📝 Writing three essays in the span of two hours may seem impossible, but your ability to perform well on this section of the exam is necessary to earn a high score. Likewise, here are some tips to help you make the most out of that time and earn the best score possible:
📚 Scan over each prompt
⚖ Take around five minutes to do so and underline your essay's goal. Understanding the prompt is the key to analyzing syntax and diction.
- Remember, a well-written essay that does not respond to the prompt is unlikely to score any points, so read carefully.
📚 Annotate
⚖ As you read the poetry and prose passages, annotate them. Underline or star quotes you are thinking of embedding and write their line number for easy text citations.
- Furthermore, make note of literary devices and any shifts in tone or attitude. This saves time you would have spent scrambling to find evidence.
For more information, check out these videos:
🎥 Watch: AP English Literature - Annotating for Understanding
🎥 Watch: AP English Literature - Annotating for Analysis
📚 Write
⚖ Don't be intimidated! Write! Your annotations can help guide you.
- Your writing should follow this pattern: claim ➡️ evidence ➡️ commentary.
- Use strong vocabulary and write a confident and assertive thesis.
- Include an intro and conclusion for each piece.
📚 Reread and edit
⚖ After you have finished writing each essay, ask yourself questions like:
- Is my writing coherent?
- Did I provide a thesis and answer the prompt fully?
- Could this paragraph work better here?
📚 Practice makes perfect
⚖ Remember, you are unlikely to finish three essays in two hours without prior practice.
- Start timing your writing a few months before the exam to simulate test conditions. Good pacing comes with time!
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Want to Learn More?
We hope these tips helped you! Be sure to check out the AP Lit hub of resources here at Fiveable and this video reviewing the multiple-choice section as well!