Advanced Placement English is open to upcoming seniors who have at least an overall 'B' average in all subjects and an overall 'A' average in the first three years of English. A student must also have approval from an English teacher to be considered for the course. The class provides an opportunity for advanced high school students to pursue and receive credit for college level course work completed at the high school level. The rigors are equal to lower division college work. The course engages students in careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for readers. As they read, students consider a work's structure, style and themes as well as such smaller scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism and tone.