5 Steps to a 5: AP English Literature - Estelle M. Rankin, Barbara L. Murphy 2019

Preface

Welcome to our latest revised AP Literature class. As we said in the earlier versions of this book, we are first and foremost teachers who have taught Advanced Placement to literally thousands of students who successfully took the AP exam. With this guide, we hope to share with you what we know as well as what we have learned from our own students.

We see you as a student in our class—only quieter! Our philosophy has always been NOT to teach only for the AP test. Instead, our goal has always been to develop those insights, appreciations, and skills that lead to advanced levels of facility with literature and composition. These are the very same skills which will enable you to do well on the AP Literature exam. Our aim is to remove your anxiety and to improve your comfort level with the test. We believe that you are already motivated to succeed; otherwise, you would not have come this far. And, obviously, you would not have purchased this prep book.

Since you are already in an English class, this book is going to supplement your lit- erature course readings, analysis, and writing. We are going to give you the opportunity to practice processes and techniques that we know from experience REALLY WORK! If you apply the techniques and processes presented in this book, we are confident you can succeed in both the course and on the exam.

We have listened to comments and suggestions from both instructors and students of AP English Literature, and keeping their thoughts in mind, this revised text has more inter- active activities and practice to help hone those skills needed to do well in class and on the AP Literature exam. In addition, there are special review questions and activities related to specific chapters that McGraw-Hill has available on its website devoted to the 5 Steps series. There you can test how well you have internalized the material in the chapter.

Let’s begin.