AP Free Response Protocol

1. AP Free Response Protocol Maximizing your score on the AP Essays

2. AP Free Response Protocol • You will be asked to write three essays in two hours. • This gives you 40 minutes per essay. • You will be asked to write about a prose passage, • a poetry passage or comparison between two poems, • and on an open topic supported by your own reading. Maximizing your score on the AP Essays

3. AP Free Response Protocol • Maximizing your scores on the AP Essays is important, because it can make a big impact on your score. • The combined score of the three essays is worth 55% of your overall score. • There are 27 essay points available. • If you can increase your essay scores by at least a point per essay you can gain ten points toward your converted score. • This could be what puts you into a higher scoring bracket. Maximizing your score on the AP Essays

4. AP Free Response Protocol • The Nine-Point Rubric • Approximately 1% of all students receive a 9 • Approximately 5% of all students receive an 8 • Approximately 10% of all students receive a 7 • Approximately 20% of all students receive a 6 • Approximately 23% of all students receive a 5 • Approximately 22% of all students receive a 4 • Approximately 19% of all students get a 3 or less… Maximizing your score on the AP Essays

5. AP Free Response Protocol You need to average ‘6’ on the essays to be in the top third of the scores. With a solid m/c section you will receive a ‘4’ at least. Each Table Grader gets a scoring guide for the essay he/she is grading. Readers are dedicated high school, college, or university instructors who take a week out of their year to come to one site to grade essays. You need to make sure your essays stand out among the hundreds of essays each reader scores. Most essays in the pile will be plot summaries which do not adequately address the topic. Your essay needs to rise above the rest in the pile by clearly addressing the prompt with a succinct and supported argument. Maximizing your score on the AP Essays

6. Table grading session. AP graders in action.

7. AP Free Response Protocol You need to average ‘6’ on the essays to be in the top third of the scores. With a solid m/c section you will receive a ‘4’ at least. 8-9 = These are well organized and well-written essays that clearly analyze the work and how the author dramatizes the situation. These essays use apt, specific references to the passage in order to discuss the author’s use of elements such as diction, imagery, pace, and point of view. While not flawless, these papers demonstrate an understanding of the text and of the techniques of composition. These writers express their ideas skillfully and clearly. Maximizing your score on the AP Essays

8. AP Free Response Protocol You need to average ‘6’ on the essays to be in the top third of the scores. With a solid m/c section you will receive a ‘4’ at least. 6-7 = The content of these papers resembles that of higher scoring essays, but is less precise and less aptly supported. These essays deal with literary elements such as diction, imagery, and pace, but are less effective than the upper range essays. Essays scored at seven will generally exhibit fewer mechanical errors and draw from the passage more incisively than those scored at six. Maximizing your score on the AP Essays

9. AP Free Response Protocol • Each essay is worth 18.33% of the exam. • Raising your rubric grade by one point per essay question could gain you an additional 10 points toward your converted score. • 150-107 = 5 • 106-93 = 4 • 92-73 = 3 • 72-43 = 2 • 42-0 = 1 Maximizing your score on the AP Essays

10. AP Free Response Protocol • Our Protocol = quick jot down main points, leave space at the beginning for your thesis, draft the essay, write thesis, go through your checklist for revision. • Checklist for Revision • Have you clearly answered all aspects of the prompt? • Have you backed up what you have to say with evidence from the text or prompt? • Have you elaborated on any statements that need support? • Have you ended your essay with your strongest points? • Do you begin with your thesis and then get right to your answer in succeeding paragraphs? Maximizing your score on the AP Essays

11. AP Free Response Protocol Do: Read the selection carefully. Jot down your main points. Trust your interpretations once you have organized them. Focus on what the author is saying in the selection. Back up whatever you say with evidence and elaboration. Write more than one page. Elaborate clearly. Create meaningful, separate, cohesive paragraphs. Write legibly. End with your strongest points. Maximizing your score on the AP Essays

12. AP Free Response Protocol Don’t : Mention a literary term without a supporting quotation and explaining the how/why of your application. Point out a technique unless the technique has a tie to the theme/meaning of the piece and your answer. Make random observations unless you can explain their significance toward the prompt and your answer. Expound on the ‘greatness’ of the author or text. Begin by restating the prompt. Begin by saying, “Throughout the history of mankind…” or “There are many things to compare and contrast...” Maximizing your score on the AP Essays

13. AP Free Response Protocol CLARITY FOCUS ORGANIZATION ELABORATION APPLICATION OF TERMS TOWARD MEANING/THEME Maximizing your score on the AP Essays