AP English Language Reviews

Review from a happy parent

When I registered my daughter for this class, I wasn't completely sure whether she could handle it, because it looked very challenging. Sure enough, the workload was tough—my daughter spent 3-5 hours a day working on her reading and writing assignments, and to be completely honest, she often got frustrated and didn't have the best attitude about it.

But as the saying goes, "A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor." (Franklin Delano Roosevelt). The choppy, challenging seas in this class forced my daughter to develop strong analytical and critical thinking skills, as she wrestled through important topics and ideas with great relevance to everyday life, whether or not she realized this in the moment. Her reading led to great conversations around the dinner table, and I was very happy as I watched my daughter grow in her ability to express her opinions, which she was terrified to ever express prior to taking this class.

However, my daughter really struggled with the practice AP tests, to such a degree, I seriously considered cancelling out on her test sitting. But she insisted that she wanted to take it, and since I had already paid for the test, I allowed her to do so—I figured it couldn't hurt for her to get practice taking a standardized test.

In the weeks leading up the AP test, Rebekah worked very hard with my daughter, to get her ready for it. My daughter says that the test day itself was a fairly comfortable and relaxed experience because she had taken so many practice tests in advance. To our complete surprise, she earned a 4 on the AP, and furthermore, she says that the skills she developed prepping for the AP test are now helping as she preps for the SAT. Gotta love academic synergy!

Bottom line: this was a challenging and time-consuming class taught by a caring, competent, and dedicated teacher, who helped my daughter grow in her ability to analyze and critically think through a difficult passage, express her opinions in writing, and take standardized tests. I also think the content of this class helped my daughter become a more empathic and thoughtful human being, which was another wonderful outcome. This class was worth every penny we spent on it, and I actually wish that I could have taken a class just like this back when I was in high school! Thanks, Rebekah!

Difficult, but absolutely worth it.

First off---do not take this class unless you are ready to work hard. A lot. The daily workload can take anywhere from under an hour to your whole morning, and eventually, you'll be saying "Oh, thank God and Mrs. Follmer---it's just a timed essay." Procrastination is not your friend in this class, as you might think you'll get something done in fifteen minutes and then end up spending an hour and a half on it, so it is unfortunately easy to get behind. Thankfully, Mrs. Follmer is flexible with due dates for most things, so if you're like me during the first semester, staying up well into the night finishing assignments---you really can do it the next day. Overall, be ready to make it a high priority in your day, but the world will not explode if you get a little behind.

As for the actual content of the course---I've learned so much about so much. This class will harness a good bit of your teenage flame against injustice (mine was, at least) as you learn from all sides of issues and even get to choose topics you're passionate about. The passages, books, and other content lend themselves to current social issues, history, government, politics, science, and more, so even while you're suffering through multiple-choice questions, you can be learning about something interesting. I didn't know there were different kinds of bananas, and now I do. As hard as it can be, all of the work is gratifying and builds on itself to the point where you can look back on work from a month before and see huge improvements. There are debates, group projects, book circles, and more, so even though it's asynchronous, you get to know your classmates and their strengths, too. Those projects are always a nice time to commiserate about assignments and remind yourself that you are not alone in your struggles. they're also a wonderful time to put whatever remaining energy you have into an extended metaphor about the American dream as represented by Pac-Man. :)

A final note: as scary as the AP exam sounded at the beginning of the year, by the end, I was more than prepared when the time came. I don't know my score yet, but I felt comfortable and confident with all aspects of the exam, especially timing, which can be intimidating. Throughout the year, you practice timed assignments and argumentation, and the structure (and tough-love grading commentary) helps you target your weak points so that, closer to the exam, you have plenty of chances to work on specific skills, as well. The knowledge you gain from the class will help you make arguments and 

Overall, this class has been one of my favorites, and even if English isn't your thing, it is worth taking for the knowledge and skills you build that will aid you just about everywhere else.

Rigorous and needs a Time commitment

• Did you feel this class prepared you for the AP exam?
  • Well, as an international student, I thought the class was pretty hard and time-consuming and didn't feel that confident about my AP exam honestly.
• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into this class?
  • If you do not procrastinate, I would say, you would be spending 1-2 hours a day I think?
• Did this class enhance your interest in the subject?
  • Well, taking my first college-level English course showed me how much I need more training in English. So, I wish I can further develop my writing skills and reading comprehension
• What sort of student would do well in this class? Would you recommend this class to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?
  • Definitely, if you are willing to work hard and not procrastinate, I think this course would well prepare you and help you develop your writing and reading skills!

A five-star review

This class stands out for me because of the level of preparedness I felt for the AP exam. Throughout the testing there was never a moment of confusion or uncertainty. I knew the format of the test and the scoring rubric like the back of my hand. Of course, the scores aren't in yet, but Ms. Follmer gave us all of the tools we needed to get a really good one.

Ms. Follmer also included coursework that covered events and issues just broadly about the world. After completing the year, I have a better understanding of what's going on around me, from school shootings to fat shaming to the American Dream. I especially enjoyed the portions of this that were self-led, as often we had opportunity to do projects or write essays about things that we were actually passionate about.

Many of the things I typically find frustrating about classes weren't present in this one. In an asynchronous format like this one, it's easy to feel disconnected from the teacher. I was never worried about not being able to reach Ms. Follmer and she often offered live sessions where we could actually interact with her (and meet her cute kids). The class was also very responsive - the syllabus wasn't made of steel, but rather Ms. Follmer created an environment that really fit us. In addition, I also enjoyed the fact that Ms. Follmer was straight to the point. Some English teachers, being English teachers, enjoy waxing on in a way that can be disruptive to learning. The constructive criticism was sharp and the messages were crisp. She's also very fair, and I never had a problem with a grade or feedback.

One tricky part of this class was the load of coursework expected to be completed each day. The format of the course is that about and hour and a half (more or less) of assignments is given each day. Sometimes, it's more - expect that you'll sometimes have to write a whole essay in a day. I've always been pretty good about staying on top of my work, but this was a challenge for me. I travel a fair amount, and when I'd go away for a few days the work would compile quickly.  If you struggle with doing work efficiently, this might not be the class for you. Thankfully, Mrs. Follmer is very gracious about late work, and it's more than possible to get back on track.

Valuable but very time-consuming

This class definitely improved my writing for both the AP exam and communication in general. It enhanced my appreciation for subtle rhetorical choices and advanced my willingness to take creative risks (before this class, I would never have thought an English teacher would actually admire an extended comparison between the American Dream and Pac-Man, but Mrs. Follmer quite liked the group project where we did exactly that). Mrs. Follmer aptly blended test prep with work designed to improve our writing in general, so we received a hefty dose of exam preparation throughout the year without being taught to the test. Timed exam practice essays (using actual prompts from previous AP exams) were interspersed among intriguing, respectful explorations of important -- and sometimes controversial -- topics. We were welcome (and encouraged) to speak our minds on anything we wrote about as long as we could do so respectfully; in consequence, the class fostered rich, well-mannered discussions around normally polarizing topics like racism or the American Dream.

As someone who usually dislikes English classes, I must say that this has been the most interesting, the most fun, and the least painful of all the formal English classes I have ever taken (assuming a first-grade handwriting course doesn't count).

As for the AP exam, I felt very well prepared by this class. Thanks to the frequent timed essays and occasional multiple choice quizzes, the exam entirely failed to surprise me. My essays could probably have been better, but only because I personally have trouble with timed conditions; if I'd tried to take the exam before taking this course, I would have been completely unable to write more than a paragraph or so for each essay, so the class exponentially improved my ability to write under test conditions. As an added bonus, practicing timed essays in this course also improved my test experience for the AP US History exam, for which I studied independently and relied on Mrs. Follmer's English class to hone my exam essay skills. All in all, this English class prepared me quite well for the AP exam.

However, there is a cost to that preparation: time. Students are expected to complete and submit work every weekday; it's a very fast-paced course. The daily assignments aren't necessarily short, either: depending on the assignments, I typically spent anywhere from one to four hours a day on this class. I'm sure some people wrote more quickly than I did, but the class was very time-consuming for me. Mrs. Follmer does not deduct points for late submissions, but the course is so fast-paced that falling behind by more than a day or two would be very difficult to bounce back from. I managed to stay on top of my work, but nearly half the class was behind for a significant portion of the second semester. I recommend this course only if you have the time, energy, and desire to spend a few hours a day on a single English class.

Wonderful AP Lang class!!

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes, definitely!! Mrs. Follmer had us practicing the essays and MCQ's throughout the whole year which I found the most helpful. We would always have a few MCQs each week to tackle, and she would always be ready to answer any questions about them. The course is divided into several units, and I found that some of our class topics popped up on the exam!

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I put about 10-12 hours/week into this course. I'm sure some students spent less, but some of the assignments were really hard for me, and it was really important to carefully work through them. While the assignments were not that long, it took me a while to think through my writing to make sure I answered the prompt correctly.  

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

We had live discussions about every other week which I valued the most. It was really nice to talk through MCQs or writing prompts together, and I also enjoyed my classmates' thoughts on the topics. 

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes! When I came into this course, I dreaded writing essays, but now I find it exciting to tackle prompts or MCQs. I find it very interesting to see each rhetorical element in any text, which I definitely wouldn't have noticed without taking this class.  

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

For sure! We had a couple book club type discussions with small groups, and I had a lot of fun with those. The class also had a group chat where we could ask any questions or talk about any aspect of the class! 

• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

Students who are willing to put in hard work to improve their writing will succeed in this class. Every single daily assignment prepares you for the exam, so be prepared to tackle them! Some of the prompts may be very hard, but take a deep breath and re-read the Morning Message, think through the text or do whatever you need to do in order to successfully complete Mrs. Follmer's assignments. :))

One of my favorite courses

I'd like to preface this by saying that all of my siblings have taken this class and all of them have found it both useful and fun, ergo, I am probably slightly biased in my review. That being said, let me begin.

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

I felt exceptionally well prepared for the exam. There is no shortage of useful practice, and if you've been a consistent worker throughout the year, you should have no issues. The exam itself was easy, though the RA section was predictably difficult. I would say that unless you have issues with MCQs you should have no issue with the exam. One last thing I'd add is that this class also gives you a very broad knowledge base meaning that you will be better able to think of and employ examples in your essays. There was one particular prompt on the exam that I probably would have been completely incapable of answering without previous practice from one of our class units.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I know every class says this, but be prepared to spend on average 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day on average for this class. When you have to deal with projects, research, reading, and exercises all in one day it will take the full two hours. It is certainly doable but you need to fully apply yourself. However, I never felt like I was doing busywork, so while there were a few assignments that were more boring, they were both uncommon and practical.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

My favorite assignments were unquestionably the debates. I'm already fond of debate generally, but I also really liked all of the topics we got. The live sessions as a whole were very useful, especially the rhetorical deep dives into certain documents. Honestly, those live sessions were probably the best "practice" for the RA's aside from actual practice essays because they show you how to think about a wide variety of documents and how to analyze them.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes and no. I really enjoyed the class, (as you can probably tell), but it didn't ignite some passion for English. However, I did enjoy this class far more than the lit courses I have taken, (which I have generally despised), so yes the class has altered my opinion of English.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Again, I thought the debates were all useful and when I did engage with classmates it was useful. I recall one particular time when I had a discussion with someone else that forced me to actually research a topic that I had effectively disregarded, and ended up changing my opinion on.

• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

Best Class I've Ever Taken!

AP Lang and Comp with Mrs. Follmer was amazing and I would 100% recommend it to anybody who is willing to work hard! She does assign challenging work but it’s all for a purpose and I don’t feel like any of the time I spent on this class was a waste. Every assignment helped prepare me very well for the exam. Not only did Mrs. Follmer help me nail down the technical skills needed for the exam, but the topics we explored during the year were also very valuable (and interesting to read and write about!). I probably averaged roughly 2 hours a day on this class but like I said, Mrs. Follmer is very intentional about making sure none of that time is just busy work and that you grow from every assignment.  

The frequent threaded discussions were great, especially when I found the prompt particularly challenging because they allowed me to see my classmates’ insights about things and ultimately learn from their thoughts. The live discussions were also fantastic and, though the debates and group projects weren’t my favorite thing ever, I think hearing what other people had to say was probably helpful. 

One of the things I most appreciated about Mrs. Follmer was her clear communication and feedback. Every week there’s a planner that gives instructions about what to do each day and every day she gives a morning message with any extra information or advice about the day’s work. She also sometimes gives examples from students who completed an assignment really well. That was really helpful for me to be able to learn from what others wrote. As far as feedback goes, I’ve never known a teacher who gets assignments back as quick as Mrs. Follmer. She grades smaller assignments within a day or two of turning them in and I often got feedback on essays or bigger assignments the same day I turned them in. Her comments were always direct and clear, which I really appreciated. 

Writing was extremely intimidating to me prior to this course but I now feel at ease getting words down and have learned to enjoy the process. So whether you love English or are slightly terrified by it, Mrs. Follmer’s class can be a really valuable and enjoyable experience for you as long as you are willing to be challenged!

Favorite class ever!

Ms. Follmer's AP Lang class was a life changing experience, galvanizing me to consider every nuisances from historical texts and to forge new perspectives about current life. Although I've always found writing enjoyable, Ms. Follmer's teaching kindled in me a passion for analysing and argumenting that I wasn't even close to having at the beginning of the school year. Her class is really one that just makes you stare agape at the computer, speechless to discover how much detail and strategy actually goes into a persuasive essay (and how you can reach this mastery level).

Even though the workload is at times generous, Ms. Follmer was flexible, understanding, and went straight to the point: every assignment served a purpose and honed your writing with proficiency. Also, 90% of the assignments were outright delightful-- the ones that weren't could usually be substituted with fun meetings-- and completing classwork felt like a hobbie. Moreover, the class dynamic was one of the best I've encountered, mainly focused on remote, individual learning experiences but with plenty of opportunities to communicate live with classmates, TAs, and Ms. Follmer herself. Not only was the class fun but it also succesfully prepared me for the AP exam, making me feel not only sufficiently prepared but also confident in my abilities to tackle whatever prompts CollegeBoard sent my way.

This isn't a course for everyone, but you also don't need to be an aspiring best-seller author or book-worm to enroll! I'm sure this would be a thrilling, gripping class to take regardless of your affinity for the English subject, you just have to be willing to put in the effort.

Excellent Course with Excellent Teacher

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes! Mrs. Follmer formatted the class in a way that we both gain insights into many interesting topics and also enhance our MC & Essay skills so that we can both have skills for the MC and contents for the essays! Only part is that it was sometimes difficult finding some documents or submitting some essays in the class website.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I spent at least ten hours per week, and often longer than that.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I loved the live discussions where we could discuss some insights to gain from texts, whether that be content-wise or rhetoric-wise. I also loved getting some books to read and discussing them with peers.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes. English was like a big no-no to me up until I took this course! This course was very fun and rewarding, and it definitely did elevate my writing.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes. We had a lot of group projects and working with peers in writing and assignments was a very valuable experience.

• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)? 

Anyone who is willing to work hard (it is rigorous!) would do well, but this course is very rewarding, so take it!

Fun, fun, fun!

I had an absolute blast in Mrs. Follmer's class this year. Mrs. Follmer prepares her students very well for the AP exam through her regular essay assignments, multiple choice practice, and structured assignments designed to target specific skillsets that are useful on the exam. Although it requires a daily commitment and constant contribution, this class goes beyond simply preparing for the AP exam and helps you grow not only as an AP test taker, but as an English writer, and is beyond worth it in my opinion. The class is very engaging and active, and continually broaches contemporary debated topics, allowing students to shape their ideas and express their opinions in a free, open manner. This was one of my favorite classes ever, and I would highly recommend it to students who want to perform well on the exam while discussing relevant topics in a fun, engaging way.

Wonderful class with an even better teacher!

  I would highly recommend taking this class, especially to those who are not particularly fond of writing (like myself)! Ms.Follmer is a funny, wonderful, and patient teacher! She is definitely one of the best teachers I have had the honor of being taught by! She makes writing interesting and concepts understandable. The topics covered in the class are interesting and thought-provoking. Overall, this course improved my writing style and my ability to analyze texts in depth. I would say that on average, I did about 2 hours of work for this class, but each day is different. Prior to taking this class, I have not been very interested in writing, but Ms.Follmer's teaching have led me to want to further improve my writing skills even outside of this class. There were quite a few group projects, which were really enjoyable! We were able to have discussions and form arguments that allowed us to gain perspective on relevant subjects. I would definitely recommend this class to those who want to improve their writing abilities and are willing to put in some effort!

My Favorite Class this year :)

I absolutely loved this class and had a blast being a part of it. The class itself is a lot of work and a lot of writing - by the end of the course I was writing at least half an essay every day and a full essay almost every other day - but the assignments are fun and Mrs. Follmer is amazing!

I felt extremely well prepared for the exam and finished over fifteen minutes early (after going back to check over my work) in both sections. The wide variety of sources we looked at throughout the year provided plenty of material on all kinds of topics. Furthermore, the various articles that we found and analyzed from the web proved not only an easy way to expand my horizons but a brilliant method to nail down citing articles in MLA format - to the point where I didn't even have to look up the format by the end of the year. 

As I said earlier, there was a LOT of work and I spent anywhere from an hour to two and a half hours doing AP Lang every day. But as I also said, the assignments were a lot of fun - I loved the competition from Thesis Quickfire (I was very proud of making it to the final four), the discussions that were prompted by our literature books, and the debates, which got very competitive and were a lot of fun. 

One part of the class that I found really valuable was our unit on racism. This opened my eyes to things that I'd never thought about before. During an already politically-tense year, it was refreshing to have pleasant discussions with others about them, and although there was some passive-aggressive back and forth, it never turned into a problem, even though some of my classmates had views that were difficult for me to understand. 

I also found it extremely refreshing to have some boundaries let down - it was a constant struggle for me during early high school to write essays that didn't include any personal pronouns, that were strictly laid out based on an outline, that included no humor of any kind. Mrs. Follmer was willing to let me use all the pronouns I wanted, stick in silly bits of my quirky humor here and there (I'm sure she cringed at least a few times but was nice enough to not mention it) and write the way I talk - with enthusiasm! In fact the only two rules I can remember are no boring writing and NEVER any rhetorical questions.

Anyone who is willing to work and has a strong pair of hands (you'll need it, hand-writing three essays in a row takes finger strength :D  ) could take this class. Even if you think you're bad at writing, I guarantee Mrs. Follmer will make you think differently by the end of the year. If you really like writing, this class is for you. My only suggestion is - if you hate writing, don't bother, because this class is non-stop writing. But it wouldn't surprise me if Mrs. Follmer could change your mind on that too...

Best Class with the Best Teacher

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

I haven't taken the exam yet, but I do feel prepared. I've been well exposed to everything I'll see on the exam, and Mrs. Follmer provides a wide array of prompts/MCQs to sufficiently prepare us.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

The amount of work heavily depends on the day. Some days would have less than an hour of work, but others would be quite heavy (think 2+ hours of work).

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I loved all the assignments. Even though they were difficult, Mrs. Follmer challenged us and made them fun. By the end of class, I can actually say that I like writing! If I had to choose a couple favorite assignments, they would have to be the optional discussions with Mrs. Follmer and the timed essays. First of all, the optional discussions helped me view issues with nuance and complexity. They encouraged me to tackle prompts with less "black-and-white" arguments, ultimately improving my sophistication. Second, the timed essays, albeit terrifying, were thrilling. I'm not kidding. Mrs. Follmer made me so prepared that I was actually excited to see the challenging prompts and explore what I could do with them.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

AP Lang and Comp with Mrs. Follmer definitely enhanced my interest in English, however, I must note that it was initially excruciating. For the first quarter of the year, I really struggled with English; I had never exercised the "English muscle" in my brain, which resulted in tons of feedback and constructive criticism from Mrs. Follmer. Upon listening to Mrs. Follmer's feedback I found writing to be less tedious and more exciting.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

In addition to making virtual friends, interacting with my classmates provided new insights and ideas. Assignments such as debates, book discussions, and collaborative essays encouraged us to view prompts with more complexity.

• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

As long as you're willing to accept criticism and work hard, AP Lang is for you. You don't have to be the best writer (I certainly wasn't), but this class is worth it because it prepares you for so much more than the AP Exam. Mrs. Follmer is an honest teacher who won't give flowery words. But she's awesome, and you just have to trust her to help you. Her feedback is very detailed, and she will help you hone your writing skills. 

I cannot express my gratitude to Mrs. Follmer. She transformed me from a person who hated English into one who sees arguments with complexity and enjoys showing this complexity through writing. I feel sufficiently prepared for the exam and for future, non-English courses. Thank you, Mrs. Follmer, for providing the best class and being the best teacher!

The Best Class I've Ever Taken

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Definitely! I came into the class hesitant about the exam because I worried that writing well is not really something you can learn since I didn't think it had the concreteness and logic of math or science, but Mrs. Follmer's class completely changed the way I felt about English. After just a few days into Mrs. Follmer's AP English class, I realized that writing is something you can learn; it almost feels like a science. Coming into the class, I was also a bit worried about this class being just like any other English course, where I feel that I don't learn anything new and have to standardize my writing to fit rigid rules, but that was completely not the case. I have never learned as much about writing as I have in Mrs. Follmer's class; her class opened my mind to all the space for improvement in writing that I had never realized existed before. I feel good about how the exam went, but most importantly, I feel that the knowledge I have gained from Mrs. Follmer's class is invaluable and will be long-lasting. 

Throughout the year, Mrs. Follmer gave us mini-exercises aimed at a specific skill covered in the exam, and she also gave us plenty of practice with past exam prompts and MCQ passages. Every aspect of the course is aimed at preparing students for the exam, and it definitely proved effective.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I probably spent about 2 hours of work per day on the course consistently, which would generally consist of mini-exercises and reading of a passage or article. However, I would sometimes spend as little as 30 minutes on a certain day or as much as 4 hours, depending on the workload for the day. One of my favorite parts of the course is how it's structured; initially I was intimidated by there being new work assigned every day and due that same day, but I quickly found that the assigned work for the day was very do-able. I often find it difficult to stay on top of my work when I am taking several classes, but because of the way Mrs. Follmer's course is structured, I was able to consistently submit my work on time. The course is very organized, and the day-to-day work set-up encouraged me to not procrastinate. 

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I found very valuable all the practice from past AP Lang exams. I also enjoyed working in group projects and reading the novels. Overall, I really looked forward to each day of AP Lang since the assignments were so useful and enjoyable. 

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes, the course enhanced my interest in writing because now I realize its intricacies, complexities, and beauty and the fact that anyone can become a good writer by learning. But writing was not all I learned in the course—Mrs. Follmer exposed us to meaningful, essential themes of life and society to encourage complex thinking and to make us "people-who-know-stuff-about-things" so that we would become better writers. Her class made me think much more deeply about different themes of life, and I feel that I will forever take that with me.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

I did! Mrs. Follmer encouraged plenty of collaboration and interaction by assigning group projects and leading debates. We would also often be able to see other students' work, and I found it useful to read other perspectives. The AP English community in Mrs. Follmer's class was friendly and brilliant, and I made new friends by getting to know the other students. I also really gained a lot from the sessions held by TAs and the advice the TAs gave.

• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

I think that whatever your initial writing level, this class can make you improve. If you feel that you are a good writer, this class will show you that there is even more space for improvement! And if you think that English is your weakness, Mrs. Follmer's course can definitely help you improve. I would recommend this course to students who think that they can handle daily (yet very do-able) workload and who is open to honest feedback and improvement. Another of my absolute favorite aspects of the class is Mrs. Follmer's honest feedback. Weak essays get low grades and great feedback, and strong essays are rewarded with a high grade and sincere praise that signals your improvement, so Mrs. Follmer's honest grading and feedback are key to improving. If you are the kind of student who is willing to accept constructive criticism and use it to learn, I would recommend this class to you. 

Wonderful Course with a Spectacular Community and Teacher

TLDR: There is no such thing as too much praise for this course! Even though I am in no way a lover of writing or reading, this class was engaging and informative all the way through, with a fun atmosphere and amazing community. 

I feel very well prepared for the course! We tackled all sorts of prompts and had a wide variety of topic exposure. I feel that whatever may be assigned on exam day, I have been taught the skills to perform well.

There was an even balance of coursework this year, and I likely spent about 2ish hours a day on this course. Additionally, I had about 10 1-2 hour meetings throughout both semesters on the weekends for assignments. 

My favorite assignments for this course were the hands-on essays. Although we did plenty of separate assignments, I enjoyed the actual timed essays the most, because they accurately simulated exam conditions. 

As I mentioned above, reading and writing is really not my forte, but you don't have to be an English lover to excel! Although I don't find essays particularly appealing, I did very much love our various debates on current events or intriguing novels. 

I can't emphasize this enough: out of all my Pennsylvania Homeschooler classes, this one definitely had the most kind, hands-on community!! I've made several digital friends in this course, and I wasn't afraid to speak up over Zoom calls or ask for extra help. Mrs. Follmer most assuredly set the example for this relaxed atmosphere with her nonjudgmental and down-to-earth personality. 

Any student interested in earning college credit, improving their language and writing skills, or exploring multifarious topics would love this course! I would 100% recommend this class to anyone on the fence about attending: if you are, I can guarantee you it's worth the commitment! 

While I entered this course wary of boring grammar and monotonous essays, I'm now leaving with new friends and polished writing abilities. Overall, AP Lang was a fabulous opportunity, and I have zero regrets about enrolling! (: 

AP English With Mrs. Follmer

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?  Yes, very much so. There are frequent MCQ"s and a multitude of timed Essays to give you real exam practice. 

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?  It really depends on you. Most days you'll spend between 1-2 hours. 
• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?  I found that the critical thinking exercises that force you to think deeply about a topic and coherently relay that knowledge were especially help you. The timed writing assignments are the most applicable to the exam, but this courser will, at minimum, teach you to think critically. 
• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?  At a certain level, it did, as I know have a much better understanding of rhetoric and writing. I certainly enjoyed it as it enhanced my ability to appreciate writing. 
• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?  Absolutely. Insight from other students is quite beneficial, especially from the more talented students. I would ask for input on my essays or other assignments and it was always a help. 
• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?  Absolutely!! The course is challenging but extremely rewarding. If you hate doing assignments day to day and struggle to stay on top of work, this might be a course to avoid. But from a student who is not exceptionally talented in any area, you can make it through the course as long as you work hard. Some days will be frustrating, but as long as you push forward you will do well enough and Mrs. Follmer will appreciate your effort. 
  
  Good luck!! I highly recommend this course and I had a lot of fun. If you do choose to take the course, you will not regret it, I promise you. Keep a positive attitude and do your best to stay organized. Best of luck! 

Excellent class!

I am not normally an Engish lover, but this class was pretty fun, even for me. :) I think Mrs. Follmer's various teaching strategies prepared us well for the exam, especially the thesis quickfire. Thesis quickfire is a contest where the students are given a prompt and five minutes to craft a thesis for an essay. It was very helpful for argument essays, and Mrs. Follmer did a great job adapting it for the rhetorical analysis essay this year. This class is very practical because there is a ton of writing practice, and now I can crank out essays without even thinking about it. Mrs Follmer is a great teacher, who is flexible and willing to work with the students, and I definitely recommend her. The course load is heavy (it usually took me at least an hour every day) but it is definitely worth it!

Fantastic Class!!

This has truly been my favorite class I have taken yet in all of high school. I cannot recommend it enough! Mrs. Follmer did a fantastic job of preparing us for exam. Even though the COVID-19 caused the test format to change about a month or two before the exam, Mrs. Follmer did a phenomenal job of switching plans to hone us for the single essay we would now be completing. I’ll often find myself reading something lately and realize I’ve started subconsciously analyzing the rhetoric for the author’s strategies in conveying the message (no, self, this is not school work)! But seriously, she does a fantastic job of making the material simple and accessible for nailing the test. 

The workload we have did vary somewhat depending on the time of year, if there was a paper due, ect., but one average I would say that I probably spent roughly 1.5 to 2 hours a day on this class. In the couple of weeks leading up to the exam, I spent probably less than an hour a day most days. However, especially during the fall semester, I did find myself putting in 3 (or maybe even four, for a major paper) hour days on a not uncommon basis. I remember one particular night spent frantically completing a thesis quickfire, and getting up early the following morning to try and cram in part of my PWKAT paper before my family had to leave for my sister’s out-of-town volleyball tournament (I spent that tournament hunting for small corners and twenty minute intervals in which to type down a few more paragraphs as well a complete the day’s non-PWKAT assignments). 

Mrs. Follmer does a great job with keeping things mixed up, and each exercise helps hone in one a different skill, so by the time you piece it altogether in a timed essay, it becomes very second nature to incorporate all the random little things. As unexciting as it may sound, I loved our timed essays- the RA ones especially- and they definitely helped with feeling prepared for the exam. It was like a fun puzzle to solve and put all the pieces we’d been learning about in before the timer went off (wow, that sounds like a nerd). I also really enjoyed the American Dream group project. Our class zoom discussions over a piece were equally interesting, and I liked getting to hear all the things I never could have possibly thought of on my own.

Mrs. Follmer has cemented my love for English. She introduces so many different facets to look for and incorporate into your own writing, and her humor and quirky comments make the subject even more interesting. It is a relatively heavy course load, especially if you are taking in conjunction with other APs or sports, but it is manageable and so valuable. I highly recommend this class for any sophomore and above as a must! 

Sign up while you can

If you are not a fan of reading long reviews, I'd just read this one statement: Sign up for this class.

AP Lang was my very first AP class and I was extremely nervous going in (having heard from a number of peers that AP classes are hard), but it turned out to be one of the best experiences I've ever had with a class in general. Mrs. Follmer is an excellent teacher, and I know for a fact that she more than adequately prepared me and my classmates for the AP exam. The assignments she gave were manageable and did not require too much time during the week (as long as you didn't prolong it) and I put in less than ten hours per week (that sounds like a lot, but not compared to having to sit in class along with doing an unnecessary load of work afterwards). 

I am not a natural writer, but with Mrs. Follmer's guidance, I actually feel quite comfortable writing and even with essay types that I previously struggled with immensely (the main one being rhetorical analysis). Her feedback was often short and to the point, but that helped pinpoint a lot of my weak spots and I was able to strengthen them further into the course. 

I think that anyone with drive and focus can commit to this course. Whether or not you are a good writer, Mrs. Follmer will make sure that you feel confident in your abilities by the end of the year and you'll definitely be more prepared than a majority of student that take AP Lang elsewhere. This class is constructive, it's fun, and it's so rewarding.

I cannot express in words how much this course has helped me and how amazing Mrs. Follmer is, but I hope this testament convinces you to take this course.

Awesome AP Language Experience!

- Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Absolutely. Mrs. Follmer made sure that we all got sufficient practice with the exam questions and essays, while also bringing in enriching outside materials to supplement exam prep. Her feedback and revision policy helped me pinpoint and fix areas of weaker writing. And when AP exams switched to online format and we only had to write a Rhetorical Analysis essay, Mrs. Follmer also shifted course work to focus on this one essay and was really responsive to our specific requests as to what to teach. 

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

One aspect of the course that I really appreciated were the daily assignments and morning messages. Most of my classes have work assigned on a weekly basis, which can make it hard to plan out the homework over the week. I wasn't too thrilled about having daily work for AP Lang, but soon found that this was an effective way for me to keep up with the coursework, especially since Mrs. Follmer has a morning message for each day. The work would vary per day, from 1 hour to 2 and a half, or even a short as 30-40 minutes. 

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes--there was a lot more to writing well than I had anticipated at the beginning of this. I loved how Mrs. Follmer refined my writing to the point where I could totally see the difference between my work now and last year's work.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes, it was neat to work with all the other students on group projects and debates. Especially for debates, the insights and collaborations with other students made the debates lively and interesting. 

What sort of student would do well in this course? 

A student willing to widen their views on controversial subjects, collaborate with other students, and write with intent would do well in this class. :) I would hands-down recommend this class to any student looking to take AP Language, as Mrs. Follmer is one of the most involved, responsive, and entertaining teachers I have ever learned under. :D

My Favorite Class

I feel like I say this about most of my classes, but this AP Language class was truly my favorite class I've ever taken, and Mrs. Follmer is my favorite teacher I've ever had! I already love language and literature subjects but the interesting and "hot" topics this class discussed really attracted my interest and introduced me to unfamiliar concepts and cultivated critical thinking. Mrs. Follmer really cares about her students and makes an effort to promote relationships with her and with each other with lots of discussions and group work. I just adored this class! :D

Q: Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Most definitely! Every assignment we completed was founded in the basic skills necessary to be successful on the AP Lang exam, so over the course of the class, we were able to build up said skills in a natural and strong manner. We also took many full-length practice tests, multiple-choice quizzes over passages we read, and wrote timed essays that all eased us into the structure of the exam.

Q: How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I spent a few hours a day on this class! Some of the assignments are shorter and easier to complete than others, but students shouldn’t expect to have to spend all day long on this class. Mrs. Follmer constructed the class in a way that lessens the daily work in the weeks leading up to the exam so we can spend more valuable time preparing!

Q: Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I absolutely LOVED the live video-chat debates and discussions. Getting divided into teams and working together to defend a viewpoint on a “controversial” topic or passage we read and then presenting it and going back and forth with my classmates was one of my favorite things about this class. I also liked out PWKSAT (People Who Know Stuff About Things) essays, in which we select a topic and do extensive research to both become educated on the topic and write a well-constructed paper. These essays helped us become more knowledgeable students, able to write about things we know nearly nothing about, which is something we may very well encounter on the AP exam. 

Q: Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

A: Absolutely! AP Exams are always stressful, but this course made it (almost) effortless to write the required essays and questions. I felt that I knew exactly what was going to be on the exam before I wrote it, and anything that I had to write about was just a variation on something I had already done in class. Before I took this course, if you told me that I would have to write 3 essays back-to-back in under 2 hours, I would probably have given up in despair. However, after the course I had written so many essays in the allotted time, I didn’t even question whether or not I could during the actual exam.

Q: How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

A: I typically spent about 2 hours a day, or 10 hours a week doing coursework and assignments. It certainly was a lot of effort, but it was worth it in the end. I was able to complete most of my classwork early in the morning, and finish up on anything I didn’t do in the afternoon.

Q: Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

A: There were several debates in which we were divided into two teams and instructed to defend a point on a topic. It was a lot of fun and one of the best group projects I’ve been in.

Amazing AP Lang Class!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Definitely! Mrs.Follmer provided us with plenty of MCQ and timed writing practices throughout the year so when I took the exam I felt very prepared. 

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I put about 1-2 hours a day into the course. Some days required more work than others if there was an upcoming essay or a timed essay. Another thing to add is that Mrs. Follmer is very flexible and will accept work later in the week (with an approved extension of course). 

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? 

I loved the thesis quickfire exercises because they helped prepare me to encounter the prompts in the exam. I also thought the "chunking" assignments were beneficial when writing some of the timed essays.  

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

English has never really been my strong suit as I am a more STEM-oriented student. However, Mrs. Follmer's AP Lang class really made me think and definitely pushed me to improve my writing skills. Overall, the course did enhance my interest. 

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? 

I definitely did find it interesting! I had fun debating topics and discussing lit circle books with my other classmates since I enjoyed listening to the various perspectives they had.

What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

I would definitely recommend this course! It helped me improve my writing skills and really pushed me to carefully analyze various literary pieces. To succeed in this course, students should definitely be ready to find the deeper meaning in the provided texts. Another thing is to not procrastinate! Definitely try to make time in the day to work in the assignments in order to complete them well and with thoughtful responses. 

I became a PWKSAT!!

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes, definitely. The MCQ and the timed writings that we did throughout the year, as well as thesis quickfire and the quick thinks, were invaluable preparation for the AP exam.

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Anywhere from 1 to 3 hours per day up till about March, and then about an hour a day for the last two months(Mrs. Follmer administers the final exam in March, at which point the class work greatly diminished. This really helped me as I was able to adequately review for my other classes. English Language doesn't really require review like other classes.)

Mrs. Follmer's daily planners allowed me to know exactly what needed to be done each day. I found that staying on track with my daily work was also essential to success in this class(though Mrs. Follmer is very gracious with extension requests).

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Honestly, all of them. The thesis quickfire was extremely helpful in developing supported arguments, as were the quickthinks. These took about 10 minutes each. Instead of doing full timed writings, we still practiced these skills in these smaller assignments. Also, Mrs. Follmer provided detailed feedback on every thesis, teaching us how we could improve both on our arguments and on our support. Reading other student's thesis and feedback was also invaluable, as many times students formulate different arguments and have different perspectives.

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes, it did. I feel that this course greatly improved both my writing abilities and my thinking abilities, as I became a better thinker and ultimately left the class as a PWKSAT (you'll have to take the class to understand this acronym).

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

I particularly enjoyed debating with other students and the group projects, as this formed a cohesiveness among students and allowed me to consider varying perspectives, all of which improved my thinking skills. I made some great friends in this class, including Jason Yu (who wrote the review below).

• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

To succeed in this class, a student needs not only to be hard-working but also receptive to teacher feedback. 

As a side note, this class also helped me with my SAT essay. This class improved my essay score from about a 17 to a 22.

Phenomenal Class

I absolutely loved this course. This was my favorite class this year by far, and that's saying a lot, given that I'm a decidedly STEM-oriented person. Writing has never been my strongest subject, and I originally thought I wouldn't enjoy this course. I soon realized, though, that this course isn't just about being a good writer. Of course, my writing has improved, but more importantly, Mrs. Follmer taught me how to think well - how to develop arguments with strong support, how to understand and analyze writing, and how to generate better ideas. Take this class if you want to become a more knowledgeable, considerate, deep-thinking person.

Excellent Class

The course definitely prepared me for the exam. With numerous assignments covering the various aspects of the exam, I felt confident taking the exam, including the tough essays (especially with improvement from the feedback that Mrs. Follmer gave on them). Among the assignments, I liked the group discussions on books—reading books I normally wouldn't read was good, and the discussions with other students allowed me to see other interpretations of passages. Feedback from other students was also useful in my essays. The most fun assignment would be the thesis quickfire competition; and it helped me too in quickly generating thesises in the exam. I am definitely more interested now in writing than before I took the class.

Spectacular Course

AP English Language and Composition with Mrs. Follmer is wonderful. While I have encountered many English teachers, who sat around with a red pen, changing "marvelous" to "exceptional", for no reason other than that they wanted me to write exactly like them, adopt their formulas and hideous wordiness, Mrs. Follmer encouraged us to embrace our own writing style, move beyond generalities and what is common. She taught us not only how to succeed on the essay portion of the exam, but also how to become a strong writer, period. 

The course prepared me for the exam in a way that only Mrs. Follmer could. Not only did my classmates and I learn how to master the essays, we also learned how to think critically and examine all viewpoints of a text or argument. Throughout the year, we had many discussions (live and not), group thinks, and debates. These interactions with my classmates revealed hidden ways to understand a text or an argument, increasing my analytical ability.

The course structure included daily assignments, which took anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours to complete, depending on the day. However, even when a certain piece of literature included boring, hair-pulling content (ahh… Frankenstein), Mrs. Follmer spun the previously sleep-inducing text into an interesting, multi-dimensional, extremely debatable, work of art. Suddenly, Victor’s battle with the horrendous creature was more interesting than cable. Ideas, arguments, discussions, all floating around in an online kingdom, brought English to life. For the first time, an English class morphed into something enjoyable and inspiring.

With hard work, good grammar, and an intense desire to succeed, this course will prepare anyone for the AP exam.

Great AP Lang class

I'm usually a STEM leaning student, but this course was actually my favorite this year. The teacher was my favorite, and the work was my favorite.

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? Definitely. The class was designed to encourage students to think for themselves and had plenty of tips for good essay writing. There were also plenty of MCQs to prepare for that portion of the exam.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course? The work varied significantly on certain days, but I spent probably an average of 45 minutes to 1 hour per day.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? I loved the assignments that requried interaction with others students, because differnt people really view the same things in different ways.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? I was never and still am not planning on incorporating english much in college, but thsi class definitely improved my writing.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? Yes. My favorite assignments were discussion questions and group work because I got to see other perspectives on the matter at hand.

What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)? I would recommend this course to any student willing to work hard. The teacher is very helpful in pointing out where the student could improve, and giving tips on how to do so.

Great class!

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? Absolutely! This class was almost entirely designed to help me prepare for the exam. We had ample practice with the multiple choice questions and all three essays in several formats. Exam preparation was by far the primary focus of the course.
• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course? Hours per day varied from ~30 mins to 3-4 hours, but I generally spent 1-2 hours per day. Expect to spend 8-10 hours per week completing coursework for this class.
• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? I found our class discussions and the Thesis Quickfire activities (short assignments where you write a thesis and provide support) extremely helpful in quickly improving my skills.
• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? Definitely! I've had mixed experiences with English courses through high school, with some focusing so specifically on just one or two skills or activities so as to be exhaustingly repetitive. This class was significantly more well-rounded, balanced, and thorough than any I've taken before.
• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? Yes. Class chats, discussion questions, "group thinks," and group projects all required me to work with other students. The vast majority of my interactions were both interesting and valuable for my success in the class.
• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)? I would absolutely recommend this class to other students. You do have to work hard, but the workload is about average for an AP class (in my experience). The biggest indicator of how hard you will have to work is your level of prior mastery of English (from grades, ACT/SAT scores, etc.). Since this course is vastly more about getting the "feel of it" rather than learning a series of topics, it can be quite difficult for some but relatively painless for others depending on your experience with the language.

AP English with Mrs. Follmer

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?     Yes, very much so. Lots of timed writing and MCQ practice is always a good thing.
• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?     It depended on the assignments but generally around an hour a day or so.
• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?     Obviously the timed writing practice is essential because that's what you're tested on during the exam, but more to the whole point of an English class like this, the exercises that force you to think critically and thoroughly about a topic and then articulate your own thoughts (and these come in various forms) are most helpful to accomplishing the final objective of the class.
• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?       This class will be a very useful tool for the rest of my life in terms of the skills it teaches and refines, but I did not and do not plan to be an English major, English is fun though!
• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?        Yes-- anytime one interacts with other people with differing viewpoints, it's usually quite useful. Discussion is a great tool for understanding any material. If you are a student reading this review, I recommend that you participate in whatever discussion you can no matter what course you're doing-- it helps a lot.
• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?       AP courses are almost always more difficult that regular courses, at least in my expericence, but of course a good work ethic and a willingness to apply yourself will take you very far. Expect this course to take more work that your normal English courses even if you're already talented.

You will be very well served by taking this course! Mrs. Follmer is a great teacher with a real interest in helping you improve your abilities. Best of luck!

Practice makes perfect

I think the course prepared me very well for the AP exam. It covered all sections of the exam (multiple-choice, synthesis, argument, and rhetorical analysis) thoroughly. If there was a motto for this course, I think it would be that "practice makes perfect." I put in around 15 hours a week, including some work over the weekend to complete projects.

I especially liked the group rhetorical analysis projects and the interesting little exercises where you play around with word choice and phrasing. It was also useful and fun to hear from other students what new perspectives they have on a book or article. It's interesting how the same raw data can be used to make opposite arguments.

I think students who are already comfortable with basic English mechanics such as grammar and spelling but need help with writing larger essays, analyzing texts, and making original arguments would do well and benefit greatly from this course. I would recommend this course to other students who are willing to put in the hours to perform all the coursework which involves substantial pondering and writing.

Tough but necessary

As a parent of twin boys, both reluctant writers, I highly recommend this course. This course will of course prepare the students well for the exam. But more than that, this course taught my boys writing and thinking skills that they did not know they are capable of. And Ms. Follmer's gentle but firm feedback, and daily assignments made it possible for my boys to come out of their comfort zone and overcome their weaknesses. The course was tough but necessary. 

Great Class!

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable

• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

This was a fantastic class!

Mrs. Follmer's AP English and Composition class did an excellent job in preparing me for the AP exam. Throughout the year, I got plenty of preparatory tasks and assignments, which made sure that I was more than ready for the final when it came.

For the average week, I estimate that I put in about twelve hours of work, not including the time it took for me to read the texts and books we were assigned. It fluctuated, of course; some weeks might have taken sixteen hours total, while others might have taken eight.

In this class, I had quite a bit of interaction with the other students. Every quarter of the year, we held a debate/lit group, which were always a lot of fun. The class message board also proved to be quite helpful, and there was always an answer provided to any of my questions there within an hour or two.

If you are willing to work hard, and put in the work necessary for success in an AP course, then I recommend this class to you! Over the year, my writing has improved so much; I came into the year thinking there was no way I would succeed in this class, and left it with much better writing styles and techniques. So, if you are willing to work hard and diligently, and would like to see a dramatic improvement in your writing, then take this class!

AP Lang

• Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Absolutely! Mrs. Follmer spends so much time working with each individual student to ensure that they understand the course material and the task of each assignment. 

• How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

On average, I put in about 10-12 hours of work per week. Of course, that may change when big essays and projects are due.

• Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

The debates and group projects are especially valuable. They help stimulate group thinking, and you learn valuable ideas from your classmates. I think the most valuable thing that Mrs. Follmer does is the revisions that we're allowed to do. She'll give us feedback on a particular assignment on what we did well on and what we need to work on. Take advantage of these, because it is probably the best way to learn and improve your writing. The thesis quickfires were also really helpful as they strengthened your ability to think fast and coherently. 

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes! Most definitely, I acquired a deeper appreciation for writing and its beauty and power, especially from the books and articles we read this year. I won't be majoring in English in college; however, this class definitely set the foundation for my critical thinking skills that will be important in just about anything in life.

• Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Definitely, especially in the live chats, debates, and groups projects. I learned so much from them and cannot stress how important it is to work with one another. You learn so much from listening and reading ideas from, often times, a whole new perspective. 

• What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

A hardworking student, absolutely, but also a student who has an open mind about topics, one who isn't afraid to read new genres of books and learn new ways of writing and thinking. I think that's the true beauty of writing that Mrs. Follmer presented to us, each person offers a unique perspective and flavor of writing and learning, Mrs. Follmer was there to guide us and lead us, and I think that she did an absolutely fantastic job! 

Thank you so much, Mrs. Follmer! And also a huge shout out to Katherine our TA! 

This class can help you

This class has boosted my writing ability immeasurably. If you need an English AP, this class will prepare you for it, and even though it will be difficult, the people are nice and Mrs. Follmer is a very capable teacher. This class has helped me and all the others in my semester, so it will definitely help you. 

AP Lang Review

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Most definitely. With the timed writings, untimed writings, exercises, discussion questions, and practice mulitpule choice, I felt well prepared for the exam. Also, Mrs. Follmer's great feedback is probably what helped me the most!

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I spent around 10 - 15 hours per week on this course. There is a lot to do each day, but it is all worthwhile.

What sort of student would do well in this course?

If you are willing to work hard and but time and effort iinto increasing your writing skills, you will greatly benefit from this class. 

Overall, this is such a great class. Mrs. Follmer is one of the best teachers! I have learned so much!

AP lang review

This class was simultaneously one of my favorite classes, and one of the most frustrating classes I've taken. The work is hard, there was a lot to do, and I have my suspicions that Mrs. Follmer is secretly an evil genius. But, at the same time, I learned so much, and every bit of the hardship was worth it. The live debates and other more interactive assignments for class made it fun, and the harder assignments prepared me for the AP exam to the point where I finished with time to spare and confidence in my work. Mrs. Follmer herself is an amazing teacher, and everything that the best teachers should be. She was very supportive and gave excellent pointers on how to improve my skills. And, well, if she's not an evil genius, then she at least has a great sense of humor.

I cannot recommend this class enough. It is simply one of the greatest classes I've ever taken, and anyone who wants to improve their writing skills (so long as they're willing to work for it!) should definitely take the class.

This class was wonderful!! Mrs. Follmer is a great teacher.

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes, definitely. This was the exam I was most confident about, and nothing was surprising or new. Mrs. Follmer prepared us for all the different parts of the exam and I didn't have to rush to learn anything, so I was confident about all the essays and the MC questions when I walked into the exam room.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

The time I spent per day on this course varied from roughly half an hour to an hour and a half. On average, there was probably about an hour's worth of work per day. 

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

Yes. I loved the debates (though that might fall more into the category of fun than valuable...), and the assignments where we analyzed the passage we were given for purpose, argument, and rhetoric really helped me see both what a good argument looked like and why the argument worked, plus helping me learn how to write RAs. Oh, and Thesis Quickfires. It took me a lot of time (we're talking half an hour) just to think of a thesis at the beginning of the year. Now I can write an introduction, thesis, and an outline of detailed support for an essay in that time.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Yes! English was tying with math for my least favorite subject at the beginning of last year. Now, it's probably my favorite subject. Mrs. Follmer is a wonderful teacher and she made English a vastly less frustrating endeavour. Her feedback and the way she eased us into writing essays at the beginning of the year really helped me learn to write well without the frustration of writing a whole essay and then having to fix it. She had us write individual paragraphs for each essay as she taught them, which helped us learn in shorter amounts of time how to write the essay well.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? 

Yes! The debates were so much fun, as were the lit circles. Discussing books with other students was a lot of fun, and exposed me to different perspectives that I would never have considered on my own. And the debates...maybe it is just me, but I loved the debates...working together with other students to craft an argument and support, and then arguing your point of view with your classmates...just wonderful! 

What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)? 

I would highly recommend this course to anyone! As long as you are willing to work hard and want to get better at English, you will thrive in this course! Mrs. Follmer always let me revise if I wanted to and gave me really helpful, detailed feedback, which permitted me to learn from my mistakes and improve my writing quickly. (She was also really patient, considering I'd get decent scores and then just want to revise so I could fix the things she brought up in her feedback).

OK, now I am going to deviate from the script and just gush about the wonderfulness that is this course...

Mrs. Follmer is a wonderful teacher. Her Morning Messages are frequently entertaining, and she is incredibly helpful and detailed in her feedback, telling you what you did wrong and what you did right. After reading a few of my essays from the start of the year, I realized that she gave feedback according to writing level--she only told me a few things I needed to improve instead of pointing out every single flaw (trust me, there were a lot in my first essays). She pointed out the good with the bad so we didn't get discouraged, and allowed us to revise if we wanted a better grade. She was very flexible when something unexpected occurred, and she let us extend Friday work until Sunday (without piling on extra work), which allowed me to catch up on any work for other classes that I hadn't done yet (that happened a lot...). Her assignments were always useful and she helped us learn incrementally, reducing the potential for frustration. My writing is so much better now then it was at the beginning of this class, and I've learned a lot of useful skills (not just writing, but seeing the rhetoric of arguments and why an argument works).

Seriously, take this class! I loved it, and as I mentioned before, I did NOT like English before this year. My writing is so much better now, and that is definitely thanks to Mrs. Follmer's teaching.

AP Lang Review

• This course absolutely prepared me for the AP exam. Nothing came as a surprise as I opened that test booklet!
• An average day of English assignments (reading, discussion questions, exercises) usually looked like 1-2 hrs of work.
• The timed writings,Thesis Quickfire, the readings and discussion questions were definitely my favorite and the most valuable assignments to me. 
• The course definitely enhanced my interest in writing. In fact, because of this class, I changed parts of my initial plan of study in college just so I can write more and continue cultivating my skills. 
• I loved the student interaction, because not only did I make great friends but I also learned from their interesting ideas on subjects, their different approaches to critical thinking, and their writing styles. 
• Of course, one who loves to write and wants to see their skills improve would do well in this course, but he or she must be willing to readily accept and embrace criticism. Also, one needs to be willing to write boldly and without timidity. I had to learn both of these quickly, but after I did, I began improving at a much higher rate! I would definitely recommend this course to other students. 

Take this class if you want to be a deeper thinker and better communicator

Having just taken AP English Lit my junior year, I was unsure about whether or not English Lang would be the most interesting class for me. I was worried that it would be too focused on grammar, or boring aspects of language, but it turns out I was sorely mistaken! I am SO glad that I took Mrs. Follmer's class - it was probably the most useful and growing of all my classes this year. 

Mrs. Follmer definitely prepared us well for the exam, and made sure that we felt confident about essay writing and answering the MC questions. But the class was most valuable to me because it challenged me to be a deep thinker and to carefully consider major issues. I learned to comminicate more effectively both through writing and speech, and I'm so glad that I was able to begin reasearching and learning about major issues and events around the world through the class - or as Mrs. Follmer says, I was able to become a "person who knows things about stuff."

I realize that last quote is perhaps not the best demonstrator of Mrs. Follmer's rhetorical skills, but she is an excellent teacher - as she is both qualified to teach all things English lang and careful about tailoring her course to the needs of her students, ensuring that they get the most out of it possible. The class requires students to be responsible about handing things in, and prepared to do quite a bit of work each day. Like all AP courses, the workload is fairly heavy but it is by no means overwhelming, and you WILL get more out of the class if you spend more time deeply thinking over texts, discussion questions, prompts etc. (For reference, I'm a seventeen year old senior, and was taking four other AP courses this year) I personally really enjoyed just discussing and learning about different issues (for example, I did research papers on the negative effects of social media and on intellectual diversity in American colleges) and exploring how I really felt about these issues. 

So yes - I would absolutely recommend this class. I've found it to be really valuable in preparing me for college next year, as it has so improved my understanding of issues around the world and how to dicuss them with sophistication and clarity. Put some effort into this class, and you will become a faster and deeper thinker with a greater understanding of the world around you. I'm so thankful I ended up taking Mrs. Follmer's class! 

Mrs. Follmer review

I was very nervous going into AP Language because English was never my strong point. I was pleasantly surprised with Mrs. Follmer and her approach to teaching! She incorporated group discussion, gave us many practice exams, and totally dissected each essay we write in her class. She transformed me into an amazing writer, compared to what I was before her class. She cared about her students and about helping us achieve great scores on the AP test. I was very nervous going into the test because of my past with English but was surprised and ecstatic in July when I found out I had passed the exam! I give all the credit to Mrs. Follmer who truly helped me more than anyone. If you are privileged enough to have her as a teacher I hope you realize it and thank her for everything she has done. She has prepared me for other AP classes, and, most importantly, college.

AP Lang review

The English teachers who taught me previously had been

inconsistent and lacked a specific purpose; Mrs. Follmer changed this. She immediately

looked for and discovered what her students, my class, had and had not covered, and

she tailored her methods to our needs. She incorporated our interests and experiences

into her teaching which helped make the material relatable and, therefore, more

understandable. Whenever one of her students was struggling, whether with class

material or with outside factors that affected their performance, she would work with

them individually to assure they reached their potential. By the AP test in the spring, my

entire class was more prepared than any of us would have believed. She is

simultaneously one of the most compassionate, understanding people and the most

effective English teacher I have ever encountered. If you have the opportunity to take

her class, I highly recommend you do so.

Review of AP Language

I've always enjoyed English classes, but AP Lang with Mrs. Follmer was by far my favorite course. She's the most knowledgeable English teacher I've ever had, and was always willing to help me out on an assignment, answer any questions I had, or even extend a deadline because of a track meet or family trip. Mrs. Follmer also kept me constantly engaged and interested through discussions and debates about topical issues. These discussions greatly helped to deepen the understanding of rhetoric and argumentation that I had garnered in regular lessons.

With Mrs. Follmer I learned far more than just how to write a better thesis statement; I learned how to think and argue logically. I've also picked up all kinds of interesting ideas and points of view that have, and will help me beyond just passing the AP Lang test, and that I’ll be sure to carry with me to college.