TOP TEN PRACTICAL TIPS FOR WRITING AN AP PSYCH ESSAY

  1. Forget what AP English and AP History taught you about essay writing.
  1. BREATHE DO NOT PANIC!!!!!!! If you are clueless about a part of the essay, do your best to write something. You may be surprised…you may actually hit on what the rubric was asking for and if not, you will not be penalized for trying. Missing one point will not ruin your score, but losing focus through panic could ruin your entire score.
  1. Determine how many points the essay is worth (usually 8-12 points) and picture

visually what the rubric is for the grader.

  • Write a brief(5 minute) outline on your essay booklet to the prompt. Use the structure of the question to outline a scoring guide.Draw/create a graphic organizer that you can check off as you write.
  1. Address all parts of the question (even if you have to guess) but be concise and technical (rather than creative). Get to the point immediately. Lean towards science.
  • The points do not have to be in order, but it helps.Making it easier for the grader to follow = higher grade. Complete the points you know first.
  • Make it easy for the grader to score a “5.” The multiple choice part of the exam is heartless, graded by a machine ready to acknowledge any weakness and mistake.

The essay readers, in contrast, are educators that have hearts and souls seeking to find the truth in your writing. But they have to use their minds to offer points. Don’t aggravate the “grading gods” through sarcasm, ridiculous diatribes, or endless tangents.

  1. Keep an eye on the clock (wear a watch if you don’t normally, cell phones are not permitted in the test room)
  1. Assume the grader is Under-educated (walk the reader through your answer). The purpose of the test is to PROVE that you know something. Make it clear. Write in the affirmative. Tell what it “is,” avoid what something “isn’t.”
  1. Elaborate examplesspecifically. For instance, “Sally can only afford a crummy car and so she is cognitively dissonant with her self-worth.” is specific, whereas, “imagine a girl with a problem and is sad, very sad, which is a big deal for her” … is vague, like very vague, dude.
  • Use proper theories and psychological terms
  • Keep it simple , but not over-simplistic. Address and dismiss. Don’t add fluff. Be Concise. Readers want to see your knowledge of the best and most common techniques, methods, theories, etc. Do not waste time explaining unnecessarily complicated concepts unless directly asked to within the question (this will happen for methodology and therapy FRQ).
  • Do not make vague statements like “the subject would feel bad” especially when discussing ethical concerns in research.
  • Avoid the “Kitchen Sink” approach -Do not go overboard in the opposite…do not write EVERYTHING you know about psychology. Stay focused on the question.
  1. Don’t just repeat words from the question without explaining them. For example, don’t say, “Rationalization is when you rationalize your reasons for doing something”. This doesn’t demonstrate that you know what rationalizing is. Also, do not use the term to define itself. For example “Psychology is the study of psychological concepts and ideas.” (No kidding Einstein!) Cover your “roots.”
  1. Write neatly and in pen (no pencil – you can neatly scratch/scribble out, write in carrots for additions)
  • The clever find “erasable pens”…
  1. If there is time, review your essay to make sure it says what you meant for it to say. Draw lines or arrows to out of order paragraphs or concepts (readers will follow clear “roadmaps”).

Finally…….(ok this is # 11, but these points are useful.)

Write in complete sentences! Write in paragraphs!

  • Do
  • not
  • bullet
  • point
  • EVER.

Avoid one huge block of writing where your points will get lost in verbal diarrhea. But better to have the “runs “ than to get cognitive constipation!

Good Luck!!!!