<p>okay. my teacher has been an AP grader and i was so fortunate to have her because she is insane. haha. i thought i would fail the AP this entire year and when we took a practice test, we realized that we're all getting 4s and 5s. apparently, CB always throws out her essay scores because she grades so hard haha but that's good for us.</p>
<p>1) you're analyzing how effectively the author uses rhetorical strategies to deliver their message. your thesis should say the author, tone, message, and the phrase "rhetorical devices/rhetorical strategies". then you should analyze for 2-3 body paragraphs.... diction, detail, syntax, organization, or figurative language. diction should ALWAYS be analyzed...unless detail is stronger since they are in essence...analyzing the same thing. you choose which to analyze (one per body paragraph) depending on which is used stronger to create the author's tone and messaeg. you need to be specific...so knowing your rhetorical device terms and identifying them in your essay is major points. your commentary or explanations in your body paragraphs always need to connect back to how it creates the author's tone and whether it is effective or ineffective in creating the message. be warned! it's not always "yes! the author has amazing diction! amazing syntax!" it could be the opposite...</p>
<p>2) if you PM me...i can probably type up the ones that we had to learn. we learned like 60+ or something. alot of which we use to mention in the rhetorical device analysis essay to look legit and a lot of which are obscure but my teacher is paranoid would be in the M.C. section.</p>
<p>3) plenty of space. you have plenty of space. but remember...you dont have very long to write the essays...and she said that grader's main complaint is that students don't simply prewrite for 2 minutes and proofread for 2 minutes. doing so could be decisive factor between a 7 and a 8 out of 9 or whatever. you get a pink booklet with enough pages and if you run out, they give you more paper.</p>
<p>4) Synthesis: like an DBQ...they will specify on the prompt how many to use....normally 3-4. never use them all! but you should throw in outside information to look really good. for example...last year's prompt was whether advertising is propoganda. don't just say "many companies use it for propoganda" give an example of a company that does! it solidifes your argument. it seems simple but alot of people dont do it....</p>
<p>Open Question/Argument essay: it is ALL outside information. you get like 1-3 sentences of a prompt and they want to see specific outside info examples. not generalizations. kind of like the SAT essay but these are the examples you should use for major points.... CURRENT. this essay tests your argumentative skills but also really, they want to see whether or not you know what is going on. when i say current...id say the last few months - a year to be reallly spot on. obviously...if its an election question..you could refer to 2004 election. and vary your source of examples... not all of them should be political. id say like 1 political, 1 pop culture (stay away from stereotypical britney spears!), 1 local, 1 international, 1 national.....etc. pick 2 or 3 of those. you should also aknowledge your opposition somewhere obviously because that makes a more complete argument. </p>
<p>EX: "Although some may believe that compulsory voting would be more democratic, uneducated and apathetic votes are ultimately destructive to the democratic system" (sorry i know its not amazing writing. its an example). that is an example of a basic thesis.
some outside info/examples to include...
1)well i know australia and argentina have compulsory voting....
2)and well, think about it, what is going on right now? well...this is a bit back but Huckabee......it's safe to argue that his popularity in many less informed areas were stemmed from his religious ties. well, if voting was compulsory...most votes would be cast for him, not on his policies, but on his religion, which influences him as a person and possible president....but we hace a separation of church and state for a reason...shouldnt be a decisive factor.
3) same with obama=black and hillary=woman
4) at out school, (local example) voting for student body government is basically compulsory. so what happens? you turn to your neighbor and just copy down who he voted for since everyone is so apathetic. its a popularity contest anyway... is that really "democratic"?</p>
<p>those are quick arguments i would have come up with in 2-3 minutes. </p>
<p>don't forget...each of these essays are inherently persuasive. even the rhetorical device analysis one since you are trying to persuade the reader whether the author used RDs effectively or not to prove his/her point.</p>
<p>good luck! and let me know if you have any more questions. i haven't taken this AP yet but considering how my teacher is an AP grader, and a hard on at that, and she has an excellent success rate... im following her strategies haha..</p>