1 / 10

Three recent AP English Language exam essay prompts:

Three recent AP English Language exam essay prompts:.

mingan
Download Presentation

Three recent AP English Language exam essay prompts:

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Three recent AP English Language exam essay prompts: 2010: Benjamin Banneker, the son of former slaves, was a farmer, astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, and author. In 1791 he wrote to Thomas Jefferson, framer of the Declaration of Independence and secretary of state to President George Washington. Read the following excerpt from the letter and write an essay that analyzes how Banneker uses rhetorical strategies to argue against slavery. 2009: The passage below is from “The Indispensable Opposition,” an article by Walter Lippmann; it appeared in The Atlantic Monthly in 1939. Read the passage carefully. Then write an essay in which you analyze the rhetorical strategies Lippmann uses to develop his argument. 2008: In the following passage from The Great Influenza, an account of the 1918 flu epidemic, author John M. Barry writes about scientists and their research. Read the passage carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Barry uses rhetorical strategies to characterize scientific research. What’s the commonality in all of these? They all focus on rhetoric and argument! What are the CONCRETE aspects of the prompts? The rhetorical strategies! Look for these as you annotate. For each of the prompts, what ABSTRACT question should you be answering? 2010: What, specifically, is his argument against slavery? 2009: What specifically, IS his argument? 2008: How does he characterize scientific research? For any of these prompts, your paper must ANALYZE how the author’s argument is strengthened or weakened by his use of rhetorical devices. You have to understand the argument before you can talk about the rhetorical devices.

  2. Scoring • AP essays are graded on a 1-9 scale. A 5 is the most common score. The problem with 5 essays is their superficiality. • The grader can tell that you understand the content and literary/language technique of the given passage, but he also sees that you have missed the complexity of the piece. • 5 responses are typically commonplace, poorly conceived, poorly organized, or simplistic. • The good news – You can write a 5 in your sleep, but 7, 8, and 9 is your conscious goal. • Now for some basics…

  3. Write dark, write large, write legibly! Think about this. First impressions are hugely important in writing. Superficial as it may seem, your book WILL be judged on its cover. Clearly indent new paragraphs so that your reader can follow your ideas. Neatness Counts

  4. The First Two Sentences Are Crucial • Again, first impressions! Make sure the grader recognizes your skills as a writer by starting off well. The glow of the first sentences can carry you through the rest of the essay. The grader has looked at your writing, is immediately attracted to it, and wants to give it a good grade. He or she will tend to be more lenient towards your errors if you have made that initial good impression. • ATTT • AQA

  5. Notes on TW introductions • The author will use the CONCRETE (rhetorical devices, language, appeals) to develop the ABSTRACT (the argument/assertion, meaning/theme). • A basic BABY thesis—but aim for something more mature: • The author effectively develops his assertion that (insert abstract concept here)by utilizing (identify the concrete, such as rhetorical devices). • Note: try to be more specific than “by utilizing logos, ethos and pathos.” • By effectively blending logical, rational facts with taste bud-tempting imagery, Herrin effectively argues that Thin Mints are superior to Peanut Butter Patties.

  6. Vocabulary • There is a reason we have been forcing you to learn the words in Vocabulary Workshop. Now is the time to use the particular verbs and nouns you wrote on those flash cards. • This does not mean that you are given license to participate in an exercise in verbal gymnastics or soil your essay with verbal nonsense. • What the grader wants is that which is less than generic. A dash of glitter is better than none at all. Just don’t go fully disco on them.

  7. Some basic reminders (this is on your yellow sheet—you’ve read that, right?) • When you get the prompt, underline the concrete and the abstract. • Concrete—the specific devices you should be looking for. • Abstract—the “theme” or argument

  8. Focus on your commentary • Insight and understanding • Balance evidence with interpretation • Make sure you answer the question! Focus on the prompt. • Must explain how or why the concrete elements create or illustrate the abstract concept. • Show, don’t tell

  9. Tying it all together with a military analogy:

  10. Conclusion • Make it meaningful • Reflect an understanding of the passage as a whole, as well as an understanding of the author’s craft. • Address theme, or meaning, in the conclusion. Tie it all together.

More Related