Question Categories

1. Question Categories • Submit Analysis Revision essay & Syntax Map. See white board for essay order. • Copy this list onto your paper before the bell rings: • Main idea/tone/attitude • Author’s meaning and purpose • Word choice – diction • Syntax/sentence structure • Function/methodology • Rhetorical terminology • Word in Context – Pronoun/antecedent • Structure/organization/arrangement • Rhetorical modes/rhetorical reasoning • Documentation/citation

2. AP Multiple Choice Test 45% of total exam score 4 to 5 reading selections 54 questions in 60 minutes 5 Steps to a 5 (MC = $13; Essay = $17) Barron’s, Kaplan, Princeton Review HOMEWORK: Peruse College Board website (https://www.collegeboard.org/) and take Cornell notes on what you think are the 5 most important pages, sections, and/or resources. At the bottom of your notes, write a short summary of what you’ve found/learned.

3. Question Categories Quiz • The repetitive use of anaphora in the final paragraph serves to… • The author suggests the primary purpose of the passage is to... • Which of the following is an accurate reading of footnote 1? • The tone of the passage can best be described as… • The author uses examples in the third paragraph to explain… • The author criticizes, in order, all of the following in some way, EXCEPT… • In line 19, “it” refers to the… • In line 5, “conjure” and “brave” are used by the author to… • The juxtaposition of Lines 17-19 serves to create emphasis… • The writer uses all of the following persuasive strategies EXCEPT…

4. Quiz Answers • Rhetorical terminology • Main idea/tone/attitude • Documentation/citation • Main idea/tone/attitude • Function/methodology • Structure/organization/arrangement • Word in Context – pronoun/antecedent • Word choice – diction • Syntax/sentence structure • Rhetorical modes/rhetorical reasoning

5. Common Distractors • Too specific • Too general • Violates tone of the passage • Half right/half wrong • Irrelevancy and/or common assumption • Opposite of example or detail in the passage • Generally true but distorts the specific section: • feature is not mentioned in the passage • goes beyond scope of passage • is true but doesn’t focus on the specific question • Absolutes, overstated (e.g. always, never, only) • Only echoes background language of the passage • Clearly wrong answers

6. Common Questions HowmanyquestionsshouldbeAnswered? To have a likelihood of scoring a 3 or higher the student needs to score 38 or above in raw score. What are the sources of questions? A combination of dated, 16th century to the present, questions which are excerpts of essays, letters, speeches, and contemporary non fiction prose. Should students guess? Answer as many as possible, no penalty for guessing. Use process of elimination. When question seems hopeless don’t waste time. Guess and move on.

7. MC Item Analysis Cause-Effect Map QUESTION TYPE: It’s E because… It’s not A because… <add distractor type here> It’s not B because… <add distractor type here> It’s not C because… <add distractor type here> It’s not D because… <add distractor type here> In order to do better on this type of question, I need to

8. Examples of Questions • Taken from Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv (Question 2, 2013)

9. The author suggests the primary purpose of the passage is to A) explore the possibilities of moving ads from the virtual world into the real world B) argue the logical extension of synthetic nature is the irrelevance of “true” Nature C) reveal that the experience of our natural landscape often occurs within an automobile D) analyze the popularity of advertising which simulates nature E) explain why modern SUV buyers prefer television monitors.

10. Main Idea • Answer B Louv states primary thesis at the end of the first paragraph. He is most concerned about the youth of America becoming disconnected from nature. He is concerned about the growing dependency on technology (answers A, C, D and E) primarily as a factor, but distractors are too specific for a main idea question.

11. The tone of the passage can best be described as • A) depressed and frustrated • B) angry and dismissive • C) cautionary and reflective • D) outraged and satiric • E) accepting and reassuring

12. Main Idea, Tone • Answer is C. In the first paragraph, the author seems negative about the encroachment of technology into the world of nature, (A, B, and D) however as the essay continues his tone is one of reflection and concern about increasing effects of technology on youth, accepting the future but not reassuring , E using nostalgic anecdotes to compare his experience to the child of today, acknowledging how the future can change “in a blink of an eye”. Half right/half wrong

13. In line 5, “conjure” and “brave” are used by the author to • emphasize the necessity to create new technological methods to advertise • show his respect for Richel’s new advertizing methods • explain how difficult it is to be innovative • reveal his disdain for the encroachment of virtual media into the natural world • highlight the importance of technological innovation

14. Word choice • The answer to the question is D. The words are overstated to subtly mock Richtel’s conclusion that “it’s time for nature to step up”. Answers A, B and E are all supportive of Richel’s respect for virtual technology, opposite of detail. Answer C is not a topic discussed in the passage, but may be culturally implied by the reader, incorrectly.

15. The juxtaposition of (Lines 17-19) serves to create emphasis • A) through repetition • B) through use of loose sentence structure • C) by placing sentence fragment next to a periodic sentence • D) through use of parallel sentence structure • E) by creating a syllogism

16. Syntax/sentence structure • The answer is C. The author uses a sentence fragment to place emphasis on the final clause after the dash, which is a periodic sentence. There is little use of repetition A, no loose sentence structure B, parallelism D, or a syllogism E, a term associated with rhetorical reasoning not the specific focus on syntax or sentence structure.

17. The author uses examples in the third paragraph to explain • Why many Americans say they want their children to watch less television • Why many people no longer (never) consider the physical world worth watching • Why parents pay a premium for backseat TV monitors • Why cash strapped municipalities hope corporations affix company logos to parks • Why observing nature outside the car window gives entertainment and understanding

18. Function - Methodology • The answer is E. The examples function to counter the attitudes expressed in the opening questions, illustrating how his generation benefitted from nature’s scenes outside the car window by “understanding of how cities and nature fit together …its was our drive by movie”. The choices A seems to be in response the opening questions and attitudes which are not the primary purpose of the paragraph, B is overstated, C and D are examples from other paragraphs,

19. The repetitive use of anaphora in the final paragraph serves to A) explain children’s fascination with road kill B) illustrate children’s need to be entertained C) reveal a generational perspective D) suggest that life goes by too quickly E) connect directly with a youthful audience

20. Rhetorical terminology • The best answer is C. Louv nostalgically reveals his pre virtual technology childhood perspective, implying that it benefitted from the past connection with nature which inspired his generation’s contributions to the future of America. Answers A and B are too specific. His audience is not a child (E) but parents and other adults. Answer D reinforces the urgency of his message, but is not his main purpose

21. In line 19, “it” refers to the • unimportance of nature • increasing lack of significance of nature in an increasingly technological world • logical extension of synthetic nature • cultural importance of technology • “sheer popularity” of simulating nature

22. Word in context, pronoun/antecedent • The answer is B. Choices D and E are mentioned earlier in the paragraph but are not what is the main concern of the writer. Answer A is too general and an inaccurate view of the writer, and answer C is too specific.

23. The author criticizes, in order, all of the following for in some way, causing the separation of humans with nature EXCEPT • genetic researchers • virtual advertisers • SUV salesmen • pragmatic parents • grandchildren

24. Organization/Structure/Arrangement • The answer is E. The first three paragraphs give examples (A,B,C, D) of the cause for the author’s concern about the separation between people and nature, and its effect on future children. Grandchildren are being affected by these factors. Distractors mere echoes of the language of the passage.

25. The writer uses all of the following persuasive strategies Except • rhetorical questions • appeal to ethos • appeal to pathos • appeal to authority • appeal to shared values

26. Rhetorical Terms/Reasoning • The answer to the question is D. No direct appeal to authority. The writer uses the questions (A) not to seek an answer but to affirm his concern about the increasing separation from nature. Answers B and E are established most clearly in “We” last paragraph as well as answer C with use of nostalgic anecdotes.

27. Which of the following is an accurate reading of footnote 1? A) An article by Matt Richtel appears on pg. 27 of The New York Times B) “Your Brain on Computer” was a book published in 2009 C) Matt Richtel is referring to a book published by University of New York, Buffalo D) “Your Brain on Computers” was published by The New York Times E) Matt Richtel published the New York Times

28. Documentation/Citation • The answer is D. All other answers are a misreading of the footnote, clearly wrong answers