AP LANGUAGE AN COMPOSITION TEST STRATEGIES
*Write your first few sentences perfectly—no grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes. Be neat. Indent your paragraphs.
* Remember that titles of novels, periodicals, movies, (larger works) are italicized or underlined. Titles of essays, poems, articles, (shorter works) are put in quotation marks.
FOR MULTIPLE-CHOICE:
Types of passages: Think about the types of passages you will see: essays, speeches, letters, biographies, autobiographies, diary or journal entries, maybe (although I haven’t seen it) excerpts from fiction.
Extra Information: Look at any extra information given to you—dates (this will give you a clue as to the historical context), names of authors (you may recognize his or her other works)
Princeton Review advises that you NOT look at the questions before reading the passages. Their reason is that it may influence how you read the information, that you will filter it through your perceived expectations of the text.
1. Read the passage for the big picture (think about SOAPSTone--who is talking? what's his/her tone?what's the purpose? who's the audience?
2. Do the Two-Pass system: When you answer the questions, answer the one's you know for sure first. Than, go back and answer the more detailed ones.
3. If two answers seem correct, use (POE--process of elimination).
4. The last ditch effort is to guess--remember, you are not deducted any points for guessing.
ESSAYS: Read each prompt twice.
FOR THE SYNTHESIS ESSAY:
1. READ the prompt and the introductory information carefully! Underline key words in the directions.
2. Remember that it's like the argument essay in that you need to take a position of some sort--you may have to evaluate or analyzewhat a special group of people needs to consider before doing something else.
3. Read all your sources and as you read, write very brief notes or "pro" or "con" on the article to remind you of the content.
4. After you read the articles, jot down a brief outline that will help you to stay focused and organized.
5. Remember that you must cite at least THREE of the sources.
6. Don't be afraid to use examples for your own reading, observations, and experience.
FOR THE STYLE/RHETORICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY:
1. Read the prompt carefully. Underline key words in the directions. Ask yourself what you are supposed to do. There are probably a couple of things. For example:
Write an essay analyzing the rhetorical strategies that Washington uses to convey his point of view
2. When analyzing and author’s style and rhetorical strategies, remember that you are focusing on HOW the writer conveys information. You may have to articulate the author’s central argument/central claim, point of view,
3. Once you know what you are supposed to do, start picking out HOW the author uses language in his/her essay.
· Ask yourself if the argument appeals to logic (logos), emotion (pathos), or expertise (ethos).
· Ask yourself if you can recognize any structural patterns, like: cause and effect, comparison and contrast, definition or classification, exemplification (examples), analogy, definition, narration/description (vivid imagery), deduction or induction
· Ask yourself what the tone or attitude of the author is—is there any diction you can identify that confirms this?
· Ask yourself if there are any specific literary techniques the author employs: rhetorical questions, hyperbole, litotes, metaphors or similes, antithesis, vivid imagery (description), onomatopoeia, polysyndeton….
· Are there any rhetorical fallacies employed—remember that a rhetorical fallacy simply means a flaw in logic: red herring, band wagon, scare tactics, ad hominem….
4. Jot down a brief outline so that you can stay focused and organized. Then, go to it.
FOR THE ARGUMENT ESSAY:
1. Read the prompt carefully. Underline key words in the directions.
2. Remember that you will support, refute or qualify the author’s claim. You may be asked to take a position, which is the same thing.
3. Defend your position with plenty of supporting examples. Don’t just describe one example thoroughly—get at least three different examples in there to support your position—even more is better if you have the time.
4. Brainstorm what direction you will take and briefly list support that will help you.
5. Take the stand that is easiest to defend.
Typical paragraph length ranges from really developed four paragraphs to eight. Try to get a good 2 ½ to 3 pages in.
Watch your time! Spend about 40 minutes on each prompt. Get moving.
If you have time to spare, go back and re-read your work for clarity.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!! (disclaimer: one exclamation mark is grammatically correct—I’m just excited).