AP English Language & Composition – Dr. Randy Gingrich

This session AP English Language –  with Dr. Randy Gingrich is offered ONLINE during Week 1: June 15-18, 2026 and again ONLINE during Week 2: June 22-25, 2026.

Meet the College Board Endorsed Consultant for AP English Language and Composition

Randy S. Gingrich has been teaching English at all levels for 38 years. He has taught in Cincinnati Public Schools in Ohio and Gwinnett and Fulton Counties in Georgia. Currently, he teaches at the Innovation Academy Fulton STEM Magnet High School where his courses include AP English: Language and Composition, IA Honors Research in which students develop year-long pinnacle projects using either the Scientific Method or Design Thinking, Directed Studies and TAG seminars. 

This current school year is his 26th year teaching AP Language and Composition. Over the past 10 years working as a College Board AP Consultant and AP Mentor training teachers of AP Lang and Comp around the country, he has facilitated over 40 APSI’s and workshops. He has been a reader for 12 years at the AP reading and a table leader for 6 years. He has presented frequently at NCTE, AERA, CCCC, GCTE, and GAGE. He has participated in numerous NEH and Gilder-Lehrman Summer Institutes for Teachers. 

A native of Detroit, Michigan he received a BA in English and History from Michigan State University, an M.A. in Composition and Rhetoric from Miami University, and a Ph.D. in English Education from Ohio State  University before moving to Atlanta 27 years ago. He currently resides in Forsyth County Georgia with his wife and daughter who is a college student.

Course Description

Over the course of this week, we will investigate all elements  of the Course and Exam Description and the College Board Platforms including AP Central and AP Classroom as connected to AP English: Language and Composition. We will learn to use backward design to plan effective teaching strategies that build upon one another to lead to student growth in composition and analytical reading. We will consider best practice instructional methods for teaching students the elements of the rhetorical situation, claims and  evidence, reasoning and organization and style and preparing for both the free response and the multiple-choice elements of the exam. Participants will become familiar with the AP prompts, scoring rubrics, sample papers, strategies for scoring papers, and instructional strategies for improving student writing. Teachers will discuss appropriate texts for teaching the course including trade books, articles, and textbooks. Teachers will consider appropriate strategies for designing course outlines and syllabi. Teachers will learn elements of process-oriented writing instruction, writing in the academic disciplines, and project-based learning appropriate to a college level composition course.

WaltonAPSI / AP English Language and Composition / Randy Gingrich, Ph.D.

Course Agenda Overview

Monday

• Focal Topics: Overview of AP Classroom, Syllabi, Units and Structure, and Resources; Enduring Understanding: Rhetorical Situation; Scoring of Rhetorical Analysis; Method Simulation

• Morning Session One Synchronous (2 hours – 10-minute break half-way through)

• Morning Session Two Asynchronous (2 hours)

• Lunch (1 hour)

• Afternoon Session Three Synchronous (2 hours)

• Afternoon Session Four (30 minutes asynchronous / 30 minutes synchronous)

Tuesday

• Focal Topics: Enduring Understanding: Claims and Evidence (Sample Unit Animals in Captivity); Argument AP Exam; Multiple Choice; Reading Strategies; Selecting Texts; Debate

• Morning Session One Asynchronous (1.5 hours)

• Morning Session Two Synchronous (2 hours)

• Lunch (1 hour)

• Afternoon Session Three Asynchronous (1.5 hours)

• Afternoon Session Four Synchronous (2 hours)

Wednesday

• Focal Issues: Line of Reasoning (Sample Unit: Justice-Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson); Multiple Choice Style; Synthesis Prompt; Socratic Seminar

• Morning Session One Asynchronous (1.5 hours)

• Morning Session Two Synchronous (2 hours)

• Lunch (1 hour)

• Afternoon Session Three Asynchronous (1 hour)

• Afternoon Session Four Synchronous (1.5  hours)

• Afternoon Session Five Asynchronous / Synchronous (1 hour)

Thursday

• Topics: Syllabi; Units; Technology; Formative vs. Summative Assessments; College Composition and Culminating Projects (Project Based Learning)

• Morning Session One Asynchronous (1.5 hours)

• Morning Session Two Synchronous Symposium (2 hours)

• Lunch (1 hour)

• Afternoon Session Three Asynchronous (1 hour)

• Afternoon Session Four Synchronous (2 hours)

• Afternoon Session Five Synchronous (30 minutes)