Writing an In-class Essay AP Language

Essays on the AP English Language Exam: Synthesis Essay Argumentative Essay (Persuasive) Stylistic or Rhetorical Analysis

Make sure that you understand what the prompt asks you to do: For the Synthesis Prompt: Reading Time 15 minutes Suggested Writing Time: 40 minutes The following prompt is based on the accompanying six sources. This question requires you to integrate a variety of sources into a coherent, well-written essay. Refer to the sources to support your position; avoid paraphrase or summary. Your argument should be central; the sources should support this argument. Remember to attribute both direct and indirect citations.

Synthesis Essay Prompt Introduction: Television has been influential in United States presidential elections since the 1960’s. But just what is this influence,and how has it affected who is elected? Has it made elections fairer and more accessible, or has it moved candidates from pursuing issues to pursuing image? Assignment: Read the following sources (including any introductory information) carefully. Then, in an essay that synthesizes at least three of the sources for support, take a position that defends, challenges, or qualifies the claim that television has had a positive impact on presidential elections.

Analysis Prompt In the following passage from The Great Influenza, an account of the 1918 flu epidemic, author John M. Barry writes about scientists and their research. Read the passage carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Barry uses rhetorical strategies to characterize scientific research.

Analysis Prompt Usually will be rhetorical or stylistic Consider type of analysis ---rhetorical or stylistic --Rhetorical: rhetorical techniques and rhetorical language --Style: elements of style

Analysis Prompt What are you asked to do? In the following passage from The Great Influenza, an account of the 1918 flu epidemic, author John M. Barry writes about scientists and their research. Read the passage carefully. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze how Barry uses rhetorical strategies to characterize scientific research. What are you asked to do? What should you look for while you are reading and annotating?

Annotation After you have read the prompt, you know what your essay involves. Annotate accordingly. Underline, box, circle----use your own code.

What is meant by rhetorical strategies? Rhetorical strategies could include the rhetorical features, language, and techniques of a writer. For example, narration, personification, organization/structure, parallel syntax, use of analogies (metaphor and simile), use of irony, diction

Style Analysis Carefully read the following passage from “Owls” by Mary Oliver. Then, write an essay in which you analyze how Oliver’s style conveys the complexity of her response to nature. What are you asked to do?

What is meant by style? What one says. . . How one says that something. . . If style is thought to consist of the mannerisms and methods of an individual writer, then one can refer to the pompous style of Dr. Johnson, the whimsical style of Charles Lamb, the allusive style of T. S. Eliot, the clipped style of Hemingway. Most critics agree, however, that “what one says” and “how he says it” are basic elements in style. Therefore, style may be thought of as the impress (influence) of a writer’s personality upon his subject matter.

Devices Used to Create Style: Diction--word choice connotation of words/denotations of words Syntax--sentence structure*** Imagery Figures of speech metaphors, similes, personification, allusions, etc. Choice of detail And others. . .

The Analysis MUST address TONE The rhetorical strategies create a certain tone. Remember to look for the shift and concentrate on the tonal shift. The stylistic elements utilized by the author will also create a tone or a variety of tones.

What is tone? An author’s attitude toward his subject Remember that rarely will the tone remain the same from beginning to end, or will the tone be limited to a single descriptive adjective. Don’t be afraid to see opposites— The attitude is one of - - -, yet one of - - -.

Persuasive Prompt In The March of Folly, historical Barbara Tuchman writes: Wooden-headedness, the source of self-deception, is a factor that plays a remarkably large role in government. It consists of assessing a situation in terms of preconceived fixed notions while ignoring or rejecting any contrary signs. It is acting according to wish while not allowing oneself to be deflected by the facts. Some people would claim that what Tuchman calls wooden-headedness plays a remarkable large role in all organizations and, indeed, in all human affairs. Write a carefully reasoned persuasive essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies this idea about he prevalence of wooden-headedness in human actions and decisions. Use evidence from your reading, observation to develop your position.

DCQ Defend---Agree and tell how/why (at least three reasons) Challenge---Disagree and tell how/why your side is correct (at least 3 reasons) Qualify---Agree with some things and disagree with some; or qualify by “circumstances”

Persuasive Prompt Contemporary life is marked by controversy. Choose a controversial local, national, or global issue with which you are familiar. Then, using appropriate evidence, write an essay that carefully considers the opposing positions on this controversy and proposes a situation or compromise.

Essays are scored holistically The reader reads the essay without making any marks The reader evaluates both what is said and how it is said A score is determined based upon a rubric

9-8--These essays address the prompt fully 9-8--These essays address the prompt fully. Though the essays may not be error-free, they are perceptive in their response and demonstrate writing that is clear and precise. 7-6--These essays offer a reasonable attempt at the prompt. Although not as convincing, or as thoroughly developed,as the 9-8 papers, they demonstrate the writer’s ability to express ideas with clarity, insight, and control. 5--These essays tend to be simplistic in thought or in development. They often rely on paraphrase. These essays are not as well conceived, organized, or developed as upper-half papers. 4-3--These lower-half essays offer less than thorough understanding of the task. Although some may lack adequate development or evidence, these essays tend to rely on paraphrase only. The writing often demonstrates a lack of control over the conventions of composition: inadequate development of ideas, an accumulation of errors, or a focus that is unclear.

Organize is the Key to Success Thesis must be your road map Organization!!!

Rhetorical/Stylistic Analysis A little more context Organization is so important

Analysis: Claim Data Commentary This writer uses excellent imagery to depict how blind folks affect our lives, to evoke sympathy for the blind, and to criticize mainstream American for its callousness towards the disabled. In the first three lines of the text, Kooser describes how the blind can suddenly fill an elevator “with a great white porcupine of canes.” A porcupine is noted for its prickliness; we are apprehensive when it is around and we do not want to touch it. The blind person, according to Kooser, evokes a similar reaction: their presence in a situation causes “prickliness,” and it makes us uncomfortable. Data Commentary

Persuasive/Argumentative Have at least three reasons that you will discuss in at least one paragraph per topic You may write more than one paragraph on a reason. Consider the weight of the evidence.

Be prepared to write Plan your time wisely; on the AP test, you will have a total of two hours and fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes is for reading of the synthesis sources. You have 40 minutes to write each full in-class essay. Spend some time planning your essay before you begin--organization is an important factor of good composition You must write in blue or black ink on loose-leaf paper--you may write on the back