AMSCO Writing for the AP Exam

Free-response questions make up 55% of the overall score on the AP® Language exam

Provide students with a consistent plan for successfully approaching each FRQ type on exam day

  • How to use the information the exam gives them.
  • How to efficiently plan their response.
  • How to effectively write their response.

Lessons Mirror the Exam Rubric

This program provides individual lessons focused on the very specific and unique aspects of each type of essay. Each FRQ section starts with lessons focused on the Prompt. The remaining lessons follow the order of the College Board® rubric used to score the essay.


Lesson Structure

Each lesson has three distinct parts:

  • LEARN—explains and models the lesson concept.
  • PRACTICE—explores the concept through practice activities.
  • WRITE—extends the concept into composing, reflecting a skill required on the AP exam.
stock image of bridgestock image of bridge

FRQ Review

After the FRQ-specific lessons, students:

  • Answer questions about the rubric to be sure they understand expectations and strategies for success.
  • Evaluate sample essays by practicing how to improve a 3 to a 4 or a 4 to a 5.
  • Respond to a new FRQ question practicing the skills they have learned.

 


Companion Website

The Companion Website includes links to all videos referenced in the student lessons. These videos provide another mode of learning to help all students comprehend the concepts in the lesson.  

Most videos are produced by the experienced author team of Dr. Brandon Abdon, Timm Freitas, and Beth Hall.

A how-to video providing strategies for implementing the program is presented by AP Language teacher, Lauren Peterson, co-author of the core AP English Language and Composition coursebook by AMSCO.

stock image of a bridgestock image of a bridge

stock image of students studying togetherstock image of students studying together

Teacher Support

Teacher Resource

  • Sample answers and CED skills covered by each lesson.
  • Reproducibles for each FRQ type.


Downloadable Digital Resources

  • Digital versions of FRQ-specific reproducibles.
  • Classroom Presentation Slides.
  • Pacing Guides.
  • Correlation to the Course and Exam Description.

 

 


Meet the Authors

BRANDON ABDON
Doctor of Arts, English  

Former College Board Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for AP English. Fifteen years of experience teaching AP Language and AP Literature. Currently a College Board-endorsed consultant working as a curriculum, instruction, and assessment coach and affiliate faculty at Murray State University (KY).

TIMOTHY FREITAS
Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary English Education  

College Board-endorsed AP Language consultant teaching AP Language and AP Literature for 10+ years. AP Reader, Table Leader, Question Leader, and member of the College Board’s instructional design team for the current AP Language framework. Currently an English teacher at Whitinsville Christian School (MA) and oversees The Garden of English—a website and YouTube instructional channel.

BETH HALL
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing 

A College Board-endorsed AP Language consultant and AP reader. Teaching AP Language for nearly a decade. Founder of Coach Hall Writes, a platform providing writing resources for AP Language teachers and students. Currently teaches honors, AP, and concurrent credit classes in Arkansas.


Pricing & Purchase

stock image of a bridgestock image of a bridge

 

AP® and College Board® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this product.