Writing an In-class Essay
AP Language
Essays on the AP English
Language Exam:
 Synthesis Essay
 Argumentative
Essay (Persuasive)
 Stylistic or
Rhetorical Analysis
Make sure that you understand what the
prompt asks you to do:
For the Synthesis Prompt:
Reading Time 15 minutes
Suggested Writing Time: 40 minutes
The following prompt is based on the accompanying six sources.
This question requires you to integrate a variety of sources
into a coherent, well-written essay. Refer to the sources to support
your position; avoid paraphrase or summary. Your argument should
be central; the sources should support this argument.
Remember to attribute both direct and indirect citations.
Synthesis Essay Prompt
 Introduction:
Television has been influential in United States presidential
elections since the 1960’s. But just what is this influence,and how has
it affected who is elected? Has it made elections fairer and more
accessible, or has it moved candidates from pursuing issues to pursuing
image?
Assignment:
Read the following sources (including any introductory information)
carefully. Then, in an essay that synthesizes at least three of the
sources for support, take a position that defends, challenges, or
qualifies the claim that television has had a positive impact on
presidential elections.
Analysis Prompt
 In the following passage from The Great
Influenza, an account of the 1918 flu
epidemic, author John M. Barry writes
about scientists and their research. Read the
passage carefully. Then, in a well-written
essay, analyze how Barry uses rhetorical
strategies to characterize scientific research.
Analysis Prompt
Usually will be rhetorical or stylistic
 Consider type of analysis ---rhetorical or
stylistic
--Rhetorical: rhetorical techniques and
rhetorical language
--Style: elements of style
Analysis Prompt
 In the following passage from The Great Influenza, an account of the
1918 flu epidemic, author John M. Barry writes about scientists and
their research. Read the passage carefully. Then, in a well-written
essay, analyze how Barry uses rhetorical strategies to characterize
.
 What are you asked to do?
 What should you look for while you are
reading and annotating?
scientific research
Annotation
 After you have read the prompt, you know
what your essay involves.
 Annotate accordingly.
 Underline, box, circle----use your own
code.
What is meant by rhetorical strategies?
 Rhetorical strategies could include the
rhetorical features, language, and
techniques of a writer.
 For example, narration, personification,
organization/structure, parallel syntax, use
of analogies (metaphor and simile), use of
irony, diction
Style Analysis
 Carefully read the following passage from
“Owls” by Mary Oliver. Then, write an
essay in which you analyze how Oliver’s
style conveys the complexity of her
response to nature.
 What are you asked to do?
What is meant by style?
 What one says. . .
 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 impress (influence) of a
writer’s personality upon his subject matter.
Devices Used to Create Style:
Diction--word choice
connotation of words/denotations of words
Syntax--sentence structure***
Imagery
Figures of speech
metaphors, similes, personification, allusions, etc.
Choice of detail
And others. . .
The Analysis MUST address TONE
 The rhetorical strategies create a certain
tone.
 Remember to look for the shift and
concentrate on the tonal shift.
 The stylistic elements utilized by the author
will also create a tone or a variety of tones.
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 - - -.
Persuasive Prompt
 In The March of Folly, historical Barbara Tuchman writes:
–
Wooden-headedness, the source of self-deception, is a factor that plays a
remarkably large role in government. It consists of assessing a situation in terms of
preconceived fixed notions while ignoring or rejecting any contrary signs. It is
acting according to wish while not allowing oneself to be deflected by the facts.
– Some people would claim that what Tuchman calls wooden-headedness plays a
remarkable large role in all organizations and, indeed, in all human affairs.
– Write a carefully reasoned persuasive essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies
this idea about he prevalence of wooden-headedness in human actions and
decisions. Use evidence from your reading, observation to develop your position.
DCQ
 Defend---Agree and tell how/why (at least
three reasons)
 Challenge---Disagree and tell how/why
your side is correct (at least 3 reasons)
 Qualify---Agree with some things and
disagree with some; or qualify by
“circumstances”
Persuasive Prompt
 Contemporary life is marked by
controversy. Choose a controversial local,
national, or global issue with which you are
familiar. Then, using appropriate evidence,
write an essay that carefully considers the
opposing positions on this controversy and
proposes a situation or compromise.
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
prompt fully. Though the
essays may not be error-free,
they are perceptive in their
response and demonstrate
writing that is clear and precise.
 7-6--These essays offer a
reasonable attempt at the
prompt. Although not as
convincing, or as thoroughly
developed,as the 9-8 papers,
they demonstrate the writer’s
ability to express ideas with
clarity, insight, and control.
 5--These essays tend to be simplistic
in thought or in development. They
often rely on paraphrase. These
essays are not as well conceived,
organized, or developed as upperhalf papers.
 4-3--These lower-half essays offer
less than thorough understanding of
the task. Although some may lack
adequate development or evidence,
these essays tend to rely on
paraphrase only. The writing often
demonstrates a lack of control over
the conventions of composition:
inadequate development of ideas, an
accumulation of errors, or a focus
that is unclear.
Organize is the Key to Success
 Thesis must be your road map
 Organization!!!
Rhetorical/Stylistic Analysis
 A little more context
 Organization is so important
Literary Analysis
Chunk
Claim
Data
Warrant OR
Commentary
Thesis Statement
Topic Sentences
(What you wish
to prove.)
Direct Quotes
Summary
Paraphrase
Details
opinion, insight,
analysis, reaction
explication, feelings,
reflection
Analysis:
Claim
This writer uses excellent imagery to depict
how blind folks affect our lives, to evoke sympathy
for the blind, and to criticize mainstream American
Data
for its callousness towards the disabled. In the first
three lines of the text, Kooser describes how the blind can
suddenly fill an elevator “with a great white porcupine
of canes.” A porcupine is noted for its prickliness;
we are apprehensive when it is around and we do not
want to touch it. The blind person, according to
Commentary
Kooser, evokes a similar reaction: their presence in a
situation causes “prickliness,” and it makes us
uncomfortable.
Persuasive/Argumentative
 Have at least three reasons that you will
discuss in at least one paragraph per topic
 You may write more than one paragraph on
a reason.
 Consider the weight of the evidence.
Be prepared to write
 Plan your time wisely; on the
AP test, you will have a total of
two hours and fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes is for reading of
the synthesis sources.
 You have 40 minutes to write
each full in-class essay.
 Spend some time planning your
essay before you begin-organization is an important
factor of good composition
 You must write in blue or black
ink on loose-leaf paper--you
may write on the back