Writing Tips for the AP English Exam

1. Writing Tips for the AP English Exam

2. 26 Golden Rules for Writing Well • Don’t abbrev. • Check to see if you any words out. • Be carefully to use adjectives and adverbs correct. • About sentence fragments. • When dangling, don’t use participles. • Don’t use no double negatives. • Each pronoun agrees with their antecedent. • Just between you and I, case is important. • Join clauses good, like a conjunction should. • Don’t use commas, that aren’t necessary. • It’s important to use an apostrophe’s right. • It’s better not to use unnecessarily split an infinitive. • Never leave a transitive verb just lay there without an object.

3. 26 Golden Rules for Writing Well cont. • Only Proper Nouns should be capitalized. also a sentence should begin with a capital letter and end with a full stop. • Use hyphens in compound-words, not just in any two-words phrase. • In letters compositions reports and things like that we use commas to keep a string of items apart. • Watch out for irregular verbs that have creeped into our languages. • Verbs has to agree with their subject. • Avoid unnecessary redundancy. • A writer mustn’t shift your point of view. • Don’t write a run-on sentence you’ve got to punctuate it. • A preposition isn’t a good thing to end a sentence with. • Avoid clichés like the plague. • 1 final thing is to never start a sentence with a number. • Always check your work for accuracy and completeness. [ANON] Warning: These are supposed to be funny! 

4. Focus on the Prompt • Must answer the question (the prompt). • Use specific evidence to support assertions. • Explain the purpose of the device-answer the “So What?” question. • Thoroughly explain relevance of quote to the prompt-interpret!!

5. Structure and Composition PLAN essay: • What does text mean? • What is author’s message? • How is message delivered? • Write introduction last (one sentence okay). • Provide cues where ideas begin/end. • KNOW your audience! • Arguable thesis reflecting essay: Example: The text shows____________ in order to show/highlight/accomplish __________________.

6. Style • Don’t show off • Take a risk • Be critical and analytical • Get to the point • Don’t moralize • Be yourself! Don’t apologize

7. Grammar • Use active voice • Use present tense for literature • Use strong verbs

8. Physical Writing • Large letters---PRINT…write legibly • No hearts, smiley faces or big circles over I’s • Use black pen • Cross out mistakes and start over. Add arrow

9. Avoid • Reader’s response: “I liked” • Lists: Writer’s use…,…, and … • Fluff • Personal discussions • Apologies • Plot summary • Formulaic writing-esp. opening! • Creating a title for your essay.

10. Content • Speaker=Author • Characters=Audience/Speaker • Evidence, Evidence, Evidence • Use quotes (not just line #) • Consider the point of view and the audience of the piece • Be critical and analytical

11. “Rules” for a Thesis: • A thesis is never a question. • A thesis is never a list. • The thesis must advance an argument. • A thesis should never be vague, combative or confrontational. Avoid being seen as moralistic and judgmental. • An effective thesis has a definable, arguable claim. Say to yourself, “Perhaps what the author says is true, but I am not convinced. I want to read further to see how the author argues this claim.” • A thesis should be as clear and specific as possible. Avoid overused, general terms, and abstractions.

12. An Effective Thesis • Cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” • Is not a topic; • Is not a fact; • Is not an opinion.

13. An Effective Thesis: • Has two parts. • Should declare what will be argued. • Should “telegraph” how you plan to argue. • Should declare the particular support to be used to uphold the claim.

14. Thesis Statement Websites • UNC • Indiana University • Northwestern • Purdue ***If these links don’t work, just Google “writing a good thesis statement” and you will find these sites.