Post on 18-Jan-2016
AP Exam Study Guide
AP English Language and Composition
Multiple Choice
Do NOT• Get frustrated or run out of time
• Leave questions blank
• Randomly guess (C for all)
• Overanalyze (second guess yourself) or doubt yourself
• Nap if you have extra time
• Only circle on booklet
Do• Stay calm and pace yourself
• Answer all the questions, even if you don’t know for sure.
• Eliminate possible wrong answers
• Stay with your first choice
• Review unanswered questions / re-read Q’s
• Use answer sheet as you go
Basic Information:Exam score: 45% MC / 55% essays First section on the testTime = 1 hour / 55 questions / typically about 4 passages (can be 3-5)
How To: TW
1. Read the prompt
2. Analyze and annotate the prompt – circle key verbs
3. Identify the part of the prompt to respond to in your essay (thesis)
4. Make an outline / write a thesis
5. Set a time marker – “checkpoint”
6. Write!!
7. Check outline during writing!!
8. Re-read your work (if time permits)
Synthesis TW
Do NOT• Summarize the documents
• Use every document given
• Write authors argument or quote in topic or concluding sentence
• Make up your own prompt
Do• Use documents to support your own
central argument
• Use at least 3-5 documents
• Start and finish with your own thought
• Answer the prompt
Basic Information:15 min reading time/40 min writing time, first essay you will see, must use at least 3 sources, 4-5 paragraphs long, about two quotes per paragraph
Additional Synthesis Notes
The Key Features of Synthesis:
• Accurately reports information from the sources using varying phrases and sentences.
• Organized in such a way that readers (audience) can immediately see where the information from the sources overlap.
• Makes sense of the sources and helps the reader (audience) understand them in greater depth.
Rhetorical Analysis TW
Do NOT• Focus on only one word in the prompt
• Just summarize the author’s writing
• Use “standard” rhetorical devices
• Just state methods used and not explain why
• Write the authors argument (a quote) in your TS or CS
• Start writing without making a pre-write / outline
Do• Read the entire prompt
• Make sure your argument is central
• Accurately read and analyze and choose the strongest, most important RD’s
• Identify and explain the purpose for using the methods
• TS and CS of each body para. must be your argument
• Make a “road map” and USE IT
**Consider the elements of a rhetorical précis
Basic Information:Extended version of a précis 4-5 paragraphsTime = 40 mins
Open TW
Do NOT• Go off topic
• Make all your references theoretical or vague
• Make up your own prompt
• Start writing without making a pre-write/outline
Do• Stay on topic: make an outline and
follow it!
• Use credible and specific examples to support your points
• Answer the prompt
• Make a pre-write/outline!!
Basic Information:Typically a prompt with background information / is not a source-based response40 minutes 4-5 paragraphs or so