38 Taking Advanced Placement* Exams

Form:

21st Century Skills:

Taking Tests

Page 511 from Write for College

AP English and Composition: Multiple Choice

Review the format of the AP English and Composition exam with students. The first section of the test includes reading passages followed by multiple-choice questions, focusing on the ideas, organization, voice, word choice, and sentence fluency in each passage.

Lead students through the guidelines and tips for taking the first part of the exam. With multiple-choice questions, make sure students watch for multiple answers and for negating words. Give students practice by having them closely read the sample excerpt on this page and the next and answer the multiple-choice questions about it. To make the activity realistic, display the reading questions from page 512 on your board, and ask students to cover the bottom of that page to avoid the answers.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.1112.RI.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.38.c.4.F, 110.38.c.5.C, 110.38.c.7.D.i, 110.39.c.4.F, 110.39.c.5.C, 110.39.c.7.D.i

NE ELA Standard:

LA 12.1.6.g, LA 12.1.6.k, LA 12.1.6.n

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Page 512 from Write for College

AP English Language and Composition: Multiple Choice (Cont.)

Finish the practice activity. After students have answered the questions, have them check their answers.

Finally, review each question more closely so that students gain a better understanding of the types of questions they may encounter on the exam. Be prepared to revisit any particular concepts students find difficult to grasp.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.1112.RI.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.38.c.4.F, 110.38.c.5.C, 110.38.c.7.D.i, 110.39.c.4.F, 110.39.c.5.C, 110.39.c.7.D.i

NE ELA Standard:

LA 12.1.6.g, LA 12.1.6.k, LA 12.1.6.n

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Page 513 from Write for College

Free-Response Questions

Review the format and guidelines for the free-response portion of the AP English Language and Composition exam. Note the overall time limit (2 hours and 15 minutes) and suggested time needed to respond to each prompt (40 minutes). Stress that, despite the challenges of on-demand writing, following a shortened version of the writing process will help them do their best work. Remind them that they will be writing their responses by hand in a test booklet, but that they can still revise their writing as long as they write using a pencil.

Use the PAST strategy to help students understand the difference between the three types of prompts they can expect to see on the exam. Make sure they understand that each prompt type requires them to make an argument. That is, take a position and support it.

The next two pages offer a sample argument prompt and response model. Students can practice writing a timed response to the same prompt, or they can answer one of the other sample argument (page 208) or synthesis (pages 375 and 493) prompts in their Handbooks. Additionally, you may wish to have them practice questions from previous versions of the AP exam.

You can find other helpful preparation strategies in the AP English Language and Composition Teacher's Guide.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.1112.W.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.10.C, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.10.C

NE ELA Standard:

LA 12.2.1.b, LA 12.2.2, LA 12.2.2.a

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21st Century Skills:

Taking Tests

English Language Arts:

Writing Writing Process

Page 514 from Write for College

Sample Argument Prompt and Response

Have students apply the PAST strategy to analyze the sample prompt. Then have volunteers read aloud the first page of the response. Students should consider whether the writer supports, disputes, or qualifies Emerson's assertion.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.1112.W.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.10.C, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.10.C

NE ELA Standard:

LA 12.2.1.b, LA 12.2.2, LA 12.2.2.a

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Argument Essay Response to Prompt

Mode:

Persuasive Writing

Form:

21st Century Skills:

Taking Tests Reading Writing

English Language Arts:

Writing Writing Process Reading

Page 515 from Write for College

Sample Argument Prompt and Response (Cont.)

Have volunteers complete the sample response. After, discuss the ways in which the writer applied portions of Emerson's quotation to a modern day context based on the writer's own experiences and previous reading. Recommend students relate their own responses to something familiar from their personal lives or interests. That way they will have plenty of content to draw from in support of their arguments.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.1112.W.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.38.c.9, 110.38.c.10.C, 110.39.c.9, 110.39.c.10.C

NE ELA Standard:

LA 12.2.1.b, LA 12.2.2, LA 12.2.2.a

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Argument Essay Response to Prompt

Mode:

Persuasive Writing

Form:

21st Century Skills:

Taking Tests Writing

English Language Arts:

Writing Reading

Page 516 from Write for College

AP English Literature and Composition: Multiple Choice

Introduce the multiple-choice portion of the AP English Literature and Composition exam. Let students know this exam will test their ability to analyze works of fiction, including short stories, poems, and excerpts from larger literary works.

Lead them through the multiple-choice guidelines. As practice, have students read the sample passage and answer the multiple-choice questions about it. Display the questions and ask students to cover the answers in their Handbooks.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.1112.RL.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.38.c.4.G, 110.38.c.6, 110.39.c.4.G, 110.39.c.6

NE ELA Standard:

LA 12.1.6.d

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Page 517 from Write for College

AP English Literature and Composition (Cont.)

Allow time for students to finish reading the passage and answering the response questions. After they check their answers, closely review the questions to give students a better sense of the types of questions they will need to be prepared to answer.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.1112.RL.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.38.c.4.G, 110.38.c.6, 110.39.c.4.G, 110.39.c.6

NE ELA Standard:

LA 12.1.6.d

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Form:

Poem

21st Century Skills:

English Language Arts:

Page 518 from Write for College

Free-Response Questions

Review the two types of response questions students can expect to encounter on the free-response portion of the AP English Composition and Literature exam.

Then lead students through the writing guidelines and "Inside Info." Define the common literary devices referenced on the AP exam. (See pages 421–429.) Also refer students to the "Literary Response Writing" chapter for additional tips and strategies for writing literary analyses. (See pages 211–236.)

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

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Literary Analysis Response to Prompt

Form:

21st Century Skills:

Taking Tests

English Language Arts:

Writing Process Writing

Page 519 from Write for College

Sample Prompt and Poem

Use the PAST strategy to analyze the sample prompt.

Purpose: Discuss (argue)
Audience: Test reader
Subject: Connect beauty and work in Yeat's "Adam's Curse"
Type: Literary analysis

Note that the purpose word "discuss" is synonymous with "argue" in a test-taking setting. Also note that a successful literary analysis must cite textual evidence, and that annotating helps responders pick out key material from texts.

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LAFS Standard:

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

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Reading Writing

Page 520 from Write for College

Sample Response

Before having students read the sample response, point out the respondent's prewriting quick list. Let students know that even though they cannot bring a notebook to their AP exams, they can make notes inside the test booklet.

They should develop a thesis before they begin writing to help them stay focused. The statement should name the literature, provide the subject, and create a specific focus that answers the prompt. Students should also jot supporting points below the thesis statement, creating a quick list to structure their responses.

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TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

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Page 521 from Write for College

Sample Response (Cont.)

Have volunteers read aloud the final page of the sample analysis. As practice, have students write their own on-demand literary analyses based on a poem or short story of your choice.

Also, review the AP English Literature and Composition Teacher's Guide for more tips for preparing students to take the exam.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

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Mode:

Response to Prompt Literary Analysis

Form:

21st Century Skills:

English Language Arts: