Writing the AP English Essay

289 Pages·2004·2.75 MB·English

by  Barbara Murphy

McGRAW-HILL
5 Steps to a 5
Writing the
AP English Essay
Other books in McGraw-Hill’s 5 Steps to a 5 Series include:
AP Biology
AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry
AP English Language
AP English Literature
AP Psychology
AP Spanish Language
AP Statistics
AP U.S. Government and Politics
AP U.S. History
McGRAW-HILL
5 Steps to a 5
Writing the
AP English Essay
A Personal Trainer
for the AP English Student
Barbara L. Murphy
Estelle M. Rankin
M G -H
C RAW ILL
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DOI: 10.1036/0071428453
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Contents
Preface / ix
Acknowledgments / xi
PART I INTRODUCTION TO THE TRAINING PROGRAM / 1
Chapter 1 Get with the Program / 3
Meet Your Trainers / 3
Questions About the AP English Essay / 4
My Personal Writing Profile / 12
About the Basic Training Program / 13
PART II KNOW THE BASICS: WRITING AEROBICS / 17
Chapter 2 The First Set of Basic Exercises for Your Writing Routine:
The Four Modes of Discourse / 19
The Basics / 19
Chapter 3 “Stretching” and “Aerobic” Exercises for Your Writing Routine:
Rhetorical Strategies / 27
Rhetorical Strategies / 27
Exemplification / 29
Contrast/Comparison / 34
Cause and Effect / 39
Classification and Division / 44
Process / 47
Definition / 51
Description / 55
Narration / 60
Argument / 64
A Total Workout / 71
Chapter 4 “Stretching” and “Aerobic” Exercises for Your Writing Routine:
Rhetorical Devices, Techniques, and Writing Style / 73
Rhetorical Devices / 73
Self-Test / 91
v
vi • Contents
Rhetorical Techniques / 92
Organization / 101
Point of View / 101
Style / 102
Total Workout / 106
• Your Rhetorical Keystone / 110
PART III WRITING EXERCISE PROGRAM AND ROUTINE / 111
Chapter 5 Reading and Working Different Types of AP English Prompts / 113
Key Words and Phrases / 113
What Constitutes an AP English Prompt or Question? / 114
English Language and Composition / 119
English Literature and Composition / 120
Chapter 6 Prewriting and Planning / 121
Prewriting / 121
Notating the Text / 122
• Our Two Sample Texts / 125
Chapter 7 Introducing the Essay / 134
The Professionals Do It / 136
• Our Sample Writers / 141
• Student Samples / 143
Total Workout / 145
Chapter 8 Writing the Body of the Essay and Supporting Syntax / 148
• Our Body Samples / 150
• Student Samples / 156
• Supporting Syntax / 163
Chapter 9 Writing the Conclusion of the Essay and Revising / 167
• Our Sample Conclusions / 168
• Student Samples / 169
Revision / 171
• Our Writers’ Sample Essays / 175
PART IV EVALUATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS / 179
Chapter 10 Practice with Sample AP English Language Exam Essays / 181
• Sample AP English Language Prompts / 181
• Student Essays / 183
Contents • vii
• Student Essays / 188
• Student Essays / 193
Chapter 11 Practice with Sample AP English Literature Exam Essays / 198
• Sample AP English Literature Essay Exam Questions / 199
• Student Essays / 202
• Student Essays / 210
• Student Essays / 216
PART V TRAINING SUPPLEMENTS / 221
Chapter 12 The College Application Essay / 223
• A Sampling of Some Typical College Essay Questions / 224
• Your Own Personal Interview / 233
• Working the Material / 235
• A Few Notes about Writing the College Application Essay / 236
• Sample Student Essays / 238
Appendix / 259
• Bibliography of Recommended Authors and Texts / 259
• Answers to Questions on Practice Activities / 265
• Glossary of Terms / 268
• Websites of Interest to the AP English Student / 270
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