advanced placement english language and composition

Advanced Placement English Language and

Composition Exam Hints and Information

AP Language and Composition Exam

Given in May3 is passingTwo parts to the exam:Writing Portion

◦2 free response essays◦1 synthesis essay◦2hrs. 15 minutes to complete

Multiple Choice ◦50-60 questions ◦1 Hour

GeneralRhetoric

◦Content—message/what? writing

◦Form—way it is communicated/how? Rhetorical Devices

◦How form relates to content Analysis!!!!

◦How it is seen by the audience Appeals

GeneralStyle

Terms (Rhetorical)

Vocabulary

General

Reading

◦After 1600

◦No piece that has been translated

◦Nonfiction

Free Response Questions

Respond to the prompt!

Three prompts in two hours, 15 minutes added for reading information given—you must keep track of your own time

Synthesis Prompt

1. One of the questions will be a Synthesis EssayThis question will contain four to seven sources and a

prompt that relates to these sources◦in general, at least one of these sources will be an

image (e.g. photo, cartoon, graph, etc.).◦Students will be asked to write essays that

incorporate at least three to four of the sources into argumentative.

Similar to a DBQ (Differences will be explained).

Free Response Questions

2. Rhetorical AnalysisOne of the questions will be a rhetorical analysis

◦Rhetorical Strategies—style—diction, syntax, and tone

◦Stylistic Analysis—specific words on the page—schemes and tropes

Free Response Questions3. Wild CardMay be: Persuasive

◦Argumentative (Build Your Own Argument=BYOA)◦Proposition, idea, thought◦Supports, refutes, or modifies the argument drawing on your own reading, experiences, or observations

or• May be: compare and contrast

◦Really another rhetorical analysis

Strategies for Free Response and Synthesis QuestionsQuote the passage!!!Does not punish you for what you don’t do, but rewards you for what you do well

Free Response Strategies

Answer all three questions well! Your essays are separated and read by different people so they cannot see that you did well on one and not the others.

Free Response Strategies

Mark up the booklet pageIntroduction and conclusion—have oneMake a plan and proofread!!Qualify tone, attitude, style (blunt, angry, high diction…)

Practice grading on AP scale

Objective SectionAbout 50-60 questions

60 minutes

5 possible answers given◦1 correct, 1 distracter, 3 wrong

CHANGE! No longer a ¼ point off for wrong answer

Objective Section Really only 4 to 5 types of

questions!1. Literal Questions--Rhetorical

◦ “In line 42 what literary device is being used?” (words/phrases)

Objective Section

2. Inferential/Contextual Questions-Author’s Meaning or Purpose

“In line 42 the term ‘democratic’ most clearly means…?” (whole passage)

Objective Section

3. Purpose Question (global)◦ “Intent, goal, purpose,

reason for using repetition in 2nd paragraph?” (whole passage)

Objective Section4. Mix and match the first three

type-Main idea, Organization/structure, Rhetorical Modes

5. Using sources and documentation—footnotes, endnotes, bibliography info

Strategies for Objective Section

About 4-6 passages (maybe 10 questions per passage)

guessNo longer are you are penalized for wrong answers and you can’t get credit for what you don’t do!

Our philosophy is ANSWER!

Strategies for Objective SectionIn general, on past exams a 50% correct on the objective section and two 5’s and one 6 can enable you to pass the exam with a score of 3.

1/3 of the students do not pass

Here’s the Bottom Line!

Objective 45%Essay 55%Objective Scoring is

No. Right + No. Wrong = RAW divide by No. of Questions x year’s multiplier

Out of 7 ?’s, I got 4 correct, 2 incorrect, left 1 blank

4= RAWDivide by 7Total is 64%

AP English Language ScoresSouth vs. the World

Grade N % At5 16 16.334 40 40.823 27 27.552 14 14.291 1 1.02Number

98

3 or higher

83 84.7

Mean 3.56

Hinsdale South--2011

Chart of the AP English Language DistributionMay 2011 (in percentages at each score)

ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE05

1015202530354045

11.3

27.530.1

20

11.1

1.02

14.29

27.55

40.82

16.33

GlobalHSHS