FRQs 4-5 – Project Passages

Overview

• Questions 4-5 conclude Section II of the AP Latin exam
• Combined time: approximately 60 minutes (30 minutes each)
• Makes up 18% of your total exam score (9% each)
• Feature your course project passages - one prose, one poetry

Question 4 (Project Prose): Features one of your project prose passages (100-150 words). Two parts: comprehension summary and analytical essay with contextual support. 30 minutes.

Question 5 (Project Poetry): Features one of your project poetry passages (100-150 words). Same structure as Question 4 but with poetry. 30 minutes.

These questions are unique because they test passages YOU selected and studied intensively throughout the year. Unlike the syllabus readings everyone studies, these passages reflect your specific course's choices, making them simultaneously more familiar and more demanding.

Strategy Deep Dive

Project passage questions demand the highest level of textual engagement on the exam. You're not just translating or identifying - you're synthesizing months of study into focused analytical writing.

Understanding the Two-Part Structure

Both questions follow identical formats:

• Part A: Summarize the passage in 4-5 complete sentences
• Part B: Analyze a specific aspect with 7-8 sentences including textual and contextual support

This structure tests whether you can both comprehend the literal content and analyze its literary significance. The split isn't arbitrary - it mirrors how scholars approach ancient texts, first establishing what the text says, then exploring how and why it says it.

Part A: Summary Excellence

The summary seems straightforward but has specific requirements that trip up students. You need:

• One sentence identifying what the passage as a whole is about
• Coverage of beginning, middle, and end
• Accurate content (names, events, relationships must be correct)
• Your own words (not translation)

The rubric is unforgiving about accuracy. If you misidentify who's speaking or what's happening, you lose points even if your writing is clear. This isn't the place for interpretation - save that for Part B. Focus on the literal series of events or ideas.

A strong summary sentence sets the frame: "In this passage, Perpetua's father attempts to persuade her to recant her Christianity by appealing to family obligations." This immediately orients the reader to the passage's central action and conflict.

For the beginning/middle/end coverage, think in terms of dramatic movement rather than line numbers. What initiates the action? How does it develop? Where does it conclude? Your summary should capture this narrative or argumentative arc.

Part B: Analytical Depth

Part B separates competent students from exceptional ones. The prompt asks you to analyze relationships, themes, or stylistic effects. Your response must include:

• A clear interpretive claim
• At least two specific Latin citations
• Explanation of how citations support your interpretation
• One piece of contextual or stylistic information
• Explanation of how context enhances understanding

The "7-8 sentences" guideline isn't arbitrary - it's calibrated to require substantial development without permitting rambling. Every sentence should advance your analysis.

Selecting and Deploying Evidence

Your Latin citations need to be substantive - more than single words but not entire paragraphs. Aim for meaningful phrases that capture grammatical relationships or stylistic features. When you cite "basians mihi manus et se ad pedes meos iactans," you're showing action that reveals character dynamics.

But citation alone doesn't earn full points. You must explain how the Latin creates meaning. Don't just say the father shows emotion - explain how the physical actions of kissing hands and throwing himself at feet inverts expected power dynamics between Roman father and daughter.

Contextual Integration

The contextual requirement tests whether you understand the passage within larger frameworks:

• Literary context (genre conventions, typical themes)
• Historical context (relevant events, social structures)
• Cultural context (Roman values, religious practices)
• Stylistic context (author's typical techniques)

This isn't a separate paragraph - it should integrate naturally with your analysis. If analyzing Perpetua's father's plea, mentioning his role as paterfamilias isn't just context - it's essential to understanding why his begging represents such a dramatic reversal.

Rubric Breakdown

The scoring for Questions 4-5 is more complex than earlier questions because it evaluates multiple skills simultaneously.

Part A: Summary Scoring

The summary is scored on four separate elements:

1. Summary sentence (0-1 point): Must accurately capture the passage's main idea
2. Beginning coverage (0-1 point): Must accurately summarize the opening portion
3. Middle coverage (0-1 point): Must accurately summarize the central portion
4. End coverage (0-1 point): Must accurately summarize the concluding portion

This means you can earn partial credit even if one section is weak. However, accuracy is non-negotiable. A beautifully written summary that misidentifies key facts scores lower than a choppy but accurate one.

Part B: Analytical Scoring

The analytical response uses a more complex rubric:

Interpretation (0-1 point): Do you make a clear claim about the text that responds to the prompt? This isn't about sophistication - it's about having a definable position.

Latin Citation (0-2 points per citation, up to 4 points total):

• 0 points: No citation or complete misunderstanding
• 1 point: Citation shows partial understanding or is too brief
• 2 points: Citation demonstrates accurate understanding and is substantive

Explanation (0-2 points per explanation, up to 4 points total):

• 0 points: No explanation or doesn't connect to prompt
• 1 point: Explanation is superficial or partially developed
• 2 points: Explanation clearly connects evidence to interpretation

Contextual Information (0-2 points):

• 0 points: No context or inaccurate information
• 1 point: Relevant context provided but not explained
• 2 points: Context provided and integrated into analysis

The rubric rewards specific textual engagement over general thematic discussion. Vague statements about "Roman values" score lower than precise analysis of how specific Latin phrases embody or challenge those values.

Pattern Recognition in Project Passages

While project passages vary by course, certain types appear frequently based on common themes in Latin literature.

Character Relationship Dynamics

Many prompts ask you to analyze relationships between characters. These questions test whether you can read social dynamics through Latin's grammatical and stylistic features. Look for:

• Forms of address (vocatives, titles, diminutives)
• Verb moods indicating commands, wishes, or emotional states
• Word order emphasizing particular relationships
• Physical actions revealing power dynamics

Cultural Value Conflicts

Project passages often feature moments where Roman values clash with individual desires or changing circumstances. Your analysis should identify specific Latin that embodies these values and explain how the passage presents, upholds, or challenges them.

Stylistic Feature Analysis

When passages feature prominent stylistic devices (anaphora, chiasmus, alliteration), the prompt often asks how these create meaning. Don't just identify devices - explain their effect. How does Perpetua's father's repetition of "aspice" intensify his plea? Why does Vergil use interlocked word order at moments of confusion?

Genre Conventions

Understanding genre expectations enhances analysis. Epistolary passages follow letter-writing conventions. Epic passages employ elevated diction and extended similes. Historical narratives prioritize clarity and factual presentation. Your analysis gains depth when you recognize how passages work within or against genre expectations.

Time Management Reality

60 minutes for two complex analytical tasks demands exceptional efficiency. Unlike earlier questions where you might recover time, these questions have hard stops - you must complete both to maximize points.

For each question, allocate roughly:

• 5 minutes: Initial reading and comprehension
• 8 minutes: Writing Part A summary
• 5 minutes: Planning Part B response
• 10 minutes: Writing Part B response
• 2 minutes: Revision and checking

This seems rigid, but having a plan prevents the common disaster of spending 40 minutes perfecting Question 4 and rushing Question 5.

Part A summaries shouldn't be masterpieces. Write clearly and accurately, then move on. The 4-point summary is important, but the 11-point analysis in Part B is where you differentiate yourself.

For Part B, planning is crucial. Before writing, identify:

• Your interpretive claim
• Your 2-3 best pieces of Latin evidence
• How each connects to your interpretation
• What contextual information enhances your analysis

Write with economy. You have 7-8 sentences to make your case. Don't waste sentences on plot summary or general statements. Every sentence should either present evidence or explain its significance.

Common Pitfalls and Solutions

The project passage questions reveal consistent student mistakes that are entirely avoidable with awareness.

Summary Pitfalls

The most common Part A error is interpretation creeping into summary. Save analysis for Part B. If the passage shows a father begging, say "the father begs," not "the father desperately pleads, showing his emotional vulnerability." Accuracy and coverage matter more than style.

Another frequent mistake: uneven coverage. Students write three sentences about the beginning and rush the ending into a fragment. Divide the passage mentally into three sections and ensure each receives attention.

Citation Pitfalls

Insufficient citation remains the biggest Part B weakness. "As the text says" followed by an English paraphrase earns no citation points. You must include actual Latin. Conversely, citing an entire paragraph shows poor selectivity. Choose phrases that directly support your specific interpretation.

Citation without integration also limits scores. Don't drop Latin quotes without introduction or explanation. Weave them into your sentences: "The father's power reversal becomes clear when he 'basians mihi manus' (kisses my hands), an action that..."

Contextual Pitfalls

Students often include context that's accurate but irrelevant. Knowing that Perpetua died in 203 CE is good historical knowledge, but unless it directly enhances your analysis of this specific passage, it doesn't earn points. Choose context that illuminates your interpretation.

Another error: assuming context is self-explanatory. Don't just mention "paterfamilias" - explain how the father's legal authority over his family makes his begging more dramatic. The connection between context and interpretation must be explicit.

Final Thoughts

Questions 4 and 5 represent the culmination of your AP Latin journey. They test not just whether you can read Latin, but whether you can engage with it as literature - understanding both what texts say and how they create meaning.

These questions reward deep engagement with specific passages over broad generalization. The students who excel aren't necessarily those who write most eloquently, but those who show precise understanding of how Latin works at the grammatical, stylistic, and cultural levels.

Your project passages were chosen because they exemplify important themes, styles, or cultural moments in Latin literature. Trust that preparation. Let your familiarity with these texts give you confidence to analyze them thoroughly. The exam isn't asking for perfection - it's asking for thoughtful, text-based analysis supported by specific evidence.

Remember: you've spent months with these passages. You've translated them, discussed them, and explored their contexts. Now you have 60 minutes to show that accumulated understanding. Approach these final questions not as obstacles but as opportunities to showcase your growth as a reader of Latin literature.