Going into the AP Lang exam soon and feeling a bit jittery. Can anyone break down what the AP Lang exam consists of? Like, what types of essays or questions should I be prepping for?
Absolutely, I'd be happy to help alleviate some of your jitters! The AP English Language and Composition exam focuses on rhetoric, analyzing argumentative texts, and crafting your own persuasive arguments. It's structured into two main sections.
The first section consists of multiple-choice questions that test your ability to read and understand nonfiction prose. This section will have passages from a variety of sources and time periods, followed by questions about rhetorical strategies, author's intent, the structure of arguments, and the like.
For the second section, you'll be writing three types of essays: a 'synthesis' essay that asks you to create an argument using at least three of the provided sources, a 'rhetorical analysis' essay where you'll analyze a nonfiction passage, and an 'argument' essay where you will support, challenge, or qualify a statement using your own knowledge and experience.
For a fruitful preparation, I suggest practicing essays within timed conditions and familiarizing yourself with a variety of nonfiction texts. Don't forget to review grammar and usage rules since they can impact the clarity of your writing. Good luck, you've got this!
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