AP English Language & Composition

1. AP English Language & Composition What The Princeton Review Says:

2. What the multiple choice section looks like • 5 to 7 passages • 5 to 12 questions per passage • 50-55 questions total • 60 minutes total = 8 – 12 minutes PER PASSAGE (includes reading & answering) • At least one passage written before 1800 • Little or no context or introduction given with the passages

3. Focus on the Big Picture • DO NOT read the questions before reading the passage • Read the passage quickly for the “big picture” • Read to determine the author’s goal, tone, and point of view – take brief notes next to the passage as you read! • ( USE: “subject, audience, and purpose” to help you find the goal, tone & P.O.V.)

4. The Two-Pass System • After reading the passage for the big picture: • 1. Answer all of the easy questions first • The “Big picture” questions are usually at the beginning and (or) end of question set • 2. Circle the “hard” questions in your test booklet (when you can’t use POE) • 3. ALWAYS Check your watch before going back to answer the hard questions

5. Other Tips • Use the process of elimination (POE) to make educated guesses on some questions • On detail questions, always reread the sentence or section the question refers to • Also, always reread the sentences before and after it for context.

6. To Sum Up • Begin each passage by reading for the big picture. • Actively underline inside the text – or – take paraphrased notes next to each paragraph • Concentrate on the author’s goal (purpose), tone, and point of view.

7. To Sum Up • Do not read stubbornly; you do not need to understand or follow everything; some (even many) details can escape you — focus on the big picture of the passage. • Always return to the passage when multiple-choice questions refer to specific lines!!! (Do not try to answer by memory)

8. To Sum Up • Always read around the lines; the context of the lines is almost always very critical in determining the correct answer. • Pace yourself – but keep your eye on the time!!! • Remember the two-pass system.

9. To Sum Up • Also - Dividing the section into chunks for each passage should help you out. • Don’t forget about POE and educated guessing! If you can eliminate two answer choices, your chances of guessing correctly increases a lot.

10. AP English Language & Composition What the Cliffs Notes: AP English Language and Composition review guide says:

11. What the Multiple Choice Section looks like: • 60 minutes long • Usually consists of approximately 55 questions • Expect about 4 – 5 reading passages (about 300 – 800 words in length) • Each passage is followed by 10 – 15 questions • Passages may be up to 400 years old

12. NEW to the AP Lang. Test: • Beginning in 2007 – you can expect at least a couple of questions about footnotes • BE FAMILIAR WITH MLA CITATIONS!!! (Be able to decipher the type of source & the purpose of footnotes used by the author)

13. Suggested Testing Strategy: • 1st – Skim the question stems BEFORE you read the passage • 2nd – Read the passage ACTIVELY • 3rd - Underline &/or paraphrase the passage as you go • 4th – Read each question completely & carefully AFTER you’ve read the passage • 5th – Read every answer choice completely & carefully to determine the best answer! • Any questions you cannot use POE to answer quickly – circle them & return to those questions if you have time!

14. Question Categories to Expect: • Questions about Rhetoric (syntax, diction, P.O.V., figurative language & its effect!) • Questions about the Author’s Meaning & Purpose (get inside the author’s head) • Questions about the Main Idea (The Big Picture, tone, theme, etc.) • Questions about Organization & Structure • Questions about Rhetorical Modes (know the difference between: Narration, Description, Argumentation, & Exposition)

15. Reasons Answers Could Be Wrong • Contradictory to the passage (can be ruled out if you’ve read the entire passage) • Irrelevant or Not Addressed in Passage (can be ruled out if you’ve read the entire passage) • Unreasonable (can usually be spotted quickly) • Too Vague/General or Too Specific (compare them to the question stem to see which answer they are asking for!)

16. To Sum Up: • TIME MANAGEMENT is crucial to making sure you complete the test • Read the Question Stems before the Passages • Read the Passages – ACTIVELY • Then read the Questions & Answer choices COMPLETELY • Use POE to rule out any of the 4 types of wrong answers • Choose the BEST answer available!

17. To Sum Up: • Make sure that you answer the questions that you are able to eliminate 2+ answers on FIRST • Then circle any questions that you are unsure about • Return to the circled questions AFTER you have completed every passage in the Multiple Choice Section

18. For More Information: • Hartzel, Richard. Cracking the AP English Language and Composition Exam. 2008 Edition. New York: Random House, 2008. • Swovelin, Barbara. Cliffs AP: English Language and Composition. 3rd Ed. Wiley Publishing, 2008. • Baron’s, Kaplan, and others also make excellent study guides.