Advanced Composition (AC)
Advanced Composition (AC) is somewhat of a mystery at Urbana High School. The class is unweighted but no one seems to know why.
“I think it’s not weighted partially because former administration was concerned it would draw number from AP and that kind of effects rankings and things on a national levels,” Erin Ludwick, AC teacher, said.
While rumors might claim that it is because of administration or to protect AP Literature and Composition (APLC) enrollment, there is no official reason AC remains an unweighted class, only speculation.
“It is my understanding that the former principal made the decision to leave the course unweighted to protect the enrollment of AP English. That was when Advanced Composition was a pilot, and of course changes can be made in light of new information,” Elizabeth Hogan, head of English department, said.
Classes that are weighted are considered as a serious commitment by students. If a class remains unweighted but requires college-level work, students not looking to challenge themselves can be misled.
“[AC] is a college course; you have to have a level of eloquence that you haven’t had before,” Amanda Sergent, AC student, said.
Students worried about the way classes look on a college application or how classes affect their GPA are less likely to take classes that are unweighted. Even if those unweighted classes apply better to their future. Reading and analysing information in literature is a very important skill. However, the research and writing skills learned in AC may apply to some student’s futures more directly.
“I think that there are certain students who because of the college that they want to go to are concerned about class rank and the weighting of their courses and they may choose to take AP based on that more than based on the trajectory of their studies,” Ludwick said.
Adding a weight to Advanced Composition would encourage students to closer consider what class more accurate lines up with what they wish to do in the future instead of what will look better on an application.
“I think it’s not weighted partially because former administration was concerned it would draw number from AP and that kind of effects rankings and things on a national levels,” Erin Ludwick, AC teacher, said.
While rumors might claim that it is because of administration or to protect AP Literature and Composition (APLC) enrollment, there is no official reason AC remains an unweighted class, only speculation.
“It is my understanding that the former principal made the decision to leave the course unweighted to protect the enrollment of AP English. That was when Advanced Composition was a pilot, and of course changes can be made in light of new information,” Elizabeth Hogan, head of English department, said.
Classes that are weighted are considered as a serious commitment by students. If a class remains unweighted but requires college-level work, students not looking to challenge themselves can be misled.
“[AC] is a college course; you have to have a level of eloquence that you haven’t had before,” Amanda Sergent, AC student, said.
Students worried about the way classes look on a college application or how classes affect their GPA are less likely to take classes that are unweighted. Even if those unweighted classes apply better to their future. Reading and analysing information in literature is a very important skill. However, the research and writing skills learned in AC may apply to some student’s futures more directly.
“I think that there are certain students who because of the college that they want to go to are concerned about class rank and the weighting of their courses and they may choose to take AP based on that more than based on the trajectory of their studies,” Ludwick said.
Adding a weight to Advanced Composition would encourage students to closer consider what class more accurate lines up with what they wish to do in the future instead of what will look better on an application.
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