AP English Language Exam Thread

<p>Yes, you have to be able to use first person effectively. At first, I thought just the same as most of you; to try and avoid first person whenever possible. Then I was going through a sample response to the 2007 advertising essay and it used first person and the person received an 8. Next day, I took a synthesis essay (the 2006 one) and my entire first paragraph was about my trip with my grandmother aboard a plane (sounds lame, I know). I recieved a 9. It really helps because it shows the grader that you take a position and can relate to it, and yes I strongly agree that you need to try and stay as formal as possible. If you can, try and take a look at some sample responses where they effectively write in first person and I think it will really boost your grade.</p>

<p>It’s tricky, but just a little food for thought in case anyone wants to take a look at it. If I have the oportunity, I will use first person to help support my argument.</p>

<p>Don’t stress about the proper percentage on qualify…what they like to see is a student who recognizes relevant opposition. Use a qualifying concession to show that you “get” their side, but again keep YOUR position.</p>

<p>You are okay to say: In most situations I believe A, but I understand that in some scenarios B is a legitimate response. That is “qualifying” but it shows that you understand the opposition.</p>

<p>Read what I said earlier about qualifying. Do not be a 50/50 fence sitter.</p>

<p>I really don’t like the MC part of this. I’ve been performing variably on practice passages. On some passages I got all of the questions correct, but on others I missed around half. And on some passages when I answer questions it feels like I’m guessing because I didn’t understand the passage, but then when I go back and check my answers, most of them are correct.</p>

<p>By the way a quick miscellaneous tip: around the 19th century and earlier, “want” literally meant “lack.” So beware; if you are reading an old piece and it has “want of money,” it is not a desire of money, but a lack of money.</p>

<p>could anyone tell me to what extent I’ll have to familiarize myself with the relatively arcane literary terms? for example, I understand what “irony,” “metaphor,” “antithesis,” “allusion,” et. al mean, but I haven’t memorized the definition of “malapropism.”</p>

<p>Flamesmage is right…wishy washy is weak…</p>

<p>Antistrophe and epistrophe are both repetition at the end of consecutive phrases/sentence…metonymy is a symbol for the thing-honor the flag. Synecdoche is using part for whole-head of cattle, all hands on deck.</p>

<p>Remember to point the devices to your thesis which should clearly state the author’s purpose in an analysis. Remember to answer 2 questions in the analysis essay: What is his purpose, and how does he get there? Relate the how to the what, and you are fine.</p>

<p>Rhetorical terms are a bonus. Talk about HOW it works more than what it is.</p>

<p>“So what do we do when it says to qualify?
Weigh up both sides 50/50, or favor one side more, like 80/20?”
I don’t think WEIGHTING matter but rather that you show one side is stronger than the other, not necessarily through more arguments but BETTER arguments.</p>

<p>My teacher tells us to answer three questions on the analysis:

  1. What strategies does the author use?
  2. How does he use them?
  3. Why does he use them?</p>

<p>Sounds like similar advice. The answer to my question #2 is your #2 and #3 if you do it right.
1-What is the author’s purpose?
2-How does he achieve his purpose?</p>

<p>Any thoughts on synthesis prompt…I could see drug testing in schools or the like…</p>

<p>It could be anything really… I’m gonna go ahead and make a wild guess and say it will be on abortion.</p>

<p>Could be anything is right, but I doubt it will be as polarizing as abortion.</p>

<p>great advice on the analysis essay, guys. thanks</p>

<p>@eastbound, what…?lol</p>

<p>Sigh…writing is easy to master, but hard to pick-up…</p>

<p>Man…I should be sleeping.</p>

<p>We all should be sleeping. But knowing my habits, I will probably stay up until 1 am.</p>

<p>I am always up this late. Can’t stop until 1 usually.</p>

<p>I usually get about 4 hours of sleep. So 5 for tonight should be good for me.</p>

<p>I hear you. I just posted my APMC advice and my bottom line analysis advice on the other Lang thread. Check that and see if it jives with what you do.</p>

<p>don’t laugh at me…well actually, go ahead and laugh because i honestly don’t care, i just really need to know</p>

<p>how do you cite specific words for the analysis essay? If i wanted to point out that the author uses a certain tone because the words “awful” and “disturbing”, how would i do that? </p>

<p>does this question even make sense? i hope so because i feel sooo confused :(</p>

<p>Can someone put together a post of what we should do in each essay? I’ve done pretty well in the class, but I’m freaking out about the essays.</p>