ap lit essay tips

ap lit essay tips

Effective Strategies for Writing AP Literature Essays

1. Introduction to AP Literature Essays

What starts on the right foot often stays well-paced, so we will begin with discussing poetry. Literary criticism for the Advanced Placement Literature exam is not so very different from what you’ve been doing as an undergraduate, except that now you must clearly and quickly nurture the reader’s initial recognition. But rather than immersive engagement, your little essay must serve music added to an already pitched key. With this in mind, I not only suggest the approaches I might assume in a classroom, but the ways one might envision a 45-minute presentation pared as best as possible into prose.

Writing a critical essay for the AP Literature exam is challenging – you have to wade into the waters no one has waded into in years, that no one has waded into for years, and before you can swim, presumably there are crocodiles. Having a few original thoughts is always a bold endeavor (no use of belated sarcasm), but when it is meant to be approached provisionally, in 45 minutes, and only make sense to someone sitting in a convention center in Southern Michigan? That is high wire stuff. In my own beliefs, this is a pedantic art, at best lucky and at worst not art. This is the kind of essay I have in mind when I write this. It is five essays on five blown canons. Each of the five works in poetry and then in fiction, which is the order normally suggested for exams.

2. Analyzing Prompts and Developing a Thesis Statement

It is often a good idea to quickly jot down an analysis of the prompt. Roughly delineate a plan of response. For example, consider dividing the whole thing into these parts: subject matter (what details underlie it?); significance (what broader meanings follow from it?); structure and procedure (how is one led to the other? Is there any progression or movement towards a particular emphasis or climax? Other structure?)? To what valuable conclusion or resolution does the author bring us? Another method is to elaborate and expand on the prompt. Talk about it out loud. Conversation is good for inspiration. Go ahead. Work it out in a constructive dialogue with yourself. Ask yourself some questions and it is likely you will find a good starting point for your essay.

Before you start writing, it is crucial that you analyze the question. Clearly define the task: to compare, to contrast, to analyze aspects of something. Once you understand what is expected of you, you will be better able to redirect or refocus while you work on your essay. Also, try to get your mind around both the literal and implied meanings of the prompt. Does it ask you to respond to a statement, to defend a position, or to dispute an assertion? Note the difference and make sure that what you are doing addresses the prompt.

3. Crafting a Strong Introduction and Body Paragraphs

Do not forget the analytical story of quest, debate, realization, new direction, and insight is more important than the summary you give, and be cautious to avoid overuse of traditional and redundant transitions such as “My next point is. Next, I’d like to talk about. In addition, Moreover, Furthermore, Not only, but also. and Additionally,” etc. The goal is to have smooth transitions that make the argument flow seamlessly. After you have put in the supporting details, the transition sentence can be thoughtful in both the writing and reflection for the reader. To clean up a paragraph and have a polished essay, be sure to look at it not only free of grammatical errors, but for points such as voice, tension, suspense, clarity, continuation of thought, closure, and detail, and strive to make your essay “Different, Engaging, Fun, Powerful, and Real” in terms of your reaction to the literary work.

It is one thing to answer the question and another to engage and entertain the reader so that you are the one who stands out. Well-crafted introductions hook the reader and establish the purpose for the paper as well as the transition. Additionally, each paper should also have a debatable thesis statement that is defensible, concrete, and controversial. This will allow the paper direction and guide your analysis, helping you avoid the “list” thesis and create an organized essay. Your body paragraphs will contain topic, support, transition sentences, elaboration and analysis, and clean-up. The topic sentence creates focus and the balance of the paragraph provides development and support. Be sure to include literary devices such as diction, imagery, tone, assignment, syntax, theme, motif, etc. and analyze how the use and affects are important to the text as a whole, asking yourself “So what?”

4. Incorporating Textual Evidence and Literary Devices

The other method a student cannot dispute is their ability to utilize their thoughts solely for the subject being discussed and their aid from textual evidence. Citing a specific passage of text will further an analytical exploration of the text. A variation to quoting is paraphrasing text. Quoting without citing or including a book/act/scene/line in its proper importance will decrease their means and chances in persuading readers of their ideas from textual evidence or lack of addressing the purposes of the book/act/scene/line quoted. Whether a student uses a quote to introduce their argument, incorporate textual evidence, or really put the proverbial icing on their cake – they should discern where they defend literary analysis of written work…in the text.

The literary devices to identify when responding to literature are: diction, imagery, structure, theme, setting, and characterization. The language of composition and writing in a more sophisticated, mature way involves diction. A student must vary their vocabulary in order to show an elevated use of language in their essays with adroit use of literary devices. Whether a student’s objective is to simply conclude along with the traditional reiteration of argument or to go a little more expansive in offering his or her own thoughts, final paragraphs must have the conclusion that is the most logical choice.

5. Concluding Thoughts and Revision Strategies

Students should carefully review and prewrite about conflict, patterns, extended metaphors, and other devices, and keep overall focus on a text’s controlling image. The student should develop a number of specific aspects of the assigned image that serve to unify the work, define ideas, or create implications. The thesis should deal directly and completely with the properties of the selected images and should reveal the thesis at the paper’s beginning. Also, students should create a more fully developed, responsive, and innovative interpretation and should maintain a specific analysis of any stylistic devices the author uses in creating the image and of their effects on the reader. Create a meaningful connection between the sound and sense of the poem’s central image and a deeper level of understanding both the image and the image’s overall function in the work. Finally, revise and refine, and be sure to say more about less and engage the reader’s curiosity.

As with all the questions they ask, AP Literature students may draw on an open-ended type of response due to a clear focus question. Students should begin very quickly to prewrite and develop an assertion and thesis. Attend to the specific meaning of the poetic image, and continue to focus on reasons for the image and compare and contrast its meaning and implications. Students should write more than one draft and develop specific categories to clarify the purpose and meaning of the central image. Be sure to show that the student understands the image’s effect on and part of the speaker’s experience. Moreover, students should begin early to develop an assertion directly about the image itself and to upset a previous belief by addressing not only the literal description of the image but also the speaker’s attitude when describing the image and the poem’s development that the detail helps to illuminate.