Help! Anya Slepyan

In my opinion, the basic problem with AP classes is the emphasis on the test. A large part of this probably comes from the fact that both of my parents are history professors and pretty much equate standardized testing with satan, a view that many students our age share. We hate standardized testing. A lot. But we understand that the ultimate *practical* goal of an AP class is to pass the AP test, so it's just kind of confusing and everyone is grumpy all the time. Mr. Logsdon's class is very well tailored to the test, which is part of the reason it is so effective in preparing us for the three hour purgatory/test that we all had the joy of experiencing last week. And I understand that Mr. Logsdon is fine with this because it allows us to develop skills in argumentation, synthesis, and analysis. My question is if we could develop these skills using some different resources, as well as the methods we used this year. For example, while I understand we are allowed only forty minutes on the test for each essay and we must practice writing them in class, I think our writing skills could also be developed by reading full books (throughout the year, not only in the summer) and practice writing extended synthesis, argument, and analysis essays that would be more analogous to a college experience. Because while one goal of AP classes is to pass a test, another goal should be to prepare students for the expectations of an actual college-level class. And I believe that by extending some assignments, and promoting more seminars, etc. Mr. Logsdon could easily do both.