Writing an AP Essay:
Literature and
Composition
Essays on the AP Lit & Comp Exam:
2 Hours (40 minutes each)
You will have 3 from the following types:
 One Excerpt (poetry or prose)
 Two Excerpts (Compare and Contrast with
Point-by-Point or Block organization; see
Compare and Contrast: AP Essay handout)
 Open Response question. There is always one
OR question; review your major texts!
Make sure that you understand what the
prompt asks you to do:
The passage below is taken from the novel Tom Jones
(1749). In this scene, which occurs early in the novel,
Squire Allworthy discovers an infant in his bed. Read
the passage carefully. Then, in a well-organized essay,
analyze the techniques that Fielding employs in this
scene to characterize Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Deborah
Wilkins.
Identify the key words/phrases you must address in your
essay.
Make sure that you understand what the
prompt asks you to do:
The passage below is taken from the novel Tom Jones
(1749). In this scene, which occurs early in the novel,
Squire Allworthy discovers an infant in his bed. Read
the passage carefully. Then, in a well-organized essay,
analyze the techniques that Fielding employs in this
scene to characterize Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Deborah
Wilkins.
Note: you should discuss MORE THAN
ONE “technique,” and analyze BOTH
characters given.
Make sure that you understand what the
prompt asks you to do:
The passage below is taken from the novel Tom Jones
(1749). In this scene, which occurs early in the novel,
Squire Allworthy discovers an infant in his bed. Read
the passage carefully. Then, in a well-organized essay,
analyze the techniques that Fielding employs in this
scene to characterize Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Deborah
Wilkins.
(Note how this is different from…)
Write a well-organized essay in which you analyze the
style and tone of the passage below, explaining how
they help to express the author’s attitudes.
Make sure that you understand what the
prompt asks you to do:
The passage below is taken from the novel Tom Jones
(1749). In this scene, which occurs early in the novel,
Squire Allworthy discovers an infant in his bed. Read
the passage carefully. Then, in a well-organized essay,
analyze the techniques that Fielding employs in this
scene to characterize Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Deborah
Wilkins.
(Note how this is different from…)
Write a well-organized essay in which you analyze the
style and tone of the passage below, explaining how
they help to express the author’s attitudes.
What is meant by style and techniques?
 What one says.
AND
 How one says that something.
If style is thought to consist of the mannerisms and methods of an
individual writer, then one can refer to the pompous style of Dr.
Johnson, the whimsical style of Charles Lamb, the allusive style of T.
S. Eliot, the clipped style of Hemingway. Most critics agree, however,
that “what one says” and “how he says it” are basic elements in style.
Therefore, style may be thought of as the impression (influence) of a
writer’s personality upon his subject matter.
Devices used to create style:
Purpose—Entertain? Inform? Criticize? Describe? Provoke?
Diction--word choice, connotation of words
Syntax--sentence structure
Imagery
Figures of speech
metaphors, similes, personification, allusions, etc.
Tone or attitude towards subject
Punctuation / Capitalization / Grammar Usage
Language (formal, informal, etc.)
And others (see Essential Questions about Style handout)
Remember: “How does the style add meaning overall?”
What is tone?
An author’s attitude toward his subject
Remember that rarely will the tone remain the
same from beginning to end, or will the tone
be limited to a single descriptive adjective.
Don’t be afraid to see opposites— “The attitude
is one of - - -, yet one of - - -.” Think
complexity!
Essays are scored holistically
 The reader reads the essay without making
any marks
 The reader evaluates both what is said and
how it is said
 A score is determined based upon a rubric
 9-8--These essays address the
 5--These essays tend to be simplistic
prompt fully and insightfully.
in analysis of techniques. They
They identify techniques and
often rely on paraphrase. There may
then analyze how the author
be minor misinterpretations. These
uses them to address the
essays are not as well conceived,
prompt. Though the essays may
organized, or developed as uppernot be error-free, they are
half papers. Prompts are not
perceptive in their analysis and
addressed effectively.
demonstrate writing that is clear  4-3--These lower-half essays offer
and precise.
less than thorough understanding of
the prompt. They demonstrate
misunderstanding of some aspect of
 7-6--These essays offer a
the passage. These essays tend to
reasonable attempt at the
rely on paraphrase only. The
prompt. Although not as
writing often demonstrates a lack of
convincing or as thoroughly
control over the conventions of
developed as the 9-8 papers,
composition: inadequate
they demonstrate the writer’s
development of ideas, an
ability to express ideas with
accumulation of errors, or a focus
clarity, insight, and control
that is unclear.
Literary Analysis
In addition to understanding the
passage that you read,
and writing clearly, precisely, and as
correctly as possible under the
circumstances,
you are also expected to write good
literary analysis.
L iterary A nalysis
Chunk
C laim
D ata
W arran t O R
C om m en tary
Th esis S tatem en t
Top ic S en ten ces
(W h at you wish
to p rove.)
D irect Q u otes
S u m m ary
P arap h rase
D etails
op in ion , in sig h t,
an alysis, reaction
exp lication , feelin g s,
reflection
Keep “I” out; minimize paraphrasing and summarizing.
Literary Analysis:
Can you find claim, data, commentary?
Claim
The porcupine imagery illustrates how blind
people affect our lives. In the first three
lines Kooser describes how the blind can
Data
suddenly fill an elevator “with a great
white porcupine of canes.” The porcupine
image is highly appropriate here. A
porcupine is noted for its prickliness; we
are apprehensive when it is around and we
do not want to touch it. The bind person,
Commentary
according to Kooser, evokes a similar
reaction: their presence in a situation
causes “prickliness,” and it makes us
uncomfortable.
In Animal Farm, Clover represents a caring
and motherly figure to the other animals.
She talks to Mollie, the horse, when others
Which one is better? Why?
will not. She cares about keeping the
animals together. She isn’t mean to Mollie
In Animal Farm, Clover represents a but wants her to understand how her decision
caring and motherly figure to the other to leave may affect the farm. In addition,
animals. For example, she talks to
Clover warns Boxer to slow down and
Mollie, the horse, when others will not. nurses him when he collapses. In her
In addition, Clover warns Boxer to
concern for him, she models the kind of
slow down and nurses him when he
behavior that the animals wanted from Mr.
collapses. Furthermore, she sees the
Jones but did not get. She sees the injustice
changes in the Seven Commandments of the system and understands the
and in the pigs at the end. She works punishment of hard work. Furthermore, she
hard to help the other animals
notices the changes in the Seven Commands
regardless of what the negative
and in the pigs’ behavior at the end. The
consequences may be.
knowledge that something is wrong leads her
to speak out. Her commitment to Animal
Farm is most important in her mind, and she
wants to put her beliefs into action. Clover
works hard to help the other animals,
regardless of what might happen to her.
Literary Analysis
Be prepared to write
 Plan your time wisely (40
minutes per essay)
 Spend some time (five
minutes) planning your
essay before you begin-organization is an
important factor of good
composition
 Bring a black or dark blue
pen (#2 pencil is fine on
MC section)