Welcome.
Language is power.
MR. MUTAVDZIJA
2026–27
Now!
Summer Reading.
Welcome to AP Lang! This assignment is designed to ease you into the analytical thinking you'll develop throughout the year in this class.
Don't worry! This may be your first time diving into rhetorical analysis, and I know I'm throwing you into the deep end with this. I don't need you to swim with perfect form; but I do want you to tread water. What I mean by this is: I am more interested in you genuinely reading the texts and putting effort into completing the assignment. Don't worry if you look at something you've written and think this is way off. I am going to teach you all you need to know.
Start with this:
Think about a time someone convinced you of something. Think about a time an ad made you want a product. None of that was an accident! Words have power. This is what we will explore in our class: how influential speakers and writers use language to persuade, inform, and inspire action from their audiences.
What You Will Do In This Assignment:
- Choose and analyze 3 speeches from the curated list below
- Track and reflect on specific aspects of the speeches using the guided graphic organizer
- Prepare to share your thoughts during our first-week discussions
You will read 3 speeches. Choose 1 from Category A, choose 1 from Category B, and then choose 1 on your own using the guidelines in Category C.
- Malala Yousafzai, UN Speech on Girls' Education (2013)
- Barack Obama, 2008 Victory Speech
- Greta Thunberg, UN Climate Action Summit (2019)
- Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech (2004) — Kenyan environmental activist; transcript available in English
- Any TED Talk from 2020-2026
- Any graduation commencement speech from 2020-2026
- Any political speech from a recent election cycle (local, state, or national)
For each speech, you will complete a SPACE CAT analysis. This framework breaks rhetorical analysis into manageable pieces. Each letter stands for a key element of the rhetorical situation or the speaker's choices.
Documents & Downloads.
Language & Composition.
This class is built for those who want to understand how communication actually works in the real world. You'll learn how arguments are crafted, how ideas are shaped, and how language influences people.
We read articles, speeches, essays, op-eds, memoirs, infographics, and visual texts, breaking down how authors make choices about style, organization, tone, and evidence.
Your Teacher
Mutavdzija
This is my fourth year teaching at UPAD and my fourth year as a teacher. Outside the classroom, I coach debate, where the same idea shows up: preparation and clear communication win. I'm excited to bring that same energy to AP Lang this year, and to work with you.