AP English Literature Reviews

A real college-level course

Besides the statistical success of Pennsylvania Homeschoolers, and Mrs. I's classes in particular (both AP Lang and AP Lit), where many the students get a 4 or a 5, and most, dare I say nearly all, students who put in work year-round get a 5, this class undoubtably prepares you for college. It really is a "college-level course," not because of its difficulty, but because of the caliber of Mrs. I's instruction, feedback, and grading. She gives you what you deserve - a 1/6 if your essay is a 1/6, and a 5/6 if your essay is 5/6, which makes those "EXEMPLARY" essays all the more satisfying because you know that it really is exemplary. You can full-heartedly trust her grading, which is perhaps one of the biggest advantages of taking this class with her, especially if you're pursuing a 5 on the AP Lit exam.

The entire course is centered around the AP Lit exam - all the essays you will write in this class are either taken directly from past AP Lit exams (anywhere from 16-20 essays total), or are geared towards improving your skills that will ultimately help you on the exam. Multiple choice questions are from past exams, and grading is based on the same scale and rubric that exam graders use.

If you put in the work required, I'm so confident in Mrs. I that I can dare to claim you will get at least a 4, and likely a 5. But, it isn't a walk in the park. This is a college-level course, after all, and while Mrs. I doesn't make her class unnecessarily difficult, this is AP Literature, and it should be taken seriously. I put in around 1-1.5 hours a day, but if you work effectively and diligently, then you likely won't even need to use the weekend to do school - there were definitely weeks where I was done with AP Lit by Friday, sometimes Thursday if I worked ahead.

I can't think of anyone who has said something bad about Mrs. I or her class - it's definitely one of those "came for the AP score, stayed for the teacher" type of class. You can't go wrong with taking AP Lit with Mrs. I - she is one of the best teachers I have ever had.

PLEASE take this class!!

This class is phenomenal. As someone who struggled to deeply and fully analyze a novel, play or poem, I now understand how even the simplest sections, phrases or even words can add to the overarching meaning. Not only did we dive into the deepest corners of literature in this class, but we learned techniques that will most definitely stay with me forever. 

I felt 100% prepared for the exam. By the time the exam came around, it felt like another practice exam in class, and I pictured myself composing essays to submit to Mrs. Inspektor. Because we started doing exam-like assignments at the very beginning of the year, I immediately became comfortable with the format of the exam, especially when Mrs. Inspektor began boosting our exam-day confidence. Every single assignment helped me prepare for the exam, no matter what the topic was. I found the Discussion Questions and Novel Comparison Paper especially helpful because I used tidbits from each of those as I wrote my essays on the exam. 

This class is very challenging, but in the best way. I spent about 2 hours a day on AP Lit work, so about 10-12 hours a week. However, every minute of these hours was worth it. I often found myself re-reading poems or reconsidering my analyses to see how I could improve. So if you find yourself taking extra time on the assignments, do not worry! By the time the exam comes around, you’ll feel so comfortable with the material, and time won't be an issue.

One of my favorite aspects of this class was the class community/environment. Each week, we responded to several classmates’ discussion questions or essays, which helped me see every side of a question, and it greatly expanded my point of view. My classmates’ comments showed me how I could structure my essays or discussion questions, which ultimately gave me new ways to think about the topics. 

If you are looking for a fantastic class to take to deeply enhance your reading, writing and analyzing skills, then this is most definitely the class for you! Don’t be intimidated when you struggle with the assignments. Mrs. Inspektor is there to guide you through every step, ensuring you feel confident and ready to ace the exam when it comes around.

I would honestly take this class again if I could

Greetings, prospective/future AP Lit students!

After having spent two years learning about English language and literature with Mrs. Inspektor (half of my high school years) I can say without the smallest shred of doubt that she is an incredible teacher and that her English courses are among the best you’ll find.

One of the most wonderful things about Mrs. Inspektor’s teaching methods is that by the time May comes around, you feel completely prepared for the AP exam without having spent the school year thinking about this as your ultimate goal. Rather, in this class, your year-long objective is to become a better reader and writer in the realm of literature. Rather than teaching you concepts that you can forget as soon as you walk out of the exam room, this class will instill in you skills that you can carry with you for a life-time (same can be said for Mrs. Inspektor’s AP Lang – in fact, I would recommend that you take Lang before Lit simply because it helps lay a strong groundwork for your writing and analytical skills in general before you move on to critical literary analysis. And, of course, because it is an amazing class as well).

While I’ve been obsessed with literature from the moment I read Jane Eyre (a long time ago), I truly believe it was this class which made me love literature even more – something I used to think was not possible. Mrs. Inspektor's excellence as an instructor is of course the main reason for this, but the highly interactive structure of the class also contributed to furthering my love and appreciation of literary works. All student essays and comments are visible to other students, so everyone can read what everyone else has written and thus learn from each other. While this may sound intimidating, it is actually a wonderful way to deepen your understanding of each work you read during this class, given that everyone (naturally) has some new insight to offer on various points in the text. Thus everyone benefits from a more nuanced and complex understanding of the work due to the contribution of all.

If you plan on taking the AP exam, then take this class!! It is most likely the best exam preparation you will find, the coursework being rigorous and demanding yet ultimately rewarding. Mrs. Inspektor will teach you everything you need to know in order to get a 5. If you are interested in taking an AP Lit class with no plans for taking the exam, then know that this class requires commitment. It’s not really the kind of class you take “just” for fun. I spent roughly 2 hours per day (so 10 - 12 hours every week) on this class, and significantly more so when we were writing our JASNA and Novel Comparison essays (both of which, incidentally, happen to be my favorite assignments from this class). So be aware that there is a substantial amount of time commitment involved. But if you want a 5 on the exam, then this is the class that will get you there and I truly hope that you will take it.

TAKE THE CLASS

This class exceeded all of my expectations in every way! Everyone in the PAH community has heard of Mrs. Inspektor's incredibleness, and this class showed me that and so much more. It is so inspiring to be taught by her. I will admit, prior to this year, I was not one to deeply analyze every book I read at all. But, after going through AP Lit, I find myself actually enjoying the analysis. It makes reading an experience that involves every part of your mind. I don't think I will ever approach a piece of literature in the same way. 

This class is hard. Very hard. I would spend anywhere from 1.5-2.5 hours a day on this class. Of course, this varies for each individual. Personally, I started out the year as a painfully slow writer. Over the weeks, though, Mrs. Inspektor taught us how to rewire our mindsets and just write. So, that decreased my essay writing time significantly. Be prepared to spend time on this class! The projects such as the JASNA and the Novel Comparison Paper required a lot of hours for me, but it was SO worth it. I was actually able to practically mimic a portion of my argument on the AP exam! Mrs. Inspektor knows what she's doing!!!

All in all, take this class if you are willing to dial in and approach reading and writing differently. If you do, Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit will be one of the most fulfilling classes in your high school career. 

Get ready for the time of your life...

Okay.  There aren't even words.  Mrs. Inspektor is absolutely incredible.  I could just go on and on.

Firstly, this class absolutely prepared me for the AP exam, so don't even worry about that!  To be honest, my favorite part of this class was doing the non-exam related assignments which *shocker* actually prepared me for the exam even more.  Mrs. Inspektor was always so patient and gave the best feedback. She never took it easy on us and that's something I appreciate the most: she knew we were capable of exceeding expectations and putting in the hard work.

If you're looking for an easy class, this isn't for you.

But...If you're looking for a class where you will spend about 2-3 hours a day engrossed in Shakespeare or Jane Austen or poetry or a deep class discussion on some important topic, you've come to the right place.  It's fun, and so so interesting!  You'll think about the world in new ways and discuss topics you never thought you'd discuss.  It's an adventure, and your classmates are along for the ride with you.  My classmates were so supportive and always inspired me to work harder and challenge myself.

Get ready to read a lot, write a lot, and quite honestly, fail a lot.  But, be even more prepared to learn a lot.  You'll come out bolder, stronger, and ready to take on any challenge.

Great Class

I just took the AP Lit Exam and definitely feel that this class helped me. If you are interested in taking the AP Lit exam, then take this course, as you will probably get a 5.

There's a decent amount of workload but not terrible. You will definitely be working every day, anywhere from thirty minutes on some days to several hours on others. It just depends on what assignments you have right then. I'd say on average expect 5-10 hours of work a week, depending on how you manage your time, maybe a little more on the hardest weeks. 

Mrs. Inspektor is a great teacher, very agreeable, on time, knows what she's doing, helpful, wants you to succeed and is committed to helping you do so. This is my second class I've taken with her and she's easily one of the best teachers I've ever had and probably just the best. If there are any problems, she is always communicative and helpful. She's also understanding if you have any good reason for not being able to complete an assignment on time, even if it's like a family vacation or something, as long as you let her know ahead of time and your due date delay request isn't just absolutely ridiculous like three months or something. If you are clearly genuine, she will help you out. I don't know too much about Ms. Chan, as I wasn't in her group, but I never heard any complaints about her and the interactions I did have with her (mostly group projects that included students in her group) were all very positive as well. 

The classroom environment is great and the website is well-organized, it is easy to find out what's due when, and there's no third-party websites to deal with like in some classes. It's all there on Pennsylvania Homeschoolers. 

-It gets you well-prepared for the exam.

-Coursework is rigorous but manageable for anyone.

-Mrs. Inspektor is helpful, informative, and flexible. 

-Class and website both run smoothly.

-No cons that come to mind.

If you're taking the AP English Literature Exam, then take this course!

AP Literature and Composition was an incredible class!

I had such a fun time reading the novels we studied like The Glass Menagerie, The Great Gatsby, and Pride and Prejudice! As a class we had such wonderful and insightful conversations on our Discussion Threads! Writing essays was super fun, and I always looked forward to Mrs. Inspektors incredibly thorough Daily Messages! 
I was consistently awe-struck by the quality of her detailed and long messages that only served to point towards her dedication, commitment, and love for both literature and her students! 
Mrs. Chan was incredible in the way that she gave me feedback on my essays and I never criticized in a negative way, but rather in a constructive way that left me wanting more feedback! 
Thank you so much Mrs. Inspektor and Mrs. Chan! You were incredible teachers who are both so grandly talented! It was an honor to be your student!
- Destiny Lugo

Amazing AP Literature Class!

There are a lot of reasons you should take this class, but one of them isn't just to check it off a list of academic requirements. You should only take this class if you're very willing to put in the time and work needed to succeed (and also to have fun with it--no one likes a boring class, but in this case, it's only boring if you make it). I'll admit, when I signed up for this class, I had no idea what kind of work it would involve, and I found it hard to keep up with at times. That being said, this class is an amazing opportunity to strengthen your writing skills and broaden your knowledge of literary works, figures, terms, and characteristics. I wouldn't say you even need to consider yourself exceptional in order to take this class. I had very little experience with advanced literature courses as I took this class sophomore year, and I think the grade I got on my first essay in this class was a 3.5 out of 6 - definitely not my best work. However, by the end of the class, I was getting 6s on all my essays, which I hadn't originally thought I would be able to do. So, there is absolutely room for improvement - don't expect your early grades to stay the same. One huge thing that helped me improve my grades in this class is that I decided to have fun with it instead of merely to survive it. When I had fun with the assignments, my grades were noticeably better than when I didn't enjoy them. 

Taking this course with Mrs. Inspektor definitely prepared me to take the AP exam. Despite still being nervous going into the exam, I wasn't worried that I wouldn't be able to answer any questions or write the free-response answers. I found that all the different assignments we had completed throughout the school year contributed to my preparation by the end of the year, and I was grateful for every single one of those assignments by the end of it.

I probably put around 2 hours of work per day into this class (plus a few extra hours on weekends when essays or big assignments were due), but I sometimes found myself putting in extra time just because there was so much I wanted to write in my discussion posts, essays, etc.

There were so many assignments that I absolutely loved, but probably my favorite ones were: 

The novel comparison essay - this essay was so much fun to write, even though it was a pretty big assignment toward the end of the semester. I very much enjoyed doing research and just putting together the essay.

Discussions - They weren't very much fun to me when I first started the class, but I definitely grew to love discussing the reading with my classmates! They took a long time for me to write at first, but they gradually began to take up less time, and they were ultimately so valuable to me.

Book clubs - The book clubs were such a fun part of the class! Like discussions, they allowed us more time to discuss novels--outside of class--and they were just a lot of fun overall.

This course without a doubt made me more interested in/excited about literature as a subject. Mrs. Inspektor is one of the best teachers I've ever had, and she made learning literature such a great experience, not to mention how helpful she was in commenting on our class work, so a huge thank-you to Mrs. Inspektor and Ms. Chan, as well as the TAs!

AP Lit

1. Yes, the course definitely prepared me for the AP test. Mrs. Inspektor briefed us on what we'd encounter on the exam and we had plenty of practice timed essays and MCQs. 

2. On average, I'd say I put in about 1.5-2 hours per day.

3. To be honest, I liked all of the assignments. In particular, though, I enjoyed the short story assignment, the JASNA essay, and the novel comparison paper. The short story assignment was in the first semester with the short story unit, and I found it helpful to apply what we'd learned about short stories to a story of my own. The JASNA essay gave me the chance to dissect a Jane Austen novel (Sense and Sensibility) -- besides helping me pay closer attention to the novel, this assignment was also good preparation for Q3 on the exam (the open question / literary argument). As with the novel comparison paper, I liked that these big essay assignments gave us time to really dive into the complexities and apparent contradictions of literary works, as well as receive feedback from our teachers and classmates.

4. Yes, especially the book clubs. Previously I'd read mostly for enjoyment -- even though I knew there were more layers to a book than the immediately obvious one, I thought unpacking them would be boring and tedious. I found out in AP Lit that it isn't; it's tough, yes, but very much worth it. This applies to poetry as well. Before I took the course, I didn't really know how to read poems -- I was often confused by their meaning and didn't know how to tease it out. Going through past poetry analysis questions, reading my classmates' responses, and getting feedback on my own gave me the tools to appreciate a poem intellectually as well as emotionally. 

5. Definitely! The discussion boards and book clubs helped me understand the works we studied much better. 

6. I think students who are genuinely interested in literature and are willing to put in the work would do well in the course. It's quite rigorous and requires effort, but it is good exam prep. More than that, though, it's a good literature course -- Mrs. Inspektor doesn't just focus on teaching the exam, and you'll leave with a better understanding/appreciation of lit in general. 

A Fun, Thought-Provoking Challenge

This class is definitely not the kind of class you would just check off your checklist to fulfill a requirement—the skills you learn in this class will help you in whatever path life takes you, career or not. After this class, I see literature not as a boring task of scanning my eyes through a block of mindless words, but as an opportunity to learn more about myself and humanity, as a way to improve my own person and open and enrich my mind. And I can now add being ready to write college papers, understanding the meaning behind complex works of poetry and novels, and having the ability to analyze and argue with sufficient support to my tool box. 

This is a tough class. It will challenge you to think deeply and critically, and it requires a lot of your time and effort. I probably spent about two hours a day in this class, but it was more for big papers and projects. The work also builds up quickly, so make sure to stay up-to-date on the assignments. One great thing about this class is that it's organized in the sense that Mrs. Inspektor will send weekly class schedules, so you'll know what to expect during the week, and the work is due on the day it's given, with work due Monday, Tuesday, etc., so in that sense it helps keep you on track. 

The course was also fun—this is the kind of class that you would be motivated to work on because you'll read interesting and exciting novels, interact with classmates, and engage in enjoyable assignments and activities such as the Literary Salon activity, book clubs, and short-story writing. 

Overall, this class isn't for the faint of heart, and I personally wouldn't recommend this class if you think you'll already have a busy schedule. But if you have the time and the willingness to take on a challenge, you'll be able to enjoy the fruits of the class, namely excellent college preparation, new widely-applicable skills and knowledge and way of thinking, new friends, and fun!

A Raving Fan Review for Mrs. Inspektor

This class was the perfect mix of challenging and fun. It's hard to beat Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lang class, but AP Lit comes close in my book. The statement that a teacher "makes reading fun" may be a cliché one, but it was 100% true in this class—and not only the act of reading, but also the act of thinking critically about what we read. We got to read novels, explore literary criticism, analyze poetry, write our own literary analysis essays, and even write creative short stories, none of which ever felt like busy work. Creative writing actually used to be my archnemesis, but the creative writing assignment ended up being one of my favorites. The peer environment is also wonderful, and now that I've finished my senior year, I can confidently say that Mrs. Inspektor is my all-time favorite high school teacher. Plus, I genuinely enjoyed taking the AP Lit exam (something I never thought I'd say), simply because I viewed it as a fun opportunity to apply the knowledge that I learned through this class.

As a senior juggling college apps, work, and other classes, I sometimes scraped by with 6ish hours a week on this course, although during weeks when we had a larger project, I spent closer to 10 hours. You'll probably want to budget 1.5-2 hours a day to keep up with the workload. If you're willing to grow and explore literature deeper, this is the class for you!

5 Stars for AP Lit and Mrs. Inspektor!

First of all, I loved this class and Mrs. Inspektor's teaching. I'll admit, senioritis hit me pretty hard early on in addition to lots of stress due to college apps, and I wasn't the best student. I often turned in my assignments late, but Mrs. Inspektor was so, so gracious and kind to accept them and didn't dock points for the lateness. I spent at least 45 minutes to an hour and a half every day reading and answering the Morning Messages, doing discussion posts, or working on my essays. The course absolutely prepared me for the AP exam, and I love how Mrs. Inspektor uses the discussion posts and Morning Messages to help the students analyze literature for themselves instead of merely following a template. She gives highly detailed, encouraging, and helpful feedback on each essay with notes on how to improve, tailored to each student. I like that instead of Mrs. Inspektor lecturing us about a book, she uses thought-provoking discussion questions that allow the students to teach each other and learn from each other, simply by sharing their observations, thoughts, and questions. The collaborative, enthusiastic atmosphere allows for friendship and growth, unique to Mrs. Inspektor's classes. She leads this warm environment through her entertaining and insightful messages that she sends out every morning. Even though essay grades are transparent in this class, it's awesome and uplifting to see my classmates improve throughout the semesters! I truly believe that Mrs. Inspektor has helped my writing to improve tremendously over the years, and this AP Lit class taught me that no novel, poem, or short story is too difficult for me to understand and even analyze, even when I thought otherwise. I would absolutely recommend this course to any student willing to work diligently with other students and be teachable and take feedback to heart. A huge shoutout and thank you to Mrs. Inspektor!

Most effective way of studying for the AP exam, but its value goes beyond just the exam...

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Because our coursework year round is made up of the very same assignments used in the exam, I could not have felt more familiar with the test than I did come May. By this I mean the majority of essays we write in this class are the three styles of essays found on the exam and exam conditions are mimicked early on. Furthermore, the prompts we use--even for the essays and papers which aren't for exam practice--are all past AP Lit prompts. The wording, setup, and questions the College Bored uses became instinctual to me by the end of the class. The advantage to all of this is that this class doesn't go through the horrors of a 'end review' or 'final review periods'. Of course the last weeks of our syllabus are altered so that we only focus on exam work, but there is no 'pile up' of prep going on to stress us out because we've already been quite literally preparing the whole year! Everyone knows you can't mush exam prep into the week before, but really squishing it into the month or two months before is also less effective than ingraining the material and specific exam formats into your mind year-round. Another positive to this course's syllabus structure is that if your last month of review is compromised by poor time management, other final exams, or unexpected events, it won't be detrimental to your exam score because you really do already have the material in your head. This takes the pressure off for the final exam prep period and allows students to approach their daily reviews and practices with a clear head and light spirit--which even further motivates effective studying. 

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Our reading assignments accompanied by their discussions gave me the transferable skills to handle well exam essays and mcq's, but in a broader perspective, these assignments were most valuable to me personally as a student. For one thing, the schedule for each of our book assignments were perfectly laid out. AP Lit comes with a scary reputation of non stop reading and spending hours in the pages of books. However, as a medium--not avid, not poor--reader I almost never felt suffocated by how many chapters were assigned per week. The literary pieces we take on are challenging but not because it's expected to devote loads of time each day on thousand-page books. It's challenging in the quality of thought and analysis which is expected of us. Because the reading assignments are graciously spaced, students are able and motivated to dive deeper into the texts rather than resentfully counting how many pages they have left. Essentially, our book assignments prioritize quality over quantity when it comes to the. student's time and effort put into the reading. The value of giving a book your full attention and desire needs no explaining. You're allowed to enjoy books during this class. I know some readers could enjoy any book assigned to them, but for most of us, it's hard not to not separate school-assigned books versus the books read on our own volition. What I loved about this class is that, for the first time, it blurred the line between school reading and leisure reading.  

I love this class!

Disclaimer- If you are looking for a bad review on this class, you are reading the wrong review.

To writer, poets, dreamers, and readers:

I loved this class. I would highly recommend taking this class to anyone looking to enhance their reading, writing, poetry, and cookie recipe (long story). As a student with Dyslexia, I have a harder time than most with the two main points of this class: reading and writing. Thankfully, this class helped me improve in these categories by leaps and bounds. My essays improved, my understanding of poetry grew, and writing went from a chore to something I began to enjoy. Due to my super power (dyslexia), I probably spent a bit more time than the average student on this class, but it was worth it. If a student is willing to spend an hour or two on this class and put some work into it, they will be able to gain all the essential skills needed to pass the AP exam. 

As in every class, some assignments may seem tedious, but I gained a valuable lesson from this class that helped remove this worry: if you just start writing, everything becomes easier. Along with this lesson, I gained an understanding of poetry that I never imagined. It was a privilege to understand that there is more to writing poetry than just mother goose rhymes. I also gained some valuable friendships that stretched beyond the online classroom setting. In addition, not all of the assignments are 100% test focused. My favorite assignment we did this year was when we got to write our own short stories. It was so fun to be able to write your own story and become an author when you are typically interpreting other author's works.

Overall, this class was one of my favorites I took this year and I would tell anyone who made it this far into my review that they should take this class. 

AP Exam and Interest in English +A big thank you! :)

1. I felt like this class thoroughly prepared me for the AP Lit exam. When I took the exam, I knew exactly what to expect. I knew what I would struggle with, and I knew how to ensure that those things gave me as little trouble as possible. All in all, I definitely felt prepared. Nervous, yes, but prepared. 
2. This course definitely enhanced my interest in English Literature. The class introduced me to books that I would not have read otherwise but that made me think a lot deeper into certain topics. I have a much greater appreciation for language and literature than before this year. 
3. Thank you so much Mrs. Inspektor and Mrs. Chan! I really enjoyed this class, had a lot of fun, and learned so much! Thank you again for an amazing year, and have a wonderful summer! :)

By far my favorite class!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Overall, yes. From day one, all of our assignments consist of some sort of exam prep, whether it's past exam essays or discussion questions that push us to dig deeper into the works we're studying. I honestly would have preferred to have done more MCQ practice or started taking full practice exams earlier during the spring semester (this course didn't kick into full review mode until late April), but the practice we did do was enough, and I had a blast reading the MCQ passages and writing the essays on my exam.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I typically spent about 2 hours a day on AP Lit, but on weeks with heavy reading or major assignments, I probably spent an additional 1-2 hours each day.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

My favorite assignment was the novel comparison paper! Not only was it great review for the exam, as we had to write about two works we studied in class, but it also deepened my appreciation for those works. I absolutely fell in love with Frankenstein, and while I'm still not best friends with Heart of Darkness, I found it's really not as dry and dull as everyone makes it out to be.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes, yes, and yes!!! I've always loved literature, and this class just made me love it even more. I was initially a little concerned because I had already read some of the books on the syllabus, but that ended up not being an issue at all; if anything, rereading those works helped me notice things that I had previously missed, and I was able to analyze them in greater depth because I already had a solid understanding of the plot. It's mind-blowing to me how a fiction story can be so rich in meaning, and part of the fun of reading is trying to figure out what this meaning is.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes! Mrs. Inspektor's classes have always had the best online community you could ask for. My classmates and I were always commenting on each other's work, having fun book club discussions, encouraging each other, and even goofing off as literary characters in the spring break Literary Salon. You'll definitely never be alone while taking this class—Mrs. Inspektor, the TAs, and your classmates will always be around to cheer you on!

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 love reading, you'll absolutely love this course! However, be warned that this course is challenging; I actually personally recommend taking AP Lang first because the Lang rhetorical analysis essay is very similar to the essays you'll write in Lit. My background in Lang definitely helped me in Lit, and since I loved the Lang rhetorical analysis essays so much, the Lit essays were so much more enjoyable and easier to write. However, I also know plenty of classmates who excelled in Lit without having previously taken Lang, so it's not a requirement. Either way, you'll be glad you took this course—I grew so much as a reader and writer during this class, and I don't regret a single second of it!

Challenging in All the Right Ways!

I'm not gonna lie, this is not an easy course... but I mean this in the best way! In this class I was challenged by the teacher, TAs, and the other classmates to always be putting in my best work! To get the most out of it you have to be willing to make this class somewhat of a priority in your schedule. I had to spend an average of at least two hours everyday on the coursework, and those two hours required some pretty engaged thinking and analyzing of literature. Because of this, I had to work hard and consistently to keep a foot in all of the interesting discussions and assignments. But thats just it! I wanted to put in the work to keep up with the coursework because I loved engaging with classmates and getting to watch and even participate in passionate, intelligent discussions of literature! 

While the longer papers and timed essays did well in preparing me for the AP exam and the kind of classwork expected in university, as an online homeschooler working largely independently my favorite assignments were the discussion posts when we got to explore ideas we wouldn't usually think about and experience the push and pull of discussions that can only come from a community of peers. If the enthusiastic introductions to each day's work from Mrs. Inspektor didn't get me excited about literature, engaging with brilliant classmates certainly deepened my own passion for literature. Ultimately this class takes work, but the work pays off in improved essays scores (this class did the impossible for my essay writing!), a deeper understanding and passion for literature, and all sorts of critical thinking skills I have personally seen translated into parts of my life I didn't even know could use a good critical eye for literature. 

A very unoriginal title: An Amazing Class!

     Mrs. Inspektor's AP English Literature class is amazing!  In general, I have a much better appreciation and knowledge of literature, and the class community is very motivating and constructive. It truly pushes you to excel!  But more on to the specifics...

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes!  Mrs. Inspektor provides exam-style essays beginning early in the year, as well as real past exam MCQ passages to practice, helping you to hone in on the skills needed to succeed on the exam.  The other tips provided by classmates also helped in feeling prepared for the exam.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

It varied depending if it was a lighter week or if we had one of our big papers due, but I would say an hour to two hours each day.  The workload was very manageable as long as you did the assignments everyday and looked ahead to see what assignments were coming up so that you could plan your time, but overall, it was a good, balanced load.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I found the required MM responses very helpful in learning how things like poetry meter works or learning other students' insights or thoughts about authors, themes, and essay tips.  In addition, having an update every morning really made the class feel like an in-person class in that you could "talk" to your classmates everyday and discuss what you were learning about!

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Oh yes, 100%!  Mrs. Inspektor's class was the perfect blend of learning to interpret literature with the author's intention in mind while also recognizing where our own thoughts fit in. Before coming into this class I couldn't quite pin point what made a book memorable and moving, but now I recognize and appreciate the specific aspects of works of literature (from many different genres and places!) that contribute to a good understanding of the work.  This class is not just exam prep! It really makes you excited to read a novel, which was something I never really felt before.  One unique thing about this class is that many of the assignments are flexible...there are usually multiple ways to respond to the required Morning Messages, and you have a wide range of books to choose from to write one of the big end of year papers.  If you are looking to explore literature in a structured yet personal and dynamic way, this class might be for you!

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Out of all the classes I've taken through PAH, there has never been a class community quite like this one.  Not only are you surrounded by VERY talented peers, but being able to read each other's responses to the MMs, and being able to see how other students structure their essays, etc. is invaluable.  The student Skype chat was also very active and helpful.  In addition, the peer constructive criticism and discussion questions we participated in really made you see literature through other lenses and helped us all get to know one another.  I was in Ms. Chans section, and all the feedback from her and the TAs was very helpful in preparing for the exam.

• 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 a motivated student who has mastered the basics of essay writing and who has the TIME to devote to this class would succeed.  AP Lit is a lot about skills...to do well on the exam, and learn about literature in general, you can't just memorize literary devices...you have to have the skills to write nuanced and thoughtful essays in a time limit, and be able to catch changes in a passage's tone.  If you have enough time to devote to developing these skills, go for it!  You will not regret it.  But be warned...you might learn you are an inner lit geek ;)

This IS the AP Lit class you are looking for!

This is it. This is THE class. I have no idea how Mrs. Inspektor, who lives halfway across the world for crying out loud, manages to create such a wonderful, connected environment for her class, but she does. As a student in AP Lit, you will read and write (a LOT), of course, but you will also laugh a lot (Mrs. I has an absolutely delightful sense of humor, and the class as a whole is full of extremely humorous people), probably cry a little bit, embody various characters from the books you read—including but not limited to Frankenstein's monster himself—bond during the frantic days before major projects are due, discover a new love for poetry and creative writing, create a plethora of inside jokes, and acquire WAY too many books. (Is there even such a thing, though?)

The class is a pretty big time commitment—I usually spent over an hour or two on lit per day, and there was one day when—entirely due to my own terrible time management—I spent approximately 6 hours finishing Catch-22 for a book club. But I enjoyed every second of it ;). NOTHING is busywork or a waste of your time. Mrs. Inspektor does a wonderful job of spacing out the year so it's never overwhelming. She also expertly guides the class through the three major assignments—a short story, a JASNA essay, and a novel comparison paper. I loved all three in different ways—the first catalyzed my love of Virginia Woolf, the second was an absolute treat to read and research for, and the third was the culmination of everything we'd done in class throughout the year, and it helped me prove to myself that yes, I can read and interpret literature.

If you're willing to work hard, you'll do well in this class. Having read widely beforehand will help, but Mrs. Inspektor will guide you to success and improvement no matter where you start from—and the whole class will celebrate with you as your essay grades improve, or you write a stunning short story, or your JASNA essay knocks our socks off.

I haven't even felt the need to mention the AP Lit exam, because while I (and the class as a whole) was stunningly well prepared, it never felt like the class was teaching to the test. We wrote exam essays practically weekly, of course, and we completed multiple choice questions for practice in the spring, but Mrs. Inspektor never focused on limiting us to exactly what the College Board said—no device-list essays for us!—but instead pushed us to write good literary analysis, which in turn made us do better on the exam.

Take this class if you can—you won't regret it!

Awesome class, and great balance in its focus

I had a great time in this class, and I'd recommend Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit or Lang to anyone looking for an AP English class. One of the huge emphases is on improvement in this class, and we get detailed comments after all our essays to make sure we understand the strengths and weaknesses of each one and how to improve every time. I'd say the growth in this class is amazing, both in reading and writing. I came into this class with a love of literature, but not one for poetry. Mrs. Inspektor's Morning Messages (which I'm always excited to read first thing in the morning) led us through a study of literary criticism and finding the deeper truths in literature, deepening my appreciation for reading. She also put an emphasis on studying poetry, as it does play a fair role on the AP exam, and her class actually converted me with regards to poetry. Now that she gave us the skills to understand and appreciate poetry, I think the class consensus was a generally much more positive outlook towards it, and a better concept of it as a sort of music. Also, she really had us focused on the test throughout the year, with all the essays and MCQ tests we take being College Board materials, so I felt super prepared come test time and had a smooth, confident testing experience. 

As for someone that would do well in this class, they would need a somewhat strong foundation in reading, because we do read quite a few novels in this class, but otherwise the main thing is persistence. My essays at the beginning were not very good, but by the end with the help of Mrs. Inspektor's comments and plenty of practice, I wrote top scoring essays all the time. She really will tell you what you need to do. All you really need to do is listen, experiment, and keep trying. As for interaction with other students, the responses to Morning Messages allowed some, but the real interaction for me was in the book clubs. We would all discuss a novel we read before hand, just between a small group of students, and those discussions were some of the most fun times I had in this class (besides the Literary Salon, which was similar in the interaction and just awesomely hilarious). Overall, this class has a great balance between cultivating a love of literature, strengthening AP skills, and having fun coming together with other students. 

+RECOMMENDED

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

This course definitely prepared me for the AP exam! It specifically helped me a lot with writing the timed essays. Mrs. Inspektor also organizes this course very well in general, and she provides lots of great feedback on the essays we turn in too!

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

For this course, I think that I put in about 10 hours a week on average. The amount of work required every day varies slightly, however, so I did have some days with a lot of work and others with less.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I really liked the JASNA essays that we did. I spent quite a few hours on that assignment, but it was fun to plan out an essay based on Sense and Sensibility and submit it to a contest.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

The course did enhance my interest in literature! I found out that I especially like the novels by Jane Austen, so I hope that I will be able to read more of those on my own in the future!

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

The Morning Messages, discussions, and book clubs allowed for plenty of interesting communications with other students. I particularly liked the advice that some students were able to provide to others in the first half of the course--regarding the essays. This was especially valuable 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!)?

Any sort of student who works hard and is able to keep up with the workload would do well in this course! I definitely recommend taking it!

110% recommend this course

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes! Mrs. Inspektor prepared us so well for the exam- the test was exactly as I had expected (some parts even easier than I had practiced for!) and it was definitely because of this class that I was able to do well!

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Hmm- I think every day I put in around 1-2 hours of work. Some days, there were lighter loads of work such as responding to the posts of peers, but other days, there were some assignment (such as essays) that did require a little more time.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

There are so many I found valuable, but I really enjoyed the Short Story Assignment- I was intimidated by this assignment at first because I was never good at creative fiction writing, but Mrs. Inspektor and Ms. Chan provided such clear guidance on what to do, and also gave us the freedom to explore and find what we wanted the piece to look like. Another assignment I really enjoyed was the Novel Comparison essay- it not only really helped me on my AP exam, but it was really helpful to critically think about two novels that didn't seem to have much in common and to bring hidden similarities to light.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I was interested in English before, but this definitely solidified my interest! I had never had the chance to be so deeply invested in literature and it was an amazing experience that I will try to replicate this summer with my long list of books I picked out but never got to read. :)

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

I think that was one of the best parts about this course- there was so much I learned from communicating with other students and Mrs. Inspektor really encouraged us to give helpful feedback or simply comment about how wonderful someone's work was (which was very often :) ). And the Morning Messages were definitely a time where all of us could interact before or after we got started on the assignments so there was guaranteed interaction most days.

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!)?

Highly reccomend

I was on the fence about taking AP Lit before actually enrolling, mainly because I did not think I would be able to get a lot out of the class, despite adoring AP Lang the year before. I am delighted to report that I could not have been more wrong! Not only did the class introduce me to new books, but it gave a new light to books/texts that I had already read, and successfully helped me prepare for the exam.

My biggest worry before taking the class was that I had already read a few of the books on the syllabus, and that reading them again would be redundant, but once again, the class proved me wrong. Learning to write essays - both AP level and beyond - helped me connect with the assigned readings on a new level that one does not get to when simply reading for fun.

The book clubs were one of my favorite components of the class: not only do they allow to choose your own books from a certain genre, but it was nice to meet on Zoom/Skype during a rather weird time period (covid-19). I also really liked the non-AP related parts of the class, such as the fictional-assignment writing, and Jane Austen essay, as working on something that is past-AP level certainly prepared me for the exam, perhaps more-so than simply drilling tests.

With that being said, the class is still a lot of work; I spent the most time reading, responding to discussion questions, and writing essays. The AP Lit exam has a very difficult MCQ section and the first few were a bit discouraging for me. The same goes for the essays, and your first few scores might not be very good. Luckily, between Mrs. I and the TAs with their helpful comments, combined with the morning messages, it is not overwhemingly difficult to get to where you'd like to be with the AP exam in this class.

You'll love this class, I promise

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Absolutely! Early in the year, the first several practice essays I wrote were not very good. Sure, they were ok, but Mrs. Inspektor's morning messages and her detailed comments/suggestions transformed my writing from merely "ok" into fantastic (I hope!). For me, all of the practice essays we did in class were essential in making me feel completely prepared for whatever prompts the exam threw at me.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Probably an hour and a half per day, on average. Every week there were days with very few assignments, so some days I only spent 20 minutes on AP Lit. Other days I would spend upwards of two hours, depending on the amount and difficulty of assignments. When I was first considering taking this course last year, I was wary because of the morning messages - I didn't want to have to commit to responding to something every single day. I enjoy the flexibility of homeschooling and I didn't want to be tied to morning messages. However, if you're worried at all about the morning messages, don't be. You have all day to respond to the message, and it doesn't usually take that much time anyway. Plus, a lot of the teaching in this course is contained in the morning messages, so they are important (and enjoyable) to read. 

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I really loved the novel comparison paper we wrote at the end of the year, because it enabled me to delve deeper into two books through a specific prompt. Practice essays written with timers is one thing, but the opportunity to analyze two novels without time or length requirements was really fun for me. Don't worry, the novel comparison assignment is much more enjoyable (not to mention beneficial) than it sounds. :P

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Definitely! I've always loved reading and writing, but this course opened up the world of in-depth literary analysis to me for the first time. Analyzing literature is now one of my favorite things to do! ;)

Do yourself a favor and take this class

Easily my favorite class I've ever taken.

Mrs. Inspektor and Mr. Stewart are amazing teachers -- I have never felt more prepared for a test then when I sat down to take the AP Lit test. All of their assignments were engaging and fun, with really impactful practical applications for both the test and just reading/writing in general. I felt that the short story and novel comparison paper assignments were partifularly helpful. 

For the short story, we had to write a story of our own, and it was really useful to get a taste for what it felt like to write a story, because that made it much easier to analyze stories others had written.

The novel comparison paper was, in many ways, the culmination of our work over the year: we had to take two books we had read, and compare and contrast them to each other to answer a past AP prompt.

All in all, I honestly think anyone could benefit from this class, so definitely take it. The workload isn't remarkably time consuming, but it is intense (and intensely enjoyable) so be prepared to really challenge yourself. But like I said, the challenge is worth it.

Highly Recommend

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes, I felt extremely prepared. This made my testing experience less stressful. By the time I got to the actual exam, I was confident because I had plenty of practice completed. 

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

About 1 hour per day, 5 days a week. I would work on the weekends if we had a large essay due. 

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

My JASNA essay was a great learning experience. I learned about how to write college-level literary criticism. Mr. Stewart did a great job of pushing my essay to be the best it could be. 

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes! I am planning on majoring in Neuroscience in college next year, so AP Literature wasn't one of my favorite subjects. After this year, I am much more confident in my writing abilities. This will be extremely valuable in college!

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes, I loved getting to talk with the other students. By discussing books with them, I could get a wide range of opinions that showed me different points of view of the works.

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 do not have to be an amazing writer or be completely in love with English class before this course! I found it helpful and fun even as a person that prefers more math and science. The most important thing for a student in this course is to know how to take your feedback and apply it to your writing. The more you understand your mistakes and weak points, the better your writing will get. Getting Mr. Stewarts super thorough feedback helped me improve so much. I learned from my unsuccessful essays the most! By the end of the year, I was consistently writing great AP-level essays. I can't recommend this course enough. 

You should 100% take this class!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

This course definitely prepared me for the exam. When class started and we had to write our first essay, I really had no idea what I was doing. By the time the exam came around in early May, I felt super prepared and ready. Every assignment in the course helps make you a better writer and prepare you for the exam.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

The hours varied depending on the work we had, but I would say that I usually took around 7-8 hours a week. Sometimes there were bigger assignments that would take me a good deal longer.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I enjoyed the short story assignment, the JASNA essay, and the novel comparison paper. These three essays did a great job preparing me for FRQ #3 on the AP exam, and they were all very interesting and fun to write.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I'm not someone who enjoys writing and literature classes, but this class definitely raised my interest in reading and exploring certain books. The class forced me to read books that I probably would not have read otherwise, and I found some that I really enjoyed reading and analyzing.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Definitely. I enjoyed discussion questions where we analyzed parts of books and discussed them together. It was great being able to see my classmate's ideas and things I may not have noticed when I read the book.

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 hard-working and willing to put in effort should take this course. As long as you work hard and strive to understand, you will do great in this course and have a good time as well! 

AMAZING COURSE!

I took the AP Lit exam just a few days ago, and immediately following the exam I felt a rush of relief that I took this course. I felt so incredibly prepared for the exam, and the questions and essays felt just like those I completed during the course. I usually spent 10 hours a week completing the daily assignments, and around 1 to 3 hours completing assignments due on the weekend. My favorite assignment was probably the end of year novel comparison paper, because it was so much fun to write on novels I enjoyed with a prompt that I chose. I felt I had a nice amount of freedom with that assignment, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I already loved English classes and writing in general, so this course gave me enjoyable practice, rather than boosting my interest, but I would definitely recommend this course to anyone willing to put in the work. This class does require a lot of diligence, put it completely pays off (and it's a lot of fun)! The students were fun to interact with and often inspired me to be the best student I can be! I'm so grateful for all this course had to offer, and I highly suggest this class to anyone interested!

Highly Recommend!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

I felt prepared for the AP exam. Throughout the year, we wrote many timed essays and practiced the multiple-choice answers. This AP Literature exam was the first AP exam I had ever taken, so I did not know exactly what to expect. However, the content of the test was exactly like the preparation work we have done throughout the year. 

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course? 

I tend to work a bit on the slower side, so I generally spent two to three hours every day. 

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? 

I enjoyed working on the novel comparison paper, which was our final assignment. I was able to reflect on the more subtle nuances and symbolisms I had overlooked when reading these works earlier in the year, and as a result, I gained a fuller understanding of both novels. Being able to use what I learned throughout the year in doing a full review and analysis of the two works was extremely edifying, and it was also an excellent final review for the AP exam. 

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 is willing to spend the time and energy will do very well. When I first began this class, I couldn't tell you what symbolism or themes were. However, Mr. Stewart and Mrs. Inspektor gave me all the tools necessary to excel, so I am confident anyone who puts forth the effort will do well. I absolutely recommend this course. I am not exaggerating when I say this course has truly changed the way I view not only literature but also life. This course really enhanced my ability to think critically and look for the meaning and motivation behind actions and decisions. Before this class, I really did not know how to read literature and understand what the author was trying to say through his story. This class left a great impact on me and given me skills I will carry with me, not only in my academic career but for the rest of my life. I highly recommend it to anyone willing to put in the effort to learn and grow. 

Guaranteed Growth!

Before, I answer any of these questions, I just have to mention that I was pretty nervous coming into this class. I never did any courses with PAH before and didn't know what to expect. I also was absolutely horrified when I was asked to write my first essay and I had no idea how to do it. This leads in to the questions that I am more than happy to answer.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I dreaded essays. I would stress over them so much and stay up late writing and editing. Looking back, I would say that the essays were the most helpful and valuable. They taught me how to write well, provide evidence for the points I made, and how to analyze a piece of literature well. In my opinion, I improved greatly in this area. I went from panicking about knowing absolutely nothing about how to write an essay on a piece of literature to being confident about how I will perform in the AP Exam. The final comparison essay I wrote was one involving Frankenstein and The Great Gatsby. The latter novel was one that I did not understand well and I thought it was a bit dry. I had a tiny bit of difficulty reading it. After this essay, I noticed so many details, contradictions, and the beauty of the novel and its characters. It is now one of my favorite pieces of American Literature. It's too soon to say if they were my favorite assignments, but at the moment I think that the book clubs were my favorite. They are great for building relationships and making friends with classmates, you get to hear other people's points of view on a novel, and you learn to love novels that you previously despised with your whole being. It's guaranteed that you will come out of a book club with new friends and a great many observations about the novel that you chose to study. Speaking of which, I decided to join book clubs that involved Shakespeare and some novels that I had already read beforehand. I exited with a great appreciation for Shakespeare's sense of humor. I noticed so many new things from the novels I had already read and I was so excited and fascinated, that I would bring up these newly discovered epiphanies to my family. (I think I convinced her to read a majority of the plays and novels that I so passionately extolled on a regular basis).

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Absolutely! I always loved reading and literature, but this course helped the writing and analyzing aspect. I have a much greater appreciation for writers and their works. Writing is a very handy tool in whatever job you decide to do in the future. I will probably take an English class in college when I graduate. I love English and literature and this class only made me love and recognize it's worth even more.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

There is no way for me to emphasize how many times I would say yes to this question. I think that the bar for this class is very high and that causes students to rise to the occasion and meet or exceed the standard that the other students put in place. My classmates are extremely intelligent and well-read. This directly resulted in my growth and improvement. It also made me a better student, writer, and person. This class has not only affected my academics and development in this subject, but in nearly everything else as well. It taught me that doing my best is worth it and that surrounding yourself with incredible people (classmates in this case) is great for bettering yourself and all your endeavors. Class discussions are great for seeing other students' views, opinions, and observations on a book. There can be many interpretations of  a singular scene in a novel and it is invaluable to be able to see things from multiple points of view. The students bios are also a great way to find out who has similar music tastes, favorite pieces literature, and just getting to know each other in general.

In conclusion, you MUST take this course! My parents read some of my stories and essays and thought that I grew so much. I think that this was the best class I have taken. While some of my other classes were difficult and a bit hard to give my attention to, this class was the highlight of my school year. I would rush through my other subjects so that I could start working on literature. I've improved as a person, student, and writer and would recommend this class. I might talk someone's ear off in praise of this class. Long story short, I was nervous and unsure if I would do well in this class, but in the end, I realized that it didn't matter if I didn't get an outstanding grade or was at the top of the class. All that  mattered was that I learned much and have a greater love for English and literature and I think that alone makes this class worth taking.

Mrs. Inspektor teaches this course, so it is, by definition, Excellent.

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Per usual with Mrs. Inspektor, the answer is a resounding "Yes!" The course was designed to be incredibly challenging, so that even though I didn't always feel prepared for the exam while preparing in the course, I realized that the course sets the bar so much higher so that the actual exam feels like a normal, everyday assignment.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I spent around eight hours a week on AP Lit. Now, I'll put out the disclaimer, but I am a very slow reader, so some weeks (especially the really high volume reading) took up to double the amount of time.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I think the most valuable assignments this year were the three creative papers: the Short Story Assignment, JASNA, and the Novel Comparison Paper. They helped me understand what literary analysis is all about, and especially the JASNA and Novel Comparison Paper set me up to feel comfortably on the FRQs and even the MCQs.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I'm not that much of a literature person. Actually, to be completely honest, I have chronically avoided reading and literature since birth. I am an exact person, and I like subjects where there is objectivity, so I will admit it was quite the ice-water plunge to dive right into the nebulous ideas of symbolism, varying interpretations that were all "valid," and the supreme reign of Subjectivity. However, thanks to Mrs. Inspektor's undying faith in my generally weak literary skills, regular practice each week, and having discussions and getting help from exceptional peers, I was able to overcome. Sure, I'm not going to go get a PhD in studying Faulkner, but I have learned the merit of literature and why it's worth studying it. I've discovered a friend in Jane Austen's Emma, and I made wonderful friends that have helped me progress throughout the year.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes, yes, and yes. For me personally, the reason why PAH classes are so exceptionable is largely due to the incredibly talented peer group. Discussions with peers often taught me valuable insights into the books we studied, and having course interactions with essay feedback and revision help was incredibly valuable throughout the year. I've been doing online homeschooling my entire life (I'm graduating from high school in a few weeks!) and I hold very strong convictions that the PAH peer interactions are by far the most exceptionable and highest quality in the entire country for online home school programs.

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 could do well in this course, given they invest the necessary hours of hard work. I honestly believe it to be a testament to how excellent Mrs. Inspektor is as an instructor. I started the course with about zero literary capacity, and although it was really difficult and frustrating at times, I was able to make it through and find enjoyment by the end.

Favorite Class of my High School Career

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially 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!)?

I've taken several courses with PAH at this point, and I always walk away incredibly impressed with the caliber of teaching and how much I've learned. However, I can say that this course was absolutely on of the most amazing I've taken yet! Yes, Mrs. Inspektor did prepare us incredibly well for the exam--exam day felt almost easy, like another practice!--however, the this class is a true gem in that Mrs. I and Mr. Stewart weren't teaching us just to do well on the exam, they really like literature and want us to, too. The material was interesting, and we learned not just how to name devices but to really dig into the deeper meaning in literature and discover how that relates to the world around us (also I can't watch Marvel anymore without seeing symbolism and character foils, but that's a story for another time). The class interactions were fantastic, and I learned so much from hearing all the insight from my amazingly talented, genius classmates. Having and going back and forth with someone else's perspective really does teach you to think harder and from different angles, and this class has really helped hone that skill for me, which is so essential not just in class, but in life! 

I have always enjoyed reading, so perhaps I was slightly biased coming into the class, however, I cannot recommend the class enough whether you are an avid reader or not so into it. Yes, it's a book class, but the analytical and writing skills taught have so many applications so far beyond any high school course. You should be prepared to work probably 1.5-2 hours a day (less towards the end of the year) on classwork, which can be anything from answering the daily Morning Message, reading, participating in discussion questions, or writing essays. Every now and then you might expect to throw an extra 1-3 hours in on a weekend or in the evenings if you have a big paper due (though Mrs. I does a great job of allotting time for writing these) or a book club meeting. Even though they took up more time and effort, I can confidently say our biggest assignments were the ones I received the most enjoyment and satisfaction from. The original short story assignment was great--not only was it fun to do something I ordinarily wouldn't really do (write a story? *gasp*), but reading the incredible tales my classmates came up with was amazing. I occasionally read one for fun now and then. The JASNA essay was also fabulous. Although I wasn't looking forward to it at the beginning (while not anti-Austen, I've never really had her at the top of my list), as I wrote, I was so interested. There were so many complexities to explore, and the teachers gave wonderful feedback on our drafts, as well, and that essay is one of the things from class that I'm the proudest of. This class has revolutionized the way I look at everything. It is absolutely worth your while.

Wonderful class and encouraging teachers

 Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit class was a wonderful experience. The class was a bit rigorous, but it was interesting and enjoyable for the most part. My favorite part about this class was its applicability to my reading and learning about and digging into analysis. Mrs. Inspektor was very quick at adapting the class to prepare us for the AP Exam in light of quarantine, and I felt confident and prepared when taking the exam. I generally put 1-2 hours per day into this course. There are daily assignments and morning messages that are due at the end of the day. The course did enhance my interest in this subject! The concepts were interesting and applicable to my reading and consumption of stories, whether that be through books, TV shows, or movies. My favorite assignments were the essays/practice exams. Even if I didn't nail the passage or the poem every time, writing the analysis and digging into the passage felt exhilarating and I eagerly waited for the teacher's feedback to either confirm or enlighten my original analysis. Out of all my classes this year, I felt like communications with other students was the best in this class. The WWWBoard and DQs were effective for great and insightful discussions with my classmates. I would say that AP Lang did give me a good background for this class, and I probably did better in this class because I had that experience first to get me acquainted with the format and subjects of this class. However, I also do think that any student who is engaged in the course work and who can keep up with consistent daily work could do well even if they didn't take AP Lang before. Ultimately :), I would highly recommend this course!

*PLEASE* Take This Class!!!

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Undeniably! Throughout the year, Mrs. Inspektor has us writing AP-style timed essays very early on, helping us become very comfortable with writing under the same conditions as the AP exam. Of course, this year, our exams were moved online and reduced to only one essay, but Mrs. Inspektor adapted to the new format and helped us prepare flawlessly. I was so impressed and thankful for how well she was able to transition us from MCQs and the three different types of essays into mastering one type of essay (once we found out which type that was, of course). I am so grateful to Mrs. Inspektor for preparing us so well-- the whole class builds on literature analysis that acts as a foundation for the skills one needs for the exam. I didn't even need to take the exam (I already get college credit for AP Lang), but I wanted to because of how much I enjoyed what I did in class and how well-prepared I felt.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

The answer to this question varies. There are some weeks where classwork is heavier than usual, some where it's lighter. A lot of our weeks had a similar rhythm-- reading, reading, discussion questions. The Morning Messages often have a required response, but those usually take only (at most) maybe 20 minutes. There were individual projects, as some ahve already mentioned, like the JASNA essay or the short story assignment, that took up more time, but even those were paced at an extremely easy-to-manage pace. 

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I loved the fact that this class included creative writing! In AP Lang, which I took with Mrs. Follmer, so I'm not sure how Mrs. Inspektor's class operates, we did a lot of academic writing, lots of really fun research papers, but in AP Lit, we wrote short stories and poems! Mrs. Inspektor understands the intrinsic value of creativity, and creating something of our own, actually using the devices we've been learning about to construct a story full of emotions and images, helps to put the student into an author's shoes and help the analysis process. We did the same when we reached our poetry unit, writing our own poems to put together a work of literature using the methods we had been dissecting.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Definitely! I have always loved literature and writing, but Mrs. Inspektor and the material of this class only amplified this love. We read and analyzed works that are in genres I'd never even thought of touching before, and I ended up gaining a new appreciation for all kinds of literature.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Oh my gooooossssshhhhhh. YES!!! I really feel like I made friends in this class. We have a class group chat which leaves us free to bond as well as get help from TAs. There are fun icebreakers at the beginning of the year, and activities like the Literary Salon sprinkled in. Students leave feedback on each other's work, which is great not only to help the student, but to form relationships.

• 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 loves to learn and think creatively with analysis of literature will thrive in this class. I HIGHLY recommend this class. I am so thankful to have had the instruction and guidance of Mrs. Inspektor. She's inspired me, not only in my academic analysis, but also in my creative writing! TAKE THIS CLASS!!! :D

Course Review: Complexity and Meaning in Literature

I certainly feel this course prepared me for the exam--in fact, as long as you complete the assignments, it would be impossible to finish this course without being prepared for the exam. I worked about two and a half hours per day on AP Lit during the week, and I'd recommend this course to any student who is both willing to work hard and eager to improve his or her ability to analyze literature on a deeper level. Mrs. Inspektor and Mr. Stewart are absolutely wonderful teachers who give valuable and extensive feedback on your work and it is because of them that I now see nuanced symbolism and a deeper meaning in everything I read! I really loved the JASNA writing assignment and the creative writing assignment from earlier in the year, as well as all of the book club discussions. I certainly recommend this course and thank both Mrs. Inspektor and Mr. Stewart for a wonderful year!

AP Lit is an awesome class!

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes!  Although I ended up not taking the exam because of the way my uni counts credits, I am confident that I could have easily scored a 5, had I taken it.  Mrs. Inspektor was quick to adapt to the changes that the College Board added to the exam after the pandemic began, and I think her timed essay review was really helpful.  

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Some weeks I spent very little time on the course, some weeks I spent way more.  I would say about 6-7 hrs a week on average.  I am generally a fast reader, but the morning messages took me a lot of time, so I'd usually spend between 30 minutes to an hour on the class every day.  On the weeks that we had big assignments, I spent way more time, more like 10-14 hrs a week.  I also spent a lot of time discussing lit topics with my classmates (who eventually became my friends!) so in general I spent a lot of time working on the class topics.  If you are a slow reader, expect this class to take you about 9-10 hrs a week.  

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Yes!  I really enjoyed the poetry assignment and the short story assignment.  The short story was a ton of fun to write, although occasionally agonizing, and the poetry assignment was super gratifying.  I've always had an interest in writing poetry, so it was awesome to get critiques.  I also thought it was really nice that Mrs. Inspektor gave us an option to write about the coronavirus pandemic, since that was obviously weighing on our minds at the time (and still is).

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Absolutely!  I came into the class almost a bit reluctant because I'd felt that I'd already learned all I needed about English in AP Lang, but as the class progressed I found myself enjoying the assignments and becoming a fan of Jane Austen, even though I'd hated her before.  If you enjoy reading and writing, this class will be a blast for you!  

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

For sure.  I formed a group chat with a few of my classmates and we've become really good friends.  My fellow students were often eager to discuss lit and trade critiques, which was really helpful.  The Literary Salon in April was a lot of fun too.  Over the months, the class becomes a little community, even though there's no live class; I've actually taken live classes where I've had less interaction with my classmates.  With a morning message every day, there's a huge amount of classmate interaction :D  

• 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 this class would work great for someone who enjoys reading!  Mrs. Inspektor is super encouraging and always pushes us to think critically about what we are reading.  I would actually advise taking AP Lit before taking AP Lang, because some of the literature skills are included in the Lang exam.  Either way, both classes are wonderful, and for a student who is interested in English, being in a class with a lot of other English-obsessed students can be a great opportunity to get critiques, make friends, and... who knows?  Get a literary agent to publish your first bestseller! ;D

My Favorite Class This Year

I really loved this class—it's my favorite of the ones I took this year. It gave me a deeper appreciation for reading and analyzing literature—among other things, it was very interesting to me to see the subjects we were learning at work in actual literature, which made me appreciate the complexity of literature—and it definitely prepared me for the AP Exam. Mrs. Inspektor and Mr. Stewart are great teachers who teach clearly and thoroughly and encourage students not only to analyze literature but also to enjoy and appreciate literature. 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 one enhanced my understanding of literature, but I especially enjoyed the culminating assignment of the short-story unit (writing a short story) and the culminating assignment of the poetry unit (writing a poem), as I am creative, but also because writing literature helped me to better appreciate how authors utilize various literary devices. I felt my communications with other students to be both interesting and valuable, as each class discussion furthered my knowledge of the work of literature under discussion. A student with a love of literature and a desire to understand literature 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!

This class....!!!!!!!!!

Whenever my family first saw the price tag of the online AP homeschoolers classes, they were understandably a bit wary of spending that much on one class (we homeschool, what can you expect?). However, they decided to go through with it and spend the money because they understood that a well-taught AP class is invaluable, if only to earn AP credit. However, this class surpassed my expectations entirely, and did much more than earn college credit! The amount of work that Mrs. Inspektor and my wonderful grader, Mr. Stewart put into this class is incredible, and it certainly pays off! This year of AP Literature has not only been my favorite English class, but might have even been my favorite class throughout all high school (and this is coming from a girl who loves science and math and just took calc 3 in the fall)!

I cannot describe how helpful this class has been to me, both with obvious things like academically analyzing literature in poetry and passages, but also in analyzing little things in everyday life, such as song lyrics (which are a lot like poetry), movies, or even events that happen. Over the past year, I feel like I've matured even more than I otherwise would, simply because in this class we dove headfirst into exploring hard concepts and seemingly irreconcilable but somehow brilliant nuances. Though the large amount of work I had to do for this class was rarely what I felt like doing in my school day, it was exactly what I needed my senior year of highschool.

I am very grateful I had the opportunity to take this class and have my papers graded by Mr. Stewart (he's totally underrated compared to Mrs. Inspektor, but reading his comments on my assignments is what pushed me to grow as a writer). I would recommend this class to any homeschool high school student who is ready for a lot of hard work and wants to continue the life-long task of becoming the best writer possible.

Honestly, I hadn't expected to have so much fun!

Mrs. Inspektor loads her curriculum with fun projects that made us dive deeper into literature that weren't directly related to the AP exam. Of course, looking back I can see how all the book clubs and literary salons actually did help me read more books and understand them more, but back then all I was really focusing on was the break from the exam-mongering that my other AP teachers did in different programs. Mrs. Inspektor has just the right amount, I feel, of AP anxiety. While my World History teacher was busy forcing FRQs and multiple-choice practice exams and "you'll need this on the test!"s at us, Mrs. Inspektor was calmly having us write our own short story to get a feel for creative prose and posting discussion questions seemingly solely for deeper knowledge about the books, though later of course I realize that it was in order to stretch our familiarity and ability to analyze books and then share our thoughts clearly. I feel she prepared me excellently for the AP exam, and I especially love how a lot of it didn't feel like preparation for anything. Just a bunch of book-lovers talking about books. 

Generally, I put around ten or eleven hours per week into the course, with around two hours per day. However, it'd be more accurate to say I put from seven hours of work to fifteen hours of work per week as a range. Sometimes the assignments or the book was easy--maybe I'd already read it, or maybe it was a particularly light week. Then, other times, there was more to do--maybe the book was especially challenging for me, or maybe there were extra activities like grading classmates' papers or writing a competitive essay.

I would definitely recommend this course to other students! It was fun, engaging, and, honestly, it's tiring to read classical literature alone. The discussion and interaction and communication and just excitement over the same books was probably my favorite part of the course. After the AP exam we all went on to the WWW board and gushed about how, "it's over!! I'm so tired, aren't you? Man, that was hard, how was it for you? We're done!! That was so fun!" I loved being able to talk about the experience we'd all had, taking the AP exams online for the first time ever in AP history. 

In short, I came to AP Lit prepared to work hard and stretch my mind, with the image in my head of some sort of drill sergeant getting the soldiers ready for war; I did not come prepared for a calm, fun, easygoing Mrs. Frizzle type, "we're going to take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!" that constantly pushed me past what I'd thought was my academic limit but did so with a smile and a "good job! Have an EXEMPLARY!" or a, "good job, but maybe explain your thoughts more?" 

It's hard work, but it's fun hard work, and I highly recommend it.

Amazing and valuable class!

This class is one the most helpful and fun classes that I have ever taken! My interest in literature has grown and developed. I have a better grasp of how to approach and analyze literature.  Throughout this course, I've noticed consistent improvement in my writing. More importantly, my confidence in my own writing has grown! This class presented varied writing assignments that seemed a daunting challenge at first -writing a short story, a 8-10 page essay on Jane Austen's work, and more. Mrs. Inspektor and Mr. Stewart always offered guidance on assignments that made them more manageable! Their detailed feedback was always beneficial and encouraging.

Even with all the curveballs of the 2020 AP Exam, I still went into the exam feeling more confident than any of my other exams! Exam prep is incorporated consistently throughout the year that I felt prepared without any need for last minute panic cramming. Even though I felt prepared for the exam, this class is not solely exam-prep, and I will taking so much more from this class than simply my AP score!

I was also able to engage with my classmates through bookclubs and other activities. Their feedback and work ethic always motivated me!  This course requires diligence and a serious time commitment, but the time spent is not wasted. I know that I will take the skills and knowledge that I have learned well beyond this class! To anyone with an interest in literature who is willing to put in the work, I strongly recommend this class!    

AP English Literature and Composition with Mrs. Inspektor

Mrs. Inspektor's AP Literature course left me feeling extremely prepared for the AP Literature exam. More than that, this course taught me how to better understand and appreciate literature. Generally, I worked on AP Literature for about 2 hours every weekday. I especially enjoyed the literary discussions held with my classmates. This course introduced me to new and exciting literature. I would recommend this course to any students who want to be prepared for the AP Literature exam and gain a better knowledge and understanding of literary analysis. This course was a lot of work, but extremely worthwhile. 

A+

In this class, I was able to see literature in a new light. Stories were more than just stories. Stories were ways of describing humanity and depicting life so that everyone can understand each other better. I really enjoyed the imaginative aspects of this course. Instead of writing about stories, we got to write our own stories, which I loved. We also had the spring break Literary Dinner Party where we pretended to be characters from the books that we read. Overall, it was a great experience. I would recommend this course to anyone who is willing to work hard. If you are going to take a half-way approach, don't bother registering.

Hands down best AP instructor and class!

Wow, this was by far one of my favorite classes from all four years of high school! I did not realize it was possible to feel SO prepared for an AP exam! Even with all the crazy changes to the 2020 exam, Mrs. Inspektor quickly adapted to the changes and prepared us extremely well for the modified exam--to the point that writing essays was so fun and easy (take it from the girl who spent three hours writing the same type of essay at the beginning of the year *facepalm*).  Mrs. Inspektor cares a lot about all her students and is so supportive and understanding. Her comments on all of my essays were extremely clear and helpful. I've grown in not only writing analysis but also my appreciation for literature and even poetry (who would've thought!).

I definitely put a lot of time into this course, maybe around 10 hours per week, give or take, but it was definitely worth it. Communication with other students was lively, beneficial, and fun. I've taken courses where you don't even realize there are other students in the class, but all the daily postings on the board, peer reviews, and book clubs enhanced interaction with some of the best writers I've known! 

Overall, I cannot stress how prepared and confident I felt taking the exam, and I strongly recommend this class to anyone interested in learning more about literature and improving in writing as well as acing the AP exam!

Mrs. Inspektor is, without a doubt, the greatest teacher I have ever had

    Mrs. Inspektor is kind, understanding, easy to communicate with, and highly willing to assist when a student has a particular learning style/difficulty, as well as adapt to outside situations (be they individual or... you know... an early 2020-type situation). I reached out to her over the year a few times for different reasons, and each time, she has come back with a detailed response providing aid, advice, or celebration of achievement!

    This course absolutely prepared me for the exam, even with all the unusual changes this year (new rubric AND new exam format!), although I'd argue that the true purpose of the course is to grow the students as people and as readers/enjoyers of literature—something it also very much succeeds at! I put around 8-10 hours of work per week, although some projects (e.g. writing a short story, putting together the Jane Austen essay) took a great deal more additional time. It is worth considering that many parts of the class take as much time as you decide to give; I found it entirely worthwhile to devote a lot.

    I think the course did enhance my interest in the subject, although that was already pretty large. There are some things that I probably would not have appreciated before, which I now see in a different light. The students themselves are also a credit to the class. They're brilliant (the standards here are not low, although nobody is at all demeaning!), friendly, insightful, helpful (many will go the extra mile to assist another student if asked!), supportive, and often willing to consider and debate various opinions or interpretations of works.

    All in all, I would very much recommend this course to anyone with even a little interest—it's so good that even the smallest amount of curiosity has a high chance of becoming a strong love and a desire to work hard throughout the year.

10/10 could not recommend more!

This class is definitely amount my top classes in all of high school. I can't believe how far I've come in terms of analysis and writing; this class will teach you to love classic literature. I spent somewhere around an hour and a half on it everyday, which is good, because Mrs. I works hard to make it a class you work on each day of the week. It's structured so you sign into the class everyday to do something, which helps fight procrastination, and stops you from sending wildly different amounts of times on the class on different days. This also helps was preparation for th AP exam.

Book clubs were absolutely amazing, and a great way to connect with other students about class, outside of class. In online classes sometimes it feels like other students are just faceless entities who have a computer, but in this class they are real people. 

This class helped prepare me for the exam, and for college level English classes with it's rigor. I received excellent criticism from the TA's, teachers, and other students that I just hadn't ever had before. The assignments are fun, and there weren't any assignments that I really disliked. I'm no perfect student, there were books that I didn't love as much, and sometimes I was tired, but overall this class was one that I was excited to do everyday. And when I got really sick in the middle of the year, Mrs. Inspektor and Mr. Tynan shifted the class syllabus for me. They really care about their students. 

If you can take this class, do it. It's incredibly engaging and you'll remember it for years to come. 

Excellent Course!

-The course prepared me well. I believe it helped me realize how to delve deeper into works.... side note: I still believe that the difference between literary fiction and commercial fiction is blurred at times. One of my favorite works is still the Lord of the Rings. 

-Usually 6-10 hours I'd say. However, I never really counted, so I'm not sure. 

-The book clubs were enjoyable. Although it was sometimes difficult to read them in time, discussing them with other students was a lot of fun. 

-I have always enjoyed reading. Now I can read more analytically. However, I wouldn't say that makes reading any more interesting than it was before. 

-Yes, the interaction with the students was a great part of this course. 

-One has to be able to set aside a bit of time every day for this class. It is not too much to do the class every day, but there is a continuous stream of assignments. You do NOT want to get behind! I would absolutely recommend this course to other students. I think in a lot of online classes the teachers expect the students to do a lot of the learning on their own, so the class isn't that well structured and has few assignments. This class, while it did take a decent amount of time, also did an excellent job preparing me for the AP exam because it was structured, had constant feedback and interaction, and had a steady stream of work. 

Amazing experience

I have always loved literature but it was only in this class that I feel I truly began to understand the depth works of literature hold and how powerfuly they can effect my life. This class also help me to develop my writing style and I realize now how powerful words are, and this class also helped me to use words to express my ideas clearly and concisely.

Mrs. Inspektor's teaching is the best!!

I took AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor before taking AP Lit, so I was familiar with Mrs. Inspektor's teaching style and was prepared for a rigorous but extremely rewarding experience.  I put in about ten hours of work per week on a regular week, though I did much more during big assignments like the JASNA essay or Novel Comparison Paper.  I've always been a fan of literature, but this course definitely introduced me to new genres, and I felt like it particularly enhanced my interest in poetry.  As is typical with PA Homeschoolers classes, the student interactions are very valuable.  I'm always humbled when I read my classmates's stellar work.  Everyone is so motivated and the high level of performance pushes you to work harder and think deeper.  Of course, Mrs. Inspektor is the main reason this class is so great.  She gives specific and honest feedback on assignments that helps me improve on future assignments.  I'm sad that this was my last AP English class, but I encourage every student to take this class!  

Do you enjoy oxygen? If so, you'll enjoy AP Lit!!!

If I let myself say everything that I wanted to say about this class, we'd all be here for several hours and this review would be a thousand pages long. Let's try to stay on topic by answering the questions, shall we? 

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

I'm the kind of person who gets crippling test anxiety, but I have never felt calmer during a test than I did during the AP Lit exam. There were a few jitters, to be sure, but by the time May 8^th rolled around, we had completed so many practice essays and timed MCQs that it just felt like routine. I had a plan for the test and I knew what to expect. I actually didn't want to die when the proctor handed me my test booklet, and for me, that's saying something.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Hmm…define "generally." Some days there is very little work to complete, but if you have one of the major assignments due shortly and especially if you've procrastinated a bit (not that I have ANY experience with that), you're looking at a solid weekend of work. I can remember spending about 8 or 9 hours one Saturday working on the final draft of my short story, but most days required very little compared to that. Writing a few paragraphs, reading literary analysis/chapters in one of the assigned books, and sharing your thoughts on the WWW board is usually all that is required per day. 

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

The short story assignment was the best, hands down. I loved the JASNA essay and the novel comparison paper as well, but the short story was my favorite because it both allowed creativity and presented enough guidelines to make it a challenge. If the assignment had merely been "Write a story," I could've written down any of the dozens of mediocre plotlines knocking around in my head. But we were required to read the work of other short story authors (I chose James Joyce) and write a first draft that did not mimic or parody their style but was somehow inspired by their writing. That encouraged me to think outside of my usual box and turned what might have been the "easiest" major assignment (since, unlike the JASNA essay and the novel comparison paper, we did not have to cite any outside sources in the paper itself) into a challenging one. Mrs. Inspektor also encouraged us to write with "emotional honesty," avoiding clichés not only in our phrasing but also in our characterization, setting, and storyline. That idea of striving for emotional honesty has stuck with me ever since and drastically changed my writing for the better!

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Speaking of honesty, I'm going to be real with you guys: I'm not a lit nerd. If you're not a lit nerd either, I can imagine that you're reading the course description for this class and thinking, "But…I don't like poetry!" Fear not, young one. I can promise you that whatever your specific interests are, you will learn things in this class that will help you not only with literary analysis but also with your own field. If you're into sports, this class has something for you. If you're into music, this class has something for you. If you're into reading and writing…why are you even reading reviews? Hurry and sign up, pumpkin!

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

My communications with other students in this class have resulted in friendships that I value as much as or more so than my "in real life" friends that I see in person on a daily basis. You will meet people in this class who you will learn from and be inspired by; after all, you interact on such a personal level since you read each other's writing. In other online classes, it can be hard to feel close with your classmates since all you do is discuss multiple choice problems or help each other with specific questions about the coursework. In AP Lit, we all read each other's essays and learn from the strengths and weaknesses of our classmates. You start to appreciate the fact that one person has a natural talent for beautiful syntax, while another person always brings fresh, original ideas into their analysis. Your classmates will also leave comments on your own writing, and you'll start to realize your own gifts and potential through their feedback, as well as the things that you can do better. This is not a class for those who fear criticism! If you can't see your weaknesses, you'll never overcome 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!)?

I don't think it matters what sort of student you are. If you're willing to work for it, you can succeed in this class. Mrs. Inspektor will probably never just say "Great job" without pointing out something that you can do better, but she recognizes and rewards improvement. If you really commit to this class, you'll do well. Pinky promise. :)

Amazing course!!!

Exceptional and phenomenal class!!

First off, I highly recommend this class to anyone on the fence about it! It is completely different than any other English class that I have taken, and it challenged me to reach heights I never thought that I would reach. At the beginning of the year, it took me about 3-4 hours to read over, plan, and write a response to the essays that were assigned, and I was continually receiving low scores. That pushed me to figure out what I was doing wrong. Thanks to Mr. Stewart's and Mrs. Inspektor's helpful guidance, I am now able to read, outline, and write a single-space, college-rule, two-page essay in less than 40 minutes! My writing has matured and improved so much because of this class, and the skills that I have learned will endure with me through for the rest of my life!

I really liked that the focus of the class was on literature, not just solely focused on the AP exam at the end of the year. Mrs. I really narrows in on developing your skills in literature, then applying what you have learned to the AP exam. I felt confident walking into the test, knowing that all of the work I had put into the class paid off! There is no busy work in this class; it all has a purpose and a meaning to you, if you search for it. Again, I highly recommend Mrs. I's course to anyone and everyone; you will come away a different student and more importantly, a different person! As someone who has always loved reading, and usually writing, I now understand literature and find myself subconsciously noting 'Ah! That's a symbol of baptism! How has this changed the character?' or something else similar in both books and TV shows/movies which means so much to me. Thank you so much for a wonderful year to AP Lit Mrs. I, Mr. S, the TAs, and my amazing classmates!

Definitely take this class!

I have taken both AP Language and AP Literature with Mrs. Inspektor, and I have loved every bit of both. 

Mrs. Inspektor is an exceptional teacher. She is fluent in her understanding of the exam itself, and she is incredible in both how she teaches and how she critiques the student essays. She always has extremely insightful and helpful suggestions for strengthening your writing. 

 AP English Literature will challenge your analysis skills and the way you view literature, but the outcome is well worth it. I believe that this class has given me a solid foundation in my analytical thinking and my appreciation of literature. This class is a cornerstone of a well rounded education because it exposes the student to a rich selection of literature and trains the student to think more deeply about the material they are learning. I definitely recommend this class!

I will never not recommend this class

This is not an easy class. Let me just get that out of the way first. But while this is quite possibly the most challenging course I have ever taken, it is also certainly the most fulfilling one yet.

Mrs. Inspektor provides an incredibly thorough approach to appreciating and analyzing literature, assigning reading, discussion questions, essays, and many other fun assignments every week. While this is a daunting task, every part becomes enjoyable and interesting with the right attitude. However, I will not deny that with certain books we read I would have rather skipped over the analysis altogether due to me having no interest in the material (I'm looking at you, Heart of Darkness!). If you are a motivated, honest student, you will probably wind up spending at least an hour or two on your work every day, depending on the time of year. There were weeks when I would easily spend fifteen to twenty hours on coursework, but these were mostly weeks when drafts of huge papers or projects were due.

Speaking of papers, there were three major assignments that we completed this year, and each one gave me, yes, a huge headache and lack of sleep, but also great confidence in my skills. At the end of our first unit on short stories, we got to write our own, which had to be inspired in some way by short stories of another author. This was my favorite assignment of the entire year. While Mrs. Inspektor's grading was tough, she gave us the freedom to explore nearly any topic we liked. Some of the best stories I have ever read came out of my classmates' short stories! We also each wrote papers to submit to the Jane Austen Society of North America's essay contest after completing our unit on Northanger Abbey. This was an incredibly challenging assignment, but it was a great lesson on the importance of close reading and analysis. Our final major assignment was the novel comparison paper, in which we had to take a past AP exam open question prompt (or create our own, which is what I did) and explore that aspect through two works we had read through the course. I was actually able to use one of these works as my choice on the AP exam, which was wonderful! Through this assignment, we were able to review what we had learned throughout the year, as well as prepare for similar papers we will have to write in college.

So, I have written a lot, but I hope that this is a testament to the high quality of this class. While there is no live meeting time, I still feel as though I have developed close relationships with Mrs. Inspektor and my fellow classmates through posts on the WWW board, book clubs, and random conversations that sprang out of unexpected places. While this is not a class for the faint of heart, I can honestly say that without this class I would not be the writer, student, or person that I am today. If that doesn't convince you, then I don't know what will! Take this class!!

10/10 Would Take Again

Here are a few general impressions and highlights about the difficulty, values, and takeaways from this class. In summary, I absolutely loved it and would highly recommend it to any high schooler who desires a deeper appreciation of literature.

1. It's hard. Not all AP's are created equal, but AP Lit is known as a rigorous one, and this class is no exception. This class was definitely the hardest class I took this year, and very possibly the hardest class of my high school. I regularly found myself staying up significantly later than normal to complete essays, and sadly at a few points I even fell a little behind on assignments. However, as I will explain some more later, it was totally worth it!

2. It prepares you extremely well for the AP Exam. Although I have not yet received my AP score at the time of writing, I am confident that I earned a 4, and I suspect I got a 5, all thanks to this course. The weekly practice essays are past AP FRQ's (free response questions), and are graded at least as strictly with an identical rubric. We also discussed past high- and low-scoring essays and why they got the scores they got. Furthermore, in the Spring semester, we did many past MCQ's (multiple choice questions) and talked about general advice, practicing tips, why wrong answers are wrong, etcetera.

3. Your fellow students are geniuses. Nearly all of my fellow classmates deeply loved literature and were capable of analyzing it at a deep level. This made the discussion question component of the course extremely valuable, since I could learn from and argue with my classmates about literature. Furthermore, a small group of classmates form "book clubs" throughout the year, where you all read and discuss some work independently of the main class, which was also great. This part of the course could also facilitate getting to know some of your classmates more personally. However, this bullet does not mean you won't succeed in this class if you're not a literature genius, though you'll certainly become one at the end if you put in the work. ;-)

4. "AP prep" is not the main thrust of the course; "deeply understanding literature" is. Sadly, I have found that many high school courses, even AP courses, do not grant anything resembling deep understanding of their supposed subject. But this class is a wonderful exception. In this class, we read, discussed, and argued with literary criticism from prominent critics like Chinua Achebe. Furthermore, many of my classmate's papers were of similar quality to what would appear in a journal of literary criticism. Put briefly, this class will teach you how to understand and appreciate literature in depth.

5. We not only analyzed literature; more importantly, we enjoyed literature. It is a universal truth that books are fun, and this class epitomized this truth. We didn't just tear books apart because we could; we analyzed them because we loved them and wanted to enjoy them with the deeper enjoyment that comes from true understanding. In fact, this was even made an explicit aim of the course; we read several poems that specifically decried "torturing" a work with boring analysis.

In summary, I found this rigorous course deeply fun, rewarding, and inspiring. In fact, though I am majoring in math next fall, I intend to take some more literature classes purely for fun. Again, I would highly recommend this class to anybody who is willing to work hard and loves or wants to learn to love literature. Thank you so, so, so much, Mrs. Inspektor!

Hands-down, best class I have ever taken

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? 

Definitely. I went into the exam knowing exactly what to expect. From week 3 Mrs. Inspektor and Mr. Stewart had us writing AP exam style essays and during the spring semester we completed about one multiple choice section a week. Mrs. Inspektor tailored the Morning Messages to target exactly what the class struggled with and we did plenty of little fun excerises to strengthen our analysis abilities. 

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into this course? 

I would sau that it varied. In the short story unit at the very beginning of the class I probably put in less than an hour a day. When we got into the novels I put in an hour or two hours per day. Only when I was working on big essays like the short story, JASNA essay, or the Novel Comparison Essay did I consistently put in more than two hours of work per day. 

Are there any particular assignments that you found especially valuable? 

My favorite assignment by far was the JASNA essay. I love Jane Austen and I genuinely enjoyed writing the paper. The help from Mr. Stewart and the other students was invaluable in revision and I was very proud of the final result. I actually got to use Northan ger Abbey on the open question on my exam so that is why I considered that assignment to be the most valuable.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? 

Definitely. I didn't like writing before this course but now I am actually considering becoming an English Major. I acctually liked this course so much that I am coming back for AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor next year. 

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
YES I loved chatting with everyone in the book clubs and on  the site. My novel comparison essay definitely would not be as good without my friend's help and I think proofreading hers and seeing her strengths made me see the mistakes in mine more clearly. 

What sort of student would do well in this course?

I think that you either have to love reading, writing, or both to succeed in this course. Mrs. Inspektor and Mr. Stewart are definitely demanding but they want you to succeed. Don't expect them to overlook sloppily crafted thesis's becuase the writing is impressive. And don't be afraid to challenge the generally accepted view of a novel, provided you have evidence to back your assertions up of course. I find the Mrs. Inspektor and Mr. Stewart are most helpful when you go out on a limb rather than when you stay where it is "safe". 

An awesome class! I'll really miss it.

I have never liked writing. I cried over the first English essay I ever wrote in high school. It's always been a struggle for my perfectionist self to sit down and write — I'd rather do absolutely anything else. But this class, while I can't say has made me LOVE writing, has changed my perspective. I'd never had to write this much before, what with DQs, practice essays, and MM responses. Every day as I wrote more and more, I was slowly, slowly able to let go of some perfectionism and dive into truly learning and wrestling with ideas and even get the tiniest bit excited about expressing those ideas in compelling, beautiful prose. The process of writing is still a struggle for me, but I appreciate it so much more now. I definitely felt prepared for the AP exam at the end of the year, but that was really the smallest part of what I took from this class :)

Another thing that has been huge for me this year is learning to embrace complexity. I've seen this play out all throughout my life outside of AP Lit too. I have a new appreciation for the complex beauty of gray areas and ambiguous ideas, frustrating as they may be at times. 

And finally, something I'll always treasure about AP Lit — teachers (and TAs!) that are so incredibly supportive and encouraging, who love literature and want us to love it too. That passion was and is contagious, and I'm so grateful that I got to learn in this environment. Mrs. Inspektor's MMs, Mr. Stewart's comments, the TAs' encouragements, and classmates' engaging comments have all been nothing but supportive and helpful, and given me more confidence in my writing.

Take this class! It's hard work at times but so, so worth it!

Really fantastic class, even for people who aren't literature focused (like me!)

Mrs. Inspektor has hands down been the best AP teacher I've ever had. Personally, the amount of work that I put into the class varied from day to day. Some days, it took as little at 30 minutes, other days, I spent multiple hours. 

As someone who never felt like they had an affinity for literary analysis and literature in general, this class really opened my eyes. I can't say that I'll become a literary major in college, but I do think that I have a new found appreciation for good books and I'll probably take a class or two on literature. 

I made some really cool friends from across the US and around the world in this class. Being able to discuss class assignments (and literally everything else) with them has been a really unique opportunity for me. 

The biggest piece of advice I'll give is that you gotta make sure to put in work every single day. I felt like giving up because I simply couldn't figure out how to get higher scores on my essays, but with some practice (and some emails with Mrs. Inspektor!), I was able to really "crack the code" with my essays.

I 100% recommend this course for any student who wishes to improve their writing skills. 

Most Fun Class I've Ever Taken

This was hands down the most fun class I have ever taken! I had to remind myself that it was "schoolwork" at points :). Mr. Stewart and Mrs. Inspektor are AMAZING teachers and I always looked forward to reading the Morning Messages and feedback on my work. Another incredible facet of this course is the student interaction: through the DQs I got to have thought-provoking discussions, arguments, and nerd out sessions with other students, which gave me a firmer grasp on the works we were studying and amply prepared me for the exam. Through the Skype chat, I forged (and continue to forge: we're still going strong even though the course has ended. I even met up with a classmate in real life) friendships with people as passionate about literature as I am. This course, if you are willing to put in the effort, will more than prepare you for the exam. But even more importantly, it will introduce you to great works of literature and the tools to analyze them, and will likely have an impact on your life that reaches far beyond the exam. 

This was hands down the most fun class I have ever taken! I had to remind myself that it was "schoolwork" at points :). Mr. Stewart and Mrs. Inspektor are AMAZING teachers and I always looked forward to reading the Morning Messages and feedback on my work. Another incredible facet of this course is the student interaction: through the Discussion Questions I got to have thought-provoking discussions, arguments, and nerd out sessions with other students, which gave a firmer grasp on the works we were studying and amply prepared me for the exam. Through the Skype chat, I forged (and continue to forge: we're still going strong even though the course has ended. I) friendships 

Hard? Yes, but if you want a amazing exposure to real literature, this is your class.

Before this class I thought that books were amazing, but literature was just meant for spark notes and school assignments, and that most of it would pass over my head anyway. However, after my application was sent off, without any way to bring it back, and I read the first email from my future teacher, my horizons were expanded beyond what I thought possible. Mrs. Inspektor, aided by her loyal Stewart, led us on a journey of discovery, easing us in to a knowledge of all we didn't know, and all we had yet to learn. They led us through the gothic castles of Frankenstein, bootlegged discussion questions under the tables of Gatsby's parties, and placed us under the impression not only that "literature is fun", but that (In her own words) ""studying" literature IS reading for pleasure".By the end of the class (sadly, it had to end L) I had been thoroughly brainwashed into thinking that this was the case. I even (horror of horrors) had the audacity to laugh at the sophisticated humor on the AP exam itself! The public school students around me, who hadn't had informative morning messages every day to inform them that literature is actually meantto cause emotion, muttered words about how strange homeschoolers who enjoyed literature were. Yes, perhaps it is strange, but I now admit to actually enjoying literature. I enjoyed sailing down rivers with characters, and exploring them more deeply with an amazing professor, and students who actually read the books. I walked into the exam room with about the same amount of confidence as Sir Walter Elliot in front of a mirror, for those of you who have yet to read Persuasion, this is ultimate confidence. I loved this course so much, and wish all you prospective students the best of luck, and may your sails of discovery be filled, just as mine were, by the inspiring wind of Mrs. Inspektor. 

Take This Class!!!

AP Literature was one of the best courses I took in my high school career! I generally spent about 1.5-2 hours a day on the homework, but almost all of the assignments I enjoyed because I love literature - and especially learning literature from Mrs. Inspektor!

I particularly loved the big essays/projects we did in class like writing an eight page paper for the Jane Austen Writing Competition or an essay combining two full books from the schoolyear. AP Literature definitely made me fall in love with literature more and see its relevancy and worth in all our lives, whether you want to pursue English more seriously in the future or not.

Additionally, AP Lit really stretched me. It grew me as a person in a place that wasn't overly competitive, cutthroat, or stressful. Mrs. Inspektor and Mr. Stewart are the most supportive, encouraging teachers who value each student's learning growths. They are there to teach literature to the students, but they're also there to ask important questions, to take time to appreciate great milestones, and to look at AP Lit as much more than just another AP to get a 5 on. The AP exam itself and preparing for it was at first daunting and overwhelming, but I can confidently say that I felt well-prepared. I also think that my classmates were an integral part in my experience - through the environment fostered in the online classroom, we were encouraged to voice both praise and criticism in response to each other's writing. The diversity of the community led to so many of our assigned discussions where I left feeling that I learned more from them than from the ideas I had first brought.

I'd recommend AP Lit to any student who wants to be challenged in their writing, their thinking, and their analyzing skills. However, I'd also say that students will enjoy this class if they want to learn more about the world we live in, about ourselves and how we interact with others, and about hard topics that are important, yet difficult to confront. AP Lit has certainly taught me about literature, yes, but it's also shown me that there are a lot of questions that I haven't addressed yet that in some ways, say more about me than anything else, so I'm truly grateful to have been in AP Lit this year.

A Glimpse Into the Class

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

I felt that the course prepared me well for the exam. I knew all the sections that would be on the exam and had taken several complete practice exams as well as many individual samples of both essays and MCQs. Students are given extensive feedback to improve their essays.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I found that for me there was about an hour of work a day (including weekends most weeks), not counting time for occasional long essays.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I particularly enjoyed the novel comparison essay. Because there were no time limits, it allowed me to go into more depth on analysis than I had done before, which gave me some insights into writing exam essays. I used some of these insights on exam day!

• 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 a student who has a strong interest in literary analysis and is willing to devote time each day to the course. There is a heavy writing component, so I would encourage that a prospective student enjoy or at least be able to tolerate writing. If a student enjoys writing and literary analysis, this class can be not just an opportunity to learn, but also an enjoyable journey.

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP Exam?

I felt 100% prepared for the exam when I opened the booklet. While the exam was definitelynot easy, I felt comfortable and know I did the best I could've done, thanks to all the exam prep encorporated into this class. A lot of my friends I talked to in other AP English Lit classes told me their teachers did little to no exam prep the entire year, which made me so very grateful to have a teacher like Mrs. Inspektor, who made it a huge prioroty that we were all very well prepared. That being said, the stress was not so much on getting a good score on the exam, but on learning about and appreciating literature to the fullest. I am very glad I took this course, and know it has not only prepared me for college courses in the next few years, but also taught me so much more about literature and learning. 

Difficult, but very much worth it!

This class was difficult. From the very beginning, it was a challenge. I think this was because I didn't really have experience with analysis, and found it difficult to learn how to analyze instead of summarizing or device listing. I had planned to spend one hour on this course every day but quickly found myself spending two or more instead, and struggling to keep up. However, Mrs. Inspektor was very willing to help me. Because of her consistent help and feedback, I learned so much, especially in the spring semester. I was able to figure out what the exam essays needed from me and how to respond strongly and convincingly. Because of this class's rigor, I felt very confident on the AP exam and I felt that my ability to write essays in general improved. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone, even students who are more left-brained. 

PLEASE TAKE THIS CLASS!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Absolutely 100% yes.  I honestly can't imagine an AP Literature course preparing me better for the exam than Mrs. Inspektor's class did.  I actually haven't taken the exam yet because the school where I was scheduled to take the exam forgot to order my test booklet (oops), so I have to make up the test on a different day later this month.  Nevertheless, I feel very confident about taking the exam later this month because I've been prepared so well for it in this class. :)

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Hmm...I think I probably put about 1-2 hours per day into this class, depending on how much was assigned each day.  Some days would be a little less, some days a little more, but 1-2 hours on average.  I'd also like to add that I enjoyed completing the assignments for this class!  They were challenging but also SO. MUCH. FUN. Maybe I'm just really nerdy (haha), but I genuinely loved every second of this class.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? 

Um, all of them?  Seriously, though, I found every assignment enjoyable and valuable in its own way.  My personal favorite assignments were probably the three major assignments this year: the short story assignment, the JASNA essay, and the novel comparison paper.  The short story assignment was wonderful because it challenged me to be creative and to apply all the principles of good literature and writing that we'd been learning in the short story unit of the course.  It challenged me to write a story well, the kind of story that might be published in an anthology someday.  My dream is to someday write for a living, so I absolutely loved this assignment.  

The JASNA essay was also such a fun assignment but in a completely different way.  For this assignment, we got to conduct real literary analysis of Jane Austen's Persuasion.  Through this assignment (and the novel comparison paper), I discovered something: I geniunely enjoy writing literatary analysis.  

Finally, the novel comparison paper was a very challenging assignment (especially since I procrastinated on it--something I definitely wouldn't recommend) but a lovely one.  Once again, I got to conduct some really fun literary analysis but also learned about comparing and contrasting great works of literature.  Also, the bonus assignment for Spring Break (the Literary Salon), in which we pretended to be characters from the works we'd read in class during the year, was so much fun (I was Emilia from Othello; I'd recommend this role to future students--it's so much fun!). ;)

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Absolutely, for sure, yes, yes, YES.  I've nearly always been a lover of writing and reading, but I haven't always enjoyed reading classic literature (what I now affectionately refer to as "good literature").  I also wasn't a huge fan of poetry before taking this class.  Actually, I wasn't a fan at all.  The Poetry Mondays, however, were so helpful and really inspired me to delve into more poetry on my own.  Now I adore poetry and will most likely be reading some of it this summer. ;)  I also wasn't a Shakespeare nerd before this class.  That changed very quickly after I read Othello in class (don't get me started on how much I LOVE that play...) and after I opted to read King Lear for a book club assignment (*wipes away a silent tear*).  So, yes, now I am a Shakespeare nerd, and I'm already planning out all the Shakespeare plays I'll be reading this summer...  My mental list is probably WAY too ambitious, but we'll see what happens. ;)  Anyway, YES, this course definitely enhanced my interest in literature and solidified in my mind that I'm now definitely (no doubt about it) going to major in English in college. :)

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? 

YES!  My fellow students were absolutely amazing people, and they were constantly pushing me to do my best because they were all always doing their best.  It was amazing to be surrounded by a group of people who are geniunely interested in learning (as opposed to just having fun) and some of whom are just as nerdy as I am about literature (I appreciate this so much). :)  Thank you so much to all of you guys! <3

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 know that probably looks like overkill on the exclamation points, but that's the best way to express how much I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this class and how strongly I think that you should go sign up for this class right now. ;)  I would absolutely recommend this class, especially to students who are willing to work hard, think critically, and grow.  Even if literature isn't your thing, you should still take this class.  The critical thinking and writing skills you'll gain in this class will go on to benefit you in nearly any field you decide to focus on in college.  Plus, the analysis of literature that we conducted in this class is so contagious that you're likely to come out of this class at least liking (or, in my case, ADORING) the study and analysis of excellent literature. :)  So, please, I'm begging you... *gets down on knees*  Take this class!!!!!

One final thing: Thank you so, so, so, so, SO much to Mrs. Inspektor, Mr. Stewart, the TA's, and my fellow students for an absolutely incredible year!  I enjoyed it more than I can possibly express in words and will miss this class so much.  I can't thank you all enough. <3

AP Lit review

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Overall, I felt prepared for the exam. Right from the beginning of the class, we wrote essays in reponse to prompts from previous exams. Mrs. Inspektor assigned many practice multiple choice tests in the months leading up to the exam and they helped me familiarize myself with the various types of questions. I did have a hard time on the actual MCQ portion of exam, but I used what I learned in class to get through it.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Depending on the workload, I spent around 5-10 hours a week on AP Lit. If we had a long paper due, I would spend many hours working on it, but if there weren't any major projects coming up, I would generally spend about 45 minutes a day on the regular assignments.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I really enjoyed working on the short story assingment. In the past, I was never able to finish a story, but I actually got to complete one in this class. The JASNA essay was challenging for me, but I learned a lot from it.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I rarely read classics and poems for leisure before taking this class, but AP Lit piqued my interest in them.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes! Reading my classmates' responses to the weekly discussion questions were insightful, and the book clubs were enjoyable since I was able to hear what others thought about a novel.

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 definitely recommend this course to anyone who is willing to work hard on all the assignments. There is a lot of reading and writing every week, but this class will definitely change the way you read novels and poems.

Review of AP Lit

The course prepared me well for the AP Lit exam. There were enough practice exams for me to feel prepared and there were optional essays at the end for those who may not have felt prepared enough. Mrs. Inspektor gave such helpful comments after each of my essays that I was able to move from 4's at the beginning of the class to 7's, 8's, and a couple 9's. I put in thirty minutes to two hours of work each day for this course. The Novel Comparison Paper was a fun and vaulable assignment! Discussions were also helpful, and I enjoyed writing the JASNA essay as well. This course has increased my interest in literature and classics, especially since I had mostly read YA fiction before the course. The book clubs helped me get to know other students better, and the comments I received from other students on my essays was very helpful! I would recommend this course to other students if they're willing to work hard.

AP Literature Review

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes! I felt very prepared for the AP Exam. Mrs. Inspektor assigned practice multiple choice sections very often and starting early in the year, so I felt really comfortable by the time the exam came around. We started working on essays at the beginning of the year, so I also felt good about writing essays on the exam. 

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I think about an hour every day including weekends, but more during some specific times of the year like when we wrote our JASNA essays or novel comparison papers.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I really enjoyed all of our assignments! I loved the Literary Salon (we acted as different literary characters), writing our short stories and reading each others, and writing my novel comparison paper.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes! Before coming into this class I didn't quite "get" studying literature. Now I feel like I understand what literature is truly about, and I really enjoyed studying it in this class.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes, absolutely!

• 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. I think that any student can do well in this course, although it is very reading and writing heavy. It is probably a difficult course to be a first AP or for someone who doesn't enjoy or struggles with reading and writing a lot. 

Thank you to Mrs. Inspektor, Mr. Stewart, and all of my classmates for an amazing year!

I love this class!

I am not an English person. I have always been more into math and science. BUT, I loved this class. I learned so much and improved greatly as a reader and writer. This class quickly became my favorite. I felt well prepared for the AP exam. I think the novel comparison assignment really helped with that. I felt like I actually got to know the other students thanks to our "in class" is discussions and book clubs. I would absolutely recommend this class others. You spend 8+ hours a week on it, but you enjoy it while you are doing it!

Probably one of my favorite classes I've ever taken

It has been almost three months since I finished Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit class, and I'm still continually amazed at the many ways it affected me. Mrs. Inspektor taught me how to read and to fully experience a novel. She showed me how to understand and appreciate different forms of poetry. I learned how to analyze many different types of written works, organize the information I gained, and write a compelling essay about it. I found that I could write a multiple paragraph essay in 40 minutes, and I discovered that I could research and write a 6-page paper comparing similar topics in two completely different works in two weeks. I found confidence in my writing that I had never had before; I had always loved creative writing but never thought I was very good at nonfiction writing or analysis. I was partially right about that... When I started the class, my essay scores weren't very high, and it took me a while to figure out the difference between summarizing plot and actually analyzing the many facets of a work. But with instruction from Mrs. Inspektor and her helpful individual comments, I learned how to write literary analysis and how to write it well.

One thing about this class is that there is a lot of reading involved--not only the assigned reading but any instruction is done via written messages. For me, this style of learning fit perfectly with mine, as I learn better when I can read and reread something. For someone who is more of an auditory learner, it may be more difficult to stay focused while reading and fully absorb all the information in the Morning Messages (the main form of instruction). That being said, Mrs. Inspektor's teaching is very easy to understand (though the material can sometimes be far from that), and her messages are very conversational and engaging as she helps you to grow as a writer and reader.

I enjoyed the interaction with the other students in the class. We had multiple discussions each week about our reading, formed our own book clubs, and read and commented on each others' essays throughout the year. I actually learned a lot from my classmates' thoughts on the works we were reading. After writing my own thoughts on each topic, I enjoyed seeing how others could build off or develop my ideas, and it was helpful to do the same with theirs. Sometimes it seemed we were all making new discoveries together, which was fun. In regards to our essays, even though some in the class were more experienced writers, it seemed that everyone had a mutual respect for each other (I know I was always impressed with the writing I read). There was always a lot of positive peer feedback, and the comments made were quite helpful.

I didn't take the AP exam, due to a conflict with a family trip. I was actually a bit disappointed at first because I was excited for the chance to challenge and prove myself. However, I realized that I didn't need a test score to prove how far I had come in my abilities as a reader and writer. Looking back at my essay scores, seeing how I had developed as a writer, and remembering the many works I had analyzed helped me to realize that this class definitely challenged me, but it also helped me to grow. And with this in mind, I can honestly say that if I had the chance to go back to last summer and decide whether or not to take this class, even if I knew I wouldn't be able to take the AP test, I would have signed up right away.

It's difficult for me to say how much time is required for this class... The amount of time required to simply complete the assigned work differs greatly from the amount of time that I often wanted to spend on assignments. One to two hours daily would be sufficient to finish most days' regular assignments. Some days were shorter and some were longer, but most were within that range. However, I probably spent more time on each assignment because I enjoyed it so much. (I took this class during my fifth year of high school [a mixture of high school and college classes, with fewer overall], so I had a bit more time to spend on AP Lit if I wished.)

On the weekends that major assignments were due, though, I would spend most of the weekend frantically attempting to finish and edit it (and sometimes completely rewrite it based on feedback I had received). Although if you planned ahead of time, you wouldn't run into that problem...though it seemed that most of my other classmates were in the same boat as I was. :P  (For future students, group Skype chats are very helpful for motivation, encouragement, virtual chocolate, comments, exchanging critiques, brainstorming, and questions regarding homework. I would highly recommend organizing one.)

My favorite assignment...um...well this is going to be difficult...I have too many. :P  Probably the novel comparison paper, the last major paper we wrote in this class. It was the most intimidating, most challenging, and most rewarding assignment. As I mentioned before, it was a 6-page paper comparing similar topics in two completely different works. I was afraid to even begin at first because it seemed so intimidating, but once I got started, I really enjoyed all the research, outlining, planning, and writing. It was basically the culmination of the entire year, as I had to use all the analytical skills I had gained throughout the class.

I also can't help but mention Poetry Mondays...  Throughout the year, I looked forward to every Monday because I knew they would include poetry. :D

I should probably wrap this up now, as this is starting to look like one of my super long DQ (discussion question) replies that I always get carried away with… :P  But anyways, if for some reason you haven't caught on from reading this review so far, I would highly, HIGHLY recommend this class.

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!)?

An adventure worth taking...

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Definitely! I was really nervous leading up to the exam because I felt unsure of how well I knew the material but as soon as I broke that seal and started reading the passages and answering questions I realized that I was completely prepared. I had worked hard and Mrs. Inspektor and Ms. Baert had given me all the tools necessary for me to succeed... But honestly as great a feeling as that was I felt even better when I walked out of the testing room and realized that I had been taught way more than any exam could sum up. I had been given a tremendously valuable gift, I was given the gift of knowledge. Something that will enable me to dive into literature with an open mind and keen interest for the rest of my days.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Ok well I am not really an accurate person to answer this question because I take extra long to do everything.. It is not that I am not focused or lazy rather the opposite, I would get so into a short story or novel that I would need to know every possible thing about it before I could move on…If there is one word I didn't know or historical context I wasn't familiar with than I would spend time looking it up. This usually ended up leading to me daydreaming into other stories and similarities and then to my own ideas so I could easily spend hours and hours a day in this course. However, like I said I am not a very accurate example so don't be scared off by me; if you are regimented and able to resist daydreaming into fantasy worlds of the books you are reading than I think 8-10  hours a week would suffice.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Hard question because I honestly thoroughly enjoyed every one. Even if something at first seemed hard or I dreaded doing it I would always realize that I would end up loving doing it a learn a ton from each thing. MM were great as were DQ's but perhaps one of my favorite assignments was the books clubs. It was great being able to choose a book that you may not have read on your own. My first choice was David Copperfield, a very long book which I had wanted to read for a long time. Having other students choosing to read this was fantastic and I loved being able to discuss all of my ideas and questions with my fellow bookworms.  

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Absolutely! I came into this class a little hesitant because I was worried that my love for reading might actually be lessoned by studying literature because I would not be able to enjoy the books and stories as much as I previously had. I thought that maybe AP Lit would change the way I see things in a way I was not prepared for.. I was right it did change the way I looked at literature but now I see it is a good change. At times I am now able to understand things more other times I find myself getting more confused when reading because I see complexity in what I may have previously taken at face value. This may seem bad because confusion can be a difficult thing but to me it makes literature even more interesting.. I love looking at things that appear to be confusion and are complex and then make sense out of them. Analysis creates puzzles and questions making reading resemble life which is certainly more interesting than reading purely for pleasure.  

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Do I have to choose one? Because my interactions with fellow AP Litters( hmm not really a word..) was both interesting and valuable. Sometimes you would read something that a student said and it would be exactly what you were thinking too and that just feels great cause you're like, "hey that's exactly what I thought" more often though my fellow students would find something I never thought of and it would be enlightening. The great thing about literature is that it is, to an extent, subjective. What one poem might be to one person might be something entirely different to another. This of course what makes literature so fascinating!

• 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!)?

One prerequisite that I would say every potential AP Lit student should have is being open. Open to new ideas, to books you may have never thought about reading.. One really important thing I learned this year was reading through others eyes. This is not to say that as readers we are weak minded and ready to jump into author's beliefs and opinions but rather to be open to understanding. Go into a novel completely defensive of your own morals, ideas, and beliefs but also jump into it with a wish to try to understand others and contrast those to your own. The most incredible thing about literature is it's ability to teach us about life, which is diverse and complicated, so when you read try not to look at things as fiction or imaginary rather look at it as a way to understand what surrounds us. Once you do that analyzing literature can be extremely fulfilling.

My concluding words to anyone considering taking this class is,  just do it! Take Mrs. Inspector's AP Lit! I don't think anyone has ever regretted it. Yes it will be challenging sometimes it is even  uncomfortable to discuss what you do not know or to talk about your emotional responses to poetry but it is an adventure worth taking. And if you're willing to work hard and love to learn than fill out your AP Lit Application NOW, as ridiculous as it may seem it can change your life.

Highly recommended for EVERY student!

It's almost unnecessary for me to write a review for this class, because...doesn't everyone know how good it is? :) Nonetheless, I would like to recommend this class to any student who wishes to study English. I took both AP Lang and AP Lit from Mrs. Inspektor, and they have to be among the best online classes available. I don't think there is really any prerequisite knowledge to taking this course - I've seen classmates from all different academic backgrounds excel as Mrs. Inspektor is really good at understanding individual students. I think it would be nearly impossible to take this course and not improve in your understanding of English and literature. 

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

I actually chose not to take the AP exam because I am a senior, and as I will be attending UC Davis and have already gotten the maximum amount of English credit they allow from my 5 on AP Lang (which I also owe to Mrs. Inspektor). However, if I had chosen to take the exam, I am pretty certain I would have gotten a 5. This class offers excellent preparation, as is obvious by students' very high average score. 

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

It really varied, but this class is definitely not too intensive. Mrs. Inspektor doesn't assign busywork - every assignment is worthwhile. Probably 6 hours per week, but more if there was a major assignment or a larger reading assignment. 

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I thought I was going to hate all the major assignments - the short story, JASNA, and the novel comparison - but those ended up being my favorites! They really broke up the exam prep portion of the class nicely with work that seemed more like college-level work. I also love the morning messages

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I would say that it actually did. I've always loved English (I got an 800 on the English portion of the SAT lol), but if you could love English any more this class will do it! Fun fact: I'm majoring in biology so I'm not an English freak - I just really loved this class!

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yess!! The book clubs as so much fun, and we had lots of lively discussions on the board. Plus peer grading was a nice addition at times. 

• 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! Like I said above, I think anyone could do well in this course if they want to put in the work. 

Disclaimer: I have not been paid for this review. ;) I just think the class was amazing and I want other people to have this experience!

LOVED this class!!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Absolutely. I wasn't at all worried on exam day because of all the assignments and exercises we'd done to fully prepare, and I actually enjoyed the exam - I had really enjoyed the class as a whole, which carried over into a very positive testing experience.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

There were pretty much daily assignments in this class, plus Morning Message responses (although those usually took 30 minutes or less), so I usually spent one to two hours per day. Closer to one if it was a reading day, and closer to two if there were discussion questions to answer. The total was between nine and ten hours a week.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Where to start?? I'd have to say my very favorite was the short story writing assignment, which was great because it was an exercise in creativity and really emphasized the various elements that should be in every work of short literature. I also really enjoyed the JASNA essay, partially because the prompt was so broad (and I got to watch movies for research XP) and partially because I absolutely adored Emma and could have written three hundred pages about it. All of the books we read were fantastic and so helpful for the exam, and I was also glad that we did so many extra books in the book clubs. I honestly don't think there was any assignment I didn't like this year (even Poetry Mondays - I will grudgingly admit their helpfulness).

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes yes YES!! I have always loved reading and writing, but this class was so engaging and encouraging and just plain challenging that I have an entirely new appreciation for literature. I adored every book we read in this class and I am so excited to read more in this vein. I feel like my writing style has evolved so much over the past year, which was one of my goals going into this class, so I'm much more confident and mature in my written analysis.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

My classmates were so fantastic all year - we had so many great discussions, both within book clubs and about the discussion questions and essays. Everyone had unique opinions and ideas about characters and symbols and plots, and I had so many great conversations with people about the depth and many-sidedness of the books we studied. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK TO PEOPLE. We lit nerds have a tendency to take no prisoners when it comes to conversations about books. ;)

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!)?

Again, you have to want to participate. This class won't be fun if you don't try to connect with your peers and teachers. Also, come in with an open mind. If you're already going "Oh my gosh, Frankenstein sounds sooo boring and it's old" then you're not going to be able to learn from it and engage and enjoy. You're probably going to step out of your comfort zone at some point during the year, whether it's with poetry, creative writing, or just a type of novel you would never read on you're own. So be open to it! It's really worth it, I promise. I absolutely loved AP Lit, so yes, I would definitely recommend it to anyone with a strong work ethic and the ability to appreciate literature. Mrs. Inspektor is fantastic, and you will learn SO MUCH.

Whoever you are, this class is for you

I absolutely felt prepared for the AP Literature exam. All year long, Mrs. Inspektor had walked us through many assignments, Morning Messages, and practice tests. In addition, on top of actual exam prep, we analyzed books in depth with each other through rich and thought-provoking discussions and completed creative assignments like writing short stories. I was able to walk into the testing room with confidence, knowing that Mrs. I had taught me everything I needed to know, unlike the others who sat next to me in the school gym, trying desperately to remember who Jay Gatsby was. 

But I emerged from this course knowing that I had gleaned much more than mere preparation for a test -- I now feel that I can read and appreciate any novel, essay, or literary work without it seeming too difficult or confusing. I also feel like I gained a deeper understanding of the English language as a whole, and the importance of literary mediums I previously took for granted, such as poetry. I would wholeheartedly recommend this course for anyone wishing to rekindle (or kindle!) their love for literature, challenge themselves academically, and immerse themselves in a stimulating environment where lovers of literature and language abound. 

Wonderful Class!!!

When I applied for this class and then signed up, I was very apprehensive. As an avid reader in my childhood, I felt like I had already burned through any books that would interest me. In previous classes, literature was taught, but mainly in the form of short stories with a couple self-guided, self-selected books and projects throughout the year.I was concerned that I would be less than prepared and that the other students would be miles ahead of me. However, I was completely wrong! This class reignited my love for reading and ignited a new passion for real literature and writing. Ms. Baert and Mrs. Inspektor made every aspect of the literature we read interesting and meaningful. This course changed my perspective on literature completely and has developed my writing extensively. On average, I spent 1-2 hours a day, with extra time around our major assignments. My favorite aspects of the class were the book clubs! It was fun to get to know my classmates and explore our common interests in literature together. Additionally, each classmate in the book club brought a different perspective and new insight to the piece we were discussing. I also really enjoyed our JASNA essay as well as the novel comparison essay (it's amusing to think that I was most dreading these assignments)! I would absolutely recommend this course to other students! While they certainly must be willing to work hard, the "work" becomes so enjoyable and interesting. To anyone feeling intimidated by the AP label, don't be! Mrs. Inspektor, Ms. Baert, and the TAs are so friendly and helpful and entertaining! They all work together to form a cohesive, close-knit class. As a senior, I can say that this has certainly been my favorite high school course.

(1) Yes! I was so prepared for the exam and learned A TON this year. 

(2) Per week I probably put in about 6-10 hours of work. 

(3) I really really liked the end of the year novel comparison. I used it for one of the prompts during the test actually!

(4) Yes! I really discovered my love for solving literary puzzles, for that "aha" moment when reading a complex poem.

(5) Yes, but I didn't really get involved with other students that much! Yes, we helped each other out, but I didn't make life-long friends. I think I struggled with this part of the class the most. I wanted to actually physically meet my classmates. I craved the physical classroom setting probably just because this was my first online class.

(6) Yes, I would recommend this course for people who are willing to work hard. I never have seen myself as an incredible writer. I don't even think my writing is good. Math and sceince are my subjects. While most of the students are literary prodigies or at least students who are top-of-the-class writers, I was able to get high scores and learn A TON because I worked hard. 

This is a great class!

This course is challanging, but it is definitely worth it. Throughout the year you take several practice tests and go into the exam very prepared. I would say I spent 1-2 hours a day completleing messages, disscussion questions and reading for this class. While it might have been a lot of work, it taught me to love literature!

Engaging and fun, and amazing preparation not just for the exam, but for college writing

While I was taking this AP Lit class, I was also simultaneously taking classes at a community college. Yes, I know community college aren't necessarily known for challenging or engaging classes, but it's an interesting comparison that AP Lit took more time and was far more engaging than all three of my college classes combined (during the spring semester). 

I was not only very prepared for the AP exam, but it was a lot of fun simply taking it. 

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
  Yes! I knew exactly what kind of Multiple Choice passages there would be, had practiced multiple times in writing all three essays, and overall, the exam seemed to go by really quickly and fairly effortlessly. (This is a big deal for me, as I do *not* usually take tests well) 
• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
  I'd say the student can easily put it more or less, depending on how much they want to glean from participation. As far as "required" hours go, I'd say I'd frequently put in at least an hour and a half every day - but it could easily be three or four depending on what assignments/essays/discussions were due. 
  There are so many engaging discussions, a student could very well put even more time into the class and benefit from it. 
• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
  
  
  Doing the JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America) essay was huge for me. Not only am I an Austen fan, but I also learned that I function much better with larger essays where I explore a smaller idea in great detail. The essay length was about 8 pages and I was astonished to find that I actually enjoyed it. 
  This has given me incredible confidence in looking toward college. 

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
  
  I must say, I was already quite into literature before taking the course. I'd say it maybe didn't necessarily give me a greater love of literature, but it did teach  me how to better communicate with the world about my love for literature. In a way, it gave me a great academic voice which I lacked. 

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
  
  Yes, definitely! There were always multiple discussions happening, and frequently discussions would be started by the students and could be just as academic and engaging as the required ones. 
• 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 the student that would best thrive is the one that would be willing to go beyond just what the basic requirements were. There are so many opportunities to reach out to other peers, TA's, and of course Mrs. Inspektor. 
  If I were to pick out a handful of my friends to have take this course, I would pick out those I know already love stories, are creative, and like to have meaningful discussions and fairly analyze the world around them. 
  
  

Biggest Take-away!!

While I cringed at some of my very first essay grades at the start of the year, I quickly learned that it was totally okay to sometimes write out a lousy essay. While preparing for the exam, sometimes I attempted writing an essay more informally, or with more structure, or with slightly less. It was all experimental - and I got to the point where I wasn't afraid of making mistakes. Sometimes my harshest grades were the ones I learned the most from. Taking those risks are helpful. Mrs. Inspektor was *always* encouraging, even if one of my essays sucked. Occasionally I'd try something new and strike that golden grade - and discover that I'm far better at writing a slightly different way. 
All the students seemed to have a mutual respect for the talents and essay-writing-voice of those around them. 

I've been made aware of my weaknesses and better know how to control them. 

I'm also more keenly aware of my strengths, and know how to use them. 

Thanks for a wonderful class. 

Best Class Ever Changed My Life

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Very well! Many of the problems on the AP exam were downright easy, and others were simply enjoyable due to the love of analysis bestowed upon me by this course.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Whoooo boy. More than I was supposed to, that's for sure! I found myself going over the recommended limit every single day-- not because I had to but rather because I wanted to. This class is demanding and if you are anything like me, you will want to go above and beyond the demand. I think I spent from a low of 2 to a high of 7 hours per day on this course. I would highly recommend reading ahead so you do not fall behind in assignments and can space them out over a few days if you need to.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

My favorite assignment was definitely the "Short Story" assignment, but this may have been more beneficial to my life outside of AP Lit as it has ignited a love for writing fiction within me. The most useful assignment with concern to the AP exam was the "Comparison and Contrast" essay. This makes you particularly well versed in two books of your choosing that you read within the class. You learn many of the nuances and deeper themes of the two novels, as well as picking up and memorizing many key quotes from them. This assignment was equally fun and valuable!

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Very much so! Although there were points throughout the year when I never wanted to see another book in my life, I came out the other side hoping to pursue a minor in English Literature in my college ventures!

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

EXTREMELY. Not to discount Mrs. Inspektor's excellent teaching in any way, but the class interaction was definitely the best part of this class! This class is pretty heavily discussion based and the more you interact with your classmates, the more you learn. I would highly recommend starting/joining a Skype group as soon as possible, as a more casual discussion of class materials was very therapeutic and helped me to get to know the coursework and my classmates so much better!

• 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 could not recommend this class enough! A student who is adept at and loves reading and writing will do well in this course. Although that said, I would not recommend this as a first AP course or if you are planning to take many AP courses this year. I managed it with two other APs but I found myself entirely without time to myself, even on the weekends. BUT I am very poor with time management-- I am sure many other students could manage it better, I just wanted to give fair warning. Although this class was hard, it was the most intriguing and fun class I have taken to date and I can't imagine it being beaten anytime soon! Mrs. Inspektor is an excellent teacher with a great course and I am VERY sad that it is now over for me.

A Haiku and some advice for you

AP Lit Haiku:

Enjoyed books galore,
Plays and poems by the scores
I can't ask for more.

All rhymes aside, AP English Litterature with Mrs. Inspektor was a great class. I am a math/science guy, but I really thrived in this class and learned so much from Mrs. Inspektor. I took AP English Language last year, and I enjoyed many aspects of the class. However, I appreciated AP English Litterature's focus on works of litterature as a whole compared to rhetorical devices in Language. I feel that Litterature brought what I learned in Language together and allowed me to apply it the books, plays, and poems I read every day. I suggest that you take this class even if litterature is not your first love becuase, with some time and hardwork, you can really improve your writing and reading, nurturing a life long love of litterature.

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Absolutely. This course teaches you how to read, write, and think about literature in an effective way, and while the exam wasn't a breeze, I was fully prepared to take it. 

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

5-10 hours. For a normal day, I'd spend about an hour, but when larger assignments were due, I ended up putting in a lot more time. 

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Both the novel comparison paper and the JASNA essay were extremely valuable in terms of creating a longer-form paper that is very well supported. I loved the short story assignment as well. 

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes. I've actually shifted some of my future educational endeavors to focus more on literature and art because this course encouraged my love of stories and storytelling. 

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

I'm not always thrilled with the discussion questions. Occasionally, I feel like they've provided me with valuable insight, but as a general rule, it just seems like a bunch of people typing up their opinions. I think a focus more on individual study would be valuable. The book clubs (while virtual) are generally good and give us the opportunity to take learning into our hands. 

• 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!)?

Both creativity and independent motivation are extremely important. With those two attributes, this course is extremely valuable for students. 

AP (Absolute Preparation)

I struggle with intense test anxiety, and in order to tone it down to a sane level I must feel overly prepared in every possible way. Mrs. Inspektor's course prepared me so well that I actually enjoyed the exam -- which, for those who know me, may sound downright strange.  I strolled into the test with a normal pulse and found myself not anxious, but curious about what passages and prompts the College Board had selected and created for the 2017 exam.  I knew exactly what to expect, and my immense store of essay tactics, novel analyses, and literary devices enabled me to navigate the blurier multiple choice questions and trickier prompts with deciciveness and ease.

I spent 2 hours per day on average for this class, including the weekends when major papers and practice exams were due.  However, I enjoy literature so much that I found myself reading other novels, plays, and short stories on the side to complement my course work.  

I especially enjoyed writing the Novel Comparison paper, which was was the last major assignment of the class.  It was a challenging assignment and I spent the first week just trying to decide on the novels I would write about, but the final product was definitely worth all the late-nights and re-writes.  It prepared me immensely for the third FRQ of the exam and also brought my curiosity in literary studies to a whole new level.  I have suddenly become almost obsessively fascinated with literary criticism and Russian Literature, and this assignment just might have convinced me to sign up for a class solely on Dostoevsky for my senior year.

The community this class creates is unlike any other class-setting I have known.  The students are dedicated, curious, and driven, and I was inspired and encouraged by my interaction with each of them.  I particularly enjoyed the "Exam Grader for-a-day" activity because it pushed me to really think about the writing of other students, as well as my own, and develop a more concrete understanding of the College Board's expectations in the FRQ portion of the exam.

I recommend this class for anyone who is willing to work hard and consistently, be challenged, and write...a lot.  With Mrs. Inspektor, your effort will not be made in vain.  You will feel prepared for the exam, but best of all, you will feel prepared -- and excited -- to write and read almost anything.  AP means Advanced Placement, but with Mrs. Inspektor it's Absolute Preparation -- for writing, reading, studying, test-taking, learning, college, and ultimately, life.

An Incredible Tool for Learning and Development

This course prepared me exceptionally well for the AP exam. Mrs. Inspektor (I wasn't in Mrs. Baert's section, but I know Mrs. Baert did this as well) worked us very hard, and I'll be honest, writing timed essays every week got tiring pretty fast. I have left this class with my hatred of timed essays still intact. That being said, the constant practice for timed essays got me to a point where, by the exam, I was far beyond prepared. I was like the Terminator of timed essays. It helped me a lot to pace myself, and the feedback I got from Mrs. I and my peers throughout the year definitely helped develop my writing and general essay skills. I think what made this course really stand out for me (and made it the best course of my year) was the amazing teachers and students. I loved the subject material, and I think anyone who likes literature will, but the understanding, skill, and techniques of Mrs. I and Mrs. Baert really made this a class that I felt helped me as a writer, a student, and a general human being. 

Awesome Class!!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

I did not take the AP exam because the college I am attending next year would not accept the AP Lit credit, but I still feel like I can say Mrs. Inspektor did a fabulous job preparing us for the exam. By the end of the year, we had written so many exam style essays that they were beginning to feel like a breeze. We also did some really good multiple choice practice throughout the year.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Usually between one or two hours a day.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I really enjoyed the book clubs. It was fun to get to read a book and then engage with your classmates by discussing and analyzing it.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I definitely left this course with a greater appreciation for literature and feel very prepared for college English.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes. Discussion with classmates was one of the best parts of this class. Getting to interact with classmates in our discussion questions was critical to enhancing your understanding of the assignment.

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 class! As long as you are willing to work hard, this class is not particularly hard. A love of reading and writing certainly helps:).

Best AP Course Ever!!!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? 

A thousand times YES! I've always been a literature type, so I probably would have felt relatively good about this exam no matter where I took the course. However, Mrs. Inspektor ensured that we were not only prepared enough to do well, but confident enough to actually enjoy the test! After writing weekly essays analyzing works from Shakespeare to Austen to Conrad -- writing them when tired, when mildly sick (although Mrs. I is lovely about giving extensions if you need them), when you've had a ton of other homework that day, when you just don't like the prompt -- I can pretty much promise that you will be supremely confident when it comes to doing your exam essays. Same goes for MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions to the uninitiated). 

As it happens, I just received my AP scores today and I did indeed get a 5 on the Lit exam, thanks to Mrs. I and her amazingness. :)

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Depends on the day. The lightest days, probably no more than an hour. Heavier days (of which there will be maybe two or three in any given week), about two hours, but that's allowing time for me getting excited about discussion question responses and making them super long. The heaviest days, when I had Skype book clubs with my friends, probably three-ish hours; however, that's more because I *liked* the subject than because I literally had to spend that much time on it. xD 

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? 

Two words: book clubs. Seriously. If you take my advice and take this class, PLEASE put all the effort you can into organizing and staying in good book clubs with people you enjoy book clubbing with. There's nothing that can beat reading Shakespeare aloud with your friends over Skype and analyzing your favorite characters with people who bring such insightful, thoughtful contributions to the table. I got lucky and ended up in my first book club with a group of lovely people that have brought so much joy to my life ever since, but if you don't end up with the people you click with the first time around, please keep trying! I can say from personal experience that the right book club really can change your life. 

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I didn't think it was possible to enhance my interest in literature (if you haven't noticed already, I'm a total English nerd), but this course did the job. Mrs. I introduced us to so many diverse and different styles of literature that I found myself appreciating books, like Gatsby and Heart of Darkness, that I would never have picked up on my own.

I also gained a new appreciation for works like Emma and Their Eyes Were Watching God that I already loved, but didn't fully understand before this course. Before AP Lit, I loved Shakespeare; after AP Lit, I've been nicknamed Luciago (Lucie + Iago, after playing him with much vim and vigour in our Skype reading of Othello), have organized and participated in a live reading of Much Ado About Nothing at the AP Party, and am marking up my copy of The Tempest with staging notes in the hope of directing it someday! 

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

No. Not at all. It's not like I met my 5 best friends through this course or anything. :/

Sarcasm aside, this is by far THE BEST PA Homeschoolers course I've taken as far as class interaction goes. What started off as participating in a few lively book clubs quickly expanded into chatting on long Skype calls about nothing in particular, editing each other's novels, giving each other relationship advice, becoming mutually obsessed with Shakespeare and inventing our own Shakespearean alter egos (Luciago being one), and finally meeting up in person (yes, all 6 of us, from New York to California to Virginia and all over in between) at the amazing AP Party, hosted by Mrs. Richman herself. Whether or not our plans to have a get-together every summer come to fruition, I'm so grateful for all that these crazy, amazing girls (and the many other brilliant and thoughtful students in AP Lit) have taught me, both about literature and about life. <3 

What sort of student would do well in this course?

Given the caveat about "if you're willing to work hard yadda yadda yadda," I think anyone could do well and have fun in this course! My biggest piece of advice, again, would be to really throw yourself into the atmosphere of the class; there are so many amazing people and opportunities to take advantage of if you only reach out! It's probably possible (although I never tried) to treat this class like just another AP: do the homework, take the tests, hope you get a good score on the end-of-year exam. But it can also be so much more than that. More than any other AP I've taken, what you put in is what you get out. If you're doing your best to be involved, I can promise you that you won't regret it. 

Oh, and one more thing -- I happen to know that the TAs this upcoming year (2016-2017) are total superstars. Alexander Zlokapa contributed so much to the discussion boards last year with his insightful discussion question responses and his thoughtful comments on people's work. And Abby Shaffer and Katherine Ichinose...well, let's just say that (a) they are among my aforementioned 5 wonderful best friends, and (b) I can assure you that class with them as your TAs will never, EVER be boring. xD 

Please just take this class

I can't stress enough the impact that this class had, not only on my high school education, but on all parts of my life. As I go off to colllege this year, I'm heading into challenging coursework knowing that I have been given a solid foundation in upper-level English, thanks in large part to this AP class. 

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Of course! This class is challenging, rewarding, and so much fun. I learned to work with other people, I made new friendships that will last outside the bounds of this class, and I worked harder on this subject than I ever have before. My point is, this class is so much without the AP exam. However, this class is fantastic preparation for the AP exam. I went into the exam actually excited to see the questions and how they would compare with what we had studied over the year. I was thrilled to see how prepared we were. 

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

It completely depends on the week. When we were writing literary analysis papers, I was probably spending about five hours a day on my work. However, in a reasonable week with nothing  out of the ordinary happening, I would estimate that I spent about two hours a day on the coursework. However, the work is so fun and you're surrounded by so many enthusiastic people that it really doesn't feel like hard work. 

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? 

Over Spring Break, we had a Literary Salon, where we assumed the roles of characters and got into mock fights, parodied music from Frozen, and prepared for the exam. I've never laughed so hard at my schoolwork. 

I also loved the book clubs. They are one of the most unique and important aspects of this class. I made close friends and learned the value of analyzing literature in a community. Oh, and I used Skype a lot. That Skype loading sound became the soundtrack of my senior year. In AP Lit, I could discuss a wonderful book with people who were just as enthusiastic about it as I was. 

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes! I've always been a person who loves English, but this class enhanced my interest exponentially. It also gave me the final push to embrace an English major in college. 

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? 

This is one of the most interactive PA Homeschoolers classes I've been in. Students are kind, supportive, and (sometimes overwhelmingly) intelligent. I've even started a blog with a few of the students from this class. On our blog, we talk about many of the same things we discussed in this class. I'm also a part of an extremely active Skype group (and I mean active...I appear on Skype an hour after I left and find 500+ notifications). In class, Mrs. Inspektor encourages constructive criticism and some of the classwork revolves around responding to other student's ideas. 

• 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!)?

Hard work is absolutely required. I am wholeheartedly an English-lover, and I was an English-lover coming into this class, but future students should be aware that they will be pushed more than they ever have in an English class. I remember feeling discouraged after the first few mediocre essays. When I look at my writing at the end of taking this class, I'm amazed at the progress I made in substance and in style. Mrs. Inspektor is an excellent teacher and I can promise future students that, if they work hard, they will finish this class with a phenomenal English education. 

Take this class!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes!  We did a ton of practice tests and essays.  I felt very confident in what I was expecting and how I was going to write each essay.  Obviously, you can't know what prompt you're going to receive, but Mrs. Inspektor discusses what to do when you are lost and don't understand something on the exam.  I felt like I did well on the exam, now I just need to wait for the score to see for sure:)  In addition to the actual exam part, Mrs. Inspektor also prepares you for being nervous and how to deal with your nerves.  I went into the exam feeling pretty calm and I was able to use any nerves that I had to help me focus.  

How many hourse of work per day did you generally put into the course?

I put in about 1-2 hours per day.  There is work due almost everyday, so set aside 1-2 hours to do it each day.

Are there any particularly Favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I really liked the Novel Comparison Essay.  This allowed me to pick two of my favorite books and go into depth with them.  It was great exam prep too.  This assaignment was structured enough that I wasn't worried about what to do, but it also made me think really hard about the books I was reading and draw a lot connections.  

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes!  I already loved to read, but I think I now understand why I love to read.  AP literature gave me so many skills for understanding novels and drawing greater meaning from them.  I now have so many more things that I want to read this summer.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes, I particularly enjoyed the discussion question interaction that we had.  It was really fun to see other people's insights on the works that we read.  I was also fun to argue about differing points of view.  I found my classmates' feedback on my essays to be very valuable as well.

What sort of student would do well in this course?  

Anyone who is willing to put a lot of work into it.  This class is not easy. Getting the assignments done isn't too hard, but doing well on them is difficult.  You have to be able to try new things in your writing and persevere when it just doesn't come out in your grades.  Also, I recommend taking AP English Language first.  That course helped me with my writing, so I didn't have to focus on it as much in this course.  I think it would have been incredibly difficult to start with Lit, but I know some people do that, so it can work.

<3 <3 <3

I didn't think I could love any class more than AP Lang, but boy, oh boy, was I wrong. 

But this class. There's no class that can beat this class. (Unless Mrs. I starts a Shakespeare class? *hint hint* xD) This class is challenging, enriching, enjoyable, encouraging, and just generally a beautiful thing. I couldn't have asked for better classmates, teachers, TAs, assignments, etc. Not only that, but the environment of the class is so stimulating. Everyone is encouraging, making it easy to share your ideas and I've never met a more talented and kind group of people. 

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Oh, very!! I'm a very anxious person in general, but I know I was fully prepared for the exam. The exam itself may have been the easiest part of this class! Mrs. I prepares the class thoroughly and I walked into the exam room knowing what to expect and knowing I had every reason to be confident on the exam. 

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Honestly... as many spare hours as I had after the rest of my schoolwork was done. xD You could get by with working one to two hours per day (depending on what assignments are due and what you're currently reading), but I loved this class so much I could have spent days on it. 

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Oh goodness. I LOVED getting to write a short story, and the discussion questions were always very fun and enriching. I have to say, though, that the book clubs take the take. Through the book clubs, I got to connect with wonderful people who I am now friends for life with. Not only that, but the book clubs were FUN. We put together live video-call dramatic readings of Shakespeare plays, which not only was insanely fun, but also helped SO much with comprehension of the plays. I can honestly say, though, that there was no assigment in this class that was not valuable and did not enhance my understanding of literature. 

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes! I didn't think I could become more interested in literature, because I already loved it so much, but this class has encouraged my to appreciate works of literature I would never have enjoyed without this class. I've come to really understand Shakespeare, to see the witty humor in Jane Austen, to delve into ambiguous morals in Heart of Darkness, and I've defended characters that other students have found frustrating. *hugs Laura Wingfield protectively* I've always loved stories and characters, but this class has pushed me to love stories and characters that are hard to love, to see beauty in darkness and to appreciate the meaning of tragedy. 

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

*glances at Skype thread of AP Lit students now called "Beautiful Hobbits Writers Club"* *glances at waffle necklaces on my dresser* *glances at literature blog I have started with my classmantes* *glances at my countdown until I get to meet my classmates at the AP Party* *glances at all-caps conversations about the most random things* 

... erm. yes. very interesting. xD 

This group of students are some of the most talented people I've ever met. They have caused me to look at things from a completely different perspective, they've pointed out things I would have never seen before, and they've been there to help me through frustrations and have celebrated in triumphs. I've forged lasting friendships through through this class and I can't say how grateful I am for that. 

So when (WHEN, not IF) you take this class, please talk to people and make friends. You can't imagine how wonderful I will be. 

• 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 can assure you that any class willing to invest effort in this class will be well rewarded for their hard work. My brother does not share my love for literature to say the least, but he still did very well in this class. Mrs. I is very encouraging and can work with people of all different interests and talents. She will bring out the best in you as long as you're willing to do your best. PLEASE, PLEASE take this class. I promise you will not regret it. 

If you love writing...

...why in the world are you waiting to sign up for this class?

I received a 5 on the exam, thanks to this class. My writing definitely improved, as did my appreciation for literature. Not only does Mrs. Inspektor offer helpful feedback on your writing, but she also uses the internet very effectively in organizing the class. I think the highlight of the class, however, is the interaction with fellow English nerds across the world. Discussion questions, book clubs, comments on each other essays... unbelievably helpful. Yes, it was harder than organic chemistry, harder than calculus, harder than anything else I've done, but it's also one of the best things I've ever done. 

If you relish a challenge and wish to improve your writing, sign up for this class right now!

This class taught me so much ' take it!

I really enjoyed this class. Mrs. Inspektor is a fantastic instructor who has a way of teaching that is interesting and informative. She is engaging, fair, and makes the work enjoyable 

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?
  • Yes. I definitely felt that the class helped me, in particular with the essays. As the class seems to focus particularly on the essays, I did some additional multiple-choice work by myself. I felt that Mrs. Inspektor's syllabus allowed for enough time at the end of the year for test prep.
• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?
  • On average, 1-2 hours per day. However, this varied from week to week.
• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?
• • The end of year novel comparison paper was especially enjoyable, interesting, and useful for the exam.
• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?
• • Yes. I feel that I learned how to read literature in a more engaging manner. Before the class, I just read for the stories, but I was able to pay closer attention to the different dimensions of each book.
• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?
• • Yes. Commenting on others' papers allowed me to think more about what I could work on in my papers, and other students' feedback was also helpful.
• 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!)?
• • Really anyone who is willing to work hard and has an interest in literature. You don't need to be a genius; just curious and serious about school/learning. It is also helpful to be a good writer prior to this class. 

AP English Literature

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Definitely! The practice essays throughout the year and discussion question responses all helped me prepare analysis and critical thinking about literature, which helped me on the exam essays. Those skills also translated to multiple-choice, so I felt very prepared when I was taking the exam.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I spent about an hour and a half most days, although that varied when I was working on one of the three long papers or doing review. Generally, though, I spent about 8-10 hours a week on the course.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I would say the three big papers–a short story, an analysis of Mansfield Park, and a novel comparison analysis–were the most valuable. Though I am not a story writer, writing the short story was challenging and valuable, and the two analysis papers challenged me to analyze deeply and gather specific evidence from the texts. The skills I honed in those papers were valuable in class, on the exam, and will continue to be valuable as I read literature in the future.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes! Before I began the course, I enjoyed literature and engaged in some analysis, but this class pushed me to analyze more deeply, evaluate more critically, and ultimately engage more fully with novels and poems than before. This all gave me more appreciation for literature.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes, they were certainly valuable. Students' comments on my essays were always thoughtful and helpful, and the points they added and discussed in response to the discussion questions were almost always well-developed, well-supported, and added to my understanding of some part of the text.

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!)?

Being willing to work hard is necessary, as with any AP course. Additionally, to do well, a student must be willing to put in effort to accept suggestions and feedback and apply that to essays and analysis. Since this course is not so focused on material as is, for example, a history course, students must always be willing to attempt new techniques, challenge themselves, and voice and support their own ideas to gain the full benefits of this class.

I would certainly recommend this course! Although it is challenging at times, even for students who are naturally writers or avid readers, the skills I gained are certainly valuable. Additionally, this class gave me new perspectives on literature and poetry, as well as deeper appreciation, and those are things I hope everyone could gain. 

awesome class!

Mrs. Inspektor did an absolutely fantastic job, not only making me extremely prepared for the AP exam in every aspect, but teaching me skills that I will definitely use in college and in life. This class has, quite honestly, dramatically changed my reading experience. Before this class, I just read to get the basic plot summary in the shortest time possible; typical Natalie style is to rush through tasks as effectively as possible- in the shortest amount of time. Reading was one of those tasks that I did just to to do before this class. But once I realized that I was missing a lot of deep analysis compared to the rest of my classmates, I started to read not only more slowly, but more deeply, and consider the significance what I'm reading. My experience with literature is much more enjoyable, and I feel like I've found a new world to explore. I spent an average of an hour on this class per day, mostly writing or reading. I would recommend this course to students that are willing to work hard and don't want to take a passive approach to literature anymore. 

Definitely Recommend!!

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Definitely! Sometimes I thought that there were too many assignments, but that's what an AP class is- if you feel you aren't doing enough in the class, you probably aren't! Every single assignment helped me to learn how to analyze different kinds of literature and poetry. Even outside of the AP exam this class taught me so much about literature.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

It generally varied. On a typical week I usually put in about an hour and a half a day give or take. On busier weeks when we had big papers due or book clubs, it was definitely more. The fact that there were many assignments each week also taught me to manage my time - a definite plus!

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

As much as I thought writing essays was tedious, this part of the class seriously helped my writing both on the AP exam and in general. Now writing papers don't seem like such a huge task!

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I've never actually planned on doing anything with liturature in college, I'm more of a science person. But I know I'll need to take English classes in college anyway, and this class is probably the best preparation I could have hoped for. Seriously. And if you're someone who loves liturature, you'll probably like this class even more!

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes! Book clubs were awesome. It was so fun getting to discuss books with other people, especially since a good portion of my school classes have been with just me, being a homeschooler and all! It was also good to have feedback on what you wrote from people your age since they were going through the same 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!)?

If you are willing to work hard, go for it! But this class is not for the faint of heart. The assignments focus on making you a better writer and analyzer, so go in with a mind to improve. It is also a highly rewarding class, especially with all the help you get from Mrs. Inspektor, TAs, and your fellow students. Highly recommend in all ways possible! :D

A Wonderful Class

Mrs. Inspektor's class prepared me very well for the AP exam. I felt confident with the material and my skills in analyzing literature grew immensely. I grew from getting 3s and 4s on essays to getting 8s and 9s throughout the year. This is a testament to Mrs. Inspektor's helpful comments and the AP practice she gives her students. I highly recommend this course. Anyone who is diligent and likes to read will do well in it.

Excellent class!!

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes.  For sure.  The AP English exams (I took both the lang and lit exams, although I only took the AP Lit class) are rather different from any other AP I have done in that they don't really have a specific body of information that they cover.  For this reason, there isn't much text-book style learning in this class.  Instead, Mrs. Inspektor prepped us by having us write many FRQs throughout the year and also having us complete discussion questions on our readings as we went.  This helped really secure the novels in my mind and forced me to look for a level of depth I wouldn't normally search for – very helpful come exam time.  She also had us complete quite a few MCQ tests and made us analyze our mistakes, so we were well prepared for that portion, as well.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Maybe two on average?  It's kind of hard to say, because when you are reading a novel, it depends largely on how fast you read, etc.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

As many others have mentioned, the frequent essays were very helpful.  In the spring, Mrs. Inspektor also assigned a longer novel comparison paper, where we had to choose two novels/plays and compare/contrast them with regard to a specific prompt which we chose with her approval.  I did The Great Gatsby (my favorite book from the assigned reading list!!) and Heart of Darkness, and I really felt like I gained a lot from the exercise in terms of how to approach literary analysis when given more than 45 minutes.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Hmmm.  Not sure how to answer this.  I've always loved literature, but it isn't something I plan on studying in college or anything.  One thing I will say, though, is that this course forced me to branch out in my literary taste, for which I am very appreciative – neither Heart of Darkness nor Wuthering Heights were novels that I was ever likely to read on my own.  The former was hands-down one of the best written works I have ever read (way more intense then I usually go, but whatever), but I never would have known that had I not been exposed to it through this class.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Very much so.  I mentioned the discussion questions earlier – well, those are very interactive by nature, because you have to respond to the posts that come before you.  We also did six-ish book clubs, where you had to discuss whatever book you had selected with your partners

• 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!)?

One who likes literature for literature's sake and who wishes to expand his/her experiences therein.  For me, I have a few authors whom I just love – Shakespeare (but I prefer to see the plays on stage rather than to read them), Jane Austen, Tolkien, sometimes Dickens, etc.  I also have stuff that I just don't generally read, no matter how many times someone tells me it is a classic – like Frankenstein, for instance.  However, this class really helped me try other stuff, and while I still have very decided preferences, they are at least more informed judgments.  Plus, I got to add Oscar Wilde to my list of beloved authors (for his witty plays, not for Dorian Gray, which goes on the list of things I refuse to read despite obvious literary merit).  I also learned to appreciate works that aren't my normal thing – for example, Crime and Punishment, which I did for our social commentary book club,is rather darker than my usual genre, but not only do I appreciate its literary merit, I honestly loved the whole thing.

Great Course!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes. Mrs. Inspektor's course gave us all the tools we needed to be prepared on the AP exam. The practice essay prompts that we did throughout the year were especially helpful in preparing for the exam.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I had already liked literature before this year, but Mrs. Inspektor's class made it more fun and exciting.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

The class was very interactive, and my classmates' thoughts on readings and discussion questions were always very thought-provoking and fun to read.

Would you recommend this course to other students?

I would recommend Mrs. Inspektor's course to anyone who wants to increase their ability to enjoy literature, do well on the AP exam, and have fun.

Wonderful class!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes! Mrs. Inspektor had us read books that would be useful for us on the third free-response question of the exam, so there were no worries about that. The discussions we did as well as the essays we wrote throughout the year prepared us to answer all of the free-response questions, and we did plenty of multiple choice questions for practice. There was also a chat to discuss one of the multiple-choice passages, and though I wasn't able to attend it, I found reading through the transcript of it really helped to answer my questions about why certain answers were correct and others weren't. This was definitely one of the exams I felt the most prepared for.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I think I probably put about ten to fifteen hours into this class each week from the beginning right up until the week before the AP Exam. I have to be honest, I fell behind in my work more than once during the course of the class, so the large amount of time I spent may be partially due to the fact that I was trying to both keep up with new assignments and complete past ones. The workload of this class is by no means overwhelming, but combined with the other things I did this year, it ended up being a little bit much for me.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Yes! The novel comparison paper! Though at first I felt that this assignment was a little bit unrelated to exam preparation, I quickly realized that it was the best thing that Mrs. Inspektor could have assigned us. This paper required that we do extensive research into two books of our choice, find a way to compare and contrast them, and then support our assertions with specific references from both the text and several literary criticisms. Though it was hard work, I was both very proud of my finished paper and also had enough knowledge of two different works to easily write about either one in response to any free response question three prompt that might be thrown at me. I actually did use one of the books I wrote about in this paper on the exam, and I'm sure that my essay would not have been nearly as in depth as it was without my having completed this assignment.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Absolutely! Before this class, I was intimidated by the idea of studying literature and I felt that too often people try to find meaning in a work that the author never intended to be there. However, after only the summer reading assignment I had become thoroughly interested in analyzing works of literature and by the middle of the year I was absolutely in love with this subject. I have been so inspired by this class that even though I already have all four English credits I need for high school I have decided to take British Literature next year just for fun.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Absotively posolutely (I'm running out of ways to say "yes" haha)! MY classmates were always willing to provide helpful, kind, and encouraging feedback on my work. I am certain that without them my writing would not have improved nearly as much as it did this year and I would not have enjoyed this class as much as I did. Their ideas made discussion very interesting, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading their varying points of view on the poems, books, and passages 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!)?

As long as you are willing to work hard, I think you will do excellently in this class! I would especially recommend this class to students who aren't doing a lot of other AP classes or who don't have an otherwise busy schedule. I LOVED this class, but I feel I wasn't able to get all I could out of it because my busy schedule prevented me from fully participating in discussion and turning in some of my work on time.

BEST. ENGLISH. CLASS. EVER. <3

Okay, this class is a must. Not just for people who love English, people who love reading, and the like, because we all need to be equipped with skills for communicating ourselves and understanding the communication of others. This class is by far the best English class I've ever taken, and one of my most beloved classes ever. It's a very close second to APUSH with Mrs. Richman (just saying, I severely underrated my APUSH review last year in my post-exam daze and I will never forgive myself, so I can't let that happen with this review). Taking this class brought my analytical skills to a whole new level, and I discovered a passion for studying literature which will carry on with me through the rest of my life. Guys, if you love knowing that there's other people out there who feel the exact way you do, if you love seeing the world through new eyes, and if you love studying life, you'll love this class. Not only is AP Lit fun and enriching in and of itself, but it also helped me in other areas of my life. For instance, the skills this class gave me help me better understand the Bible, which contains more symbolism and metaphor and irony than anyone imagines (I mean, duh, it's the best work of literature in history for multiple reasons). Additionally, learning about syntax helped me comprehend the complex wording of legal documents and other...dry material we debaters sometimes sift through. So AP Lit gives you real-life skills and lets you ponder life and is fun. AND Mrs. Inspektor is such a wonderful teacher: she tells me exactly what needs to be worked on and how to improve. Also, she understands how crazy schedules and life in general can be sometimes. And not only is she funny and encouraging, but she's also quite open-minded and understanding. Ah, what's not to love about this class?

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

YES, absolutely! I'm the type of person who is horrendously paranoiac when it comes to exams and other stressful situations. However, I was incredibly calm the days leading up to the exam. This was primarily due to the excellent preparation Mrs. Inspektor gave us. We wrote about two to four essays a month, which significantly sharpened analytical and writing skills. We were given excellent instruction about analyzing poems, short stories, novels, and plays, and participated in lots of fascinating discussions. By the end of the year, we had viable options for the open question (in which you choose a work of "considerable literary merit' and analyze one specific aspect/motif and connect it to the "meaning of the work as a whole") and had the skills necessary to understand literature and defend our interpretations of meaning. I'm thankful that the exam went very smoothly for me. Due to numerous practice tests and essays, I was very comfortable with the exam format and content. I had fun taking the exam(:. Another reason the exam was so low-stress for me was because AP Lit is slightly more skills-based than knowledge-based. Once you have the skills necessary, no cramming is necessary: a light review of terminology and the works we studied is all that's needed. So the subject *and* the class is awesome :D.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Approximately 1-2.5 hours a day were sufficient to complete the assignments. Generally, I'd spend 7-15 hours a week, with the average being roughly 10 hours. We'd have a morning message to respond to (it might be composing a sonnet of our own, discussing the interpretations scholars have about the works we were currently studying, or reading the background of a play), and then an additional assignment for the day which could be an essay, responding to fellow students' work, responding to discussion questions, and such. How much time spent really depends on the individual's levels of ability and interest.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I'm pretty sure I enjoyed every single assignment. So many to choose from, hahaha :P. I really loved the novel comparison paper. We analyzed two works of our choice in depth (which we had previously studied in class) and compared and contrasted them, while focusing on a common theme, like identity or home or betrayal. I loved how the assignment was rather like a culimination of all that we had learned throughout the year. Plus, I got to know two of my favorite works better (Wuthering Heights and The Great Gatsby). I highly enjoyed re-reading the works (or parts of them) and tracing common themes and looking for the overall significance behind the motifs presented. The assignment greatly enhanced my understanding and love for the two works I chose. The fall semester short story assignment was super fun too! After we finished the short story unit, we could write an analysis of three short stories or write our own short story. I picked the latter and had a blast! Reading literary criticism (and arguing for or against the interpretations presented) was also fascinating! It was cool seeing what the "pros" came up with(:. 

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Without a doubt, yes! I've always loved reading, but I never really understood books beyond the plot. However, this course changed that, and I've come to fall in love with the meanings of works (rather than the character ;]). I've discovered that I highly enjoy studying literature, and I hope to continue this study in college xD.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Definitely! My classmates were awesome. I loved the book clubs we did together, in which we formed groups to study works of our own choosing (with approval from Mrs. I, of course), and I really enjoyed listening to different points of view and other ideas! My classmates were also helpful in often providing feedback for my work. We were able to encourage and help each other along! The discussion question interactions were just fabulous. I loved how we responded to each other and added our own individual ideas, building upon each other's analysis and answering the question with this whole lovely patchwork of ideas x). Also, I had this awesome friend, and we would exchange papers (and encouragement) throughout the year. It's wonderful how Mrs. I made this class highly interactive. I had the time of my life thinking, discussing, and sharing 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 student who loves reading and writing would love this course! More importantly, the type of student who would do well in this course, whether or not they love English, would be the type of student who's self-motivated and not afraid to ask questions and think outside the box. This course is a lot of work, but it's very do-able! It's just that it's difficult to catch up if you fall behind. Self-motivation helps the student who's on track stay on track, and the student who falls behind (which is inevitable sometimes) get back on track. It also pushes a person to go above and beyond expectations and to truly strive to give the best that can possibly be given. Moreover, not being afraid to ask questions and think outside the box would help a student in this class, because part of AP Lit is about not being scared to get your feet wet, discovering your own interpretation of a work and uncovering the deeper meaning behind a symbol or character...and making the meanings a part of yourself. Because we study literature to study life, and literature is a view into reality and the world around us (and I love the irony of using fiction as a gateway to reality xDD). We feel for the characters, and we see the same traits and meanings reflected in our own lives. There's just something so chilling about Kurtz's last words in Heart of Darkness ("The horror! The horror!") because we ourselves have experienced a harsh glimpse of reality and of the depravity lurking within our hearts. There's something so understandable about Catherine from Wuthering Heights and her struggle between stability and freedom and with herself. And we feel for Nick and Gatsby, because we too have been disillusioned with the reckless, meaningless ways of the world. I've adored exploring the meanings of life within literature this year, and yes, I'm pretty sure you can already tell that I unequivocally recommend this class.

Oh, it's been such a great year! I'm incredibly thankful that I had this opportunity to learn and grow with my classmates and teacher.

(And thank you for forgiving my verbosity and love for superlatives and adverbs.)

Class Review 2014

This is an amazing class! I definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a class in preparation for the AP Lit/Comp exam or even someone who is just looking for a literature class. 

This class is amazing preparation for the exam--by the month of the exam, I felt so prepared that I didn't even need to cram any more studying in! This is not, by any means, because I am simply an awesome student. No, it had a lot more to do with Mrs. Inspektor's teaching style and course work. The discussion questions, morning messages, essays, reading, practice tests and other site interaction caused me to focus on literature and literature analysis for an hour to three hours each day. Although this work may have seemed tedious at times, it not only prepared me for the exam but also for english courses in college. 

Some favorite parts of this class have been: 

• Mrs. Inspektor's comments on essays. Of course, it feels great when the teacher gives you a 9/9 and tells you that your essay is phenomenal. But even when Mrs. Inspektor comments on things that one may need to fix or watch out for in the future, she does it in such a way that makes it really feel like she is helping (not just correcting) you. 
• Discussion questions. The DQ's were always a favorite part of the week for me. It is a great opportunity to share you interpretation of a work and to read others' opinions as well. One particually fun part of DQ's is when you get to create your own questions. I loved forming questions about topics that I found interesting or even confusing, and also reading others' responses to my questions.

And finally, the classmates are great. I'm really disappointed that I can't attend the get-together this May, because I have gotten to know my students through our discussions and book clubs, and it would have been great to meet them and the teacher! 

All in all, yes. Take this class. If you are willing to work hard, take this class.

Diving In

This class only works under one condition. Nobody forces you to do anything in this class. Sure, there are required assignments and of course the teacher wants you to hand in everything on time. But, this is a class that requires dedication and total commitment to the subject. If you don't love the subject, you will have to learn to. If you don't wake up early, you will have to start. If you don't read for pleasure and keep a journal, you will have to. I guess if this review isn't speaking to you yet, we are different types of people. But let me rewind a little.

When you picture Mrs. Inspektor, you should really imagine someone like George Patton. She is the Harry Parker (the renowned Harvard rowing coach) of literature. It didn't hit me until I was already a good bit into this class how much she wanted me to do. Every week was packed with assignments that she didn't expect me to take light heartedly. In fact, she wanted me to push myself every day of this class to succeed in the subject. What I also learned was how much she wanted me and the other students to thrive.

It is 6:45 am. I schlep over to my computer screen. I begin reading the Morning Message. Fifteen minutes later I wish I hadn't read it because I now have an enormously intimidating assignment hanging over me that will continue to hang over me until I complete it. Hey, who cares? I'll blast through it now and just get it done. Twenty minutes later I finish reading Perrine's textbook. No idea what I just read. How could I? I didn't hardly pay attention. Yeah, but no one really expected me to and if they did they must be out of their mind.

Eight minutes later I click submit. I had just stuttered my way through a horribly general morning message response. Great! This would still be hanging over me. Forty minutes later I had finished all there was to do for today for this class. I was somewhat happy with myself because I usually took forever. At least I did what I would ordinarily do in four hours in less than two. So there was my first improvement. But at that point I was literarily tone deaf. I couldn't hear myself and even if I could I knew better than to wait for the song to finish. I quickly clicked closed my lap top.

I kept that up for about three months before I let the frustration start to show in my responses. Don't get me wrong, I tried and I had been trying harder than ever before and looking back I wouldn't be where I am today without pushing myself in every area. But I thought I had arrived. In reality, my essay grades were nothing short of novice and my DQ and MM responses where nothing more than rushed, unfocused attempts.

Then it hit me. I don't remember when. It hit me gradually, I guess. Half the year had passed and I had begun to accept my work. Rather than thinking that the assignments never asked the right questions I realized I was just giving the wrong answers. I felt slightly relieved. At least I knew now that I wasn't a literary genius and could work for the rest of the year to become familiar with this abstract subject. So, in little ways, I attempted to better myself.

I started reading more. I kept up my journal writing. I kept rising early in the morning for the morning messages. The only difference was that I was coming to the computer knowing that I needed to know what was inside the morning message. I came to the screen now looking for help in everything Mrs Inspektor would assign. I began taking the assignments not as a constant evaluation of my skills but as a chance to practice them and improve them. Test day wasn't the only day to go all out. Today was the day and every day.

Mind you, I don't quite know what Mrs. Inspektor had in her mind about me at this point. But I wasn't anything new either. She had seen dozens of me before. Only the other me's were probably more receptive. Little by little things started improving. It was starting to get easier. I could still do the work in two hours but they were so much more valuable than before. It became addictively fun to learn. Mrs. Inspektor was letting us write poetry. She was letting us write short stories. My! What opportunities! Everything became a chance to improve.

Two weeks ago I received the last two week syllabus. It was the last class update I would ever receive. Wait! I had just started. To me the class was only beginning. I was finally getting the grades I wanted and the confidence in my writing voice that I wanted. Click. Click. Click. It was all clicking. Beep. Beep. Beep. 6:30 am. It was test day. I was overjoyed and sad. I thought for an extra moment this morning. A thought settled into my mind after some rustling around in the brain. Yes, I was happy with what I had learned this year. But all the credit went to Mrs. Inspektor who didn't budge on my grades until I budged. All my usual fake it till I make it tricks hadn't worked.

That's also when I had the Patton revelation; pearl handled pistols and all.

So, now that I've possibly dissuaded you from taking this class, bear with me a little longer. This class is one big opportunity. You would be unwise not to take it. This class is a chance to look deep into yourself and find what's really there and also find what wasn't there that you thought had been there. It is also a chance to learn: to write, to read, to think, and to improve. Go on, take it and don't look back. This is a new frontier with unchartered waters, pirates, storms, possibly cannibals, and maybe even rogue whales. But don't let that scare you. Dive in.

Please take this class! :)

First, this is such an amazing class, and Mrs. Inspektor is a phenomenal teacher! All year she invested so much time and energy into helping the class excel, and I have grown so much in both my appreciation of literature and my ability to communicate my interpretation. By the time the AP exam came around, I felt so prepared and didn't feel the need to cram or stress out. That's not to say that this class is not hard work. It definitely is! I typically spent about 1.5-3 hours a day completing assignments. But even though it at times felt tedious, I am so thankful that I persevered. *Everything* she assigned helped me grow so that I could be confident for the exam (and for analyzing literature in the future).

My favorite assignments this year were probably the numerous timed essays. I enjoyed the challenge of analyzing under time limits, and it was encouraging to see my writing develop as the year progressed. Another aspect of the course I really appreciated was interacting with the other students through discussion questions and book clubs. I am also so grateful for Mrs. Inspektor's communication. She gave such helpful criticism to my work, and was always encouraging.

I definitely recommend this course! Don't think that you have to be a really great writer, or an experienced poetry analyst. If you are willing to work hard, stay on pace with the schedule, and learn from Mrs. Inspektor's advice, then you will definitely do well. Good luck! :)

+Recommended!

First of all, I want to thank Ms. Inspektor so much... she definitely puts in an outstanding amount of time and effort into her teaching and her students. For anyone looking to take a serious online AP course, I strongly recommend taking this one.  Out of all the AP classes/online courses I have taken, this one was honestly one of my favorites (if not THE favorite). After completing this course, I felt even more prepared than I did when I took AP Language in private school last year. Furthermore, I really enjoyed the assignments we had… I think they were fairly graded and truly insightful. With Ms. Inspektor, I never got a grade that I was confused about, and even if I was initially surprised, she always followed up with comments about why I received the grade and how I could improve in the future.  If you are looking for an "easy A", this is not the class for you. However, if you are willing to work hard to increase your knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for English, I would recommend this class. Even if you don't consider English to be your favorite subject, I can see where this class would give you great experience. It was interesting to read certain novels/works with the whole class, but also have the opportunity to discuss other books in small group discussions. Overall, I really did enjoy English this year, and if you choose this course, I hope you will too.

This is an amazing class!

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Definitely. Although there were maybe one or two literary terms I had forgotten on the exam, otherwise, I felt completely prepared. I can say that, if I missed any questions, it was my own fault, not a result of not being prepared enough.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I spent anywhere from 1 to 2 hours per weekday on the class, with an average of 1.5 hours/day. Usually the only time I had to work on weekends was when I had a paper, such as the novel comparison paper, due. And of course, I put more time into some book clubs than others.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I found the novel comparison paper (essentially literary analysis comparing one aspect of two novels) very helpful. As we only were to submit one draft, in addition to greatly improving my analysis skills, I learned to pace myself (especially since I had tons of college visits the week before the due date). I also found Mrs. Inspektor's "Poetry Mondays" extremely helpful. As my previous English courses didn't include much poetry, I felt these poetry analysis days extremely helpful in helping me become a better reader and analyzer of poetry.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Well, I always loved literature, but I'd say I like it even more now :). As I can now better analyze literature, I'm able to gain more enjoyment from novels and poems. I also have a greater appreciation for poetry. Before AP Lit, my not-so-great poetry analysis skills made me look with a bit of foreboding on poetry assignments, but now that I'm much improved in this regard, I gain far more enjoyment from poetry.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Definitely! This class is much more interactive than many other AP's I've taken. As a result, I've gained valuable insight on my essays from my fellow students. As well, their posts in discussion question threads pushed me to take my analysis deeper than I would have on my own. And, finally, doing book clubs with classmates was a fun way to discuss works and just enjoy ourselves.

• 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 any student willing to work hard (one of the many things you'll learn in AP Lit: include a few terms from the prompt in your AP essays to make sure you are staying on track :)) and who is willing to approach literature with an open and eager mind will do well in this class. Although I didn't agree with every work, I was still able to analyze and appreaciate the rich depth of nearly all the poems, plays, and novels I encountered. Also, you must be able to pace yourself on your assignments but also be willing to compromise with classmates on joint assignments. The novel comparison paper at the end of the year is perhaps the best example of this--you only submit a single final draft and must schedule the assignment yourself and update progress on the website.

Basically, if you like literature (or even if it's not your favorite), consider this class! I really enjoyed learning from and interacting with Mrs. Inspektor, classmates, and the course material to take my analysis and appreciation of all forms of literature to the next level.

Nicholas Emery

Truly Phenomenal English Class-You Won't Regret Or Forget It!

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? This course ABSOLUTELY prepared me for the exam. I went into my exam feeling completely calm and ready to take the test, and I didn't doubt for one second that Mrs. Inspektor's class had failed in any way to prepare me for the exam. I took both AP Lang and AP Lit with Mrs. Inspektor and I consider those two classes the best part of my homeschool education. It is definitely worth all the hard work! 
• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course? I would say about 20 hours per week ( 2-4 each day perhaps) depending on the work load that week, any extra essays on the weekends, and my personal schedule. There's usually the option to work ahead a bit, which is awesome, because then I have the flexibility in my schedule to dictate what days I work longer, and what days I can free up. 
• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? Definitely the short story unit, as well as the novel comparison paper. These assignments were our major ones, compared to the practice essays we typically wrote every other week. While they were hard work and time consuming, the final product was absolutely worth every bit of time. 
• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? This course, as well as AP Lang, absolutely enhanced my interest in English. Mrs. Inspektor has a way of making English FUN and INTERESTING. I already loved reading and writing going into this class, but I absolutely ADORED it after my first and then second year. This class was truly a blessing since I had a distaste for poetry before the class (coming from a background of studying little to no poetry, you should know), but ended this year with a deep understanding and like for poetry.
• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? My communications were always interesting and valuable. I've come to know such great friends, who I've never happened to meet since some live across the country, yet the distance does not hinder the greatness of our friendship developed through the class and our assignments. We all work together and help each other become better writers and readers, and I am truly thankful for each and every one of the students in this class this past year. As much as the teacher is important to the education, I believe the students play an integral part as well. 
• 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 not afraid of hardwork, writing essays frequently, as well as reading often quite a bit of a book; and also a student willing to give all they have to become a better writer and analyzer of literature, which means kindly taking critcism and accepting the journey they will partake in-it is an AWESOME journey, by the way! I wholeheartedly recommend this course to other students if they are willing to work very hard. Just remember, it is completely worth it! 

AMAZING Class! Take this!

I LOVED THIS CLASS! I've taken many online classes, but this one is definitely near the top of the list. Mrs. I is an amazing teacher, and I'm sad that AP Lit is over already! I learned so much in this class: how to analyze poetry, how to analyze prose, how to analyze novels, how to write about different types of literature, how to discuss literature with a group, and, most importantly, how to LOVE literature! That's what I'm taking out of this class--the realization that literature can be a powerful way to convey truths about humanity, and the desire to read more of it! I made so many great classmates, got to read some great works, and had many opportunities to have deep conversations about literature.

This course definitely prepared us for the AP exam. Throughout the year, we wrote many exam-style essays that were extremely helpful. You won't necessarily get 9's the first time you try (I got a 3 on my first essay!), but that's the whole point--you'll see yourself improve!

Mrs. I had two major assignments--a short story (or you could write an analytical paper as another option) in the fall and a novel comparison paper in the spring. These assignments were amazing; I wrote a short story I'm extremely proud of and I was able to dive *very deep* into the two books I chose for my spring paper. I now feel confident to enter a college literature class--Mrs. I has given me the tools and skills in order to succeed in future literature classes!

Going into the class, I can't say that I was a big fan of reading... it's still not my favorite hobby, but I now see the powerful, powerful themes found in literature. I see literature in a different light, and I approach it in a different light.

Another thing I enjoyed about the class was the book clubs Mrs. I had us participate in. Not only were these great ways to get to know my classmates, but I was able to pick a book I wanted to read and then discuss it with others.

Bottom line: take this class! You'll love Mrs. Inspektor, and you'll learn so many things--through every discussion question, Morning Message, essay, and novel you read. This is a phenomenal, thorough, well-developed class, and Mrs. I has so much experience. This has been one of the best parts of my high school years so far, and I hope it can be one of yours, too!! 

Only thing better than this class? Mrs I's Lang class and maybe Mrs R's APUSH... ;)

Before I answer the actual questions, let me just say that this was an AMAZING class. You need to take it. End of story. I'll also try to make this review shorter than my review – which was actually more like a novel – for Lang last year, so maybe someone will actually read this. :P Like I said in my title, the only class better than this was Mrs. I's Lang class and perhaps Mrs. Richman's APUSH class…see a trend? Mrs. I is an awesome teacher who really understands her students and while pushing them hard to do their best, stretch themselves, and exceed the standards expected on the AP exam, also keeps in mind their crazy school schedules, unexpected events, and their human-ness I suppose. ;) And, well, I guess Mrs. I learned from her mom, right? ;) This past year I had really challenging family circumstances that most people don't go through, and Mrs. I was amazingly understanding and was always ready to talk with me about anything I was concerned about in class and my actual, "non-school" self. If you take this class I guarantee you that you will NOT get a teacher who is distant, cold, or unfair…after two years of being her student and a year of TAing, I can tell you that she's about as far from those characteristics as Gatsby was from despair. Yeah, bad analogy. But c'mon, Gatsby and Heart of Darkness ARE my two favorite books I read in this course...so give me a little break. ;)

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Um, a capital YES YES YES. I went into the AP exam soooo confident, and that rarely is the case for me, as I'm by nature a worrier and I'll fret about allll my tests, even the ones I've spent months studying for. While I was a bit concerned about what topic Question 3 on the exam (the open-ended question in which you need to choose a book to answer the prompt) was going to be on, I was pretty confident on all the analyzing MCQs and the essays. Throughout the year we'd write 1 AP essay a week – at least – with that number increasing in second semester. We also had to take 5-6 practice MCQs, and do little exercises afterwards to make sure we learned from our mistakes. Oh, and as a side note – this course won't JUST help with AP exams but also for the SAT and the SAT subject test in Literature…I got 800s on both my critical reading SAT and the Lit subject tests and I'm 100% convinced that if I hadn't taken Lit and Lang that would not have been the case. So take this class!!!

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

That's a toughie…it really depended on the week and even the day. Yeah, I know that's not much help. The assignments in Lit are daily, so it just depended on what was assigned…some days I'd spend four hours reading the assigned pages, responding to the morning message, and writing the required number of discussion questions, and other days I'd just respond to the morning message and edit a paper or respond to classmates' essays for maybe two hours. In general though, I'd say in a typical week I'd spend a total of 16-18 hours a week on Lit.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Um, YES. Mrs. I had us writing FRQs even like the third week of class, so that was sooo helpful, having feedback on "real" AP essays quite literally the entire year. Also, in each semester we had one "big" project. First semester was a paper on several short stories and second semester was on two novels…and both papers, but especially the spring one, were immensely eye-opening. I was able to analyze The Scarlet Letter and The Great Gatsby SO in-depthly (yup, I invented a word, like any, uh, good AP Lit student…) and after reading Gatsby a total of probably 5 times over the past school year as a result, I love the book soooo much :D And it also helped me dig deeper into those two books and gave me two very viable options for Question 3 on the exam.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Once again, a definite, definite YES. The very nature of the course revolves around LOTS of student-student interaction, which I just loved. I have some now-very-nearly-best-friends whom I met in Lang and who were with me again in Lit, and I met some new people too. There's something amazing about having amazinggg friends scattered throughout the States, many of whom (who didn't go to the AP Party – shame!!) I've never met, yet who understand me better than and are there for me more than my friends here in Maryland. Most of my AP friends are heading to college this year, while I'm a rising senior, but we are keeping in touch like crazy…the relationships you'll forge in this class if you interact and go beyond the required interaction will amaze you. :)

------

I tried to keep this short, much shorter than my probably-several-thousand-word review for Lang last year. :) If I could repeat a year in Mrs. I's classes – which, believe me, they were such awesome classes that I truly wish I could – I could probably pick Lang, just because of the amazing way my classmates and I just gelled and the specific assignments that were more up my alley slightly, but Lit is downright amazing, head and shoulders above 90% of the classes I've taken in high school. TAKE THIS CLASS. You'll be so glad you did. :) 

Everyone deserves TEA*

Disclaimers: You might not want to take this class. It will shake up, turn upside down and inside-out, poke, prod, and polish your view of short stories, novels, drama and poetry. Possibly it will strengthen your literary analysis skills to the point where you can't just plain read anymore without seeing symbolism, irony, suspense, and other techniques of their cohort haunting you at every corner, and maybe half-recognizing a few characters from previous adventures. You might find yourself surrounded by crazy classmates who don't even sing normal words to songs half the time because they write their own, and they might convince some of you to wear ridiculous costumes or speak in a strange voice to act out scenes from a play you're reading for the course. Weigh these costs carefully.

If, despite these grave and dire warnings, you decide to take this course . . . one last word of advice. BEWARE of an absolutely fantastic, caring, attentive, and patient teacher who WILL push you to do your best, answer your questions, help you hone your essay-writing and literature-analyzing skills, motivate you with pictures and/or videos of her adorable daughter, and maybe even write college application recommendation letters for you.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? YES. Timed essays are not my strong point, and I'm definitely more oriented toward science/math than the humanities, and yet through this class I felt pretty confident and fully equipped on exam day.
• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course? Average of 2 hours a day, I'd say. Often closer to 1 if I was busy with other things, but definitely much more before the biggest assignment each semester. This doesn't include book clubs, though, which are extremely flexible and depend on how long of a book you read (Hamlet took much more time than Persuasion, for example) and how much you and your book-club-mates want to put in (probably an average of 2-3 hours/week).
• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? Looking back, I learned a lot from the short story comparison mini-paper and Poetry Mondays, but my favorite assignment would definitely be the spring novel comparison paper. We each had to pick a past AP prompt (or write an AP-style prompt of our own) and write a paper answering the prompt using two novels or plays we'd read during the class. I wrote about The Great Gatsby (read in class_ and "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" (read for a book club), which were two of my favorite works of the year, and I had a blast getting into the author's minds, digging deeper into the hearts of the stories, analyzing the aspects relevant to the prompt, and comparing them to each other.
• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? YESYESYESYESYES. Interesting? You don't even want to know. ;D Valuable? Definitely. We regularly give feedback on each other's work, not only as required by Mrs. I, but also privately exchanging drafts of the major assignments for revision and polishing advice before submitting on the class site. My classmates have been super supportive and encouraging friends that I don't plan on losing touch with anytime soon.
• Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)? Indubitably. Unreservedly. Passionately. Emphatically. Redundantly. (Special note to anyone who's deciding between AP Language and AP Literature: I've taken both, Lang first, which I found very helpful because Lang developed my writing skill/voice to the point where I was comfortable expressing myself with detail and clarity, so in Lit I could focus more freely on the actual analysis and content of the writing and the structure was more automatic. That being said, I've known people who have successfully done the classes in the opposite order, so go with whatever you think works for you. =)

*TEA = To Excel at AP English. Lame, I know. But take this class!! And again, don't say I didn't warn you. :)

AP Lit is awesome!

This course definitely prepared me for the AP exam, the student interaction and the active TAs/teacher really helped me in studying and understanding the material from Perrine's Lit. There is an excellent forum system on the class website, and any questions or confusions were always answered very quickly. 

I worked about two hours per day on this course, so about 10 hours per week. Not an incredibly difficult load of work. More so considering that the majority of our homework was written essays, which, if approached with the right attitude, are fun. 

My favorite assignments were the AP essays that we wrote multiple times per week. Writing them and reading/reviewing those of others really helped me understand the difference between a boring essay that restates the question and a powerful essay that argues a point. 

"Did the course enhance my interest in the subject." Well... I certainly find reading classical (and even commercial) fiction more interesting, and I can pick up and recognize a lot more literary devices now. So yes, this course brings you to a new level of reading comprehension. IF this question, however, is asking whether or not I would consider an English major because of this class... no, not for me.  

The communications between myself and the other students in the class were excellent. There is a very well organized and easy to use forum on the main page of the website, so class interaction is very frequent. We are also required to respond to the essays, papers, and comments of others, so we not only meet other people but get to learn a LOT from them. 

A student with a background in literature will excell in this course. If you already know a good format for a paper, how to use adjectives, and how to makes sentences relatively smooth, you will very quickly grasp the connection between writing beautifully and writing a beautiful argument. Like all AP courses, you will have to work hard in this class, and occasionally you will open the WWW Board in the morning to discover a challenging assignment you know will take a long time, but if you a resilient this class will pay off. By the end of the year you begin to understand everything, and the class as a whole becomes very enjoyable.

Many of you may know this from reading the reviews and course description, but Mrs. Inspektor has not had a student score below a 3 on the AP test in something like two or three years, so rest assured, she is an excellent teacher who will do her best to teach you the information you need to know to pass the AP test.

Well Worth the Time It Took!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes. We went into this test confident (and often far more prepared than the students at the school where we took our exams!).

AP English tests aren't the sort of thing you can study for overnight; they test skills more than factual knowledge. You need to know basic rhetorical devices and poetry terminology, as well as a good range of books for the open question, but beyond that, it's analysis and writing skills that you can't cram in a week of frantic studying. But we learned these things throughout the year and will take them beyond the exam.

As an added bonus, AP Literature multiple choice questions make the SAT critical reading a stroll in the park (although you'll take SAT essay prompts) and the SAT Literature Subject test very doable.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Since you're often reading two books at once (one for regular assignments and another for your book club), this class does have a heavy workload. I believe I averaged around 12 hours a week, including reading on the weekends. Be prepared to live and breath your novel comparison paper books for three weeks and to start quoting or referencing your literature books as much as you can without your friends/family yelling at you.

However, this class is well worth the time it takes! The reading, though dark and depressing at times (the best books show humanity for what it truly is, and, well, humanity's rather terrible), is fascinating. My critical thinking, analysis, and overall writing improved tremendously this year, and I made wonderful connections with my classmates.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

The novel comparison paper. Yes, it ate up my "spring break." Yes, I got yelled at for quoting Crime and Punishment excessively. Yes, I spent at least 8 hours finishing and perfecting this paper the day it was due.

But I turned out what is currently my finest piece of writing, and I loved living in those books.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes, but I was already planning to be an English major or minor.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Definitely! The book clubs are the runner up to the question before last. We usually met via G+ hangouts, and the live discussions allowed us to synthesize our ideas and work through difficult questions and concepts together (as well as have hilarious sidetracks).

I had the pleasure of meeting 1/3 of this class at the AP Party, and it was awesome. Nonstop book references, exploring the Richman's whimsical house, finding poetry Mrs. Inspektor wrote at the age of 6, Paradise Lost and AP exam parodies of popular songs, and sleeping in a cupboard that looked like the attic passageway in The Magician's Nephew.

Based on my experience in this class, I'm looking to apply to a selective or honors college in the attempt to find classmates like these--bright, motivated, interesting, and diverse. They made it worth being in a 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!)?

If you are willing to devote the time, I would highly recommend this course!

"Over-thinkers"--people who read between the lines and analyze everything--seem to enjoy AP Lit and high-level literature classes in general. I've also found the propensity to make sometimes-unorthodox connections (between parts of a novel, a prompt and book, or two different books/poems) is helpful.

This course focuses on ideas more than actual writing, so it is assumed you are fairly comfortable with essay writing, grammar, and mechanics beforehand.

Other:

AP Lang or AP Lit?

There are people who did very well in AP Lit without having done AP Lang, but the general consensus is that you are better prepared if you do AP Lit second. This is because AP Language focused much more on style, helping you develop a clear writer's voice and construct sound arguments (without those, even the most insightful analysis falls flat). Also, the analysis in AP Language tends to be at a different level-- more of how language conveys a meaning or effect, instead of what that effect it.

Mrs. Inspektor is an amazing teacher!

People were saying that they felt more connected to her half-way around the world than to the college professors the saw every day. Mrs. Inspektor has a gift for continual encouragement and constructive criticism.

Absolutely Fantastic! The best class ever!

     This class has been the best literature class I have ever taken! Though the work was tough at times, it was never more than we could handle at a time. I definitely felt prepared on exam day. Not only that, but I also feel a lot more confident about the papers and work I will have to face in college. The level of work presented in this class improved my writing skills, analysis skills, and fed my love of literature. 

     The interactions in the class with Mrs. Inspektor, the TA's, and the students were phenomenal. Never during the year did I feel discouraged when it came to my work. Rather, I felt motivated by their constructive criticism and unfailing support. I would recommend this class in heartbeat! I've already mentioned it to a few friends who were interested in taking an AP English course. If you're hard-working, ambitious, and are interested in any form of writing or literature, TAKE THIS CLASS! 

Definitely take this class!

• I felt like this course prepared me for the exam by slowly starting with essays in the beginning of the year and then gradually adding more and more of what would actually be on the exam. We did a unit on learning poetry and how to analyze it, which directly improved each of our poetry essays. We picked two books to analyze and contrast in our spring semester paper, and this helped us to review books that we might use on the 3rd essay question, which is called the open question. On the open essay question, you have to pick a book to use in response to the prompt. In the spring semester we started to take practice multiple choice tests, like the one on the exam. Mrs. Inspektor even coordinated a skype meeting where we went over one of the passages and the questions on it. I felt like nothing in the structure of the exam was a surprise to me, and this decreased any exam-day stress. 
• I probably worked between 10-12 hours each week, and more if there was an assignment that was due on Sunday night. 
• I really enjoyed the spring semester paper, because I found the topic I picked to be a fascinating one to analyze. (I explored the symbol of darkness in Heart of Darkness and Lord of the Flies.) This project took a lot of time, but I found it extremely beneficial. I also appreciated that we had plenty of options to choose from for this assignment.
• I took AP Lang from Mrs. Inspektor last year and AP Lit this past year. Both of these classes have given me an interest in literature and greatly improved my writing in both timed essays and larger assignments. This subject was my favorite out of all my subjects. I have loved being apart of Mrs. I's classes these past two years and have learned a huge amount from her.
• My classmates made me take away even more from the class. A large part of our assignments are commenting on each other's discussion responses, essays, and other assignments. Not only do you get feedback from Mrs. Inspektor, but you also get feedback from amazing classmates who give helpful comments too. The books clubs were also really fun to meet with a few classmates online and discuss the book that we read. There is some flexibility in what books you pick for the book clubs, because you can suggest one and get a group together or join someone else's group. 
• I think if you enjoy reading and want to dive more into literature you would be a good student to take this class. Even if you don't feel that writing is particularly your strong point, this class might change that! As long as you're willing put a lot of time into it, you will undoubtedly get a lot out of this class. Mrs. Inspektor is a fabulous teacher, and I would highly recommend both of her classes!

Seriously amazing class.

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

I felt very prepared for the exam. We did a LOT of timed essay practice, so by the time I got to the exam I was writing 4/5 pages of essay in 40 minutes (the AP Englishes will do that to you :) ), and so that part of the exam felt fairly routine/easy. Multiple choice is always a little tricky, but Mrs. Inspektor did an awesome job of helping explain the different strategies to deal with that part of the test, and she also provided us with a wide variety of assigned readings such that I wasn't very phased by any of the styles of passages on the exam. 

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

It honestly varied. Some days I'd put in about 30 minutes. The typical day was probably about an hour though, maybe a little more. During the two major assignments, the short story mini paper and the novel comparison paper, I spent WAY more time on the assignments. For the novel comparison paper, which we did in early-ish April, I probably spent about 30-40 hours over the course of a week working on it. So while it may seem like a deceptively light workload at times, don't let it fool you--the major assignments fully make up for those days where the assignments only take a few minutes :) But the two papers we worked on were so much fun and so awesome that the time spent working on them was well worth it. 

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

The novel comparison paper was just a fantastic experience. It's this 10 page paper, and the premise behind it is to take a past AP prompt (or create your own prompt like I did) and answer it using two novels by comparing and contrasting them. I used Frankenstein and Dracula, and overall it helped me not only have a fully understanding of the two books, but also forced me to think about writing larger papers. It was a bit of a challenge getting it to all flow coherently, but it was a very rewarding paper and a really great way to wrap up the class. 

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Oh, definitely. Although I'm entering college next year as an intended engineering major, I decided to apply to one of my school's residential programs (a living community within the dorm), which is focused on bringing together people interested in literature and culture. I'm very much hoping to be a part of that next year since discussing literature has grown on me very much this year. 

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes! This (along with AP English Language) was one of the most interactive online AP classes I've taken. I felt like I got to know all of my classmates even though we hadn't actually met. I'm really hoping to meet a bunch of them next year in person, and I can't wait. :) 

• 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 who is passionate about reading, who wants to improve their skills as a writer, and who likes to have discussions with people of all different opinions. This was my second course with Mrs. Inspektor, and I can honestly say that after being in her class for 2 years, I feel thoroughly prepared to jump into college English classes. Her classes not only helped prepare me for the respective AP Exams, but also helped me with writing various essays for my college applications. They truly were invaluable, and I found this class to be just so informative and so interesting because it taught me so many things about literature that I previously overlooked. You don't have to be the best writer to take this class--Mrs. Inspektor will guide you along the way, and I think her constructive criticism has helped the entire class gorw together in their abilities. I also just want to say that the TAs this year were absolutely fantastic, and gave us a lot of good tips and feedback over the course of the year. Overall, if you're willing to work hard and you truly have an interest in literature, take this course. It will change the way you view literature, but in a good way :) 

Contained Herein: AP Lit, Squirrels, and one Sorting Hat

AP lit is an excellent course and it is ultimately very rewarding, although it is not for the faint of heart!  There were times throughout the year when I was absolutely in LOVE with the class and other times when I never wanted to think about it EVER AGAIN!   But, if I had the choice to do it over again, I definitely would. 

I felt very well prepared for the AP exam.  I wasn't panicking like a squirrel in the middle of a road, not sure which way to run because of the essays  trucks bearing down from both directions.  I was scared, yes, but part of that fear was dread of going to a high school, DURING SCHOOL HOURS, to take the AP exam.  (I guess you could say I have publicschoolophobia.  But then again, what homeschooler doesn't, right?)  We wrote essays responding to AP level-prompts taken from the Collegeboard website every other week and in the second semester started taking timed multiple-choice tests taken from previous exams.  Even when we weren't writing actual essays, we were analyzing some EXCELLENT books (Wuthering Heights <3<3) and responding to discussion prompts.  I felt quite prepared and so will you, if you take this class. 

As far as how many hours I put into this class each day, I'm not sure of an exact total.  However, the assignments are usually not something you can dash off in 30 minutes.  You'll have to be prepared to put time and effort (and sweat, tears, and possibly even blood!) into this class, but IT'S ALL WORTH IT!  This class will stretch you in so many ways that some days you'll feel like a limp piece of elastic, but you'll learn soo much through it.  (And your brain will regain its normal shape.  I promise.) 

I do have one regret about this amazing class: I only did one bookclub.  Bookclubs involve choosing a book to read and meeting through Skype or Gchat to discuss it with several classmates.  Because of various forces beyond my control such as the amount of other schoolwork I had this year, I was only able to do one bookclub.  It was really fun and don't be like me; DO BOOKCLUBS!!  Anyway, chatting with other students is important and I really wish that I had done more of that.  It would have been fun to do more bookclubs and it's always helpful to have someone to swap practice essays with. 

This class is fun, but it is not for everyone!  I know some of the reviews say that this is a class for everyone, that everyone should take it.  I'm not going to say that.  If you like literature, want to challenge yourself as a writer, or enjoy writing, then go for it!  However, it is a lot of writing and reading.  If you struggle with writing or plan on majoring in Outdoor Education in college, then this class is not for you.  Choose wisely; there is no AP class sorting hat to choose for you! 

Over all, I would highly recommend this class to you guys.  It's a great class, I think you'll enjoy it, and I KNOW you'll learn a lot.  Mrs. Inspektor is a WONDERFUL, SUPER-HELPFUL teacher who goes way beyond EVERYTHING to be helpful and supportive.  Over the course of this class, you will fall in love (wonderful books!), party with a mysterious rich dude, discover ultimate darkness, and possibly murder your wife with a pillow!  Hang on to your hats, folks, it's quite a ride!  

A Class Anyone Interested in Literature Should Take

As a student who plans on majoring in Writing, I knew I would be taking AP Literature courses throughout high-school, but really, I had no idea I would learn as much as I did from Mrs. Inspektor's class. It was a lot of work (I do mean a lot) but it was so worth it. I probably put in an hour or two a day on average, more than that when we were studying for the exam or preparing for a big paper, but even though I worked hard, I never really felt over-worked. The many assignments Mrs. Inspektor assigned us were daunting at first, but because she gave us plenty of time to work on them, and detailed guides on how to go about writing the papers, I never turned in an important project late, or felt that the finished work was anything less than my best.

There were so many parts of this class that I loved. From the essays I had to write (which were influential in preparing me for the exam) to just chatting with my fellow classmates, this class was an experience I won't soon forget. It showed me a side of classic literature I never knew existed, and I've discovered my passion for stories goes deeper than just heroes and heroines. Because of books like The Great Gatsby and Heart of Darkness, I've not only found out that literary fiction is not always dull, but that literature can be so much more than just fantasy.

I've made friendships in this class that I hope will last a lifetime, learned things I will never forget, and discovered a part of myself I didn't really know existed. Yes, the class worked me, it challenged me, but when it finally came time to take the final exam at the end of the year, I can honestly say I've never felt so confident. I really was prepared for it, and couldn't be happier about how I feel I did on the exam.

If you're somoene who enjoys reading literature, take this class. If you want to learn how to get more out of reading, take this class. If you want to challenge yourself to be a better writer, then definitely take this class. I don't regret taking it, and I don't think you will either.

a great class for anyone

As a math/science inclined student, I was very apprehensive about this class.  I was a pretty wide-read student from previously literature classes, but analyzing prose and poetry was just very challenging to me.  Mrs. Inspektor was an amazing instructor who provided us with many opportunities to develop those analytical skills particularly in her discussion question assignments.  I felt prepared for the exam in knowing many techniques to use to score high on the MCQ and many great books to write my essay on.  I spent about 10 hours a week on this class.  The daily assignments itself took maybe 7 hours total each week but we also did book clubs and that was my absolutel favorite.  We students would form our own groups and finish reading and analyzing a book in several weeks.  I really liked the weekly Google+ hangouts arranged with my classmates in discussing themes, motives, symbols, etc. from the book because that really helped my analytical skills and helped me appreciate literature more.  The wwwboard was a great place to communicate because Mrs. I posts daily messages so everyone has to respond daily.  That means every student is checking the website daily so if you have a question that's posted, there are many people who are willing to answer.  I was very fortunate my year to have three amazing TAs who would read over my two large essay assignments.  To succeed in this class, you have to do the assignments daily instead of cramming all in one day, but Mrs. I gives you everything you need to be successful.  So, though I was initially worried about this class, I worked hard and was able to do well in the class.

Take this class if you want to learn why classics are classics. (And much more.)

I'll admit it, before this course I was COMPLETELY dubious about taking ANY AP literature course. 

I am (cough, cough *WAS*) not a classics person. I liked some books I'd read over the years for school, like Jane Eyre . . . that is, the parts I'd chosen to read instead of skim over. That was eigth grade, though, at a prestigious private school where they didn't really care if we'd actually read the books, only that the titles were on the class syllabus and that we carried our Penguin Editions around with pride.

I was really bitter about this.

I wanted to read experimental fiction thrillers and things I actually ENJOYED. Shoot me. Also note that at the time I was extremely proud of this fact and possible maybe sort of had a reputation for being that person with the guts to write "WHY AM I READING THIS" on the front cover of Julius Ceaser. I didn't see any point to reading Austen if you didn't want to--I mean, yeah, awesome story but I don't want to write essays on it and blah blah blah, I'm sure my classmates wanted to strangle me every time we got a new book and I started my rant on classical education and how phony and boring it all was. For multiple reasons, I ended up leaving that school. =P

THEN came Mrs. Inspektor's lang class (this is a review for lit, but my praise starts with lang!) which completely stopped me in tracks with everything school related. Oh my word, that class....changed EVERYTHING! I adored it, I feel like it taught me how to write....but still, I was loathe to take her lit class because I still didn't see any point to classics, and I'd read most of them anyway and theeeyyyy wwweeerrreee boooorrriiiinnnnggggggg.....but thank goodness I have a mother who doesn't let me choose all my classes based on what sounds good.

I took lit, and yes, the books were hard, the workload was intense, the time I spent blew private school lit class out of the water, but NO--

THEY WERE NOT BORING.

I honestly don't know what it is about Mrs. Inspektor's classes, but she can make even the snobbiest, anti-literature person get through these tough, tough novels and enjoy them in the process. Heart of Darkness, my own personal enemy, actually turned into something I spent hours dwelling on after the book, talking to people about, googling at two in the morning, and re-reading. YOU HEARD ME, *RE-READING*....I read Gatsby twice, too. And GOSH, I feel like I got so much out of these novels. I don't think I can go back to reading summer romance novels again. Heck, I don't think I can even WRITE romance again. Unless it's a simmering soul-fest like Wuthering Heights, or a culturally enlightening commentary like The Great Gatsby, which, though I HATED in eigth grade, I love now. Love. I haven't even seen the movie yet because I'm worried they will have missed the entire point of the book, because they didn't take Mrs. Inspektor's class! 

****ACTUAL REVIEW OF CLASS BEGINS HERE****

Mrs. Inspektor IS PHENOMENAL! The most kind, encouraging, involved, real, funny, and smart teacher ever. It's impossible to believe she's thousands of miles away....I feel like I know her AND her cute baby better than any of my college professors from this year. Her daily updates are crucial for keeping an easily distracted person like me on track, and the deadlines, which may seem very numerous, are also a really helpful part of the class set up.

The books are great. Read them. Read them again. 

The PEOPLE...oh, the peope that take these classes. Maybe I've just been blessed with incredible classmates for the past two years in Mrs. I's classes, or maybe being soooo nice is one of those things Mrs. I specifically requires in a student. Let me tell ya, there's more comraderie in these classes than in ANY I've taken before. Bookclubs are fabulous, fun, and a great way to get to know people in a really casual way. It doesn't ever feel like "school" when I'm skyping with a bunch of awesome people and we're all drinking tea and discussing Frankenstein. I got to actually MEET one of my classmates this year (wwwoooooaaahhh!) and we went to see a play together-one we'd studied in lit! It was AWESOME. 

So, should you take this class? 

I don't know, are you awesome? THEN YES! Do you like classics? THEN YES! Do you hate classics? THEN AN EVEN BIGGER YES! It's just a WIN for you. There's a lot of work, but every minute of it is ENTIRELY worth it. You'll cry when class ends because you'll miss it so much. I loved Mrs. Inspektor's class(es). And I'm not a school person. But in lit, you'll do more than school. You'll get to use your brain, enjoy discussion, enjoy people, and see RESULTS. It will change you! 

TAKE THIS CLASS! Put on a cape and send in your application RIGHT NOW! It will be so worth it. If I could take this class again, I WOULD. And there are very few (like, no other) classes I would say that about. OKAY I'LL STOP BEING MUSHY, JUST TAKE THE DARN CLASS ALREADY.

Just Take the Class. Go.

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Absolutely! We explored and analyzed a wide array of books, and I can definitely tell my writing has gotten better. 

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

The morning messages varied day to day, but usually, it was a hour a day. Though, certain assignments required more work. 

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Since this course introduced me to one of my most favorite books in the world now (The Glass Menagerie), I guess all assignment related to this play was my favorite. 

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Mhm! I'm considering majoring in Comparative Literature in college. 

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Interesting! These guys are best. :)

• 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 want to work hard, read awesome books, and have the cutest mascot ever (Mrs. Inspektor's baby Nitsah is just too adorable), take this class!

Sign Up!!! (aka, I'm jealous of you since you can take this class and I've already finished but want to take it again)

Before I launch into this review, I have a question for you, the prospective student:  What do you want from this class?  Mrs. Inspektor is the most amazing teacher I have ever had.  By the time you finish this class, she will have equipped you with the vocabulary, analysis skills, and critical thinking skills to approach the test with confidence.  More than that, if you determine to put everything you've got (excuse the imprecision) into your writing, Mrs. Inspektor will teach you to cultivate your writing to a point where your style is recognizably, uniquely yours. 

• To what kind of student would you recommend this class? 

Every one of my fellow students had some similarities that I think are crucial in someone looking to take Mrs. Inspektor's class.  You'll have to be willing to work hard on every project.  While some of the assignments are easier than others, they're all important to your understanding of literature.  You will have to be dedicated.  You'll have to participate in class assignments (they are so much fun).  And you have to love to read.  And write.  Honestly, this is a class for dedicated students who want to expand their writing and analysis, and who desire an amazing teacher to guide them on their way.

• How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?

I spent 2 hours per day on class work, both reading, and completing daily assignments. However, as the year progressed, we wrote a lot of essays (sometimes 3 per week), all of which take 40 minutes each.  That added on to my homework and weekend studying.  In addition, there were extra bookclubs, and reading and writing I assigned myself in order to better prepare.  I will say, though that sounds like a lot of work, it was so much fun, the time flew.

• To what extent was this class interactive?

HUGELY!  All of my classmates were amazing, and taught me through both their own work, and their kind criticism of my own.  Some of these kids have definitely become my e-mail buddies.=)  Also, anytime I had a question, it was almost immediately answered by either the amazing Mrs. Inspektor, the superbe TAs, or a knowledgeable classmate.  For our bookclubs, we used several different methodsp (Skype, g-chat, e-mail).  I definitely feel as though I know my classmates, although I never met any vis-a-vis.

• What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?

I always got feedback on my work both from Mrs Inspektor and my classmates, which not only helped me hone in on rough spots in my writing technique but helped to develop my thinking.  Mrs. Inspektor's comments are always kind, and very encouraging - as were the other kids' in class.

• How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?

I never thought I'd read Heart of Darkness or the Great Gatsby.  Not only did I read them (several times), I ENJOYED reading them.  I've also found that even though I might not like a book (I still don't LIKE Heart of Darkness, sorry Eva-Marie), there is always something worthwhile to learn from reading it.  And that's just one example!  Even books I'd already read and loved became fresh and inspiring as I learned the subtleties and nuances of their details.  So, to answer the question, how did my perspective on literature grow this past year:  exponentially!

• What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?

Time management.  I loved the class so much I didn't want to study anything else!  I really did have to discipline myself to study less, um, fun, subjects, such as Calculus. =) 

• Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.

All of them!  I actually can't pick.  That reason they were all so fun was simply because of the attitude of the class. Everyone is so excited to learn and share their thoughts, that every Sunday, when I received assignments for the week, was exciting!  I will say though, I particularly liked the final, Spring Semester paper.  It was fun to take all those analysis skills and flesh out my observances into something longer than just a 3 paragraph essay.

• How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?

I found that though the course is focused on exam prep, Mrs. Inspektor prevented the course from becoming dry or repetitive.  In fact, she really focuses on your overall knowledge of literature and builds your skills all around.  This in itself prepares you perfectly for the exam.

• Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:

Sign up!  This was a great class with great kids and a great teacher.  I love it.  And you will too! =)

Great, challenging class!

Mrs. Inspektor's AP Literature class is a great challenge. While I took me an hour or so a day to complete assignments, most of the challenge came through the content of the work. Reading tough books and writing numerous essays and papers definitely prepared me for the exam. Mrs. Inspektor does a great job of pushing her students to do/be more through fun and engaging assignments like the spring Novel Comparison Paper. After taking the class, I definitely have a great appreciation for literature. I've always enjoyed it, but now I love it on a deeper sense. Now, I don't just appreciate what a book says, I appreciate what it is.

Communicating with other students is extremely important in this class. While the choice is yours, I found that the students that communicate and interact with each other did better on essays and papers. If you like literature, reading, book, challenges, and (yes) fun, then you should certainly take this class.

An absolutely amazing course!

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes, I felt extremely prepared.  I felt incredibly confident on the exam.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Maybe 7-8 hours a week--about an hour a weekday.  There's usually a response to a Morning Message, some reading/writing work, and maybe an essay at the end of the week, so it's very manageable.  What's great about the course is that there are absolutely zero unnecessary assignments; everything is very well designed so you get the most out of it.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Probably the novel comparison paper or our literary themes paper.  The first required a comparison of two novels (2500 word limit) and the second was an outline of a particular author and the themes in his/her work (1500).  Both were incredibly fun to write, and prepare you for the rigors of a college-length paper.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I loved literature already, but the class definitely exposed me to areas of literature I hadn't previously enjoyed, and I ended up loving everything we read.  I'm a major proponent of the short story style now.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes.  You meet a ton of people through this course and interact daily, which I loved.

• 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 absolutely anyone.  Mrs. Inspektor is a FANTASTIC teacher who will prepare you for the exam, but more importantly give you an understanding of literature that is extremely comprehensive and thorough. 

Tales of an Enlightened Lit Survivor

To what kind of student would you recommend this class?

All students! Coming in as a science/math geek thinking I really didn't need AP English, I learned to enjoy the complexities of our language and how it is much more than a single dimension of words.

What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?

Get ready to work your hardest and more importantly, get to know your own creative, closet-poet self.

How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?

~10+/-5 hours, it really depended on the week and I did get a ton faster as we went.

To what extent was this class interactive?

Responding to responses of responses. We really got to know each other through guided and free discussions, and personally through book clubs. With something everyday, this class was very interactive.

What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?

With everyone glimpsing various facets of the same assignment, the feedback was usually eye-opening critique and support. Mostly, my issue was that I tried writing so complex that it didn't make any sense and so sometimes criticism was on the verge of harsh but other times optimistic, and always helpful.

How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?

I learned to respect poetry and creative writing in general much more as I learned how much goes into it. Although I don't plan to become a Lit major, I'll always appreciate great writing and maybe just writing something of my own.

What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?

It's a tie between time and fear. There were days I took me an hour or two to write a paragraph, but that also sprouted from the fear of writing something wrong. Once I got to know my classmates, I let my creative side take over whether or not it was 'orthodox' or not. By the end, overcoming that fear carried over into overcoming the test, barely being nervous at all.

Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.

I'd have to say the 10 page spring paper. It was actually very fun to dig out every single symbol and secret of each book. Even though I chose Heart of Darkness and Lord of the Flies, depression central, I enjoyed letting my creativity shine.

How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?

Mostly reading AP books like Cliffs and lists of words, and telling myself I'm totally ready.

Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:

This class is a hard journey, one you take with a handful of classmates, friends, just like you. If you let you out, you'll learn to flourish practically as a writer and reader and creatively as a thinker and dreamer. It's worth every minute. 

Amazing, strenuous class!

Toward the end of Junior year, I began thinking about AP classes for Senior year.  Part of which was to chose between AP Lit and AP Lang.  After being told Lang was geared more toward my strengths, I thought I would take it, but ended up choosing Lit.  I cannot say I have never regretted it; however, it has been an amazing class and one of my favorites from high school.  This class has stretched me more than all (save one) classes I have taken. 

Having said that, TAKE THIS CLASS! :)  It has been an absolutely amazing experience, and one from which I have gained exponentially.  It prepared me extremely well for the AP exam.  Mrs. Inspektor is a great teacher and obviously loves her work.  I spent on average 2.5 hrs a day, but this was because I did several book clubs each month instead of the requited one.

My favorite assignments were writing a letter to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about how his poetry had influenced my life, and our monthly book clubs.  The book clubs were where I learned the most about analysing literature.  By discussing the elements within great works we were able to glean from each other to form a more complete view of the work.  Specifically, my book club for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead stands out as exceptional.  It was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my high school career.  In reading it, I was able to profit from and enjoy a writer and work with which I strongly disagreed. 

I have always loved great books, but this course helped me to analyse them and poetry which more skill.  It also helped me to see the value of more modern works such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. 

All my classmates in PA homeschoolers classes have been amazing, but this group was nigh unto extraordinary!  We had an amazing year, and our interaction went far beyond profitable.  Whether it was proofreading each others Spring Lit papers 20minutes before the deadline or doing an extra book club just for fun, we had a great experience and worked well together.

I would say any student who is moderately interested in Literature, hard-working and curious about life would do well.  It won't be easy, but what we gain too easily we esteem too lightly.  It is a magnificent class, and you won't regret taking the class.

Amazing class, teacher, classmates... everything!!

I'm going to repeat what everyone before has said: take this class!!! It's given me such a better understanding of and love for literature. Some English teachers find reconciling the concepts of teaching students how to decipher lit and the need to teach to the AP exam at the end of the year, but Mrs. Inspektor does both... flawlessly! I not only walked into that exam room completely ready for any multiple-choice question or free-response question, but over this year I've also grown in my writing skills and love for literature. 

• 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!)?

A review of AP English Literature (creative, right?)

YES! When I walked into that exam room, I knew I was as ready as I'd ever be. By 8:00 on May 10, I'd taken four practice tests, written two lengthy literary analysis papers, read many great books that I knew I could use for the open question prompt (AKA "the Beast"), and practiced my writing skills with the nearly weekly essays assigned from past AP prompts. I felt no need to cram the last week or so before the exam because I knew that every bit of work and all the systematic review assigned throughout the year had prepared me completely.

- How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I'd say about 1-2 hours per day (though I was really only working four days a week because I had co-op on Friday, plus an essay, usually about an hour long, due Sunday night that I would complete over the weekend) for the required assignments - discussion questions, reading, responses to Mrs. Inspektor's daily "Morning Messages," etc. Beyond that, though, Mrs. I also required us to participate in book clubs with our classmates - we'd form groups to discuss a book, then meet over Skype, Google Chat, or Google Docs to talk and document our discussions. So there was the extra time commitment of reading at least one extra book per month and meeting to discuss - it would all depend on how long the books were.

- Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

One of my absolute favorite parts of this class was the book clubs! I loved meeting academically-minded teens from all across the country (haha, coordinating with time zones for book club meetings could get frustrating!) - I met some awesome people with whom I will definitely keep up my friendships. A few times we read plays aloud together over Skype, with each person taking a character or two. The book clubs allowed us to apply our literary analysis skills we were gaining in class to books of our choice (as long as they had literary merit, of course - no Twilight in AP Lit!), and also prepared us for the test by widening our repertoire of books that we could use for the open question. 

Another valuable assignment (though I can't say I loved writing it) was the spring novel comparison paper. Mrs. Inspektor required us to choose an AP prompt and pick two novels to compare and contrast based on the prompt. The paper had to be 7-10 pages of in-depth analysis, and we also had to incorporate real literary criticism. The paper honed my writing skills, furthered (and sometimes tried) my patience and perseverance, strengthened my knowledge of MLA, and also made me very familiar with The Great Gatsby and Othello, the two works I chose. (On the test, I ended up using The Great Gatsby to answer the open question prompt, and I was able to write a detailed essay on it and even include some word-for-word quotes that I remembered from my paper!)

- Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes, definitely. Until this class, I always knew I was missing something when I read the classics. Now, though, I feel so prepared to tackle harder books (and reread some I read before the class): understanding the deeper meaning behind the superficial plot, grasping symbolism, appreciating vivid word choice, and questioning the theme. I also have a MUCH greater appreciation for poetry, which I had pretty much neglected for the past few years. We studied some poems in this class that were practically gibberish for me at first, but then, with Mrs. Inspektor's advice on rereading and her excellent discussion questions, they slowly began to make sense. I learned that poetry is such a powerful art form because it can communicate meaning in such a small, poignant package - every detail counts in a good poem. I'm not much of a creative writing/poetry/fiction person - my interests lean more towards economics, politics, math, and science - but this class definitely enhanced my interest in literature. I'll definitely be doing some fiction reading over the summer, and maybe even meet again with my study group to discuss a book or two over Skype. 

- Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

YES!! I covered this earlier, but I'll say it again: meeting all the awesome people in AP Lit was one of my favorite parts of this class. We chatted on the WWWBoard, about all things from music to Peeps to peanut butter and banana sandwiches. (Of course, we did actually talk about literature, as well.) Besides book clubs and WWWBoard discussion, a few of my classmates and I, inspired by the example of students from the previous year, formed a study group. We met every week to go over prompts, review books and practice tests, study terms, and, inevitably, joke around. Also, when we were reading Othello, several of us met on Skype to read it out loud, which turned out to be not only educational, but also a lot of fun - good memories include trying (and failing) to get one classmate to sing the "Willow" song from that play. :-) 

- 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!)?

One of the things I think many of us realized through the year was that you don't have to be some genius literary critic to do well in AP Lit. You just need to have a good work ethic (get all your work done and submit it on time!), follow instructions, and try hard! Some of my classmates were brilliant writers and they always got excellent grades, while I (not exactly the literary genius) kept chugging away, trying to write clear and concise analysis, and also received top scores. I was disappointed at, and humbled by, my first essay score - I'd been expecting much higher! - but as I followed Mrs. Inspektor's advice (including her personal comments on my essay and also Morning Messages on topics like essay introductions, essay structure, and other helpful instruction), my essays began to improve greatly. I would certainly recommend this class to students who are willing to work hard, because it will greatly benefit their writing. 

One of the best online courses you can take

I've taken several online classes a year since 7th grade (none with PA Homeschoolers), and I can honestly say that this was my favorite! Mrs. Inspektor is extremely knowledgable, caring, and challenging, so my experience was just what I needed to focus and tune my study of English, writing, and literature.

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes!! I went into the test feeling SO prepared, because our constant regime of practice multiple choice sections and practice essays gave me the security of knowing exactly how it would go. Mrs. Inspektor also did a great job of commenting on our essays and helping us understand what the AP exam graders are looking for.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

This is hard to generalize, but I would usually spend about an hour to an hour and a half per day responding to the Morning Message and doing the assigned homework. I did like that everything was due by midnight on the day it was assigned, because it didn't leave me any room to procrastinate! This class is definitely hard work, especially with the academic bar that the other students set, and I spent more time on it than on any of my other dual-enrollment college classes.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

More than I ever imagined in August. My mom suggested this class, but I was apprehensive because I haven't had a lot of experience with creative writing, fiction, or formal English literary analysis. I have always been the one spending hours and hours on a research paper and picking up nonfiction at the library every time I go there! This course shifted my perception of literature, because it gave me the tools to succesfully analyze and dig into what I was reading.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Wow, another YES! (Is this getting repetitive yet?) My classmates are some of the most genius and hardworking people I know, and we had so much fun getting to know each other. I will bring away lots of good memories from the class, especially reading Othello on skype in the proper dramatic flair, critiquing each other's papers, and spending hours discussing a book in our assigned book clubs. The other students inspired me to always give my best effort and never stop thirsting for knowledge, mostly because we had so much in common though hundreds of miles apart.

Advice to prospective students:

Take this class! Take it if you love literature, but also take it if you're a little hesitant about studying literature and analyzing it. You will need to have strong basic English and writing skills, because those are the basis for all the essays we practice. I was a little shocked to get lower grades on my first few practice essays, because I have always been very successful in English classes, but the experience was the challenge I needed. Be prepared to spend time geeking out with your classmates about the search for justice in Frankenstein or the portrayal of the American dream in The Great Gatsby, because you will never regret it!

SIGN UP NOW!

This is honestly the best class I have ever taken.  And I've taken a lot of online classes, trust me.

Mrs. Inspektor's AP Literature class will stretch your mind and sharpen your skills in ways you've never thought possible. When I came into this course, I thought I was a pretty great writer and an equally great reader.   

Lets just say that I was a tad bit disillusioned.  By the end of the course, I had learned what truly great writing and literature is.  I learned that writing needed to be not only smooth and organized, but also concise, precise, insightful, and enthralling.  And this class taught me the tools to transform my writing. I was disappointed and quite confused by my low grade on my first essay, but Mrs. Inspektor's comments on that essay and on subsequent essays caused both my writing skills and love of writing to increase tremendously.  Having to write two massive papers took away my fear of writing massive papers (ha) and taught me how to relentlessly examine my work and edit with specificity and purpose-- my first paper dropped 1000 words after a week of focused (and very painful!) editing.  Analyzing poetry and learning about such things as iambic pentameter and assonance gave me an appreciation and understanding of poetry, something I had never really taken seriously.  Studying literary criticism, discussing novels in book clubs, and learning how to write four paragraphs analyzing a sentence of Heart of Darkness taught me that there is ultimately no end to the depth and material that can be analyzed and drawn out of a work of literature.

 My literature consumption previous to this course had consisted of an assortment of small, quite-easy novels, but by the end of the course, I had picked my way through multiple plays, complex novels, and the gritty Heart of Darkness. And...my understanding of literature went beyond the authors' use of literary devices-- I learned how to analyze the deeper meanings and overarching themes that were subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) communicated through each passage and chapter. Needless to say, this class taught me to LOVE literature, not just read it.

This class was also the most interactive class I've taken.  Everyone in our class was so awesome.  We'd have heated Skype meetings, group readings of Shakespeare, book club discussions over Google Doc, spontaneous threads on the WWWBoard (one in particular was a debate about marshmallow Peeps and chocolate and their representation of commercial and literary fiction), paper critiquing groups, email debates, etc. etc. etc.  This class was a ton of fun, now that I think about it. 

Now for practical statistics.  This class was one of the heavier (work-load wise) courses I took, and I generally put in around 1- 2 hours per weekday.  Mrs. I's daily Morning Messages and assignments were very helpful in preventing me from procrastinating and leaving everything to the end of the week (which I have done many times in other classes, I will confess).   

As for the all-important question concerning the AP exam... I was totally and unquestionably prepared for it by the end of the course.  This was actually one of the few APs that I didn't have to consciously review/cram for the week before the exam, since everything was covered so thoroughly and intensively throughout the course of the entire year.  The feeling of confidence I had as I walked into the exam room in May made all the hard work in this course really worth it.   

So if it isn't obvious already after reading this lengthy review...

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CLASS.  

Trust me, you won't regret it.  You'll not only leave fully prepared for the AP exam, but maybe become more in love with writing and literature than you previously anticipated.

-Hannah

I read more books this year (22 in one semester) due to this class. I though they were spread out between class reading, book clubs, seperate book club, and reading requirements for Euro, I still tackled the bulk of me because of APlit. I am convinced this is also the result of APlang from last year, but I experienced the difference this year. Nothing will ever beat the drastic changes I've watched myself go through in reading and writing in your classes, Mrs. I. Whatever happens on the exam tomorrow, won't ruin how much APlit has benefited me. Thanks, Mrs. I!

I command thee! TAKE THIS CLASS!

Greetings student from the future!  Or, if I have my way, "Greetings student taking AP Lit with Mrs. Inspektor from the future! 

Even though you've almost certainly read plenty of informative, emotional and extremely helpful reviews from my classmates and past students, I'm going to treat you to my own humble class review.  I sincerely hope that it will assist you in the difficult task of balancing your coursework for next year!

So pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable.  Grab a cold glass of lemonade if it suits you. I'm going tell a little tale.  It's a tale that takes place in a land of wondrous adventure—a land known as Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit class.  It's a story of symbolism and success, trials and triumphs, alliteration and allegory.  And most of all, I hope it is a story so enthralling that you immediately sign up for AP Lit with Mrs. Inspektor!  So, ladies and gentlemen, without further ado…

We begin our journey through this magical land with a little round of Q and A.  Starting with, perhaps, your most pressing question…

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes.  Absolutely, certainly, unquestionably yes.  I walked into that AP exam with a smile on my lips and the knowledge that, whatever those essay prompts and multiple choice questions were, Mrs. Inspektor had prepared me to ace 'em!

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Hmm, that's difficult to figure.  As far as time per day goes, I probably spent, as an average, an 1 and ½ to 2 hours a day on assignments.  However it was usually quite more than that, because, quite frankly, Mrs. Inspektor's class is the type of class that drives you to put the best into your work.  Had I declined to enter into the stimulating discussions with my fellows, I could've halved the time I spent on AP Lit.  But trust me on this: the interaction with amazing classmates and the building of friendships were key to the class.  Whether it was adding my thoughts to a heated debate or just bantering on the message board, it was all time well spent.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Another toughie—since I think that all of our assignments were valuable.  Add that to the fact that virtually all of them were my favorites and we have a bit of a dilemma.  Hmm…  If I had to pick, I would go with the "Novel Comparison" paper we did during the spring semester.  Basically, we were supposed to each pick two books and weave them together in a complex and nuanced analysis while also relating each novel to a particular AP prompt (of our choosing).  To me, that assignment represented the core of what Mrs. Inspektor taught us to do: to delve deeply in the murky depths of complexity and meaning and to think about, analyze and attempt to understand and articulate what we find there…

Although that was probably my favorite assignment of the year, I'd like to mention in passing a few of my runner-ups.  Discussion Questions (known affectionately as DQs) were definitely in my top three for the year.  These Mrs.-Inspektor-chosen-questions were not only always interesting, but also thought-provoking and, most exciting of all, given to sparking, er, heated discussions.  As I remember, our class split (with all proper civility, of course) over the difficult issue of picking the protagonist of Othello…  About 20 discussion posts later we reached (to most people) a reasonable consensus.  These types of interaction were DEFINITELY one of my top three favorite parts of class!

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I don't know if I've made this  point clear yet but YES!  One of the absolute most important things I gained from class (more important than whatever the College Board, in its infinite wisdom, decrees that I earned) is a fresh new way of looking at literature.  Shakespeare is not to be feared—he should be embraced!  Heart of Darkness is novella of infinite possibility—not a headache.  The Glass Menagerie is more than just a soap opera about a dysfunctional family—it's a window into life and its struggles.  Mrs. Inspektor has done more, much more, than "enhance my interest in the subject."  She has taught me to love literature; it's as simple as that.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Interesting or valuable?  No, that's a bad way of putting.  Now if the question said: "positively, absolutely, stupendously, and superbly awesome!!!" then yes.  All gushing praises aside though, my classmates were wonderful, absolutely wonderful this year.  I can say with all certainty that I would've been lost without my brilliant cohorts in discussing and analyzing.  Literature is just one of those things that can't be fully appreciated without others; what's the fun of noticing some awesome detail about Gatsby's character and not having anyone to share it with??? (Even if they do decide to contradict you.)

• 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 recom"—well, what have I been doing this whole time???  ;)  In all seriousness though, I would recommend Mrs. Inspektor's course to any student who is both able and willing to make hard thinking part of their daily routine.  This class is in no way easy, but therein lies the power.  If you're willing to learn, work and keep learning and working—even through setbacks and disappointments—you will excel. 

And thus ends our chapter of this tale!  I think it would be a fitting point to say: "And they all lived (and kept reading) happily ever after!"

Take the Class!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Absolutely. I don't know if I would have come close to passing the AP Lit test without this class. The class taught me not only the knowledge required for the Multiple Choice section, but how to put complex literary ideas into my own words for the writing section. The curriculum (and of course our great teacher!) did a brilliant job of readying everyone for a tough test.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

The final assignment paper took me to the next level of in-depth thinking about my chosen books. I really appreciated the challenge of analyzing and then integrating the messages of two very different works in supporting one message. That was probably the most mentally demanding (and fun) assignment. It also taught me a lot about writing and putting ideas together.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes it did. This class has really reminded me of the power of great literature. I'll admit I was nervous at first, but the work made me concentrate on the meaning instead of explaining it for me, and that really stretched me and took my mind off my fears. Now I'm much more into literature--I read two famous works in the first week after the class (I think I'm hooked on lit now...)! My interest in literature has been greatly enhanced by this class, and I'm probably going to take a minor in English Lit in college.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Of course! All of the students were extremely friendly and helpful, and lots of great ideas changed hands during the course of 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!)?

Yes, be ready for hard work. I would recommend this class especially to students with a good grip on English language and grammar, with at least a basic knowledge of English literature, and who are diligent and honest. I think that many students will find something to enjoy in the course and I recommend it unreservedly.

GO SIGN UP NOW, MRS. INSPEKTOR IS AMAZING!!!

Hello there fellow AP Student! If you're thinking about taking Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit class, here's my advice: TAKE IT. I'm sure you've read piles of gushing reviews by now, and this is another one of those wonderfully complimentary reviews: I can say with no hesitation that this is the best class I have ever taken, and Mrs. Inspektor is the best teacher I've ever had (and I've had some good ones!). Last year, I took AP Lang with her, and it was excellent too. Any class taught by Mrs. Inspektor is one you should take!

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes, I definitely felt prepared for this exam. We wrote timed essays from nearly the beginning of the school year to the end of it, and we did a lot of multiple choice sections during the second  semester. But beyond this, I felt like I knew the material itself extremely well. Analyzing poems, passages, and books presented no problems for me. When exam time rolled around, I knew exactly what to do.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

This is a fairly demanding class: I usually spent 2 hours or so on my work each day, often more, for a total of about 10-15 hours per week. Our assignments each day varied, but we always had a Morning Message from Mrs. Inspektor. In it, she'd give her take on the day's material, and assign some kind of response to it. This was often something like reading and analyzing a poem, or writing some thoughts on a professor's review of a work. Our main assignments were varied: We read sections of our text, short stories, poems, and novels throughout the week. Discussion questions were the staple of our analysis: We responded to ones written by Mrs. Inspektor, wrote our own, and responded to our classmates' responses. The time for this varied, but it generally took between one and two hours. Almost weekly we wrote timed essays from CollegeBoard prompts, and this took about an hour.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

My favorite assignment was one from a Morning Message: Mrs. Inspektor asked us to write intentionally horrible poetry. It was a bast! All of the class enjoyed using horribly awkward iambic pentameter and rhyming words like "mania" with "Bavaria." I'd love to include my own magnificently awful poem, but I probably shouldn't. On a more serious note, I really enjoyed writing my first lengthy paper in the class. We had to choose an author and three of his or her short stories and analyze the works in light of the author's life. I chose Poe, and I found the entire process to be not only illuminating but actually… fun! I really enjoyed reading some of the works we studied, especially The Great Gatsby, Othello, The Glass Menagerie, and The Heart of Darkness. The book clubs were also excellent. For six weeks or so, we had to read and discuss a work with a group of other students apart from the rest of the class. This was one of my favorite parts of the class. I enjoyed griping about Invisible Man (save me!), reading scenes from King Lear, debating the main character's fate in Oedipus Rex, and debating the future reality of A Brave New World. It gave me a great opportunity to get to know my classmates better, and I truly enjoyed the experience.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Without a doubt. I've always enjoyed reading for reading's sake, but Mrs. Inspektor has certainly heightened my enjoyment. There are a lot of non-fiction books I'd like to read, but I have so many more literary works I'd like to read that I don't think I'll ever get around to it!

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

This is one area where I think this class could not have improved at all. I was constantly inspired by my classmates to work harder and produce better results. There were times when I wanted to write a halfhearted one-paragraph discussion question but couldn't because I knew my classmates were working hard. But perhaps surprisingly, I didn't think this class was particularly competitive. There was no sense that we had to "beat" each other; instead, it was a superb atmosphere of support and encouragement. Responding to my classmates' discussion questions was always enjoyable. I couldn't wait to see what unique insights they had about works. The same was true of reading their essays: I enjoyed giving feedback on theirs and the comments I received from them were always helpful. We had a great deal of simple fun together too. We'd have spontaneous discussions on the website about things like whether we associated the letter "e" more with green or yellow. I already mentioned the books clubs, and I found them to be particularly helpful. I was much better able to understand complicated works like All the King's Men when discussing them with other students as opposed to reading them on my own. During the second semester, a group of students and I decided to meet together weekly via Skype and read plays out loud together. We started with Othello and next read Tartuffe together; later we critiqued early drafts of each others' final papers. During exam review time, we met together and reviewed the works we'd studied earlier in the year. The group truly heightened my experience this 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!)?

As I'm sure you can tell by now, I HIGHLY recommend this class to any student, as long as they're willing to work hard. Don't worry if you're writing skills aren't the best; that was the case with me when I took my first class with Mrs. Inspektor, AP Lang. To her it mattered more how much I improved and how hard I worked. She met me at my level and helped me to improve. By the end of the class, I was completely confident about my skills. Mrs. Inspektor makes you want to work hard and better yourself, and somehow, she makes this fun.

Everything about this class worked together to make it successful: My classmates were superb, the works we read were enjoyable, the format itself worked well, and Mrs. Inspektor is a true master of teaching. I'll be going to Princeton this fall, and I can confidently say that I would not have gotten in without Mrs. Inspektor. She has essentially taught me how to write, and I'm incredibly grateful for her contribution. Go sign up now!!!

Take this class!

As a fellow AP student I've read plenty of class reviews while attempting to decide what class I should try to fit into my busy schedule. I know what kind of reviews are helpful and what kind of reviews are less than helpful (OH MY GOODNESS, I LOVE THIS CLASS, MRS. INSPEKTOR IS THE BEST TEACHER IN THE WORLD, YEAH YEAH YEAH!!!! :-) :-0 =)). With that in mind, I'll try to avoid gushing here and will attempt to write a review that is helpful to you future students. I will also try to avoid excessive use of emoticons, rants in all caps, and copious exclamation marks.

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Absolutely. This was my first AP class and I felt rather nervous going into it. Although testing is always stressful, I felt very prepared for the exam after taking Mrs. Inspektor's class. Mainly this is because I felt like I knew how to take the test because I knew how to think and respond to literature. Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit does not just teach you how to take one specific test (although it certainly does that too), rather, it teaches you how to respond to literature in a way that is both meaningful and critical. By the time you take the exam, it doesn't matter if the passage is by Homer or Hemingway, you know how to digest and interpret literature. This is, perhaps, the most valuable thing I've taken away from the class, and ultimately, means more to me than my exam score. You recieve an education in Mrs. Inspektor's class, not just preparation. 

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

This is a tricky question. There are different levels of participation in Mrs. Inspektor's class which determine what you get out of the class. Usually, I would put in 1 to 2 hours a day; however, this was often because I was doing more than I needed. This is key to Mrs. Inspektor's class, though. You get out of it what you put in and extra time spent building relationships with other students in disucssion truly makes this class exceptional. So, ignoring the major projects that took more time, I usually spent around 7-10 hours a week; however, I could have done less-- although you won't want to. 

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

This is another tricky question. You do a lot of work in Mrs. Inspektor's class and you do it in such a way that you own it. When you submit your paper you feel like your publishing a work and you wait in anticipation to see how other esteemed literary critics (your classmates) will respond to your brilliance. In Mrs. Inspektor's class you don't write papers for her, in the same way that you don't read books for her or interpret poetry for her. In AP Lit you do this for yourself, you're the one who will ultimately benefit from an understanding and familiarity with literature. Because of this you develop an ownership of your work and it's difficult to pick one or two that stand out. However, to help you out, I'll say some of my favorites were the Author Mini-Paper (in which you research one author and attempt to understand how his/her worldview and life experience molded his/her literature) and the Literary Criticism Paper (in which you get very involved with two texts you've studied in the year -- I picked the Great Gatsby and the Heart of Darkness-- and attempt to answer a question 3 prompt in relation to these two works). 

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Absolutely, this is another place where this class has had a lasting impact on me and has left me with much more than test preparation. I've always liked to read; however, with more and more reading required for school, I began to lose interest. Books were something I did for school and occasionaly read during the summer when I felt guilty about how much time I spent on my computer or video games. AP Lit this year has reintroduced me to the wide, beautiful world of literature and I can honestly say I've fallen in love. This class teaches you so much more than how to be succesful on the exam, it teaches you how to interact with literature--- how to accept the ambiguities and how to embrace the complexities. This summer I'm reading Les Miserables with a group of students from my AP Lit class... before this class I'm not sure I would have seriously considered tackling Les Mis, I highly doubt I would have enjoyed it; however, this class has changed it. (I don't think I mentioned my love of poetry yet either... I have Mrs. Inspektor to thank for that too). This class does not represent my first real interaction with literature; however, it has forever changed the way I look at it and has dramatically increased my capacity to enjoy and appreciate it. 

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Absolutely. I can honestly say I had two teachers in this class, Mrs. Inspektor and the other students. I looked forward to, truly appreciated, and trusted their comments on my papers and essays. Furthermore, although a teacher can do her best, classmates truly set the intellectual tone and create the learning environment. My classmates pushed me to work very hard and challenged me to look at literature in many different ways. 

• 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 must be willing to work hard. A self-motivated student will have the best experience in  this class, as you get out of it what you put in. Strong readers and writers will find the class easier (as there is a lot of both); however, Mrs Inspektor does a great job of pushing students wherever they are and keeping the workload doable for students at all different levels (we had some very strong writers and some not so strong writers in our class; however, all benefited greatly and, I believe, all will do well on the exam.) 

Also, a degree of humility is needed for this class. Learning is, by its very nature, a risky business. Literature, where there is often no right answer, is even more so. I had days where I thought I was brilliant and my classmates saw it differently, I had an essay where I thought I was getting a 9 and it ended up being a 4 (in hindsight, I see the reasons ). Homeschool students taking AP level work may be very used to being the biggest, brightest, and sharpest. Students must be able to trust their classmates and be willing to put themselves out there as they struggle wtih difficult books. They must also be willing to recieve some negative feedback, pick themselves up and try again. Although you will almost certainly get some bad scores... one thing you won't ever get is left without help. Whenever Mrs. Insepktor (and most of the students for that matter) give a low score, there is always information provided on how to make it better. Students who are willing to work hard to make themselves better will benefit greatly from this class. 

In conclusion, I hope this review will be helpful. I would highly (I didn't say I wouldn't use bold) recommend this class. It gets a 10 on a 0 to 9 scale. It gives you the tools you need to be succesful on the AP exam, but, more importantly, it sets you up for a long-lasting, deep, and meaningful relationship with literature and poetry. Take this class!

There aren't enough adjectives in the English language to adequately commend this class to you! :)

Dear potential AP Lit student,

By this point, you've probably read so many enthusiastic, gushing reviews for this class that you're wondering why you didn't sign up for it last year already! However if, for some reason, you're still not quite decided and need to read a tad more, allow me to throw a few more praises into the mix! ;)

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Oh my, yes! By the time I sat down to the actual exam, critically reading passages and poems (and writing analysis) had become so familiar that the test went very very smoothly. Not in the sense that it wasn't challenging or that I didn't hit questions I was unsure of, but that the process of working through tricky spots felt almost routine, and I was very relaxed.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Hmm, I probably averaged a couple hours a day, though it really does depend. I'm sure I spent more time than was strictly necessary at times (read: often) – I would get caught up in analyzing some particularly interesting passage, or re-thinking something I had written previously, or getting involved in informal discussions, without necessarily realizing how much time had passed. However, you definitely get out of it what you put into it – I found the informal discussions just as valuable as the formal assignments!  And of course when we were working on longer papers or had book club meetings or something like that it took more time. However, I can vouch that every single ounce of effort (and minute of time!) put into this class is more than worth it!

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Honestly, I can't think of a single assignment that wasn't in some way enriching and valuable. I guess that's not very helpful though... ;) Hmm…I found the regular Discussion Questions (and informal discussions) that we did especially helpful – they made a big difference in learning to read critically and write clear analysis, and discussing the things we were reading with my fellow classmates was always very thought-provoking and enjoyable. "Poetry Mondays" (when we focused on specific aspects of poetry and analyzed poems) were also particularly helpful, especially since I hadn't really done any study of poetry prior to this class. My favorite specific assignment was probably the spring semester paper that we had to write, where we compared two novels or plays we had read during the year. It was a challenging paper, but it was extremely rewarding (like everything else in the class!) – it was SO fascinating to compare and contrast two very different works in-depth, and it felt like the culmination of everything we had learned.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Ohhh my, so much so! I've always loved literature and reading, but my appreciation for the richness of good literature increased exponentially while taking this class – I can honestly say that I love analyzing literature, it's absolutely fascinating! The more I learned, the more excited I became about it, and I don't think I'll ever approach a book the same again. (In fact, I now want to go back and re-read a lot of books I had read previously, because I know I missed so much!) Mrs. Inspektor doesn't just teach her students "how to read," but she teaches us how to think critically, to see the complexities and not oversimplify things.  And she does it all in a way that I'm pretty sure makes it virtually impossible to not get at least somewhat excited about it! :)

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Understatement of the year – the interaction was amazing! I learned so much from my fellow students, whether from reading their essays and responses or from discussing literature together. This kind of class is different from, say, a math or history course, in that you're not memorizing facts, but rather learning how to think critically and read analytically – so discussion with other students is especially valuable. We all bring different perspectives and approaches, and it forces you to really think carefully about your position or dig deeper into a specific passage. Book clubs were especially awesome, where we discussed our books by g-chat or through Skype...being able to just "talk" as well as discuss literature adds a really personal element, and beyond the intellectual benefits, we made some amazing, genuine friendships through these discussions. :)

• 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, highly, highly, highly, highly, highly, HIGHLY (get the point? ;) recommend this class! Yes, it is  a lot of hard work, but you definitely get out of it what you put in – and so much more! Mrs. Inspektor is an absolutely amazing teacher (understatement!) – her feedback is always SO helpful and encouraging, her Morning Messages are very thought-provoking and interesting, and she does an excellent job getting her students excited about literature and thinking deeply. Even if English and literature is not really your thing, or you're unable to participate in much extra interaction, I'm 99.9% positive that you will still find it a very enriching and stimulating experience, and you will be challenged in so many ways and learn SO much! However, I feel I should warn you: the awesomeness and enthusiasm of this class is very powerful, and the chances of you being able to avoid being sucked in by it are slim at best. Consider yourself warned. ;)

~Sara Jo~

Why are you even bothering to read this review? Sign up for English Lit right now!

Hello fellow homeschooler! Are you at all interested in reading, writing, or critical thinking? Do you have any motivation to work hard? Do you enjoy awesomeness? If you answered yes to all those questions (and I seriously hope you did) then you should absolutely take Mrs. Inspektor's AP Literature class! And all joking aside, I mean that. This was an absolutely wonderful class for me, and I didn't even consider myself a very interested in writing before I took it. Mrs. Inspektor is a fantabulous teacher, and the assignments are thought provoking and stretching without being overwhelming. You do have to put in the work of course; I spent approximately 1 to 2 1/2 hours every week day on the assignments, and sometimes more just because I wanted to participate in extra discussions on the WWW board. By the time I took the AP exam I felt completely prepared--over prepared even. The exam was a breeze after all the essays I'd written and feedback I'd received.

However, that's not even the greatest benefit of this course: I've always loved reading, but this course helped me discover so much more about analyzing and understanding books on a deeper level. Also, because of this course I can now confidently articulate my thoughts on these books. To me, this is an amazing, even liberating achievement. Honestly, this was my favorite high school class, and I'm sorry it's over.

Before I took an online class I assumed it would just be me, sitting at a computer writing an essay, and that would be it. I was so wrong. The classmate interaction was amazing--that was my favorite part of the whole class! I loved getting to read my classmate's writing and receiving their encouraging critiques was incredibly helpful in enhancing my writing and ideas. By going back and forth in discussion questions, we went deep into analyzing every book we were assigned, and I loved that. But it went well beyond that: I made some amazing friends through this class! No really, halfway through the year a few students started meeting every week on skype to read the book we'd been assigned (Othello) out loud to each other to get the feel of the play. That was so much fun that we continued meeting the whole year to have book club discussions and chat. We're even continuing to meet this summer because we've become such good friends!

I sincerely hope you decide to take this course and that you will enjoy it as much as I did!

In love with Literature, and even more in love after taking this class....

Hello there, future students!

I risk echoing all of the high praises that have already been given to this class and our wonderful teacher Mrs. Inspektor but I can't help it. There's just no way to adequately describe and convey the everything I'd love to say about this class in any amount of words.

But let's start with the basics, the questions you're probably asking as you consider this class.

Did I feel the course prepared me for the exam? Absolutely! There is no doubt about it. That's probably the most superficial fact that could be said about the entire class. It's more than an AP class prepping you for an exam, it's an in depth course that involves analyzing literature to the utmost extent . Mrs. Inspektor teaches and guides each person the whole way through making it a very personal class.

How many hours of work per week/day did I put into this course?  That is hard to say. If you're doing the minimum requirements then I guess no more than 1-2 hours per day. If you're like me and like to talk and interact and do everything possible... then it depends on each day and what the assignements are. From 2 hours or up to 4, it's really up to the student how much time they want to dedicate to the course. But I will tell you this, if you throw yourself wholeheartedly into it, you'll get so much more than you EVER imagined out of it, even if you don't like literature or have difficulty analyzing, Mrs. Inspektor is an excellent coach and is there every step of the way to help.

Favorite assignment? (Is there even a way to answer that?!) Honestly, I loved every single activity we did. Morning Messages are very helpful. Reading literary criticism was amazing as well, even if I had fun disagreeing. It really provokes you to think. Some assignments incorporate more work than others but everything is balanced; nothing is overboard. Bookclubs were really a highlight. We sort of gave a new meaning to bookclubs as we incorporated Skype read-alouds (during out drama unit and then we carried that over into bookclub discussions.) That really gave a new meaning to this online class. We became more than just classmates; we got to know each other and became friends.

However, there was one assignment, I really, really loved. Mrs. Inspektor decided to give us a new kind of paper instead of a mini-poetry paper. It was designed to let us really analyze in depth without word limits or 40 minutes to discuss a novel.  We took an AP prompt and expounded on 7-10 pages discussing two novels. It was allowing us to apply everything we learned and let it all flow out of us. I thoroughly enjoyed it and when we took our practice AP exam, the essays felt only easier after that paper. It really was the perfect finishing touch to the entire year.

Did the course enhance my interest? (I think that's an understatement) I loved reading and analyzing before coming into this class. It is definitely one of my passions. The class only made my love for literature much stronger and Mrs. Inspektor really was a wonderful influence. My classmates were also influential as having a supportive and enthusiastic group really makes a difference. We challenged each other in many ways. As I enter my senior year, I know that I want to do more of this in college and share my love for learning with others in the future.

Did I find my communications with other students interesting or valuable? It was so much more than that... Having a group of classmates just as enthusiastic as I was and willing to put up with my looooong responses and tell me that things did not make sense, or on some occasions the opposite. I really learned a lot from them, from their writing, from everything they did. (I took Lit. without having taken Lang so sometimes I felt a bit behind with my writing skills. They were a great source of encouragement in that area and now I'm on my way to take AP English Language with Mrs. Inspektor!) Essay feedback from them is really helpful and because literature analysis is such an interactive topic, it's essential to communicate with your classmates in order to refine your thoughts and observations on books, plays, and poems. You don't necessarily have to be the most interactive student but what you put in, you will get out.

All in all, I was the kind of student who was on the interactive side. That being said I pretty much did about 2 hours a day or so (depending on the assignment and how much I talked on the wwwboard that day). I love reading, truly I do. This class did more for me than just make me like reading and analyzing more, it was a wonderful inspiration and Mrs. Inspektor is a wonderful example as a teacher you can look up to. Even if you're not the interactive type, just make sure you stay in tune with what Mrs. Inspektor wants and you'll be just fine. Though, I don't think it would hurt to get involved a bit with other students, it's both educational and fun.

I hope you deeply consider taking this class. While it is hardwork because Mrs. Inspektor won't hand literature analysis to you on a silver platter, if you're willing to put your heart into it, you can only get good things out of it.

~Maggie Baert~

Best Class Ever!

Hello possible AP Lit. student,

You have come to this section to read about what us students think about Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit. class and I am sure that you will be unable to find one negative thing about it. If you're considering this class I will assume that you like or are at least interested in literature and therefore this class is for you! Sometimes studying literature can be tedious and boring, but not in this one! Mrs. Inspektor has made it fun and enjoyable through challenging DQs, fun papers, and interesting Morning Messages. Even though sometimes the material we had to read (Heart of Darkness and "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock) was difficult I learned to enjoy analyzing it once I got into it. I will admit that sometimes I thought I would never be able to understand some things, but through the help of Mrs. Inspektor and other students I was able to understand and analyze it causing the works I once dreaded to become some of my favorite. I used the once abhorred book Heart of Darkness in my most memorable assignment: the spring semester paper analyzing two books with a specific question. This was one of my favorite assignments because I was able to use all of what I had learned this year and apply it.

One of my favorite aspects of this class was the interaction. It was highly interactive and I've made some awesome friends! Through book clubs, DQs, and fun with literature (yes that is feasible) on the WWW board we got to know each other and we had a blast studying literature together! However, this does not have to be the case. What you put into the class, you will get out of it. I was able to interact a lot in this class but even if you are unable to do so you can still gain a lot without it. This class can be for both highly interactive students and others who do not interact as much, both will gain a new appreciation for literature and learn so much.

I spent about 2 or so hours a day on my AP Lit. work depending on the assignments, but I'm the kind of person who does their work a little bit slow and tries to do it carefully. This is my first and only AP class as I am a senior this year and I felt prepared to take this class because of all that I had read in past years. It is very beneficial to have read some classics and poetry before entering the class but I wouldn't say that it is necessary if one is willing to learn and adjust to more difficult reading.  I had the most trouble with adjusting my writing to a higher level, but with excellent feedback from Mrs. Inspektor and classmates my writing has improved.

Not only has this course prepare me for the exam through learning how to analyze literature in the fall semester and many practice essays and multiple choice questions in the spring, but it has helped prepare me for college and has changed the way I look at literature. I no longer throw a book or poem to the side because I can't understand it or it's boring, but I enjoy analyzing it and gleaning its literary value.

If you are willing to apply yourself to learn and understand literature and to have a fun time while doing it, search no further my friend, for you have found this class, the one you need to and should join! :) Mrs. Inspektor is a fantastic teacher and you will not regret taking this class!

 - Shannon McNally

This class is the most awesome high school class - ever

Greetings, prospective AP Lit student!

I'll get straight to the point – you should totally take this class.

English has always been my strong point and I've taken other English Literature (both honors and standard) throughout my four years of high school. However, taking AP Lit with Mrs Inspektor challenged me and stretched my mind in ways other classes never really did. Mrs Inspektor is possibly one of the best English teachers out there. Her daily messages are always encouraging and her passion for literature is infectious. The interactions with the other classmates are the best I've had in all the online classes I've taken. You learn a lot from the other classmates and you come out with a lot of good memories.

Be prepared to read – a lot. There's a considerable amount of summer reading and, in addition to the assigned reading (which might alternate between poetry and prose), we formed book clubs throughout the year. There will be several points where it feels like you have no idea what's going on. I have to admit that there were some points during the school year where I got really tired of this class, especially when we were going through a difficult book. (The period where we studied Othello and Heart of Darkness were especially mind-numbing for me.) However, at the end of the day, you come out with this class not just a more well-read person but also with greater critical thinking and analytical skills.

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes, very much so. I was very relaxed in the last week before the exam. This is the sort of course that you cannot cram for – you have to work consistently throughout the school year if you want to do well for the exam.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I generally put in about 1 hour to 1.5 hours each day. If you are a student who, as I was, am living overseas (I live in China), you might need to work a little later at night as that is when Mrs Inspektor posts the daily messages. (Don't worry if that doesn't make any sense. Don't let the time difference discourage you from taking this course! I survived and so will you. :)

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Each semester, we each had to write a longer paper on either an author or different books. Don't get me wrong – those papers were very, very challenging and at times frustrating to write. But I feel like they've definitely prepared me for the kind of papers I'll need to write in college. Better to suffer through it now in the safety of high school than get a rude shock in college.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes! Absolutely. One of the majors I am now considering for college is definitely English Literature. And even if I don't study Literature in college, I know that because of this class, I will never look at books the same way again. (And shouldn't the point of education be more than just exam-preparation?)

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes, very much so. The most awesome part about this class was that we all came from different backgrounds and lived in different parts of the States/world, yet we all found many things in common with other students. Mrs Inspektor encourages us to critique each other's essays, which not only helps you in your essay-writing skills but also enhances your critical reading skills.

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 if you're a student whose critical reading skills are strong and you enjoy reading, you should do pretty well in this course. Any student who also loves English language itself would enjoy this course immensely (especially the poetry section). Other factors would be self-motivation and a desire to excel. Although Mrs Inspektor as a teacher is there as a sort of accountability, this course really is the sort where you have to push yourself to want to do well.

Great English literature class!

Dear prospective AP Lit student,

Mrs. Inspektor's AP English Literature class is wonderful!  I took her AP Lang class and really enjoyed it (and scored a 4 on the AP exam), so choosing this class was an easy decision.  You get to read great works of literature, including Othello, Frankenstein, and The Great Gatsby (which was my favorite work).  I believe the course absolutely prepared me for the AP exam.  Mrs. Inspektor assigned us plenty of multiple-choice practice and many essays, including essays from past AP exams.  And there is great interaction between classmates, and not just regarding English literature :).  We did have humorous, friendly interaction.  My classmates also gave me valuable advice for improving my essays.

Before you decide to take the class, I suggest you read some famous works of British and/or American literature.  And ask yourself if you enjoy poetry or not; we studied a lot of poetry.  We also were assigned book clubs, where we divided ourselves into groups and read high-quality novels or plays and discussed their meanings.  So this class involves a LOT of reading.  Also consider your schedule for the school year; this class does require a lot of time.  Significant effort is necessary if you wish to earn an A or A-.  The exact amount I spent varied from day to day and from week to week, but I probably spent 2-4 hours per week most weeks on this course.  And do you enjoy writing?  Writing is integral to this course and the AP exam.

Even though I found deeper meanings in works of literature and enjoyed decoding books, I did have one big problem: how I think does not work well with literary analysis, especially poetry.  I found prose more enjoyable and easier for finding meaning than poetry.

As a final thought, my favorite assignment was our spring mini-paper.  For that, we chose two works and compared them in regard to one aspect.  We could make up our own prompts or respond to past AP exam prompts.  I chose to respond to a past AP exam prompt about the importance of the past and chose The Great Gatsby and The Glass Menagerie (my favorite play from the course) as my works.  Digging deep into these two works was fun, as was comparing them.

So, if you are willing to put forth the time and the effort, and if you enjoy reading great works of literature and finding meaning in them, sign up for Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit course!

One of my favorite highschool courses . . .

Dear future/prospective AP lit students,

I do not exaggerate when I say that Mrs. Inspektor is one of my very favorite teachers and this course and it's sister course (AP English Language and Composition) are two of the very best courses I took in my highschool career and the two courses that I feel have prepared me the most for college. As with all of the classes I've taken through PA Homeschoolers, this course is professional, organized, and challenging. I couldn't recommend it highly enough!

To what kind of student would you recommend this course?

I think any student who has some interest in reading and writing and who understands the basic concepts of essay writing (thesis, etc.) would do well in this course. Of course, some self-motivation and a desire to learn is always helpful, as well. And as a side note, while it's not a set down rule, I think most people generally tend to find it best to take AP English Language and Composition before taking AP English Language and Literature. (But again, it's not necessary. There are many students who take the literature section before taking the language section.)

What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?

I think a basic understanding of grammar, punctuation, literary terms (metaphor, simile, etc.) and essay-writing skills (thesis, etc.) is really the only preparation a student would need before taking this course. Sufficient experience with reading and analyzing literary novels would also be helpful, but not absolutely necessary. While a good writing and reading background is necessary, Mrs. Inspektor provides all the other tools a student needs to succeed in this course and on the AP exam. For example, if you've never written a timed essay before, don't worry that you are not prepared enough. Mrs. Inspecktor gradually helped us become more and more comfortable with writing essays within time limits, even if we had never written an essay in 40 minutes before. Also, do realize that this course requires a good deal of time, effort, and self-motivation. Be prepared to work hard!

How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?

It depended from week to week, but I would say I spent on average 5-8 hours a week completing assignments for this course. The scope and sequence of this course is extensive, but certainly not overwhelming. By nature, I think AP Literature is one of the easier AP courses. For example, a week's worth of work would generally look something like this: Mondays we would have to read and analyze a poem, Tuesdays we would be assigned some reading from a novel (usually around 40-50 pages), Wednesdays we would answer 2-3 discussion questions based on Tuesdays's reading, Thursdays we would respond to one another's discussion questions with more thoughts and analysis, and Fridays we would be assigned an essay. Of course, assignments changed from week to week, but this was the general structure.

To what extent was this class interactive?

This is definitely one of the most interactive online AP classes that I've taken. Much of our required work each week is interacting with one another, whether it be reading and grading one another's essays or responding each other's discussion questions. Also, Mrs. Inspektor would post a "Morning Message" every weekday morning before 8am and we were generally required to respond to this in one way or another. This often led to discussion between students as well.  There was also quite a lot of interaction and discussion unrelated to the course. I remember one or two long discussion threads on the WWW board about college decisions or our favorite books.

What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?

Throughout the year, we received feedback on our essays from both Mrs. Inspektor and from the other students in the class. While other student's feedback is always helpful and encouraging, I think it is Mrs. Inspektor's feedback that is the most valuable. Her feedback is always extraordinarily extensive and she is very careful to both encourage you in what you do well and to offer good advice and constructive criticism to help you improve your work. I can't imagine the time and effort that she puts into grading so many essays each week! Also, at one point I was a but unsure about some of her feedback concerning one of my essays and so I e-mailed her with a few more questions. She graciously and promptly responded, answering all my questions and clarifying her feedback. I think it has been Mrs. Inspektor's feedback that has primarily served to help me become a better writer in the past two years that I've taken courses with her . . . and I think her personal tutelage to each of the students is one of the main reasons I'd encourage anyone to take this course. She is quite seriously an amazing teacher.

How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during this class?

While I have always enjoyed literature, I've honestly always been much more of a non-fiction reader than a fiction reader. I'd generally prefer a memoir over a novel. And while that still is partially true, APLIT definitely instilled in me a greater love and appreciation for the short story, the novel, and poetry. And I've certainly come to a deeper understanding of the underlying symbolism often found in literature. And one of the other most valuable aspects of this course, in my opinion, is the way it opens up to the students differing viewpoints, as all of the literature we read is not necessarily from your worldview. While never asking us to read anything inappropriate, Mrs. Inspektor does encourage us to read novels and poetry and short stories that we might not usually read ourselves, and she encourages us to read this literature with an open mind. I found that this course not only gave me a new perspective on literature, but also a new perspective on life. And really, that's more valuable than any knowledge of literary symbolism in such and such a novel.

What was the main challenge you faced in taking this class?

Probably not procrastinating! But actually, even procrastination wasn't that much of a challenge as Mrs. Inspektor guards against this by having daily due dates rather than weekly due dates (as other online AP courses have). But really, other than that, I can't think of any huge challenge I faced in taking this course . . . well, except for reading Hamlet, which wasn't necessarily my favorite book of the year. :-)

Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.

My favorite assignments of the year were probably the two research papers we were assigned to write. Our first research paper during the first semester was based on a short story author of our choice. And our second research paper during the second semester was based on a poet of our choice. I loved having the ability to choose the work of an author/poet that I especially enjoyed and then being able to really delve into and study his or her work in a more intense way.

I also really enjoyed the Letters About Literature contest that Mrs. Inspektor assigned us to enter. We all wrote letters to a favorite author about the way in which the novel of the author had influenced us. It was a fun exercise that broke up our ordinary weekly essay routine.

But probably my favorite assignments of the year were our weekly Poetry Mondays. Mrs. Inspektor would give us a short poetry lesson Monday morning in her Morning Message and then we would have to read a poem and answer questions analyzing that particular poem, using the terms we had learned in the morning message. It was a wonderful exercise that was really fun (for someone who loves poetry like me!) and that greatly enriched my understanding of poetry.

And while I'm at it, I'll mention one last favorite assignment . . . book clubs! This year, Mrs. Inspektor had all of us participate in monthly book clubs. We could choose any book that we wished to (as long as it fell under the umbrella of literary fiction) and we could then form a book club with other students in the class and discuss the book with them OR we could read the book ourselves and write a little book review on it. This not only helped me feel extra prepared for the exam, but it was also a fun addition to our weekly work.

How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?

Mrs. Inspektor is one of the most intentional teachers I've had for preparing her students directly for the exam, which I really appreciate. Early in the year she outlines the test for us so we already know what to expect. Several morning messages were completely devoted to explaining how the exam is formatted and how we should be preparing for it. Mrs. Inspektor had us complete several practice exams and she was always giving us suggestions for how to improve our scores. Of course, the weekly essay writing is probably the most directly helpful preparation for the exam. Mrs. Inspektor graded our essays on the same scale as the AP exam graders do, which was always helpful for knowing just how we should be improving our work. Also, one week, Mrs. Inspektor had us be "exam graders for a week," and throughout the whole week we had to grade on the AP exam scale about 20 student essays. By the end of that week, I certainly had a clearer idea of what the exam graders are generally looking for in an essay!

In conclusion, I really cannot say enough good things about this course or Mrs. Inspektor. While I am excited to be heading off to college this fall, I'm also quite literally sad not to be signing up for another one of Mrs. Inspektor's courses. So if you're interested in learning more about literature and are up for a challenge, I encourage you take the opportunity and sign up for this course. Good luck!

always,
Jessina Leonard

If you are even considering taking this class, do it!

I enjoyed this class 100 times more than I thought I would.  The title "AP" always scared me, but I felt that an AP English class would be a good next step in my education, no matter how scared of it I was.  As it turned out, I loved the class, and although it was time consuming, what I have gained from it greatly outweighs the time spent.  

          To what kind of student would you recommend this class?

I would recommend this class to any student who loves to read good literature, and who is willing to discuss their thoughts on this literature.  I don't think it is essential to go into the class with an already developed love for literary analysis; that's something the class gives you.  Frankly, I flat out didn't like analyzing literature before this class, but over the course of the year I found myself enjoying discussions and essays more and more every day!  I think that when you have the opportunity to get really comfortable with literary analysis, it becomes much more pleasurable.  This is just a roundabout way of saying that you don't have to love analyzing literature right from the start, in my opinion; it'll come as you go.

  What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?

You should feel pretty strong in the basics of writing before taking this class, basics such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation.  It also doesn't hurt to have read a fair number of "classics" before you begin the class, so that you know you can follow the plot and at least partially understand higher level books.

How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?

I spent anywhere from 1-2 hours a day on this class, which averages out to 5-10 hours per week.  Occasionally it was more, if we were writing a paper, and occasionally it was less, if I got ahead in my work.  On average, I probably spent 1-1 and a half hours per day on it.  For an AP class (or from what I have observed, since this is my first and only one!), I think that this is the perfect amount of work per day to prepare you extremely well for the test, without eating up your entire school day.

What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?

Mrs. Inspektor was very helpful in all of her feedback.  She gave us comments on almost every essay (and there were a lot!), and wrote extensive comments on our mini-paper rough drafts earlier in the year to help us revise to the best of our ability.  She also gave comments on our mini-paper final drafts, discussion question responses, and often on our Morning Message responses.  (The Morning Message is a little lesson of some sort that Mrs. Inspektor posts daily, and that we respond to in different ways, depending on what she tells us for that day.)   She was always very encouraging without being soft; her feedback was also very consistent, so that each individual student could see and work on the same weaknesses in their writing for the entire year, so that those weaknesses was improved in every aspect of their writing.

 How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?

The range of books that I enjoy reading and will read of my own accord in the future was definitely widened.  I really never used to read any 20^th century literature, because I was scared off by its often confusing and/or boring nature.  Now that I can deeply analyze literature, that has changed, and I can recognize the wealth of deeper meaning in all kinds of books.  My perspective on what I consider "good books" has been drastically expanded this year!

What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?

I had two main challenges really: balancing the workload with my other schoolwork and pushing myself to read novels in a new way.  First of all, I did struggle this year with balancing my other classes with this class (which actually had deadlines!).  Things got better after I realized that Lit needed to get done first or else at 11:00 at night.  Also, it was certainly a challenge to change the way you read books.  I needed to get out of the "lighter" reading frame of mind and into a more analytical attitude towards the books we read, so that I could discover the symbolism and deeper meaning they contained.  This isn't to say that you can't analyze and read for fun at the same time, but it just means that I had to learn that this was possible, but only if I focused!  (I hope that makes sense!)

How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?

We wrote countless essays over the course of the year that were either taken from past exams or practice exams issued by the College Board.  This resulted in feeling actually confident for that daunting essay section on the exam itself.  If I had done this a hundred times, what was there to worry about?  We also completed about 6 multiple choice sections that were either from past exams or from the Cliff's AP book.  As it turned out, most of the class (including myself) thought that the multiple choice sections from Cliff's AP were harder than the real, College Board-issued practice exam we took; this prepared us for the worst, so that the multiple choice section on exam day seemed much easier than what we were used to.

Hopefully you can tell by now that I loved this class, and that I think you should take it too!  It was so rewarding, and it taught me things that will be impacting my reading and writing for the rest of my life.  And if you're worried about how much time it will take up, don't be:  It's a good investment of your time, trust me!

Worth the Effort

When I started this class I thought I had literature and its inner workings all figured out. I was very, very wrong. This class had so much more to offer me then I had thought. The knowledge and experience I've gained from it are well worth the time and effort.

If a student is willing to commit his time and brain power to studying and understanding the material discussed, then I think they should give it a try. Also, it helps if the student already has a love for reading and writing, because they'll do a bunch of it during this class. The student needs to be ready to accept constructive criticism and ready to say they may have been wrong in their interpretations.

I personally spent close to two hours each weekday working on this class, with some odd hours spread through the weekend. That makes and average of 12 hours weekly. I know to a student who's new to AP courses that may sound like a lot, but I barely finished everything on time even with all those hours. I spent those hours in two different ways. The first was the assignments themselves. The second was interacting with my fellow classmates, either on the WWW Board, email book clubs, or discussion questions. Every day I was comparing thoughts and writings with these students, and I believe that was the main thing that made this class so memorable. Everyone was very polite to each other. On every assignment turned in the class exchanged feedback with each other. The feedback is fair and only meant as constructive encouragement from one student to the other. I received feedback that plainly pointed out my errors, and showed me effective ways to learn from my mistakes.

The main challenge I faced in this class was putting my knowledge into effective practice. I may have known the material, but I sometimes had problems putting that information into good essays or question responses. Because of this class I hope I am moving past that. I remember enjoying most every assignment because I knew it would help me learn. They also helped me greatly in preparing for the AP Lit. Exam. All the hard work, practice, and repetition payed off. Each assignment highlighted vitally important subjects in understanding and delivering good literature. My teacher took us through the lessons step by step, pointed out our flaws, and encouraged us to do better.

At times I may have been confused over the material and the ins and outs of doing college level work, but I'm extremely grateful for the experience now. The personal and academic rewards from this class are amazing if a student applies themselves.

~Bethany Youngblood~

This is an incredible class!

To what kind of student would you recommend this class?
First and foremost, I highly recommend this class to anyone who already loves reading! Also to diligent students who are willing to learn and work hard, open to honest criticism and willing to participate in class interaction. If you like writing, or are leaning toward a career as a novelist, playwright, or some other form of creative writing, this is an invaluable class to take!

What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?
 Having read several literary classics like Great Expectations or The Chosen and analyzed them is, I think, the best preparation possible honestly, as that's what this class is all about. Also, this class requires a good deal of writing, so solid writing skills are necessary. Not that they have to be spotless, but they should be clean enough to allow analytical and expressive writing—there is a lot in this class!

How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?
On average, I would say 10-15 hours a week, including work over weekends. In general, it was 2-4 hours of work a day for me, because I often read slowly or went back and analyzed what I'd read. The workload is intense and can be overwhelming, but it is manageable and the amount varies from day to day, which helps. :)

To what extent was this class interactive?
It was VERY interactive. Roughly a third to a half of class assignments was involved interaction. We all grew immensely as we discussed and argued ideas together, and became friends in the process—despite the fact we were scattered across the nation. This was a wonderful facet of this class.

What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?
The feedback I received was always honest, gracious, and motivating, whether it was from Mrs. Inspektor or from classmates. Mrs. Inspektor's criticism is always intended to help her students succeed. She never lets a mistake slide, yet she cushions her comments with sincere graciousness and praise. She set the standard for our responses to each other's work. Also, often we bounced our personal thoughts, ideas, or opinions off of each other's work, which was very enriching.

How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?
One of my fellow classmates pinned it for me perfectly: "my love of literature absolutely EXPLODED!" I can't say it better.  And also, I once dreaded poetry and felt bewildered by it, but now I love it and enjoy it as much as books, if not more for its own merits.   

What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?
 I think it was being able to write analytically. I struggled with that a lot and still do to an extent, but my abilities and powers of analytical thinking grew tremendously, I am certain.

Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.
I think my favorite was our spring semester mini-paper, where we selected one poet, eight of his poems to analyze, and drew connections between the poet's biography and his writings. I chose T.S. Eliot, whose poems once daunted me as I struggled to understand them. But after this class I understood them--to my great excitement. I drew so much personally from his poems that I could have written another paper on what I gained! Writing that paper was a wonderful experience; it showed me what I could do in analyzing literature and how far I'd come.

How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?
I don't know how else to put this except, it did! Every single minute prepared me! I was extremely comfortable taking the exam, and went in confident that I could do well. Throughout the year we took several multiple choice practice exams and wrote many practice essays (my hand still hurts). We made flash cards of literary terms, read works from varying eras and genres in class and in book clubs (informal monthly discussion groups dealing with one work). Every assignment dealt with learning literary techniques and analyzing them: exactly what the exam covers.

Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:
This class is one of the greatest experiences of my life. Even though our goal was to study literature to prepare for an exam, my worldview and my identity was shaped. I gained a sharper understanding of human nature and condition and even myself through the books we read; my abilities to think deeply took wing; even my faith in God grew. Now when I open a book, I feel like I'm opening up a treasure chest packed with "jewels": devices and techniques that give the book's meaning its potency, and my reading experience reaches another level of richness and enjoyment. My goal to be a novelist has become firmer and my writing has taken new life as I've begun experimenting with literary techniques. And Mrs. Inspektor is the perfect teacher to encourage all this in her students. She is fun and bright, eager for her students to succeed and to pass on her passion for literature--which she has done successfully.
 

This has been the greatest class I have ever taken (obviously, you say, as I have rambled and gushed about it for 878 words! Unless you skipped down to the end *for shame!*) :) But it is a ton of fun and enriching, even if you aren't a literature nerd like me! I promise you, you won't go away feeling like you wasted your time in APlit.

~Erin

Class Review

This is an incredible class and is valuable for almost any student! Mrs. Inspektor is a wonderfully encouraging, creative and organized teacher, who gives assignments that are directly connected to exam prep, but also that help you grow as a person and as a student.  I love words, but have always been a painfully slow and overly careful writer.  I have a lot of anxiety when it comes to essay exams and before this class, felt horribly unconfident about writing essays within a time limit.  This class has helped me greatly in this regard :).  I feel I am now able to get an essay together quickly and effectively, for the most part.  This class pushes constantly (but in a really kind and fun way!).  I was not overwhelmed, but really inspired to move forward.  APLit also demands that students read extensively.  Again, Mrs. Inspektor manages to organize this part of the class in such a way that you don't feel overwhelmed, just challenged and competent.  I know that my literature literacy has increased phenomenally because of this class and I am so grateful.  Students not only really love this class, but they profit greatly from it!

Amazing Class!

Though more analysis than writing, being someone who's hoping to eventually become a fiction writer of some form, this was still an amazingly helpful class. The analysis we did of classic literature showed me both how to regognize literary devices in literature, as well as teaching me how to better use them. I've also gained a new appriciation for both literature and poetry, and feel much more prepared to study and apply themes in works I may read.

The class was amazingly well-organized with a fairly straightforward syllabus, and I was able to find out what I had to do each day without a lot of trouble. The group disscussions were one of my favorite parts; I had the oppertunity to both grow in my understanding of the material, and to help others with thier own. Both the class and the teacher were a lot of fun getting to know as the year went on, and we quickly found out how much a lot of us had in common with each other, and how much diversity we still had in personality and skills.

Probably my hand down favorite aspect was, though, was the creativity of the assignments. The class certainly wasn't boring, because Mrs Inspektor would sometimes add a creative twist or interesting alternative to the usual Morning Message or discussion assignments. From inventing alternate versions of stories we've studied, to writing creative poems, to deciding what some characters might act like if they were placed in a modern-day WalMart, we were able to have fun with some of what we studied and share it with other classmates.

Overall, this is an amazing, but still challenging, class for anyone who wants to better understand literature and poetry.

Amazing Class

I loved this class and everything about it. Mrs. Inspektor is very knowledgable about English and about the AP test, and she's lots of fun too. Often, my favorite morning messages included creative writing assignments or some other fun activity.

Taking numerous practice tests was my best way of preparing for the test. The AP Lit essay is so different from any other kind of writing, but it's actually quite enjoyable and makes you think more about literary techniques and what the author meant. Mrs. Inspektor often explained to me how I could better do these things, and with her help, I improved my scores.

The poetry study was very thorough, and I liked looking for the overall feel of the work instead of just studying the meter or rhyme scheme. The two mini-papers helped increase my ability to analyze literature on my own and write compellingly about it.

The class took my about eight hours a week to complete, with more work in the first semester and less in the second. Some days it got overwhelming, but the variety helped. I already knew a lot about literature, but I learned so much more.

887 Words About Why You Should Take AP Lit

• To what kind of student would you recommend this class? I recommend this class to hardworking students who enjoy reading and writing, as there is a significant amount of both in this course. Also, a desire to interact with other students and to be present on the site is very important to succeed in this class. Students should be open to constructive criticism, as they will encounter a great deal of it—and it's good! It makes you a better writer! 
• What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class? I think that students must have a firm grasp of analytical writing as well as of analytical reading before this class. That is, honestly, the basis for this class. It's very important to be able to read something, and then to be able to restate and to analyze what you've read.
• How many hours per week did you spend on your class work? I spent anywhere from 1 hour to 3-4 hours daily on work. I don't consider myself a "speed-reader" and thus spent extra time studying readings to be able to write accurately—which I highly recommend if you're concerned about retention and/or comprehension.
• To what extent was this class interactive? This class is very interactive. Students are required (almost) daily to post on the site in response to Mrs. Inspektor's postings and/or fellow students' postings. Interaction is encouraged and expected, and it definitely improves the class experience.
• What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful? I received lengthy responses from Mrs. Inspektor on the majority of my essays. If I felt I needed additional comments, I emailed Mrs. Inspektor, and she was happy to provide further advice/comments. All of Mrs. Inspektor's feedback was incredibly helpful. She wants you to improve, so she encourages you to push yourself. This was completely evident in all feedback.
• How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class? My understanding for literature grew hugely. Before this class, I loved to read, and that was that, but now I can intelligently analyze what I read and write something based off of that.
• What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class? The main challenge I faced was integrating this course with all my other courses. This continued to be a challenge throughout my school year, and I recommend students figure out before this course begins how to balance this class with their other commitments and classes. 
• Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why. I really enjoyed the addition of "book clubs" to AP English. (I took AP Lang with Mrs. Inspektor 2008-2009, and book clubs hadn't been added at that time.) I studied Night by Elie Wiesel early on in this course with another student, and that was an incredible and very memorable study. A close reading and in-depth discussion was invaluable for this novel. Another great experience: Mrs. Inspektor is flexible about the format of book clubs, so I was also able to study Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury with my brother, who was in AP Lang. The discussion allowed in both those book clubs was so rewarding. (Also, if you haven't read either of those books, I highly recommend them!)
• How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam? Mrs. Inspektor's assignments prepare you SO WELL for the exam. Aside from studying flashcards/terms and "bookfiles" on your own, all preparation is generally assigned by Mrs. Inspektor. She knows what she's talking about!
• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? Yes, I felt extremely well prepared for the exam. I was completely familiar with its format and also with what was necessary to do well on it.
• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? This course expanded my interest in reading. I have a large stack of classics I plan to read over the summer, and I'm eager to get started (and to get some good analysis going!).
• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? Interaction with fellow students was both valuable and interesting. This let me hear others' opinions, values, and convictions—and this caused me to write and interact more thoughtfully than I would otherwise. Students were generally helpful and kind. (I was even able to meet up with one student and her family for dinner while my family was on vacation in her hometown!) 

• Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class: Mrs. Inspektor is an incredible teacher, and I highly recommend this class simply because she is the teacher! She truly wants you to learn and improve, and her commitment and diligence in teaching makes that evident. I have had Mrs. Inspektor in both AP Lang and AP Lit, and both classes were incredible. I received a 5 on the AP Lang exam (and I do not consider myself an exceptional test-taker). My score on that exam is a sure reflection of Mrs. Inspektor's teaching! I feel very confident in my performance on the AP Lit exam (which I just took yesterday!). My success in both courses are a reflection of Mrs. Inspektor's capable teaching. 

AP Literature with Mrs. Inspektor

AP Literature is the third course I have taken through PA Homeschoolers over the course of two years, and it is the second one I have taken with Mrs. Inspektor as the teacher.  The fact that I came back for a second year should speak for itself as testament to her incredible teaching!  She is encouraging, dynamic, and fun, all while being very demanding and not letting her students get away with anything.  I feel that without her gentle encouragement, attention to detail, and her occasional shoves in the right direction, my writing, reading, and analyzing skills would be nowhere near where they are now.  

The course itself is amazing.  The students read four novels, two plays, and numerous poems and short stories in the class.  Additionally, one reads about six or seven novels throughout the year as part of "Book Clubs" - informal book discussion groups.  The class is very interactive, and all my classmates were incredibly helpful as well as just being amazing people and fun to chat with online.  At the end of the year, I felt very well-prepared for the AP Literature exam - there were no surprises or questions that I did not know how to deal with on the test.

Any student who loves reading fiction, writing, and critically thinking about what he or she reads would love AP Literature.  It is not an easy course - I put in anywhere from one and a half to three and a half hours a day, with occasional work on weekends - but it is an environment where the challenges are not only met but embraced with gusto.  I cannot recommend this class highly enough!

This class is amazing!!!!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? Definitely. I actually found myself looking forward to the exam and approaching it as a kind of challenge rather than a test. I knew exactly what to expect and felt like I had a really solid understanding of what we had covered during the year and could use that to my advantage on the actual exam. I had quite a bit of trouble with the practice multiple choice tests, but I felt like I understood pretty well what I had gotten wrong, and Mrs. Inspektor was great about answering questions and giving specific advice to help me improve my scores. We did plenty of practice essays (in general one a week from January/February to the exam) so I felt well-prepared for that section of the exam as well.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course? I spent in general 1-2 hours a day on work for this course. Some days it was more than that and others it was less (the weeks when our mini-papers were due were particularly busy). Mrs. Inspektor always put out the assignments two weeks ahead of time, so we were able to work ahead on reading assignments or other work if necessary.

Describe your most memorable assignment in this class and explain why. I really enjoyed poetry mini-paper we wrote comparing and contrasting eight poems by one poet. I'd previously never been much of a poetry person, but studying the work of John Keats' in depth really gave me a new appreciation for it. I also really enjoyed the book clubs we did with our classmates each month. They provided a good opportunity to read new literature and get to know my classmates.

What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work and how was it helpful? Getting feedback from both Mrs. Inspektor and classmates was something I always looked forward to. At the beginning of the year, Mrs. Inspektor responded to our discussion questions, but as the year went on, the discussion became entirely student-based and we would respond and comment on each other's work. Mrs. Inspektor graded and gave specific, detailed comments on each of our essays, and we also graded and critiqued one another's essays, which was really helpful in determining what makes a good essay. Mrs. Inspektor's feedback was always detailed and positive; she always had something good to say about our work and something to point out for us to work on next time. Her structured feedback really helped me to improve my essays from January to May.

What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class? For me, it was definitely time management. The first few months of class I had a really hard time balancing this class with my other subjects, sports, and music. However, I noticed that by January I had become a lot better at managing my time, I could complete assignments faster, and wasn't overwhelmed by the coursework. So while time management was a challenge for this class, I think I came away much better at it.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? Yes, without a doubt. I've never been opposed to classic literature, but was never entirely gung-ho about it either. Similarly, I disliked poetry before taking this course. However, this class gave me an entirely new perspective on both novels and poetry. It armed me with the tools I need to really understand what I'm reading, whether prose or poetry, on a deeper level. I feel like now I can sit down with a novel and at least take a stab at identifying the various elements. It's really a fun kind of challenge now that I have a place to start. This class has really changed the way I read and write and that's going to stick with me.

To what extent was this class interactive? It was a very interactive class. I was really surprised that, despite the fact this is an online class, I felt like I really got to know my classmates. Assignments with interaction, like multiple choice huddles (teaming up to work out multiple choice questions) and grading one another's essays were highlights of the class for me. Everyone was eager to learn and share their knowledge and we had some really good class discussions and debates. Also, the book clubs were a way for us to get to know our classmates outside of the class itself and during our discussions of the books we read I felt like I really got to know my classmates on a new level. So interaction was really a huge part of this class and in a lot of ways helped me to cement my new knowledge and apply it in open discussions. Reading and responding to my classmates' discussion questions was also a way to get new perspectives on what we were reading.

What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students? This course is a lot of work, but it is entirely worth every minute. Mrs. Inspektor makes the assignments fun and engaging and the sense of community in the class really helps to keep it interesting as well. If you're a student who is a hard worker, enjoys a challenge, likes literature (or is at least open to gaining an appreciation of it), and is willing to have an open mind towards different world views, you'll do great in this class. It's necessary to have basic writing skills coming into the course, and organization skills also help, as there is a lot to keep track of, but as long as you keep up on assignments, you'll do fine. I couldn't recommend this class more highly!

Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class: This class isn't just about literature, and it's definitely not just about preparing for the exam. What I got out of this class isn't something that one exam can give or take away. A lot of analyzing literature is analyzing the human condition and human nature on a deeper level, and in that way I think this class really changed me as a person and the way I look at life. It's been my favorite course of high school, and I highly recommend it. Mrs. Inspektor is an absolutely wonderful teacher who really cares about her students. She pushes us to do our best and she's understanding and encouraging; your success is hers as well, and her enthusiasm for the subject and the class are very real.

So, in case you cheated and skipped down to the end, you mostly just missed me gushing about how wonderful this course was. What are you waiting for? It's amazing!!

~Meredith

Exactly what an online AP course should be.

Mrs. Inspektor was very reasonable with her assignments, pushing us along at a good pace but granting the class more time to finish reading assignments on a couple of occasions when the assignments were unintentionally too much. Prospective students should recognize that this an online class; my only gripe with this class (and this gripe is unfortunately common with all online classes) is that the discussions can be frustrating at times due to the lack of continuity that would otherwise be found in a classroom. This is made up for by the excellent responses that students are able to come up with since they are able to digest the material at their own pace. I certainly learned a great deal by reading my classmates' discussion responses. For the student looking for an excellent online AP English Literature class who is willing to work hard (but within reason!) and enjoy seeing the just benefits of this work under an intelligent, capable, and understanding teacher, Mrs. Inspektor's class is the best!

Do I really need a title?

What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class? Just know how to use your time wisely to split up the time between this class and any other classes you may take. That's probably the most important part of the course.

How many hours per week did you spend on your class work? I spent anywhere from 8-10 hours on class per week. It varied depending on the assignment (a lot more time for the research paper, less for other times of the year)

To what extent was this class interactive? It was very interactive. We had discussion questions and "Poem of the Weeks" which we had to each comment on several times.

What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful? We received feedback both from the other students and Mrs. Inspektor in the class, which was helpful.

How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class? Hmm, I think that the first book we read "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" was the most helpful here. It enabled me to look at literature differently.

What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class? The biggest challenge that I had was applying myself after the Spring Break. After two weeks off, I had a tough time getting back on track.

Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why. The most memorable assignment was the research paper. I learned a lot about "Gulliver's Travels" and I really enjoyed doing the research.

How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam? We took several practice AP exams, and did many essays in the 40 minutes you would have while taking the actual test.

Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class: This is a great class. You will learn a lot, but will need to leave time for it, and make sure to not get behind.

Hard work, but worth it

2. What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class? They need to have an extensive writing background, have a love for reading and posing questions, and understand what they are getting into. That is as much preparation as you need (besides reading the Summer reading assignment).

3. How many hours per week did you spend on your class work? About 2 hours a day/ 6-16 hours depending on the assignments.

4. To what extent was this class interactive? This class is interactive bassed. If you can't interact and continue a discussion, you won't get a full class or be ready for the AP test.

5. What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful? I recieved a lot of constructive criticism from my peers as well as the teacher. This method really works.

6. How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class? My whole network of ideas changed concerning Literature. I didn't know that so many classics were left to be read. The summer reading assignment really helped, but we didn't really continue using the knowledge we gained from it. :(

7. What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class? My main challenge was finding time to actually do all of the assignments. Ballancing work, this AP class, speech and debate tournaments, and reagular school was very hard.

8. Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why. The most memorable assignment was the second to last assignment. There were two different practice tests that we were to take I took the 2nd one before the 1st and everyone was confused, and I was really upset because I thought that I had a very, very bad score, but I was using the wrong answer key! ;-)

9. How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam? This course helps the student to be a prepared as possible for the AP exam. Mrs. Inspektor understands our position and really helps us with our preparation.

10. Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class: ONLY take this class if you CAN give a lot of your time to it. You MUST have a free schedual! Assignments are hard, so understand that this is a COLLEGE-like CLASS and has to be treated as that. But it is really fun! ;-)

This is a FABULOUS class!!!

A student who will take the initiative with getting work done, loves literature, has a strong writing style to begin with, and a willingness to change things (even if the things seem trivial at first) in his writing.

' What kind of preparation do you think students need before taking this class?

They need to know how to write a strong essay and how to read rapidly but with comprehension.

' How many hours per week did you spend on your class work?

I spent between 7-10 hours on average per week for this class.

' To what extent was this class interactive? One of the many things I love about Mrs. Inspektor's classes is that they are always extremely interactive. You comment on classmates' work and receive comments from them in return. After reading someone's work over a period of time, you start to become acquainted with that person well'you begin to understand how they think, argue, and write. Mrs. Inspektor encourages getting to know students outside the classroom as well'via facebook, and AIM.

' What kinds of feedback did you receive on your work, and how were they helpful?

This class was great because no one was afraid to say when something in an essay seemed undeveloped or just plain weak. And no one would stint on praise if there was something good in an essay. I would get a large amount of feedback on my work'there would usually be some ideas on things I could improve on, but there was always encouragement there as well. Mrs. Inspektor's feedback was incredibly helpful as well. Her comments were logical and her critiques well deserved. She was incredibly focused in her comments'always telling a student exactly where the student needed to improve. And she was always the first one to notice any improvements between a student's essays. Her comments never discouraged me'in fact, they always made me want to work harder.

' How do you feel your perspective on literature grew during the course of this class?

This class really made me start thinking outside the box when I considered literature. Before this class I had never really analyzed literature while I read it or considered symbolism in the words. But now, I rarely read a book without considering its figurative language, symbols, characterization, or foreshadowing.

' What was the main challenge that you faced in taking this class?

The main challenge I faced in this class was the time management issue. I had a hard time with having enough time to finish my essay and go back and edit it. Often there was no time for me to edit my work. But I found that as I wrote more and more essays, it became easier and easier.

' Describe your most memorable assignment in this class, and explain why.

One of my favorite assignments in this class was where I rewrote a short story we had read from a different character's point-of-view. It really taught me to try and empathize with characters other than an author's main character. Sometimes when you just consider a side character's feelings in a situation, it can completely change your thoughts on the story.

' How did this course directly prepare you for the AP exam?

This course forced me to practice writing strong, timed essays. By the time the test rolled around I was confident that I could answer essay questions without getting sidetracked by the question and within the proper time limit. This course also included a wide variety of novels'any of which could be used on the exam. By having a wide variety of material in my head, I was able to come up with examples and answers on the essay questions extremely easily. I went into the exam feeling confident and calm.

' Final thoughts you would share with a student considering this class:

I would strong recommend this class!!! Mrs. Inspektor was one of my two top teachers in high school. Her class has completely changed the way I think about literature and the way I write (for the better =)). It's challenging at times, but rewarding and fun. Mrs. Inspektor is an understanding, wise, and helpful teacher who really cares about her students and wants the best for them. She makes you want to do work hard and do your best and she cheers you on as she notices improvements in your writing. If you take her class, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed!!!

I improved so much!

Are there any particular favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? All of the assignments really helped me improve in different ways. But to choose one, the essay assignments were especially valuable in that they helped me develop my thoughts deeper and improve on expressing myself.

Did the course enhance you interest in the subject? Yes! I had liked reading and literature before this class, but through this class I learned so many interesting aspects of literature.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? There aren't a lot of opportunities to discuss and share my thoughts with others about literature (especially being homeschooled and living in Korea). So this was such a great opportunity to talk with others and know how other people thought about things.

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 other students. Of course, they would have to work hard, and invest a lot of time into this course too. But the student could learn so much more, and improve a lot also. Students who like literature, reading, thinking and writing would do well in this course. Passion to learn would also be a good quality to have!

I really improved a lot in writing and reading more deeply. I gained more confidence in writing essays than before. This course, though it wasn't all easy, was really helpful and interesting!

Excellent class, really helped on exam and with personal enjoyment of literature.

With reading, I probably averaged out to 1-2 hours a day put into the course. There were often a good bit of assignments, but there were well-placed breaks and I never really felt overwhelmed.

The assignments that I believe helped the most were definitely the essays and group multiple-choice sections. The essays were just well-needed practice, and getting feedback on my work helped me a lot in figuring out what to work on, and working with other students on the multiple-choice questions really helped me see what kinds of thought processes yielded the most accurate results.

I certainly feel more interested in literature than before taking this class. Being forced to write out my analysis of what I read actually really helped unclutter my thoughts on it and I appreciate many of the books I read, Hamlet in particular coming to mind, much more than I did beforehand.

Like I said, talking to the other students and critiquing their work really helped me by being able to see thought processes outside my own and to gain insight on the material.

I wholly recommend this class to any serious student that enjoys reading and would like to take it to the next level. At times the workload could be a bit overwhelming to some, but Mrs. Inspektor is very understanding and willing to help anyone taking this class succeed on the AP Exam and understand literature.

Take this course!!!

Having a strong literary foundation is helpful, but not necessary. Mrs. Inspektor definitely opened up my literary world and pulled me out of my non-fiction comfort zone. Although, she''s not a miracle worker and I''ll probably still lean towards non-fiction in the future, but I am much more open to fictional works, and dare I say, enjoy searching for the symbolism hidden beneath the surface.

Be prepared to spend the week reading and answering DQs and time during the weekend writing essays. The research paper was the most challenging assignment, but also the most rewarding to have completed. The DQs, morning messages and peer reviews kept the class interactive and the extra feedback on the essays added a fresh perspective. I felt fully prepared for the exam and hope that is reflected in my score''. As long as you stay on top of your work and realize this class is intended to be challenging, you''ll have a great year and gain a new understanding and appreciation for literature.

Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit: The key to the treasure chest of literary riches

My favorite aspect of the course was taking the works we read and their themes, ideas, symbolism, etc. and discussing them with my classmates. I gained a wealth of new perspectives and interpretations that helped me journey even deeper into literature.

Any student who wants to go beyond merely reading a book--who instead wants to come away with thoughts to hold on to--will not regret taking Mrs. Inspektor's AP Lit class. I know I speak for all my classmates when I say that what I learned here I will carry with me far beyond my high school and college years.

I don't know what to call this, but holy cow this class is amazing.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. The exam was actually [dare I say] easy, and my essays went marvelously.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

It depended on the week. Some weeks when we were mainly reading it would be something like an hour a day, seven hours a week [I read really fast lol] but I'm guessing I was averaging about twelve hours a week. More during the epic research paper week. =]

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Poetry. I'm horrible with poetry analysis and would never have done as well on the poetry essay in the exam without the weekly poems.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes, and I didn't think that was possible. English has always been [and I'm fairly sure always will be] my favorite subject [to give you an idea, I'm the type that read War & Peace for fun one summer] but this class was amazing, seriously.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Very much so. I met a bunch of amazing people who not only were great to discuss English with but we had amazing conversations about such wide-flung things as Lord Of The Rings and chictopia.com.

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!)?

Quite honestly any student, and YES YES YES YES YES. Mrs. Inspektor is amazing, fun, just-strict-enough and basically my favorite teacher ever. [Which is saying something. I've had a LOT of amazing teachers.]

A Class Worth Taking!

One of my favorite things about Mrs. Inspektor's classes, is how she tries to make an online course into an interactive classroom settings. In adittion to daily Morning Messages, to which we were required to respond, we also discussed a variety of questions in regard to the books we were reading.

Perhaps one of my favorite interactive assignments was when she had us prepare our own morning messages, discussing specific literary terms or styles of writing in Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights". We could either compose a Morning Message on our own, or team up with one of more students. I loved getting to know my partner, Melanie through this experinace, and it was fun to collaborate our ideas together into a completed Morning Message.

Near the beginning of the year, we divided into several groups, and each week, a student from that group would post a chosen Poem of the Week. Our task was to respond to the poem in a way that reflected or responded to previous responses-a true class discussion!

In addition to recieving detailed responses from Mrs. Inspektor, we were also required to sometimes critique our fellow students' essays. Both the critique I recieved from my teacher, and from my fellow students, consisted of a fair mixture of postive and negative feedback. No one was every overly harsh in their negative critique, always wording their conerns in a well-mannered way of speaking that was still helpfully critical, yet still remained polite and concerned.

Mrs. Inspektor always made sure to point out the good and the bad in an essay, focusing on minute punctuation details to larger mistakes in our thesis staments or arguments, but always with a postive and encouraging attitude. I've taken both her AP Literature and her AP Language and Composition class, and my writing has only improved in the past two years! During the course of this class, my perspective on literature not only blossomed and grew, but took flight on the wings of hope and renewal. I've always held a great passion for reading, delving into a wide genre of books and novels over the years. This class not only broaded my horizon of literary interest, but also has inputed a form of critique into my brain. Now, when I finish reading a novel, I can look at it with a higher level of critiscism. I appreciate good novels even more than I did before this class, and can recognize flaws more quickly in those not-so-well-written books.

While I enjoyed every minute spent in this virtual classroom, I admit that, in the first semester,I had trouble understanding the essay prompts. In no way is this the fault of anyone but myself. Dutifully, Mrs. Inspektor critiqued this problem in the context of my essays, and I finally caught on towards the end of the first semester. It's so hard to say which assignment was the most memorable! I love creative assignments, such as the do-it-yourself Morning Message.

One of my favorite essays we were assigned was at the beginning of the year, when we were asked to tell the short story, "Miss Brill" from the perspective of someone else other than the title character. I chose to delve into the mind of Miss Brill's fur stole, describing the ocurrences from its point of perspective.

I also loved working of the biggest assignment of the year; the 10-page+ reseach paper. We each had to choose a novel or play of a certain literary quality, and discuss an inner argument stemmed from the beleifs of the author, in addition to finding critical essays on our novel and incorporating them into the body of our essay, arguing for or against what they said in regard to the chosen novel and its argument. I really enjoyed undertaking such a project, and it most certainly helped me understand the argumentive points made in almost any work of literature.

I felt EXTREMELY well-prepared for the exam at the conclusion of this course. In addition to giving us a practice exam, Mrs. Inspektor also based most of our essay assignments from previous AP Literature exams. We also went over a number of multiple-choice passages, sometimes on our own, or working together in different teams. The only nervousness I felt on exam day, was going amidst the notorious "public schoolers". (I took the exam at our local public highschool) To be honest, I was actually able to sit back with confidence and enjoy taking the exam. I know this would not have been the case had I taken this class with any teacher other than Mrs. Inspektor!

First of all, if you're a student considering taking this class, I am increadibly jealous of your position. Think about it: you have the opportunity to participate in one of Mrs. Inspektor's AP classes! My sophomore year, I took her AP Language and Composition class; this past year I was in her AP Literature class. Senior year seems oh so gloomy, as I know I won't be her student. I guarantee that you will have a wonderful experiance by becoming one of her students, and that this class will prepare you 100% for the exam, as well as improve your writing skills and giving you a higher regard to the art of literature. Good luck! =)