AP Final Exam: 3 Free
Response Questions
You will have 2 hours to complete 3 essays: Synthesis, Rhetorical Analysis and
Argument.
How these will be graded:
1. Your rhetorical analysis essay (the one we have spent the most amount of time on
this semester) will be graded numerically and will be worth 50 pts towards your 1st
semester grade. Completion points for the 3 essays will also be given.
How to Review:
1. Rhetorical Analysis notes on teacherweb and in journals; Arch method
2. Rhetorical Analysis Essay Review Sheet: Sample essay review sheet
3. Sample essays and prompts in Cliff ’s or on Collegeboard.com
2. One essay will be chosen between the argument and the synthesis to count as your
diagnostic essay for 2nd semester. It is therefore imperative that you complete all
essays in the time frame allowed, to the best of your abilities. For the argument
essay, you will need to include at least one CD example from The Scarlet Letter
How to Review:
1. Synthesis and Argument Class Notes
2. CW/HW assignments completed in class regarding the prompts
3. Sample essays and prompts in Cliffs or on Collegeboard.com
What to Bring on Final Day: Semester 1 vocabulary H/O to turn in, at least 6 pieces of
Blank paper and a pen for your final as well as your eager and positive attitudes!
Overview of AP Exam
• In Section I, students are given one hour to answer
approximately 55 multiple-choice questions.
• The multiple-choice questions test how well students
are able to analyze the rhetoric of prose passages.
• In Section II, following a fifteen-minute reading period,
students must answer three free-response questions
within two hours
• Through the free-response questions students
demonstrate their composition skills by writing essays
in response to a variety of tasks that call for rhetorical
analysis, synthesis of information sources, and
argument.
Free Response AP Test Section Overview
Question #1: Synthesis: This type of essay presents seven passages on the same subject; one of
these documents will likely be a visual one (such as a chart, photograph, or political cartoon).
You need to read all the documents carefully and then using at least 3 sources, synthesize the
various authors points, while intelligently discussing their validity. Therefore, this essay is like
the argument essay; it just asks you to incorporate more sources. Your purpose is to present an
intelligent and thoughtful discussion and point of view on the subject. ***Remember to
monitor your time with the reading of the passages, adopt a tentative position or read
through the material to help postulate a stance based on your familiarity with the issue.
Underline quotations as you read to more quickly infuse them later when beginning your
essay.
Question #2: Rhetorical Analysis: This essay presents a passage and asks you to analyze the
rhetorical and literary strategies the author uses to create effect or meaning. Accurately
identify the devices the author uses and evaluate how these devices create meaning. Be sure
that you understand the effect and author’s meaning before you begin. Uncertainty results in
muddled ideas. Refer to the passage liberally, incorporating quotations into your own ideas.
**Remember the Arch Method as a means of organizing your ideas and adhering to the
prompt.
Question #3: Argument: This essay presents one passage; read it carefully and formulate an
essay discussing the extent to which you agree or disagree with the prompt. Like the synthesis
essay, you will be well served if you intelligently address the counterpoint of the issue and
persuasively explore evidence from the passage. **Remember Quality of evidence!!
Reading, Observations, Experience….
The AP “Numbers” Side by Side
ESSAY SCORING GUIDE
9 = “enhanced” 8
8 = effective
7 = “enhanced” 6
6 = adequate
5 = uneven, superficial
4 = inadequate
3 = lesser 4
2 = little success
1 = lesser 2
TOTAL EXAM SCORES
5 = extremely well qualified
4 = well qualified
3 = qualified
2 = possibly qualified
1 = no recommendation
AP Multiple Choice
• Questions are randomly easy, medium, or
difficult, and generally move chronologically
through the passage
• Guessing: There is not penalty for guessing, but
always narrow your choices before guessing
• Level of Difficulty: The level of difficulty in AP
MC often comes not from the type of question,
but rather the difficulty of the text
AP Multiple Choice
• Performance on the free-response section of the exam
counts for 55% of the total score
• Performance on the multiple-choice section counts for 45%
• AP exam tests students intellectual stamina and endurance
Multiple Choice Hints:
• Read actively—get that pencil moving.
• Right answers are worth one point. Both wrong answers and
blanks are worth zero points.
• Number of Passages: usually 4 but sometimes 5. Students
must figure out how much time to spend on each.
Bracketing the Passage
1. Go directly to the first question. Glance at
the question to see if it refers you to
particular lines. If so, put a bracket and the
question number to the right or left of the
lines. Make your bracket a little larger than
the lines mentioned. Do not read the
answer choices at this time.
2. Continue bracketing the passage in this
manner. The task should not take more than
60 seconds.
Bracketing the Passage
3. Begin reading the passage at the top. When
you get to the bottom of the first bracket, stop
and answer the question. As you eliminate
wrong choices and narrow toward the right
answer, scrutinize each choice by trying to find
fault with it. Don’t let what sounds possible
but was never mentioned in the passage trick
you. Look back and forth between the lines
you marked in the passage and the answer
choices to see what is actually there.
Bracketing the Passage
Mark your test paper to keep your focus:
 Put a line through an individual word that
invalidates the choice.
 Put a dot to the side of any answer that
you cannot find fault with
 Put an X next to any answer that is
patently wrong.
Bracketing the Passage
4. Once you evaluated each choice, you have probably
narrowed to two possible right answers. Now look
at the lines you bracketed. Pick the one for which
you find confirmation in the passage. You will
know you have selected the right choice when you
can find evidence in the passage to back it up.
Though you are sometimes working with implied
rather than stated meaning, there will always be
some sort of evidence supporting the correct
choice.
AP Exam: Free
Response Questions
Question 1-3
What are we supposed
to write about?????
Language and Composition AP Exam
• AP Exam, including Multiple Choice excerpts
and Free Response excerpts is entirely made
up of Non-Fiction texts.
Free Response Scoring Guide
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
“enhanced” 8
effective
“enhanced” 6
adequate
uneven, superficial, etc.
inadequate
lesser 4
little success
lesser 2
Exam Scores
•
•
•
•
•
5 = extremely well qualified
4 = well qualified
3 = qualified
2 = possibly qualified
1 = no recommendation
AP Exam: Free
Response Questions
Question #1
Synthesis
Question #1 (Synthesis)
• Read the sample prompt that you have on
your desk and answer the following
questions in your journal:
1. What is the locavore movement?
2. What is the prompt asking you to write
about regarding the locavore movement?
3. What is the minimum amount of sources
you are being asked to use for an essay
like this?
Free Response AP Test Section Overview
Question #1: Synthesis: This type of essay presents seven passages on the same subject; one of
these documents will likely be a visual one (such as a chart, photograph, or political cartoon).
You need to read all the documents carefully and then using at least 3 sources, synthesize the
various authors points, while intelligently discussing their validity. Therefore, this essay is like
the argument essay; it just asks you to incorporate more sources. Your purpose is to present an
intelligent and thoughtful discussion and point of view on the subject. ***Remember to
monitor your time with the reading of the passages, adopt a tentative position or read
through the material to help postulate a stance based on your familiarity with the issue.
Underline quotations as you read to more quickly infuse them later when beginning your
essay.
Question #2: Rhetorical Analysis: This essay presents a passage and asks you to analyze the
rhetorical and literary strategies the author uses to create effect or meaning. Accurately
identify the devices the author uses and evaluate how these devices create meaning. Be sure
that you understand the effect and author’s meaning before you begin. Uncertainty results in
muddled ideas. Refer to the passage liberally, incorporating quotations into your own ideas.
**Remember the Arch Method as a means of organizing your ideas and adhering to the
prompt.
Question #3: Argument: This essay presents one passage; read it carefully and formulate an
essay discussing the extent to which you agree or disagree with the prompt. Like the synthesis
essay, you will be well served if you intelligently address the counterpoint of the issue and
persuasively explore evidence from the passage. **Remember Quality of evidence!!
Reading, Observations, Experience….
Free Response AP Test Section Overview
Question #1: Synthesis: This type of essay presents seven
passages on the same subject; one of these documents will
likely be a visual one (such as a chart, photograph, or political
cartoon). You need to read all the documents carefully and
then using at least 3 sources, synthesize the various authors
points, while intelligently discussing their validity. Therefore,
this essay is similar to the argument essay; it just asks you to
integrate specific sources. Your purpose is to present an
intelligent and thoughtful discussion and point of view on the
subject. ***Monitor your time with the reading of the
passages. Underline quotations as you read to more
quickly infuse them later when beginning your essay.
Question #1 (Synthesis)
• Method #1 If you are already familiar
with the subject of the prompt, you
might begin this way:
–Adopt a tentative position
–Read to verify/modify position
–Write
Question #1 (Synthesis)
• Method #2
–Read the sources to explore (key
issues)
–Adopt/develop a position
–Write
Question #1 (Synthesis)
AP Synthesis Citations:
Direct Citation:
– When Rostein reports that school administrator
think “electronic materials will get student more
engaged,” he does not seem to question whether
or not these administrators are, in fact, correct
(Source A).
– Use names and Source
Paraphrase or reference to a source:
– As Delany reminds us, technologies can provide
teachers with new ways to interact with their
pupils (Source B).
• You have to use 3 sources or more.
• If you only use 2 sources your scoring ceiling is capped at a
score of a 4.
Rules for incorporating numbers
1. Write out numbers one through
nine, use numerals for 10 and
above.
2. Write out a number if it is the first
word in a sentence.
3. Do not use the % sign. Write out
the word percent.
Question #1 (Synthesis)
• Read the source information in the
box…notice dates to add to analysis
of argument.
Locavore Movement Synthesis Sources
 Read
your source within your group, then discuss
and answer the following questions in your journal:
1. What position does your source seem to lend
itself as support of?
2. What quotes/information/images could you use
to support that position based off of your source?
Would you paraphrase or use direct quotes?
Discuss and write down.
3. Be ready to share your source info with the class!
Locavore Movement Synthesis Sources
 Source A:
AP Exam: Free
Response Questions
Question #2
Prose Analysis
Question #2 (Prose Analysis)
• Free Response Questions account for 55% of
your total AP score
• Q2: The Prose Analysis Question is
considered to be the hardest of the three
free response essay’s.
• You will be given a prose passage and asked (in
various ways) to analyze the rhetorical
strategies used…this can include tone, diction,
syntax, parallelism, antithesis, rhetorical questions,
etc.
Prose/Rhetorical Analysis
Question #2: Rhetorical Analysis: This essay
presents a passage and asks you to analyze the
rhetorical and literary strategies the author uses to
create effect or meaning. Accurately identify the
devices the author uses and evaluate how these devices
create meaning. Be sure that you understand the effect
and author’s meaning before you begin. Uncertainty
results in muddled ideas. Refer to the passage
liberally, incorporating quotations into your own
ideas.
AP Exam: Free
Response Questions
Question #3
Argument
Monty Python's Argument Clinic
Question #3 (Argument)
THE WRITING TASK:
– Take a position
– Gather evidence
– Tell why evidence is relevant
Question #3 (Argument)
PROMPT BASICS
• Support your argument with appropriate
evidence from your
– reading…
– observations…
– or experience…
• Sound familiar?
• If using a personal experience as an
example make sure it is something
universal that many can relate to.
Question #3 (Argument)
GOOD ARGUMENT ESSENTIALS
1. Deals with the opposition
--anticipate the opposing point of view
--acknowledge its merits
--dispense with its claims
--make a “harmless” concession
2. Has Quality Evidence
– What is quality evidence??????
Question #3 (Argument)
ANY GOOD ARGUMENT
• Defends but offers counterpoint
– It is always important to defend your position, but
acknowledge the other point of view. This creates a
stronger sense of ethos for your paper.
– Any good argument is arguable…reasonable people can
come to different conclusions.
• Has college level complexity within the argument: cannot
expect good organization and mediocre examples to lead to a
stellar score.
• Has quality evidence
• Good argument papers shows some concession: America is
somewhat like this in this way and not like this in this way.
Use evidence more specifically and more cogently.
• Lower Half papers: RaRa…end of paper…America is so
great in this respect.
Question #3 (Argument)
“Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous
circumstances would have lain dormant.” --Horace
Consider this quotation about adversity from the Roman poet
Horace. Then write an essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies
Horace’s assertion about the role that adversity (financial or political
hardship, dander, misfortune, etc.) plays in developing a person’s
character. Support your argument with appropriate evidence from
your reading, observation, or experience.
The Glass Castle
Ender’s Game
TKAM
Question #3 (Argument)
Thesis Statements:
Adversity positively affects a person’s character because it allows
one to learn to deal with what he or she cannot control while
also gaining a sense of empathy and humanity.
Question #3 (Argument)
Readings:
Hester
1984 Winston
Game of Thrones
Observations:
Joan of Arc historical
Andrew Carnegie
Experience: