1. AP Language Synthesis Project
Prompt Page Draft
AP Language Synthesis Project

2. Your prompt page will have three parts:
Some prompt pages specifically label each part. More recent samples do not. For our purposes, I am asking you to label each part.
(Use the sample from 2009.)
During this PowerPoint, annotate the 2009 sheet to help with your assignment.
Your prompt page will have three parts:
Directions
Introduction
Assignment

3. direction Section
This will be the same for all of you, and should read exactly as it does on the sample from 2009.

4. Introduction Section
This section will serve as an introduction to your topic, since the writer may be unfamiliar with the issue. It should be one to two paragraphs in length. (short paragraphs) You will want to give background information about the subject.
Keep in mind that the introduction goes before the reader has gotten to the Assignment section. Be careful to not “slant” the writer in one direction.
You will need to determine what background information is most essential to the writer who is going to view the accompanying sources.

5. Assignment Section
Parts of this section may very closely resemble those on the sample.
Be sure to tell writers to read the attached sources and write an essay.
Your prompt should require the student to include elements of both exposition and argument.

6. Question examples
Exposition Assignment : (bad): Write an essay in which you examine which issues are involved when making decisions about space exploration.
This is an exposition style assignment. Expository writing, by definition, is used to convey information. Examples would be a “how to” article on a website, or a chapter in a textbook.
This is not a correct type for a synthesis prompt. It is only informative and doesn’t leave room for a conversation about the topic.

7. Question examples
B. Argument Assignment: (bad): Write an essay in which you agree or disagree with the necessity of space exploration.
This is an argumentation style assignment. Argumentation, by definition, is using words to convince the reader that the writer's opinion is correct with regard to an issue.
This is not a correct type for a synthesis prompt. It limits the writer’s response.

8. Question examples
C. Combination Assignment: (good): Develop a position about what issues should be considered most important in making decisions about space exploration.
This combination question allows the writer to offer an opinion or suggestion about something, but also allows them to give enough background information to explain how they came to their conclusion.

9. Question examples – Which is best? Why?
Write an essay in which you support, refute, or qualify the notion that schools’ chief goals should be to promote individuality.
Write an essay in which you use a chosen issue (dress code, mandatory classes, structure of the school day, etc.) to argue the extent to which schools should support individuality or conformity.
Write an essay in which you examine the issues related to tension in schools between individuality and conformity.
The first is argumentation – not the best; the second is the best as it combines; the third is expository and not the best.

10. Other parts of the prompt page
Add the labels and instructions from the top of the prompt page samples: Use the 2017 prompt as a model for this.
At this point in our process, you will not be able to list your sources on the Prompt Sheet as you see them on the examples. We will add this information later in the process.

11. Assignment – Step #4
Compose a draft of the Synthesis Question Prompt Page. Submit before leaving today.