<p>So far this year, we took two in class AP writing prompt and I have been getting a 5! This time, I really thought I did well but ppl in my class were so harshly criticizing it. I'm really depressed. I'm kind of regretting taking this class. Some ppl wanted to even give it a 3. I really need help...i need to improve..a lot and soon. <em>sob</em><em>sob</em> Any suggestions pleeeease?</p>
<p>breathe in and out</p>
<p>you can still pass the ap test with 5s on your essays if you totally own the mc. if you want, type up your essays and post them and I'll give you my opinion maybe your class doesn't understand the scoring rubric well. At the beginning of the year, I was scoring 5/6s on my timed writings and now I'm getting 7/8s (according to my teacher who has graded AP tests before). It takes practice for most people.</p>
<p>Thanks for that greenbay and raindrop but I think I'll go talk to my teacher tomorrow. Btw can any of you explain how to write one of those analytical essays because the one we did in class was on a speech by Alfred Green. He was convincing African Americans to join the Union army. We were supposed to identify the persuasive techniques he used.
My paper was basically about how he used quotations and lenghty sentences to make it persuasive. I knew that I shouldn't summerize the passage. So, I focused on its structure. I don't know why wouldn't make a strong argument. It makes sense right if the author had strong quotes and many lengthy sentences and one or two short sentences in the middle to just emphasize those ideas. It made so much sense to me.</p>
<p>Are you AP English Lang or Lit?</p>
<p>Also, what do you mean by he used "strong quotes"? If all you wrote about was this and lengthy sentences, then this is certainly not enough. If it was a persuasive essay you should probably look for literary/rhetorcal devices.</p>
<p>Btw, if you do pretty well on the MC you can get at least a 3 even if you get all 5s on your essays</p>
<p>I am in AP English Lang</p>
<p>One more question: why are your classmates grading the essays? I certainly wouldn't trust them (or at least not most) to grade accurately</p>
<p>uh shimmer, maybe you can address his appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) or his diction, exaggeration, or any type of literary device. don't focus solely on structure.</p>
<p>my teacher gives us many literary terms. she says it will be a great potion on the test</p>
<p>Focus on tone, diction, appeals almost always. It's a good start at least. I've been getting 8s/9s. Maybe it's different at your school, but at mine my class grades hard, but it is generally the type of score that the teacher gives.</p>