Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Exam Hints

Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Exam Hints and Information

�Given in May � 3 is passing �Two parts to the exam: �Writing Portion ◦ 2 free response essays ◦ 1 synthesis essay ◦ 2 hrs. 15 minutes to complete �Multiple Choice ◦ 50 -60 questions ◦ 1 Hour AP Language and Composition Exam

General �Rhetoric ◦ Content—message/what? �writing ◦ Form—way it is communicated/how? �Rhetorical Devices ◦ How form relates to content �Analysis!!!! ◦ How it is seen by the audience �Appeals

General �Style �Terms (Rhetorical) �Vocabulary

�Reading ◦ After 1600 ◦ No piece that has been translated ◦ Nonfiction General

�Respond to the prompt! �Three prompts in two hours, 15 minutes added for reading information given—you must keep track of your own time Free Response Questions

� 1. One of the questions will be a Synthesis Essay � This question will contain four to seven sources and a prompt that relates to these sources ◦ in general, at least one of these sources will be an image (e. g. photo, cartoon, graph, etc. ). ◦ Students will be asked to write essays that incorporate at least three to four of the sources into argumentative. � Similar to a DBQ (Differences will be explained). Synthesis Prompt

2. Rhetorical Analysis �One of the questions will be a rhetorical analysis ◦ Rhetorical Strategies—style— diction, syntax, and tone ◦ Stylistic Analysis—specific words on the page—schemes and tropes Free Response Questions

Free Response Questions 3. Wild Card �May be: Persuasive ◦ Argumentative (Build Your Own Argument=BYOA) ◦ Proposition, idea, thought ◦ Supports, refutes, or modifies the argument drawing on your own reading, experiences, or observations or • May be: compare and contrast ◦ Really another rhetorical analysis

Strategies for Free Response and Synthesis Questions �Quote the passage!!! �Does not punish you for what you don’t do, but rewards you for what you do well

�Answer all three questions well! �Your essays are separated and read by different people so they cannot see that you did well on one and not the others. Free Response Strategies

�Mark up the booklet page �Introduction one �Make and conclusion—have a plan and proofread!! �Qualify tone, attitude, style (blunt, angry, high diction…) �Practice grading on AP scale Free Response Strategies

Objective Section �About � 60 � 5 50 -60 questions minutes possible answers given ◦ 1 correct, 1 distracter, 3 wrong �CHANGE! No longer a ¼ point off for wrong answer

Objective Section Really only 4 to 5 types of questions! 1. Literal Questions-Rhetorical � ◦ “In line 42 what literary device is being used? ” (words/phrases)

2. Inferential/Contextual Questions. Author’s Meaning or Purpose � “In line 42 the term ‘democratic’ most clearly means…? ” (whole passage) Objective Section

Objective Section 3. Purpose Question (global) ◦ “Intent, goal, purpose, reason for using repetition in 2 nd paragraph? ” (whole passage)

Objective Section 4. Mix and match the first three type-Main idea, Organization/structure, Rhetorical Modes 5. Using sources and documentation—footnotes, endnotes, bibliography info

�About 4 -6 passages (maybe 10 questions per passage) �guess �No longer are you are penalized for wrong answers and you can’t get credit for what you don’t do! �Our philosophy is ANSWER! Strategies for Objective Section

Strategies for Objective Section �In general, on past exams a 50% correct on the objective section and two 5’s and one 6 can enable you to pass the exam with a score of 3. � 1/3 of the students do not pass