Writing In-Class Essays

A step-by-step guide

Steps to Follow:

Annotate the prompt

Annotate the passage

Outline/plan

Write

Annotate the prompt

• Prompt = directions• Number what you are asked to do

AP = Answer the Prompt!!!

Annotate the Prompt

• Sample prompt:Analyze the symbolic green light and the effect it has on Gatsby in Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby.

• What to do:1. Tell what light symbolizes

2. Explain effects of light on Gatsby

Annotate the Passage

• Take margin notes as you read• Stick to the prompt

AP = Answer the Prompt!!!

(No passage = no step two!)

Outline/plan

• Write thesis • Briefly outline paragraphs

AP = Answer the Prompt!!!

Outline/plan

Thesis:

Although the green light symbolizes Gatsby’s love for Daisy, it also represents his blind vision that money will buy her love, leading to his spiritual and physical destruction.

I. Daisy – dock, rich, hope of past love

II. Blind vision – Daisy’s married, can’t buy love

III. Spirit – changes identity, no friends, lies

IV. Body – killed by George

Write

• Short intro – just thesis is fine• Stick to the outline• Brief conclusion –

– don’t repeat – tell the overall lesson from or effect of the writing.

Other Tips

• Use words/terms from prompt• GIVE EXAMPLES FROM TEXT• Define tone, mood, feeling, attitude,

theme, belief, lesson, moral etc.• Don’t use “many” unless you really have

many examples • AP = Answer the Prompt!!

Sample AP Essay Prompts

• Visit

apcentral.collegeboard.com

for practice tests and other useful AP information.