Welcome to AP Welcome to AP English English

LiteratureLiteratureMrs. Ortman 2010-2011Mrs. Ortman 2010-2011

Agenda/QuestionsAgenda/Questions

What is the AP exam like?What is the AP exam like?

What are the parts of an AP English What are the parts of an AP English Lit prompt?Lit prompt?

Always and never lists.Always and never lists.

What do AP readers want to see on a What do AP readers want to see on a good AP paper?good AP paper?

The AP English ExamThe AP English Exam The exam is 3 hours long.The exam is 3 hours long. The exam is scored from 1-5. A 3 is a The exam is scored from 1-5. A 3 is a

passing score and one that colleges will passing score and one that colleges will accept for credit.accept for credit.

The first hour is made up of about 50 The first hour is made up of about 50 multiple choice questions. Generally, this multiple choice questions. Generally, this portion contains 2 prose selections and 2 portion contains 2 prose selections and 2 poetry selections.poetry selections.

This makes up 45% of the final score.This makes up 45% of the final score. Generally, you need about 32 questions Generally, you need about 32 questions

correct.correct.

The AP English ExamThe AP English Exam The next 2 hours are for the essay portion and this The next 2 hours are for the essay portion and this

makes up 55% of your total score.makes up 55% of your total score. You will answer 3 essay questions in the 2 hour time You will answer 3 essay questions in the 2 hour time

period. You will not be reminded of the time and have period. You will not be reminded of the time and have the 2 hours to work on all 3 essays.the 2 hours to work on all 3 essays.

There are 2 analysis questions- 1 about prose and 1 There are 2 analysis questions- 1 about prose and 1 about poetry.about poetry.

There is one open question about a novel and/or play There is one open question about a novel and/or play of your choice.of your choice.

You are graded on what you have done well by both You are graded on what you have done well by both college and high school English teachers from across college and high school English teachers from across the country.the country.

The essays are individually graded with a score of 1-9.The essays are individually graded with a score of 1-9.

The AP English ExamThe AP English Exam In order to do well on the open question, it is In order to do well on the open question, it is

a good idea to know a few novels a good idea to know a few novels very well very well so you can make specific references to the so you can make specific references to the text and mention the names of characters, text and mention the names of characters, events, etc.events, etc.

Choosing the right book is VERY Choosing the right book is VERY IMPORTANT! You must choose a book that IMPORTANT! You must choose a book that is considered one of literary merit.is considered one of literary merit.

The most important thing to know about the The most important thing to know about the essays is that you must answer ALL parts of essays is that you must answer ALL parts of the prompt.the prompt.

We will practice plenty of prompts and you We will practice plenty of prompts and you will write an essay every 2 weeks or so.will write an essay every 2 weeks or so.

The PromptThe Prompt

Two of the essays ask you to analyze a Two of the essays ask you to analyze a text.text.

Analysis is the process of taking Analysis is the process of taking something large and complex and something large and complex and breaking it down into its component breaking it down into its component parts so we can understand the larger parts so we can understand the larger entity better. entity better.

The analysis questions will ALWAYS The analysis questions will ALWAYS have 2 tasks: What did the author do? have 2 tasks: What did the author do? How did the author do it?How did the author do it?

The PromptThe Prompt

Sample prompt:Sample prompt: Read the following poem carefully. Read the following poem carefully.

Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze how the author uses the varied imagery how the author uses the varied imagery of the poem to reveal his attitude toward of the poem to reveal his attitude toward the nature of love.the nature of love.

What is this prompt asking you to do?What is this prompt asking you to do? What is the speaker’s attitude (tone) What is the speaker’s attitude (tone)

and how does he use imagery to reveal and how does he use imagery to reveal it?it?

The PromptThe Prompt

Write a well-organized essay in which Write a well-organized essay in which you contrast the attitude of the clocks you contrast the attitude of the clocks with that of the lover. Through careful with that of the lover. Through careful analysis of the language and imagery, analysis of the language and imagery, show how this contrast is important to show how this contrast is important to the meaning of the poem.the meaning of the poem. Explain how the contrast of the clocks and Explain how the contrast of the clocks and

the lover is important to the meaning of the lover is important to the meaning of the poem using language and imagery.the poem using language and imagery.

The PromptThe Prompt

Sample prompt:Sample prompt: Read carefully he following passage from Read carefully he following passage from

George Eliot’s novel George Eliot’s novel Middlemarch Middlemarch (1871). (1871). Then write an essay in which you Then write an essay in which you characterize the narrator’s attitude toward characterize the narrator’s attitude toward Dorothea Brooke and analyze the literary Dorothea Brooke and analyze the literary techniques used to convey the attitude. techniques used to convey the attitude. Support your analysis with specific Support your analysis with specific references to the passage.references to the passage.

What is this prompt asking you to do? (the What is this prompt asking you to do? (the what and the how)what and the how)

We must have something We must have something to say!!to say!!

As writers, we need to have something to say. As writers, we need to have something to say. If it is not important, then it is generally not If it is not important, then it is generally not worth saying.worth saying.

All passages used on the AP exam have All passages used on the AP exam have something important to reveal to readers and something important to reveal to readers and before we write anything we need to figure out before we write anything we need to figure out what this something is. what this something is.

SO WHAT????SO WHAT???? What does the author have to say about being What does the author have to say about being

human, about our shared experiences, about human, about our shared experiences, about our fears, sorrows, victories, etc?our fears, sorrows, victories, etc?

Once you figure this out, you can write.Once you figure this out, you can write.

AP ALWAYS LISTAP ALWAYS LIST Understand the promptUnderstand the prompt Assume the reader has read the text and has a Assume the reader has read the text and has a

full understanding of literary elements and full understanding of literary elements and conventions.conventions.

Focus on the text – NOT on a personal feeling Focus on the text – NOT on a personal feeling or a reaction to it. (personal insight is or a reaction to it. (personal insight is important and shows understanding, but don’t important and shows understanding, but don’t ignore the text in favor of a personal response)ignore the text in favor of a personal response)

***Use active – not passive voice ******Use active – not passive voice *** Ask yourself: Am I writing what I mean? Does Ask yourself: Am I writing what I mean? Does

this make sense? Are my ideas logical?this make sense? Are my ideas logical? Think of the so what of the piece of literature.Think of the so what of the piece of literature.

AP NEVER LISTAP NEVER LIST Never begin a sentence or a paragraph with a Never begin a sentence or a paragraph with a

pronoun.pronoun. Never use a word that you do not know the Never use a word that you do not know the

meaning of. Ex: if you do not remember what meaning of. Ex: if you do not remember what syntax means, then do not use it in your syntax means, then do not use it in your essay.essay.

Never Never Never use the word YOU like Never Never Never use the word YOU like you are addressing the reader.you are addressing the reader.

Do not use words like very or whole.Do not use words like very or whole. Never use past tense. Use an active voice. In Never use past tense. Use an active voice. In

literature, the character is alive and living in literature, the character is alive and living in the present. I will explain the one exception.the present. I will explain the one exception.

Overwhelming????Overwhelming???? This is a college level course to the work will be This is a college level course to the work will be

rigorous, but you can do it.rigorous, but you can do it. I have confidence that you will do really well and I have confidence that you will do really well and

will be successful will be successful Just read the required reading, come to class Just read the required reading, come to class

prepared and have confidence in yourself.prepared and have confidence in yourself.

What AP readers want to What AP readers want to seesee

Jigsaw and report out on chart Jigsaw and report out on chart paper. paper.

We will keep this posted for the We will keep this posted for the whole year as a reminder.whole year as a reminder.