Language arts

For the Language Arts department, a common question people have is whether to take the AP Language and Composition class (APLAC) or the American Literature class in junior year. The school does provide a diagnostic exam that includes an essay, a multiple-choice test and a teacher recommendation to give the student a rating on whether they are recommended to take the class. Even if they are not recommended, students can still choose to take the class.

There is no way to suggest one course strongly over the other. Like all AP classes, APLAC has a much greater course load that requires additional time and effort. However, many students find the class to be meaningful to their academic journey. 

“As a prospective STEM major with a weakness in writing, I’ve found APLAC to be one of the most interesting classes I’ve taken at Lynbrook,” senior Phoebe Lin said. “It’s kind of a blend of intuition and strategic thinking, and you start to adapt other skills as well.” 

Lia Seo echoes the sentiment that APLAC is a valuable course for a holistic education.

“I think APLAC is a meaningful and useful class for everyone, even if you’re not interested in pursuing humanities in the future,” Seo said. “It feels really fit for me.”

In APLAC, students usually read novels, participate in discussions and write in-class essays on prompts relating to the books or from the AP exam. Learning to write the three types of essays, which are rhetorical analysis, synthesis and persuasive, that are on the AP exam is a part of the class as well. Students should expect a heavier workload with more reading and essays than American Literature. 

In senior year, students can choose to take AP Literature. It is not required to have taken APLAC before and the class focuses on analyzing novels and other forms of writing like poetry. Like APLAC, AP Literature provides the opportunity for students to have meaningful discussions and learn from their peers.

“I would tell future students to be ready to push themselves to think critically because the poetry and some of the course work is a bit confusing at first, but gets easier to understand as you improve,” senior Emma Nguyen said. “If you dislike poetry or writing that touches on sensitive topics, perhaps the class is not for you.”

AP courses in the Language Arts department can help students improve their critical thinking and writing skills, making them valuable for any career path, even students in a STEM-focused environment. Nevertheless, it is important to take into account your own strengths and weaknesses as well as your schedule when choosing to take any AP course.