Post on 15-Dec-2015
AP Language
Argumentative
Essay
2009 AP® ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSIT Question 3
(Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts for
one-third of the total essay section score.)
Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents
which in prosperous circumstances would
have lain dormant. —Horace
Prompt: 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, danger,
misfortune, etc.) plays in
developing a person’s character. Support
your argument with appropriate evidence
from your reading,
observation, or experience.
WH
AT T
HE
HEC
K? How do I write this essay?”
AP
Ess
ay #
2A
rgum
enta
tive
Ess
ay
This essay presents a passage or quote. Then, you must write an essay in which you defend, challenge, or
qualify the quote/passage.
Ste
ps
for
wri
ting t
he
ess
ay
:
Read the prompt.o Determine what is
being said in the
passage/quote.o Write a precis.o Pick a side.o Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.
Ste
p O
ne
:
Read the prompt.Determine what is being said in the passage/quote.
2009 AP® ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSIT Question 3
(Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts for
one-third of the total essay section score.)
Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents
which in prosperous circumstances would
have lain dormant. —Horace
Prompt: 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, danger,
misfortune, etc.) plays in
developing a person’s character. Support
your argument with appropriate evidence
from your reading,
observation, or experience.
Ste
p O
ne
:
Readin
g t
he p
rom
pt.
How to READ THE PROMPT…• Read the quote first.
• Read the prompt for the
essay.• Underline both parts of the
prong.
2009 AP® ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSIT Question 3
(Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts for
one-third of the total essay section score.)
Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents
which in prosperous circumstances would
have lain dormant. —Horace
Prompt: 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, danger,
misfortune, etc.) plays in
developing a person’s character. Support
your argument with appropriate evidence
from your reading,
observation, or experience.
Exam
ine t
he
pro
mpt
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, danger, misfortune, etc.)
plays in developing a person’s character. Support
your argument with appropriate evidence
from your reading, observation, or experience.
Exam
ine t
he
pro
mpt
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, danger,
misfortune, etc.) plays in
developing a person’s
character. Support your argument with appropriate evidence from
your reading, observation, or experience.The test-makers will
explain some of the
quote.
Exam
ine t
he
pro
mpt
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, danger,
misfortune, etc.) plays in
developing a person’s
character. Support your
argument with appropriate
evidence from your reading,
observation, or experience.
Ste
ps
for
wri
ting t
he
ess
ay
:
Read the prompt.
Determine what is
being said in the
passage/quote.o Write a precis.o Pick a side.o Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.
Ste
p T
wo:
Analy
zing
The Q
uote
:
Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would
have lain dormant.
—Horace
Ste
p T
wo:
Analy
zing
The Q
uote
:
Adversity has the effect of
eliciting talents which in
prosperous circumstances would
have lain dormant. —Horace• Dissect—analyze the
argument in the quote.
• Analyze sections of the quote
—select phrases, key words,
but clauses…• Analyze the meaning of the
quote in its entirety. • Examine key sections of the
prompt that provide context
and clarification concerning
the meaning of the quote
Analy
zing
the Q
uote
:
Adversity has the effect of
eliciting talents which in
prosperous circumstances
would have lain dormant.
—Horace
1. Identify—define terms that
you think are important.
2. Consider denotation and
connotation of the words.
3. Consider multiple meanings
…of such
words.
Ste
p T
wo:
Analy
zing
The Q
uote
:
Adversity has the effect
of eliciting talents which in
prosperous circumstances
would have lain dormant. —Horace
What does this quotemean?
Ste
ps
for
wri
ting t
he
ess
ay
:
Read the prompt.
Determine what is
being said in the
passage/quote. Write a precis.o Pick a side.o Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.
Ste
p Tw
o:
Wri
te t
he P
reci
s
Precis: In this ______ ______,
____ ____
(that) ________ in order to ___________.
The precis works nicely as a way
of summarizing the meaning and
purpose of a quote.Intro Paragraph:A. Grabber—Sentence the sets up the quote
B. Connecting grabber to the quote
C. Precis explaining the quote
D. Thesis
Ste
p Tw
o:
Wri
te t
he P
reci
s
In this ______ ______, tone adj noun
________ _________
(that) authorrhetorically
name accurate verb________ to ___________.
summary explanation of
of quote purpose
Ste
ps
for
wri
ting t
he
ess
ay
:
Read the prompt.
Determine what is
being said in the
passage/quote. Write a precis. Pick a side.o Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.
Ste
p T
hre
e:
Pic
k a
sid
e.
Defends, challenges,
or qualifies .Defend—agree with the quote
Challenge—disagree with the
quoteQualify—argues/sees both
sides of the argument
Ste
p T
hre
e:
P
ick a
sid
e
Defends, challenges,
or qualifies .Defend—agree with the quote
Challenge—disagree with the
quoteQualify—argues/sees both
sides of the argument
Ste
ps
for
wri
ting t
he
ess
ay
:
Read the prompt.
Determine what is
being said in the
passage/quote. Write a precis. Pick a side.o Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.
Ste
p F
our:
Wri
te t
he t
hesi
s.
The ARGUMENT thesis does
must state your claim. In the
thesis you will state your stance—
argument—directly. Avoid 1st
person except when using
personal experience.Sample Thesis: Possibly, but I agree with the Roman
poet Horace in that adversity has a
way of rousing talent from slumber.
Adversity can stimulate, force, and
sharpen a person in ways prosperity
cannot— there is, then, value in
hardship.
Ste
ps
for
wri
ting t
he
ess
ay
:
Read the prompt.
Determine what is
being said in the
passage/quote. Write a precis. Pick a side. Write a thesis.o Outline your response.o Begin writing.
2009 AP® ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSIT Question 3
(Suggested time—40 minutes. This question counts for
one-third of the total essay section score.)
Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents
which in prosperous circumstances would
have lain dormant. —Horace
Prompt: 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, danger,
misfortune, etc.) plays in
developing a person’s character. Support
your argument with appropriate evidence
from your reading,
observation, or experience.
Ste
p F
ive:
The B
ody
Outl
ine
“We are writing now.”
You must pick your
side and build your
argument.The argument must
be logical…without
flaws.
Ste
p F
ive:
The
Body O
utl
ine
Support your argument with
evidence from your reading,
observation, or experience.Reading- you are expected touse
examples from things your have
read to support your stance on the
quote.
Observation-you are expected to
use observations you have made
about the world/human nature to
support your stance Experience-you are expected to us
personal experience to support
your stance.
Ste
p F
ive:
The B
ody
Outl
ine
Support your argument
with evidence from your
reading, observation, or
experience.
In the argument essay, your data will be the reading, observation, and
experience.
Ste
ps
for
wri
ting t
he
ess
ay
:
Read the prompt.Determine what is
being said in the passage/quote.Write a precis.Pick a side.Write a thesis.
Outline your response.Begin writing.
Wri
te t
he t
hesi
s.
Thesis: I. Intro
II. Reading A. Data 1 B. Commentary C. Data 2 D. Commentary
E. Data 3 F. Commentary III. Observation IV. Personal Experience
V. Closing
Wri
te t
he o
utl
ine.
Thesis: I. Intro
II. Reading III. Observation A. Data 1 B. Commentary C. Data 2 D. Commentary
E. Data 3 F. Commentary
Wri
te t
he o
utl
ine.
Thesis: I. Intro
II. Reading III. Observation IV. Personal Experience
A. Data 1 B. Commentary C. Data 2 D. Commentary
E. Data 3 F. Commentary V. Closing
Arg
um
ent
Ess
ay
Let’s look at the argument essay.”