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