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How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay + Example

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AP English Language and Composition, commonly known as AP Lang, is one of the most engaging and popular AP classes offered at most high schools, with over 535,000 students taking the class . AP Lang tests your ability to analyze written pieces, synthesize information, write rhetorical essays, and create cohesive and concrete arguments. However, the class is rather challenging as only 62% of students were able to score a three or higher on the exam. 

The AP Lang exam has two sections. The first consists of 45 multiple choice questions which need to be completed in an hour. This portion counts for around 45% of your total score. These questions ask students to analyze written pieces and answer questions related to each respective passage.  All possible answer choices can be found within the text, and no prior knowledge of literature is needed to understand the passages.

The second section contains three free-response questions to be finished in under two hours and 15 minutes. This section counts for 55% of your score and includes the synthesis essay, the rhetorical essay, and the argumentative essay.

• The synthesis essay requires you to read 6-7 sources and create an argument using at least three sources.
• The rhetorical analysis essay requires you to describe how a piece of writing evokes specific meanings and symbolism.
• The argumentative essay requires you to pick a perspective of a debate and create an argument based on the evidence provided.

In this post, we will take a look at the AP Lang synthesis essay and discuss tips and tricks to master this part of the exam. We will also provide an example of a well-written essay for review.  

The AP Lang synthesis essay is the first of three essays included in the Free Response section of the AP Lang exam. The exam presents 6-7 sources that are organized around a specific topic, with two of those sources purely visual, including a single quantitative source (like a graph or pie chart). The remaining 4-5 sources are text-based, containing around 500 words each. It’s recommended that students spend an hour on this essay—15 minute reading period, 40 minutes writing, and 5 minutes of spare time to check over work.

Each synthesis essay has a topic that all the sources will relate to. A prompt will explaining the topic and provide some background, although the topics are usually broad so you will probably know something related to the issue. It will also present a claim that students will respond to in an essay format using information from at least three of the provided sources. You will need to take a stance, either agreeing or disagreeing with the position provided in the claim. 

According to the CollegeBoard, they are looking for essays that “combine different perspectives from sources to form a support of a coherent position.” This means that you must state your claim on the topic and highlight relationships between several sources that support your specific position on the topic. Additionally, you’ll need to cite clear evidence from your sources to prove your point.

The synthesis essay counts for six points on the AP Lang exam. Students can receive 0-1 points for writing a thesis statement, 0-4 based on the incorporation of evidence and commentary, and 0-1 points based on the sophistication of thought and demonstration of complex understanding.

While this essay seems extremely overwhelming, considering there are a total of three free-response essays to complete, with proper time management and practiced skills, this essay is manageable and straightforward. In order to enhance the time management aspect of the test to the best of your ability, it is essential to divide the essay up into five key steps.

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt

As soon as the clock starts, carefully read and analyze what the prompt asks from you. It might be helpful to markup the text to identify the most critical details. You should only spend around 2 minutes reading the prompt so you have enough time to read all the sources and figure out your argument. Don’t feel like you need to immediately pick your stance on the claim right after reading the prompt. You should read the sources before you commit to your argument.

Step 2: Read the Sources Carefully

Although you are only required to use 3 of the 6-7 sources provides, make sure you read ALL of the sources. This will allow you to better understand the topic and make the most educated decision of which sources to use in your essay. Since there are a lot of sources to get through, you will need to read quickly and carefully.

Annotating will be your best friend during the reading period. Highlight and mark important concepts or lines from each passage that would be helpful in your essay. Your argument will probably begin forming in your head as you go through the passages, so you will save yourself a lot of time later on if you take a few seconds to write down notes in the margins. After you’ve finished reading a source, reflect on whether the source defends, challenges, or qualifies your argument.

You will have around 13 minutes to read through all the sources, but it’s very possible you will finish earlier if you are a fast reader. Take the leftover time to start developing your thesis and organizing your thoughts into an outline so you have more time to write. 

Step 3: Write a Strong Thesis Statement 

In order to write a good thesis statement, all you have to do is decide your stance on the claim provided in the prompt and give an overview of your evidence. You essentially have three choices on how to frame your thesis statement: You can defend, challenge or qualify a claim that’s been provided by the prompt. 

• If you are defending the claim, your job will be to prove that the claim is correct .
• If you are challenging the claim, your job will be to prove that the claim is incorrect .
• If you choose to qualify the claim, your job will be to agree to a part of the claim and disagree with another part of the claim. 

A strong thesis statement will clearly state your stance without summarizing the issue or regurgitating the claim. The CollegeBoard is looking for a thesis statement that “states a defensible position and establishes a line of reasoning on the issue provided in the prompt.”

Step 4: Create a Minimal Essay Outline

Developing an outline might seem like a waste of time when you are up against the clock, but believe us, taking 5-10 minutes to outline your essay will be much more useful in the long run than jumping right into the essay.

Your outline should include your thesis statement and three main pieces of evidence that will constitute each body paragraph. Under each piece of evidence should be 2-3 details from the sources that you will use to back up your claim and some commentary on how that evidence proves your thesis.

Step 5: Write your Essay

Use the remaining 30-35 minutes to write your essay. This should be relatively easy if you took the time to mark up the sources and have a detailed outline.  Remember to add special consideration and emphasis to the commentary sections of the supporting arguments outlined in your thesis. These sentences are critical to the overall flow of the essay and where you will be explaining how the evidence supports or undermines the claim in the prompt.

Also, when referencing your sources, write the in-text citations as follows: “Source 1,” “Source 2,” “Source 3,” etc. Make sure to pay attention to which source is which in order to not incorrectly cite your sources. In-text citations will impact your score on the essay and are an integral part of the process.

After you finish writing, read through your essay for any grammatical errors or mistakes before you move onto the next essay.

Here are six must-have tips and tricks to get a good score on the synthesis essay:

• Cite at least four sources , even though the minimum requirement is three. Remember not to plagiarize and cite everything you use in your arguments.
• Make sure to develop a solid and clear thesis . Develop a stable stance for the claim and stick with it throughout the entire paper.
• Don’t summarize the sources. The summary of the sources does not count as an argument. 
• You don’t necessarily have to agree with the sources in order to cite them. Using a source to support a counterargument is still a good use of a source.
• Cite the sources that you understand entirely . If you don’t, it could come back to bite you in the end. 
• Use small quotes , do not quote entire paragraphs. Make sure the quote does not disrupt the flow or grammar of the sentence you write. 

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Here is an example prompt and essay from 2019 that received 5 of the 6 total points available:

In response to our society’s increasing demand for energy, large-scale wind power has drawn attention from governments and consumers as a potential alternative to traditional materials that fuel our power grids, such as coal, oil, natural gas, water, or even newer sources such as nuclear or solar power. Yet the establishment of large-scale, commercial-grade wind farms is often the subject of controversy for a variety of reasons.

Carefully read the six sources, found on the AP English Language and Composition 2019 Exam (Question 1), including the introductory information for each source. Write an essay that synthesizes material from at least three of the sources and develops your position on the most important factors that an individual or agency should consider when deciding whether to establish a wind farm.

Source A (photo)

Source B (Layton)

Source C (Seltenrich)

Source D (Brown)

Source E (Rule)

Source F (Molla)

In your response you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis presents a defensible position.
• Select and use evidence from at least 3 of the provided sources to support your line of reasoning. Indicate clearly the sources used through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Sources may be cited as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the description in parentheses.
• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

[1] The situation has been known for years, and still very little is being done: alternative power is the only way to reliably power the changing world. The draw of power coming from industry and private life is overwhelming current sources of non-renewable power, and with dwindling supplies of fossil fuels, it is merely a matter of time before coal and gas fuel plants are no longer in operation. So one viable alternative is wind power. But as with all things, there are pros and cons. The main factors for power companies to consider when building wind farms are environmental boon, aesthetic, and economic factors.

[2] The environmental benefits of using wind power are well-known and proven. Wind power is, as qualified by Source B, undeniably clean and renewable. From their production requiring very little in the way of dangerous materials to their lack of fuel, besides that which occurs naturally, wind power is by far one of the least environmentally impactful sources of power available. In addition, wind power by way of gearbox and advanced blade materials, has the highest percentage of energy retention. According to Source F, wind power retains 1,164% of the energy put into the system – meaning that it increases the energy converted from fuel (wind) to electricity 10 times! No other method of electricity production is even half that efficient. The efficiency and clean nature of wind power are important to consider, especially because they contribute back to power companies economically.

[3] Economically, wind power is both a boon and a bone to electric companies and other users. For consumers, wind power is very cheap, leading to lower bills than from any other source. Consumers also get an indirect reimbursement by way of taxes (Source D). In one Texan town, McCamey, tax revenue increased 30% from a wind farm being erected in the town. This helps to finance improvements to the town. But, there is no doubt that wind power is also hurting the power companies. Although, as renewable power goes, wind is incredibly cheap, it is still significantly more expensive than fossil fuels. So, while it is helping to cut down on emissions, it costs electric companies more than traditional fossil fuel plants. While the general economic trend is positive, there are some setbacks which must be overcome before wind power can take over as truly more effective than fossil fuels.

[4] Aesthetics may be the greatest setback for power companies. Although there may be significant economic and environmental benefit to wind power, people will always fight to preserve pure, unspoiled land. Unfortunately, not much can be done to improve the visual aesthetics of the turbines. White paint is the most common choice because it “[is] associated with cleanliness.” (Source E). But, this can make it stand out like a sore thumb, and make the gargantuan machines seem more out of place. The site can also not be altered because it affects generating capacity. Sound is almost worse of a concern because it interrupts personal productivity by interrupting people’s sleep patterns. One thing for power companies to consider is working with turbine manufacturing to make the machines less aesthetically impactful, so as to garner greater public support.

[5] As with most things, wind power has no easy answer. It is the responsibility of the companies building them to weigh the benefits and the consequences. But, by balancing economics, efficiency, and aesthetics, power companies can create a solution which balances human impact with environmental preservation.

More examples can be found here at College Board.

While AP Scores help to boost your weighted GPA, or give you the option to get college credit, AP Scores don’t have a strong effect on your admissions chances . However, colleges can still see your self-reported scores, so you might not want to automatically send scores to colleges if they are lower than a 3. That being said, admissions officers care far more about your grade in an AP class than your score on the exam.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, every ap english language and composition practice exam.

Advanced Placement (AP)

With the AP English Language and Composition exam coming up, it's important to find the best practice resources, and that includes practice tests! The AP Language and Composition exam has two sections: a multiple-choice section with 45 questions, and a free-response section with three essay questions—one synthesis prompt, one analysis prompt, and one argument prompt.

But not all AP Lang practice tests are like the real exam, and they aren't all of equal quality. In this guide, I'll break down where you can find official College Board AP Language and Composition practice test resources, other free resources out there, and paid practice tests and questions. I'll also break down which resources are high-quality and how to best incorporate AP English practice tests into your exam preparation.

A Note on Exam Updates

In 2019, the College Board announced updates to the AP English Language exam . The free-response section stayed the same, although there were some changes to how the essays will be scored .

For the multiple-choice section, there are now only 45 questions instead of roughly 55. Passages are also shorter, and there is a new question type, called "composition questions." They make up roughly half of the questions on multiple choice and test students on their ability to "read like a writer" and properly revise texts. Vocabulary-in-context questions and identification questions no longer appear on the exam. ( To learn more about different AP Language question types, check out our guide .)

So what does this mean for you? Unfortunately, it means that any AP Language practice resource created before 2019 is out of date. However, that doesn't mean they still aren't valuable resources. Free-response prompts and passages remain the same. When using older multiple-choice resources, stop answering questions after 45 questions and skip any vocab-in-context and identification questions you see.

Official Practice Resources

The best practice test resources come from the College Board. This is because they are the ones who create and administer all AP exams, including AP Lang and Comp, so their materials are the closest to the real, actual questions you will be seeing on test day!

If you practice with material that's close to the actual exam, you'll feel more comfortable when you are actually taking the test. Therefore, when possible, it's best to use College Board materials. However, it's worth noting that official resources for AP Language and Composition are a little bit sparse, especially when compared to the AP Literature exam.

There are, in general, three resources that the College Board offers for any given AP exam: complete released exams, released free-response questions from previous years, and sample questions from the " AP Course and Exam Description. "

Complete Released Exams

Unfortunately, the College Board doesn't appear to have released any official complete AP English Language and Composition practice exams, so I have nothing to link to here. However, you might be able to find at least one entire past exam by Googling "AP Language complete released exam" or similar variations on that. Make sure any AP Language and Composition released exams you get this way have answer keys, though!

You might also ask your AP teacher if she has any copies of old AP exams you can use for practice. AP teachers can purchase past exams from the College Board that students don't have access to. She may not be able to let you take them home, but even then you could be allowed to use them in a supervised setting.

Released Free-Response Questions

The College Board has posted years and years worth of past AP Language and Composition free-response questions that are at your disposal for practice purposes. However, only the tests from 2007-onward include the same three question types that are on the test currently. (And again remember that the rubrics for grading these questions have changed, even though the questions themselves haven't.) Earlier tests include two rhetorical analysis questions instead of a synthesis question.

Sample Questions From the " AP Course and Exam Description "

Beginning on page 115, the AP Course and Exam description for AP Language and composition includes 17 multiple-choice questions and three free-response prompts: one synthesis prompt, one analysis prompt, and one argument prompt. As mentioned above, this is the only current source of official practice questions for the new "composition" question type, so make sure to check this resource out!

Put them in your question bank!

Free Unofficial Resources

Outside of the College Board, there are lots of sites offering free practice questions for the AP Language and Comp exam. But which ones will actually help you? Since anyone can slap together a few questions and call it an "AP Language and Composition Practice Test," how do you sort the wheat from the chaff?

I've combed through tons of free resources so you don't have to! Presented in order of quality, from best to worst, here's my list of all the free AP Language practice tests and quizzes I could find out there. 

College Countdown Complete AP Language Practice Test

College Countdown offers a nearly-complete unofficial practice test, essays and all. While the exact wording of the multiple-choice questions isn't exactly the same as on a real AP exam, the tasks are very similar and the passages are well-selected. The essays are solid examples of the AP essay prompt style, although you could also substitute the unofficial free-response section for an official past free-response question if you wanted to make the experience even closer to a real AP. Also, there are robust answer explanations. This is an especially good resource given that there isn't an official College Board-released exam for this test.

High School Test Prep AP Language Practice Tests

High School Test Prep offers four short practice tests, each offering questions about a given nonfiction passage. The question style is definitely different from that of true AP questions; like the Albert questions below, they are written in a more stylistically simplistic way. Also note that these practice tests haven't been updated for the current version of the exam.

The ratio of questions about the passage overall versus specific moments in the passage is weighted much more heavily towards overall passage questions than the real AP exam. However, these are still decent rhetorical analysis practice questions, and this resource is an especially good choice if you find yourself struggling with identifying the major themes and arguments of passages overall.

Varsity Tutors AP English Practice Tests

Varsity Tutors offers very short, skill-specific quizzes. The questions don't sound all that much like AP questions, and every question asks about a different short passage, which is a little bit bizarre and inefficient. Additionally, not all of the specific skills they offer quizzes in are super-relevant to AP Language (e.g. "Motives and goals of characters"). However, if you feel like there are very specific rhetorical techniques you are confused about, taking some of the quizzes here could be a good study strategy. If you want to track your scores, you can make a free account with Varsity Tutors, but it's not necessary to be able to access the quizzes.

4tests.com AP English Language Exam

This site offers a 38-question AP English Language and Composition practice exam. The questions are somewhat overly basic and passages are not particularly similar in style or content to actual AP Language passages, though. Additionally, the interface is a little bit clunky. I would only use these if you desperately need some extra, very basic rhetorical analysis practice. (It's also not updated for the newest version of the exam.)

Crack AP English Language Tests

Crack AP has a plethora of AP English Language "tests" (that are actually short quizzes), however; we don't recommend them as a resource to use. They're based on outdated versions of the AP exam and don't cover many of the skills you'll actually see on the AP test. Feel free to skip this resource.

Clunky like a retro calculator.

Paid Unofficial Resources

If you need even more practice, there are also paid unofficial practice test resources available.

Albert AP English Language Practice

Albert offers a large number of mini-quizzes on analyzing the rhetoric of various notable nonfiction passages. Some of their questions don't match the tone of actual AP Lang questions, but they are one of the few resources to have practice composition questions. You need to create an account to use this resource, and while some questions you can access for free, for others you need a paid subscription.

Review Books

Review books usually contain one or more complete practice tests and are a great resource when you run out of free resources. Not all review books are equally high-quality, though—be sure to look at reviews (and check out the questions by flipping through the book at the bookstore if you can, to see how similar they are to actual AP questions). As a starting place, Barron's and the Princeton Review both generally offer high-quality AP review books.

Peterson's AP Practice Tests

A plan costs roughly $50 a month for access to all of Peterson's resources. For AP English Language, they have two practice tests. I couldn't find much information or reviews as to the quality of the material, though, so this is a bit of a gamble. You'd likely be better off buying a well-reviewed review book with practice tests.

How to Use Practice Resources in Your Exam Prep

How to best use practice resources as you study depends a lot on what kind of practice material you are using. I'll review how to make the most of different types of resources here.

Complete Practice Exams (Official and Maybe Unofficial)

The best way to use complete practice tests is to do full timed practice-runs for exam day. Bring a clock, a timer, and a hefty supply of pencils into a quiet room and have at it! A practice-run will help you to feel more comfortable when it's time to take the exam for real in May.

If you have access to multiple practice tests, you can even take complete tests at different times in the studying process to see how you've improved and what you still need to work on. When you do take practice tests, it can be helpful to get someone else to help grade your free-response essays based on the rubric.

You should aim to take your first full-length practice test around the beginning of your second semester. Normally I advise to only use official College Board practice tests for this, but since easily accessible complete official exams for the AP Language and Composition exam are sparse, you may want to supplement with the practice test from College Countdown linked to above.

Official College Board Practice Free-Response and Sample Questions

Released free-response questions from past years are best for practicing specifically for the free-response section in a targeted way. You can work on the prompt types that you find the most difficult or practice outlining essays in a certain amount of time, or writing all three essays in 120 minutes.

If you don't use the Course and Exam Description as a practice test, the multiple choice questions are great targeted practice for the first section of the text. It will help you get familiar with the College Board's question style and work on your rhetorical close-reading.

Unofficial Practice Quizzes and Questions

Unofficial practice quizzes and questions just aren't going to be as much like the real AP exam as College Board materials. However, while they aren't as helpful for prepping for the exam format or question styles, they are still good practice for building your rhetorical analysis skills, which is critical for the exam. High-quality unofficial resources are definitely worth your time.

Building rhetorical analysis skills: more complicated than building with blocks.

Key Takeaways

Practice tests are a key AP prep resource. The best resources come from the College Board, but unfortunately, official College Board resources for AP Language and Composition are a little bit sparse as compared to some other AP exams. However, there are also tons of unofficial resources, and some are high-quality. Most are free, but a few are paid.

Once you have your resources assembled, you might not be sure how to use them. Complete practice tests are best for mimicking the experience of the actual exam, sample Official questions are best for targeted section practice, and unofficial practice tests are best for rhetorical analysis skill-building.

You're ready to practice your way to AP success!

What's Next?

We also have complete practice test lists for AP Literature , AP US History , AP Chemistry , AP Biology , AP Psychology , and AP World History . Or see our guide to finding the best AP practice tests for any exam .

Taking the AP Literature exam? See our ultimate guide to AP Literature . for everything you need to know to ace this test.

Wondering if you should be trying for a perfect AP score ? See how difficult it is to score a 5 and the best tips to get you there!

Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

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Synthesis Overview

10 min read • november 18, 2021

Justin Nazario

Overview of the Synthesis Question

Section II of the AP English Language and Composition exam includes three free-response questions that you must answer in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

This guide will focus on Question 1 of Section II of the exam, the Synthesis question . As with all AP exams with free-response questions, the Synthesis question has its own rubric and scoring that we will detail later in this guide. 

To summarize, however, your essay should include/ demonstrate the following:

An easy to identify thesis 

Use of three or more of the provided sources

Explain how the sources used defend the claim in a complex manner

Writing that is sophisticated and collegiate

In the sections that follow, we will go over exactly what each part means. One thing to keep in mind is that the sources you choose should only strengthen your claim-- not step in and be the claim. Avoid overly citing from the sources to the point that your voice takes the backseat.

Luckily, the same skills of sophistication and complexity translate into the other essays you’ll write for this exam. Once you have developed your own voice, the rest is a matter of organization.

As stated before, you have 2 hours and 15 minutes to answer all three of your free-response questions. It seems like a lot, but it flies. To prevent getting behind schedule, it’s important to manage your time wisely.

A good breakdown to consider when pacing yourself is the following:

10 min. (to read sources) + 5 min. (planning) + 35 min. (writing) = 50 min.

How to Rock the Synthesis Question: The Rubric

The synthesis question is scored on a six-point rubric , and each point can be earned individually. This means that you can get points in one category, but not in others. It all depends on how well you accomplish each level on the rubric .

The Synthesis Question Rubric

Your thesis is the statement of your essay that introduces your claim to the reader. This is where you come forward and explicitly say: here is my position on the argument, and here are my reasons for feeling this way. 💭Above all else, you must respond to the prompt in its entirety. 

As in most essays, the introduction is recommended to be in the opening paragraph of your essay. ☝If it’s not in the introduction, you run the risk of confusing your reader, but your thesis can be anywhere in your essay. It can be as long as you’d like, so long as you present your main ideas in the order you will be discussing them in.

In order to receive the point, you need to both answer the prompt and present your own argument and claim to said prompt. A simple way to do so is to use words from the prompt to drive your thesis forward, but avoid just restating the thesis without adding your claim . You’ll lose out on the point if you forget to weave your argument into the thesis.

Your thesis and introductory paragraph are really where you introduce your style and voice as a writer. You have the opportunity to speak to your reader-- say something. Answer the prompt in complex, rich sentences that convey your use the sources to their highest potential. 👏

A great thesis does not have to be a paragraph long: as long as it answers the prompt, you’ll be alright!

Evidence and Commentary

This section on the rubric is split up into two categories: use of sources and commentary on the sources.

The College Board requires that you use at least three of the sources in order to earn the maximum amount of points. To “use” a source, you must cite text from the source or paraphrase an idea expressed by the author of the source, and then must explain its significance to the overall claim. (More on that in a moment.)

You must also establish a line of reasoning that the sources answer and/or incorporate into your elaboration. To make it a bit simpler, you need to explain how the source proves or challenges your claim. This can be accomplished in one sentence or several-- regardless, you need to explain why you chose to use that source to prove that claim. 

The second part of this category is the commentary section. Here, you must consistently establish the line of reasoning for each of the sources you introduce and do so with complexity. In all reality, this is just making sure that you are using each source for a reason, and not just fact-dropping information to earn the point. 

An easy way to do this is by prefacing your citation with how the source relates to your argument, and then elaborating afterward.  Consider this example:

“The indoctrination of immigrants into American society is representative of a divide in American politics and culture, a line created by the two party system. (Source 2) Through the conditioning of immigrants to the ways of American society, there is a systematic erasing of native culture and ways in order to push American agendas onto people of other backgrounds and identities...”

The example drops the citation right in the middle of the paragraph in order to introduce the paraphrased idea, but divide it from the elaboration that follows:

Sophistication

The final row in the rubric is sophistication , or the level and complexity of your writing. This point is earned over the course of your essay and must be consistent in order for you to get the point.

This one is a little more complex to earn than some of the other points on the rubric . Contrary to the other rows, this is not something you need to directly set out to do, but something that needs to be developed over the course of your essay-- when you read a well-crafted sentence, you can tell. When you don’t read a well-crafted sentence, you can tell.

College Board has 4 notes on responses that typically earn this point:

Typically notice variations and conflicts within the sources , and explore said variations and conflicts

Express the restrictions of a source’s argument and does so within a larger scope and context

Demonstrate specific and powerful use of language so as to express professionalism and maturity

Use voice that is consistently lively yet coherent

Let’s break down each bullet.

The first bullet states is asking that your response acknowledges the difference between sources. Let’s say Source A is about how peanut butter is good for dogs but Source B says that peanut butter is actually harmful for dogs-- by expressing the counterpoints of the two sources, and discussing the broader context of the source and arguments presented in the two, you are demonstrating sophistication and can earn the point. The ‘explore’ part of the bullet is what makes or breaks it.

Make sure you don’t just drop things without explaining their significance or value!

The second bullet is relating the sources and information presented in them to both one another and the overall prompt. Ask yourself: What does this source talk about that this one doesn’t? How is the scope of this source relating to the prompt? What does this source say that this one builds off of? It’s about finding relationships between the sources and how, together, they make a set and rely on one another for validation or dejection. 👪

The third and fourth bullets are notes on your writing. The College Board wants to read essays and responses that are high quality and complex, not ones that lack development or are lackluster. They are really looking for responses that feel whole and complete, expressing entire thoughts rather than fragments of ideas that can get scattered and lost in translation. 

This mainly comes with practice and reading your peers’ work. Look for things such as sentence structure, diction, and punctuation. Do most of their sentences follow the same order and flow? Do they use the same three words to describe one thing or are they using a wide array of vocabulary? Think of how you can apply these things to your own writing, as well.

How to Rock the Synthesis Question - Process

Before you start writing....

Take time to plan your essays. If you just jump into writing without jotting down some ideas or a battle plan, you’re going to find yourself lost in the middle of your body paragraphs .

A very simple idea for planning your essay is by using a template:

Main Idea #1

Supporting Detail #1

Evidence #1

Evidence #2

Elaboration (2-3 Sentences)

Supporting Detail #2

By organizing your ideas into an umbrella shape, you can get an idea of how your essay is going to read by the progression of your ideas. Remember that the order you present your ideas in must be the order you discuss them!

Another tip is to be 100% of what it is the prompt is asking of you. If the prompt is asking you to develop an argument or position on an event or idea, do exactly that. The sources tend to lend themselves towards one side of the argument, so be sure that whatever side you pick is well-supported with evidence from the sources. You can’t use any outside knowledge or anything that is not directly stated or implied by the sources. 

As mentioned before, it is extremely useful to use words in the prompt to formulate your thesis.

For example, if the prompt asks you what a country needs to consider before it engages in war with another country, you could formulate your thesis by saying “prior to engaging in war with another country, one must consider…” in order to directly respond to the question. This avoids confusion and allows you to easily pinpoint, for yourself, your thesis.

Think of all of Section 2 as a speech– this is the only section of the exam where you get to speak to the scorers. They are reading your handwriting, seeing your words and erase marks: make an impression! They are scored by a rubric , but they are also looking for voice and sophistication . Don’t brush off these essays and give minimal effort, they want you to pass.

Writing the Essay

Your introductory paragraph should realistically comprise of your thesis and introduce your response to the prompt. Your introduction can be just one sentence with your thesis, or you can build context by prefacing your argument or claim with things you learned from the sources. Avoid using “I”. 

Your body paragraphs should be where you spend most of your time writing. Remember what the rubric says about relationships and connections between the sources. Look for key similarities and differences that may lend you to choose a main idea from the set. They all have something in common!

After you have an idea of your main points, start with a topic sentence that is essentially a thesis for the paragraph. Explain what you’re going to discuss and how it relates back to the prompt (or broader context, if applicable).

After introducing your topic sentence , begin using your evidence and elaborating in complete, complex sentences. If you planned your essay well enough, you may even be able to just copy what you have written down and just spend time elaborating on the sources. This maximizes your time and gives you some space to develop an even more complex argument . 2-3 sentences of elaboration is the sweet spot if you cover all your bases.

After you’ve done the steps above, do the same for the next body paragraph.

Once you reach your conclusion , state for the final time your thesis and the points you mentioned in your body paragraphs . Someone should be able to read your conclusion and get a good idea of what it is you discussed in your response, so make it informative and a good representation of your work!

And once you’ve reached this point, you’re all done! Give your essay a read and fix any mechanical or grammatical issues that you may stumble upon. After that, move on to the next essay and keep your head high-- you’re one step closer to finishing the exam! ✋

Key Terms to Review ( 20 )

Body Paragraphs

Collegiate writing

Complex argument

Defensible position

Direct response to the prompt

Introductory paragraph

Line of Reasoning

Lively voice

Main Idea and Supporting Details

Planning your essay

Powerful use of language

Restrictions of a source's argument

Synthesis question

Time management

Topic Sentence

Variations and conflicts within the sources

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The 2023 AP® Lang FRQ Questions Were Just Released: Now what?

Written by Katie Upton

At the end of each year, AP teachers patiently wait for College Board to release the free response questions from each exam, and AP Lang teachers are no different . . . except that we may be just a little impatient. AP Lang teachers are giddy about FRQ prompts because they’re like the magical unicorn of assessments. They help students sprout critical thinking and writing skills, simulate real-life writing adventures, unleash creativity, align with the curriculum, and even sprinkle some professional development fairy dust. It’s like a joyride on a rainbow of learning. Luckily, College Board does make any teacher wait too long to see the FRQs, and this year, AP Lang teachers have two sets of FRQs to study. If you haven’t seen the 2023 AP Lang FRQ prompts yet, you can find them here and here .

Why are these past Free Response Questions valuable?

1. Opportunity for Skill Development: FRQ prompts in AP Lang are designed to assess students’ ability to analyze and respond to complex texts effectively. These prompts often require students to engage in critical thinking, close reading, and argumentation. Teachers see these prompts as valuable opportunities for students to develop and refine their analytical and communication skills.

2. Authentic Assessment: FRQ prompts in AP Lang aim to simulate real-world writing tasks, such as persuasive essays, argumentative analysis, or rhetorical analysis. We can appreciate the authenticity of these prompts, as they reflect the kind of writing tasks students may encounter in college or professional settings. They believe that tackling these prompts prepares students for future academic and professional endeavors.

3. Creativity and Flexibility: AP Lang FRQ prompts often allow room for students to demonstrate their creativity and originality in crafting their responses. The prompts may be open-ended, requiring students to form and support their own arguments or interpretations. Teachers enjoy seeing the diverse range of responses students generate, as it showcases their unique perspectives and writing styles.

4. Curriculum Alignment: AP Lang teachers invest significant time and effort in designing their curricula to align with the AP course framework. They appreciate FRQ prompts that align with the skills and content they have covered throughout the year. Well-aligned prompts allow teachers to gauge the effectiveness of their instruction and provide valuable feedback to students.

5. Professional Development: Engaging with FRQ prompts offers teachers an opportunity for professional development. By analyzing and discussing the prompts with colleagues, attending workshops, or reviewing scoring guidelines, teachers can deepen their understanding of the skills assessed and enhance their instructional strategies. This ongoing professional growth benefits both teachers and their students. In a few months, College Board will release a High, Medium, and Low scoring essays for each prompt, which provides great insight for both teachers and students. 

Overall, AP Lang teachers view FRQ prompts as valuable tools for assessing and fostering students’ critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills. The prompts offer opportunities for students to showcase their abilities in authentic and creative ways, while also facilitating professional development for teachers. They provide us a glimpse into the mind of College Board so we can prepare appropriately for the exam each year. 

Let’s take a look at the first set of Free Response Questions for the 2023 AP Lang Exam. 

Question 1: The Synthesis Essay

Historically, this essay has earned the highest global average score. However with the new 6-point rubric that was introduced in 2019, the global average scores for both the synthesis essay and the rhetorical analysis have hovered around 3.56. Remember, we want students to score 4 or higher on the 6-point rubrics, so we have some work to do! 

2023 Free Response Question #1 Prompt

Urban rewilding is an effort to restore natural ecological processes and habitats in city environments. Many cities around the world have embraced rewilding as part of larger movements to promote ecological conservation and environmentally friendly design. Now, a movement to promote urban rewilding is beginning to take shape in the United States as well. 

Carefully read the six sources, including introductory information for each source. Write an essay that synthesis material from at least three of the sources and develops your position on the extent to which rewilding initiatives are worthwhile for urban communities to pursue.

After looking at this prompt, there is a lot to consider before moving into analyzing the sources, and we certainly want to unpack the prompt because there is helpful information within it such as: 

• The definition of urban rewilding 
• A brief summarization of the benefits of urban rewilding 

Often, the introductory paragraph includes information from multiple perspectives; however, this one does not, so students will have to closely examine the sources. 

Now, let’s review the sources: 

Source A: this infographic includes statistical evidence that supports how urban rewilding can improve our global environment and was published by a credible source in 2021. 

Source B: The excerpt introduces rewilding as a powerful concept in conservation that combines passion for nature with ecological science. It outlines seven principles guiding rewilding, including restoring natural processes, embracing a gradated approach, and creating self-sustaining ecosystems. Rewilding aims to reconnect policy with public sentiment and allows for interpretation based on local traditions and landscapes.

Source C: The excerpt highlights a keynote speech by Dr. Scott Sampson, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting children with nature and promoting urban rewilding. Dr. Scott discusses the decline in outdoor experiences for today’s youth and suggests that urban rewilding, starting with planting native plants, can help restore ecosystems and create a welcoming environment for nature in cities. The movement to rewild children aligns with pillars of conservation, health and wellness, and social equity. Dr. Scott encourages collaboration and big thinking to shape a successful and sustainable future for communities.

Source D: The excerpt discusses the challenges of implementing rewilding in urban areas of the United Kingdom. The author questions the feasibility of dedicating large urban spaces to rewilding due to space constraints and the need for compact urban development. Concerns include public perception, ecological limitations, and the condition of urban soils. The author suggests alternative approaches to urban nature conservation.

Source E: The graph, published by Sustainable Earth, suggests that more forest cover within urban areas may correlate to less depression, stress, and anxiety. 

Source F: The excerpt highlights the benefits of urban rewilding, such as reducing air pollution, urban overheating, and noise pollution. It mentions the creation of green corridors and linear parks in cities like New York and Madrid. Singapore’s approach to incorporating nature in urban design is also mentioned, including landscape replacement policies and park connectors.

Students must determine the extent to which rewilding initiatives are worthwhile for urban communities to pursue; therefore, they must first develop their stance. Some teachers direct students to develop their stances before reading the sources while others suggest developing them after. We say – students should do whatever makes them feel most confident! Most importantly, students must utilize at least three of the six sources, and it is important that they synthesize the sources with the body paragraphs; they should avoid incorporating only one source in each body paragraph.

When developing a position for the synthesis prompt, students must consider the multiple perspectives and nuances involved around the topic which could help them in both Row B and Row C of the rubric. 

Now, let’s take a look at my approach to this prompt: 

Thesis Statement:  Urban rewilding initiatives are essential for promoting environmental sustainability, enhancing well-being, and fostering a deeper connection with nature.

Remember, there are many different ways that students can develop the synthesis essay, and this “extent to which” prompt allows for students to qualify their stances in a variety of ways. Most importantly, students must remember to use three sources, develop a line of reasoning by situating the supporting claims and evidence intentionally. Now, let’s move on to rhetorical analysis. 

Question 2: The Rhetorical Analysis 

2023 Free Response Question #2 Prompt

Michelle Obama was the First Lady of the United States during the presidential administration of her husband, Barack Obama (2009–2017). During that administration, she led programs including the Reach Higher Initiative, which encourages students to continue their education after high school. One way it does so is by supporting high school counselors’ efforts to get students into college. On January 6, 2017, Obama gave her final speech as First Lady at an event honoring outstanding school counselors. The following passage is an excerpt from that speech. Read the passage carefully. Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices Obama makes to convey her message about her expectations and hope for young people in the United States.

When dissecting the rhetorical analysis prompt, students must look for the elements of the rhetorical situation. Below, I have identified those elements: 

Remember, the rhetorical situation information that is included in the prompt is imperative to the analysis. Students must include this information in the commentary, drawing connections between the rhetorical choices and the rhetorical situation to illustrate how the writer’s choice illustrates their understanding of the audience’s beliefs, values, and/or needs. 

As students analyze the passage, they will look for specific choices that exhibit those connections. Below are some of the most effective choices that they could examine. 

1. Inclusive language: Obama uses inclusive language throughout her speech to address a diverse audience and emphasize unity. She refers to “young people in this room and those who are watching” (line 5) and states that the country belongs to “all of you, from every background and walk of life” (lines 7-8). This inclusive language appeals to individuals of different backgrounds, faiths, and creeds.

2. Personal anecdotes: Obama shares personal anecdotes to connect with the audience and make her message relatable. She discusses her own experiences and those of her husband, illustrating how they overcame obstacles and achieved success through hard work and education. By sharing these stories, she inspires the audience and encourages them to believe in their own potential.

3. Repetition : The use of repetition is a prominent rhetorical choice in Obama’s speech. She repeatedly emphasizes the importance of hope as a driving force for progress. Phrases such as “the power of hope” and “the belief in the power of hope” (lines 61-62) are repeated throughout the speech, reinforcing the central theme and encouraging the audience to maintain their aspirations.

4. Appeals to shared values: Obama appeals to shared values to unite the audience and emphasize the importance of certain ideals. She highlights the values of justice, compassion, honesty, and religious diversity, stating that these values are taught by different religions and should be practiced with pride (lines 22-26). By appealing to shared values, she encourages the audience to embrace diversity and work towards a common goal.

5. Call to action: Throughout her speech, Obama issues a call to action, urging the young people to prepare themselves for active participation in society. She encourages them to be informed, engaged citizens who uphold American values, contribute to their communities, and pursue education to attain a better future. This call to action inspires the audience to take responsibility and make a positive impact in their own lives and society.

These are just a few of the rhetorical choices that Michelle Obama employs in her speech to effectively convey her message and engage the audience. If students are concerned about “naming” rhetorical strategies, it is important to remind them to identify text evidence that they can analyze in relationship to the rhetorical situation. 

Finally, let’s look at the argument prompt. 

Question 3: The Argument Essay

2023 Free Response Question #3 Prompt

In a 2016 interview published in the Los Angeles Review of Books , Maxine Hong Kingston, an award-winning writer famous for her novels depicting the experiences of Chinese immigrants in the United States, stated: “I think that individual voices are not as strong as a community of voices. If we can make a community of voices, then we can speak more truth.” 

Write an essay that argues your position on the extent to which Kingston’s claim about the importance of creating a community of voices is valid.

After looking at this prompt, there is a lot to consider before developing a stance. The students must consider the different stakeholders and perspectives related to this prompt, and we certainly want to unpack the prompt because there is helpful information within it such as: 

• Elie Wiesel 
• Nelson Mandela 
• Malala Yousafzai 
• Martin Luther King Jr
• Ceasar Chavez
• Berta Cáceres
• Barack Obama 
• Winston Churchill
• Mahatma Gandhi
• The Civil Rights Movement
• MeToo Movement
• Marriage Equality
•  Environmental Activism
• Online Communities and Social Media

Once students have considered the stakeholders and ensure that they have evidence to support multiple positions, they should develop their stance, discerning the multiple supporting claims and evidence that could create the strongest line of reasoning. In analyzing Maxine Hong Kingston’s claim about the importance of creating a community of voices, there are different stances a student could take:

1. Strongly Agree: This stance asserts that Kingston’s claim is entirely valid and holds significant weight. It argues that individual voices, while important, lack the collective power and impact that a community of voices can have in speaking the truth. It emphasizes the need for unity, solidarity, and shared experiences to effectively challenge dominant narratives and effect societal change.

2. Agree with Qualification: This stance acknowledges the validity of Kingston’s claim but suggests that there may be some situations where individual voices can still carry substantial strength. It recognizes the value of diverse perspectives and the ability of individuals to make an impact through their unique experiences. However, it ultimately supports the idea that a community of voices has a greater potential to generate comprehensive understanding and challenge systemic barriers.

3. Disagree with Qualification: This stance challenges Kingston’s claim, asserting that individual voices can be just as potent as a community of voices. It argues that individual perspectives carry their own unique strengths and can make significant contributions to truth-telling and social change. It acknowledges the importance of collaboration and collective action but emphasizes the power of individual agency and the ability to challenge narratives from a personal standpoint.

4. Strongly Disagree: This stance rejects Kingston’s claim entirely, arguing that individual voices hold more power and authenticity compared to a community of voices. It suggests that collective voices might dilute the truth by prioritizing consensus or compromising individual perspectives. This stance might emphasize the strength of individual expression and the potential for transformative change that arises from independent voices.

The stances presented here are not exhaustive, and there can be variations or combinations of these positions based on the writer’s perspective and interpretation of Kingston’s claim. Again, students must determine which stance they can defend with multiple claims pieces of evidence. 

Let’s take a look at the second set of Free Response Questions for the 2023 AP Lang Exam. 

Vertical farms are indoor agricultural facilities in which plants are grown, often in a hydroponic (soilless) environment, on tall stacks of shelves. Plants are given water, nutrients, and light mostly through automated processes. Advocates say that vertical farms are key to providing food for the future, yielding high-quality produce while making efficient use of land and water. Critics warn about the energy consumption associated with vertical farms’ automated processes as well as problems related to cost and nutritional value.

Carefully read the following six sources, including the introductory information for each source. Write an essay that synthesizes material from at least three of the sources and develops your position on the value, if any, of vertical farms to the future of agriculture.

Analyzing the prompt:

The prompt introduces the concept of vertical farms, which are indoor agricultural facilities that use stacked shelves to grow plants in a soilless environment. It highlights the benefits of vertical farms, such as the ability to provide high-quality produce while maximizing land and water efficiency. However, it also acknowledges the criticisms regarding energy consumption, cost, and nutritional value associated with vertical farming.

The task is to write an essay that synthesizes information from at least three sources and formulates a position on the value, if any, of vertical farms to the future of agriculture. This requires examining the arguments presented by both advocates and critics of vertical farming and developing a stance based on the evidence provided.

In the essay, it is important to consider the advantages of vertical farms, such as their potential to address food security challenges and optimize resource utilization. Simultaneously, the concerns raised by critics should be analyzed, including the energy requirements and the potential drawbacks in terms of cost and nutritional content.

Source A: This source discusses the emergence of high-tech hydroponic farms, including a large greenhouse and a vertical farm. These farms utilize advanced technology to create precise growing conditions and customize flavors and textures of produce. They aim to address climate change and vulnerabilities in the food supply chain. However, critics raise concerns about the long-term health impacts and the ability to replicate the taste and nutritional value of organic farming.

Source B: This interview discusses the advantages of vertical farming, including the ability to grow crops indoors year-round, easy access to fresher produce, and efficient use of land. The limitations of vertical farming are the reliance on artificial light sources and energy-intensive HVAC systems. Lettuce and leafy greens are currently the most popular crops for vertical farming, while small fruits and fruiting vegetables are being investigated. Vertical farming is also being explored for its potential in space missions, with NASA and the USDA conducting research on crop production in controlled environments.

Source C: This table, published in a book on vertical farming, compares four types of plant production systems based on their stability, controllability, vulnerability of yield and quality, initial investment, and yield. Open fields have low stability and controllability, while vertical farms have high controllability but low stability. Greenhouses with hydroponics offer relatively low vulnerability and high controllability of the root zone. Vertical farms require extremely high initial investment but yield high results.

Source D: The excerpt raises concerns about vertical farms, emphasizing their high costs, expensive food prices, and significant energy consumption. It questions the need for indoor farming and argues against using renewable energy to replace natural sunlight.

Source E: Vertical farming aims to increase agricultural land by constructing multi-level buildings. It offers clean, green, and gourmet food production with year-round availability, reduced pesticide use, and minimal weather-related crop failures. Recycled water and nutrients enhance food security, while monitoring technologies detect pests and diseases. Consumer perception and labeling concerns exist, but growing conditions are similar to existing systems. The closed environment minimizes pollution.

Source F: This image suggests that, by 2050, we will not have enough arable land globally to feed the world’s population. 

Thesis Statement: Vertical farms have the potential to revolutionize future agriculture by addressing the challenges of food production, resource efficiency, and sustainability, despite concerns regarding energy consumption, cost, and nutritional value.

Below, I have outlined a few sample body paragraphs that effectively synthesize multiple sources from the packet.

I would argue that it is difficult to take any stance other than a qualifying one, but that is a challenging tasks for student. Make sure to encourage them to take these kinds of risks with prompts in your classroom to help them prepare for a prompt such as this one.  Now, let’s move on to rhetorical analysis. 

On May 21, 2016, the poet Rita Dove delivered a commencement address to graduating students at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, where she was a professor of English at the time. Dove received a Pulitzer Prize for her poetry and served as the United States poet laureate from 1993 to 1995. She also writes in a variety of genres including fiction and drama. The following is an excerpt from her speech. Read the passage carefully. Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices Dove makes to convey her message about what she wishes for her audience of graduating students.

• The prompt presents various elements of the rhetorical situation surrounding Rita Dove’s commencement address. These elements include the time and place of the speech, Dove’s background and credentials as a poet and professor of English at the University of Virginia, her recognition as a Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. poet laureate, and her experience in writing across different genres. 
• The time and place of the speech, May 21, 2016, at the University of Virginia, indicate that Dove’s address is specifically tailored to the graduating students of that particular year. This temporal and spatial setting suggests a sense of relevance and immediacy, as Dove’s words are meant to resonate with the students on the cusp of embarking on their post-graduation journeys.
• Dove’s background as a renowned poet, professor, and former poet laureate lends her credibility and establishes her ethos as a speaker. Her Pulitzer Prize recognition further enhances her authority and expertise in the field of poetry. Additionally, mentioning her versatility in writing across genres highlights her breadth of knowledge and creativity, which can potentially inform her rhetorical choices in the address.

Considering the elements of the rhetorical situation, Dove’s rhetorical choices can be analyzed in relation to her message and wishes for the graduating students. Examining her use of language, tone, structure, and appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos can provide insights into how she seeks to connect with the audience and convey her desired message effectively.

Overall, understanding the rhetorical situation helps frame the analysis of Dove’s choices, allowing for a deeper exploration of how her background, the occasion, and the audience’s context may have influenced her rhetorical strategies and contributed to the overall impact of her address.

As students analyze the passage, they will look for specific choices that exhibit those connections. Below are some of the most effective choices that they could examine.

Analyzing Dove’s Line of Reasoning 

• She begins by acknowledging the traditional role of a commencement speaker in giving life advice.
• Dove highlights the limitations of generic advice in a broad commencement setting.
•  She argues that effective advice must be specific, which is impossible to achieve in this context.
• Dove strategically shifts her speech to offer wishes instead of advice.
• By reframing her message as wishes, she creates a more personal and relatable tone. 
• The use of personal anecdotes and references strengthens her line of reason.
• Dove shares stories from her own life, such as her journey as a shy student and her achievements as a poet.
• These anecdotes serve as evidence to support her wishes and provide relatable examples for the graduating students.

– Overall, Dove’s line of reason is logical and persuasive, engaging the audience on a personal level.

In a 2018 interview about the importance of collaboration, then United States Representative Carlos Curbelo stated: “If you’re trying to convince someone that they need to get involved in an issue or perhaps change their thinking on an issue, trying to scare them is not always effective and can actually sow 1 resentment.”

Write an essay that argues your position on the extent to which Curbelo’s claim about persuading others is valid.

The given prompt presents an opportunity to analyze and evaluate Carlos Curbelo’s claim regarding the effectiveness of using fear as a persuasive tactic when trying to engage others in an issue or change their perspective. To formulate a well-rounded essay on the validity of Curbelo’s statement, students must consider various perspectives and examples that support or challenge his assertion. 

• Firstly, it is essential to delve into the context of Curbelo’s claim. As a former United States Representative, Curbelo likely encountered numerous situations where he had to engage with individuals who held differing opinions or were resistant to change. His statement suggests that relying solely on fear tactics to persuade others can be counterproductive, leading to resentment rather than fostering collaboration.
• To argue the extent to which Curbelo’s claim is valid, it is important to present both supporting and opposing viewpoints. A student could explore instances where fear has been successfully employed as a persuasive strategy, highlighting its ability to elicit action or mobilize individuals. For example, in public health campaigns, fear appeals have been used to raise awareness about the consequences of smoking or reckless driving, leading to behavior change in some cases.
• However, it is crucial to balance this perspective with counterarguments. Curbelo’s claim aligns with research and psychological studies that suggest fear-based tactics may trigger defensive reactions, such as denial or resentment, ultimately hindering productive dialogue. When individuals feel attacked or overwhelmed by fear-inducing messages, they may become less open to considering alternative viewpoints or engaging in constructive conversations.
• To further analyze the validity of Curbelo’s claim, a student can explore real-life examples and case studies. Instances where fear tactics have backfired and resulted in increased resistance or polarization could be examined. This could include political campaigns or advocacy efforts where fear-based messaging led to heightened divisiveness or the entrenchment of existing beliefs.
• Additionally, students can consider alternative approaches to persuasion that prioritize empathy, shared values, and open dialogue. Building trust, establishing common ground, and fostering understanding are often more effective methods of engaging others and inspiring genuine change. By exploring these alternative strategies, the essay can provide a comprehensive evaluation of Curbelo’s claim.

Evaluating the extent to which Carlos Curbelo’s claim about the effectiveness of fear as a persuasive tactic is valid requires a thoughtful analysis of various perspectives and examples. While fear can sometimes prompt action, it is crucial to consider its potential negative consequences, such as resentment and resistance. By considering both supporting and opposing viewpoints, as well as real-life examples, the essay can present a nuanced evaluation of Curbelo’s claim and provide insights into more effective approaches to persuasion.

That’s a wrap, folks!

In a nutshell, using those previously released AP Lang tests is a total game-changer for teachers and students. It’s like having the ultimate cheat code to ace the exam! These tests give teachers the inside scoop on the format, offer legit practice opportunities, and help hone those essential skills. So, buckle up and tap into the treasure trove of past exams. Get ready to rock the AP Lang course like a boss and unlock your students’ full linguistic potential. It’s time to level up!

Katie Upton has been teaching English courses for 15 years, helping students become college and career ready. She is an expert in AP ® Language and Composition and a leader of the AP ® Capstone program, and has led professional development as well, helping teachers blend 21st century learning with educational practices that have stood the test of time. A former basketball coach herself, Katie spends her free time cheering on her two boys in all that they do and supporting her husband, a head girls’ basketball coach.

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The Website and its entire contents, features, and functionality (including but not limited to all information, software, text, displays, images, graphics, video, other visuals, and audio, and the design, selection, and arrangement thereof) are owned by the Company, its licensors, or other providers of such material and are protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws. Your use of the Website does not grant to you ownership of any content, software, code, date or materials you may access on the Website.

These Terms of Use permit you to use the Website for your personal, non-commercial use only. You must not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store, or transmit any of the material on our Website, except as follows:

• Your computer may temporarily store copies of such materials in RAM incidental to your accessing and viewing those materials.
• You may store files that are automatically cached by your Web browser for display enhancement purposes.
• You may print or download one copy of a reasonable number of pages of the Website for your own personal, non-commercial use and not for further reproduction, publication, or distribution.
• If we provide desktop, mobile, or other applications for download, you may download a single copy to your computer or mobile device solely for your own personal, non-commercial use, provided you agree to be bound by our end user license agreement for such applications.
• If we provide social media features with certain content, you may take such actions as are enabled by such features.

You must not:

• Modify copies of any materials from this site.
• Use any illustrations, photographs, video or audio sequences, or any graphics separately from the accompanying text.
• Delete or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary rights notices from copies of materials from this site.

You must not access or use for any commercial purposes any part of the Website or any services or materials available through the Website.

If you wish to make any use of material on the Website other than that set out in this section, please contact us

If you print, copy, modify, download, or otherwise use or provide any other person with access to any part of the Website in breach of the Terms of Use, your right to use the Website will stop immediately and you must, at our option, return or destroy any copies of the materials you have made. No right, title, or interest in or to the Website or any content on the Website is transferred to you, and all rights not expressly granted are reserved by the Company. Any use of the Website not expressly permitted by these Terms of Use is a breach of these Terms of Use and may violate copyright, trademark, and other laws.

Trademarks, logos, service marks, trade names, and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans are trademarks of the Company or its affiliates or licensors (collectively, the “ Trademarks ”). You must not use such Trademarks without the prior written permission of the Company. All other names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans on this Website are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Prohibited Uses

You may use the Website only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms of Use. You agree not to use the Website:

• In any way that violates any applicable federal, state, local, or international law or regulation (including, without limitation, any laws regarding the export of data or software to and from the US or other countries).
• For the purpose of exploiting, harming, or attempting to exploit or harm minors in any way by exposing them to inappropriate content, asking for personally identifiable information, or otherwise.
• To send, knowingly receive, upload, download, use, or re-use any material that does not comply with the Content Standards set out in these Terms of Use.
• To transmit, or procure the sending of, any advertising or promotional material, including any “junk mail”, “chain letter”, “spam”, or any other similar solicitation.
• To impersonate or attempt to impersonate the Company, a Company employee, another user, or any other person or entity (including, without limitation, by using email addresses or screen names associated with any of the foregoing).
• To engage in any other conduct that restricts or inhibits anyone’s use or enjoyment of the Website, or which, as determined by us, may harm the Company or users of the Website or expose them to liability.

Additionally, you agree not to:

• Use the Website in any manner that could disable, overburden, damage, or impair the site or interfere with any other party’s use of the Website, including their ability to engage in real time activities through the Website.
• Use any robot, spider, or other automatic device, process, or means to access the Website for any purpose, including monitoring or copying any of the material on the Website.
• Use any manual process to monitor or copy any of the material on the Website or for any other unauthorized purpose without our prior written consent.
• Use any device, software, or routine that interferes with the proper working of the Website.
• Introduce any viruses, Trojan horses, worms, logic bombs, or other material that is malicious or technologically harmful.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to, interfere with, damage, or disrupt any parts of the Website, the server on which the Website is stored, or any server, computer, or database connected to the Website.
• Attack the Website via a denial-of-service attack or a distributed denial-of-service attack.
• Otherwise attempt to interfere with the proper working of the Website.

If you use, or assist another person in using the Website in any unauthorized way, you agree that you will pay us an additional $50 per hour for any time we spend to investigate and correct such use, plus any third party costs of investigation we incur (with a minimum $300 charge). You agree that we may charge any credit card number provided for your account for such amounts. You further agree that you will not dispute such a charge and that we retain the right to collect any additional actual costs.

User Contributions

The Website may contain message boards, chat rooms, personal web pages or profiles, forums, bulletin boards, and other interactive features (collectively, “ Interactive Services “) that allow users to post, submit, publish, display, or transmit to other users or other persons (hereinafter, “ post “) content or materials (collectively, “ User Contributions “) on or through the Website.

All User Contributions must comply with the Content Standards set out in these Terms of Use.

Any User Contribution you post to the site will be considered non-confidential and non-proprietary. By providing any User Contribution on the Website, you grant us and our affiliates and service providers, and each of their and our respective licensees, successors, and assigns the right to use, reproduce, modify, perform, display, distribute, and otherwise disclose to third parties any such material for any purpose.

You represent and warrant that:

• You own or control all rights in and to the User Contributions and have the right to grant the license granted above to us and our affiliates and service providers, and each of their and our respective licensees, successors, and assigns.
• All of your User Contributions do and will comply with these Terms of Use.

You understand and acknowledge that you are responsible for any User Contributions you submit or contribute, and you, not the Company, have full responsibility for such content, including its legality, reliability, accuracy, and appropriateness.

For any academic source materials such as textbooks and workbooks which you submit to us in connection with our online tutoring services, you represent and warrant that you are entitled to upload such materials under the “fair use” doctrine of copyright law. In addition, if you request that our system display a representation of a page or problem from a textbook or workbook, you represent and warrant that you are in proper legal possession of such textbook or workbook and that your instruction to our system to display a page or problem from your textbook or workbook is made for the sole purpose of facilitating your tutoring session, as “fair use” under copyright law.

You agree that we may record all or any part of any live online classes and tutoring sessions (including voice chat communications) for quality control and other purposes. You agree that we own all transcripts and recordings of such sessions and that these Terms of Use will be deemed an irrevocable assignment of rights in all such transcripts and recordings to us.

We are not responsible or liable to any third party for the content or accuracy of any User Contributions posted by you or any other user of the Website.

Monitoring and Enforcement: Termination

We have the right to:

• Remove or refuse to post any User Contributions for any or no reason in our sole discretion.
• Take any action with respect to any User Contribution that we deem necessary or appropriate in our sole discretion, including if we believe that such User Contribution violates the Terms of Use, including the Content Standards, infringes any intellectual property right or other right of any person or entity, threatens the personal safety of users of the Website or the public, or could create liability for the Company.
• Disclose your identity or other information about you to any third party who claims that material posted by you violates their rights, including their intellectual property rights or their right to privacy.
• Take appropriate legal action, including without limitation, referral to law enforcement, for any illegal or unauthorized use of the Website.
• Terminate or suspend your access to all or part of the Website for any or no reason, including without limitation, any violation of these Terms of Use.

Without limiting the foregoing, we have the right to cooperate fully with any law enforcement authorities or court order requesting or directing us to disclose the identity or other information of anyone posting any materials on or through the Website. YOU WAIVE AND HOLD HARMLESS THE COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES, LICENSEES, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM ANY CLAIMS RESULTING FROM ANY ACTION TAKEN BY ANY OF THE FOREGOING PARTIES DURING, OR TAKEN AS A CONSEQUENCE OF, INVESTIGATIONS BY EITHER SUCH PARTIES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES.

However, we do not undertake to review material before it is posted on the Website, and cannot ensure prompt removal of objectionable material after it has been posted. Accordingly, we assume no liability for any action or inaction regarding transmissions, communications, or content provided by any user or third party. We have no liability or responsibility to anyone for performance or nonperformance of the activities described in this section.

Content Standards

These content standards apply to any and all User Contributions and use of Interactive Services. User Contributions must in their entirety comply with all applicable federal, state, local, and international laws and regulations. Without limiting the foregoing, User Contributions must not:

• Contain any material that is defamatory, obscene, indecent, abusive, offensive, harassing, violent, hateful, inflammatory, or otherwise objectionable.
• Promote sexually explicit or pornographic material, violence, or discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age.
• Infringe any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, or other intellectual property or other rights of any other person.
• Violate the legal rights (including the rights of publicity and privacy) of others or contain any material that could give rise to any civil or criminal liability under applicable laws or regulations or that otherwise may be in conflict with these Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy .
• Be likely to deceive any person.
• Promote any illegal activity, or advocate, promote, or assist any unlawful act.
• Cause annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety or be likely to upset, embarrass, alarm, or annoy any other person.
• Impersonate any person, or misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person or organization.
• Involve commercial activities or sales, such as contests, sweepstakes, and other sales promotions, barter, or advertising.
• Give the impression that they emanate from or are endorsed by us or any other person or entity, if this is not the case.

(collectively, the “ Content Standards ”)

Copyright Infringement

If you believe that any User Contributions violate your copyright, please contact us  and provide the following information:

• An electronic or physical signature of the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright interest;
• A description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed;
• A description of where the material you claim is infringing is located on the website (and such description must reasonably sufficient to enable us to find the alleged infringing material);
• Your address, telephone number and email address;
• A written statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
• A statement by you, made under the penalty of perjury, that the above information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf.

We may terminate the accounts of any infringers.

Reliance on Information Posted

From time to time, we may make third party opinions, advice, statements, offers, or other third party information or content available on the Website or from tutors under tutoring services (collectively, “Third Party Content”). All Third Party Content is the responsibility of the respective authors thereof and should not necessarily be relied upon. Such third party authors are solely responsible for such content. WE DO NOT (I) GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR USEFULNESS OF ANY THIRD PARTY CONTENT ON THE SITE OR ANY VERIFICATION SERVICES DONE ON OUR TUTORS OR INSTRUCTORS, OR (II) ADOPT, ENDORSE OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY OPINION, ADVICE, OR STATEMENT MADE BY ANY TUTOR OR INSTRUCTOR OR ANY PARTY THAT APPEARS ON THE WEBSITE. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL WE BE RESPONSBILE OR LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM YOUR RELIANCE ON INFORMATION OR OTHER CONENT POSTED ON OR AVAILBLE FROM THE WEBSITE.

Changes to the Website

We may update the content on this Website from time to time, but its content is not necessarily complete or up-to-date. Any of the material on the Website may be out of date at any given time, and we are under no obligation to update such material.

Information About You and Your Visits to the Website

All information we collect on this Website is subject to our Privacy Policy . By using the Website, you consent to all actions taken by us with respect to your information in compliance with the Privacy Policy.

Online Purchases and Other Terms and Conditions

All purchases through our site or other transactions for the sale of services and information formed through the Website or resulting from visits made by you are governed by our Terms of Sale, which are hereby incorporated into these Terms of Use.

Additional terms and conditions may also apply to specific portions, services, or features of the Website. All such additional terms and conditions are hereby incorporated by this reference into these Terms of Use.

Linking to the Website and Social Media Features

You may link to our homepage, provided you do so in a way that is fair and legal and does not damage our reputation or take advantage of it, but you must not establish a link in such a way as to suggest any form of association, approval, or endorsement on our part without our express written consent.

This Website may provide certain social media features that enable you to:

• Link from your own or certain third-party websites to certain content on this Website.
• Send emails or other communications with certain content, or links to certain content, on this Website.
• Cause limited portions of content on this Website to be displayed or appear to be displayed on your own or certain third-party websites.

You may use these features solely as they are provided by us, and solely with respect to the content they are displayed with and otherwise in accordance with any additional terms and conditions we provide with respect to such features. Subject to the foregoing, you must not:

• Establish a link from any website that is not owned by you.
• Cause the Website or portions of it to be displayed on, or appear to be displayed by, any other site, for example, framing, deep linking, or in-line linking.
• Link to any part of the Website other than the homepage.
• Otherwise take any action with respect to the materials on this Website that is inconsistent with any other provision of these Terms of Use.

The website from which you are linking, or on which you make certain content accessible, must comply in all respects with the Content Standards set out in these Terms of Use.

You agree to cooperate with us in causing any unauthorized framing or linking immediately to stop. We reserve the right to withdraw linking permission without notice.

We may disable all or any social media features and any links at any time without notice in our discretion.

Links from the Website

If the Website contains links to other sites and resources provided by third parties (“ Linked Sites ”), these links are provided for your convenience only. This includes links contained in advertisements, including banner advertisements and sponsored links. You acknowledge and agree that we have no control over the contents, products, services, advertising or other materials which may be provided by or through those Linked sites or resources, and accept no responsibility for them or for any loss or damage that may arise from your use of them. If you decide to access any of the third-party websites linked to this Website, you do so entirely at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for such websites.

You agree that if you include a link from any other website to the Website, such link will open in a new browser window and will link to the full version of an HTML formatted page of this Website. You are not permitted to link directly to any image hosted on the Website or our products or services, such as using an “in-line” linking method to cause the image hosted by us to be displayed on another website. You agree not to download or use images hosted on this Website or another website, for any purpose, including, without limitation, posting such images on another website. You agree not to link from any other website to this Website in any manner such that the Website, or any page of the Website, is “framed,” surrounded or obfuscated by any third party content, materials or branding. We reserve all of our rights under the law to insist that any link to the Website be discontinued, and to revoke your right to link to the Website from any other website at any time upon written notice to you.

Geographic Restrictions

The owner of the Website is based in the state of New Jersey in the United States. We provide this Website for use only by persons located in the United States. We make no claims that the Website or any of its content is accessible or appropriate outside of the United States. Access to the Website may not be legal by certain persons or in certain countries. If you access the Website from outside the United States, you do so on your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws.

Disclaimer of Warranties

You understand that we cannot and do not guarantee or warrant that files available for downloading from the internet or the Website will be free of viruses or other destructive code. You are responsible for implementing sufficient procedures and checkpoints to satisfy your particular requirements for anti-virus protection and accuracy of data input and output, and for maintaining a means external to our site for any reconstruction of any lost data. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW, WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY A DISTRIBUTED DENIAL-OF-SERVICE ATTACK, VIRUSES, OR OTHER TECHNOLOGICALLY HARMFUL MATERIAL THAT MAY INFECT YOUR COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, COMPUTER PROGRAMS, DATA, OR OTHER PROPRIETARY MATERIAL DUE TO YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE OR TO YOUR DOWNLOADING OF ANY MATERIAL POSTED ON IT, OR ON ANY WEBSITE LINKED TO IT.

YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT, AND ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT, AND ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR ANY PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY MAKES ANY WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPLETENESS, SECURITY, RELIABILITY, QUALITY, ACCURACY, OR AVAILABILITY OF THE WEBSITE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY REPRESENTS OR WARRANTS THAT THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT, OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE WILL BE ACCURATE, RELIABLE, ERROR-FREE, OR UNINTERRUPTED, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, THAT OUR SITE OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES IT AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS, OR THAT THE WEBSITE OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE WILL OTHERWISE MEET YOUR NEEDS OR EXPECTATIONS.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW, THE COMPANY HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

THE FOREGOING DOES NOT AFFECT ANY WARRANTIES THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

Limitation on Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PROVIDED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL THE COMPANY, ITS AFFILIATES, OR THEIR LICENSORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS, OR DIRECTORS BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, UNDER ANY LEGAL THEORY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE WEBSITE, ANY WEBSITES LINKED TO IT, ANY CONTENT ON THE WEBSITE OR SUCH OTHER WEBSITES, INCLUDING ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERSONAL INJURY, PAIN AND SUFFERING, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, LOSS OF REVENUE, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS OR ANTICIPATED SAVINGS, LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF GOODWILL, LOSS OF DATA, AND WHETHER CAUSED BY TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF FORESEEABLE.

THE FOREGOING DOES NOT AFFECT ANY LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, licensors, and service providers, and its and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, suppliers, successors, and assigns from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to your violation of these Terms of Use or your use of the Website, including, but not limited to, your User Contributions, any use of the Website’s content, services, and products other than as expressly authorized in these Terms of Use or your use of any information obtained from the Website.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

All matters relating to the Website and these Terms of Use and any dispute or claim arising therefrom or related thereto (in each case, including non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New Jersey without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New Jersey or any other jurisdiction).

Any legal suit, action, or proceeding arising out of, or related to, these Terms of Use or the Website shall be instituted exclusively in the federal courts of the United States or the courts of the State of New Jersey in each case located in the County of Monmouth although we retain the right to bring any suit, action, or proceeding against you for breach of these Terms of Use in your country of residence or any other relevant country. You waive any and all objections to the exercise of jurisdiction over you by such courts and to venue in such courts. You may not under any circumstances commence or maintain against us any class action, class arbitration, or other representative action or proceeding.

Arbitration

By using this Website, you agree, at Company’s sole discretion, that it may require you to submit any disputes arising from the use of these Terms of Use or the Website, including disputes arising from or concerning their interpretation, violation, invalidity, non-performance, or termination, to final and binding arbitration under the Rules of Arbitration of the American Arbitration Association applying New Jersey law. In doing so, YOU GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO GO TO COURT to assert or defend any claims between you and us. YOU ALSO GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION OR OTHER CLASS PROCEEDING. Your rights may be determined by a NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR, NOT A JUDGE OR JURY. You are entitled to a fair hearing before the arbitrator. The arbitrator can grant any relief that a court can, but you should note that arbitration proceedings are usually simpler and more streamlined than trials and other judicial proceedings. Decisions by the arbitrator are enforceable in court and may be overturned by a court only for very limited reasons.

Any proceeding to enforce this arbitration provision, including any proceeding to confirm, modify, or vacate an arbitration award, may be commenced in any court of competent jurisdiction. In the event that this arbitration provision is for any reason held to be unenforceable, any litigation against Company must be commenced only in the federal or state courts located in Monmouth County, New Jersey. You hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of those courts for such purposes.

Limitation on Time to File Claims

ANY CAUSE OF ACTION OR CLAIM YOU MAY HAVE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OF USE OR THE WEBSITE MUST BE COMMENCED WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUES, OTHERWISE, SUCH CAUSE OF ACTION OR CLAIM IS PERMANENTLY BARRED.

Waiver and Severability

No waiver by the Company of any term or condition set out in these Terms of Use shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or condition or a waiver of any other term or condition, and any failure of the Company to assert a right or provision under these Terms of Use shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

If any provision of these Terms of Use is held by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable for any reason, such provision shall be eliminated or limited to the minimum extent such that the remaining provisions of the Terms of Use will continue in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement

The Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Sale constitute the sole and entire agreement between you and Marco Learning LLC regarding the Website and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations, and warranties, both written and oral, regarding the Website.

Communications and Miscellaneous

If you provide us your email address, you agree and consent to receive email messages from us. These emails may be transaction or relationship communications relating to the products or services we offer, such as administrative notices and service announcements or changes, or emails containing commercial offers, promotions or special offers from us.

Your Comments and Concerns

This website is operated by Marco Learning LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company with an address of 113 Monmouth Road, Suite 1, Wrightstown, New Jersey 08562.

Please contact us   for all other feedback, comments, requests for technical support, and other communications relating to the Website.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how to prep for the ap lang exam.

Hello! I'm currently taking AP Lang, and the exam date is quickly approaching. I'm stressing out a bit and need some advice on how to start preparing. What resources and types of practice would you suggest for maximizing my score? Thanks in advance!

Hi there! It's normal to feel stressed as the exam date approaches, but preparing well can help ease those nerves. Here's a suggested plan for you to maximize your AP Lang Exam score:

1. Understand the Exam Format : Familiarize yourself with the exam structure. There are two sections on the AP Lang Exam: multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and free-response questions (FRQs). The MCQs are focused on analyzing passages, whereas the FRQs consist of three essay prompts: synthesis, rhetorical analysis, and argument.

2. Review the Course Content : Go over the key concepts and terms covered in your AP Lang class. You'll want to have a strong understanding of rhetorical strategies, logical fallacies, and elements of argumentation.

3. Practice with Past Exams : Access past exams' questions and scoring guidelines from the College Board's website. Practicing with real AP Lang questions will help you identify your weaknesses and understand how the scoring works.

4. Build Your Reading and Writing Skills : To succeed in AP Lang, you need strong reading comprehension and analytical writing skills. Develop a reading habit by engaging with non-fiction articles from various sources (newspapers, magazines, blogs) and practice analyzing them. For writing, try responding to sample essay prompts or rewriting past essays to improve your style and structure.

5. Time Management : Both the MCQs and the FRQs are timed sections, so it's essential to practice working under time constraints. When completing practice exams or writing essays, stick to the allocated time and work on improving your efficiency.

6. Use Prep Materials : There are numerous resources available for AP Lang prep, such as review books (like The Princeton Review or Barron's) that provide content summaries, practice questions, and tips for tackling the exam. Additionally, CollegeVine has a great AP Lang guide, which includes the topics covered, structure, and some sample questions, that you can use for strategizing your studies: https://blog.collegevine.com/ultimate-guide-to-the-english-language-and-composition-ap-exam/.

7. Ask Your Teacher for Help : Consult your AP Lang teacher about any concepts you find challenging or any specific areas you need to improve. They can provide guidance, insights on the test, and tailored resources to help you succeed.

8. Form a Study Group : Studying with peers can help keep you motivated, and you'll be able to bounce ideas off one another, discuss difficult concepts, and review each other's essays.

9. Don't Cram : Cramming is never an effective strategy. Instead, start preparing early and create a steady study plan. Prioritize areas of improvement and allocate enough time to practice, review, and improve.

10. Take Care of Yourself : It's essential to establish a healthy sleep routine, eat well, and manage stress. Staying relaxed and maintaining a positive mindset is crucial for optimal performance on the exam day. Neuroscience studies show that these steps are just as crucial to your success as diligent studying.

Best of luck to you, and remember, with consistent effort and dedication, you can excel on the AP Lang Exam!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.