AP® English Language Argument Essay: Evidence and Commentary Category
In this post, we’ll be discussing the best way to approach the argumentative essay section of the test, and we’ll give you tips and tricks so you can write a great essay. Section 1:
Don’t be fooled by the fact that this is an English class, or by the fact that your teacher may (and likely will) decide to pile novel after novel onto your syllabus. The trick to doing well on this exam does not hinge upon your ability to manipulate literary devices such as similies and metaphors. Memorizing the plots of novels and scouring cram books will be of limited use. In the end, doing well on AP® Lang will actually mean becoming a master of argumentation, plain and simple. Instead, reading, understanding, and practicing the usage of argumentative tactics will get you a 5. Once you’ve prepared sufficiently for the exam by reading the writings of great masters of argumentation, the task of actually writing an essay is at hand. While there is a time and a place for deeply creative writing, acing this section of the AP® exam really comes down to how well you’ve mastered a formula, which I will outline below: As if there wasn’t enough for students to deal with their junior and senior year – college or career planning, senioritis, prom drama – we have to go and layer in high-stakes, high-stress standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, and even the AP Language and Composition test for the brave souls who choose to face the AP Lang synthesis essay, respond to the AP Lang essay, and approach the AP Lang argument essay on the AP Lang exam. Ah, to be a student again! So, then, how do we get students ready for AP Language, particularly when it comes to the AP Lang argument essay? Read on to learn about unlocking the nuances of the AP Lang argument essay. The AP English Language Exam tests your ability to analyze a piece of writing, synthesize information, write a rhetorical essay, and create a cohesive argument. o This is where you ease the reader into the structure of your paper. While you want to make sure you discuss argumentative devices such as ad-hominem attacks and paradoxes, you want to be careful not to turn your essay into a list of terms. This makes for a choppy, amateurish paper that will not merit full points.
The AP Lang Essay Templates I used Last Year to Score a 5 - Reddit
With this in mind, one thing we need to prepare our students for (and accept ourselves) is that on the AP Lang rubric – and this goes for the AP Lang essay, the AP Lang synthesis essay, and the AP Lang argument essay – most students will not earn the sophistication point (Row C). It’s a fact.
How to Write the AP Lang Argument Essay + Examples
So few students earn the sophistication point on the AP Lang rubric – but just about every student earns the thesis point (Row A) on the AP Lang rubric, no matter if it’s the AP Lang rhetorical analysis essay, the AP Lang synthesis essay, or the AP Lang argument essay.
Tips for Writing the AP Language Argument Essay · 1
o This depends on how many pieces of evidence fit in with this type of argumentative issue/device. It’s important to resist the urge to “megagraph” aka, the creation of huge, meandering paragraphs chockfull of evidence. If you do this, your meaning will get lost. Instead, stick with six succinct paragraphs with selectively chosen, strong evidence that supports your thesis and shows what you know.
AP Lang Argument (Q3) - YouTube
For the AP Lang rhetorical analysis essay, then, the student must include some interpretation of the writer’s message/idea/purpose and some implicit or (preferably) explicit statements of the writer’s choices (which often are AP Lang like appeals, tone, etc.).
How to Ace the AP Language Argument Essay - YouTube
The sample AP Lang Argumentative Essay above has some strengths and some weaknesses. Overall, we would give this essay a 3 or a 4. Let’s break down what’s working and what could be improved:
Types of Evidence for Argumentative Essays | AP Lang Q3 - YouTube
For the AP Lang synthesis essay and the AP Lang argument essay, the student must take a position that responds to the prompt or issue at hand.