AP Language

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.

WHA

T TH

E HE

CK? How do I write this essay?”

AP E

ssay

# 2

Argu

men

tati

ve

Essa

y

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

Step

s fo

r w

riti

ng t

he

essa

y:

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.

Step

One

:

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















evidence from your


Step

One

:Re

adin

g th

e pr

ompt

.

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

essay.• Underline both parts of the

prong.















evidence from your


Exam

ine

the

prom

pt

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

the

prom

pt

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

the

prom

pt

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.

Step

s fo

r w

riti

ng t

he

essa

y:

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.

Step

Tw

o:An

alyz

ing

The

Quo

te:

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


Step

Tw

o:An

alyz

ing

The

Quo

te:

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

Anal

yzin

g th

e 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.

Step

Tw

o:An

alyz

ing

The

Quo

te:

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

lain dormant. —HoraceWhat does this quotemean?

Step

s fo

r w

riti

ng t

he

essa

y:


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

Step

Tw

o:W

rite

the

Pre

cis

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

Step

Tw

o:W

rite

the

Pre

cis

In this ______ ______, tone adj noun

________ _________ (that) author rhetorically

name accurate verb________ to ___________.

summary explanation of

of quote purpose

Step

s fo

r w

riti

ng t

he

essa

y:


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

Step

Thr

ee:

Pick

a s

ide.

Defends, challenges,

or qualifies .Defend—agree with the quote

Challenge—disagree with the

quoteQualify—argues/sees both

sides of the argument

Step

Thr

ee:

Pic

k a

side

Defends, challenges,

or qualifies .Defend—agree with the quote

Challenge—disagree with the

quoteQualify—argues/sees both

sides of the argument

Step

s fo

r w

riti

ng t

he

essa

y:


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

Step

Fou

r:W

rite

the

the

sis.

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.

Step

s fo

r w

riti

ng t

he

essa

y:


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















evidence from your


Step

Fiv

e:Th

e Bo

dy

Out

line

“We are writing now.”

You must pick your side and build your argument.The argument must

be logical…without flaws.

Step

Fiv

e:

The

Body

Out

line

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.

Step

Fiv

e:

The

Body

O

utlin

e

Support your argument with evidence from your reading, observation, or experience.

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

experience.

Step

s fo

r w

riti

ng t

he

essa

y:

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.

Writ

e th

e th

esis.

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

Writ

e th

e ou

tline

.

Thesis: I. Intro II. Reading III. Observation A. Data 1 B. Commentary C. Data 2 D. Commentary

E. Data 3 F. Commentary

Writ

e th

e ou

tline

.

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

Argu

men

t Es

say

Let’s look at the argument essay.”

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