If there was a holy trinity for AP study sites, Quizlet would most certainly be in it. Its easy to use interface combined with its multi-purpose functionality helps students of all different learning styles in endless subject areas. However, it can often be difficult to find resources for a writing and reading-heavy subject like English Language.

Fiveable’s AP English Language teachers & students have compiled the best Quizlet study decks for each unit. The AP Lang exam covers a wide range of topics, so make sure to understand the base concepts for each unit. It’s important to note that the Quizlet decks don’t always cover EVERYTHING in that unit, so make sure you have additional study materials! Bookmark this page to use throughout the year!

Note: the AP Lang Course & Exam Description does not provide unit names, so we are using the titles of units adapted from our 2020 study guide. Catch a live review or watch a replay for AP Lang on Fiveable’s AP Lang hub! See the calendar for upcoming streams.

UNIT 1: Foundations of Rhetoric: Analysis of the Rhetorical Situation and Claims

This unit centers on how to analyze nonfiction texts, something that is incredibly important for Lang both on multiple choice and the rhetorical analysis essay. This unit discusses different aspects of the rhetorical situation, such as exigence, purpose, and audience, and it will help with analyzing the evidence to support the main claim in the passage.

Best Quizlet Deck: Rhetorical Elements by MrsKirksClass

Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:

• Author’s purpose - what the author wants to see happen after the audience reads the text
• Exigence - the motivation and reasoning of why the author decided to write the text
• Audience - a group of people who share certain beliefs, values, needs, and backgrounds
• Claims - positions that the writer takes that are defensible, backed up by concrete evidence (anecdotes, facts, analogies, etc.)

UNIT 2: Foundations of Argument: Analysis of an Author’s Choices in Appeals and Evidence

Unit 2 transitions from learning about how authors formulate arguments in Unit 1 to the creation of your own arguments. This unit helps you learn the importance of the relationship between subject, speaker, and message, with an in-depth dive into how arguments are structured and the purpose. Then, you’ll learn how to develop thesis statements and create effective arguments with a line of reasoning.

Best Quizlet Deck: The Language of Argument - AP Lang by Cassie_Stanford

Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:

• Rhetorical choices - writers make certain choices in rhetoric to try and relate to an audience’s emotions and values to achieve their purpose- Modes of persuasion - author’s techniques of persuading or motivating action in the audience through the use of appeals- Ethos - an appeal to credibility [9 out of 10 dentists recommend this toothpaste]- Logos - an appeal to logic or reasoning, often using statistics- Pathos - an appeal to the audience’s emotions- Thesis - a main claim that a writer wants to defend or prove, using reasoning supported by evidence- Thesis statement - the direct expression of a thesis by a writer

UNIT 3: Confluence: Synthesis of Multiple Sources in Argumentation 

This unit assists you with learning the multiple perspectives of arguments through synthesis, or the first free-response essay (FRQ 1) on the AP Lang exam. You’ll learn about what separates effective and ineffective reasoning while incorporating evidence from multiple credible sources that is cited effectively. This will be knowledge you will need to know far past high school, as building effective arguments can be used in virtually any subject or discipline.

Best Quizlet Deck: AP Lang of Comp: Synthesizing Sources by MrsKirksClass

Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:

• Synthesis - the consideration, explanation, and integration of other sources and arguments into your own argument- Line of Reasoning - the organization of an argument in which claims are supported by multiple pieces of evidence with accompanying commentary that connects the evidence to the claim; revealed by the sequence of paragraphs- Commentary - the significance and relevance of evidence and its relationship with the line of reasoning- Methods of Development - approaches writers use to develop and organize an argument’s reasoning, providing an audience with the ability to find the writer’s reasoning in an argument. Examples include narration, cause-effect, comparison-contrast, definition, and description

UNIT 4: Reasoning: Analysis of Argument from Introduction to Conclusion

This unit is integral to all of your writing, helping discuss the specificity of how to build a line of reasoning that is present throughout your essay. Argumentation and reasoning is used not only in the argument and synthesis essays, but also in your rhetorical analysis! All of your essays are fundamentally arguments, so the reasoning that you learn how to build in this unit is very beneficial. 

Best Quizlet Deck: Rhetorical Modes by MrsKirksClass

Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide: 

• Introduction - the way that a subject and/or writer is presented initially by the argument, which often includes a thesis- Conclusion - the unified closing of an argument that can explain the broader context, making connections, create a call to action, etc.- Methods of Development - approaches writers to use to develop and organize an argument’s reasoning, providing an audience with the ability to find the writer’s reasoning in an argument. Examples include narration, cause-effect, comparison-contrast, definition, and description.- Comparison-Contrast - Writers examine the similarities and/or differences between the objects of comparison- Description or Definition - writers use examples or illustrations to relate the characteristics, features, or sensory details of an object or idea

UNIT 5: Commentary and Analysis: Analysis of Complex Argument and Intentional Rhetoric

This unit focuses a lot on what makes a great argument, such as transitions, modifiers, and qualifications for your argument’s perspective. You’ll learn how to develop strong commentary in your line of reasoning and maintaining your main claim throughout your writing. This is what elevates you from a 3 to a 4 or 5.

**Best Quizlet Deck: Elements of Argument and Line of Reasoning by rrybka  **

Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:

• Coherent organization - your essays should have ideas link to the next idea- Transitional elements - words or elements that assist with coherence among paragraphs, sentences, or sections by demonstrating relationships among ideas; introducing evidence or indicating relationship to other ideas/evidence in the text as a whole- Descriptive words - Adjectives and adverbs that convey a perspective and qualify/modify the things they describe

UNIT 6: Rhetorical Risks: Analysis of Multiple Perspectives, Bias, and Shifts with New Evidence

This will build upon Unit 3’s ideas, as you learn about position and perspectives while working on incorporating and synthesizing information in a strategic manner to support your claim. Moreover, this unit talks about modifying your argument to discuss new evidence.

Best Quizlet Deck: AP Language and Composition Synthesis Essay Vocabulary by Aubreyg394

Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:

• Source - something that provides information for an argument, with some degree of reliability and credibility- Position - what the source is arguing- Perspective - the background, interests, and expertise of that source- Limitations in argumentation - analyzing biases and flaws of sources and including those limitations in reasoning- Tone - writer’s attitude or feeling about a subject, implied through word choice and style of writing

UNIT 7: Complex Argumentation

Unit 7 focuses on the counterarguments, concessions, and refutations of strong argumentation, helping you discover how a given argument is complex and the effectiveness of that argument. This unit helps you to become a better writer, speaker, and reader, as you learn about argumentation in the context of rhetoric and composition.

Best Quizlet Deck: The Language of Argument - AP Lang by Cassie_Stanford

Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:

• Effective arguments - arguments that typically avoid expressing claims, reasoning, or evidence in absolute terms- Purpose of punctuation - advancing a writer’s purpose by clarifying, organizing, emphasizing, indicating purpose, or contributing to tone- Refutation - Responding to the counterargument of a writer’s argument

UNIT 8: Style

Unit 8 helps you understand how to write effective rhetorical analysis essays in addition to helping you with your analysis in writing the argument and synthesis essay. This unit discusses how writers can best lead to audience “movement,” in which they feel moved to take action or they feel some emotion. You’ll learn about the impact of syntax or diction on an argument.

Best Quizlet Deck: "AP Lang & Comp: Diction and Style" by bendavis12

Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:

• Style - The word choice, syntax, and conventions that a writer uses- Irony - something that emerges from the differences between an author’s argument and the readers’ values or expectations- Modifiers - words, phrases, or clauses that specifically clarify, specify, or modify information about the thing they’re associated with- Purpose of comparisons - similes, metaphors, anecdotes, or analogies that are used to help relate to an audience

UNIT 9: Craft

This final unit in the AP Lang Course & Exam Description dives into how you can create your own complex argument with elements of both synthesis and rhetoric. You’ll learn how the three free-response questions you wrote help you build your own effective arguments throughout your life. Moreover, you’ll learn about techniques and reasons as to why effective arguments use concessions or rebuttals.

Best Quizlet Deck: Counter Argument & Rebuttal in Essay by BubbaJake02

Most important topics to know for the unit, straight from the AP Lang guide:

• Purpose of evidence/sources - to support, complement, or contradict the thesis, or main claim, of a writer’s argument
• Credibility - the way that an author is portrayed in the audience, built by refutations, rebuttals, or concessions of opposing arguments and contradictory evidence
• Concession - accepting all or a portion of a competing position or claim as correct, agreeing it’s correct in a different set of circumstances, or acknowledging the specific limitations of their own argument
• Rebuttal - creating a contrasting perspective on an argument and its evidence to show that the competing position/claim is not valid

Units courtesy of the College Board. If you need further assistance with AP Lang, check out our exam guide! It outlines exactly what you could do for success in each unit.

Best of luck!