AP English Language Tips for Each Essay

<p>Would any English experts care to share their tips for each essay? I'm looking especially at Essay 2 because I think I write the Synthesis Essay pretty well.</p>

<p>hi, for the synthesis essay, can i use direct quotes from the sources to express “my words” as argument.</p>

<p>For example: Sources A and B complement each other in the fact that “all their phytochemicals and really powerful disease-fighting substances” are in direct correlation with the ripeness of the food (source B). Well, locally-grown food “means that you are going to be getting peaches so ripe that they fall apart as you eat them”(Source A).</p>

<p>as you can see, i’m directly replacing my own words with quotes from the text. is that recommended? thank you (:</p>

<p>By Synthesis Essay are you guys referring to the DBQ? If so then it is NOT recommended to replace your own words with those in the text, even if that means tweaking your syntax or language and then citing the source at the end of the sentence. </p>

<p>Ex: The phytochemicals in fruits directly correlate with the fruits’ ripeness, a fact well known by agricultural industries (Source B). This fact is a leading reason why locally-grown produce is sold when it has had sufficient time to ripen almost to the point of becoming overripe (Source A). </p>

<p>^^The sentences etc. aren’t that well written but you get the idea.</p>

<p>If your Synthesis Essay does require that you INCORPORATE, not simply synthesise, the sources into your essay then what you’re doing is completely correct.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>Hey i’m not a professional AP grader… i’m like a junior preparing for it as well. After reading and studying from the Barron’s guide for amounts of weeks, I learned NOT to rely on quotes too much. </p>

<p>The synthesis essay and all the other essays in general test your writing, not the way you quote stuff. These kind of essays call for your own ideas, not the ideas from other people, though matter how many times you mix it coherently.</p>

<p>The Barron’s guide taught me a lot. .__.</p>

<p>Oh… and btw my English teacher taught us to not always believe sources we read in the synthesis. It’s best to refute and talk about the errors of some of the documents, and have fun with being EXTREMELY critical and cynical about the documents. It will not only make your essay hilarious, but also unique to AP readers reading them.</p>

<p>When you read sources, always ask yourself…</p>

<p>Does the document provide evidence for what he’s saying? Does he/she have statistics to prove it?</p>

<p>Does the document only rely on emotion (pathos and ethos?) (best not to believe these documents)</p>

<p>Does the document logically make sense?</p>

<p>There’s more… but yah… i’m too lazy to think of more… LOL.</p>

<p>And you can also support as well~ IF they have the proper statistics of it.</p>

<p>thank you so much ykmbhappy1 and asianeekamkee (:
that’s extremely helpful!</p>

<p>What AP Readers Long to See:</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.astabowen.com/apreadersuggestions.htm]What”&gt;What AP Readers Long to SeeÉ]What</a> AP Readers Long to See</p>

<p>re: synthesis, your argument is much stronger if you use your own words. figure out what the source is saying, and then make it your own. most importantly, make sure to read sources critically! make sure to pay attention to the origin of the source (e.g. an enviromentalist magazine vs. a business magazine - they’ll have varying viewpoints), and don’t be afraid to question logic or refute a statement if it’ll help your argument.</p>