ESSAY ANALYSIS WORKSHEET
STEP 1: ANNOTATE
1. Reread the SYNTHESIS prompt.
2. In the space below, write the basic question you are expected to answer in the simplest terms possible.
3. In the space below, write a thesis statement for your essay. Make sure to clearly state the paper topic/issue at
hand, your stance, and the opposing stance.
4. On the lines below, list three reasons why your stance is a valid position to take on the issue:
1.
2.
3.
5. Next to each reason above, place the following symbols:
1. STAR
2. ARROW
3. DOT
6. Skim through the source documents and, in the margin, draw a star next to statements, images, and statistics
that correlate with your first reason, an arrow next to the statements, images, and statistics that correlate with
your second reason, and a large dot next to the statements, images, and statistics that correlate with your third
reason.
7. Read the ANALYSIS prompt and excerpt, underlining any statements that capture the tone, attitude, or “spirit” of
the piece. Also, in the margins, note any rhetorical strategies you recognize as you read and draw a light line
from each strategy term to the example.
8. In the space below, write the essential truth for this excerpt (i.e., the belief, certainty, or conviction that likely
prompted the author to write this piece).
9. Skim through the ANALYSIS excerpt again, noting any additional rhetorical strategies and examples that stand
out.
10. In the space below, write your thesis statement for your essay, identifying the three rhetorical strategies you can
most effectively evidence and analyze in your discussion.
STEP 2: WARRANT
1. Use a YELLOW marker to highlight all evidence in your SYNTHESIS essay that exemplifies your first reason listed
on the first page of this worksheet (the STAR category).
2. In the space below, warrant all of your YELLOW and STAR evidence with an assertion, backing, and effects on
people, planet, and pocketbooks.
3. Use a BLUE/GREEN marker to highlight all evidence in your SYNTHESIS essay that exemplifies your second
reason listed on the first page of this worksheet (the ARROW category).
4. In the space below, warrant all of your BLUE/GREEN and ARROW evidence with an assertion, backing, and
effects on people, planet, and pocketbooks.
5. Use a PINK/ORANGE marker to highlight all evidence in your SYNTHESIS essay that exemplifies your third reason
listed on the first page of this worksheet (the DOT category).
6. In the space below, warrant all of your PINK/ORANGE and DOT evidence with an assertion, backing, and effects
on people, planet, and pocketbooks.
STEP 3: ANALYZE
1. Use a YELLOW marker to highlight all evidence in your ANALYSIS essay that exemplifies the FIRST rhetorical
strategy presented in your ANALYSIS thesis statement from the first page of this worksheet.
2. In the space below, analyze all of your YELLOW evidence by answering all five analysis questions.
3. Use a BLUE/GREEN marker to highlight all evidence in your ANALYSIS essay that exemplifies the SECOND
rhetorical strategy presented in your ANALYSIS thesis statement from the first page of this worksheet.
4. In the space below, analyze all of your BLUE/GREEN evidence by answering all five analysis questions.
5. Use a PINK/ORANGE marker to highlight all evidence in your ANALYSIS essay that exemplifies the THIRD
rhetorical strategy presented in your ANALYSIS thesis statement from the first page of this worksheet.
6. In the space below, analyze all of your PINK/ORANGE evidence by answering all five analysis questions.
STEP 4: REFLECT
In the space below, discuss how you will improve upon your approach to the READING time during the actual AP essay.
In the space below, discuss how you will improve upon your approach to writing the SYNTHESIS essay during the actual
AP essay.
In the space below, discuss how you will improve upon your approach to writing the ANALYSIS essay during the actual AP
essay.
In the space below, explain why you received the score you did on your SYNTHESIS essay. Be sure to reference the
rubrics given to you that clearly outline each score rating.
In the space below, explain why you received the score you did on your ANALYSIS essay. Be sure to reference the rubrics
given to you that clearly outline each score rating.