<p>Hello Guys, This is a thread to help us get through the boring task of AP English Language & Composition studying. So If you have Questions ask them here. Please Include Sources aka. Websites, Old exams, even Scanned work you've done from Class. I am starting this thread based on the sucess of the AP European History thread, and My need to Pass the English Language and Composition Exam, as my teacher just started AP Work a mere 2 weeks ago. Have Fun. :P</p>
<p>My teacher scored essays last summer, and she said whatever you do, dont write about Hamlet. Everyone does, and the scorers get sick of it</p>
<p>I dunno.. whatever I do, I just seem to fail at English, which is not good since the AP test is looming over the horizon...</p>
<p>But anyways, my teacher suggested to not write introduction paragraphs, and get straight to the point. He also suggested not writing conlcusions, as they can only detract from your points.</p>
<p>My Teacher's Advice Sheet:</p>
<p>1) If you're a slowish writer, then have your introduction paragraph be one sentence, your thesis.</p>
<p>2) Do not take the questions at surface level. Always look into it. For instance, if they ask you to defend "Increase of knowledge is increase of sorrow," do not generalize this to a trite saying such as "ignorance is bliss." Take it along the lines of "truth," and "wisdom."</p>
<p>3) Always be specific. Names, places, exact happenings, all of this is good.</p>
<p>4) Don't say things like "everyone in Iraq hates the U.S., or "All the women at Harvard hated the professor." Recognizing that not everything is all-encompassing is a sign of sophisticated thinking and a better essay.</p>
<p>5) If the question asks for your perspective on a topic and not your stance, make sure to touch both sides of the argument. One-sidedness can hurt you.</p>
<p>6) Conclude the essay somehow.</p>
<p>7) With a question such as "how does so and so use language to portray such and such," look for things beyond figurative language. Hone in on certain words ("snickered" instead of "laughed," etc...), sentence length, tense changes.</p>
<p>8) Use "rhetorical structure" somewhere in your essay.</p>
<p>9) If they give you a quote from a hard to dispute source, such as the Bible, try to go with it, rather than argue against it.</p>
<p>Anyone have multiple choice tips?</p>
<p>i'm just curious, what is the AP Lang and Comp class curriculum at other schools? cause my Ap english teacher is lazy, and has us read packets and answer questions about authors (beginning at Puritan, went through Romantic, Dark Romantic, Transcendentalist, currently on Realist) after the 1st 9 weeks.</p>
<p>the 1st 9 weeks was a comprehensive review of the books we read over the summer and wrote an essay on 2nd week of school.</p>
<p>just wondering what everyone else did in AP Lang and Comp throughout the year.</p>
<p>This advice is better for English lit (poems), but whatever.</p>
<p>1) Does this poem introduce or reinforce themes?
2) What words express thoughts or emotions? How do they create their effects?
3) What do allusions/images suggest or reveal?
4) What is the primary purpose of the poem?
5) Who is the speaker? Does this make a difference?
6) Is the vocabulary/diction important?
7) Is there any irony? Expand and describe its purpose.
8) How is form important? How does form fulfill the content?
9) Consider literary techniques:
-Rhythm?
-Rhyme?
-Deviations in form?
-Breaks in passage?
-Stream of consciousness?
-Questions in the poem?
-Transitions?
10) Be sure to think about setting, characterization, style, mood, and tone.</p>
<p>I have some questions.</p>
<p>For the essay portion, is there any strategic way to attack the questions with greater efficiency? (For example, allotting 30 mins to essay, 5 mins thinking, 5 mins correcting mistakes)</p>
<p>What is the meaning of a "literary convention of characterization"?</p>
<p>What % is needed for MC and combined FR to get a 4 and 5?</p>
<p>You need either a </p>
<p>For a 3:
25 on multiple choice and a average of 4.66 on essays
30 on multiple choice and a average of 4.00 on essays.
35 on multiple choice and a average of 3.33 on essays
40 on multiple choice and a average of 2.66 on essays.
45 on multiple choice and a average of 2.00 on essays.</p>
<p>For a 4: 25 on multiple choice and a average of 7.00 on essays
30 on multiple choice and a average of 6.33 on essays.
35 on multiple choice and a average of 5.66 on essays
40 on multiple choice and a average of 5.00 on essays.
45 on multiple choice and a average of 4.33 on essays.</p>
<p>For a 5:
25 on multiple choice and a average of 8.33 on essays
30 on multiple choice and a average of 7.66 on essays.
35 on multiple choice and a average of 7.00 on essays
40 on multiple choice and a average of 6.33 on essays.
45 on multiple choice and a average of 5.66 on essays.</p>
<p>Hope that Helps.</p>
<p>Is that with 45 MC questions?</p>
<p>Also, is Cliffnote realistic? Because I'm not doing so hot with them.</p>
<p>I thought it's pretty good; I've been getting similar scores on old MC my teacher gave as on the Cliff ones</p>
<p>Its not from Cliffnotes its from Petersons, and there are 55 multiple choice questions. Your composite score is out of a 150.
Example :
5: 112-150
4: 95-111
3: 76-94
2: 48-75
1: 0-47
Last Year, 62% of the 60,000 students that took it recieved a grade of 3 or higher.</p>
<p>XerXes, is that what Peterson gives you as the range, or is that just an example? Because Cliff has it at 150-104, 103-92, 91-76, 75-50, 49-0.</p>
<p>Also, can someone tell me what to do because I seem to miss a lot of the ones where you have to refer back to the passage to find stuff? I just can't really remember what I read when I need to read quickly.</p>
<p>I'm so screwed for this test!
My practice essays get about 5's.. and MCs.. that's a disaster.. in the 30s or something.
It wouldnt be that bad if I was aiming for a 3 or something but i'm aiming for a 5.. not even a 4</p>
<p>I have a real trouble reading the passages because it's so advanced. I usually have to read the passage 2 times in the start, then i have to re-read when it comes to the refering-back-to-the-passage questions.
And for the essays, usually the last question, I cannot think of things.. history/politics/enviornment/whatever. ideas do not flow into my head in 5min. It takes me 50min to write a crappy essay without proof-reading.
I dont want to take the test..</p>
<p>Is it true that the Barrons AP English tests are harder than the actual exam?</p>
<p>I desperately need some helps on studying the AP Language exam. The problem with MC part is that I find them to be very boring. If a passage is about a subject that I know, then I will do very well. If not, I am doomed. </p>
<p>For the Essay section, it will murder me if I don't do anything to help me. My average score, from practice essays, was like 5. I spent twenty five minutes pondering what to write, five minutes trying to come out with elite vocabs. That's like thirteen minutes just to put my thoughts on the paper. For most of the essays, I didn't have enough time to finish my conclusion.</p>
<p>How many MCs do I need to get right, if I get 7-8 on all my essays?</p>
<p>Do you read previous posts? it's on page 1</p>
<p>
[quote]
five minutes trying to come out with elite vocabs.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Wasted time.</p>
<p>Thats exactly what I do, 5 min to come up with elite words :P, I hope that doesnt cost me in the long run. (whole test)</p>
<p>Prometheus - XerXes, is that what Peterson gives you as the range, or is that just an example? Because Cliff has it at 150-104, 103-92, 91-76, 75-50, 49-0.</p>
<p>Also, can someone tell me what to do because I seem to miss a lot of the ones where you have to refer back to the passage to find stuff? I just can't really remember what I read when I need to read quickly</p>
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<p>Thats just what Peterson says, every year it changes by a few points though.. I think..</p>