AP English Language Review

Thesis statement example:

(Insert Author's last name) strategy one, strategy two, and strategy three, purpose and message Ex. President Kennedy sheds light on the hard times the country is going through, elaborates on how an increase in steel prices impacts other industries, and illustrates the harm it does to America's foreign economic affairs in order to convince the steel industry to stop raising prices.

Avoid "uses pathos". Say:

- Speaker appeals to audience sense of specific emotion by - Speaker evokes a sense of specific emotion to... - By noting..., Speaker seeks to elicit a sense of from audience... because...

Avoid "uses logos". Say:

- Speaker appeals to logic by - Speaker logically asserts... - Having noticed that... SPEAKER logically concludes/deduces that... - By including the example of X/ By including statistics or facts, such as, .... Speaker logically develops his/her argument that...

Avoid "uses ethos". Say:

- Speaker bolsters his/her credibility by - Acknowledging/Referencing X furthers speaker credibility with the audience because - Given that speaker has not experience X, he/she relies on the testimony of a person who... - In order to convince/reassure audience that..., speaker mentions how he/she...

Analogy

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way

Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as"

Metaphor

A comparison without using like or as

Paragraph 5 includes:

A conclusion that doesn't simply restate your thesis.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it

verbal irony

A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

A good thesis

A good thesis is debatable and narrow

Errors in logic:

A hasty generalization or statement that is made about a large number of cases or a whole group on the basis of few examples. Ex. Teen drivers have poor skills; therefore, they cause most of the automobile accidents. A non sequitur is an idea or conclusion that does not follow logically from the preceding idea. Ex. Vladimir would be a great history teacher because he was born in Europe.

Satire

A literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.

Extended metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected.

Run-on sentences

A run-on sentence consists of two or more main clauses that are run together without proper punctuation

Paradox

A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

Understatement

A statement that says less than what is meant

Gerund

A verb form ending in -ing that is used as a noun

Participle

A verb form that can be used as an adjective

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

Diction

A writer's or speaker's choice of words; ask you why an author's choice of words is particularly effective, apt, or clear

Adjectives and Adverbs:

Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns. Adverbs describe verbs

Unity for Essays

All of your essay's ideas and information must belong together and be essential to the development of the thesis

Logos

An appeal to logic and reason; an argument that uses logos to persuade need to provide things like objective evidence, hard facts, statistics, or logical strategies

Pathos

An appeal to the emotions, values, or desires of the audience

Ethos

An appeal to the speaker's credibility- whether he or she is to believed on the basis of his or her character or expertise

Synthesis Essay

An argumentative essay in which the writer synthesizes insights and information from other sources besides his or her own observations and experiences into the development of the thesis and main points.

Situational Irony

An outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected

False Analogy

Arguing on the basis of a comparison of unrelated things.

Line of reasoning

Arrangement of claims and evidence that lead to a conclusion Literature-the foundational and current texts of a field or discipline of study Perspective- a point of view conveyed through an argument

Common problems in Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Being too general; through explanation of exactly how that strategy makes the message more effective.

Ways to Organize essay:

Chronological, Spatial, Order of Importance, Compare and contrast, Developmental Order

Expresses your ideas:

Clearly, Concisely (as specific as possible and leave out pointless repetition), Correctly (proper grammar), Persuasively (strong evidence that supports main points and explains how evidence is relevant), Flairly (ex. use cabin instead of house)

Indirect Object

Comes before the direct object. Tells to whom, for whom the action of the verb is done. (Claire threw JOSEPH the ball)

Rhetorical Mode: Comparison/Contrast

Comparison focuses on similarities between things, and contrast focuses on their differences. Ex. Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic comparison: both geographic areas contrast: different citizenship and migration patterns

Order to write synthesis essay introduction paragraph

Definition Sentence, Provide Context (why is the issue relevant), explain the arguments for and against the topic, Write a thesis (your position in the topic)

High Scoring Synthesis essay

Draws a clear connection between at least three sources and a defensible thesis statement. The evidence is specific and appropriate; explanations are thorough and convincing

Support for your essay

Examples, Details, Facts, Reasons, Events

Paragraph 1 includes:

Eye-catching intro sentence, thesis you intend to argue in your essay, and narrow enough to be covered entirely, a brief list of three pieces of evidence you'll use in the essay, a transition to the body of your essay

Analogies Questions

How are the two things compared essentially different? How are the things similar? What is the truth that the comparison tries to show?

Subject verb agreement:

If the verb is plural, the subject should be plural too

Example of how to cite sources

Incorrect: According to Paragraph 5, .... Correct: Locavorism is not pratical for american families, especially when "the supermarket is only one mile away" (Source G). Correct: According to Marion Nestle, a NYU professor making wise choices at the supermarket "can easily meet your needs" (Source B).

Claim of Fact:

Is something true, or not? Facts can become arguable when they question someone's beliefs or if they are controversi

Tone Word: Strident

Loud or harsh; grating

Six major types of multiple-choice questions:

Main idea, rhetoric, mode, definition, tone or purpose, and form

Tone Word: Engimatic

Mysterious difficult to understand

Modes of development

Narration: Used for explaining the topic in a story format that is usually chronological. Discusses real life topics/stories. ○ Description: Uses lots of sensory details and tries to "paint a picture" for the audience in order for them to visualize something. ○ Process Analysis: Presents the reader with instructions to show the readers how something is done. ○ Exemplification: Explains one or more examples in great detail to provide clarity for the audience. ○ Classification: Divides one bigger concept into smaller individual ones to help the reader understand. ○ Compare/ Contrast: Highlights the similarities and differences between things. ○ Cause/Effect: Explains why something happens and why it matters. ○ Problem/Solution: Presents an issue along with reasonable solutions.

Direct Quote or Paraphrase

Paraphrasing makes is easier to incorporate someone else's ideas smoothly; several quotes could make your essay appear to be more of a copy-and-paste exercise

The Two-Pass System

Pass 1: answer the easy questions and guess on the hard ones using letter of the day Pass 2: Tackle as many of the hard ones as you can during the time left for that passage

PEEL

Point = Reason Evidence = Support to show the audience Explanation = 2+ sentences to explain how the evidence supports the claim Link = What it means in relation to the thesis statement

First step in answering multiple choice questions:

Quickly scan the passages; easiest one first and most difficult one last; pay attention to footnotes (author, title, and the publication)

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Verbs

Show action or state of being

SOAPSTone

Speaker - Who do they represent, who are they, and what beliefs do they have? Occasion - What happened that caused the writer to write this? Audience - Who is the writing intended for? What are their values and beliefs? Purpose - Why is the author writing this? What does the author want you to know? Subject - What is the writer talking about? What message are they trying to send? Tone - What is the author's attitude?

SPACE CAT

Speaker, Purpose, Audience, Context, Exigence, Choices, Appeals, Tone

Conclusion:

Specific to Broad; make real world connections; prove your thesis; examine the implications

Highest scoring essays do what?

Take a definite position on the prompt topic and argue it convincingly. They use strong, relevant, and specific evidence to support the position and leave no doubt about where the essay writer stands.

Argument Essay 4 tasks needed to do:

Take a definite position, so no one would question your stance on the topic. Develop an argument that builds and moves forward instead of repeating the same point several times in different ways. Support the points in your argument with evidence drawn from your own knowledge, experiences, reading, and observations. Provide commentary explaining how your evidence supports your argument.

Rhetorical Mode: Classification

Takes one large concept, and divides it into individual pieces

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

Tone

The attitude, mood, or sentiments revealed by the style; tone describes how the author seems to be feeling (optimistic and playful)

When answering a main-idea question,

The correct choice must be entirely true and include as much relevant information as possible

Style

The manner of expression; it describes how the author uses language to get his or her point across (scientific and emotive)

Rhetorical Mode: Description

The purpose of description is to recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event, or action so that the reader can picture that which is being described.

Rhetorical Mode: Narration

The purpose of narration is to tell a story or relate an event.

Theme

The stance revealed by the style and tone of the writing; the author's point of view expresses his or her position on the topic discussed

Claim of Policy:

These claims propose a change to a policy/rule or attitude/perspective. Claims are justified through evidence

If a selection is titled,

Think about what it tells you about the work

Rhetorical Mode: Definition

To clarify the meaning. To give background

Rhetorical Mode: Process Analysis

To show steps of action. To explain how to do something

Rhetorical Mode: Cause/Effect

To tell readers the reasons for or consequences of a subject. Explaining why or what if. Answers the question "why did something happen, and/or what results did it have?" Ex. what led to the outbreak of WW1?

Tone for Essays

Tone is the reflection of your attitude for the subject. The safest tone to adopt is formal and subjective; don't be stuffy and pretentious by using "one understands"; don't be too causal ("you know what I mean")

Definition Questions

Use the context surrounding the word or phrase in the question to arrive at its meaning. - avoid using a word or phrase that sounds like the word to be defined

Rhetorical Choice

Used to convey meaning and persuade, evoke emotion

Linking verbs

Verbs that don't show action. They link the subject to words or groups of words that identify or describe the subject. Examples: grew (large), tasted (delicious)

Inference Questions

What can be concluded based on the passage.... ("predict, infer, probably, imply, suggest, assume") - go back to selection it asks about and make a generalization Watch for traps that use passage language but are too extreme Common traps: extreme language Must be supported in the text, no such thing as too close to the text, right answer is not always explicitly stated

Cause and Effect Questions

What evidence is there that the first event or situation could have caused the second? What other events might have caused the second event? Could the second event have occured without the first?

Generalizations Questions

What facts are being presented to support the general statement? Are there any exceptions to the statement? Are enough cases or examples presented to lead you to a solid conclusion?

Claim of Value:

What is something worth? These claims argue if something is good or bad, wrong or right, or if something is desirable or undesirable. When writing a claim of value, you must state the extent to which something you argue is true.

Planning your Rhetorical Essay

What is the author's purpose? What techniques make that purpose clear and effective to you? In which order do you explain the techniques?

Understanding the Prompt

What is the prompt really asking you to do? Does the prompt have broader implications? Does the prompt contain any terms that you should define in order to keep your discussion on target?

Planning your Argument Essay

What position do you want to take about the topic presented for the argument essay? What evidence from your own experiences or reading could you use to support your position?

Rhetorical Analysis Essay focuses on

What the author's is, and what rhetorical strategies the author uses to achieve it effectively

Synthesis Essay thesis statement

While it is true that ....., one would be remiss not to consider that.... Although....., (assert a position)

Direct Quote vs. Paraphrase

While to using a direct quote means to repeat the exact words of an author or speaker, paraphrasing means to rephrase or restate the information using your own words.

Who vs Whom:

Who can be used for he/she, while Whom is used for him/her.

Who, That, Which:

Who refers to people (and sometimes that) and that/which refer to groups of items

Whoever vs whomever:

Whoever is used for he/she while whomever is used for him/her

In order to earn all four pints for evidence and commentary,

Writers must provide specific evidence to support their claims, consistently explain how the evidence they've selected supports their argument AND explain how the various rhetorical devices in their evidence contribute to the purpose of the passage

Aphorism

a concise statement of a truth or principle

Coherence

a essay must be in logical order and their connections flow

A false cause

a fallacy in which a speaker mistakenly assumes that because one event follows another, the first event is the cause of the second

Pun

a humorous play on words

Argument Essay

all that matters is how effectively you argue and back up your position

when a question refers to specific line in the passage,

always go back to the passage and reread them; read a few line before and after the specified lines

Counter Arguments

an argument against your thesis or some aspect of your reasoning

Rhetorical fallacy

an argument that is not sound but may still be convincing

Rhetorical fallacy: Begging the question

an assumption which is not proven is used as evidence that the conclusion is correctAn

Connotation

an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

Circumlocution

an indirect way of expressing something; talking in circles

Euphemism

an inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

analyze the techniques (like choice of language or organization of points) an author uses, and discuss how those techniques contribute to the authors purpose

Rhetorical fallacy: Non-testable hypothesis

anything that has not been proven false is assumed to be true

Symbol

anything that stands for or represents something else

Rhetoric Questions

ask about syntax, point of view, or figurative language - to answer, you must know how language works within a give passage

Main Idea Questions

ask for the author's primary goal; often contain words like "central thesis," "primary purpose," or "main idea"; may sometimes ask about audience or medium 1)look at your outline for the goal 2)reread goal in your outline taking note of charge and degree of the verb 3) match your expectations with the right answer ***wrong answers may be too broad or narrow, have the wrong tone or degree

Tone or Purpose Questions

ask you determine how or why the author wrote the material - tone reflects the writer's attitude toward the subject and the audience -purpose defines the effect the author wants to have upon the audience

Interrogative:

asks a question

Mode Questions

asks you to indentify the variouis rhetorical modes that writers employ - must understand the differences among narration, exposition, description, and persuasion - why an author is particularly effective at using a specific mode

Rhetorical fallacy: False Dichotomy

assumes a black-and-white world in which there is no middle ground

Rhetorical diamond

author / / audience context / / purpose

Rhetorical fallacy: Missing the point

author offers evidence that supports a conclusion - its not the same conclusion that the author reaches

Intro:

broad to specific

Rhetorical Mode: Problem/Solution

clearly identifying a problem, and then providing a logical, practical solution for that problem.

Rhetorical Modes

describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing

Planning your Synthesis Essay

exactly what do you want to conclude about the topic of the synthesis prompt? which three sources do you want to conclude to strongly support your arguement?

Hyberbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Exclamatory:

expresses strong feeling and ends with an exclamation point

Process of elimination

first eliminate answers you know is wrong then look for the right answer withing the remaining choices

Imperative:

gives a command or makes a request

Tone Word: Ambivalent

having contradictory feelings

Introductions

help establish context for the audience. They introduce the topic, and oftentimes your thesis statement

As you read the passage,

highlight words and sentences seem significant observe patterns of organization that the writer employs

Sentence fragments

incomplete sentences

Tone Word: Ingratiating

intended to gain approval or favor

Tone Word: Polemical

involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing

Proofread

leave a few minutes to check for errors

Paragraph 2-4 includes:

one paragraph for each piece of evidence listed; evidence should be specific as possible (direct quotations or detail descriptions), accompanied by commentary, one paragraph that describe a conflicting view that you disprove

Tone Word: Equivocal

open to more than one interpretation

In answering a question about tone or purpose,

pay attention to word choice

Letter of the Day

pick the same letter for answer choices when stuck

Bombast

pompous or pretentious talk or writing

Verb Tenses

present, past, future, present perfect, past perfect, future perfect

Inductive Reasoning

reasoning from detailed facts to general principles

How to use sources

respond to each person's comments, build on them, and use them to enrich your own views about the topic. You would add something to the discussion your three authors are having

Rhetorical fallacy: Circular Argument

saying the same thing in both the conclusion and in the eviendence that allegedly supports it

Conclusions

should summarize your main points and leave a lasting impression on the reader; restate the thesis statement; used to connect to larger, bigger picture ideas; make sure to change your wording to avoid sounding too repetitive

Tone Word: Predantic

showing off knowledge; overly concerned with details

Tone Word: Earnest

showing sincere or intense convention

Rhetoric

the art of using language effectively and persuasively

Rhetorical fallacy: Hasty Generalization

the author or speaker assumes that a limited experience foreshadows the entire experience

Rhetorical fallacy: Non Sequitur

the conclusion is not logically related to the evidence to the evidence that proceded it

Rhetorical Mode: Example

the details of a complex problem in a way that's easy for readers to understand

Personification

the giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or idea

Denotation

the literal meaning of a word; the dictionary definition

Form

the method of organization that a writer uses

Direct object

the object that receives the direct action of the verb

Deductive Reasoning

the process of applying a general statement to specific facts or situations

exigence

the reason the speech needs to be given; "why did the author write this"?

What is rhetoric?

the stylistic devices an author uses to appeal successfully to a specific audience

Theme

the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic.

Malapropism

the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar

Comma splices

the use of a comma to join two independent clauses

Sarcasm

the use of irony to mock or convey contempt

Antecedent

the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers

How do writers convey their purpose

through their choice of words and the impression those words create

Reasons to eliminate answer choices

too narrow, too broad, irrelevant, incorrect (get facts wrong in passage), illogical (not supported by passage), similar choices, not/except

Tone Word: Wry

using or expressing dry, mocking humor

Imagery

visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work.

at the end of the passage, ask yourself:

what is the authors "big picture" purpose and main point in the passage as whole? did the author convince me or lead me to disagree strongly?

As you read each paragraph, ask yourself:

what is the authors main point in this paragraph? how does it connect to the paragraph before it? where is it likely to lead to the next paragraph?

Anthropomorphism

when non-human objects are given the physical shape of a human (ex. the legs of a table)

Parallel construction

wording points in a repeated pattern to emphasize their importance and to show how they are both related and contrasted

Figurative language

writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally

When you are asked to make judgements about what is inferred or implied in a selection,

you must put together clues from the passage. You must be able to support your answer with specific facts or examples from the selection

Ways to make introduction:

○ Provide a scenario ○ Open with an interesting question/statement or statistic