1. Last-minute Tips

2. Exam Format  Exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long  1 hour:Multiple-Choice (50-60 questions) 45% of AP Grade  2 hours & 15 min:3 Essays (1 synthesis, 1 analytical, 1 argumentative) 55% of AP Grade  You will have a brief break after the Multiple-Choice section when you turn in your booklet. You will not be able to view your multiple-choice booklet or scantron sheet after the break.

3. Materials  sharpened pencils  several BLACK pens—for essays!  watch  water & a snack  tissues  Jacket/Sweater (in case you get cold in room)  You are not allowed to use highlighters on the exam

4. Concepts Needed  Modes of Discourse (narration, exposition, description, argumentation)  Author’s Style  Methods of Organization  Tone  Rhetorical Appeals  And much more!

5. Multiple Choice  Consists of 50-60 questions  You receive one point for each question you answer correctly.  ¼ point is subtracted for each incorrect answer.  If you can eliminate one answer, GUESS the correct answer.  Contains 4-5 prose passages (may be fiction or non-fiction). Passages will include different styles, different time periods, and different purposes.  Test is NOT graded for difficulty (Later questions may be easier, later passages may be easier.)  If you finish the Multiple-Choice section early (which should NOT happen), go back and look over the questions which gave you the most difficulty.  If time is not a problem for you, read the selections twice.

6. Most Common Multiple Choice Questions  Word in context  Main idea  Terms  Function  Organization/structure

7. Multiple Choice Success  follow sophisticated syntax  respond to diction and vocabulary  be familiar with rhetorical terminology – study your rhetorical terms  make inferences from the reading  be sensitive to tone and irony  recognize organization and style  be familiar with modes of discourse and rhetorical strategies.

8. Multiple Choice Strategies  Underline, mark, annotate the text  Pay attention to the author’s meaning, purpose, audience, and tone as you read  Note the author’s name, title of work, copyright and footnotes (if provided)  Pay attention to the organization of the passage (chronological, cause-effect, process, etc.)  Underline the author’s theme(s) and details  Do not rely on your memory: go back and find information in passage.

9. Types of Multiple Choice Questions  Straight-Forward Questions  Example: The passage is an example of…  References to lines to draw conclusions or interpretations  Example: Lines 52-57 serve to ….  If you are asked about specific lines of a passage, read at least two lines above and two lines below the stated lines in order to understand the context of the specific lines.  The “All…Except” questions  Make an inference or abstract a concept not stated  Example: The reader can infer ….  Roman-Numeral Time-Consuming Questions  Example: I. A only II Both A & B, etc.  Note: These are the most time-consuming questions. If you are short of time, skip these questions.

10. Multiple Choice Strategies  Work questions in the order in which they appear on the test.  Write in exam booklet  Quickly read questions before reading the passage.  Do not take too long on any one question  Do not be misled by length of selections (shortest sections may be the most difficult)  Questions are not graded according to difficulty. The easiest questions may be the final questions on the test.  Work within the given context (Ignore prior knowledge you may have about the topic)  Consider all choices for each question  Remember that all parts of an answer must be correct.

11. More Strategies  There is only one thing the AP multiple choice questions want you to do … read VERY CLOSELY.  Knowing the structure of the questions will allow you to attack with more familiarity and therefore more confidence.

12. Multiple Choice Easiest  Easiest=literary terms  2 nd Easiest=word in context (usually the line number is given). Beware connotations!  3 rd Easiest=Main idea/theme questions.  When you are running out of time, attempt to answer these questions first, specifically the word in context questions that provide a line number

13. Multiple Choice Difficult  Hard=How does this word or sentence function in the piece of literature? These are rhetorical analysis-type questions  Hard= Organizational & structural questions  Hard=Except Questions/Roman Numeral Format. Often take the most time to answer!

14. Essay Questions  You will be given a booklet of 12 pages of paper to write your essays.  You MUST outline!  Write in BLACK ink.  Make sure your handwriting is legible  AP graders believe your level of writing is a reflection of your critical thinking skills. SO…. Think about and plan your essay before you being writing.

15. Synthesis Essay  Students will read several sources related to a topic  Students must cite sources to support their argument  Students are not required to follow APA or MLA style; however, they must show that they understand how and when to give the author credit for his ideas.  Students will be given 15 additional minutes to read all of the sources related to the synthesis question.  DO NOT SUMMARIZE sources!  Read the topic several times!

16. Synthesis Essay  Make sure you cite by saying: –…in Campbell’s essay (use last name) –…in the article “Has Television Reshaped Politics?” –(Source A) –(Campbell)  You must cite 3 or more documents  Yes, you can bring in outside information  The synthesis essay is not worth more

17. Synthesis—From the Mouths of AP Test Readers  When using sources in the synthesis essay, be careful not to simply regurgitate, summarize, or paraphrase them. Use them in creating and developing your own argument  When using sources, try to embed quotations into your own sentences  The reader wants “specific evidence”—two important words, often overlooked. The courtroom does not want only the hypothetical or the theoretical. Use your own experience, incidents you know about, or what you have read about

18. Synthesis—From the mouths cont’d  If you give the reader 3 examples of specific evidence, make sure they illustrate 3 different points, not 3 examples to illustrate the same point  When thinking of specific evidence, if it’s the first thing that pops to mind, chances are it’s the 1 st thing that comes to everyone else’s mind. Go with your 2 nd or 3 rd idea!

19. Possible Synthesis Topics  Terrorism  Global Warming  Freedom  Competition  Affirmative action  Cloning  Prejudice  Family  Love  Torture  Euthanasia  Obesity  Education  Reality shows  Marriage  Animal rights & research

20. More Topics  Stem cell research  Driving safety & cell phones  Computers: advantages & dangers  Immigration  Capital punishment  Gun laws & lobbying  Advertising & body image  Healthcare  Standardized testing  Privacy  Art

21. And more topics  Gender issues  Integrity/plagiarism  Ethics  Prison reform  Advertising  Illiteracy  Living will/do not resuscitate

22. Rhetorical Analysis  Analyze an author’s view on a specific subject  Analyze rhetorical devices author uses to achieve purpose  Analyze stylistic elements in passage and their effect  Analyze author’s tone and how author conveys the tone  Compare/Contrast two passages in regard to style, purpose, or tone.  Analyze author’s purpose and how he or she achieves the purpose  Analyze ways an author recreates a real or imagined expression  Analyze how an author presents his or herself in the passage  Discuss the intended and/or probable effect of the passage.

23. Analysis  Show respect for the authors! Don’t insult!  You must explain the effect of the devices. Do not simply identify!  Provide textual support but do not over-quote or use lengthy quotes.  Embed quotations  Do not define terms. Your readers are experienced teachers; they do not need a lesson from you!  Don’t waste time on lengthy/fancy introductions

24. Last-minute Tips-- Analysis  Remember: discussing purpose & effect is more important than listing terms  Read the prompt carefully and make sure you know exactly what is being asked before you dive right in

25. Speculate!--analysis  Every non-fiction piece will have various levels of complexity –It’s your job to look for that curve, that shift  If you do, you will take your essay to the next level of critical analysis

26. Speculate!  If you don’t speculate, you will reach a ceiling on your essay prompt score  If you follow a formula for you essay, you will be limited in your score

27. For the Rhetoric Essay  You can always fall back on DICTION but the reader will also reward you for discussing the function of syntax

28. Remember:  Discussing purpose & effect is more important than listing terms

29. Don’t Forget  Discussing the function of something is MUCH more important than just listing terms

30. Don’t explain the terms  Remember your audience  Your reader knows what polysyndeton is, asyndeton, etc.  Your reader is a college professor or an experienced AP Teacher

31. Analysis Advice  Do NOT use the terms "ethos," "pathos," and "logos" because by themselves these words have no meaning. Instead interweave synonyms for these terms: ethics/ ethical, empathy/feelings, logic/evidence-based reasoning, etc. These words bring some interpretation to a claim.

32. Analysis Advice  Practice eliminating over-generalized or inflated language from their responses: NO to words such as "fabulous, outstanding, wonderful, super, great," etc.  Keep working to eliminate those "filler" phrases: " how the author gets his point across," "paints a picture in the reader's mind," " this goes to show," etc.

33. Analysis Advice  Before students use the term "parallel structure" as a structure, they should have an idea as to what such structure can add to any argument. Otherwise, stay away from these.  Replace the term "diction" with a phrase such as "word choice." Then the student may be able to find use for the term.

34. Argumentative Essay  Take a stand on the issue (even if you are qualifying)  Use Toulmin for both the argument & the synthesis!

35. Argument Question:  Recognize the complexity of the question –That is ½ of the purpose of the argument –That is a path to a higher score  Look for your evidence 1 st & then your assertion – not vice versa  Avoid hypothetical evidence –It must be real (use your AP History knowledge, your knowledge from reading & being an informed citizen)

36. Introduction possibilities for an argument 1) A series of questions (not rhetorical); then you’ll need to answer them in that order later 2) A quote or series of quotes 3) Illustration (tangible) 4) Recent dramatic event (Asian-American student walk-out this past winter) 5) *Statement intended to startle (could be a stat)…use shift (high risk/high reward)

37. Additional Suggestions—Essay Introductions  Catch the reader’s attention with an interesting content-related statement in your opening line  Set the tone for your essay  Identify the title & author of the passage (no 1 st names only)  Strong thesis as the last sentence of the intro.

38. Suggestions—Essay Body  Include strong topic sentences which help organize your essay  Cite specific examples & quotations  Embed quotations  Analyze your examples. Analysis is most important  Include transitions  Active voice  Present tense (when analyzing literature)  A strong Concluding sentence connecting back to the thesis

39. Suggestions Essay  Conclusions  Do not summarize!  extend beyond/make connections!

40. AP Comp=AP Rhetoric  This test is assessing your thinking skills just as much as your writing skills –Be willing to take risks

41. Avoid:  “shows” – go deeper  “positive” or “negative”  Writing, “In conclusion…” in your conclusion  And many more! Look at my handouts!

42. Vary your sentence length  If your first three sentences are the same length, you have just increased the likelihood of earning a lower ½ grade on your paper –4, 3, 2, 1

43. Think like the College Board  The front line and the last line of the piece will be important –Discuss their function

44. Compare-Contrast  If you get a compare-contrast, immediately pick the passage that is more complex, and spend more time writing about it

45. Use Effective Verbs (present tense focusing on what the author is doing)  Conveys, reveals, connotes, delineates, emphasizes, accomplishes, advocates, represents, presents, implements, enhances, contrasts, demonstrates, reflects, asserts, contributes, creates, permeates, flows, illustrates, alludes, displays, paints

46. Speculate about our culture  The trend in recent years is to include essays or non-fiction pieces with prompts that ask the reader to comment on our culture –Ex.  Entertainment & society  The media & its effect on democracy  Money in America

47. Remember…  Who your audience is: –College professors & experienced AP Teachers  Make sure you have a mature academic voice & a mature perspective

48. Introduction possibilities for rhetoric timed write  Same as argument options, plus:  Just go right into your answer to the prompt using a semicolon and longer compound-complex sentence

49. Don’t use a formula for your structure (“5 par. Essay”)

50. If it’s a piece of satire, don’t take it seriously  Look for the underlying points Ex. The Onion A Modest Proposal

51. Stamina  Eat and sleep right the TWO days before the test (including the day of the test)  You don’t want to burn out by the last section of the multiple choice or by the last essay –This could make a difference between a 3 and a 4 or a 2/3

52. The days before…  Pull out old multiple- choice practice tests and look at the questions which you answered incorrectly  Same as above with timed writings—make a list of problems & successes  Study terms/devices  Get a good night’s sleep the day before  On exam day, eat a good breakfast & arrive to the test early.  And remember…I’ll be much more nervous than you