Writing the AP English Essay. 2012-2013 Edition

251 Pages·2011·3.44 MB·English

by  Barbara Murphy

Writing the AP English Essay
2012–2013
Barbara L. Murphy
Estelle M. Rankin
Copyright © 2011, 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights
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ISBN: 978-0-07176055-3
MHID: 0-07-1760555
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Barbara Murphy taught AP Language and other college-level courses at
Jericho High School for over 20 years. She has been a reader of the AP
Language and Composition exam since 1993 and is a consultant for the College
Board’s AP Language and Composition and its Building for Success divisions,
for whom she has conducted workshops, conferences, specialty conference
presentations, and Summer Institutes. Barbara is currently on the faculty of
Syracuse University’s Project Advance in English. After earning her BA from
Duquesne University and her MA from the University of Pittsburgh, Ms.
Murphy did her doctoral course work at Columbia University. She also holds
professional certifications in still photography and motion picture production
and is one of the founding members of the women’s film company, Ishtar Films.
Estelle Rankin taught AP Literature at Jericho High School for over 25 years.
She was honored with the AP Literature Teacher of the Year award by the
College Board in 1996. Estelle also received the Long Island Teacher of the Year
award in 1990. She was also the recipient of the Cornell University Presidential
Scholars’ award and has been recognized by the C. W. Post Master Teachers
Program.
Ms. Rankin earned her BA from Adelphi University and her MA from Hofstra
University. She has pursued further graduate work in the field of creative studies
at Queens College and Brooklyn College.
Estelle has done extensive work in the research and development of film,
drama, and creative writing curricula, and has participated in numerous AP
Literature conferences and workshops, is a consultant for Building Success, and
is also a Literature presenter for the Advanced Placement Specialty conferences.
In addition, she pioneered a “senior initiative mentoring program” based on
internships and service, and has conducted many English workshops for both
teachers and students at high schools and middle schools for New York’s Board
of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Her first teachers were her
parents, Edward and Selma Stern.
Ms. Rankin and Ms. Murphy are also the coauthors of McGraw-Hill’s 5 Steps
to a 5: AP English Language, AP English Literature, and Writing an
Outstanding College Application Essay.
CONTENTS
About the Authors
Preface
Acknowledgments
Step 1 Set Up Your Study Program
Chapter 1 Introduction to the Training Program
Meet Your Trainers
Questions and Answers About the AP English Essay
Chapter 2 How Is This Book Going to Work?
Creating Your Personal Writing Profile
About the Basic Training Program
About the Icons Used in This Book
Step 2 Determine Your Readiness
Chapter 3 Review the Basics of Discourse
The Four Modes of Discourse
Warm-Up Exercises
Chapter 4 Review the Basics of Rhetorical Construction
Rhetorical Strategies
Exemplification
Contrast/Comparison
Cause and Effect
Classification and Division
Process Analysis
Definition
Description
Narration
Argument
Synthesis
Total Workout
Chapter 5 Review the Basics of Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Devices
Rhetorical Techniques
Style
Total Workout
Step 3 Develop Strategies for Success
Chapter 6 Reading and Working Different Types of AP English Prompts
Key Words and Phrases
What Constitutes an AP English Prompt?
Chapter 7 Prewriting and Planning
Prewriting
Notating the Text
Two Sample Texts
Step 4 Review the Knowledge You Need to Get a High Score
Chapter 8 Introducing the Essay
How the Professionals Do It
Opening Paragraphs
Student Samples
Total Workout
Chapter 9 Constructing the Body of the Essay and Supporting Syntax
Samples of the Body of the Essay
Student Samples
Supporting Syntax
Chapter 10 Writing the Conclusion of the Essay and Revising
Sample Conclusions
Student Samples
Revision
Sample Essays
Step 5 Build Your Test-taking Confidence
Chapter 11 Practice with Sample AP English Language Exam Essays
Sample AP English Language Essay Prompt 1
Sample Student Essays
Sample AP English Language Essay Prompt 2
Sample Student Essays
Sample AP English Language Essay Prompt 3
Sample Student Essays
Sample Synthesis Essay Prompt
Chapter 12 Practice with Sample AP English Literature Exam Essays
Sample AP English Literature Essay Prompt 1
Sample Student Essays
Sample AP English Literature Essay Prompt 2
Sample Student Essays
Sample AP English Literature Essay Prompt 3
Sample Student Essays
APPENDIXES
Appendix I Bibliography of Recommended Authors and Texts
Appendix II Glossary of Terms
Appendix III Web Sites Related to AP English
Appendix IV Answers for Practice Activities
PREFACE
5 Steps to a 5, Writing the AP English Essay is meant to be a supplement to both
the AP English Language and Composition and the AP English Literature and
Composition courses. There is no way to take the place of the instruction,
interaction, feedback, and growth that takes place in the English classroom.
What we hope to accomplish in this text is similar to what a personal trainer can
do in the gym: provide those eager and willing to learn with information and
activities designed to increase writing endurance and to enhance, fine tune, and
shape the writing muscles being used in the AP English classroom.
Although specifically designed for the AP English student, the concepts,
strategies, techniques, and skills examined in this book can easily be applied to
college-level writing assignments across the curriculum.