AP Language

Argumentative

Essay

2009 AP® ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSIT Question 3

(Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts for

one-third of the total essay section score.)

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents

which in prosperous circumstances would

have lain dormant. —Horace 

Prompt: Consider this quotation about

adversity from the Roman poet

Horace. Then write an essay that

defends, challenges, or qualifies Horace’s

assertion about the role that adversity

(financial or political hardship, danger,

misfortune, etc.) plays in

developing a person’s character. Support

your argument with appropriate evidence

from your reading,

observation, or experience.

 

 

 

 

 

WH

AT T

HE

HEC

K? How do I write this essay?”

AP

Ess

ay #

2A

rgum

enta

tive

Ess

ay

This essay presents a passage or quote. Then, you must write an essay in which you defend, challenge, or

qualify the quote/passage.

Ste

ps

for

wri

ting t

he

ess

ay

:

Read the prompt.o Determine what is

being said in the

passage/quote.o Write a precis.o Pick a side.o Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.

Ste

p O

ne

:

Read the prompt.Determine what is being said in the passage/quote.

2009 AP® ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSIT Question 3

(Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts for

one-third of the total essay section score.)

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents

which in prosperous circumstances would

have lain dormant. —Horace 

Prompt: Consider this quotation about

adversity from the Roman poet

Horace. Then write an essay that

defends, challenges, or qualifies Horace’s

assertion about the role that adversity

(financial or political hardship, danger,

misfortune, etc.) plays in

developing a person’s character. Support

your argument with appropriate evidence

from your reading,

observation, or experience.

 

 

 

 

 

Ste

p O

ne

:

Readin

g t

he p

rom

pt.

How to READ THE PROMPT…• Read the quote first.

• Read the prompt for the

essay.• Underline both parts of the

prong.

2009 AP® ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSIT Question 3

(Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts for

one-third of the total essay section score.)

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents

which in prosperous circumstances would

have lain dormant. —Horace 

Prompt: Consider this quotation about

adversity from the Roman poet

Horace. Then write an essay that

defends, challenges, or qualifies Horace’s

assertion about the role that adversity

(financial or political hardship, danger,

misfortune, etc.) plays in

developing a person’s character. Support

your argument with appropriate evidence

from your reading,

observation, or experience.

 

 

 

 

 

Exam

ine t

he

pro

mpt

Consider this quotation about adversity from the Roman poet

Horace. Then write an essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies Horace’s assertion about the role that

adversity (financial or political hardship, danger, misfortune, etc.)

plays in developing a person’s character. Support

your argument with appropriate evidence

from your reading, observation, or experience.

Exam

ine t

he

pro

mpt

Consider this quotation

about adversity from the

Roman poet Horace. Then write an essay

that defends, challenges, or qualifies Horace’s

assertion about the role that

adversity (financial or

political hardship, danger,

misfortune, etc.) plays in

developing a person’s

character. Support your argument with appropriate evidence from

your reading, observation, or experience.The test-makers will

explain some of the

quote.

Exam

ine t

he

pro

mpt

Consider this quotation

about adversity from the

Roman poet Horace. Then

write an essay that defends,

challenges, or qualifies

Horace’s assertion about the

role that adversity (financial

or political hardship, danger,

misfortune, etc.) plays in

developing a person’s

character. Support your

argument with appropriate

evidence from your reading,

observation, or experience.

Ste

ps

for

wri

ting t

he

ess

ay

:

Read the prompt.

Determine what is

being said in the

passage/quote.o Write a precis.o Pick a side.o Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.

Ste

p T

wo:

Analy

zing

The Q

uote

:

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would

have lain dormant.

—Horace

Ste

p T

wo:

Analy

zing

The Q

uote

:

Adversity has the effect of

eliciting talents which in

prosperous circumstances would

have lain dormant. —Horace• Dissect—analyze the

argument in the quote.

• Analyze sections of the quote

—select phrases, key words,

but clauses…• Analyze the meaning of the

quote in its entirety. • Examine key sections of the

prompt that provide context

and clarification concerning

the meaning of the quote

Analy

zing

the Q

uote

:

Adversity has the effect of

eliciting talents which in

prosperous circumstances

would have lain dormant.

—Horace

1. Identify—define terms that

you think are important.

2. Consider denotation and

connotation of the words.

3. Consider multiple meanings

…of such

words.

Ste

p T

wo:

Analy

zing

The Q

uote

:

Adversity has the effect

of eliciting talents which in

prosperous circumstances

would have lain dormant. —Horace

What does this quotemean?

Ste

ps

for

wri

ting t

he

ess

ay

:

Read the prompt.

Determine what is

being said in the

passage/quote. Write a precis.o Pick a side.o Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.

Ste

p Tw

o:

Wri

te t

he P

reci

s

Precis: In this ______ ______,

____ ____

(that) ________ in order to ___________.

The precis works nicely as a way

of summarizing the meaning and

purpose of a quote.Intro Paragraph:A. Grabber—Sentence the sets up the quote

B. Connecting grabber to the quote

C. Precis explaining the quote

D. Thesis

Ste

p Tw

o:

Wri

te t

he P

reci

s

In this ______ ______, tone adj noun

________ _________

(that) authorrhetorically

name accurate verb________ to ___________.

summary explanation of

of quote purpose

Ste

ps

for

wri

ting t

he

ess

ay

:

Read the prompt.

Determine what is

being said in the

passage/quote. Write a precis. Pick a side.o Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.

Ste

p T

hre

e:

Pic

k a

sid

e.

Defends, challenges,

or qualifies .Defend—agree with the quote

Challenge—disagree with the

quoteQualify—argues/sees both

sides of the argument

Ste

p T

hre

e:

P

ick a

sid

e

Defends, challenges,

or qualifies .Defend—agree with the quote

Challenge—disagree with the

quoteQualify—argues/sees both

sides of the argument

Ste

ps

for

wri

ting t

he

ess

ay

:

Read the prompt.

Determine what is

being said in the

passage/quote. Write a precis. Pick a side.o Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.

Ste

p F

our:

Wri

te t

he t

hesi

s.

The ARGUMENT thesis does

must state your claim. In the

thesis you will state your stance—

argument—directly. Avoid 1st

person except when using

personal experience.Sample Thesis: Possibly, but I agree with the Roman

poet Horace in that adversity has a

way of rousing talent from slumber.

Adversity can stimulate, force, and

sharpen a person in ways prosperity

cannot— there is, then, value in

hardship.

Ste

ps

for

wri

ting t

he

ess

ay

:

Read the prompt.

Determine what is

being said in the

passage/quote. Write a precis. Pick a side. Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.

2009 AP® ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSIT Question 3

(Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts for

one-third of the total essay section score.)

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents

which in prosperous circumstances would

have lain dormant. —Horace 

Prompt: Consider this quotation about

adversity from the Roman poet

Horace. Then write an essay that

defends, challenges, or qualifies Horace’s

assertion about the role that adversity

(financial or political hardship, danger,

misfortune, etc.) plays in

developing a person’s character. Support

your argument with appropriate evidence

from your reading,

observation, or experience.

 

 

 

 

 

Ste

p F

ive:

The B

ody

Outl

ine

“We are writing now.”

You must pick your

side and build your

argument.The argument must

be logical…without

flaws.

Ste

p F

ive:

The

Body O

utl

ine

Support your argument with

evidence from your reading,

observation, or experience.Reading- you are expected touse

examples from things your have

read to support your stance on the

quote.

Observation-you are expected to

use observations you have made

about the world/human nature to

support your stance Experience-you are expected to us

personal experience to support

your stance.

Ste

p F

ive:

The B

ody

Outl

ine

Support your argument

with evidence from your

reading, observation, or

experience.

In the argument essay, your data will be the reading, observation, and

experience.

Ste

ps

for

wri

ting t

he

ess

ay

:

Read the prompt.Determine what is

being said in the passage/quote.Write a precis.Pick a side.Write a thesis.

Outline your response.Begin writing.

Wri

te t

he t

hesi

s.

Thesis: I. Intro

II. Reading A. Data 1 B. Commentary C. Data 2 D. Commentary

E. Data 3 F. Commentary III. Observation IV. Personal Experience

V. Closing

Wri

te t

he o

utl

ine.

Thesis: I. Intro

II. Reading III. Observation A. Data 1 B. Commentary C. Data 2 D. Commentary

E. Data 3 F. Commentary

Wri

te t

he o

utl

ine.

Thesis: I. Intro

II. Reading III. Observation IV. Personal Experience

A. Data 1 B. Commentary C. Data 2 D. Commentary

E. Data 3 F. Commentary V. Closing

Arg

um

ent

Ess

ay

Let’s look at the argument essay.”