The Importance Of AP Language And Composition

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When I was first accepted into the AP Language & Composition course, I felt overwhelmed. I had always received above average grades in all subject areas, but because this was an AP course I was unsure if my English skills were up to par. During the summer, my anxiety about the course increased. I began to feel that my writing skills were inferior to the skills of my peers’. Before this course, I did not have a developed writing voice or style. I had little knowledge of what phrases or words to avoid using in writing. I started to wonder if I truly belonged in an AP course. After having completed this course, I have a better grasp of the English language and have acquired skills that have improved my writing. The first written works I completed …show more content…

Previous to this course, I had never been exposed to rhetoric, nor did I understand rhetoric and its influence the first time it was introduced to me. In addition to having limited exposure to rhetoric, this was my first real writing assignment for an AP course. The process I used to complete this essay is far different from the process I’ve developed throughout this school year. I allowed my anxiety to override my brain, resulting in me stressing myself throughout the whole writing process. Rather than accepting that I am good enough for an AP course, I doubted my writing skills and drove myself crazy by second-guessing every word and phrase I typed. I relentlessly researched rhetoric, vocabulary, and other writing knowledge, which would be beneficial for the future, but I let all of the writing skills I had not yet acquired prevent me from using the skills I did have to write a great essay. Now, I type everything I have to say about the essay topic and then review my work only fixing what needs to be fixed. At this point in time I had difficulty quoting text; I had to learn how to stop drop quoting and when to use brackets, commas, and ellipses. Looking back on this essay, I wish I had taken notes on the text, as it would have made analyzing structure far easier. I also wish I had asked for help when I felt unsure about rhetoric rather than trying to find answers

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