Heroins Long Term Effects on the Body

Heroin's Long Term Effects on the Body Addiction Drug Use Heroin Print Heroins Long Term Effects on the Body By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on August 16, 2019 Doug Menuez / Getty Images More in Addiction Drug Use Heroin Cocaine Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Opioids Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery The long-term and short-term effects of heroin use wreak havoc on your body.  When a user does  heroin  repeatedly, it can  cause actual changes  in the physical structure and physiology of the brain which can create long-term imbalances in the neuronal and hormonal systems. These changes are difficult to reverse.?? Increased Tolerance The long-term effects of heroin use on your brain have major implications. When you do heroin, it bonds to your brains opiate receptors. The opioid receptors in a frequent users brain become less responsive to heroin. Now the users tolerance increases and he must use ever-increasing  amounts of heroin to get the desired effect.?? Like many illicit drugs, heroin use can produce profound levels of tolerance and physical dependence. Tolerance means the user requires more and more of the drug to feel the same effects and dependence means withdrawal symptoms will manifest if the user attempts to quit using abruptly.?? Dopamine Production More severe than tolerance, long-term heroin use affects dopamine production in your brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a large role in how your brain controls emotion, feelings of pleasure, and movement.?? Heroin triggers dopamine production, along with other neurochemicals. However, the brain reduces production of domaine it and starts relying on heroin use as the primary source of production. A shortage of dopamine is linked to symptoms of Parkinsons disease.?? If the user doesnt get his fix and add dopamine  to his body, withdrawal symptoms begin. The long-term consequence here is at some point your brain becomes unable to regulate its own neurochemical levels. Withdrawal Symptoms When someone abruptly quits using heroin, withdrawal symptoms can begin within a few hours. Usually, the most severe withdrawal symptoms peak between 24 and 48 hours after the last dose and subside after about a week. However, some users  experience persistent symptoms for many months.?? When an addict stops using heroin, they experience withdrawal symptoms if they dont get a fix. This is one reason why its so difficult to kick a heroin habit.  Symptoms of heroin withdrawal can include:?? Insomnia and restlessnessDiarrhea and vomitingMuscle and bone painCold flashes with goosebumpsSporadic leg movements Risks of Addiction Probably the most common long-term effect of heroin use is an addictionâ€"described by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will.?? Heroin addiction causes the user to experience uncontrollable drug-seeking behavior regardless of the consequences. Heroin addiction is so profound that seeking and using the drug can become the primary purpose in the addicts life.

Questions Left byThe Boston Massacre

The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770, and is considered one of the main events leading to the American Revolution. Historic records of the skirmish include well-documented records of events and often conflicting testimony of supposed eyewitnesses. As a British sentry was being heckled by an angry and growing crowd of colonists, a nearby squad of British soldiers fired a volley of musket shots killing three colonists immediately and mortally wounding two others. Among the victims was Crispus Attucks, a 47-year old man of mixed African and Native American descent, and now widely regarded as the first American killed in the American Revolution. The British officer in charge, Captain Thomas Preston, along with eight of his men, were arrested and made to stand trial for manslaughter. While they were all acquitted, their actions in the Boston Massacre is regarded today as one of most significant acts of British abuse that rallied colonial Americans to the Patriot cause. Boston in 1770 Throughout the 1760s, Boston had been a very uneasy place. Colonists had increasingly been harassing British customs officials who were attempting to enforce the so-called Intolerable Acts. In October 1768, Britain began housing troops in Boston to protect the customs officials. Angry but largely non-violent clashes between the soldiers and the colonists had become commonplace. On March 5, 1770, however, the clashes became deadly. Promptly deemed a â€Å"massacre† by Patriot leaders, word of the day’s events quickly spread throughout the 13 colonies in a famous engraving by Paul Revere.   The Events of the Boston Massacre On the morning of  March 5, 1770,  a small group of colonists was up to their usual sport of tormenting British soldiers. By many accounts, there was a great deal of taunting that eventually lead to an escalation of hostilities. The sentry in front of the Custom House eventually lashed out at the colonists which brought more colonists to the scene. In fact, someone began ringing the church bells which usually signified a fire. The sentry called for help, setting up the clash which we now call the Boston Massacre. A group of soldiers led by Captain Thomas Preston came to the rescue of the lone sentry. Captain Preston and his detachment of seven or eight men were quickly surrounded. All attempts to calm the crowd proved useless. At this point, the accounts of the event vary drastically. Apparently, a soldier fired a musket into the crowd, immediately followed by more shots. This action left several wounded  and five dead including an African-American named Crispus Attucks. The crowd quickly dispersed, and the soldiers went back to their barracks. These are the facts we do know. However, many uncertainties surround this important historical event: Did the soldiers fire with provocation?Did they fire on their own?Was Captain Preston guilty of ordering his men to fire into a crowd of civilians?Was he innocent and being used by men like Samuel Adams to confirm the oft-claimed tyranny of England? The only evidence historians have to try and determine Captain Prestons guilt or innocence is the testimony of the eyewitnesses. Unfortunately, many of the statements conflict with each other and with Captain Prestons own account. We must try to piece together a hypothesis from these conflicting sources. Captain Prestons Account Captain Preston claimed he ordered his men to load their weapons.Captain Preston claimed he heard the crowd yelling fire.Captain Preston claimed they were attacked by heavy clubs and snowballs.Captain Preston claimed a soldier was hit by a stick and then fired.Captain Preston claimed the other soldiers fired in response to the colonist attack.Captain Preston claimed he reprimanded his men for firing into the crowd without orders. Eyewitness Statements in Support of Captain Prestons Statement Witnesses including Peter Cunningham claimed they heard Captain Preston order his men to load their weapons.Witnesses including Richard Palmes claimed they asked Captain Preston if he intended to fire and he said no.Witnesses including William Wyatt claimed the crowd was calling for the soldiers to fire.Witnesses including James Woodall claimed they saw a stick thrown and hit a soldier, which prompted him to fire, quickly followed by several other soldiers.Witnesses including Peter Cunningham claimed an officer other than Preston was behind the men and that he ordered the soldiers to fire.Witnesses including William Sawyer claimed the crowd threw snowballs at the soldiers.Witnesses including Matthew Murray claimed they did not hear Captain Preston order his men to fire.William Wyatt claimed that Captain Preston reprimanded his men for firing into the crowd.Edward Hill claimed that Captain Preston made a soldier put away his weapon instead of allowing him to continue to shoot. Eyewitness Statements Opposed to Captain Prestons Statement Witnesses including Daniel Calef claimed that Captain Preston ordered his men to fire.Henry Knox claimed the soldiers were hitting and pushing with their muskets.Joseph Petty claimed he did not see any sticks thrown at the soldiers until after the firing.Robert Goddard claimed he heard Captain Preston curse his men for not firing when ordered.Several soldiers including Hugh White claimed they heard the order to fire and believed they were obeying his commands. The facts are unclear. There is some evidence that seems to point to Captain Prestons innocence. Many people close to him did not hear him give the order to fire despite his order to load the muskets. In the confusion of a crowd throwing snowballs, sticks, and insults at the soldiers, it would be easy for them to think they received an order to fire. In fact, as noted in the testimony, many in the crowd were calling them to fire.   The Trial and Acquittal of Captain Preston Hoping to show Britain the impartiality of colonial courts, patriot leaders John Adams and Josiah Quincy volunteered to defend Captain Preston and his soldiers. Based on a lack of substantiated evidence, Preston and six of his men were acquitted. Two others were found guilty of manslaughter and were released after being branded on the hand. Because of the lack of evidence, it is not hard to see why the jury found Captain Preston innocent. The effect of this verdict was much greater than the Crown could ever have guessed. The leaders of the rebellion were able to use it as proof of Britains tyranny. While it was not the only instance of unrest and violence before the revolution, the Boston Massacre is often pointed to as the event that presaged the Revolutionary War. Like the Maine, Lusitania, Pearl Harbor, and September 11, 2001, Terror Attacks, the Boston Massacre became the rallying cry for the Patriots.

A Comparison Of Determinism And Free Will Theory - 1629 Words

Magd Al Harbi A Comparison of Determinism Free Will Theory Kent State University Introduction One aspect of human existence that I think is particularly interesting is the extent of control of which we have over the decisions we make. In life, there are many decisions to be made, from simple ones that seem almost subconscious to complex decisions that can take days to ponder on. There are decisions that we make that directly affect others, indirectly affect others, and decisions that we believe do not affect others, or even ourselves, at all. There are decisions that we believe do not matter and would have no impact on our existence. Two theories that shed some light on these aspects are the theory of determinism from†¦show more content†¦By â€Å"pleasurable†, Hume means a sensation that simply makes us feel good. An assertion such as this brings forth the reason behind Hume’s theory that humans are bound by determinism—firstly, we are born to naturally make decisions based on the most pleasurable outcome, which is not something we can control, therefore, it is a pre-determined characteristic of humans (Hume, 2006, p. 76). Secondly, Hume argues that the feelings we receive regarding things are determined mostly by elements out of our control. Therefore almost every sensation and feeling we incur is not made by that of our own volition but by a combination of countless ideas and impressions that have occurred in our life that we are not able to scrutinize or comprehend fully because there are far too many to analyze. Thirdly, Hume integrates the complexity of social norms into his theory as well. Depending on the situation, gaining social approbation from the community can cause more pleasure for someone than acting out of a selfish motive, due to the social disapproval making a decision could present (Hume, 2006, p. 10). For example, upon studying this theory, I found myself thinking about a time in which I was working on a project with a group and felt like skipping one of our group meetings because I was exhausted from work andShow MoreRelatedJohn Locke And John Chaffees Theory Of Philosophy1443 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween two extremes. John Locke developed his own theory of mind, which is often mentioned as the origin of modern conceptions of identity and self. Philosophers over the stretch of time have developed, and fine-tuned, their theories and conceptualized their own ideas on how and why all things in the universe work. From these different theories three examples of these ideas th at stand out are determinism, compatibilism, and libertarianism. Determinism, defined by John Chaffee, is â€Å"The view that everyRead MoreEssay on Freedom-Determinism debate1689 Words   |  7 PagesFreedom-Determinism Debate The controversy between freewill and determinism has been argued about for years. Freewill is defined as the belief that our behaviour is under our own control and do not act in response to any internal or external factors. Freewill has been found to have four different conditions and to have freewill at least two conditions must be obtained, these are; people have a choice on their actions, have not been coerced by anything or anyone, have full voluntary and deliberateRead MoreFreedom-Determinism Debate1726 Words   |  7 PagesThe controversy between freewill and determinism has been argued about for years. Freewill is defined as the belief that our behaviour is under our own control and do not act in response to any internal or external factors. 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Superstition and Daily Life Dealings Free Essays

What does the word superstition mean to you? We really find it difficult to define it. According to one simple definition, feelings or believes involving fear of some unseen forces is called superstition. For example, if a person believes that by wearing some kind of charm he will be protected from evil spirits and bad luck and without wearing It he will be under the influence of some unseen forces and also he will have bad luck. We will write a custom essay sample on Superstition and Daily Life Dealings or any similar topic only for you Order Now This kind of feelings or believes which involve fear of unseen forces, which can’t be proved, is called superstition and those people ho have such kind of believes are known as superstitious people. This kind of people believes in signs and numbers of good luck and bad luck and their whole live are greatly affected by these signs and numbers. How did Superstitions Begin? It is almost impossible to say that when people started believing in signs and numbers because there are many things all of us believe in that can’t be proved. At certain times In man’s history, and even today, everyone believed In certain things that now we regard as superstitions. At that time science was not as much developed as today, so those things and events which wondered and righted people at that time. They started believing In them and became superstitious. For instance, when they went under the trees at night time, they felt uncomfortable breathing. As they didn’t know any authentic reason behind this fact so they started beveling that to go under trees at night time Invites the anger of Ghost which makes their breathing uncomfortable in order to harm them. But, today we all know that trees absorb oxygen at night time and the deficiency of oxygen under trees at night makes our breathing uncomfortable Instead of Ghost. Similarly they believed that the shadow or reflection of a person is a part of soul. So, to break those things on which this shadow appeared was regarded as to harm the soul. So they considered it unlucky to break a mirror. Today If someone considers it unlucky to break mirror or believes that to go under the trees at night invites the anger of Ghost, we will definitely call him superstitious because today we no longer believe in these kind of â€Å"foolish† reasons which long time ago people believed. So superstition is actually a belief or practice that people cling to after new knowledge or facts have appeared to disprove them. That’s why it is impossible to say hen superstitions began. Some Familiar Superstitions: We can find superstitious people almost in every society, every country and In every religion although less in numbers than past. In past people TLD know about sun, stars, moon, and comets etc. So they made up explanations about their motion and followed certain practices to protect themselves from the influence of their motion on life. This is very common even today and become a commercial under the name of â€Å"Horoscope†. If a black cat crosses the way of a person, then that is considered as unlucky for that person. Another superstition which is very common in Europe and America Is â€Å"Friday The 13th†. When a Friday guests are expected. Some people wear stone made rings and believe that when bad luck is ahead , these stones change their color or they break down. Some people wear amulet and believe that this will protect from evil spirits. Some believe that if owls live in a house then that house will be ruined. Many people have their lucky numbers and they believe in them. There are many other superstitions which seem to be Joyful and Joke for us but they change the entire lives of those who believe in them. How to avoid Superstition? Superstitious people live their lives under the influence of unseen forces and fear. They cannot live a normal life. They are extra-careful in their daily life dealings. To keep yourselves away from these kind of feelings and believe Just believe in God Almighty, Who decided the fortune of man before man’s birth. So nothing can influence your lives. Superstitions are strictly denied in Islam. In any trouble, pay attentions towards Allah Almighty and seek His help. Find the genuine and scientific reasons behind the facts (instead of believing their influence or power as superstitious people do) and enjoy the life. How to cite Superstition and Daily Life Dealings, Essays

What We Dont Know About Campaign Finance Does Hurt Us. Essays

What We Don't Know About Campaign Finance Does Hurt Us. "No matter what your social issue, if you want to solve it get the money out of politics. Only then will lawmakers vote for their people rather than their pocketbooks." Jack E. Lohman. Money corrupts politics, and when contributions are being made to candidates it is not in the best interest of the American people. Campaign Finance is out of control in today's political races. Candidates are taking money from wherever and whoever they can get it. Soft money is flowing through elections without care or caution. People who make these contributions do not share the views of the average citizen, so politicians end up representing the wrong people. Money decides races, sometimes leaving the better man but lighter spender out of a position. Candidates make decisions based on what will help them financially that what is better for the people. Contributions by industry are made not in the interest of the people, sometimes hurting them in ways they don't even know. No matter what the oppositi on may say campaign finance reform is needed urgently to keep our democracy as our founders intended it. People and corporations that make the largest donations to campaigns do not share views with the general population. Politicians will listen to those who give them money so that they can depend on that money being there again when it is time for reelection. Yet individual donors making a $200 dollar or more contribution make up only .33% of the population. This extremely small percentage of mostly wealthy individuals gain the power to influence politicians to their liking. The idea that these people should have power to affect government more than those with less money goes against the concept of equality for all, which is what made this country great. People who make large donations do not share the same views on most issues as the general population. Robert L. Borosage and Ruy Teixeira report that while 53 percent of voters want stricter regulations on businesses and corporations, to give workers a fair salary and working conditions, 58 percent of campaign donors want to see less c ontrol over the businesses and corporations of America. Donors also want less government spending with lower taxes, while the majority of citizens want a larger, more powerful government. A very tiny part of our population is giving money to campaigns telling candidates what they have to do to continue getting campaign contributions, yet these people do not represent the ideology and sentiment of the people as a whole. There must be a change in the way that campaigns are financed if democracy is to survive. If we do not reform campaign finance we will have politicians working only for those who can afford to contribute. Money is the major factor in any political race. It can sway a decision very strongly depending on how well it is used. In the House, the candidate who spends the most money on his or her campaign wins 92% of the time. Things are no different in the Senate, here 88% of the time the bigger spender wins. Incumbents are usually the tip money spender, because they raise more money. Paul Starr, writer for The American Prospect , estimates that it would take $1,000,000 for a challenger to defeat the incumbent. The only way a challenger could get this kind of money would be to appeal to big business and the wealthy, who have radically different ideas about government than the general public. A challenger, to even have a chance, would have to turn to business and wealth to win. With this great difficulty to de-seat an incumbent, turnover in congress drops, and members become stagnant, winning on name alone. All the while, they are giving breaks to the corporations and wealthy people who got them there. With campaigns finance reform, we could get challengers and incumbents on a level playing field so that the candidate with the better ideas who will honestly help the majority will end up the victor. It would not matter much where candidates got the money from for their campaigns except that when elected, politicians act on in accordance to the wishes of those

Yellow Freight Merger Essays

Yellow Freight Merger Essays Yellow Freight Merger Essay Yellow Freight Merger Essay In the wake of recent industry consolidation, Yellow and Roadway Corporation were looking for ways to strengthen their businesses. In 2003, Yellow Corporation, the nation’s second largest trucking company, acquired the industry leader, Roadway Corporation, creating Yellow-Roadway Corporation. The combination strategy was to bring both the companies strengths together to capture significant synergies and growth opportunities. Management decided to keep both company brands operating separately, continuing them to compete against each other. In an effort to expand their geographic scope and operate regionally, Yellow-Roadway bought USF Corp in 2005; and continued to operate each brand separately. Unfortunately over the next couple years Yellow Corporation and Roadway Corporation were forced to merge operations together. In 2009, they changed their name to YRC Worldwide, Inc. to reflect their finalization of the merger. Due to the many different divisions of the company and the purchase of USF, in 2006 Yellow Roadway Corp changed its name to YRC Worldwide, Inc. n March 2009, Yellow Transportation and Roadway finally merged to create YRC. In 2003, Yellow paid $966 million for Roadway to create Yellow-Roadway Corporation. This acquisition gave them control of more than 15% of the less-than-truckload (LTL) market. The deal valued Roadway at $48 a share, a 60% premium, and required Yellow to assume $140 million in debt. After the announcement of the acquisition, Roadway shares rose 54%, while Yellow shares fell about 5%. The combined company represents only 1% of the $600 billion global freight transportation market. The fact that 70% of Yellows business was from manufacturing and 70% of Roadways business was from retail supported the decision to remain as separate operations. The chairmen from both companies emphasized that their combination was strictly a merger, not a buy-out, since both companies were effectively operating on their own. The near term strategy for the combination was to reduce back-office costs, not to compress the delivery network by closing terminals and laying off truckers. Since both brands were so powerful in the marketplace, the decision to operate separately and compete with each other seemed like a good decision to continually reach new markets and gain more customers. Yellows chairman, William Zollars estimated that by combining back office operations, the newly formed company could save about $45 million in the first year. The result was a 13% increase in revenue and a 43% increase in income from continuing operations from the previous quarter. Upon the realization of these additional cost reductions, this strategy appeared to have paid off. During 2005, Yellow Roadway Corp. paid $1. 5 billion for USF Corporation. This acquisition gave them entry into the regional, overnight freight market all over the country. This new market was growing faster than the long haul market that Yellow Roadway currently served so it was an important strategic step for them. Ultimately, the deal would fortify the largest LTL carrier’s stronghold in regional and next-day services. The addition of USF will also expand Yellow’s national and international transportation services. According to Zollars, â€Å"USF represents an excellent opportunity to leverage the successful strategy that was employed with Roadway. † Basically this means maintaining the strong separate brand identities, customer interfaces and distinct operations of each business unit. This acquisition also enhanced Yellow Roadways current logistics and truckload capabilities. USF shareholders received $29. 25 in cash and $0. 32 of Yellow Roadway shares for each USF share owned. At the time, they were criticized for overpaying (by 16%) for USF stock, but since the past acquisitions proved to be successful, management’s decision had some credibility. (or held promising) with roadway acquisition, analysts said the industry has too many terminals, trucks and too much capacity. They have to look at overlapping operations and cut capacity. Greg burns, transportation analyst at jp morgan. With the acquisitions of Roadway and USF, Yellow created a combined enterprise that expected to have annual revenue of $9 billion, with more than 70,000 employees and 1,00 service locations. In 2007, company had operations in 70 countries and provided logistics as well as global, national and regional transportation services. Operates as the largets ltl provider in the US and is one of the largest transportation service providers in the world. Companys two largest subsidiaries, Yellow and Roadway Express cater to over 300,000 clients in the retail, wholesale, manufacturing and government sectors in North America. Offers supply chain solutions for heavyweight shipments and serves customers who ship industrial, commercial and retail goods.

Should You Take AP English Literature or AP English Language

Should You Take AP English Literature or AP English Language SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you considering taking an AP English class at some point during high school? You might have noticed that AP offers two English courses – AP English Literature and Composition and AP English Language and Composition. (Those titles are a mouthful, so we’ll just refer to them as AP Literature and AP Language in this post.) So what are some of the differences between the two classes? Is one class harder than the other? Should you take both or just choose one? In this guide, we'll explain the similarities and differences between the two courses to help you decide which option is best for you. AP Literature vs. AP Language Overview Some schools offer AP Literature and AP English Language as a sequence, with AP Language and Composition as a sophomore or junior course, and AP Literature as a junior or senior course. But some schools only offer the courses during senior year, and students have to choose between them. Or your school might not have strict requirements at all, and you might be wondering if you should take both, one, or none. First we will reveal which course is more difficult. Then we'll discuss the similarities between the two courses as well as the differences. Finally, we will ask you some guiding questions to help you decide between the two classes. Which Is Harder: AP Literature or AP Language? You’re probably wondering...out of the two AP English courses, which one is harder? Well, it turns out both AP Literature and AP Language are not super easy to pass, and quite difficult to get a 5 (the highest score) on. (For more on AP test scoring, see our post.) Both exams have low pass rates and very low 5 rates. AP Literature has a pass rate of about 52%, while AP Language's pass rate is about 55%. This makes them the making them the 7th and 10th lowest-passed AP exams in 2017(out of the 38 total exams). Their 5 rates are also low. AP Language has a 9.1% 5 rate. AP Literature has just a 6.8% 5 rate. To put that in context, on other AP exams, it’s typical for between 10% and 20% of students to earn a 5. There are a few factors that could explain why both AP English exams have low pass rates and low 5 rates. The first is the fact that they are both very popular exams. AP Language is the number one most popular AP exam – nearly 580,000 students took the test in 2017 alone! AP Literature is the third most-popular AP exam, withover400,000 exams taken in 2017. This means that both tests have a very wide pool of exam-takers, which suggests there might be more students who take the exam who are unprepared. However, the fact that their 5 rates are so low suggests that both exams are more difficult than average to do well on. Given that the difference in pass rates is so small between the two tests, it’s unlikely one AP English class is dramatically harder than the other. Which test is harder for you will depend on your strengths and weaknesses, as both AP English classes have different readings and goals. Instead, to figure out which exam is best for you, we'll compare the two classes and the content they cover. First, we will note how the classes are similar, and then we will explain what makes each AP English class unique. What’s the Same for AP Language and AP Literature? So what are the similarities between AP Literature and AP Language? We will compare both the AP tests and the classes. The Exam The exam format is very similar for both AP English classes. The first part of AP Literature has 55 multiple-choice questions, and the first part of AP Language has 52-55 multiple choice questions. On both tests section I is worth 45% of your total score. These questions mainly have you read passages and analyze them. The AP English Literature questions focus on literary devices, character, and theme while the AP English Language questions focus on rhetorical strategies and tone. However, both tests include comprehension questions and require you to be able to read complex passages quickly and understand them. The second part the exam is worth 55% and has three essay questions. This means that both exams also require very fast writing skills. You need to plan, outline, write, and edit three essays in two hours, or in about 40 minutes per essay. Both exams also require you to be able to very quickly read and analyze a text by writing an essay, since the essay questions often ask you to analyze a piece of writing. The only major difference in exam format is that the AP Language exam has a 15-minute reading period before the free-response section, while AP Literature does not. This is to give you time to prepare for the synthesis question, which is unique to the AP Language test. The synthesis question has you incorporate several different sources into a coherent argument. To sum up, the format of the two AP English exams is very similar. You can expect the AP exam for either class to be quite challenging. The Class Both AP English classes are English courses and thus will mainly consist of reading and writing assignments. In particular, both emphasize writing clear, analytical essays. This is very different than just summarizing a book or writing your own stories like you might have in done previous English classes. Since both classes are meant to teach the same skills as an introductory college English class, the emphasis is on analyzing and writing about texts, rather than just reading, summarizing, and creating your own work. However, even though the exam and class formats are quite similar, the subject matter they tackle is very different. Next we will explore which makes each AP English course unique. What Sets the Two Classes Apart? There are some key differences between AP Language and AP Literature. This means that one AP English class might be more useful for you than the other. In this section we'll explain five of the main differences between the two classes. Looking at examples of actual prompts for both classes can also help you get a sense of how they differ. For AP Language, you can readall of the recent past free-response topics here, and you canread all the recent past AP Literature free response questions here. Difference 1: AP Language Is Broader Than AP Literature The main difference between the two courses is thatAP Literature focuses mostly on analyzing literature and poetry, while AP Language has a much broader scope. APEnglishLanguage and Composition teaches you to deconstruct arguments and rhetorical strategies in mostly non-fiction works.Non-fiction is a broad term, and can include journalism, memoirs, essays, satire, comics, and even photography.In other words, you will read (and watch!) material that is likely much more far-reaching than your past English classes. For AP Lang, you will also do lots of writing, learning to maximize your argument and/or effectiveness across different forms, from persuasive essays to memoir writing. As an example, in my AP Language course,our writing assignments included persuasive essays, reports on current events, memoir writing, and keeping a nature journal,a la Henry David Thoreau inWalden. (If you don’t know who that is, you probably will after taking AP Language!) For AP Literature, the works you read will be much less broad. They will be primarily literature, although the class will also include some poetry. You'll primarily be reading novels and plays, and the texts you read will be less broad compared to what you read in AP Language. Difference 2: AP Literature Is More In-Depth Than AP Language APEnglishLiterature teaches you to read and analyze works of literature and poetry with different lenses - for example, characterization, tone, or description. In that sense,it has less breadth but more depth than AP Language. You will work to discover a work’s theme or intent via use of literary devices, as opposed to analyzing its argument or effectiveness. Your essays for AP Literature will be mainly analytical. For example, you will explain how a novel achieves a certain tone by closely analyzing quotations. In most cases, you won’t be arguing for a point or saying how good or bad something is. You will simply read literature closely and try to figure out what makes it tick. For AP Language, you typically won't be diving so deep into one source; you'll instead be making broader comparisons and arguments for a variety of texts. You won't be referring to specific quotes as often as you would in AP Lit because you're taking more of a high-level look at the texts. Difference 3: AP Language Is More Applicable for Other Subjects Than AP Literature The skills you learn in AP Language are broadly applicable to not only the humanities, but to the social sciences as well.If you’re interested in political science, sociology, or economics, the skills you learn in AP Language will be directly applicable to your college coursework. AP Language is also a good choice if you are interested in natural science or engineering, since learning to break down arguments and read non-fiction texts will likely be more helpful in your chosen field than analyzing poetry and literature. In any field, having strong writing skills is very helpful. The essays on the AP Language exam are designed to â€Å"test your skill in composition and require close reading, thoughtful rhetorical analysis, andpurposeful argumentation.† As we mentioned above,AP Language has a synthesis prompt that requires you to pull together several different sources and write a cohesive argumentative essay.The synthesis prompt is similar to the Document-Based Question you’ll find on AP history exams. For AP Literature, you'll gain writing skills useful in any field, but this class has a very specific humanities/fine arts focus.You'll be studying primarily fiction texts, including poetry and literature. You'll spend more time studying how literary pieces are composed and how literary devices are used. Even if you rarely read newspapers anymore, you might encounter them in AP Language! Difference 4: You'll Likely Do More Reading in AP Literature You'll have to do a fair amount of reading for both classes, but AP Literature is generally a more reading-intensive course. For AP Literature,you need to read several books just to prepare for the AP exam, so expect regular reading assignments.For example, my class read several novels, including very long ones likeCrime and Punishment, as well as plays, short stories, and poetry. We also had to read six full-length books the summer before the class even started. You'll also be doing reading for AP Language, but the readings will often be shorter, and many won't be full-length novels or plays. If you're worried about having enough time to complete the required reading, it's an important factor to consider when deciding between the two classes. Difference 5: The Final AP Literature Prompt Is Especially Difficult Many students find the final prompt on the AP Literature exam to be especially challenging. For the last prompt, the AP Literature test does not give you relevant quotes or summaries of the works you can write about. This means you have to be familiar with at least a few books and be able to write about them without having the books with you when you take the exam. As an example, here is the 2014 open response prompt: The prompt gives you a wide variety of books and plays that you could write about, but also allows you to analyze any work of â€Å"comparable literary merit.† (Twilight isn’t going to cut it.) But the prompt doesn’t give you any more info than the work’s title – you need to be able to supply the evidence from that particular work based on memory. Some students memorize important quotes and page numbers to be prepared for this question, but this isn't essential if you have a strong grasp of the plot, characters, tone, themes, motifs, and so on.Furthermore, to write these essays well, you need to know literary devices, like allegory and hyperbole, to name a couple, and be able to use them as evidence. In contrast, the AP Language exam provides most of the sources for you to analyze. Just one essay asks you to consider outside sources, but it doesn’t require specific books, and in fact allows you to draw from your own experience. Again, this shows that you'll have to do a lot more reading for AP Literature so that you have a wide pool of books you can potentially use for the final essay prompt. How Do You Decide Which AP English Class to Take? Both AP English classes have key similarities – like exam structure – and differences, like the type of reading you’ll do. So how will you pick which one to take? Consider each of the following factors before making your decision. What Are You Planning on Majoring In? As a general rule, AP Language has a broader focus and will be more directly applicable to your work in various college majors, while AP Literature is a great choice if you are interested in the arts or humanities. For example, if you know for sure you want to pursue engineering in college, then AP Language is probably the best choice. You’ll pick up some writing skills but not be overloaded with tons of reading – saving you time for other challenging courses in math and science. But if you know you want to study the humanities – including philosophy, history, English or World Literature – the depth of reading you’ll do in AP Literature will give you a solid base of knowledge to build on in college. But what if you have no clue what you want to study in college? Keep reading! What Do You Like To Read? AP Literature and AP Language have very different focuses and reading lists. So think about what you tend to enjoy reading! If you like the reading for a class, you are much more likely to complete it all and be interested in the assignments – meaning you’ll get a better grade. For example, if you follow the news, read lots of blogs or magazines, and enjoy non-fiction books, you’ll probably enjoy the AP Language reading. If you read fiction books for fun and enjoy writing your own stories, you might prefer AP Literature. Sure, you won’t be doing lots of creative writing, but studying what makes literature great will help you be a better writer. Who Teaches These Classes at Your School? Preferences and future major aside, your experience in the class will really depend on how it’s taught at your school and how good the teacher is. If you can, get a syllabus from both of this year’s classes. There isn’t required reading for either course, although AP Literature has many suggested authors, so teachers have a lot of freedom in designing their reading lists. You might be much more interested in one class’s reading than another, and that will help you decide. You can also ask upperclassman and your guidance counselor about the reputation and pass rate of the different classes at your school. Chances are, both AP English teachers will be pretty good, if not excellent. But if, for example, everyone raves about the AP Literature class and say that they learned a ton and loved the teacher, consider taking it even if you’re leaning towards AP Language. Never underestimate the effect of an amazing teacher! Is It Possible to Take Both AP Language and AP Literature? If you really can’t decide, see if it’s possible to take both classes. Colleges want to see that you are taking a challenging course load based on what’s available at your school. That could mean fitting in both AP English courses, but if that causes you to have to sacrifice other AP classes or an extracurricular, taking one is plenty. Again, this will also depend on your intended major. For example if you’re a future engineer, taking both AP English classes won’t vastly strengthen your college applications,while fitting in both AP Calculus and AP Physics will. But if you are interested in the humanities, it would make sense to take both. Personally, I took both AP English classes: AP Language in 10th grade, and AP Literature in 11th grade. They were both challenging, but I liked taking them in that order, since Language was broader and gave me an introduction to writing AP essays. I was able to use the skills I developed in Language to do well in Literature. For me, Literature was more challenging, mainly because I had to know a few books and plays inside and out to be ready for the free-response section of the AP test. I found both test’s multiple-choice sections equally challenging. I found the skills I built in both classes to be incredibly useful to me across a range of college classes – from economics to political science to English. Don't choose just one path! Bottom Line: AP Lang vs AP Lit Both AP English classes will improve your writing skills. Both AP English classes have challenging exams. The main difference between the two is what types of reading they focus on. Hopefully reading about the two classes gave you an idea about which one you are leaning towards. If not, make an appointment to talk to your guidance counselor to discuss which class is best for you. What’s Next? Whether you decide to take AP Literature, AP Language, or both, you might also be wondering how many AP classes total you should take in high school. See our guide to choosing the right number of AP classes. Also studying for the SAT or ACT? Learn which reading section is harder, and get tips for an 800 SAT Reading score from our full-scorer. Still deciding between the SAT or ACT? Find out for sure which you will do the best on. Also read a detailed comparison between the two tests. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: