AP English Language/Composition Post Test

[raza68]

<p>Ronaldofan94- practice, practice, practice</p>

[ElMastermind]

<p>thank-you10char</p>

[raza68]

<hr>

[Syndekit]

<p>Yeah communism. I did support it with clear logic and examples, so I’m set.</p>

[liv4physicz]

<p>What were we even supposed to say for the Thomas Paine one? I said we’re embracing democracy more than ever before and talked about how people of all races/social stances have equal rights. Would this be sufficient?</p>

[bookannelida]

<p>I think Syndekit was talking about the last question when they referred to communism. I could see communism too but in communism there is no diversity of which Paine spoke of…</p>

<p>*** Which reminds me, we are allowed to talk about the specifics of the FRQ? Really?</p>

[tennisboi]

<p>Uh Yorios I would definitely say length is a good thing. If you can think of stuff to say then fosho, it’s ALWAYS a good thing</p>

[raza68]

<hr>

[tennisboi]

<p>I mean, not trying to refute your argument or anything, but I’m a little confused. COuld you kinda explain that a little bit? And just to clarify, this was on the locavore one right?
This was addressed to syndekit btw</p>

[born2dance94]

<p>I posted this on the other thread as well:</p>

<p>Okay, I’m combining everything I’ve said on both threads to make a super!post. Keep in mind that I am not specifically addressing this particular year’s test as that would be against the rules, but merely speaking about the test essays in general:</p>

<p>1) Do I need conclusions? Will I get points off without them?

@WunderWuffle My strategy for all APs (and other such tests) has always been to write all of the essays without conclusions and then once <em>all</em> have been finished, I go back and write conclusions for all of them (or as many as I can get to in the time left). That way, I know I’ve finished the actual essay for all of them, with no pressure there. Plus, on all of those tests, a good essay without a conclusion is perfectly capable of receiving the same grade as another good essay of the same caliber, as long as you got your point across effectively. </p>

<p>I highly recommend that method to anyone who has trouble finishing all of the other essays in time. Like I said, you can still get a perfect score without a conclusion.

</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Is it okay that I only had 2 body paragraphs?

@zach12 Having 2 body paragraphs is perfectly fine. In fact, in many cases, especially in the argumentative essay and many times in the rhetorical analysis, it is better to write just 2 body paragraphs (assuming you write the average ~2-3 page essay) because you are able to better flesh out those paragraphs in order to fully answer and/or fulfill the prompt. As for the synthesis, the same holds true, though it is less important to pick 2 or 3 paragraphs-- either works fine. The main point of this particular AP test is to test your rhetorical writing ability. If you write just one page, but still have an effective rhetorical piece, that’s just as fine as accomplishing the same thing in 4 pages.

</p></li>
<li><p>I qualified/agreed with/disproved a prompt. Is this acceptable?

@Jordan134 Qualifying, agreeing, or disproving a prompt are all acceptable (in fact, you must do one of those).

</p></li>
<li><p>**I didn’t mention the example in the prompt for the argumentative essay. Will I get points off? **

@Everyone else. Just so you know, in an argumentative essay, you don’t need to reference the small passage used in the prompt whatsoever. If you write an essay that ends up “qualifying, agreeing, or disagreeing” with what the prompt’s passage is, you’ve succeeded, so not once did you have to mention the person or his stance.

</p></li>
<li><p>I did/didn’t take a position on the synthesis essay. Is that okay?

My teacher told us to take a side UNLESS IT SPECIFICALLY SAID NOT TO (though I assume if it doesn’t say specifically to take a side and you remained neutral you might be okay I guess.) We did a practice from a few years ago and I took a side and got an 8. An unbiased essay is pointless usually under these circumstances because this is a test of rhetorical writing skill. One main goal of writing an effective rhetorical piece is having a CLEAR argument and successfully persuading the reader of it. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean taking a pro/con approach to a situation, but in this case, that seemed to be the only “argument” one could make regarding the synthesis prompt. “Key issues and implications” do not an argument make unless somewhere in your piece you have a thesis that indicates exactly what it is you are trying to prove using rhetoric.

</p></li>
</ol>

<p>

<a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board;

<p>Note: this one clearly states that the argument should be central (ETA: argument should be main focus, not the sources. See 2 posts below by @garfieldliker). Still, though, they ask for a position to be taken. So as I said before, if you took a position that is perfectly acceptable (and actually encouraged) since nothing specifically said to remain neutral. But I guess if you remained central and somehow still fulfilled the prompt with a persuasive piece (while not taking a position) you might be okay.

</p>

<p>From garfieldliker:

When it says the argument should be central, it does not mean that it must be “centRIST.” Rather, it means that the sources support the argument instead of becoming the argument.

</p>

[tennisboi]

<p>Yeah not at all, issues can be both positive and negative man</p>

[raza68]

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[bobtheboy]

<p>

I wrote 7 pages for the synthesis essay, 5 for the rhetoric one, and 4 for the argumentative one… I mean I’m sure a little bit of it was repetitive, and my handwriting is large, but is this uncommon?

</p>

<p>7 pages is ridiculous. The average essay on CB (including 9-scoring ones) is 2.5 pages, and that is about how much I wrote for each. I don’t understand how you can even write that much that fast.</p>

[raza68]

<p>w8, r we allowed to discuss specifics?</p>

[tennisboi]

<p>oops… I completely forgot I wasn’t supposed to talk about this right now… I’ll be back later guys</p>

[kwokings033]

<p>oh no. will i get a 2 if i didn’t establish an argument for the synthesis essay? I just said three key points and talked about the pro and con side of each side. WILL I GET A 2??? help!!</p>

[raza68]

<p>same, in 2 days right?</p>

[Syndekit]

<p>I know it was a stretch, and I can’t really articulate exactly what I said in the essay, but I’m sure the AP readers will get a kick out of it.</p>

[anothergalaxy]

<p>Yay for mentioning Ground Zero! (pg. 7)</p>

[tennisboi]

<p>LOL you’re not gonna get a 2 man, you could draw a highly ornate yet relevant picture of a locavore and get a 2. But yeah 2 days or something, I think I’ll delete my specifics and stuff before you guys see it and cheat on the exam we took like 10 hours ago</p>