AP® English Language Teacher Resources

It’s been said many times before–teachers are superheroes. Unlike the super-human variety we see in movies, AP® Lang teachers do not have access to radioactive spiders or strength-enhancing serums to give them their powers. Instead, they rely on high-quality AP English Language teacher resources to strengthen their classroom instruction and better support their students. This is exactly why our team of former AP teachers and UWorld Learning Tools for AP Courses authors have compiled a list of quality AP English Language teacher materials for you.

Free Resources for AP English Language Teachers

The following is our compiled list of free websites for the AP Lang classroom. These are great resources you can incorporate into your AP English Language and Composition lesson plans!

The Garden of English

Online platform with AP Lang concept reviews and free workshops.
Includes a vast array of posters, video guides, worksheets, and practice exams to help students “reach [their] full potential in the classroom.”

The NY Times Argumentative Writing

A New York Times article about the different ways teachers can support their students with argumentative writing.
Organized into two sections: helping students examine argumentative writing through close reading, and helping students “discover their own voices” with argumentative writing.

NCTE Developing Evidence-Based Arguments

Online AP English Language teacher guide that walks people through how to develop quality arguments using text evidence.
Provides strategies to help students understand the differences between persuasive writing and evidence-based argumentation by analyzing arguments about texts.

Purdue University Writing Prompts for Analyzing Nonfiction

Part of the Purdue University online writing lab, this page contains a variety of writing prompts for analyzing nonfiction.
Includes a detailed table with a summary of the features common to some key non-fiction genres, as well.

Learning for Justice Teaching Strategies

Part of LearningForJustice.org, this page is an excellent resource for encouraging close reading with students in the AP English Language classroom.
Provides fifteen different strategies that can be integrated into AP English Language lesson plans immediately.

The NY Times Learning Network

A part of The New York Times network of pages that provides resources for “bringing the world into your classroom.”
Consists of various articles, activities, and prompts related to current events.

American Rhetoric

Online database with over 5,000 full text, audio, and video versions of noteworthy public speeches.
Includes a speech bank organized by various categories, as well as “cool exercises” teachers can use with their students.

All Sides

A media company that strives to report on topics with “balanced news, media bias ratings, diverse perspectives, and real conversation.”
Displays the day’s top news stories, side-by-side, from three different perspectives–left, center, and right.

The NY Times Room for Debate

The New York Times opinion pages where various op-eds are posted about relevant topic discussions.
Allows people to subscribe to specific article feeds by topic.

The NY Times 401 Prompts for Argumentative Writing

A New York Times student opinion article that lists 401 different argumentative writing prompts AP Lang teachers can use with their classes.
Each prompt links to a relevant article about the topic that can be used for text evidence.

Florida State University Critical Reading Activities

Part of the Florida State University English Department, this page includes a variety of critical reading activities that can be used in the AP English Language and Composition classroom.
Provides step-by-step instructions, time requirements, and questions for each activity.

Other Resources for AP English Language Teachers

The above list of sites just scratches the surface of the free AP English Language teacher websites that can be used for instructional supplementation. There are additional ways AP Lang teachers can strengthen their teaching “toolbox” as well, and some of our favorites are listed below. Please note that, unlike the ones listed in the above section, some of the following resources are not free.

AP Summer Institutes (APSIs)

Each summer, the College Board® offers AP professional development through their AP Summer Institutes. During these summer sessions, teachers develop AP teaching skills and strategies and explore each course section and exam.

AP Online Workshops

For educators who can’t attend in person, the College Board provides online workshops that teach strategies and tools to help AP staff to plan and focus their instruction.

Teacher Websites & Communities

There are a variety of social media platforms and websites that provide not only AP English Language teacher resources but also a feeling of community. This list is by no means exhaustive, but we do recommend you check out the following:

Other Paid Resources

Here are some additional resources you can incorporate into your AP English Language and Composition lesson plans as well. These may include a fee, but they offer high-quality support.

Tips for Finding Quality AP English Language Resources

When searching for resources to support your AP instruction, it’s essential to make sure they are credible. Here are a few ways to ensure your resources have a high level of quality!

Utilize the resources created by academic specialists. AP educators, published journals, and educational resource companies are more reliable than people who do not have strong educational backgrounds. For instance, the materials provided by the Learning Tools for AP Courses offered by UWorld are written by experts in the relevant fields and former AP instructors.
Exchange materials and concepts with other educators in your district's AP network. When you attend professional development workshops in your subject area, you might establish connections with AP educators outside of your school.
Textbooks are a great source of information. Teachers can often access digital versions of these just as easily as they can access information through other websites. Additionally, these online editions are frequently the most recent.

For teachers who want to enhance their AP instruction with a quality resource, UWorld’s Learning Tools for AP Courses is an innovative program that helps students strengthen their understanding of course concepts needed for AP success. Discover how we can help your AP program today.