5-S Strategy- From AP Institute/ College Board
Sentences: Discover the key SENTENCES. Preview the passage by reading the first sentence, the last
sentence and skimming the text in between to determine the scope of the work. By carrying out this step first,
you gain an overview that allows for effective pacing. Underline what you believe to be the most important
sentence in the text.
Speaker/narrator: Discover the SPEAKER. Look for such things as the number of speakers and the
narrator’s point of view—this is most often either first person (narrator as major character, narrator as minor
character) or third person (omniscient, limited omniscient or objective). Unless otherwise specified, analyze
from the speaker’s vantage point. Note anything that gives a clue about speaker’s attitude (tone).
Situation: What is happening? State this SITUATION in ONE clear sentence. Be sure to examine the title of
the piece if it has one.
Shifts: Discover the major SHIFTS in structure, syntax, or diction, such as wording that evokes certain
connotations and sudden changes in tone, sentence length, rhythm, punctuation, or patterns of imagery. Find
areas of the passage where you can locate the most changes, and closely annotate them. Look for transitional or
signal words.
Syntax: Discover obvious concentrations of unusual or otherwise significant SYNTAX and their purpose.
Look for changes in sentence length, sentence order, use of punctuation, and typographical elements such as
italics, sentence inversion that creates rhetorical questions, etc. Mark this predominate syntax. Often it will
guide the reader to the part of the passage that conveys the most meaning—the CRUX.
Storm Warnings
The glass has been falling all the afternoon,
And knowing better than the instrument
What winds are walking overhead, what zone
Of grey unrest is moving across the land,
I leave the book upon a pillowed chair
And walk from window to closed window, watching
Boughs strain against the sky
And think again, as often when the air
Moves inward toward a silent core of waiting,
How with a single purpose time has traveled
By secret currents of the undiscerned
Into this polar realm. Weather abroad
And weather in the heart alike come on
Regardless of prediction.
Between foreseeing and averting change
Lies all the mastery of elements
Which clocks and weatherglasses cannot alter.
Time in the hand is not control of time,
Nor shattered fragments of an instrument
A proof against the wind; the wind will rise,
We can only close the shutters.
I draw the curtains as the sky goes black
And set a match to candles sheathed in glass
Against the keyhole draught, the insistent whine
Of weather through the unsealed aperture.
This is our sole defense against the season;
These are the things we have learned to do
Who live in troubled regions.
-Adrienne Rich
5-S Strategy- From AP Institute/ College Board
Sentences: Discover the key SENTENCES. Preview the passage by reading the first sentence, the last sentence and skimming the text in between to determine the scope of the
work. By carrying out this step first, you gain an overview that allows for effective pacing. Underline what you believe to be the most important sentence in the text.
Speaker/narrator: Discover the SPEAKER. Look for such things as the number of speakers and the narrator’s point of view—this is most often either first person (narrator as
major character, narrator as minor character) or third person (omniscient, limited omniscient or objective). Unless otherwise specified, analyze from the speaker’s vantage point.
Note anything that gives a clue about speaker’s attitude (tone).
Situation: What is happening? State this SITUATION in ONE clear sentence. Be sure to examine the title of the piece if it has one.
Shifts: Discover the major SHIFTS in structure, syntax, or diction, such as wording that evokes certain connotations and sudden changes in tone, sentence length, rhythm,
punctuation, or patterns of imagery. Find areas of the passage where you can locate the most changes, and closely annotate them. Look for transitional or signal words.
Syntax: Discover obvious concentrations of unusual or otherwise significant SYNTAX and their purpose. Look for changes in sentence length, sentence order, use of punctuation,
and typographical elements such as italics, sentence inversion that creates rhetorical questions, etc. Mark this predominate syntax. Often it will guide the reader to the part of the
passage that conveys the most meaning—the CRUX.
5-S Strategy- From AP Institute/ College Board
Sentences: Discover the key SENTENCES. Preview the passage by reading the first sentence, the last sentence and skimming the text in between to determine the scope of the
work. By carrying out this step first, you gain an overview that allows for effective pacing. Underline what you believe to be the most important sentence in the text.
Speaker/narrator: Discover the SPEAKER. Look for such things as the number of speakers and the narrator’s point of view—this is most often either first person (narrator as
major character, narrator as minor character) or third person (omniscient, limited omniscient or objective). Unless otherwise specified, analyze from the speaker’s vantage point.
Note anything that gives a clue about speaker’s attitude (tone).
Situation: What is happening? State this SITUATION in ONE clear sentence. Be sure to examine the title of the piece if it has one.
Shifts: Discover the major SHIFTS in structure, syntax, or diction, such as wording that evokes certain connotations and sudden changes in tone, sentence length, rhythm,
punctuation, or patterns of imagery. Find areas of the passage where you can locate the most changes, and closely annotate them. Look for transitional or signal words.
Syntax: Discover obvious concentrations of unusual or otherwise significant SYNTAX and their purpose. Look for changes in sentence length, sentence order, use of punctuation,
and typographical elements such as italics, sentence inversion that creates rhetorical questions, etc. Mark this predominate syntax. Often it will guide the reader to the part of the
passage that conveys the most meaning—the CRUX.
5-S Strategy- From AP Institute/ College Board
Sentences: Discover the key SENTENCES. Preview the passage by reading the first sentence, the last sentence and skimming the text in between to determine the scope of the
work. By carrying out this step first, you gain an overview that allows for effective pacing. Underline what you believe to be the most important sentence in the text.
Speaker/narrator: Discover the SPEAKER. Look for such things as the number of speakers and the narrator’s point of view—this is most often either first person (narrator as
major character, narrator as minor character) or third person (omniscient, limited omniscient or objective). Unless otherwise specified, analyze from the speaker’s vantage point.
Note anything that gives a clue about speaker’s attitude (tone).
Situation: What is happening? State this SITUATION in ONE clear sentence. Be sure to examine the title of the piece if it has one.
Shifts: Discover the major SHIFTS in structure, syntax, or diction, such as wording that evokes certain connotations and sudden changes in tone, sentence length, rhythm,
punctuation, or patterns of imagery. Find areas of the passage where you can locate the most changes, and closely annotate them. Look for transitional or signal words.
Syntax: Discover obvious concentrations of unusual or otherwise significant SYNTAX and their purpose. Look for changes in sentence length, sentence order, use of punctuation,
and typographical elements such as italics, sentence inversion that creates rhetorical questions, etc. Mark this predominate syntax. Often it will guide the reader to the part of the
passage that conveys the most meaning—the CRUX.
5-S Strategy- From AP Institute/ College Board
Sentences: Discover the key SENTENCES. Preview the passage by reading the first sentence, the last sentence and skimming the text in between to determine the scope of the
work. By carrying out this step first, you gain an overview that allows for effective pacing. Underline what you believe to be the most important sentence in the text.
Speaker/narrator: Discover the SPEAKER. Look for such things as the number of speakers and the narrator’s point of view—this is most often either first person (narrator as
major character, narrator as minor character) or third person (omniscient, limited omniscient or objective). Unless otherwise specified, analyze from the speaker’s vantage point.
Note anything that gives a clue about speaker’s attitude (tone).
Situation: What is happening? State this SITUATION in ONE clear sentence. Be sure to examine the title of the piece if it has one.
Shifts: Discover the major SHIFTS in structure, syntax, or diction, such as wording that evokes certain connotations and sudden changes in tone, sentence length, rhythm,
punctuation, or patterns of imagery. Find areas of the passage where you can locate the most changes, and closely annotate them. Look for transitional or signal words.
Syntax: Discover obvious concentrations of unusual or otherwise significant SYNTAX and their purpose. Look for changes in sentence length, sentence order, use of punctuation,
and typographical elements such as italics, sentence inversion that creates rhetorical questions, etc. Mark this predominate syntax. Often it will guide the reader to the part of the
passage that conveys the most meaning—the CRUX.
5-S Strategy- From AP Institute/ College Board
Sentences: Discover the key SENTENCES. Preview the passage by reading the first sentence, the last sentence and skimming the text in between to determine the scope of the
work. By carrying out this step first, you gain an overview that allows for effective pacing. Underline what you believe to be the most important sentence in the text.
Speaker/narrator: Discover the SPEAKER. Look for such things as the number of speakers and the narrator’s point of view—this is most often either first person (narrator as
major character, narrator as minor character) or third person (omniscient, limited omniscient or objective). Unless otherwise specified, analyze from the speaker’s vantage point.
Note anything that gives a clue about speaker’s attitude (tone).
Situation: What is happening? State this SITUATION in ONE clear sentence. Be sure to examine the title of the piece if it has one.
Shifts: Discover the major SHIFTS in structure, syntax, or diction, such as wording that evokes certain connotations and sudden changes in tone, sentence length, rhythm,
punctuation, or patterns of imagery. Find areas of the passage where you can locate the most changes, and closely annotate them. Look for transitional or signal words.
Syntax: Discover obvious concentrations of unusual or otherwise significant SYNTAX and their purpose. Look for changes in sentence length, sentence order, use of punctuation,
and typographical elements such as italics, sentence inversion that creates rhetorical questions, etc. Mark this predominate syntax. Often it will guide the reader to the part of the
passage that conveys the most meaning—the CRUX.
5-S Strategy- From AP Institute/ College Board
Sentences: Discover the key SENTENCES. Preview the passage by reading the first sentence, the last sentence and skimming the text in between to determine the scope of the
work. By carrying out this step first, you gain an overview that allows for effective pacing. Underline what you believe to be the most important sentence in the text.
Speaker/narrator: Discover the SPEAKER. Look for such things as the number of speakers and the narrator’s point of view—this is most often either first person (narrator as
major character, narrator as minor character) or third person (omniscient, limited omniscient or objective). Unless otherwise specified, analyze from the speaker’s vantage point.
Note anything that gives a clue about speaker’s attitude (tone).
Situation: What is happening? State this SITUATION in ONE clear sentence. Be sure to examine the title of the piece if it has one.
Shifts: Discover the major SHIFTS in structure, syntax, or diction, such as wording that evokes certain connotations and sudden changes in tone, sentence length, rhythm,
punctuation, or patterns of imagery. Find areas of the passage where you can locate the most changes, and closely annotate them. Look for transitional or signal words.
Syntax: Discover obvious concentrations of unusual or otherwise significant SYNTAX and their purpose. Look for changes in sentence length, sentence order, use of punctuation,
and typographical elements such as italics, sentence inversion that creates rhetorical questions, etc. Mark this predominate syntax. Often it will guide the reader to the part of the
passage that conveys the most meaning—the CRUX.