<p>So this upcoming year I will be taking AP language and composition. However, the teacher I got for this classes is notorious for doing nothing . I'm pretty much on my own . How can I do well on this AP? I really want a 4/5 but English is probably my weakest and so is writing. How can I improve my writing ? Any good books? Advice is greatly appreciated from those who passed the class!</p>
I wanted to ask the same question also. MY weakest class is English and I can’t decide if I should take it or not…
I’m in a similar situation. Anyone have any advice?
@suprstar16 @IvyChaser1234 Do a TON of practice essay questions that were previously released. If you are not a good writer, you will be by the end of this course, assuming that you PRACTICE. Our teacher constantly gives us practice essays and grades it herself based on the 1-9 scale for each essay. In terms of the multiple choice that will come on the exam, try and look closely into the readings, and read in between the lines. What is the author really trying to convey to the audience, and how does he do so? That is the principle of this course.
The exam is essentially the Critical Reading section of the SAT, so your score on that could be a determinant of how well you might do in the class and on the exam later. Use practice CR SAT sections to prepare for the exam as well.
Also, remember to review rhetorical strategies; you will see them on the multiple choice, and they will help you on the Rhetorical Analysis essay you will need to write.
Here are my two cents regarding each essay:
Argument: Use clear and compelling evidence, along with apt vocabulary to truly persuade your reader. You want to make the reader be on your side. The SAT essay is also good practice for the argument essay, as it is an argument essay itself. You will need to base your arguments on the quotes they give you, but don’t repeat the prompt in your essay. In terms of other pieces of evidence you will need to use in our essay besides the quotes they give you, don’t use cliche examples (Holocaust, World War II, 9/11, etc.)
Synthesis: This essay will require you to also compile an argument, but it must be based on sources they give you. You will be given 9 sources and asked to make an argument on a certain issue. Some sources will take one side of the argument, and the rest of the sources will take the other side of the argument. This tests your ability to integrate quotations and make a succinct and compelling argument.
Rhetorical Analysis: This is, by far, the hardest essay on the Lang exam. You will have to analyze a piece of writing and determine the author’s rhetorical strategies in order to determine the author’s purpose. Be prepared to learn complicated vocabulary such as synecdoche, asyndeton, isocolon, colloquialism, etc. For this essay, remember that it will be virtually useless to simply state the rhetorical strategies the author uses and not connect them to the author’s purpose. Tear the piece they give you into pieces, and analyze everything the author uses to achieve his/her purpose.
Be sure to see student example essays released by CB. You can see what scores the students recieved, and why. CB releases sample student essays every year. See why that person got a 9, for instance, and do the same. Do this for each type of essay. If you cannot find someone to grade your essays for you, give yourself a self-evaluation and compare it to other students’ strong essays, and ask yourself: What can I do to improve?
Now for books. I am currently using CliffsNotes AP English Language and Kaplan AP English Language, both newest editions. Get any book after 2007, because that is the year the synthesis essay was put in the exam.
Good luck, and remember, practice, practice, practice. 