AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE Basic Course Concepts

APEL COURSE PREMISE Analyze nonfiction texts HOW Analyze HOW a writer presents their message HOW Discuss HOW a device affects a text on micro and macro levels Compose your writing with specific language (varied abstractions) Utilize mature academic writing in appropriate language registers

RHETORICAL TRIANGLE

RHETORICAL TRIANGLE ANALYSIS The most basic method for analyzing a text. As you read a text, identify its context, speaker, intended audience, message, and purpose. Similar to author purpose statement: EPIE(D) + Audience + Content. Different from author purpose statement because of context addition.

CONTEXT The situation at hand Everything exists within a context It is acceptable to wear a swimsuit within the CONTEXT of going to the beach. It is NOT acceptable to wear a swimsuit within the CONTEXT of going to a business meeting. Every piece of writing exists within a certain context Its truths are true because of the context they are in Context

SPEAKER The nonfiction term for “narrator” The speaker is the voice you hear when you read a text The speaker is most often the writer, but not always (ex. a narrative section in a nonfiction text might have a different speaker) What can you assume about them? (age, values, personality, education) Speaker

AUDIENCE The individual or group of people the writer had in mind while writing Who the writer is writing for Who the writer REALLY wants to read the text But who is also listening in…? Audience

MESSAGE What are they saying? Sum it up in one sentence Usually an argument/opinion How do you know this is what they’re saying? How are they saying it? This corner of the triangle is where the majority of analysis exists. Message

PURPOSE WHY are they writing this text? Author purpose statement: EPIE + Audience + Content What are they looking to accomplish? What do they want to have happen? Purpose

ANNOTATIONS

MORE THAN HIGHLIGHTS & UNDERLINES Highlighting doesn’t tell you anything Underlining doesn’t tell you anything Annotate so you don’t need to read the text again later Annotate AS you read, not after APEL exam gives no time to read twice

MARKS & NOTES Marks Circles Boxes Brackets Arrows Notes Questions Comments Quotes

MARKS Don’t get too caught up in what they represent. GENERALLY… Circle content-specific words Circle words you don’t know the meaning of (question mark above it) Circle names, dates

MARKS, CONT’D Box important information Box surprising information Bracket the MOST IMPORTANT information (usually the message/argument) Arrows connect ideas

NOTES Time to be judgmental – criticize what you’re reading Do SOMETHING for each paragraph Questions can be simple (e.g. “why?” “huh?”) If you have a question, write it down Comments can be as critical as you make them (e.g. “dumb idea”) Quotes should be a running list of the quotes you could use later

PAPA SQUARE

PAPA WHAT?! Another note taking tool A PAPA square organizes information you read for precis writing Similar to rhetorical triangle but PAPA lacks context Rhetorical Triangle P: Persona(Speaker) A: Argument(Message) P: Purpose(Purpose) A: Audience(Audience)

PAPA QUESTIONS P: Persona: Who is the author and why are they credible? What do they have to gain? A: Argument: What is the claim? Are generalizations supported? P: Purpose: What does the author want to have happen? A: Audience: Who is the intended audience? How does the author respond to their needs?

RHETORICAL TRIANGLE VS. PAPA SQUARE Rhetorical TrianglePAPA Square Context YesNot explicitly Rhetorical Devices Not explicitlyYes Precis Help NoYes Guided Questions NoYes Note Speed FastSlow Bottom Line: Use rhetorical triangle for quick notes, to check your basic understanding of a text; Use PAPA Square for precis writing or if you are desperate for guidance in analysis (try to avoid if possible; questions are too formulaic)

PRECIS WRITING

PRECIS PURPOSE Is a READING tool, NOT a writing tool In depth way of showing reading comprehension Sophisticated form of a reading quiz Is NOT an essay writing technique DO NOT WRITE A PRECIS PARAGRAPH ON ANY ESSAY…EVER.

PLUG & PLAY Take information from your PAPA square notes and plug into precis template Sentence #1: Argument notes Sentence #2: Rhetorical device notes Sentence #3: Purpose notes Sentence #4: Audience (and persona notes, if needed) EXACTLY Follow the template EXACTLY as written.

HAYAKAWA’S LEVELS OF ABSTRACTIONS

S. I. HAYAKAWA Japanese descent Born in Canada in 1906 American Linguist Linguist: someone who studies languages Famous for his levels of abstractions, from his book Language in Action, published in 1939.

ABSTRACTIONS Things you can’t touch Ideas, rather than concrete things Remember abstract nouns in writing themes? (e.g. love, hate, fortune, adventure, etc.) We think and communicate in various DEGREES of abstraction

LEVELS OF ABSTRACTIONS Level 4: Abstractions (Food) Level 3: Noun Classes (Meat) Level 2: Noun Categories (Beef) Level 1: Specific Nouns (Taco) Abstractions Noun Classes Noun Categories Specific Nouns

TIME & PLACE No one level of the ladder is better than the others The best writers move up and down the ladder Write concretely to support claims Write abstractly to connect evidence Move down the ladder: “For example,” data, stats, anecdotes Move up the ladder: commentary, message, lesson, big picture

LANGUAGE REGISTERS

REGISTERS In music, the range of a note, tone and pitch In language, appropriate use depending on rhetorical situation Locker room language is not rhetorically appropriate in an interview

5 LANGUAGE REGISTERS Static Formal Consultative Casual Intimate

STATIC REGISTER Never changes Frozen in time Examples: Pledge of Allegiance, Lord’s Prayer, Miranda Rights

FORMAL REGISTER One-way communication Commonly accepted format Impersonal, not specific to any one person Examples: Speeches, sermons, elected official pronouncements

CONSULTATIVE REGISTER “Professional” register Standard form of communication Definite societal expectations Inability to communicate at this level will limit academic and career success Examples: communication with strangers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, police officers, employers

CASUAL REGISTER Informal Used by peers and friends “Group” language Slang and vulgarity are normal Must be a member of the group to engage in this register Examples: Texts, s, tweets, conversations between friends

INTIMATE REGISTER Private Reserved for families Romantic relationships Special words and codes Examples: Twins language, husband and wife, siblings, parents and children

REGISTER RULES Can usually move between adjacent registers without problems Skipping a level or more, though, is inappropriate and offensive