8 min read•october 18, 2021
Brandon Wu
Brandon Wu
If there was a holy trinity for AP study sites, Quizlet would most certainly be in it. Its easy to use interface combined with its multi-purpose functionality helps students of all different learning styles in endless subject areas. However, it can often be difficult to find resources for a writing and reading-heavy subject like English Language.
Fiveable’s AP English Language teachers & students have compiled the best Quizlet study decks for each unit. The AP Lang exam covers a wide range of topics, so make sure to understand the base concepts for each unit. It’s important to note that the Quizlet decks don’t always cover EVERYTHING in that unit, so make sure you have additional study materials! Bookmark this page to use throughout the year!
Note: the AP Lang Course & Exam Description does not provide unit names, so we are using the titles of units adapted from our 2020 study guide. Catch a live review or watch a replay for AP Lang on Fiveable’s AP Lang hub! See the calendar for upcoming streams.
This unit centers on how to analyze nonfiction texts, something that is incredibly important for Lang both on multiple choice and the rhetorical analysis essay. This unit discusses different aspects of the rhetorical situation, such as exigence, purpose, and audience, and it will help with analyzing the evidence to support the main claim in the passage.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Author’s purpose - what the author wants to see happen after the audience reads the text
Exigence - the motivation and reasoning of why the author decided to write the text
Audience - a group of people who share certain beliefs, values, needs, and backgrounds
Claims - positions that the writer takes that are defensible, backed up by concrete evidence (anecdotes, facts, analogies, etc.)
Unit 2 transitions from learning about how authors formulate arguments in Unit 1 to the creation of your own arguments. This unit helps you learn the importance of the relationship between subject, speaker, and message, with an in-depth dive into how arguments are structured and the purpose. Then, you’ll learn how to develop thesis statements and create effective arguments with a line of reasoning.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Rhetorical choices - writers make certain choices in rhetoric to try and relate to an audience’s emotions and values to achieve their purpose
This unit assists you with learning the multiple perspectives of arguments through synthesis, or the first free-response essay (FRQ 1) on the AP Lang exam. You’ll learn about what separates effective and ineffective reasoning while incorporating evidence from multiple credible sources that is cited effectively. This will be knowledge you will need to know far past high school, as building effective arguments can be used in virtually any subject or discipline.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Synthesis - the consideration, explanation, and integration of other sources and arguments into your own argument
This unit is integral to all of your writing, helping discuss the specificity of how to build a line of reasoning that is present throughout your essay. Argumentation and reasoning is used not only in the argument and synthesis essays, but also in your rhetorical analysis! All of your essays are fundamentally arguments, so the reasoning that you learn how to build in this unit is very beneficial.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Introduction - the way that a subject and/or writer is presented initially by the argument, which often includes a thesis
This unit focuses a lot on what makes a great argument, such as transitions, modifiers, and qualifications for your argument’s perspective. You’ll learn how to develop strong commentary in your line of reasoning and maintaining your main claim throughout your writing. This is what elevates you from a 3 to a 4 or 5.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Coherent organization - your essays should have ideas link to the next idea
This will build upon Unit 3’s ideas, as you learn about position and perspectives while working on incorporating and synthesizing information in a strategic manner to support your claim. Moreover, this unit talks about modifying your argument to discuss new evidence.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Source - something that provides information for an argument, with some degree of reliability and credibility
Unit 7 focuses on the counterarguments, concessions, and refutations of strong argumentation, helping you discover how a given argument is complex and the effectiveness of that argument. This unit helps you to become a better writer, speaker, and reader, as you learn about argumentation in the context of rhetoric and composition.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Effective arguments - arguments that typically avoid expressing claims, reasoning, or evidence in absolute terms
Unit 8 helps you understand how to write effective rhetorical analysis essays in addition to helping you with your analysis in writing the argument and synthesis essay. This unit discusses how writers can best lead to audience “movement,” in which they feel moved to take action or they feel some emotion. You’ll learn about the impact of syntax or diction on an argument.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Style - The word choice, syntax, and conventions that a writer uses
This final unit in the AP Lang Course & Exam Description dives into how you can create your own complex argument with elements of both synthesis and rhetoric. You’ll learn how the three free-response questions you wrote help you build your own effective arguments throughout your life. Moreover, you’ll learn about techniques and reasons as to why effective arguments use concessions or rebuttals.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Units courtesy of the College Board. If you need further assistance with AP Lang, check out our exam guide! It outlines exactly what you could do for success in each unit.
Best of luck!
8 min read•october 18, 2021
Brandon Wu
Brandon Wu
If there was a holy trinity for AP study sites, Quizlet would most certainly be in it. Its easy to use interface combined with its multi-purpose functionality helps students of all different learning styles in endless subject areas. However, it can often be difficult to find resources for a writing and reading-heavy subject like English Language.
Fiveable’s AP English Language teachers & students have compiled the best Quizlet study decks for each unit. The AP Lang exam covers a wide range of topics, so make sure to understand the base concepts for each unit. It’s important to note that the Quizlet decks don’t always cover EVERYTHING in that unit, so make sure you have additional study materials! Bookmark this page to use throughout the year!
Note: the AP Lang Course & Exam Description does not provide unit names, so we are using the titles of units adapted from our 2020 study guide. Catch a live review or watch a replay for AP Lang on Fiveable’s AP Lang hub! See the calendar for upcoming streams.
This unit centers on how to analyze nonfiction texts, something that is incredibly important for Lang both on multiple choice and the rhetorical analysis essay. This unit discusses different aspects of the rhetorical situation, such as exigence, purpose, and audience, and it will help with analyzing the evidence to support the main claim in the passage.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Author’s purpose - what the author wants to see happen after the audience reads the text
Exigence - the motivation and reasoning of why the author decided to write the text
Audience - a group of people who share certain beliefs, values, needs, and backgrounds
Claims - positions that the writer takes that are defensible, backed up by concrete evidence (anecdotes, facts, analogies, etc.)
Unit 2 transitions from learning about how authors formulate arguments in Unit 1 to the creation of your own arguments. This unit helps you learn the importance of the relationship between subject, speaker, and message, with an in-depth dive into how arguments are structured and the purpose. Then, you’ll learn how to develop thesis statements and create effective arguments with a line of reasoning.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Rhetorical choices - writers make certain choices in rhetoric to try and relate to an audience’s emotions and values to achieve their purpose
This unit assists you with learning the multiple perspectives of arguments through synthesis, or the first free-response essay (FRQ 1) on the AP Lang exam. You’ll learn about what separates effective and ineffective reasoning while incorporating evidence from multiple credible sources that is cited effectively. This will be knowledge you will need to know far past high school, as building effective arguments can be used in virtually any subject or discipline.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Synthesis - the consideration, explanation, and integration of other sources and arguments into your own argument
This unit is integral to all of your writing, helping discuss the specificity of how to build a line of reasoning that is present throughout your essay. Argumentation and reasoning is used not only in the argument and synthesis essays, but also in your rhetorical analysis! All of your essays are fundamentally arguments, so the reasoning that you learn how to build in this unit is very beneficial.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Introduction - the way that a subject and/or writer is presented initially by the argument, which often includes a thesis
This unit focuses a lot on what makes a great argument, such as transitions, modifiers, and qualifications for your argument’s perspective. You’ll learn how to develop strong commentary in your line of reasoning and maintaining your main claim throughout your writing. This is what elevates you from a 3 to a 4 or 5.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Coherent organization - your essays should have ideas link to the next idea
This will build upon Unit 3’s ideas, as you learn about position and perspectives while working on incorporating and synthesizing information in a strategic manner to support your claim. Moreover, this unit talks about modifying your argument to discuss new evidence.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Source - something that provides information for an argument, with some degree of reliability and credibility
Unit 7 focuses on the counterarguments, concessions, and refutations of strong argumentation, helping you discover how a given argument is complex and the effectiveness of that argument. This unit helps you to become a better writer, speaker, and reader, as you learn about argumentation in the context of rhetoric and composition.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Effective arguments - arguments that typically avoid expressing claims, reasoning, or evidence in absolute terms
Unit 8 helps you understand how to write effective rhetorical analysis essays in addition to helping you with your analysis in writing the argument and synthesis essay. This unit discusses how writers can best lead to audience “movement,” in which they feel moved to take action or they feel some emotion. You’ll learn about the impact of syntax or diction on an argument.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Style - The word choice, syntax, and conventions that a writer uses
This final unit in the AP Lang Course & Exam Description dives into how you can create your own complex argument with elements of both synthesis and rhetoric. You’ll learn how the three free-response questions you wrote help you build your own effective arguments throughout your life. Moreover, you’ll learn about techniques and reasons as to why effective arguments use concessions or rebuttals.
Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:
Units courtesy of the College Board. If you need further assistance with AP Lang, check out our exam guide! It outlines exactly what you could do for success in each unit.
Best of luck!
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