English Language and Composition - Experienced Teachers

AP English Language & Composition APSI Overview

This course centers on two main topics: rhetoric and argument. Throughout the week, participants will explore these topics through theory, practice, and classroom application.

Course outline:

Day 1:
- Examine rhetorical and argumentative theory
- Apply theory to a series of texts
- Review recent course revisions
Day 2:
- Explore reading and the teaching of it
- Practice specific strategies and templates for learning to read well
Day 3:
- Focus on writing
- Learn how to write the three free-response essays
- Explore additional writing issues to support composition skills
Day 4:
- Work with sample essays
- Study the kinds of essays required on the exam
- Discuss classroom-appropriate writing tasks
Final sessions:
- Assignment design and sequence
- Assessment
- Grammar
- Synthesis
- Managing paper load
- Curriculum building (if needed)

Instructor: Bernie Phelan

Bernie Phelan is an allegedly retired teacher whose career spanned 40 years of active, high school teaching, thirty of those involving teaching AP English Language and Composition. He currently consults for individual school districts and with numerous programs within College Board. He was chair of the test development committee for SAT: Writing from 2011-2015, has been a member of the committee since its inception in 2003, and is currently a member of the group which reviews multiple-choice items for the SAT. He is a long-time table leader and reader for the AP English Language and Composition exam, having read the exam since 1987. He conducts 1 and 2 day workshops during the school year in AP and Pre-AP. He has conducted more than 115 four or five day AP Institutes since 1997. From 2000-2004 he was an elected trustee of The College Board. He co-authored, along with Hephzibah Roskelly and David Jolliffe, a book entitled “Teaching and Learning in English Language and Composition.