assignments. Everyday there is a mini assignment, and a larger assignment. I really learned how to manage my time in this class, because most of the time I wasn't able to study in solid, two-hour blocks.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I was never good at writing research papers, so (though my fellow classmates may gasp to see me say this) I really appreciated the Peace Essay assignment. Through it, I learned the ups and downs of writing a research paper, and the importance of writing a proper, convincing argument.
Other assignments that I found helpful were the ones that referred to an essay we had read. These also really prepared me for the exam because they taught me to look critically at my reading, and to search for complex meanings behind the words. This is a great talent you will need for both practice essay and the actual exam.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Absolutely! Before this course, I didn't think looking for double meanings could be fun! I now "dissect" pages, covering them with marginalia. My understanding of the structure of the English language was definitely broadened.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Yes! The communications were valuable in the way that my classmates were always encouraging and suggesting ways that I could improve. We all helped each other. And in the long run, by helping each other we helped ourselves because we challenged our own knowledge of language and grammar. We also had interactions with each other in more casual settings through book clubs.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
If you are considering taking this course, you have to be willing to work hard, manage your time, and even step out of your comfort-zone at times. Creativity and having fun doesn't hurt either. ;) With these requirements in mind, I believe that whether you have a slight interest in writing, or it is your passion, you will benefit from taking this course. Are you willing to step up to this exciting challenge? Yes? Go for it! :)
Get ready to be changed....
~Mary
Challenging but definitely worth it.
Posted by Virginia Davis on 05/16/2011Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
First of all, there's no way I would have even survived that exam had I not taken this very course. But this class did more than just get me through the exam--it enabled me to feel confident and prepared for it.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The Peace Essay really broadened my capabilities regarding research papers. I felt so empowered after submitting my essay even though I had no expectations of being a finalist. I was so much more aware after researching, and writing about my case studies helped me feel like I was doing more than just an assignment for class. The Peace Essay gave me such a connection to international tragedies and corruption; I'm so much more interested in that type of thing now!
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
I got a ton out of being able to communicate and share ideas with my classmates. I especially loved the book discussions we organized every month or two. Even the non-live discussions Mrs. Inspektor posted for assignments quite often were very stimulating. I was able to get a glimpse of other ideas I had never considered before on interesting book passages. These communications definitely kept my mind open to other opinions and observations.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
A student really has to have the ambitions to succeed if he or she wants to do well in this course. It's so challenging, so the student must be willing to always keep the end goal in mind. If he or she does that all the hard work will be worth it.
P.S.
You really couldn't ask for a better teacher. Mrs. Inspektor is truly a blessing.
AP English Language and Composition
Posted by Courtenay Klauber on 05/14/2011To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
Students who are willing to move beyond their comfort zones will ultimately get the most benefit out of this class. Whether that means working harder than you would in normal English classes (which will definitely happen!), coming across differing viewpoints in the readings, or writing in a new and unfamiliar style, you will be definitely be stretched in some sort of way. There is everything from a research paper to creative writing, so there will likely be something you are not comfortable with! However, I often found that the most valuable assignments were the ones I was most uncomfortable with.
What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
As I mentioned before, be prepared to be stretched. On a more practical level, it's good to know the basic mechanics of writing and good grammar. You won't be utterly lost if you can't write without many errors, but it will be a lot harder to complete assignments well. Also, working on neat handwriting will definitely help you later on! One more thing to consider is to look at the prompt for the Peace Essay now, and familiarize yourself with the current conflicts going on to search for case studies. It won't hurt to be looking right now for sources and get into a habit of reading BBC articles and watching CNN for that essay. :)
How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
I averaged 2 hours a day most weeks, not including time reading and discussing for the book clubs. During the Peace Essay (December and January) I definitely spent more time each day.
To what extent was this class interactive?
This class has been substantially more interactive than many of the classes I take at co-ops. Even if you do the bare minimum, you will still likely be posting many little things each day whether they are essay responses, Morning Message response, or Discussion Question responses. Mrs. Inspektor has wonderful and timely Morning Messages that often require responses so if kind of feels like we get a mini-lecture or pep talk each day. Mrs. Inspektor is also really good about answering questions. Of course, you can always make things more interactive as well. The book clubs are great ways to get to know your classmates and you are free to post on the board about things. (I will say that as a student on the West Coast, it is kind of annoying that assignments are due at midnight EST and therefore 9 PM Pacific, but you get used to it.)
What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
Mrs. Inspektor's essay responses are pure GOLD. She does a really great job of identifying strengths and weaknesses of the students. I often read through her comments on my classmates' essays because her comments were that good and helpful for my writing too. For pretty much every essay and discussion question reply we wrote we were required to respond to a certain number of each other's work. Everyone's feedback was super helpful, but it was also enlightening and helpful to give feedback to other people.
How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
I think I am more conscious of how the written word is delivered, instead of usually being solely focused on content. Content is extremely important, but I definitely realized that most of the effectiveness of writing comes with the way in which it is presented. Not only am I now able to recognize how other people use rhetoric and such, but I am also able to incorporate it into my own writing.
What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
I am a perfectionist, and therefore I stress out about assignments, end up procrastinating and then get super freaked out about producing something good when time is running out. If you are a procrastinator or a perfectionist, this class will be hard for you. Sometimes I had to relax and just allow myself to simply submit what I thought was sub-par work for myself. I may be a little extreme about this. I would freak out about having perfect Discussion Question responses and first drafts of major essays. I would say it is good to be a perfectionist on final drafts, but don't be too hard on yourself on working drafts. It will save you a lot of heartache. By then end of the year, I was budgeting my time better and just doing my best instead of trying to make everything perfect.
Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
The Peace Essay was an incredibly hard, but rewarding and valuable experience; however, my favorite assignment of the year was definitely Project Walden. After we read Walden by Henry David Thoreau, we each embarked on our own experiment for one week. We wrote about the project each day, trying to include metaphors like Thoreau and other things. Some of the projects were waking up really early or abstaining from Internet or television, and many other fascinating and creative ideas. I cannot even begin to describe how amazing it was to complete and then write about this experiment. Everyday we commented on each other's posts, encouraging each other to keep it up and getting all philosophical about everything. This assignment was valuable because it showed the applicability of language in a tangible situation. In an AP class it sometimes is hard to see beyond the AP test, and Project Walden definitely was great to see how language can affect real life. As I wrote each day, I could control the dramatic quality, or the comedic aspects of my work. Oftentimes, my writing wouldn't just be inspired by my project, but my project would be inspired my writing.
How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
We did many multiple choice tests and wrote many essays taken from old tests. The English exam is interesting because it's not like you have to memorize facts or memorize equations; the only way to succeed on the test is to be familiar with the format and the possible questions. We definitely became very familiar to the format of the test; however, it never really felt like we were just studying for a test until the last couple weeks.
Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
If you are on the fence about this class, get off and just take it! Seriously, I have never had a better teacher (other than my own mother!) than Mrs. Inspektor. I recently compared this class to the English 101 class my sister was concurrently taking at a university and I was definitely was the one learning more and having more fun! It's a lot of work and very challenging, but it is so worth it.
Best English Class EVER!
Posted by Jill Stabolepszy on 05/13/2011First off, I just want to say that if you are struggling with writing and sincerely want to improve, take this class. That was my position at this time last year. My writing lacked much of what it needed to truly be effective and I wanted very badly to improve. I had many fears about taking an AP class, especially in a subject I had learned to detest, but all my fears were relieved. :) By the end of the year I was in love with this English class due mostly to the fact that Mrs. Inspektor did an incredible job of coaching me along. She knew (I'm sure) that writing was not my forte but never told me so outright and continued to be very encouraging with her comments. I learned countless valuable lessons both about life and English through the various assignments I was required to complete. To make this class review a bit easier to work through I'll answer a series of questions below:
To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
Any student who has the desire to learn. Even if you don't particularly like English you can go far with a good attitude. If you are really into English this course is right for you, too! All the book clubs, challenging assignments (Peace Essay), and class interaction could only help a true English student along.
What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
The only prep I would recommend would be extensive reading of good-quality classics. Reading good writing is the first step to writing good writing, in my opinion. Also, taking every opportunity in school to write on interesting and creative topics that will really engage both your reader and yourself is a great idea.
How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
Since this class was very challenging for me I probably spent anywhere from 8 (on an easy week) to 20 hours per week on this class- but it was totally worth it!
To what extent was this class interactive?
It's all up to the student. Each student has the opportunity to get very involved with his/her classmates but it's just as easy to keep to yourself and ignore the interaction going on under your nose. I think the more involved you get the more fun the class is! There is a constant stream of commenting on each other's writing which I found immensely helpful. There's also the famous TPB game - you'll have to take the class to find out what that is! :)
What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
Generally, very honest, constructive, and encouraging feedback. I never got one nasty comment- always truthful (which sometimes meant telling me I totally missed the point of the essay) but always with a spice of encouragement which made revising and learning much easier.
How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
I learned to expand to more genres of classics. I read books I would have never considered before, like Walden or Lord of the Flies. Analyzing them with the class is what made the ideas stick- a great exercise! This class inspired me to add a few more classics to my summer reading list.
What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
Constantly writing essays. The first time I was assigned a timed essay I nearly cried. I didn't know where to start! I'd always taken my time on essays and had never been forced to buckle down and organize myself in 40 minutes- a great exercise in thinking clearly!
Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
Definitely the Peace Essay! I have to say I thoroughly disliked the assignment at first. It was HARD. But, after I started my research and really delved into the topic I learned to love reading up on current events in foreign countries. I still pay more attention to that section of the Wall Street Journal and tend to ignore the US... not sure this is a good thing :) I learned the valuable art of research and using sources to support my arguments and ideas - a skill I hope to never forget.
How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
Extremely well. I felt very confident while taking the exam (after the butterflies left) and didn't get panicky or desperate once. I knew how to pace myself after doing so many practice essays and multiple choice sections which was a priceless skill. Looking around me I realized just how well Mrs. I had prepared us all. I will be ever grateful- no matter what my score is!
I hope my review convinced you to take this course (if you feel like you fit the description). It really is a great opportunity to learn, but you must be ready and willing- just like anything else. Mrs. Inspektor doesn't spoon-feed her students but rather takes them to the edge, pushes them off and tells them to fly. Good luck in your AP endeavor!
Epic class
Posted by Meredith Pochily on 05/13/2011If you're reading this, you're probably wondering what AP lang is all about and whether or not it's a course you want to add to your already hectic life. For me, this is the end of two amazing years of AP English with Mrs. Inspektor. I've enjoyed them immensely and I'm pretty sure if you decide to take AP lang, you won't regret it.
To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
Someone who is hard working, willing to learn, and open to new ideas and perspectives will get a lot out of this class. Ultimately, you get out what you put in, and sometimes doing a little bit of extra work or engaging in a discussion with a classmate can really take your understanding to a whole new level.
What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
It's helpful to have basic writing and composition skills. Mrs. Inspektor doesn't spend a lot of time going over the basics, though there are a few morning messages on grammar and that kind of thing. Most of what you'll need beyond basic skills, though, Mrs. I will teach you.
To what extent was this class interactive?
This is a VERY interactive class. Daily responses to morning messages often involve interaction with classmates (there's a good amount of activity on the board daily, at least). We give each other feedback on discussion questions and essays, sometimes very extensively. Additionally, we form book clubs once every 4-6 weeks and discuss a book with classmates off the class website. It's so much fun to receive feedback from classmates and sometimes there are a few jokes carrying over from book club or OT discussions that go along with comments, which really helps us get to know each other as people with lives and interests of our own. Everyone is supportive, encouraging, and seems devoted to helping you improve. The interaction does take extra time, but it's really something that makes the class more enjoyable. I've learned an incredible amount from my classmates this year and we got into some really thought-provoking discussions. As in any class, you become more connected with certain students, but the class really is a big group of friends and I know I will be keeping in touch with a lot of my classmates over the summer and beyond.
What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
In addition to the feedback we got from classmates, Mrs. Inspektor graded and commented on nearly all of our work. Her comments were detailed and REALLY helpful. She's really dedicated to helping you improve, and if you put in the time, you will.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
On average, I would say I put in 1-2 hours a day on AP lang. It took me longer to complete the work for AP lit, and I'm not sure if that's because lit is more difficult or if I just wasn't as good at managing my time last year. Either way, plan to leave 2-3 hours a day at the beginning of the year until you get into the flow of assignments. There is usually an essay or some kind of writing assignment to do over the weekend (due Sunday night) and often some reading, too. The weeks (ok, months) when we were working on our peace essays, I DEFINITELY spent more time on lang, at least 5 or 6 hours on some days. That said, there were certainly days when I only worked on lang for 30 minutes.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The Peace Essay. It was by far the most challenging and most memorable assignment of the year. Each of us worked to submit an essay in the National Peace Essay Contest sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace. While the essay itself was limited to only 1,500 words, I ended up with I think 47 endnotes and a long list of works cited that included government documents, speeches, and news articles. The range of skills I learned through the project was amazing; I not only conquered MS Word's obstinate endnote formatting, but also learned how to really dive into a subject I knew next to nothing about, educate myself, and apply that knowledge in an effective way. More than that, the peace essay taught me to look at the world in a new way. We did a role-playing activity to better understand the issues we were writing about and I worked outside of the class to edit essays with several classmates, which was a great way to get to know them better. Everyone was so eager to help everyone else succeed. During the time we were writing our peace essays and polishing our submissions, we followed some of the on-going global conflicts. I realized that this assignment went way beyond our classroom and way beyond the contest. We were very successful in the contest, though, and I'll be traveling to DC to meet six of my other classmates for a week-long awards program through USIP.
I also really enjoyed reading Hunger of Memory by Richard Rodriguez and exploring nonfiction works. It wasn't something I'd ever done on this level and discussing the works and their content with my classmates was great.
How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
I took the exam yesterday and went in knowing exactly what to expect. At the beginning of the year, it may seem crazy to write a coherent, insightful essay in 40 minutes, but by exam day, you'll have done so many practice essays, the real thing won't feel any different. Mrs. Inspektor assigned us six multiple choice sections and at least fifteen essays for practice, and she gives really helpful comments to help each of us improve. She also posts morning messages on multiple choice strategies, terms, and the "inner workings" of each essay question on the exam.
(For those of you who do decide to take this class next year: don't panic if you're having a hard time with the MC sections in CliffsAP (our study book). The questions are generally MUCH harder than the ones on the real exam. And, go over your wrong answers after you take the practice tests. I didn't do it enough last year in AP lit and my MC scores were pretty stagnant throughout the year. This year I took the time to analyze each of my wrong answers on every practice test and I really noticed improvement. It's completely worth the extra time.)
Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
Take. It. Yes, it's a lot of work, and yes, there will be days when you're completely overwhelmed (peace essay...). But you will learn so much, gain a whole new level of confidence in yourself, and meet a group of amazing people. Mrs. Inspektor is the most caring, understanding, dedicated, and completely epic teacher you could ever ask for. In so many ways, she makes the class what it is and it's largely because of her that it impacts so many students in such positive ways. One of the most noticeable (and probably valuable) things I've learned in my two years of AP English with Mrs. Inspektor is how to really dissect and edit my work and others' work. I have a new understanding of what makes writing good, and how writing really works.
Best of luck in your decision. I couldn't recommend this class more highly.
~Meredith
A great class that really developed my writing skills
Posted by Dustin Nelson on 05/13/2011- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor--Definitely worth taking!!
Posted by Thomas Nath on 05/13/2011- To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
- What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
- How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
- To what extent was this class interactive?
- What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
- What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
- Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
- How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
- Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
A Great Class
Posted by Mark Olsen on 05/12/2011Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely. Mrs. Inspektor does a wonderful job of preparing her students for the test. Her valuable feedback and comments help steer you in the right direction.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I spent between 7 and 8 hours a week per week. During the Peace Essay, an extremely fun project, I spent more.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
There were three larger projects during the year that were fun. The Literacy Narrative, Peace Essay, and "Place" Essay were extremely fun. They provided a "break" from the focused test studying.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
This class definitely increased my interest in the subject. Not only did I learn more about rhetoric and the english language, I learned about its applications.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
Communicating with other students was both valuable and fun. The communications help ease the natural awkwardness that can surface when you don't see your classmates face to face. They're also a great way of studying.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
A student interested in writing would do very well in this class. Personally, the class has helped my writing style, technique, and speed. I would absolutely recommend this class to others!
I'm glad it's over, but I'm glad I took it.
Posted by Grace Garner on 05/12/2011The kind of student who is willing to work like crazy. I did not want to take this class. At all. But I decided to anyway because I knew I needed to work on my writing skills. I enjoy creative writing, but other kinds? Blah. This course was incredibly challenging, and every single week, usually every day, sometimes more than once a day, I would chant in my head, "I HATE this! I HATE this!" However, I would like to make it clear that this is only because of the person I am: I just don't like the material. I was taking a very difficult class on a subject I didn't enjoy. However, Mrs. Inspektor is an incredible teacher, and I actually did find myself enjoying the assignments every once in a while.
The more experience you have in critical reading and writing, the less overwhelming it will be. However, it is not necessary to be an expert in this area. Mrs. Inspektor will be able to teach you, no matter how bad at reading and writing you are, so long as you're willing to put the work in! I knew the basics of essay-writing, and I read a lot, and this course was still very hard.
That varied. Sometimes it only took me an hour, but frequently it took me two or three hours a day, or even longer (especially when working on our Peace Essays...OH. MY. WORD.). In general, I would say it averaged out to about 10 hours a week, sometimes as much as 15.
I don't have any other AP courses to compare it to, so I'm not sure. However, we were frequently commenting on each other's work, making recommendations, and each student participated in book clubs. It also was not uncommon for a student to post a random thing on the message board, from an article slightly related to a recent assignment, to posting funny videos. (This was not distracting, as it only happened every once in a while. I just thought I would mention it because it shows how we all became friends in this course.)
We always got comments on our essays from other students. It was encouraging to see how they went through the same things and to get suggestions about how they overcame the problem, or visa versa. And then of course Mrs. Inspektor commented and graded on almost everything as well.
I think I'm better at absorbing and lightly analyzing things as I read them now, though I still prefer to just plunk down and read the thing, absorbing what I can from them without thinking about it too hard. I will be able to use marginalia when need be, though.
Oh goodness. The main challenge? Everything. I had practically zero experience in this kind of writing before this class. The essays were frustrating--it took me a long time to get out of my automatic informal voice. And the multiple choice tests? Yikes. I have always hated those. I tend to think differently from other people, and I was always getting these things wrong. Discussion questions? My worst nightmare. I elaborate below.
This may sound strange, and I think many of my students will probably say the Peace Essay contest, but for me, the most memorable happened way back at the beginning of the year. Mrs. Inspektor instructed us to write our own discussion question.
TERROR.
PANIC.
MAYHEM.
I burst into tears. I'm usually not the emotional type, but I actually ended up throwing the dignified (I hope) version of a two-year-old FIT. I was actually screaming (quietly) and pounding my fists on the bed. I had ALWAYS had trouble with discussion questions before. I attend a Literature Discussion Group, and I always had trouble contributing anything. I could take someone else's idea and elaborate it, but come up with my own? Never.
This is memorable, because I don't blink twice at writing and responding to discussion questions now. At the most, it'll take me two minutes to come up with one. Usually it's more like twenty seconds.
Everything in this class helped prepare me, because I was so pitifully unprepared. I was bad at almost everything (except the two creative-type essays we wrote. Woot woot!), and I was thinking I would be extremely lucky to get a four on the exam. Now, I'm expecting at least a four, and I'm fairly confident that I'll get a five. And this is a score on a subject I do. not. enjoy.
No. Not at all. It did make me enjoy the material more though. Yes, there is a difference. This enjoyment comes from the fact that I actually can do this. It's always more fun to do something when you know what you're doing, as opposed to doing it when you're just guessing.
Mrs. Inspektor is wonderful. I unjustly got mad at her several times in the year, simply because of the challenging assignments she posted that I didn't feel like doing. But like the first DQ I wrote, these challenging assignments prepared me, and I'm so glad she assigned them. (I'm also glad this class is over now...FREEEDOOOM!) I sent her several emails throughout the year, sometimes asking specific questions about something I had trouble with, and sometimes just to complain and rant and beg for help. She always answered me with tips and encouragement, and she usually answered me quickly. (Living halfway across the world, sometimes the questions I sent in the afternoon got to her in the middle of the night, so I wouldn't get her answers until the next day. But that's hardly her fault.)
Do you desperately need to get better at this? Or do you just need to enhance the amazing skills you already have *pointed look at select classmates*? Take this. It works both ways!
- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
I felt this course maximized my potential to succeed on the AP exam, but I definitely had to motivate myself to study the extra mile! - How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I spent up to two hours most days, at least five days a week.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The most valuable assignment for me was definitely the Peace Essay. This essay pushed me out of my comfort zone and dramatically expanded my world view.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I walked into this course with a strong dislike for writing, but left with a definite appreciation for it. Mrs. Inspektor completely transformed my perspective by showing me how powerful words can be.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
I was constantly intrigued by the various insights of my classmates. I learned nearly as much from the other students as I did from the course itself!
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would recommend this course to students who are very motivated to boost their writing and analytical skills. This course incorporates more writing than any other english class I've taken, but certainly does not exclude students who struggle with writing.
Mrs. Inspektor is a superb teacher, period.
Posted by Rachel Garner on 05/12/2011I've taken both of Mrs. Inspektor's classes (AP English Literature and AP English Language--and yes, I did them backwards because I'm weird like that), and I can't remember why I didn't post a Lit. review last time. Probably procrastination.
Anyway, both years I had a fantastic time. I think AP English Language was easier (I certainly spent far less time on it EXCEPT for the intensive Peace Essay time) than Lit, but I'm not sure if the contest was actually easier, or if I liked it better, or if I was just used to taking online classes, and online classes from her, so I budgted time better. I'd say it took one to two hours a day on the heavy days, and then even less than that a couple of times a week. I did often go into Saturday or Sunday for assignments, but that was my procrastination at work again.
During some of the weeks while we were doing the peace essays (a fabulous assignment, by the way) I spent several hours over weekends working on it. I didn't realize how MUCH I needed to do until sort of late in the game, though, so it CAN be spread out a little better. Here's my advice on that: THE PEACE ESSAY IS A BIG DEAL. START STUDYING EARLY!! That should just about fix that issue for ya.
I write novels, so critical essay writing isn't exactly my strong suit (I basically took my first crash course in how to write an essay, period, when I took AP Lit). I liked how Mrs. Inspektor incorporated some more creative assignments into the syllubus, like the location essay and literacy narrative (my personal favourite). I also liked that though we DID drill for the exam (you write a *lot* of 40-minute essays!), we also did some things (like the peace essay) that were a little more slow, thoughtful, and realistic. (I mean, how often in real life do you have to write an essay in 40 minutes?) Because of the mixture of the fun (creative) the really thoughtful (peace essay, discussion questions) and the drill both of the classes I've taken have both grown me as a student and prepared me for the exam. The realistic application part is really good for me, because I HATE doing things without practical application! (WHY study for a stupid standardized test when real life is never like that?! AGH!!! See, told you I was weird.)
I really need to cut the parenthesis here...
There was a pretty big difference in class interactions, I thought, between my year in Lit and my year in Lang. I'm not sure if this is always the case, but Lang had about 15 or 20 students more and that really changed it for me. I got close to lots of my fellow Lit students (I think it did help that there were a lot of novel-writers in that one), but didn't really start connecting with Lang students until the last couple of months.
The reason for this, though: book clubs. I LOVE the book clubs (they're in both classes, too!). I just had a great last one, where we read Shakespeare aloud and then discussed it. It was a ton of fun, and educational too. (Well, I hope. Still haven't gotten my grade on that documentation...) So, though the class was friendly and helpful, the way to really get close to other students in this class beyond simple name recognition is through the book clubs.
There seemed to be all sorts of students in this class, but I'm sure that the ones who did well really did work hard. It was easier for me than Lit, but it's definitely not a fluffy class.
I also had a bit of a rough/exciting year, and had to leave town a lot and play catch-up with assignments, but Mrs. Inspektor was very gracious about it all. I wasn't quite the more stellar-like student that I (think) I was in Lit, but she worked around me and my schedules and still taught me a lot; I really appreciate that. That said, I DON'T suggest falling behind. It could get messy quite fast!
I did come into this class knowing I was interested in things like politics and economics, but I think the peace essay assignment highlighted this as well...I liked how this class talked about deeper issues than Lit. It's hard to explain, but it comes down to practical application again. After several months of Lit I was about to go batty with how closely one looks for symbolism and stuff in literary works, and just about fed up with "literary works" in general. In AP Lang, it really hit the broader ISSUES, the real stuff that actually can matter and change lives: worldviews, politics, rascism, government, that sort of thing. I really enjoyed this aspect. I really liked just about everything we read, as well.
And, of course, the exam. I mentioned it before, but I went into this very confident. Not exactly that I would get a 5...but that I had been prepared extremely well, and would do the best that I could do on the exam. Hardly any nerves!
I think anyone who takes either of these classes (I really do have to plug AP Lit. Great class!) really can go into the exam extremely prepared...but also a fuller, more thoughtful person. It's not JUST exam prep, but you have plenty of it. Great combination.
I can't think of how to sign off of this, so I'll just say...this is a great class, but mostly because of its great teacher, which of course makes her other class great as well. I'm sorry that she doesn't have any classes for me to take next year!
Research and Peace Essays and AP Lang exams, oh my!
Posted by Justin Banda on 05/12/2011I loved this class! I would recommend this class to the student who loves writing but wants to hone his or her skills. A student interested in taking this class should be well-read and familiar with more advanced words. In my own preparation, I spent about seven or eight hours a week (on average; sometimes more, sometimes less) on coursework, so it is somewhat time-intensive.
I found Mrs. Inspektor's class to be very interactive (perhaps more interactive than 'real-time' classes), and the students were engaging and talented. We (the students) grade each others' work and offer suggestions before we submit our final drafts. These critiques are both helpful and insightful in that they offered the advantage of a fresh perspective that the original writer might not have had.
Throughout this class, we read from famous and not-so-famous writers such as Amy Tan, David Sedaris, Richard Rodriguez, and Henry Thoreau, and this helped us grow in our understanding of language and how it relates to the world at large. This tied in to my main challenge in this class, which was understanding why we use the English language in the ways that we do.
My most memorable assignment from this class was our Peace Essay assignment, in which Mrs. Inspektor guided us for two months in the creation, writing, and perfection of our entries into the USIP's annual Peace Essay contest. This year, thirteen of Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lang students placed, and seven of us took top honors (including me). The sheer length and effort required by this assignment astonished me; it is for this reason that I will always remember this assignment when looking back on my time in Mrs. Inspektor's class.
I suppose the more pressing question a reader might want to know is how this class prepared me for the AP Lang exam. Having taken the exam yesterday, I can guarantee that this class will help boost your (or your child's) preparedness. When I went into the testing room, I overheard a great majority of the students in the class talking about how the test was so intimidating; later, after the test ended, many of those same students were complaining about how difficult it was, and some even mentioned that they had 'thrown' the test (that is, not finished or put any effort into it).
I, on the other hand, felt perfectly at ease because unlike the other students in the room that day, Mrs. Inspektor had been drilling us with complete tests from previous years. Thus, when I saw the actual test, I actually thought to myself, "Hey, I know this!" It was a wonderful feeling of preparedness that only comes from hard work beforehand.
In conclusion, if you're willing to put forth the effort this class requires, you can succeed. However, if you aren't willing to work hard, there isn't much this class (or any other class) can do for you. Mrs. Inspektor is an amazing teacher, and she will do everything in her power to make you ace the exam and the Peace Essay contest (which she makes us do from November through January). If you work hard, you'll end up having a lot of fun. I loved this class, and I highly recommend it.
Highly Recommended
Posted by Grace Hall on 05/12/2011- To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
I would recommend this class to a student who can work really hard. They need to have a lot of self motivation and be willing to sacrifice a good chunk of time per day.
- What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
Students don't need that much preparation. They just need to have an understanding of the English language and be able to write and read at college level.
- How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
Hmmm, it depended. When we did the Peace Essay I swear I worked like 30 hours or more.
- To what extent was this class interactive?
It's pretty interactive. Students grade each others work. Mrs. Inspektor makes the classroom, well like a real classroom.
- What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
In the beginning I needed to work a lot harder to get the grade I wanted. The feedback was helpful, but you must be able to take it that way. If you take the feedback the wrong way, and feel attacked by Mrs. Inspektor's critiques you'll never improve. She's a tough grader =).
- How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
I definitely understand literature more this year than I ever have. Mrs. Inspektor was able to teach us certain strategies authors use and helped explain to us why they were used and how to use the strategies ourselves. The satire essay comes to mind.
- What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
The main challenge I faced while taking this class was being able to manage my time. Sometimes you just have to turn something in not so perfect because there is never enough time to make it perfect.
- Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
I loved the place essay. It was a more creative assignment where we were able to choose a place to describe, but the place also had a second meaning. I had so much fun crafting it, and it showed because I got my first and only perfect score on an essay....well besides my bio and Strunk and White Notes at the beginning of the year (but those don't really count).
- How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
Mrs. Inspektor gave us a lot of review. We had to write so many practice essays, it was helpful though because it showed me what I needed to work on for the AP English Exam. We also did a lot of multiple choice practice, however I just have to say that the Cliffs AP questions are so much more confusing than the actual College Board M.C. questions.
- Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
This class was really helpful. You could tell Mrs. Inspektor was dedicated to her work throughout the entire year. She's a great teacher. I recommend this class to kids who are willing to reach high. Don't think of this class as just another class I have to take to get into college or to get college credit. Think of it as an opportunity for self-improvement. Remember you only get as much out as you put in.
Wow!
Posted by Evelyn Baert on 05/12/2011Mrs. Inspektor is an amazing teacher. Enough said. I entered this class with a vendetta against writing, and in hope of changing my opinion. I was well aware that many of my fellow classmates would already have a love for writing, and it was my plan to feed off their energy and develop my own relationship with it. Needless to say, the transformation occurred somewhere between September and May. The effort Mrs. Inspektor put into making us better writers is evident. The Peace Essay (although I despised it the time), the weekly essays, and, of course, the wonderful DQ's, all contributed to my transformation. I can now honestly say that I love writing. I still can't believe these are my own words.
I am still in awe that I didn't kick and scream during the learning process, but I really shouldn't be. While I didn't spend more than twelve hours a week working on the assignments, I am sure Mrs. Inspektor put in many more. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I breezed through this class, but I certainly wasn't bogged down by the work load. In fact, Mrs. Inspektor's setup makes this class a perfect first AP. It was mine, and I now feel ready to move onto more.
My classmates also made this course a blast. Although, I am convinced that we'd still be pretty distant if it weren't for the numerous book clubs. Interacting with many of the students over Skype or G-chat brought the mere names on the screen to life. For the last book club of the year, I was a member of really great group. We got to know each other a little too well, but the best part is that we'll all be together next year in Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit class. It's incredible how bonds of friendship can develop in an online course. Everyone keeps each other going.
By the time the AP Exam rolled around, the motivation was electric. We all seemed to know that we were more prepared than prepared. This test was simply going to be like another one of the practice exams. For the first time, in my life, I was not overly nervous for an upcoming event. Of course I still had some jitters, but they were more excitement related. Without a doubt, I would recommend this course to any student with an interest in English language or with a desire to become a better writer…like me.
Well, student...
Posted by Matthew Kilgore on 06/01/2010Hello student,
If you are reading this, you probably want to know whether or not Mrs. Inspektor's AP English Language class is right for you. Naturally, I am going to argue that it is. What may surprise you, student, is that I will not do so via words—I will do so via a silly animation:
‼ERR: UNRECOGNIZED FILE TYPE‼
Hmm… Perhaps a different medium is in order. *brainstorms* Ah-ha! Here is a small quiz that will determine whether or not this class is right for you:
1) Do you want a teacher who ____?
a) gives you undivided attention, encouragement, and help
b) gives you some attention
c) ignores you
2) Do you want a class that ____?
a) trains you extensively with countless practice essay
b) lets you take the exam without knowing what a synthesis essay is
c) tricks you into taking the exam without knowing what an essay is
3) Do you want a class that ____?
a) reads and then discusses classic literary essays such as George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant"
b) assigns dull readings from an old English textbook
c) assigns even duller readings from an old English textbook
4) Do you want a class that ____?
a) reads and then discusses classic literary books such as Helen Keller's The Story of My Life
b) discusses modern literary books you've never heard of
c) assigns no readings
5) Do you want a class that ____?
a) teaches you how to skillfully pass the MCQ portion of the exam by taking six practice sections
b) lets you take the exam without knowing that there is an MCQ portion
c) doesn't even tell you there's an exam
6) Do you want a class that ____?
a) has you write a contemplative essay for the National Peace Essay Contest
b) has you write dull essay prompts
c) has you write dull essay prompts AND gives your computer a virus by sending you to unsafe websites to retrieve said prompts
7) Do you want a class that ____?
a) ultimately prepares you for the AP Exam
b) barely prepares you for the AP Exam
c) gives you a heart attack from pre-test anxiety
If, student, you mostly chose a's, Mrs. Inspektor's AP English Language class is right for you! If you did not, reassess you values!
Excellente!
Posted by Sara Jo Luecke on 05/31/2010- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Absolutely! Before taking this class, timed essays were a nightmare to me! However, the many practice essays we did, along with other assignments, thoroughly prepared me. By the time I was sitting in the exam room staring at the essay prompts, I didn't even feel stressed! (Which is major for me! :))
- To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
To any student interested in improving their reading/writing skills, and who is willing to work very hard!
- How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
I probably spent around 1-2 hours a day on English – more when we were working on a big assignment. It probably took me more time initially, because I tend to be a very slow writer (not to mention a worry-wart! :) However, the weekly DQs really helped me with this, and as I became more familiar with what was expected and more comfortable with developing and communicating my ideas, I found that I was able to write much more quickly!
- To what extent was this class interactive?
This class was VERY interactive! Nearly every day I responded to either a Morning Message or to my classmates' writing. In fact, this aspect was one of my favorite parts of the class! The opportunity to discuss ideas with other students was invaluable, and getting to know all my classmates was just plain fun! :) Everyone was very respectful and helpful – I really couldn't have asked for a better class atmosphere!
- What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
Feedback from both Mrs. Inspektor and my classmates was extremely helpful! I think it takes a little time to get used to giving other students feedback (at least it did for me!), but you get more comfortable with it. The feedback I got from other students was pretty much always very positive, but at the same time they often pointed out ways to improve that were very helpful. Mrs. Inspektor's comments, however, were beyond helpful – they were always SO encouraging (she never forgets to tell you what you did well!), while at the same time pointing out very specific ways to improve and giving extremely helpful advice! I learned SO much about writing just through her comments on my own writing!
- How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
I've always been a very avid reader who enjoys reading classics and literature. However, I had a tendency to just devour books as quickly as possible, rather than taking the time to really digest them and understand the full meaning. I especially enjoyed the book clubs we did throughout the year – I learned to really analyze what I was reading, and the opportunity to read other students' ideas and perspectives was very valuable (and enjoyable!)!
- What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
I would say the toughest part is the time commitment. Mrs. Inspektor packs an incredible amount of material into this course, and assignments are typically on a daily basis, so it's a lot to keep up with. However, Mrs. Inspektor is very flexible about students working ahead or making up assignments, and the time investment is definitely well worth it!
- Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
I would say the National Peace Essay assignment was the most memorable – and most difficult! The time involved in researching, compiling, writing, (and then condensing what I wrote!) was extensive, and I stressed over it quite a bit. However, it was definitely worth it, as I gained invaluable skills and experience in the process!
- How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
The most "direct" preparation that we did for the exam involved taking MANY timed practice tests (both multiple choice sections and essays), which really helped me, as they made the time constraints on the actual exam seem MUCH less daunting! However, I really think that pretty much every assignment we had in this class helped prepare me for the AP exam! For example, I became much more comfortable with reading and analyzing different types of essays, and the weekly discussion questions that we did really helped me with learning how to answer a prompt or question clearly and logically (and – relatively speaking-- quickly!).
- Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
In case you couldn't tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this class, and learned SO much from it! If you take this class, I think it's pretty much a given that you too will learn more about reading and writing than you ever thought possible -- and probably enjoy it, too! ;)
Review of a superb English class
Posted by Adam Booher on 05/31/2010Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Yes, I felt grounded in the basics of language, rhetoric, and argumentation, and I also felt quite comfortable with the test format. On the actual exam that I took, the multiple choice section was a good bit easier than the Cliff's practice sections that we used in the class (this seems to be a general trend when comparing AP English exams and Cliff's), although I was surprised that the essay section was almost as difficult as the Cliff's. The only aspect of class exam preparation that I feel could have been improved was for more of the practice essays to have had a strict time limit (however, this could just be a reflection of my need to speed up my naturally slow and thoughtful pace of writing).
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
At the beginning of the course, I found the assignments quite challenging, and I sometimes put in three or four hours of work per day, but that time was quickly reduced after the first few weeks.
In a normal week, I usually spent 1.5 to 2 hours a day on English, although if there was a big assignment, I might spend 3 hours. I put in a lot of overtime work on the Peace Contest essay but the extra time was worth the enjoyment and knowledge that the assignment brought.
In general, I found the amount of work to be heavy but manageable, although it was sometimes hard to complete each daily assignment on the day it was assigned.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I especially enjoyed reading so many great essays and books. We read many short essays by numerous well-known writers and we also read works like Helen Keller's The Story of My Life or Henry David Thoreau's Walden. Another favorite assignment of mine was the book clubs where groups of students would choose a book to read and discuss over the course of about 5 or 6 weeks. Not only did the extensive readings help develop our critical reading and thinking skills, but they also exposed us to a wide variety of literature that we might not have otherwise been exposed to.
Discussion assignments in which students interacted on the site were enjoyable and valuable—everyone was kind and thought-provoking in their responses, and discussing readings or topics with other students led to a broader understanding of the subject than if one student had thought about it by himself.
There were also some fun essay assignments. We wrote creative essays about literacy and creative essays about different places, we wrote an introduction/review to Keller's autobiography, and we studied extensively on nonviolent protest and wrote research papers to enter into the United States Institute of Peace essay contest. Each of these essay assignments was a growing experience that encouraged us to develop in various ways as writers while also requiring us to think about relevant topics or issues.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
Definitely! I did not really like writing before I took this course, but I now enjoy expressing myself through words, and I care about continuing to develop as a writer. I credit Mrs. Inspektor and this course with awakening a dormant love for writing that I didn't realize I possessed.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
The online communication was completely new for me. Although I had never interacted online other than via email, though, I really enjoyed the camaraderie that developed between the students. All of the classmates were great: everyone worked hard and was encouraging, thoughtful, and helpful. It was really neat how a group of diverse students from all over the country bonded so well together and helped each other grow as thinkers and writers.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
I would definitely recommend this course to everyone! However, only the students with a strong work ethic and desire to learn will find the course useful or enjoyable. The students in this class work hard and get results. Mrs. Inspektor is tough, but she personally cares for each of her students and wants to see everyone succeed. Although the environment is quite rigorous, it is an environment in which learning and growth are prioritized and achieved.
Pennsylvania Homeschoolers' AP English Language and Composition course not only prepared me for the exam, but also equipped me with writing skills which will prove invaluable in college. I learned how to analyze literature, craft strong arguments, and improve the style and structure of my writing. The writing assignments were varied and challenging, which stretched my writing experience and ability to write using different techniques.
AP English Language with Mrs. Inspektor was one of the best classes I have ever taken. By the time May came around, I could not have felt more ready for the AP exam. The assignments I did in the class was practice for everything on the test. Even though I had never seen the test before, it felt as though it was familiar. All the practice exams and essays made the real thing seem like just another assignment. That said, this class is not for the faint of heart. The assignments are completed on a daily basis unless otherwise noted. Also, sometimes assignments have follow-ups the day or two afterword. So there is little room for slacking in completing work on time. In the case of being behind, Mrs. Inspektor was very generous about handing in assignments late. Taking this course will be a very large time commitment. The assignments are numerous and difficult; not something that can be completed quickly. However, if you are willing to put time and effort into the class and be dilligent about it, the rewards will be great.
To take AP English Language and Composition with Mrs. Inspektor or not to take it?
Posted by Connor Perkins on 05/19/2010To take AP English Language and Composition with Mrs. Inspektor or not to take it? That was the question running through my mind last spring, and it probably is the question running through yours now. Fortunately, I went with the former choice, and I hope you will too.
If ever there was a course to take that will prepare you completely for a corresponding AP exam, this is it! While this subject matter comes somewhat easily to me, at the AP level simple knack isn't enough. Due to Mrs. Inspektor's amazing class, the AP Lang exam was about the easiest test I've ever taken. This course thoroughly prepared me for the AP exam, and combined with a little bit of effort, AP Lang success is within reach of all.
An interesting facet of this course that I wish I had recognized before I took the class is that this class is based on daily, rather than weekly, assignments. Occasionally this was problematic for me, but Mrs. Inspektor was fabulous in allowing me to work ahead or catch up a day or two later. I think I probably spent an average of an hour a day on this class--6 hours a week on average with a couple exceptions for larger projects--until maybe a couple days before the test, when I did a few more practice tests. Really, though, I didn't have to do a ton of studying outside assignments.
My favorite assignment was the research paper we wrote and submitted to the United States Institute of Peace for its national peace essay contest. Perhaps this is too much a retrospective opinion, as I won the state of Missouri and will be going on an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., along with a couple of my classmates, for the national event. But even without this reward, the experience was invaluable. I had the opportunity to research international affairs and connect different ideas and methods of thinking that I had never thought through before. The process of writing this essay was by far the highlight of my year in the class.
I have always loved English, and this course heightened that interest. The several in-class book clubs gave me the opportunity to pursue reading fiction that I may not have chosen to read otherwise but that I greatly enjoyed.
The other students in AP Lang 2010 were terrific. I had a lot of fun with them--it was a class with quite a sense of humor--but it was also genuinely kind-hearted. A regular assignment was posting responses to others work, and such responses were almost invariably kind and beneficial. My classmates were excellent at speaking the truth in love.
If you are willing to work hard, take this class! Mrs. Inspektor is a wonderful teacher. At the end of the year, my classmates put together a list of adjectives to describe Mrs. Inspektor; just a few of those that I would echo include motivating, supportive, patient--a very noble trait for an English teacher grading 30 essays a week--and, ultimately, awesome. I greatly appreciate the sacrifice Mrs. Inspektor made for me in this class, and I would urge anyone and everyone who is willing to work hard to take AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor!
How then can there be any question in your mind as to whether to take this class?
Connor G. Perkins
The Best English Class Ever!!!!!!!!!! :D
Posted by Linea Piraino on 05/19/2010- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
Mrs. Inspektor did everything in her power to prepare her students for the exam. Throughout the year we critically examined three different works: The Story of My Life by Helen Keller, Hunger of Memory by Richard Rodriguez, and Walden by Henry David Thoreau. These books helped a lot with reading rhetorical analysis and becoming a better critical thinker. The DQs especially helped put this into practice. The range of assignments that were demanded in this course is tough but very valuable and helpful. Mrs. Inspektor gave us essay prompts from previous AP exams we had to respond to and made us complete at least six MCQs, which gave me all the practice I needed in order to feel confident on exam day.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
It depended on how much assignments I had in that week. During the first half of the year, I would say an hour and a half each day. In the beginning of the second semester, when we had to write our research papers for an entry to the United States Institute of Peace Essay Competition, I had to spend at least 2 hours a day working on this research paper. Things started to become more intense for me during the second semester since test day was approaching quickly, so I continued to spend at least two hours a day, including weekends, taking practice MCQ and essays.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
The Peace Essay definitely!! Not only has this assignment sharpened by argument skills, but also gave me insight of the world around me. I was so interested about history's approach to non-violence (the topic for this year's competition) and what it took to achieve peace in that area. This also helped with the synthesis essay I had to write for the exam, which was a "mini-research paper." Mrs. Inspektor made this class enjoyable by also assigning us to write creative essays, such as the literary narrative and place essay. This taught me the tools you need to produce a strong revision and "omit needless words!"( E.B White's motto. You'll hear that a lot when you take this course) ;) - Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? I always had a love for the English Language, and by taking this class it has enhanced my love for English even more! I have a different approach to the different issues I face or the different books I read because of the skills I have developed from this course.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? This is a very interactive course. The Discussion Questions I had with my classmates was interesting and enjoyable since we discussed a range of issues from the essays in The Writer's Presence about once a week. We had book clubs once a month which was a great opportunity to grow closer to my classmates and enjoy
reading classic literature. The interaction was not only interesting but also very valuable. Their responses to my essays were thoughtful and extremely helpful. Sometimes I would read through exemplary essays to see how I can bring in the same strengths into my essay writing. My classmates were always there for support and never ceased to making this class enjoyable and fun. - What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)? The first thing a student must be to enjoy this class is to be an avid reader. This class not only demands a lot of reading assignments, but also strongly encourages students to respond to readings with empathy and an open mind. This really is essential for a student to do well in this class. He must allow himself to develop his critical thinking and argument skills. To do well in this course a student must also be open to developing his writing skills as well. Though it isn't essential for a student to have a passion for writing to do well in this class, he must want to become a better writer and work hard to achieve that goal. From my experience I have always loved writing and reading, but I knew that I needed some work. This class was exactly what I needed in motivating me to develop my skills and enhance my love for English.
Class Review
Posted by Sarah Wittenberg on 05/19/2010This was a terrific class! When I got to the exam, I knew exactly what to expect on the test, what to do, and what top essays look like/require. The practice tests Mrs. Inspektor had us take were espescially helpful. When she first assigned a practice test, it was quite daunting at first. But by the end of the year, composing timed essays became next to second nature to me. :) Also, I found the readings Mrs. Inspektor assigned us over the year to be all very interesting and insightful! Though they varied, they each have inspired me to keep striving to be better in my own writing. Depending on the week, I put in between 5 to 10 hours per week for this class. So if a student is willing to put in the time and effort, this class would be beneficial in many many ways! They should also be prepared to meet lots of new and exciting people! :D --I loved getting to know my fellow classmates; it's so much fun to meet students from all over the globe, which is why I love online classes!
Class Review
Posted by Zach Wittenberg on 05/17/2010* To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
I believe Mrs. Inspektor can take any kind of student out there, whether they enjoy English or not. Her class environment will help you excel to places in English you never dreamed possible.
* What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
My guess is my credentials weren't as great as some of my fellow classmates. I think the greatest preparation that a student can have entering this class is the willingness and drive to complete all of Mrs. Inspektor's assignments and belief in the system of teaching she uses. Even though some small things may seem pointless initially, looking back on the school year as a whole, you see how each of those small individually components made a complete masterpiece.
* How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
I ranged from 7-15 hours a week depending on our course load that week. Even though it sounds like an immense amount of work, those hours spent weren't a drag at all.
* To what extent was this class interactive?
This class is VERY interactive. There is a great deal of interaction between Mrs. Inspektor and her students along with students interacting with each other as well. Every morning we would interact with each other in what is called the Morning Message. Pretty much the morning message is Mrs. Inspektor's lesson for the day. Perhaps what I felt was the greatest source of interaction though was fellow students giving feedback to each others' discussion questions and essays. This allowed for a wide range of feedback to help you critique your writing in a variety of ways since many people were viewing your wor.
* What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
As I said up above, the feedback was very helpful because it wasn't just one person giving you feedback. We were all giving each other feedback. And one thing that was great was that there was no negativity towards each other. All the students wanted to make each other better.
* How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
It gave me an appreciation for the wide variety of literature there is out there! Mrs. Inspektor gave us a wide array of pieces of literature from many different eras and the different styles in those respective eras.
* What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
I have a very busy extra-curricular life, so by far and away the toughest challenge was staying on top of the assignments. There was a period where I did fall behind in my coursework, but Mrs. Inspektor was very accommodating and came up with a personal schedule to help get me caught back up.
* Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
My most memorable assignment was the synthesis essay assignment. Mrs. Inspektor introduced us early on to this kind of essay since it is one of the three essays on the AP Exam. But for the assignment itself we got to pick our controversial topic and then we had to collect our own sources to support our claims. I wrote my synthesis essay on the college championship bowl series (BCS) and all the controversy surrounding it.
* How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
The last 2-3 months of the class we focused on preparing for the AP English Language exam. We initially just became used to the nature of the AP Exam. We were slowly building up and getting used to the different kinds of essay questions and multiple choice section, and then we started placing time constraints on ourselves. And when I took the AP Exam, I felt like I was totally prepared for it.
* Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
Fabulously run class! Mrs. Inspektor is very organized and knows how to teach this class. I can't give her enough praise!
Awesome, great class!
Posted by Daniel Luckenbaugh on 05/16/2010Dear fellow English student,
Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lang class is wonderful! It is quite interactive and prepares you well for the AP exam. A lot of essays, most of them from past AP exams, improve your writing skills to AP level. (You might have to practice on your own; I did over spring break, and it paid off). We also completed the multiple-choice tests from all 6 full-length practice tests in CliffsAP's AP Language and Composition book. If you are willing to work hard and spend a lot of time on this class over the course of the whole school year, you should be a good fit. Be prepared for lots of reading and writing. Oh, and sharpen your discussion/debating skills, as we did a lot of discussion.
I did not spend as much time on this class as I did AP U.S. History (APUSH). Time is a big factor in deciding what AP courses to take. If you are also dual enrolling at a college, consider that. On average I probably spent about 8-9 hours a week on this class. Piece of advice: start long reading assignments on the weekend.
Was the class interactive? Oh my word yes! It was my favorite class of the year. My classmates were friendly and humorous :). (For example, I started a thread asking how many of the New Englanders are Patriots fans, being a fan myself, and it became a funny discussion among the whole class). If you want an interactive online class, this could be for you.
Feedback I did not pay much attention to, but nevertheless your classmates can help you. Pay attention to Mrs. Inspektor's feedback, as she is the teacher :).
My most memorable assignment might be the National Peace Essay Competition, but I also enjoyed the Simulation activity. That was probably also the funniest time of the whole year :).
Finally, think about your plan for your classes before deciding on this class. However, this class doesn't take up much time on a daily level (there are exceptions, like for long reading assignments). If you enjoy a lot of reading and writing, or at least are willing to do a lot of it, then seriously consider this class. You'll be well prepared for the AP exam, so you'll have a good chance of earning college credit.
Awesome, great class!
Posted by on 05/16/2010Dear fellow English student,
Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lang class is wonderful! It is quite interactive and prepares you well for the AP exam. A lot of essays, most of them from past AP exams, improve your writing skills to AP level. (You might have to practice on your own; I did over spring break, and it paid off). We also completed the multiple-choice tests from all 6 full-length practice tests in CliffsAP's AP Language and Composition book. If you are willing to work hard and spend a lot of time on this class over the course of the whole school year, you should be a good fit. Be prepared for lots of reading and writing. Oh, and sharpen your discussion/debating skills, as we did a lot of discussion.
I did not spend as much time on this class as I did AP U.S. History (APUSH). Time is a big factor in deciding what AP courses to take. If you are also dual enrolling at a college, consider that. On average I probably spent about 8-9 hours a week on this class. Piece of advice: start long reading assignments on the weekend.
Was the class interactive? Oh my word yes! It was my favorite class of the year. My classmates were friendly and humorous :). (For example, I started a thread asking how many of the New Englanders are Patriots fans, being a fan myself, and it became a funny discussion among the whole class). If you want an interactive online class, this could be for you.
Feedback I did not pay much attention to, but nevertheless your classmates can help you. Pay attention to Mrs. Inspektor's feedback, as she is the teacher :).
My most memorable assignment might be the National Peace Essay Competition, but I also enjoyed the Simulation activity. That was probably also the funniest time of the whole year :).
Finally, think about your plan for your classes before deciding on this class. However, this class doesn't take up much time on a daily level (there are exceptions, like for long reading assignments). If you enjoy a lot of reading and writing, or at least are willing to do a lot of it, then seriously consider this class. You'll be well prepared for the AP exam, so you'll have a good chance of earning college credit.
Awesome AP English Language class!
Posted by Kendra Lady on 05/16/2010- To what kind of student would you recommend this class? Any person who desires to improve his or her writing, analyzing, and English language skills, and who is willing to work hard and learn from his or her mistakes. A fondness for writing is helpful, but not necessary. Chances are, this course will improve your love of writing anyway!
- What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class? A basic review of writing and grammatical skills would be a good idea, as well as practicing reading and analyzing classic books, essays, etc…
- How many hours per week did you spend on your class work? Hmmm….. I honestly didn't keep track of how much time I spent per week on class work. It usually varied week-to-week, but Mrs. Inspektor sent out "Weekly Updates" every Sunday, so my classmates and I had the option of doing work ahead of time. This is a great benefit for students with hectic schedules!
- To what extent was this class interactive? To a great extent! Students will be able to comment on other students' responses to discussion questions, leave feedback on other students' essays, communicate with other students via the main webpage, and even get a chance to grade fellow students' essays. I loved the interaction of the class, and got to know my fellow students (and their writing style) very well.
- What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful? The feedback I received from Mrs. Inspektor and my classmates was extremely helpful. I received plenty of advice on how to strengthen my writing and how to write under a strict time limit. All of the feedback helped me greatly improve my writing skills and taught me to recognize my strengths and weaknesses as a writer.
- How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class? Being exposed to such a wide variety of literature and having the chance to analyze different types of writing helped deepen my understanding of literature and greatly increased my respect for authors of literary works.
- What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class? The main challenge I faced was being able to write a strong, convincing, well-developed essay under a strict time limit. I can be very indecisive at times, so it was often difficult for me to form a strong thesis statement in a short period of time. But thanks to the helpful feedback of Mrs. Inspektor and my awesome classmates, I greatly improved on timed essays as the year went by.
- Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why. Hmmm… Though all the assignments were enjoyable, the most memorable one was probably the National Peace Essay Contest paper. Not only did I learn a HUGE amount about nonviolent civic action, but I also learned a great deal about MLA formatting, citing sources, and the evils of WikipediaJ Though I didn't expect to do well in the contest, I ended up receiving an honorable mention, along with two of my classmates. Also, three of my classmates got first place in their states! This assignment, though time-consuming, was definitely worth the hard work.
- How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam? This course did an INCREDIBLE job of preparing me for the AP exam. Mrs. Inspektor gave us plenty of practice tests, and also provided us with numerous helpful tips on answering multiple choice questions, crafting strong and well-developed essays, and working under time limits. I felt very comfortable when the exam came up.
- Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class: If you are looking for a way to improve your writing skills and deepen your understanding of literature, TAKE THIS CLASS! Mrs. Inspektor is an incredible teacher, and I guarantee you will learn soooooooo much!
The Best AP English Class in the World!
Posted by Allee Keener on 05/13/2010To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
This class is superb for any type of student but especially those who love the English language. In this class, you'll be challenged to think and write critically as you analyze new concepts and compare notes with your classmates. Students who love a challenge but also love to have fun—this is your class! :)
What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
Before taking this class, I'd recommend that students have a history of loving to write. You write a lot! ;) Also, it would be beneficial for prospective students to have read a few classics.
How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
Hours varied depending on the week, anywhere from five to fifteen hours. Fifteen hours may seem daunting, but the material is very interesting. The material that we worked with was intriguing. I looked forward to working on my AP homework each day.
To what extent was this class interactive?
This class is very interactive! Every morning, you interact with your classmates on the WWW Board; and each week, you are reading and responding to your classmate's work. Peer interaction is the foundation of this course.
What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
My classmate's were very helpful in encouraging me to continue writing. Their comments motivated me to improve my drafts on each project. The most helpful comments I received, however, were from Mrs. Inspektor. I've never had a teacher who was so thorough in her comments. She carefully reads and critiques each student's work and helps each individual become the best writer he can be. I appreciated Mrs. Inspektor's enthusiasm about my work. Her positivity and intelligence spurred me to improve and increased my love for writing.
How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
This course gave me a greater appreciation for literature. I've discovered that literature is intriguing and surprisingly diverse. Learning about each author's voice, tone, and style has helped me to understand each book that I read in greater detail.
What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
The greatest challenge I faced during this class was the National Peace Essay Contest. I specifically focused on the Madagascar Presidential Elections in 2001 and the Iranian elections in 2009. Researching these events and synthesizing a conclusion based on my findings was difficult and time consuming, but completing the assignment was one of the most rewarding projects all year…and great for college applications. I received an Honorable Mention for New York State. My parents and I were very happy about that. ;)
Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
The assignment I found most memorable was actually the first essay we completed in September. Mrs. Inspektor asked us to write a creative essay about why we write. Why do I, Allee Keener, write? This essay forced me to question and discover my purpose and voice as a writer. It laid a foundation for the rest of my work throughout the year.
How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
Mrs. Inspektor did a fabulous job preparing us for the AP exam. Writing and reading throughout the year challenged me and increased my understanding overall. Also, we completed an extensive and more focused preparation for the exam, practicing timed essays and critical reading passages and questions. I felt more than prepared for the AP exam in May.
Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
This class is so much fun! Yes, you will learn A LOT, and you will work hard. However, we have fun. Mrs. Inspektor always surprised me with unexpected humor and surprises that kept me on my feet. I would highly recommend this class. This has been the most beneficial class I've taken in high school.
My Experience with AP English Language
Posted by Dane Keil on 05/12/2010- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
This course absolutely prepared me for what I faced on the exam.
- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
I'd say I put approximately ten hours into the course each week, probably more.
- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
I enjoyed every assignment that I was tasked, specifically the essays.
- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
I was already interested in the subject before the class, but the class certainly heightened my skill at writing.
- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
I was very happy with the comments and communications that I received from the other students.
- What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
A student who has a passion for writing and is willing to work hard would excel at this course and the exam.
AP English Language
Posted by Alec Miller on 06/03/2009 Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?Yes. Throughout the year, Mrs. Inspektor gave us many multiple choice and essay assignments similar to questions on the AP exam. For example, one assignment we did in the second semester was the Multiple Choice Huddle. We were assigned a reading passage and multiple choice questions that came from previous AP exams. In groups, we had to discuss why or why not certain answers were correct. This really helped me think through my answers and was quite beneficial when I eventually took the AP test. Also, there are many, many essays assigned that are just like the ones on the AP test. As a result, I felt well prepared for that portion of the exam.
How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
On average, I usually spent around 1-2 hours a day on the class. Of course, some days it was more and some days it was less. Mrs. Inspektor usually assigned reading on Mondays, and usually that could be completed in an hour or less. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays were usually devoted to discussion questions on the reading as well as reponses to other students' answers. These assignments usually took longer than the reading. Fridays usually had an essay assigned and the time required depended on whether or not the essay was timed or not.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
My favorite assignments were usually the readings that we were assigned. There were several interesting essays that we read throughout the year, and my favorite assignments were the ones involving these essays.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students?
I would recommend this course to other students if they were hard-working and willing to put a lot of effort into the course. I think that this class would be best for students who really enjoy doing a lot of reading and writing. However, this is the sort of class that would be good for any hard-working student.
Why you should take this class...in all of 825 words!
Posted by Heather Meehan on 06/01/2009 Last year, when I first decided to apply to an AP class or two, I looked through the PA Homeschoolers Online AP courses website and immediately felt a little bit overwhelmed. There were so many courses that looked interesting to me. My mother encouraged me to take an English Language course, and it made sense'English has always been one of my favorite subjects, and one I excel at. I clicked on the 'English Lang' link only to find that there were three different teachers to choose some. I looked through the descriptions and decided to apply to two of the teacher's classes, than decide later which one I wanted to take. I somehow missed the link below Mrs. Inspektor's course for an application, and I sent her an email requesting one. The next day, I received two emails in reply'one from each of her email addresses. She gave no mention of my error, and was very concerned that we got in touch'she wanted to make sure she got through to me, since sometimes she had delivery problems with one of her email accounts. The emails in themselves did not matter, but what did was the concern that shown through. I had not even applied to her class yet, let alone been accepted, but she still was still very sincere in her consternation. I decided right then that hers was the class I wanted to take. I am glad I made that decision, because this class turned out to be the perfect fit for me. I can't speak for all of my fellow students, nor all of you applicants out there, but I have an inkling that this class is a 'one-size-fits-all' in a very positive way. After all, what makes this class special is that you will gain something from it no matter your level of interest or expertise in the subject matter. Every single person in my class made huge improvements. This was not only due to personal effort but also to the fact that Mrs. Inspektor refused to rest until every single student was as well prepared as they could be. We all felt secure in the days leading up to the exam, in spite of our earlier anxieties, because we knew that we were as prepared as we could possibly be. The bottom line is that no matter who you are you will benefit from this course. So if you're considering applying, don't hesitate. It's a good choice. Since I now hope you are convinced, I will offer some miscellaneous advice having to do with coursework so that you can know a bit about what to expect. Work was assigned on a day-to-day basis, so that we had assignments due every day of the week. While this may sound like a heavy load, it actually worked well because I knew what was due each day and could plan my schedule accordingly. The weekly schedule was pretty uniform, so that I eventually fell into a pattern over the course of the year. The actual load varied depending on what stage of exam preparation we were in; for example, during much of the Spring semester we had essays due by the end of each week, as well as a Multiple Choice quiz each Thursday. I started out the year with abysmal MC scores, but I improved dramatically with each quiz, so that by the time I sat down to the exam, I felt completely confident about the MC portion. Getting back to the schedule, this course does require some careful planning and a certain amount of time management. But I think you'll find that it is easier to keep up with than in other classes where assignments are more general and less delegated. Plus, Mrs. Inspektor tends to be very understanding about schedule constraints. As long as you do your best, she is very forgiving. Our reading list was composed of four enjoyable and thought provoking books, as well as a number of essays and excerpts from longer works. I would advise that you take your time with the reading, since many of these works have the potential to be life-changing if they are digested in the right way. I loved that we got time to meaningfully discuss our reading in class'and this was not the only way I got to socialize with my fellow students and move beyond the territory of strict AP exam preparation. While this class will provide with an excellent, focused preparation for the AP exam, it will also give you a broader perspective, and an opportunity to expand your horizons of reading and writing. I never found that my learning was limited to what would get me past the test'rather, I felt that the goal of this course was to hone my skills of reading and writing and to help me become more creative and diligent. If that's not a worthy goal, what is?You Think You Know How to Write
Posted by Matthew Diem on 06/01/2009 Coming into this class last year, I thought myself more than capable of handling it without much difficulty (based on the descriptions); I could probably write, I thought, at nearly AP level. Confronted, however, with an actual essay prompt toward the beginning of the year, I realized this would be harder than I thought. The essay I wrote was awful: I had an idea that this was so then, but now I am certain of it (and that's just from what I can remember of it!). But that was the purpose of the class--to prepare me for the AP exam. It teaches you how to write at a college level, and I did improve greatly. The work-load at the least met my expectations more: an hour or two per diem (or as much as five hours, once, but that was because I hadn't had time for one big assignment until the day it was due--but that's another story). This was also the first online course I'd ever taken, so I wasn't entirely certain what to expect, but I found it preferable to studying completely alone and also at times to being in a physical class inasmuch as I could post on my own time rather than at a set time of day. And communications with other students were certainly worthwhile. This course is definitely only for students who like to write. I suppose this should be obvious from any description, but for anyone who does not have some sort of definite affinity for writing, this course would be torturous--so ye who fear the pen, beware! ye know not what ye enter into in taking this course. To put it more plainly, you will think this course boring and pointless if you hate writing, but for you who do, this is an excellent, highly-informative course.AP English Language and Composition
Posted by Carla Worley on 06/01/2009 After taking this course, I felt very prepared for the exam. I was ready for any kind of question, and any kind of essay. We worked alot on different styles of writing, including satire, which ended up helping me alot on the exam when one of the essays was satire.I generally put about 2 hours a day into this course.
One of my favorite assignments were the mutliple choice huddles, in which about five of us would work together on finding the absolute correct answers to a set of multiple choice questions. It was enjoyable and we were able to practice good teamwork. There were a couple of essays we wrote in class that I especially appreciated because they required thinking way outside the box.
Working for this class helped me to appreciate all different kinds of writing and to see that I enjoyed experimenting with different styles. We were exposed to some excellent works of literature. One of these was Walden, by Henry David Thoreau, which I fell in love with and enjoyed immensely.
Throughout the course, Mrs. Inspektor required us to comment on other student's essays. Everyone had good pointers for improving eachothers essays, but neither the students or Mrs. Inspektor ever failed to be encouraging or supportive.
This is a great course to take to learn to read and write good literature and study it more intently. Its best though, before signing up for this course, to consider your own abilities to keep up, especially if you are taking multiple AP courses or have an extremely busy schedule. This course is fun, but its not meant for the faint-hearted or laid back. It requires lots of hard work and dedication every day.
First of all, I felt the course prepared me for the AP exam. The analysis of literature we did, the timed essays I had practice with, and the practice multiple choice quizzes all helped me be prepared for the exam.
I typically spent two hours per day on course work (including readings). I spent more time when the exam date got nearer, so I probably ended up spending 3 hours a day in the months of April and May.
I had quite a few favorite assignments. I loved reading The Story of My Life by Hellen Keller and responding to questions about our readings. I found the readings in that book inspiring and Keller's writing beautiful. I also loved writing the "Evocation of a Place" essay that we did during the second semester. I enjoyed recalling details that evoked a place that my reader was not familiar with.
This course did enhance my interest in English, mostly because of the feedback I received both from Mrs. Inspektor and from all my classmates. I felt that, through this course, I was finally progressing (whereas in other courses, I had no feedback and didn't feel like I was getting anywhere. This made me not like English as much).
My communications with other students was what made this course my favorite. Being able to interact with high schoolers who are doing the same coursework as I am made the course so much more fun. I loved being able to see others' opinions on reading, compare struggles, and get helpful feedback from them on my essays. It was wonderful to feel a part of a class instead of working on my own.
I would recommend this course to other students who are willing to work hard, who enjoy reading and analyzing literature, and who are looking for a learning experience that allows you to interact with others. I had fun all year in this course and I cannot express enough how much I have been able to take away from it.
AP English Language
Posted by Jessina Leonard on 05/31/2009 Dear future/prospective APLANG students,Before I dig into answering these questions, I want to say'whether you're considering applying to this course or have already been accepted and want to know what to look forward to'that this class is marvelous. As I look back over the year, I realize how much I have learned and how far I have come as a writer. I highly recommend this class! And hopefully my enthusiasm for this class shows through my answers to these questions:
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To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
I would recommend this class to a student who has some previous training in writing or to someone who simply enjoys reading and writing. Although, I would also say that even if you don't enjoy either of those topics, you could still make it through the class. While certainly challenging, I think by nature this is one of the easier AP classes.
What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
I think I can really only talk from experience here: I took a pre-AP writing class two years before I took this class, and I think that served me very well in preparation for AP English Language. But I also think that as long as the student enjoys reading and knows how to write a structured essay (thesis, etc.), he or she would be well prepared for the class.
How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
I probably spent an average of 6-8 hours on this class per week, probably around an hour and fifteen minutes each day (excluding weekends). The class is organized so that generally Mondays are spent doing some sort of reading; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays we were usually assigned some discussion questions on our readings and then had to reply to each other's discussions questions; Fridays we generally had an essay or some longer writing assignment due. Because of this, I probably spent more around 2 hours doing my work on Fridays.
To what extent was this class interactive?
While perhaps not quite as interactive as my AP US History class last year, the students in this class were fairly talkative, I guess. Of course, there was a lot of interaction with other students as we read and responded to each others discussion questions and essays. And I did have a few e-mail or Facebook messages with some of my classmates, which was always fun as we talked about topics unrelated to school.
But one of my favorite aspects of this course was how interactive Mrs. Inspektor was with each of us. Each morning, she posts on the class website a 'morning message' with some sort of English-related lesson or helpful link or whatnot, which we could then reply to (and sometimes we were required to reply to this). This added a more 'personal touch' to the class and, I think, helped us feel more like a class, rather than individual students spread throughout the country (and world, if you count Mrs. Inspektor in Israel!). I think this also helped in relating to Mrs. Inspektor, too, because she would often add a little note or two about what she was up to in Israel'whether it be a show she was performing in or just news about a holiday they celebrate in Israel but not in America. I loved reading her notes each morning!
What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
I received a lot of encouraging and constructive feedback on my work throughout the year. And while other students' feedback was helpful, I found Mrs. Inskeptor's responses to our work to be especially helpful, naturally. Mrs. Inspektor is very good at showing you what you do well, but also pointing out specifically what you need to improve on. And her comments are always very detailed. For one assignment, the 'peace' essay, she replied to all of us with extremely detailed paragraph-by-paragraph comments that were really very helpful (and, I am sure, played a part in two of the students in our class winning the 'peace' essay contest in their states!).
Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
I know whenever I read these class reviews, I always want to know what some of the assignments are for the class. So I'll list and explain a few (and these are just a few, mind you), and then choose my most memorable one:
--Early in the year, we were assigned to write a literacy narrative. Basically, we read some excerpts of literacy narratives by famous authors (such as Fredrick Douglass) and then had to write our own.
--We did a study on satire for a few weeks and had to write our own satire'fun assignment!
--In the spring semester, we did a short study on descriptive writing, and then had to write an essay describing a place'any place that we chose.
--But probably the most memorable assignment for me was the National Peace Essay Contest. At the end of the fall semester/beginning of the spring semester, Mrs. Inskeptor assigned us all to write an essay to enter into the National Peace Institute's essay contest. We spent several weeks studying genocide (and no, this didn't turn into a history class'we sort of just studied genocide through the lens of writing). And while honestly it was quite depressing, I also learned so much through this unit study, not only about the nature of genocide itself, but also about research, analytical skills, and precise writing. This was the most memorable writing assignment for me and definitely the most stretching assignment of the year! It required a lot of work and time, but it was also very rewarding. As I mentioned above, two of the students in our class won state awards for this contest and 4-6 others won honorable mentions. I think we were all very grateful that Mrs. Inspektor had us compete in the essay contest!
How did this course prepare you for the AP exam?
Although I listed a lot of the fun assignments above, many weeks we were just assigned a timed essay from a past AP exam. These assignments, though not my favorite, were invaluable in preparing me for the exam. Mrs. Inskeptor also had us do multiple choice practice exams and a full length practice exam over our (two-week!) spring break. Having practiced so much, I felt very well prepared for the exam.
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As I said at the beginning, I highly recommend this course! It is a professional, organized, challenging, and fun class with a wonderful teacher who is just-strict-enough and sincerely cares for her students. If you're interested in becoming a better reader and writer and are up for a challenge, I whole-heartedly recommend this course to you!
--Jessina
Class Review
Posted by Avery Lapan on 05/28/2009 This is a great class for students that that love English and are willing to work. A love for reading and writing is a definite motivation when the workload becomes heavier. I spent about nine to twelve hours on this course each week. Feedback from classmates and Mrs. Inspektor was always helpful and supportive. Looking back over the numerous papers I've written this year, I can't help but notice that it has improved more than I had hoped for over the weeks and months. A year ago I went through the same thing you are doing now; I searched for a class that I thought would fit me. The workload sounded huge to me since I had never taken an AP class before, and I was a bit more than skeptical. Still, I loved literature and English, so I gave it a try. What happened? I spent months reading, writing, and researching for the best class I have ever taken! This class has definitely opened up a whole new side of English for me. Does this class require hard work? Yes. Dedication? Yes. Time? Again, yes. I would suggest that someone who takes this class should want to learn the material, understand what it will require of you, and be ready for a great time in this class! Mrs. Inspektor is a great teacher who is constantly demonstrating how much she wants her students to succeed. With the help of her, your classmates, and your dedication, you are in for a great year! :)Excellent class for those who are willing to work hard!
Posted by Caroline Byrd on 05/27/2009 ' To what kind of student would you recommend this class?I would recommend that any student taking this class have a genuine interest in writing. Though Mrs. Inspektor constructs the class so that beginning students are eased into the work, the work requires a good deal of effort and consistency. If, however, the student has a true interest in writing, he/she will relish the challenge and the invaluable skills gained. Prospective students also should be aware that the class requires a significant amount of time, and should consider this carefully if anticipating a heavy school year. ' What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
As mentioned above, Mrs. Inspektor does a good job of easing students into the course, so an extensive background in English is not required. Naturally, a basic knowledge of English is needed.
' How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
On average, I spent 10 - 12 hrs a week on this class ' more on heavy weeks. I tend, however, to work on the slow side, so this average could vary.
' To what extent was this class interactive?
It was very interactive. Mrs. Inspektor kept us very involved through the daily Morning Messages and responses to other students' work. ' What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
Mrs. Inspektor gives detailed feedback on each student's work. With essays, she gives each one a score and then delves into why she thought the score appropriate as well as what the student can improve on. Along with the almost weekly essay assignments, this weekly feedback allowed my work to become steadily better throughout the year. In addition to comments from Mrs. Inspektor, the comments from other students allow each student to understand common errors or shortcomings in his/her writing.
' How do you feel your writing and analytical skills grew during this class?
My skills probably grew by 100%. Almost every week we were required to analyze literature, enabling us to apply effective writing strategies to our own writing. The class also cultivated my own writing style through constant writing and feedback.
' What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
Time. I found throughout the year that this class consumes a good deal of time, and at points, I found it difficult to handle. On the flip side, however, this very fact shows that the class is great preparation for college and beyond, where time will always be an issue everyone faces. ' Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
It's hard to narrow it down to one, so I'll narrow it down to two. The research paper assigned mid-year was the most challenging assignment of the year for me. Students spent nearly a month completing it, and the research and thought involved consumed a lot of energy. At the end of it, however, I was left with knowledge about two subjects that I had never before explored and a very detailed, lengthy piece of work. The other memorable assignment this year was the satirical essay assigned in the middle of the second semester. This assignment ' in which students were required to present a problem and provide a satirical solution ' allowed each of us to use a more artistic flare in our writing, further strengthening our individual writing styles and abilities. ' How did this course prepare you for the AP exam?
Very thoroughly. For practice exams, Mrs. Inspektor uses tougher material than that used in actual College Board exams, making the actual exam seem less difficult. Throughout the second semester, in particular, Mrs. Inspektor prepared us extremely well for the essay section of the exam by assigning timed, AP exam style essays every week. By the time the exam rolled around, I felt very confident about it and was very relaxed before and during the exam.
AP Language review
Posted by Ethan Levinson on 05/19/2009 Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? A: Absolutely. I've never been so well prepared for an exam in my life. Between practice multiple choice sections and the multiple timed essays, this course rigorously trained me for the exam.How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
A: Probably 1-2 per day, with variations from day to day, for a total of 7-12 hours a week.
Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
A: I really enjoyed reading Walden, as it was both deeply philosophical and entertaining. The in-class discussion was excellent.
Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
A: Definitely. I now have a greater appreciation for style and diction, as well as a greater interest for writing in general.
Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
A: Yes, I sincerely enjoyed all the discussion involved in the class. Not just the discussion questions, but the essay responses were all helpful and unique. My overall class experience was greatly enhanced by my interactions with my classmates.
What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
A: I would absolutely recommend this course to other students. It covers interesting material and has a great teacher. As long as students are willing to work hard and accept criticism, they will do well and greatly improve their own writing skills.
Besides these questions, I just wanted to add that Mrs. Inspektor is an amazing teacher. With her help, I can guarantee that anyone who takes this class will find that by the end of the year, they will have a greater understanding of the various techniques of writing and a greater love for both writing and the English language. With Mrs. Inspektor's guidance, students can become great writers.
If you are interested in improving your writing and argumentative skills, consider taking this class
Posted by Jonny Woodbury on 05/19/2009 After an entire school-year of preparation for the AP language and composition exam, it is interesting to reflect back on the exciting experiences I, and the rest of the class have come through. On our first timed essay, the general score was so low that Mrs. Inspektor did not even post our grades, but as we learned and grew, the average score rose astronomically, until the vast majority of the class was scoring consistently above 6, far above the national average score on such essays.Two essays were particularly valuable: our research project and our "place" essay. The first of these assignments followed exactly the guidelines of the National Peace Essay competition, and we were required to study two instances of war crimes from history, and then to formulate a position on what international actors should do to lessen the extent of or to prevent these atrocities. Of the (approximately) 35 students in our class, two took first place for their states--an outstanding achievement--and several others received honorable mentions. This activity taught us how to conduct research, employ it in the defense of an argument, and (at least for me) how to write succinctly (the essay had a word limit of only 1500 words).
The place essay was a lesser assignment, and came later in the course, but it was invaluable in testing our skills of descriptive writing, as well as the general technique that we had learned throughout the duration of the course.
The combined affect of these two assignments, as well as the numerous others, was to effectively prepare me for the APlang exam, and also to grow my skills in writing and argumentation.
Certainly, the class was not easy, but the interaction with the other students, along with the fun of completing Mrs. Inspektor's creative assignments, helped to make this class enjoyable and educational.
Any dedicated student interested in argumentation, written or otherwise, should benefit from, succeed in, and enjoy this class.
Class Review
Posted by Matt Roseti on 05/15/2009 I recommend this course to students who have a desire to stretch the syntax of their writing, as well as their knowledge of non-fiction authors. Experienced and non-experienced students would both come out of this class having a well-rounded ability to write powerful non-fiction. Having a solid knowledge of literature and grammar in general certainly would aid a prospective student in preparing for this course. I spent anywhere from 5-11 hours a week working on homework from this class, so being able to handle a demanding work load is necessary. Nearly every posted work received supportive, yet critical feedback from both students and Mrs. Inspektor. This feedback promoted excellence and stretched everyone's writing abilities, encouraging the positive aspects and weeding out the negative. Perhaps the most challenging part of this course and also the most memorable assignment was participating in the International Peace Institute essay competition. It was not only a challenge to perfect the small details of my essay, but to create a works cited and endnotes page. Ultimately, however, this assignment grew my writing more than any other. Accomplishing this essay gave me a confidence in writing that I had not previously possessed. This course was a perfect balance of intense learning of non-fiction literature and thorough preparation for the exam. While Mrs. Inspektor never overly emphasized the exam itself, she did everything she could to prepare us for the test by requiring multiple practice tests and honing our test-taking abilities. Mrs. Inspektor also had an amazing personal connection with the students; providing support that most students would not find in an online teacher. I am incredibly thankful for the amazing impact this course has had on my writing and personal life; partially as a result of this course and encouragement from Mrs. Inspektor, I have resolved to pursue writing as a career. I strongly recommend this course to any student looking to expand their knowledge and abilities in non-fiction writing.AP English is awesome!
Posted by Nicole Hulsey on 05/15/2009 This year, I took AP English Language and Composition, taught by Mrs. Maya Inspektor. It was a really great class, and I enjoyed it. Mrs. Inspektor is a wonderful teacher with thoughtful and insightful comments to help you improve. Also, I felt that it really prepared me for the AP exam.I would highly recommend this course to everyone. However, you need to have the ability to work hard, since I found myself often putting in three hours a day.
We did a large variety of assignments, ranging from personal perspectives on books we'd read to essays debating the usefulness of the penny. I highly enjoyed many of them, and the students in this class gave a lot of valuable advice. By taking this class, I feel like I improved my writing a lot.
If you've read this, I hope you'll want to take this class! I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
Take this class. It's a good idea.
Posted by Camille Gross on 05/14/2009 Yes, this course definitely prepared me wonderfully for the exam. I felt so confident heading into the exam and on the exam itself. The amount of time I spent on course work varied. I spent a minimum of 30 minutes daily on work and a maximum of 4 hours. For our mid-year assignment we wrote and submitted essays to the National Peace Essay Contest. Writing those papers required a GREAT amount of research and time, but in the end, it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The Peace essay required so much research and thought that it made me truly think about what I want to do with my future. The experience impacted my life so much more than just learning how to write a big research paper. Similarly, I cannot even describe the satisfaction I had walking out of the exam and feeling as though I did well. This was my first AP exam, and I'm very glad I decided to take the exam. Being in this class has definitely expanded my interest in English and writing in general. The research papers that we had to do interested me in journalism. The communications with fellow students was very valuable. There was vast diversity amongst the students, so I was exposed to a variety of individuals. It meant lively conversation, intelligent debate, and meaningful relationships. I'm hoping I'll be able to meet several of the students in person over this summer. Students that are willing to work hard will do the best in this course. Students that are continually seeking knowledge and asking questions will definitely enjoy this course. Students should definitely already have a deep love of and interest in writing and reading as this course requires a great deal of both. I feel as though the feedback I received throughout this course helped me grow as a writer in ways I never thought I could. Mrs. Inspektor always provided constructive criticism and encouragement when needed. This class was very interactive. I interacted with other students once a day if not more. The interaction was definitely a positive aspect, as it provided different opinions. I have so enjoyed this class, and I feel so proud of all we have all accomplished. Although I've never met the teacher of any of the students in person, I feel as though I could strike up a conversation with any of them if I did meet them in person.Highly Recommended
Posted by Elise Porter on 05/14/2009 This was a great class! If you are a social person, it is great because the class itself was quite interactive. The daily messages had us all checking the site daily and there was much discussion between students. There was always someone to critique your writing and offer advice'usually Mrs. Inspektor, and often fellow students, too! This interaction really helps improve your writing and analytical skills as you discuss and debate on everything ranging from what the author meant by "big winners" to how the way a character said something changes the tone of the scene. It was sometimes challenging to keep up with the assignments since I was so busy with other things, but Mrs. Inspektor is very flexible and helpful in that respect.This class really helps prepare you for the exam so that you can go in to it feeling confident. One of my favorite assignments was when we analyzed advertisements and graphics. Mrs. Inspektor taught us how to look at tone, diction, rhetoric, mood, and everything that a writer or speaker employs in order to be able to answer "why."
To a new student considering this class, I would highly recommend that you be prepared to work hard and have a lot of fun!
Alex Wolf's Class Review
Posted by Alex Wolf on 05/14/2009 I would recommend this course to any student that is interested in writing, be in fiction, nonfiction, or journalism. I personally would like to write children's fiction/fantasy someday, and I came into this class expecting to get help with that. At first, when I learned that it was more focused on analyzing and essay writing, I was a bit disappointed. Now I've realized that this class really did help me, probably more than a class on fiction would have. My writing has grown astronomically, and I have developed parts of my writing and gained knowledge that I think will be crucial if I ever do go into fiction, and that I would not have developed if I had not taken this class. As for preparation ' I did not have much. Sure, I've written a bunch of fiction-y stuff on my own, so I guess my writing was kind of developed already. But as for courses, I had only taken standard 'Language,' and 'Writing,' classes up until 8th grade. In 9th I did a class on American Literature, and then I launched into this class.Hours per week varied a bit, depending on whether it was a timed Friday assignment or not. If it was timed, I'd say it was between an hour or two hours a weekday. If it was not timed, I spent more time on the weekends to make my essay/research/revision good.
It was quite an interactive class ' there was lots of talk, and I would have participated much more if I hadn't been so busy.
I received a lot of good feedback ' I learned a LOT about my writing. Even now, when I look back at writing from a few months ago, I can't help but point out errors and problems of all sorts.
My writing skills grew, as I said above. MY analytical skills also took a large leap. I went from getting 5's and 6's out of 9 to getting an 8 and 9 out of 9 at the end of the year. I learned a lot about all three kinds of essay that were on the exam.
My main challenge was probably my lack of enthusiasm for analysis at the beginning and middle of the class. The peace essay wasn't really up my alley either, but towards the end I began to appreciate the analytical side of writing more. I think realizing that it's important even I don't like it all that much was the biggest challenge for me.
The most memorable assignment in this class was probably the synthesis essay. I had no idea what synthesis even meant before this class. That should give you an idea of how much I learned from that assignment. :)
This class prepared me very well for the AP Exam. Mrs. Inspektor had some great exam-day tips, and all of the practice and the lessons that she taught really all came together for me at the end of the class. I think I did really well ' I finished 17 minutes early on both sections, which gave me time to go back and check a bunch!
My final thoughts:
If you'd like to go into any writing at all, take this class. Sure, you might not THINK this applies to the branch of writing you'd like to pursue, but if you think that, you're probably wrong.
If you plan on going into a field where you might have to write a lot of analysis or even just regular nonfiction, take this class. Even if you think this doesn't apply to your prospective job, you're probably wrong.
Also, this class isn't just a writing class. It helps Homeschoolers get more used to deadlines and time limits, and classes graded by and run by people other than your parents, and classes with other kids. That experience alone is invaluable.
Just the facts...(ok, maybe not)
Posted by Julianne McCobin on 05/14/2009 If you're looking at this, you probably want some details and not just some student gushing. So here goes.Facts:
--I spent about an hour to an hour and a half on assignments daily. However, when I was working on my Peace Essay, I literally spent every spare minute I had that week painstakingly revising it. In other words, you can decide how much work you want to put into an assignment, though they generally will take a good hour each day.
--This course definately prepared me for the exam. We do multiple full practice exams, and I felt really comfortable with the MC format and the essay prompts. Mrs. Inspektor has great tips on de-stressing on exam day too!
--We do a lot of reading and writing. Usually, a normal week would consist of a timed essay, a few discussion questions, some peer reviews, and some reading.
--My favorite assignment was the Peace Essay, which I later submitted into the actual contest. Honestly, it was one of the most challenging and eye-opening experiences of my life, and I learned so much about humanitarian crises and what's being done (and not being done) about them. Often during this assignment, I felt completely inept and underqualified to even try to deal with some of the extremely grave issues involved. However, this too helped me: because it IS my problem, and I need to be helping. I've even considered getting an international relations minor because of this unit, and I feel like I've made a really important step that I need to follow with more steps. That's another reason I loved this class--writing is great, but action is vital. Mrs. Inspektor connected feeling and action, and that's soooo important.
Opinion (and shameless plug):
This is a great course, and I loved Mrs. Inspektor as a teacher. Her comments are warm and encouraging, but also helpful. I also really loved interacting with the other students in my class, as we'd comment on each others' essays. They'd see things I never saw before; it was exciting. So, I would definately recommend this course to anyone with a desire to learn how to read analytically, write concisely, and argue well. I mean, this isn't just for English junkies, although they'll love it too of course. What this class teaches is really invaluable and applicable to any interest though. Really, I had a great time and loved so much about this course...I hope you do too! (And I'm sure you will ;))
~Julianne
Why are you even reading this?
Posted by Andrew Min on 05/14/2009 By now, you've probably read about 30 other glowing reviews of Mrs. Inspektor. You should be downloading the application right now.However, if you haven't yet made up your mind, read on.
Last year, I took AP US History with Mrs. Susan Richman. It was the best class I had taken in my life, and I resigned myself to the fact that I'd probably never find a teacher as good as her. Well, I was wrong. Her daughter, Mrs. Inspektor, is just as amazing. When the year started, I was excited, but anxious for it (as with all AP classes) to be over. Now, as the year ends, I'm actually disappointed that the class is finished.
I'd recommend Mrs. Inspektor's class to anyone. Anyone. In fact, I think I've already convinced two people to take it [Mrs. Inspektor... look for Isaac and Devin next year :)]. But before you take it, it is advised to have some preparation. I would suggest making sure you know basic grammar, spelling, punctuation, and so on. Reading Strunk&White over the summer really reinforced that for me. Also, I'd highly recommend reading some challenging books over the summer: Walden is on a whole different plane from Redwall.
The course load is challenging, but not overwhelming. It's certainly not easy, but I found myself spending about three hours a weeks during the fall and winter. In the spring, I spent several additional hours a week reviewing for the exam. Additionally, Mrs. Inspektor was incredibly flexible. I'm part of a debate club, and we do a lot of traveling. Every time I asked for an extension (ahead of time, of course), Mrs. Inspektor would graciously grant it. Just ask AHEAD of time :).
AP Language was the one of the most interactive and one of the most enjoyable classes I've ever been a part of. I felt like I got to know almost everyone in the class fairly well. Maybe that was because of the kids in the class this year. But with Mrs. Inspektor, I'd be shocked if next year isn't just as fun and interactive as this year.
For AP Language, my impression has been that the essays are really crucial (this is AP Language & Composition, after all). In light of that, Mrs. Inspektor had us write an essay a week, and every week, we could expect comments. Some teachers give out really helpful comments, but do it in a less-than-encouraging fashion. Mrs. Inspektor was not only helpful, she was warm and caring as well. Her feedback, in short, was incredible.
My writing skills have also improved immensely. When I started this class, I knew a bit about writing and nothing about analyzation. This year, I was part of a debate club, and I think the analyzation part of AP Language really helped hone my debating skills. Meanwhile, my writing skills have definitely improved. I no longer have to second-guess myself on every comma I put in, I no longer put commas and periods outside of quotations, and I've become, overall, a more competent writer.
The main challenge I had was making sure I analyzed the right thing. I still remember one essay on Richard Rodriguez, where I delivered a killer, off-topic essay. Mrs. Inspektor gave me a lot of good feedback on that one, and in a very positive way. So with her help, I was able to overcome that challenge.
But that wasn't my most memorable assignment. My most memorable assignment by far was the satire week. It was the most fun, most enjoyable, and most exhilarating writing assignment I had ever been given. The second most memorable and enjoyable assignment was, believe it or not, taking notes on Strunk & White. If you do it in a, er, creative fashion, it's very enjoyable. I know many teachers would have preferred straight, boring, and dry notes, but Mrs. Inspektor was gracious enough to let the right side of my brain take over. Other enjoyable moments included the MCQ huddle (Wild Westerners forever!!!) and any one of the synthesis essays we did.
The class was more than just enjoyable, though. It was also incredibly helpful for the exam. By the spring semester, you're focusing on writing past AP essays and taking AP-style quizzes every week. Those two combinations really helped prepare me for an exam where it's more reasoning/analyzation-based than content based. Mrs. Inspektor prepped us directly for the exam (we'd read Cliffs, talk about test-taking strategies, and remind each other of the benefits of peanut m&ms). As a result, when I got to the classroom on May 13, I felt as prepared as I could ever have been.
In conclusion, should you take this class? Well, if you're a homeschooled student between 9th and 12th grade, you would like to improve your writing skills, and you haven't taken an AP English Language class, then yes, you should.
I have no idea why you're still reading this. You should be downloading the application form right now.
I love Mrs. Inspektor! :)
Posted by Taylor Nam on 05/14/2009 This course was incredibly helpful in preparing for the exam! Although I was very nervous the night before, I felt confidant that anything I encountered on the test was going to be something I had practiced before. This class would be great for any student who wishes to improve his or her argument essay writing. Any student who is interested in this class should have a fair knowledge of grammar, loves writing, and is prepared to handle more mature topics.I never actually timed myself, but I believe I spent (on average) 7 hours a week. Almost every week, we answered at least two discussion questions and discussed them with classmates for an assignment. Besides the actual assignments, I think we really became friends over the year. We had debates on the election, on literature, on foreign policy...it was great!
I loved receiving feedback from both my fellow students and Mrs. Inspektor. They were tough, sometimes. However, when they liked something, I felt like an Olympic winner! The feedback was usually part-encouraging and part-criticism. And I took the exam! That is a skill in and of itself! I also think I improved my argumentation and essay writing. The main challenge I faced in taking this class were the essays. Many times, I was so close to getting a really great score. That became frustrating, but Mrs. Inspektor was incredible and took extra time to help me out.
My most memorable assignment from this class was an essay I wrote, describing a particular place that had emotional value to me. I chose my backyard at my old house. My mom cried when she read it and so did my two best friends! This is really a great class! The people are diverse and hilarious.
Mrs. Inspektor is an amazing teacher! No, really, she is. She is tough and critical and encouraging and gracious. She doesn't take any nonsense. Mrs. Inspektor did not just say "good job" when, in fact, I hadn't done a good job. She was honest. But, when she said I wrote something that was good, then I knew she was telling the truth. Thanks, Mrs. Inspektor!
Take AP Lang. I mean it.
Posted by Kathryn Ervin on 05/14/2009 Class review:If anything, this course is an excellent AP exam prep, and I felt very well prepared and well informed on test day.
I spent at least an hour with this class each day, and if you are considering this course, you need to be willing to dedicate lots of time and energy...The ideal student for this class needs to be a total grammar geek, and completely obsessed with the concept of writing endless discussion questions! uh...just kidding. But not really.
I recommend some experience in analytical reading and writing would be helpful coming into this class. The student should also be familiar with basic writing techniques.
I really appreciated the comradeship shared by the whole class and especially Mrs. Inspector who faithfully responded to all our questions and provided us with guidance throughout the year. Her responses to essays and such were extrememly detailed and helpful. I think she truely helped me to become a better writer.
The WWW Board provides a forum for interaction and I always felt free to post comments, questions, etc.
The hardest aspect of the course for me was writing TIMED ESSAYS which is a personal difficulty. But we did quite a few of those, and so I was litterally forced to improve. I think my favorite assignments were the more creative essays we were asked to write including essays such as a "Modest Proposal" (where we crafted our rendition of this famous essay) and the "Place" essay which explored a interesting question about the emotional significance of a particular place. These were both really fun to write.
Overall (haha, that is our favorite response question word!) this class has certainly enhanced my interest in writing and if this is a subject which you are at all intrigue by, I suggest that you take this class!
From Terrible Writer to Quite Good
Posted by Andy Joslin on 05/14/2009 I felt that this course fully prepared me for the AP exam. Before I took this course, I was scared of writing any essay, much less one by hand! By the end though, writing a 40-minute essay was a breeze.I spent about an average of one hour per day on the course. I'd say my favorite aspect of the course was that of responding and getting responses to any assignment you did. The online environment seems much better than the classroom environment for this kind of class.
The course slightly enhanced my interest in writing. I used to really hate it, now I view it neutrally (I won't do it for fun, but it isn't that bad! :p).
Any student would do well in this course, whether good or bad writer. Mrs Inspektor does a great job.
AP English with Mrs. Inspektor is Awesome!
Posted by Carmen Paddock on 05/14/2009 After taking AP English, I am absolutely in love with the subject - though I have always loved writing and reading, I now understand how to critically analyze a work, not to mention my writing skills have improved drastically! This was one of the most fun courses I've ever taken; the teacher, Mrs. Inspektor, is wonderful! She is fun and engaging, and she gives invaluable feedback. She's encouraged me to grow so much as a thinker and writer!This course is the only way I would have been able to take the AP Exam. It prepared me wonderfully, and all the practice tests and preparations were spread out through the second half, so it was not all crammed at the end. By the time I took the exam, following the format and the timing were second nature thanks to the practice and instruction received from this class.
I put about 8-10 hours per week into this class; per day, it varied from one and a half to four hours. It was a lot of work, but all the activities were very fun and the essays pushed my writing skills. I feel I am a much stronger thinker, writer, and critical reader as a result of AP English and the hours I spent working at it.
Reading from *The Writer's Presence* was my favorite assignment, and I wish we could have read from it more, because the views expressed in the book's essays were engaging and unforgettable. I read that book much more than AP English assigned exercises from it! Additionally, I loved getting and giving feedback on essays and discussion questions; every one of comments and criticisms I received from my classmates helped me discover (and thus eliminate) bad habits and flaws in my writing, and I hope my comments have helped them as well.
I would recommend this course to students who love writing, because there's a lot of it (and that's a good thing!). Also, there's an essay due almost every week, so he can't be afraid of time commitments. Any student who wants to score great on and feel good about the AP Exam, loves reading modern classics, loves writing everything from research reports to prompts, and enjoys interaction with fellow students will have a great time taking this course.