Writing an In-class
Essay
Essays on the AP English Exam:
 Poems
 Prose passages
 Open questions
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 character Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Deborah
Wilkins.
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?
 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
Syntax--sentence structure
Imagery
Figures of speech
metaphors, similes, personification, allusions, etc.
Choice of detail
And others. . .
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 - - -.
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. They identify
techniques and then analyze
how the author uses them to
address the prompt. Though the
essays may not be error-free,
they are perceptive in their
analysis 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
in analysis of techniques. They
often rely on paraphrase. There may
be minor misinterpretations. 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. They demonstrate
misunderstanding of some aspect of
the passage. 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.
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.
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
Literary Analysis:
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
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:
Writing on the AP Test
 Plan your time wisely; you
will only have 45 minutes
 Spend some time planning
your essay before you
begin--organization is an
important factor of good
composition
 Focus on a strong
thesis with chunks of
claim, data,
commentary.