AP Test Taking Tips

What is the most important thing to remember about free response essay questions?

ADDRESS THE PROMPT!

What should be remembered about the free response questions?

All three are argumentative in nature and equally weighted. It is important to do well on all of them.

What should be avoided when addressing a technique on the analytical free response question?

Avoid asserting that a writer "uses diction". Unless you provide some level of distinction (concrete? abstract? etc) you are stating the obvious. Every author uses diction. Also avoid asserting that the imagery is "vivid". I mean, come on.

What two aspects of a passage should be considered when analyzing a writer's style?

Begin your focus on two broad areas: diction (specific word choices) and syntax (word arrangement). Everything else stems from these two items.

Are there alternate strategies for answering an analytical free response question if there is not a complete understanding of the entire passage?

Focus on the areas of the passage that are understood and demonstrate how the resources of language create meaning in those parts

What types of support exist for an argumentative essay?

Four main types exist: anecdotes, facts, quantitative data, and expert testimony. Using a variety of support establishes an ethical appeal.

What is the intent behind the analytical prompt?

It is designed to assess your ability to closely read a text. There's no way to know exactly what you are going to write before you read the prompt and the passage.

What is the intent of the synthesis free response question?

It is designed to have you demonstrate your ability to integrate sources as support for a specific position.

How much of the passage should be directly quoted on the synthesis and free response questions?

It's important to use specifics from the passage to support your assertions. Follow APE- assert, prove, explain. In other words, introduce your idea, specify a passage from the text and then comment on its relation to the theme.

Is there only one correct interpretation of a passage on the analytical free response question?

No, prompts are designed to foster discussion. Passages selected are usually open to a variety of interpretations.

Is paraphrasing or summarizing the passage proof enough that the content of the text is understood?

No. They are not the same as analysis. An understanding of the passage should be a starting point but it is not the entire picture. Write about what is known and understood but be sure to go beyond the surface.

Is writing a five paragrah essay recommended?

Not if it has a meaningless introduction or a repetitious conclusion or an extraneous or forced body paragrah. It's far better to focus on quality body paragraphs.

On the analytical free response question, should the question be rephrased or repeated in the answer's introduction?

Only rephrase or repeat the prompt if you cannot think of a better way to begin your essay.

What is the most important thing to do before writing the response to the analytical free response question?

Pay attention to the details within the passage as you read it. Each prompt will provide some reference to literary devices, resources of language, or some other item.

What is the first step to answering an analytical free response question?

Read and mark the promt, making sure you have a thorough understanding of what is expected of your. Identify SOAPSTone and what your task is.

When writing an argumentative essay, what is the most important thing to remember?

Remember and respond to the complexities of the issue. Do not develop a one sided argument that alienates a particular point of view.

For the analytical free response essay, what questions should be answered before writing?

Students should be able to articulate the SOAPSTone and any other appeals used in the passage

In an argumentative essay, from which areas can and should support be drawn?

Support can be drawn from personal experience, literature, history, science, politics, art, religion, philosophy and economics. Draw support from the areas that best illustrate and develop your thesis. Using a variety is preferable to using just one type.

What is the best way to analyze a visual text?

The same way you analyze a verbal text! Determine the purpose, audience, and context then identify the appeals being used.

What is the best way to integrate source material in the synthesis free response question?

Try this four part process: 1) introduce the information, 2) use it (quoting directly or paraphrasing), 3) cite it, and 4) comment upon it. (how does it support your thesis)

What literary techniques are most important to understand and apply?

Use the passage as your guide. Talk about what you see. A good place to start is familiarity with connotation, patterns of development, metaphor, irony and tone.

In the synthesis essay, what is the best way to incorporate source material into the response to the prompt?

Use two or more sources per body paragraph. That way, the sources are supporting an assertion and the writer is controlling the use of the sources rather than just summarizing them.

Is guessing on multiple choice questions a good strateg if the answer is unknown?

Yes, if one or more of the choices can be eliminated. Guessing always makes more sense than leaving the question blank.

How much time should be spent on each multiple choice question?

You will typically have 55 questions to answer in one hour. The rule of thumb is to allow as many minutes per passage as there are questions for that passage.