AP English - Useful Handouts
ALL THINGS TEST PREP - (Many other strategies/tips are already posted on this page - ie. synthesis essay writing, writing strong introductions and conclusions, transitions, integrating quotes etc.).
Don't see what you need? Ask me!
If you feel overwhelmed - remember two things to earn a 6
Address the Prompt and
APC - Assertion, Proof/Evidence, Commentary/Analysis - each one longer than the last with your commentary/analysis being longest
Overall review guide
Overview of the 3 essays
5 Steps to a Five
Albert Student guide
What AP Readers Long to See
Need Practice with Multiple Choice? - Try this
General Effects of Diction, Syntax etc.
Tone Words by Feeling
This site will walk you through a synthesis essay step by step
General Synthesis tips Words to introduce an author's ideas Quotation Sandwich - don't just dump it in - introduce it (top slice), give the quote (the filling), and the bottom slice (explanation - without this everything falls apart!)
Setting up quotes Introductions -
General tips for writing a stronger introduction Rhetorically accurate verb list - replace uses, utilizes, employs with one of these verbs. Here are some sample introductions with commentary from high scoring AP papers. Remember these are for timed essays not take home essays. Also remember that we grade the whole essay which is why sometimes a high scoring paper may not have the strongest introduction but was strong enough elsewhere in the essay to merit the high score. Conclusions - strategies for writing stronger conclusions
Like Mnemonics? Acronyms for key strategies
Need more practice with Parallel Structure?
Need more help with syntax?
|
The simplest way to go from a 4 to a 6 on the Essay portion? AP (Address the Prompt) and APC (Assertion Proof Commentary) you may also see this referred to as AEC (Assertion Evidence Commentary) or CEC (Claim Evidence Commentary) - they all mean the same thing!
Address the Prompt My presentation Practice with AEC Practice with APC Practice with CEC To move from the 6 to a 7,8,9 - add voice/style, depth of analysis, unique insight - stand out in a GOOD way! |
They Say/I Say - Presentation
To avoid PLAGIARISM CITE ALL SOURCES USING MLA FORMAT -
mla.doc | |
File Size: | 31 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Rhetorical Precis - Great formula for when you don't know how to start and/or in a timed write just to get going quickly - eventually work on including this information using your own style/voice.
—1) A single sentence which includes the author, title; a rhetorically accurate verb (such as "asserts," "argues," "refutes," "proves," "explains," etc.), followed by a clause that contains the major claim (thesis statement) of the work.
— 2) A single sentence explaining how the author develops and supports the argument. Feel free to quote from the piece here – This is where you describe the strategies used
— 3) A single sentence describing the author’s purpose – this should be connected back to the specific prompt.
— 4) A single sentence describing the intended audience for the piece or describing the relationship the author establishes with the audience – this could be optional depending on the prompt
—1) A single sentence which includes the author, title; a rhetorically accurate verb (such as "asserts," "argues," "refutes," "proves," "explains," etc.), followed by a clause that contains the major claim (thesis statement) of the work.
— 2) A single sentence explaining how the author develops and supports the argument. Feel free to quote from the piece here – This is where you describe the strategies used
— 3) A single sentence describing the author’s purpose – this should be connected back to the specific prompt.
— 4) A single sentence describing the intended audience for the piece or describing the relationship the author establishes with the audience – this could be optional depending on the prompt
Want to simply challenge/increase your vocabulary knowledge? Try freerice.com
Use the verb list below to vary your word choice when describing what an author says or does
marker_verbs.pdf | |
File Size: | 26 kb |
File Type: |
To create a strong argument follow the APC formula posted below
apc_method_and_types_of_arg.pdf | |
File Size: | 57 kb |
File Type: |
Here are some other structures to follow when creating arguments
theysay.pdf | |
File Size: | 217 kb |
File Type: |
Identifying an author's tone appears on the AP multiple choice section and can be useful on the rhetorical analysis essay. We will be working with a lot of these words in our vocabulary work this year.
tonewords.doc | |
File Size: | 26 kb |
File Type: | doc |