AP Exam Essays

Argument Argument (Noun) - the reasons for your opinion about the truth of something or an explanation of why you believe something should be done:

Argumentative Essay Goal: Compose an argument supported by evidence and reasoning drawn from your own reading, observations, and/or personal experiences

For centuries, prominent thinkers have pondered the relationship between ownership and the development of self (identity), ultimately asking the question, “What does it mean to own something?” Plato argues that owning objects is detrimental to a person’s character. Aristotle claims that ownership of tangible goods helps to develop moral character. Twentieth-century philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre proposes that ownership extends beyond objects to include intangible things as well. In Sartre’s view, becoming proficient in some skill and knowing something thoroughly means that we “own” it. Think about the differing views of ownership. Then write an essay in which you explain your position on the relationship between ownership and sense of self. Use appropriate evidence from your reading, experience, or observations to support your argument.

General Guidelines Determine the Question Make sure you understand the prompt and what it is asking you to do. Pick an Opinion and Stick to it There is no right or wrong answer. Both sides are arguable; pick one, and stick to it.  Craft a Thesis Statement (and bring the prompt into it) Good: As Plato contends, ownership is detrimental to a person’s character because ownership of items creates materialistic values, causing one to base the value of their identity around the amount or the quality of what they own. Bad: Owning things isn’t good for people because it makes them too worried about what they have instead of focusing on their own happiness.

General Guidelines Craft a Chronological Argument Support Your Claims Materialism is the excessive concern with owning physical things. Owning things always causes people to want more things; therefore, ownership leads to materialism. Materialism is bad because it distorts human values to place an emphasis on happiness from without instead of happiness from within. Support Your Claims Make sure that every point you make is supported by evidence. Ex. Every time the new iPhone is released, people flock to buy it even though many of them already have the last functional iPhone model

Suggestions Don’t lean on the first-person perspective Feelings do not justify beliefs – use personal experience, when relevant, as one facet of a wider, more contextually aware argument. Show the full complexity of issues and exhibit understanding of the other side of the argument Foresee potential counterarguments against your support for your beliefs, then undermine them as you write about them.

An anthropologist studying first-year students at a university in the United States writes that friendly phrases like “How are you?,” “Nice to meet you,” and “Let’s get in touch” communicate politeness rather than literal intent. What, if anything, is the value or function of such polite speech? In a well-written essay, develop your position on the value or function of polite speech in a culture or community with which you are familiar. Use appropriate evidence from your reading, experience, or observations to support your argument.

In 1891, Irish author Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) observed, “Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and through rebellion.” Wilde claims that disobedience is a valuable human trait and that it promotes social progress. Write an essay that argues your position on the extent to which Wilde’s claims are valid. Use appropriate examples from your reading, experience, or observations to support your argument.

Rhetoric Rhetoric (Noun) - the art of speaking and writing effectively, or the study of this art.

Things you must know to analyze a text SOAPS Rhetorical Strategies Appeals (ethos, logos, pathos) Style (diction, syntax, details, imagery, tone, etc.) Why did the author choose these strategies for the particular audience, occasion, and/or purpose? This is the analysis part! Without this, you are merely summarizing the text. Think about these questions: HOW do the rhetorical strategies help the author achieve his/her purpose? WHY does the author chose those strategies for that particular audience and for that particular occasion?

SOAPS Speaker – Who is writing/delivering the piece? Occasion – The time, place, context, or current situation of the piece Audience – The group of readers to whom this piece is directed Purpose – The reason behind the text Subject – The general topic, content, and ideas contained in the text

Sample Format – Introduction Put SOAPS In the INTRO! Speaker, Occasion, and Subject (Writer’s credentials) (writer’s first and last name), in his/her (type of text), (title of text), (strong verb) (writer’s subject). Purpose (Writer’s last name)’s purpose is to (what the writer does in the text). Audience He/she adopts a[n] (adjective describing the attitude/feeling conveyed by the writer) tone in order to (verb phrase describing what the writer wants readers to do/think) in his/her (intended audience).

Example - Introduction Novelist Amy Tan, in her narrative essay, “Fish Cheeks,” recounts an embarrassing Christmas Eve dinner when she was 14 years old. Tan’s purpose is to convey the idea that, at fourteen, she wasn’t able to recognize the love her mother had for her or the sacrifices she made. She adopts a sentimental tone in order to appeal to similar feelings and experiences in her adult readers.

Sample Format - Body Work chronologically through the text Whether you want to analyze each paragraph separately or break it into other sections, you need to move from beginning to end. Use transition words: begins; opens; closes; contrasts; shifts to; juxtaposes; ends; moves to Identify the strongest rhetorical strategies used in that particular section. Incorporate specific text examples into your own words. Do NOT try to discuss every strategy the writer uses; pick the strongest! Clearly and specifically explain how the rhetorical strategies are used to help the writer achieve his purpose and reach his audience.

Example - body The first sentence identifies which section of the text you are discussing and the main idea of that section. (Writer’s last name) (transition word) his/her (type of text) by (strong verb) that (main idea of this section of the text). Reagan begins his tribute to the Challenger astronauts by acknowledging that the shuttle accident has appropriately postponed his planned State of the Union address and by expressing the depth of his and his wife’s personal grief.

Example - body The second sentence conveys the writer’s support for the main idea by identifying and providing a specific example for one rhetorical strategy used by the writer. [This sentence is repeated if you want to discuss more than one rhetorical strategy.] He appeals to the mournful emotions of the audience by admitting that he and Nancy are “pained to the core,” that today is rightfully a “day for mourning and remembering,” and that the accident is “truly a national loss” (2-4).

Example - body The third sentence explains how the rhetorical strategies you discussed in the previous sentences help the writer achieve his purpose by using an in order to statement. He joins in this time of mourning in order to unify the nation and humbly admit that “we share this pain with all of the people of our country” (4).

Example - body The fourth sentence identifies the effect of the writer’s use of these rhetorical strategies on the audience. This outpouring of emotion from the president conveys a calming tone that reassures the Nation that their grief is both understandable and proper.

Example - body Reagan begins his tribute to the Challenger astronauts by acknowledging that the shuttle accident has appropriately postponed his planned State of the Union address and by expressing the depth of his and his wife’s personal grief. He appeals to the mournful emotions of the audience by admitting that he and Nancy are “pained to the core,” that today is rightfully a “day for mourning and remembering,” and that the accident is “truly a national loss” (2-4). He joins in this time of mourning in order to unify the nation and humbly admit that “we share this pain with all of the people of our country” (4). This outpouring of emotion from the president conveys a calming tone that reassures the Nation that their grief is both understandable and proper.

Sample Format - conclusion Be brief. In one-two sentences, simply remind your reader of the things you said in the introduction.

Strong verbs vs. Weak Verbs WEAK VERBS (Summary) says; relates; goes on to say; tells; this quote shows; explains; states; shows STRONG VERBS (Analysis) implies; suggests; compares; emphasizes; defines trivializes; flatters; denigrates; lionizes; vilifies; praises; demonizes; establishes; ridicules; minimizes qualifies; dismisses; supports; admonishes; narrates processes; analyzes; enumerates; expounds; lists describes; questions; contrasts; argues; warns

Modes of persuasion Ethos - the ethical appeal, means to convince an audience of the author’s credibility or character Show to the audience that they are a credible source and worth listening to Pathos - the emotional appeal, means to persuade an audience by appealing to their emotions Invoke sympathy from an audience Make the audience feel what what the author wants them to feel Draw pity Inspire anger Logos - the appeal to logic, means to convince an audience by use of logic or reason Cite facts and statistics, historical and literal analogies, and citing certain authorities on a subject

Analyzing Diction Diction is simply the words the writer chooses to convey a particular meaning. When analyzing diction, look for specific words or short phrases that seem stronger than the others (ex. Bragg’s use of slingshot instead of travel). Diction is NEVER the entire sentence! Also, look for a pattern (or similarity) in the words the writer chooses (ex. Do the words imply sadness, happiness, etc?). This pattern helps to create a particular kind of diction. This pattern can also include repetition of the same words or phrases. Repeating the same word or phrase helps the reader emphasize a point, feeling, etc.

Analyzing Diction Effective diction is shaped by words that are clear, concrete, and exact. Good writers avoid words like pretty, nice, and bad because they are not specific enough. Instead, they rely on words that invoke a specific effect in order to bring the reader into the event being described. Examples: A coat isn’t torn; it is tattered. The US Army does not want revenge; it is thirsting for revenge. A door does not shut; it thuds. Avoid saying: “The writer used diction...” – since this is obvious (diction IS the words on the page; without them, the page would be blank). Instead, say: “The writer creates a ______________ diction through the use of...” OR “The language of the text is ___________________.”

Analyzing syntax Syntax refers to the way words are arranged within sentences. One aspect of syntax is schemes. Most English sentences follow a subject-verb-object pattern (ex. I went to the store.) Deviating from this pattern can serve to add emphasize to the author’s ideas. Another aspect of syntax is sentence length. Good writers will use a variety for emphasis. Short sentences – imply straightforward Long sentences – imply descriptive, detailed

Analyzing syntax A third aspect of syntax is sentence type. Again, good writers use a variety. Simple: subject-verb (I went to the store.) Compound: 2 independent clauses joined by a conjunction I went to the store, and I bought candy. Complex: independent clause and dependent clause While traveling to the store, I saw my friend. Compound-complex: 2 independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses While traveling to the store, I saw my friend, and she gave me money for candy. Declarative: statement (I went to the store.) Exclamatory: strong feeling (What a wonderful candy store!) Interrogative: question (Is this a store?) Imperative: command (Go to the store.)

Analyzing syntax A final aspect of syntax is punctuation. Yes, good writers use a variety here too. Semicolon(;) gives equal weight to two or more independent clauses in a sentence. Writers use this to reinforce parallel ideas and show how both ideas are equally important Colon(:) directs the reader’s attention to the words that follow. Writers use this to show the reader that the information after the colon is important. Dash (—) marks a sudden change in thought or tone or sets off a brief summary

Analyzing Tone Tone is the writer’s attitude or feeling about the subject of his text. It is a special kind of rhetorical strategy because tone is created by the writer’s use of all of the other rhetorical strategies. Diction & Tropes Syntax & Schemes Details & Lack of Details

Analyzing Tone Avoid saying: “The writer uses tone” since ALL writers use a tone of some kind. Instead, say: “The writer creates a __________ tone...” When discussing an author’s tone, you must be careful to choose the right word. sentimental; fanciful; complimentary; condescending; sympathetic; contemptuous; apologetic; sarcastic dramatic; provocative; proud; giddy; pitiful; restrained; somber; candid; dreamy; mocking; humorous zealous; serious; respectful; poignant; urgent; patriotic; motivational; joyful

Synthesis Synthesis (Noun) - the act of combining different ideas or things to make a whole that is new and different