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BerkeleyX: AP® English Literature & Composition – Part 2: Poems

Learn how to read and interpret poetry and enhance your reading and writing skills in preparation for the AP® English Literature & Composition exam.

7 weeks
4–5 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
This course is archived
Future dates to be announced
AP® English Literature & Composition – Part 2: Poems

About this course

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This course prepares you to read more deeply and write more clearly about works of literature. Through an engaging collection of videos, authentic readings, and support material from a variety of sources, you will learn to appreciate literature from different genres. You will learn about different genres of poetry and the history of some of our greatest poets.

You will broaden your vocabulary while you sharpen your academic and creative writing skills. Interaction with other students will help you to refine your thinking about the reading and writing as well. You will learn to write under time pressure, and have the opportunity to complete practice assignments that are similar to those you will find on the AP examination.

There are no prerequisites; you don’t have to take the AP exam to join the course. If you want to learn about poetry, literature and writing, this course is for you.

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated skills:Vocabulary, Writing, Creative Writing

What you'll learn

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In part two, you’ll learn:

  • How to read and appreciate classic and modern poetry
  • Cultural and historical background of different poems
  • Academic writing skills
  • Test-taking strategies

Syllabus

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Week 1: Introduction to Poetry
Overview of poetic form and vocabulary
What use is poetry?

Week 2: Latin
Poetry of old: Words of the Ancients
How do we talk about poetry?
Practice Test 1: Multiple Choice

Week 3: Chinese
Chinese Poetry: The Six Dynasties and the Tang Dynasty
Why is imagery important?
Practice Test 2: Essay/Free Response

Week 4: British
England: Romantics and Victorians
How should we read poems?
Practice Test 3: Multiple Choice

Week 5: American
American Modernism: New Poems for a New Country
How do we write about poems?
Practice Test 4: Multiple Choice

Week 6: Writing About Poetry
Analyzing Poems: Themes and Verses
Articulating themes
Practice Test 5: Essay/Free Response

Week 7: Final Exam Part 2

Ways to take this course

Choose your path when you enroll.

Certificate

Free

Price

$139 USD

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Access to course materials

Unlimited

Limited

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edX support

Shareable certificate upon completion

Graded assignments and exams

Read our FAQsin a new tab about frequently asked questions on these tracks.

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