AP Language and Composition Hints

Transcription

1 AP Language and Cmpsitin Hints Basic Infrmatin abut Sectin I 1) 50 t 54 questins, five answer chices 2) 4 t 5 prse passages with 10 t 15 questins each 3) at least 1 passage will be a pre-20 th century reading 4) 60 minutes ttal (15 minutes per passage if there are 4 passages, 12 minutes per passage if there are 5) 5) Questins test yur ability t a. Analyze rhetrical and linguistic chices b. Identify stylistic effects that result frm wrd chice c. Critically examine prse selectins d. Understand an authr s meaning and purpse e. Recgnize structural rganizatin f. Evaluate the legitimacy and purpse f surces g. Cmprehend rhetrical mdes h. Analyze syntax, figurative language, tne, and style 6) Sectin I accunts fr 45% f yur final cmpsite scre 7) Requires that yu effectively manage yur time and make educated guesses Rule 1 Pace Yurself 1) During practice tests, shave a minute ff f yur alltted passage time (giving yurself 11 r 14 minutes). 2) Save thse extra minutes t rerganize the readings befre yu start and t check yur wrk at the end f the test. 3) If yu have nly 5 minutes left and an entire passage t g, what shuld yu d? Dn t read the passage; g directly t the questins and begin with thse that yu can answer withut having t read the entire passage (such as vcabulary questins r thse directed t specific lines). Rule 2 Read! 1) Skim the passage carefully t determine its general mde essay, article, letter, histry, autbigraphy. 2) Read the passage carefully fr a clear and specific understanding f the writer s main idea. 3) Activate attack skills: a. Establishing facts b. Analyzing reasning c. Identifying elements f style d. Evaluating the message e. Observing rganizatinal patterns Rule 3 Analyze the questins 1) Main idea 2) Rhetric 3) Mde 4) Definitin 5) Tne 6) Purpse 7) Frm/rganizatin 8) Ftnte/endntes Rule 4 Answer the questins 1) Anntate the questins, lking fr clues t help yu determine questin type 2) Determine if a questin is wrth yur time r if it shuld be mmentarily skipped 3) Reread lines/sentences/paragraphs that are identified in the questins, but dn t frget that yu can t spt read n the AP exam.

2 4) Eliminate answer chices if they are: a. T narrw b. T brad c. Irrelevant d. Incrrect e. Illgical 5) Predict an answer 6) Read all answer chices 7) Remember that all parts f an answer must be crrect 8) Lk fr cnsistency within answers n a passage 9) Careful with the NOT/EXCEPT questins Basic Infrmatin abut Sectin II Successful writers d the fllwing: Use a wide range f vcabulary apprpriately and effectively Use a variety f sentence structures Use a lgical rganizatin enhanced by specific techniques t increase cherence such as judicius repetitin, strng transitins, and apprpriate emphasis Use a balance f generalizatin and specific illustrative detail Use an effective rhetric, a cntrlled tne, a strng vice, and an apprpriate emphasis thrugh dictin and sentence structure Always cnsider the rhetrical triangle f each piece f writing. This is simply the speaker/writer, the audience, and the subject. Yu might want t cmplete this fr each piece as a frm f pre-writing. Als cnsider the purpse and cntext f the writing. Intrductin t the Essays Yu will have a ttal f tw hurs and 15 minutes t read the prmpts and surces and t write the essays. Each essay carries the same weight, s d nt spend an inapprpriate amunt f time n any ne essay. Yu d nt need t answer the essays in the rder they appear. Yu may chse t begin with the easiest essay. Be sure t number yur essay respnse n the tp f the page s that yu receive credit!!! Keep yur qutes shrt. A direct qute f mre than ne r tw lines f text is t much. Yu need nt always write ut the actual qutatins; smetimes yu can simply make a reference t a particular sectin by giving line numbers. The synthesis essay will require yu t incrprate surces. Discuss and Explain. D nt Retell, List, r Summarize. As a rule, five paragraphs (intrductin, three bdy paragraphs, and a gd cnclusin) make an adequate essay. Hwever, the ckie-cutter 5 paragraph structure may nt be the best fr develping yur ideas. Chse the structure that supprts yur psitin. Yu may use yur bservatins, readings, and experiences fr the synthesis and argumentative pieces. If yu make a mistake, crss it ut neatly. The Analysis Essay If yu get an essay that yu find difficult, dn t be thrwn by the cmplexity f the passage. Yu chse the references yu want t incrprate int yur essay. Even if yu dn t understand everything, yu can write an intelligent essay as lng as yu address the prmpt and refer t the parts f the passage yu understand. The level f yur writing shuld be a direct reflectin f yur critical thinking. AP is lking fr cnnectins between analysis and the passage. Identify, cnnect, and analyze the items. Dn t just list them. The AP readers use a rubric t grade yur essay. They are trained t reward yu fr things yu d well, and they are NOT lking t punish yu. Becme familiar with the sample rubric prvided. The readers understand that this is a draft f yur writing. Planning yur Essay Time In the margin, nte what time yu shuld be finished with the essay. Fr example, the test starts at 9:00. Yu write 9:40 in the margin. 3 minutes reading and making marginal ntes abut the passage. 5 minutes preparing t write Underlining, circling Use a shrthand system t mark repeated themes, authr s purpse, supprting details, etc. Marginal Mapping

3 Charts MME and ICE techniques 30 minutes writing yur essay 2 minutes prfreading and editing Strategies Read the prmpt and highlight, circle, r underline the essential terms and elements in the prmpt. It shuld take 1-3 minutes. The incidental data given in the prmpt can help yur analysis. Pay attentin t titles, ftntes, the authr, the date f publicatin, etc. After yu have quickly analyzed the prmpt, read the passage. Read quickly the first time t get the gist f the passage. Reread, using highlighting and marginal ntes analyzing the text. Cncentrate n the parts f the passage that apply t what yu highlighted in the prmpt. Opening Paragraph Yur pening paragraph is the ne that catches the eye f the reader and sets the expectatin and tne f yur essay. Make certain that the tpic is very clear t the reader. Always identify bth the text and the authr in the first paragraph. A lengthy pening is unnecessary Create a strng thesis statement that addresses the prmpt with a strng fcus n the authr s message. Yu may include three main areas f fcus/rhetrical devices and literary tls used, but it is nt necessary. Self-Check Have yu included the authr and title? Have yu addressed the prmpt/task? Bdy Paragraphs In general, yu shuld attack the bdy f yur essay by examining the wrk in a chrnlgical rder. This allws yu t lk at the passage frm a mre hlistic apprach, addressing methds as they appear. This is especially imprtant when an authr des nt use a methd mre than nce r when the same methd is used fr a different effect. Use specific references and details frm the passage. Dn t always paraphrase the riginal. Refer directly t it and use qutatins marks arund the wrds/phrases used in the exact passage. Use cnnective tissue in yur essay t establish adherence t the questin. Try using ech wrds (synnyms) t build chesin f ideas withut redundant repetitin (twn/village; bland/rdinary/undistinguished) Use transitins between and within paragraphs Sequential: initially, furthermre, ultimately, Additinal: furthermre, mrever, similarly, additinally Illustrative: fr example, fr instance, t illustrate Cntrast/cmparative: nevertheless, cnversely, instead, hwever, nnetheless, n the cntrary Cause and effect: therefre, cnsequently, as a result, accrdingly Affirmatin: f curse, bviusly, indeed Cncluding Paragraphs Spend mre time develping slid bdy paragraphs rather than elabrate cnclusins. In yur BRIEF cnclusin, it may help t link yur ideas t a particularly effective line r image frm the passage. A cnclusin des nt have t be a paragraph; it can be yur final remark r bservatin in a sentence r tw In general, the cnclusin shuld ADD smething t the essay as a whle. Argumentative Essay Use yur bservatins, readings, and experiences t supprt yur psitin. Yur supprt shuld be ratinal and lgical, nt emtinal. It shuld be bjective rather than biased. Yu need t d three things fr this essay Understand the nature f the psitin taken in the prmpt Take a specific stand argue, qualify, r disagree with the assertin in the prmpt Clearly and lgically supprt yur claim Yu may use any f the fllwing t supprt yur argument

4 Facts/statistics Details Qutatins Recgnitin f the ppsitin Examples Anecdtes Pints f cmparisn and cntrast Aspects f cause and effect Appeals t eths and lgs (appeals t paths may be used but nly sparingly) Yur essay is graded fr prcess and mastery and manipulatin f language, nt fr hw clse yu cme t the viewpint f yur reader Pre-writing. See ntes abve. List ideas fr defense (agree), challenge (disagree), and qualify (agree with sme parts and disagree with thers). Intrductin Refer specifically t the prmpt (speaker and ccasin, tpic) and clearly state yur psitin n the given issue. The classical frmula fr an argument is Present the issue/situatin/prblem Acknwledge and respnd t real r pssible ppsing views State yur assertin/claim/thesis Supprt yur claim Make yur final cmment r summary f the evidence This essay als wrks well with the cause/effect frmat pening. Ask Questin abut specific fcus, Use Indeed, transitin and state the ppsite f yur psitin. Use Hwever, and list tw t three big ideas supprting yur stance. Example: Des televisin have the pwer fr limitless capabilities fr gd and fr evil? Indeed, televisin allws individuals t experience vast wrlds unbeknwnst t the cmmn man. Hwever, televisin has the capacity t negatively impact the mental, scial, and physical well-being f thse wh becme addicted t it. Bdy Paragraphs Traditinal Argumentative Essays fllw this basic guideline: State the purpse/claim (strng thesis with specific stance) Anticipate bjectins frm the reader (1 st bdy paragraph) Cunter bjectins by supprting the claim with slid evidence (2 nd -4 th bdy paragraphs) Cnclusin restating stance that was derived frm evidence Fur Elements f a Lgical Argument Claim-The specific prpsitin f a writer is the claim. A claim may be made directly r indirectly. Objectins-Knwing the main pints f the ppnent helps a writer answer bjectins effectively. Evidence-A writer supprts a claim with facts, interprets the facts, and explains- giving statistics, reasns, examples, r ther evidence) Cnclusin-The end f an argument is ften a restatement f the claim. It may be a summary f the main pints r a lgical generalizatin. It may attempt t mtivate the reader t act. General Tips: Main pints shuld be arranged in least-t mst-imprtant s that the argument gradually builds. The best pint is placed last, where it receives the mst emphasis. Cmmn Grund prepares the reader fr a fair and reasnable argument. This shuld be established within the 1 st bdy paragraph. If yu can find any similar r cmmn grund within the tpic, state this t yur reader. Agreeing befre disagreeing is a great way t draw yur reader in. Use phrases such as It is true but Prpnents realize/agree yet they believe Supprters recgnize.; still they d nt acknwledge Indeed.hwever,.

5 Certainly.despite these claims Granted in cntrast Have an apprpriate and respectful tne when first intrducing the ppnent s pssible bjectins. This is a fair fight/discussin in which yu listen t what yur ppnent says befre yu begin. Yu must shw that yu heard them by addressing their specific cncerns with specific evidence and details. Refuting Oppsing Pints T refute a pint yu shw that it is irrelevant r nly partly true r cmpletely false. In answering bjectins, avid any hint f disrespect fr the reader s view. This will cause yu t lse pints in yur reader s mind. T be cnvincing, a writer needs adequate evidence. Because yu dn t have access t surces, yu must use yur experiences, bservatins, and reading t frmulate yur argument. The readers trust that yu are mature individuals wh have a wide range f experiences already in their lifetime use them! Use quality evidence and avid weak evidence. Hwever yu set up yur essay, supprt yur ideas with specific examples Yu can use a variety f appeals in yur argument: Lgical appeal t the reader s need fr fact-based reasning Ethical appeal t the reader s gd sense, gd will, and the desire t d the right thing Emtinal an appeal t the reader s fear, patritism, and s frth. Use cautin nt t verd appeals t emtin Be aware f lgical fallacies and AVOID them in yur writing (we will learn these sn) Avid making brad assumptins with wrds like ALL, ALWAYS, NEVER, etc. Cnclusin Yur cnclusin is the final nail in the building f an argument. A cnclusin shuld restate the thesis and leave the reader persuaded that the reasning is valid. If actin is advcated, the cnclusin shuld cnvey a sense f immediacy. The cnclusin f an argument shuld be sund, apprpriate, and cmplete. Quickly restate yur psitin and main examples f supprt. If yu can find a pwerful way t recnnect all ideas, d s (qute, anecdte, etc.). If a creative cnclusin desn t cme t yu immediately, sum up yur ideas quickly in ne t tw sentences and mve n t yur next essay. Yu may use an anecdte, questin, r challenging/pwerful image/statement t clse yur argument. Synthesis Essay After reading and anntating the surces, respnd t the given prmpt with an essay that incrprates and synthesizes at least THREE f the surces in supprt f yur psitin n the subject. Yu will NOT be given extra pints fr incrprating mre than three surces. Yu will NOT pass this essay if yu fail t cite surces at any time. Use the surces as springbards r buttresses fr yur argument. D nt let the surces drive yur essay. The Cllege Bard wants t determine hw well a student can read critically, understand texts, analyze texts, develp a psitin n a given tpic, supprt a psitin n a given tpic, supprt a psitin with apprpriate evidence frm utside surces, incrprate utside surces int the texts f the essay, cite surces used in the essay. Use the surces and yur bservatins, readings, and experiences t supprt yur thesis. This essay is a chance t demnstrate yur ability t develp a researched idea using nt nly yur persnal viewpint, but als the viewpints f thers. Dn t be alarmed by the length r cmplexity f the surces. Yu will chse yur psitin, and yu will chse which texts t incrprate. As lng as yu address the prmpt and cite the required number f surces, yu will be fine. Yu must be able t analyze the argument each surce is making. What claim is the surce making abut the issue? What data r evidence des the surce ffer in supprt f the claim? What are the assumptins r beliefs (explicit r unspken) that warrant using this evidence r data t supprt the claim? Ask the questins: What are tw r three pssible psitins that I culd take n this issue? Which f these psitins d I want t take? Why? Keep an pen mind, and chse the tpic that will allw yu t have the best essay and supprting details. Many f the best essays dn t have a simple and easy thesis but instead take a mre critical apprach that recgnize the cmplexities f the issue. Imagine arguing the tpic with an individual. Argue yur psitin and feel free t say things like, Surce A takes a psitin similar t mine, r Surce C wuld ppse this psitin, but here is why I still maintain its validity, etc.

6 Cmmn Errrs nt taking a clear psitin r wavering between psitins Substituting an expsitry essay (infrming the reader f the different tpics/psitins) fr an argumentative essay Being reluctant t engage in verbal cmbat because everybdy s entitled t his r her pinin s there s nthing t argue abut Basing yur essay n the surces instead f using the surces t supprt yur claims. Lacking clear cnnectins between claims and the data, and the warrants needed t supprt them Trying t analyze style r rhetrical strategies instead f arguing a pint (wrng essay that wuld be analysis!!!) Carefully read the prmpt and all intrductry material. Many times the extra infrmatin will prvide yu with timesaving infrmatin. With visual texts Identify the subject/s Identify the majr cmpnents Identify verbal clues such as titles, date, cartnist, and dialgue Ntice psitin and size f details f images Identify the primary purpse Hw d the details supprt the purpse? Pre-writing: See Ntes in previus sectin. Clearly mark and decide which psitin yu will take and which surces will supprt yur viewpint. Opening Paragraph: Specifically address the prmpt and clearly state yur psitin n the tpic. Yu may use anecdtes, persnal experiences, bservatins, startling facts/statistics t catch yur reader s attentin. Bdy Paragraphs: Use transitins t cnnect ideas. Build up t yur strngest pint with each paragraph. When citing surces, all yu need t d is put the surce in parenthesis (Surce A) r say, Accrding t Surce A.. Use a mixture f direct qutatins, summary, and paraphrases when incrprating yur surces. Remember that yu MUST establish a psitin and each surce yu chse MUST supprt and develp yur psitin. Summary: read a text clsely and lcate the key wrds/phrases that enable yu t reduce the piece t its essential pints Paraphrase: transpse the riginal material int yur wn wrds. It will be clse t number f wrds in the riginal text. Inference: drawing a cnclusin based n specific material Cnclusin: Restate main idea but d nt simply summarize. Try t pwerfully cnnect ideas r find anther surce that smehw unites all items discussed. AP Essays: Helpful Hints 1. Dn t present yurself as an immature writer. AP readers see beynd handwriting t the larger issues f style and cntent, but handwriting can reflect prblems. Is the handwriting s excessively large r small that it is difficult t decipher? Is the handwriting excessively flrid? If yu have pr, difficult t read handwriting, strive t be certain the writing is clear enugh t read. AP readers must grade 20+ essays an hur and yur handwriting may affect attentiveness. Dn t make it difficult fr the reader t see yur thinking. Brief, scant respnses are the wrst errr yu can make as the AP reader is left with n way t evaluate yur ability. 2. Avid thse serius errrs, which will mark yu as an unprepared writer. A serius errr is repeated cmma splices and run-n sentences. Anther serius errr is repeated ccurrences f sentence fragments. Spelling errrs are serius, but a few are acceptable; t many may cst yu pints, particularly if they are cmmn wrds. Spelling errrs cmbined with a lack f sentence cntrl are mre apt t cunt against yu.

7 Errrs f usage e.g., affect/effect affect hw the readers evaluate yur language cmpetence. 3. Write sentences that are smth, flwing, clear, sensible; avid shrt, chppy sentences. Prfread t ensure that yu have nt mitted wrds that render sentences unclear r nnsensical. Prfread t make sure that yur wrding is nt s cnfused, awkward, r ineffective that the reader cannt figure ut what yu are saying. Sentences which are sharp, precise, and clear but which at the same time shw cmplexity characterize the best writing. Sentences whse structures enable yu t express intricate, layered understandings effectively will mark yu as a mature and capable writer. A fluent, clear style is a primary characteristic f higher level writing. Use sentence variety t develp a mre sphisticated style. 4. Pay attentin t rganizatin and cntent: THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES Respnd exactly t the questin asked. The literature and questins are lgical and fcused. Yur answer is in the questin. Accept that guidance; interpret and illustrate the questin. Keep yur fcus clear thrughut yur essay; make certain the thughts are in a lgical sequence that is cntinually cnnected t the fcus, thus yielding a unified essay. Use specific details bth t ffer cmmentary and interpretatin abut the literary piece and t supprt and illustrate yur pints. Explain thrugh examples and cmments n the details f the text. Plan t spend five minutes brainstrming and structuring yur respnse; then write frm yur utline r list f ideas. Think thrugh the whle answer befre yu begin. Once yu begin writing, try t maintain a cntinuus, lgical, and fcused flw. Yu may have new insights as yu prceed, but try t cnnect cntinually where yu began, where yu are, and where yu are ging with yur central idea.