AP English Language and Composition

Students learn to identify a rhetorical situation and use close reading to build focused claim-and-evidence paragraphs.

1. EL1-RHS-1.AMap the rhetorical situation→
2. EL1-CLE-3.ATrace claims and supporting evidence→
3. EL1-CLE-4.ABuild a claim-and-evidence paragraph→

Students connect audience awareness to claims, evidence, paragraphs, and an emerging defensible thesis.

1. EL2-RHS-1.BAnalyze audience beliefs, values, and needs→
2. EL2-RHS-2.BWrite for an audience's beliefs, values, and needs→
3. EL2-CLE-3.ATrace claims and supporting evidence→
4. EL2-CLE-4.ABuild a claim-and-evidence paragraph→
5. EL2-CLE-3.BLocate the thesis and its structural cues→
6. EL2-CLE-4.BWrite a defensible thesis→

Students move from isolated claims toward a sustained line of reasoning supported by commentary and purposeful development.

1. EL3-CLE-3.ATrace claims and supporting evidence→
2. EL3-CLE-4.ABuild a claim-and-evidence paragraph→
3. EL3-REO-5.AEvaluate a line of reasoning→
4. EL3-REO-6.ADevelop reasoning with commentary→
5. EL3-REO-5.CAnalyze methods of development→
6. EL3-REO-6.CUse a method of development purposefully→

Students align introductions, conclusions, thesis choices, and methods of development with the full rhetorical situation.

1. EL4-RHS-1.AMap the rhetorical situation→
2. EL4-RHS-2.AShape introductions and conclusions for the situation→
3. EL4-CLE-3.BLocate the thesis and its structural cues→
4. EL4-CLE-4.BWrite a defensible thesis→
5. EL4-REO-5.CAnalyze methods of development→
6. EL4-REO-6.CUse a method of development purposefully→

Students strengthen whole-argument coherence by linking reasoning, organization, transitions, and deliberate style.

1. EL5-REO-5.AEvaluate a line of reasoning→
2. EL5-REO-6.ADevelop reasoning with commentary→
3. EL5-REO-5.BAnalyze organization, unity, and coherence→
4. EL5-REO-6.BGuide reasoning with transitions→
5. EL5-STL-7.AAnalyze tone and style choices→
6. EL5-STL-8.ACraft tone and style for a purpose→

Students synthesize claim, evidence, thesis, and stylistic choices while judging the credibility and perspective of sources.

1. EL6-CLE-3.ATrace claims and supporting evidence→
2. EL6-CLE-4.ABuild a claim-and-evidence paragraph→
3. EL6-CLE-3.BLocate the thesis and its structural cues→
4. EL6-CLE-4.BWrite a defensible thesis→
5. EL6-STL-7.AAnalyze tone and style choices→
6. EL6-STL-8.ACraft tone and style for a purpose→

Students qualify arguments and refine sentence-level clarity without losing sight of audience, purpose, and larger reasoning.

1. EL7-RHS-1.AMap the rhetorical situation→
2. EL7-RHS-2.AShape introductions and conclusions for the situation→
3. EL7-CLE-3.CAnalyze qualifications and counterarguments→
4. EL7-CLE-4.CQualify a claim responsibly→
5. EL7-STL-7.BAnalyze clause relationships→
6. EL7-STL-8.BBuild clear sentence relationships→
7. EL7-STL-7.CAnalyze grammar and mechanics in context→
8. EL7-STL-8.CEdit for clear, conventional prose→

Students adapt syntax, word choice, and tone to an audience while reading other writers' choices with equal precision.

1. EL8-RHS-1.BAnalyze audience beliefs, values, and needs→
2. EL8-RHS-2.BWrite for an audience's beliefs, values, and needs→
3. EL8-STL-7.AAnalyze tone and style choices→
4. EL8-STL-8.ACraft tone and style for a purpose→
5. EL8-STL-7.BAnalyze clause relationships→
6. EL8-STL-8.BBuild clear sentence relationships→

Students finish the spiral by testing nuanced claims against counterarguments, limitations, and alternative perspectives.

1. EL9-CLE-3.CAnalyze qualifications and counterarguments→
2. EL9-CLE-4.CQualify a claim responsibly→