Advanced English Literature and Composition homeschool curriculum.
Your student reads poetry, fiction, and drama closely, then uses passages to support literary analysis.
A personalized lesson from the course
A recurring image gathers meaning through change: its context, speaker, placement, and relationship to other images make repetition an argument rather than a pattern hunt.
- Lesson
- A Motif Is a Moving Target
- Goal
- Trace one motif across a literary work and use precise passages to explain how its meaning develops.
How a lesson works
A 10-minute reading
This example lesson comes from the unit on close reading, structure, and literary argument. It moves from “Repetition creates a question” to “An argument follows the change” and builds to one idea: a motif matters because the text makes us remember it differently each time it returns.
Help inside the reading
Any line of “A Motif Is a Moving Target” can go to our Always-On Mentor: your child highlights it to ask a question, and the mentor can draw the idea step by step on its board or, after a missed answer, explain it another way.
A check halfway through
Your child answers “Why should a motif analysis compare multiple appearances instead of explaining one symbol?” before reading on, and the Reading Check at the end asks new questions.
A project your child hands in
Choose a recurring image from a novel or play and build an evidence trail from its first appearance to its final transformation.
- Task
- Write a literary argument that explains both the pattern and the most resistant passage
- Hand in
- Motif map and 700-word literary argument with close-reading annotations
Writing you can follow from draft to revision
Reading comes in manageable sections, followed by annotation, discussion, a short close read, and periodic longer essays. Advanced English Literature and Composition runs through 20 units and 140 skills, starting with close reading, character, and setting.
- Passage and poetry annotations
- Timed and revised literary analysis
- A reading record spanning poetry, fiction, and drama
Units and skills
Advanced English Literature and Composition20 units · 140 skills
Close reading7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Close reading
- Analyze setting and its function in Close reading
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Close reading
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Close reading
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Close reading
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Close reading
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Close reading
Character7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Character
- Analyze setting and its function in Character
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Character
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Character
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Character
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Character
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Character
Setting7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Setting
- Analyze setting and its function in Setting
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Setting
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Setting
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Setting
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Setting
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Setting
Structure7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Structure
- Analyze setting and its function in Structure
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Structure
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Structure
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Structure
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Structure
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Structure
Narration and point of view7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Narration and point of view
- Analyze setting and its function in Narration and point of view
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Narration and point of view
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Narration and point of view
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Narration and point of view
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Narration and point of view
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Narration and point of view
Figurative language7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Figurative language
- Analyze setting and its function in Figurative language
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Figurative language
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Figurative language
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Figurative language
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Figurative language
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Figurative language
Literary argument7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Literary argument
- Analyze setting and its function in Literary argument
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Literary argument
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Literary argument
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Literary argument
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Literary argument
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Literary argument
Poetry analysis7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Poetry analysis
- Analyze setting and its function in Poetry analysis
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Poetry analysis
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Poetry analysis
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Poetry analysis
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Poetry analysis
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Poetry analysis
Short fiction analysis7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Short fiction analysis
- Analyze setting and its function in Short fiction analysis
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Short fiction analysis
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Short fiction analysis
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Short fiction analysis
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Short fiction analysis
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Short fiction analysis
Longer fiction and drama7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Longer fiction and drama
- Analyze setting and its function in Longer fiction and drama
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Longer fiction and drama
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Longer fiction and drama
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Longer fiction and drama
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Longer fiction and drama
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Longer fiction and drama
Drafting and conferencing7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Drafting and conferencing
- Analyze setting and its function in Drafting and conferencing
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Drafting and conferencing
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Drafting and conferencing
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Drafting and conferencing
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Drafting and conferencing
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Drafting and conferencing
Timed writing and revision7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Timed writing and revision
- Analyze setting and its function in Timed writing and revision
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Timed writing and revision
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Timed writing and revision
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Timed writing and revision
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Timed writing and revision
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Timed writing and revision
Source credibility and provenance7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Source credibility and provenance
- Analyze setting and its function in Source credibility and provenance
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Source credibility and provenance
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Source credibility and provenance
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Source credibility and provenance
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Source credibility and provenance
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Source credibility and provenance
Claim, evidence, and reasoning7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Claim, evidence, and reasoning
- Analyze setting and its function in Claim, evidence, and reasoning
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Claim, evidence, and reasoning
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Claim, evidence, and reasoning
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Claim, evidence, and reasoning
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Claim, evidence, and reasoning
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Claim, evidence, and reasoning
Counterargument and qualification7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Counterargument and qualification
- Analyze setting and its function in Counterargument and qualification
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Counterargument and qualification
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Counterargument and qualification
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Counterargument and qualification
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Counterargument and qualification
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Counterargument and qualification
Drafting, conferencing, and revision7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Drafting, conferencing, and revision
- Analyze setting and its function in Drafting, conferencing, and revision
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Drafting, conferencing, and revision
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Drafting, conferencing, and revision
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Drafting, conferencing, and revision
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Drafting, conferencing, and revision
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Drafting, conferencing, and revision
Timed evidence-based writing7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Timed evidence-based writing
- Analyze setting and its function in Timed evidence-based writing
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Timed evidence-based writing
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Timed evidence-based writing
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Timed evidence-based writing
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Timed evidence-based writing
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Timed evidence-based writing
Advanced English Literature and Composition cumulative assessment7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Advanced English Literature and Composition cumulative assessment
- Analyze setting and its function in Advanced English Literature and Composition cumulative assessment
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Advanced English Literature and Composition cumulative assessment
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Advanced English Literature and Composition cumulative assessment
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Advanced English Literature and Composition cumulative assessment
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Advanced English Literature and Composition cumulative assessment
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Advanced English Literature and Composition cumulative assessment
Advanced English Literature and Composition exam-mode practice7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Advanced English Literature and Composition exam-mode practice
- Analyze setting and its function in Advanced English Literature and Composition exam-mode practice
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Advanced English Literature and Composition exam-mode practice
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Advanced English Literature and Composition exam-mode practice
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Advanced English Literature and Composition exam-mode practice
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Advanced English Literature and Composition exam-mode practice
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Advanced English Literature and Composition exam-mode practice
Advanced English Literature and Composition reflection and transfer7 skills
- Analyze character and characterization in Advanced English Literature and Composition reflection and transfer
- Analyze setting and its function in Advanced English Literature and Composition reflection and transfer
- Analyze plot, sequence, and structure in Advanced English Literature and Composition reflection and transfer
- Analyze narrator or speaker choices in Advanced English Literature and Composition reflection and transfer
- Analyze diction, imagery, and symbolism in Advanced English Literature and Composition reflection and transfer
- Compare literary choices and interpretations in Advanced English Literature and Composition reflection and transfer
- Construct a textually substantiated literary argument about Advanced English Literature and Composition reflection and transfer
Questions parents ask
How does Advanced English Literature and Composition prepare my student for AP English Literature and Composition?
- Advanced English Literature and Composition follows the AP English Literature and Composition framework unit by unit, as its skill tree shows. Your teen explains and applies the ideas in written responses and projects, so the work shows which skills are secure and which need more practice.
How does a homeschooler register for an AP exam?
- An AP coordinator at an AP-authorized local school arranges registration. Use College Board’s homeschool exam guidance to find a host school. That school sets its deadlines and outside-student policies; its coordinator orders the exam, collects fees, and tells your child where and when to test.
Which course title goes on a homeschool transcript?
- Advanced English Literature and Composition, not AP English Literature and Composition. The AP designation requires College Board Course Audit authorization of the course, which framework alignment does not give. We generate the transcript with that title, ready for you to sign as homeschool administrator.
How can AP scores earn college credit?
- Colleges award credit under their own AP score policies. College Board reports scores on a 1–5 scale, separately from our coursework grades; check the college’s required score and whether it grants credit, placement, or both.
Advanced English Literature and Composition, with the teaching and records handled
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