AP Lang Reading List - What should I expect?

Hey, I am taking AP Lang next year and I was wondering if anyone knows what kind of books are usually on the reading list? I want to get a head start over the summer, any suggestions? Thanks!

The AP Language and Composition course is less about specific books and more about analyzing various types of written work, rhetorical devices, and effective arguments. However, there are certain canonical works that are often used for their rich rhetorical techniques and thought-provoking themes.

Here are a few examples:

- "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller: This play provides excellent examples of problems such as mass hysteria, rumors and credibility. It's a great source for rhetorical analysis.

- "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald: This novel is widely used in American classrooms due to the author’s elegant use of language and symbolism.

- Speeches by Martin Luther King Jr., such as "I Have a Dream" or "Letter from Birmingham Jail" - the rhetorical mastery of these texts can't be stressed enough.

- Essays by George Orwell such as "Politics and the English Language" or "Shooting an Elephant."

- Other nonfiction works where the author's argument is particularly well-constructed or complex, such as "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson or "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan.

Remember, the goal of AP Lang isn't to familiarize yourself with a set list of works. Instead, it's to develop the skills to dissect any piece of rhetoric or argumentative text. So as you read, don’t just focus on the story; pay close attention to things like how the author uses language to convey their points, the structure of their argument, and the rhetoric tools they use. Good luck with your studies!