"A Modest Proposal" Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Agenda Aim: What values should we take into consideration when determining what is best for our community? Do Now: Clear your desks except for a pen/pencil, a piece of loose leaf, and a copy of The Language of Composition. "A Modest Proposal" AP Section 1 Review Homework: College Fair Trip tomorrow. AP Section 1 Diagnostic on Friday. Review AP section 1 guide and old quizzes. WW13 due Friday. WW13 Quiz on Monday.

"A Modest Proposal" Quiz In Jonathan Swift’s essay: What is the problem Swift discusses? What is the solution Swift proposes? What are the advantages of this solution? Be descriptive!

Jonathan Swift 18th century Anglo-Irish writer. Famous for his satirical works. Most famous work: Gulliver’s Travels, which recounts the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver, a man whose voyages take him to fantastic far-off places, each peopled by bizarre and grotesque societies meant to represent the various failings of humanity. Only slightly less famous is Swift’s essay “A Modest Proposal”.

AP Section 1 Exam Section 1 of the AP Language and Composition Exam contains 4 or 5 reading passages and between 45 and 60 multiple choice questions which must be answered within 60 minutes. Section 1 is worth 45% of your total score on the exam. You receive 1 point for each correct answer and 0 points for each incorrect answer or unanswered question, so answer every question, if you have to guess.

Scoring From a past AP Exam in which there were 54 section 1 questions: 45-54 correct: 93% of students who scored 4-5 39-44 correct: 86% of students who scored 3+ 30-38 correct: 60% of students who scored 3+

Things to Keep in Mind Timing is Important: You will be able to spend roughly 1 minute on each question – and that does not factor in reading the passages. If you are having difficulty with a question, skip it and move on to the next question. You can always go back to the more difficult questions later if you have time.

Things to Keep in Mind Read Closely: You will unlikely be able to read every passage all the way through twice, so make sure that when you read each one you read it closely, paying attention to punctuation, syntax, diction, pacing, and organization. Be sure to read the introductory blurb before the passage as well as any footnotes. You can always go back to the text when answering the questions. Underlining and writing notes in the margins will help you relocate parts of the passage that you think might be important.

Things to Keep in Mind Keep an Open Mind: The passages are designed to be answerable by all students regardless of prior knowledge. While prior knowledge may be helpful when reading a passage, incorrect assumptions on your part may lead you to jump to false conclusions. Be sure to consider all possible answers for each question, and do not be afraid to reconsider an answer you have made if a later question seems to contradict it.

Process of Elimination When you do not know the answer to the question, try to eliminate answers that: Are obviously wrong; Are too narrow or too broad; Are illogical; Are synonymous; or Cancel each other out. If two answers are close: Find the one general enough to contain all aspects of the question or the one limited enough to be the detail the question is seeking.

Using Context When the question directs you to specific lines, words, or phrases, locate the given word, phrase, or sentence and read the sentence before and after the section of the text to which the question refers. Often this provides the information or clues you need to make your choice.

Time Management You have only 60 minutes to answer nearly 60 questions, so every second counts. Make the most effective use of your time by: Starting with the easiest passages: Quickly read the first line or so from each passage and start with the easiest, then go on to the second easiest, etc. Skipping very hard or time-consuming questions: Don't waste several minutes trying to answer a very difficult or time consuming question; if you do that, you won't have enough time to answer other questions, some of which may be much easier.

Reviewing for Section 1 Know your rhetorical vocabulary! Practice questions from old exams and review books – and time yourself. Review old diagnostics, quizzes, and exams to see where you need to improve.