Monday, May 1, 2017

AP English: The Final Countdown!


For today's class, we are going to do something a little bit different. Rather than have you do the writing, Dr. B. is going to show you how she would write an AP exam essay.  Your job for today is to watch the process that unfolds as she
1) reads through a prompt,
2) identifies the questions the AP exam writers want to be answered,
3) breaks down the passage, and
4) answers the question.

In the comments section below, comment on anything you notice or find important in Dr. Brigman's technique: how does she break down the question? How does she jump into the writing task? What can you do during Wednesday's exam that will involve the same strategies?

You might also consider Amanda Vickery's advice, "a mind at work." What does Dr. B. do that shows you (and the AP readers) her mind is "at work" while answering the question?

105 comments:

  1. First thing Dr. B does is figure out what the prompt is mainly asking, then looks at the secondary focus.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dr. Brigman pre-writes and finds out what is needed in her thesis statement. She also takes notes on what she thinks is important while reading the passage.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The first technique I noticed was breaking down the prompt into easy to interpret sections which makes for better writing. I also noticed that she paid attention to every word choice due to the prompt talking about speech and point of view.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dr. B jumped right into her essay by starting with her thesis statement. She did a very good job or identifying the questions, and figuring out the essay's main focus.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dr. B also writes down any quotes that she finds interesting or might be able to use in her essay.

    ReplyDelete
  6. She jumps right in to pre writing as she reads the passage, rather then reading the whole thing first. This is an efficient way to pre write because it saves time, and if she read the whole thing first, she could forget important details.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dr. B is taking note of what she needs to address and is noting the language that the writer uses.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dr. B makes an outline while reading the passage and taking notes. Stopping each time she reads over something she thinks is important to write about.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I liked how she wrote down the primary and secondary questions from the prompt.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dr. B is accessing the characters' personalities and using evidence to support them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dr. B. writes down key points from the passage that are important to answering the prompt while reading.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dr. B annotates the passage while reading for easy access to important information while writing.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dr. Brigman also finds her quotes/evidence for her thesis as she goes, instead of looking for it at the end

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dr. B is looking for literary devices and uses evidence from the text. She also makes sure to add in what lines she finds a quote on.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Dr. B took the time to set up her essay by breaking it down into the main things she wanted to focus on, before she actually started to write.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dr. Brigman before starting her actual essay uses some time to collect points from the passage for her essay. This is a good strategy that i think would be helpful on Wednesday.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dr. B makes note of when she notices the shift in the passage and marks down the lines.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dr. B is making sure to write down any shifts in the text and the meaning behind it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dr. B writes down a shift or any sounds that she notices while reading the passage. This way, she will not have to go back and try to find them after finishing the passage.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dr. Brigman carefully reads or re-reads each sentence of the passage, to makes sure she understands it before she continues.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dr. B immediately started with a thesis statement so her pre-writing revolves around her thesis and prompt only. This is helpful so Dr. B can answer the question only in her essay rather than write about irrelevant information.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dr. B is adding to some of her notes when she finds new information relating to them.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Dr. B sets out and begins all of her paragraphs for the essay as she reads.

    ReplyDelete
  24. The technique that Dr. B is using is a really good idea, because you have an outline of what you want to write about. This will help keep you more focused when writing the essay, because you have everything you want to write about at hand, and won't forget any key information.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Dr. B carefully analyses each section of the passage so she fully understands the meaning when she pre-writes.

    ReplyDelete
  26. After making an outline Dr. B reads over her thesis again and starts writing her introduction.

    ReplyDelete
  27. the experience of the character is the first thing that the write does her pre-writing about.
    Speech and point of view
    Dr.B plans out her paragraphs and they all include a quote that have to do with that paragraph as well as information and important points in the passage that are going to help the write during her essay.
    Dr.B identify each literary device
    Dr.B quotes the most important lines of the passage
    Dr.B also tells us the changing point in the passage
    Dr.B explains the quote and why is so important with multiple sentences instead of just
    writing 2 sentences and moving on.
    Dr.B explains why nature is the enemy and what nature actually means

    Dr.B goes back to the prompt question before she goes back to writing the essay.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dr. B made sure to read over her thesis once completing it. This is important to make sure it all flows together.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Dr. B is making sure her essay flows properly, so she is trying to get another sentence that will appeal to the reader.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Dr. B puts herself in the position of the reader so whilst going over her writing, the passage would make complete sense but also stay engaging.

    ReplyDelete
  31. After writing most of her introduction she takes time to think of a sentence that will get the reader interested, instead of just starting her essay with the thesis.

    ReplyDelete
  32. It makes it easier to see how she made her first paragraph after all the notes. Makes it simpler to write a thesis after the notes instead of trying to make one right away.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Dr. Brigman writes what the prompt asks as part of her thesis before pre writing so she knows what to look for in the passage, and after her pre-writing she adds on to her thesis based on her outline and builds her introduction off that.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I thought it says that Arun's in America, and that he was from India?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for catching this Nikara! I wish I had caught my mistake before I was finished. This kind of small mistake is very common when reading essay questions quickly and immediately jumping into the writing task. Let's discuss how small "mistakes" might effect the overall score the essay receives. Do you think an AP reader would forgive the mistake and look at the "essay as a whole?" Or, would they get caught up on the mistake and score the essay lower? Let's discuss! I'm very interested in your thoughts!

      Delete
  35. Dr. B continuously goes back to the prompt and makes sure she is following what it is asking.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Dr.B doesn't just mention the name of the novel but mentions the prompt in the beginning of the introduction paragraph.As well as mentioning some of the characters emotions to give us a glimpse of what she is going to talk about.

    ReplyDelete
  37. To begin the writing, Dr. B. specifically writes the primary and secondary parts of the prompt clearly and paraphrases each paragraph, (both explicit and implicit meanings) one by one.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Dr. B breaks down the prompt and highlights what the prompt is asking. She reads a few sentences and pauses in order to note the importance of the paragraph she is on. She recognizes the setting and makes good use of literary terms. Dr. B is truly focusing in on Arun's emotions during this experience. She writes down the many important quotes that back those emotions up, since the prompt is asking her to write about speech and point of view. She analyzes the quotes and now she understand Arun's point of view about nature. Now that she has the outline she rereads the prompt and builds on from her notes. Dr. B follows what the prompt is asking. She makes good points and knows how to talk about 1st, 2nd, and universal points of view

    ReplyDelete
  39. She also mentions any shifts, recurring symbols (motifs), clever language, and other significant aspects of the passage.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I like how she rereads what she wrote. Helps to make sure she's keeping on track with the essay and not derailed to talk about something else.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Because Dr. B already has the quotes she needs, all she has to do now is write her own words that are supported by the quotes.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Once she has begun her essay, she reads what she has already written over and over again to make sure it is worded well.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Dr.B uses literary devices to help the reader understand the character experience like the she used imagery for the characters experience in India.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Dr. B uses information from the prompt to help her write.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Dr. B carefully constructs her essay and each paragraph's content instead of rushing to write three obvious supporting paragraphs--her writing will flow and make sense to the reader.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Dr. B rereads her ideas and makes sure that things are in order

    ReplyDelete
  47. Dr. B always takes the time to read over her writing, to make sure that it all flows, but also to make sure that she has answered the questions asked. She also makes sure she has something to grab the reader's attention before moving on. While we only have a certain amount of time to write the essay, it is better to go over each paragraph like she does, so you aren't crunched for time at the end while making those changes.

    ReplyDelete
  48. She re-reads before moving on, instead of re-reading after she is done all together to make sure it sounds good

    ReplyDelete
  49. I like how she mentions the ironic situation in which Arun is very against experiencing the American culture, despite having signed up to go on an exchange to learn about said culture.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for noting this too Nikara! Did you notice how I did not set out to make this observation? Rather, I came to this observation through a slow and steady process of analysis? It's a good example of the level 3 thinking that will help your AP essays receive higher scores.

      Delete
  50. Dr. B make sure to go back to the prompt often, to see if she is answering the question being asked.

    ReplyDelete
  51. By using strong vocabulary, Dr. B. ends up with to incredibly strong points.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for saying my vocabulary is strong! What word choice did I use that stood out to you? (I'll hand out hard copies of the essay tomorrow so you can check.)

      Delete
  52. She constantly reads over what she just wrote making sure she's staying on topic and sentences are well worded.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Dr.B uses some techniques the aren't specifically referenced in the prompt for some minor points. This seems like a way to show that her mind is at work, even though the prompt didn't specifically ask her to do it these little literary devices help give the essay a more professional feel.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks spicy-t! Like I said to Nikara (a few comments above), a lot of what I wrote evolved naturally rather than saying, "I will use point of view, tone, etc." Which literary devices did I use that weren't in the prompt? (I will hand out hard copies of my essay in class tomorrow.)

      Delete
  54. I like how she separates each passage. Helps to see the size of each passage and makes sure she doesn't accidentally combine two different ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Because Dr. B was able to get her quotes she was going to use in her essay while reading over the passage the first time, she saved a lot of time for writing her essay.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Smart idea, going back to her thesis paragraph to make sure she is continuing to stay on topic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! You should always go back to your thesis statement and check to make sure the content matches your argument at the beginning.

      Delete
  57. Dr. Brigman follows her outline as she writes her body paragraphs, and continually checks her thesis to make sure her writing isn't getting off topic.

    ReplyDelete
  58. It is easy to see how important it is to do thorough pre-writing to make sure you answer the question completely. It also makes writing the actual essay much easier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you completely Jordan. After watching Dr. B go through the process, I think that this will definitely help me stay more focused when writing.

      Delete
    2. I'm so glad that this makes the writing process easier for you!

      Delete
  59. Dr.B only uses the necessary quotes and information to support her writing.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Dr. B uses an allusion to compare the moment Mrs. Patton has with Arun with how it would've been in the 19th century (victorian era)

    ReplyDelete
  61. Dr. B re-reads her writing to make sure it all makes complete sense and is answering the prompt. This is something I will make sure I do while taking the AP Exam.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you will make sure to do this Gabe! It is key to having a clear, solid essay.

      Delete
  62. Dr. B writes down certain sentences even if she doesn't like them, and plans to come back to them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is important. Just getting your ideas *down on paper* is key. You can always go back and change them towards the end.

      Delete
  63. If Dr. B got stuck on a sentence she didn't like the sounds of, instead of getting stuck she would just keep writing and come back to it later.

    ReplyDelete
  64. It's nice how she lays out what Arun thinks he must do by paraphrasing from the passage.

    ReplyDelete
  65. She uses the pre-writing in a way that she already know what she is going to say.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Dr. B makes sure she is answering the prompts question in every paragraph.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Dr.B constantly goes back and fourth with the writing and her pre-writing which makes this essay really detailed and answers everything that the prompt asks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great point Rosie! This is exactly how you show readers you are answering the question being asked!

      Delete
  68. D.B. makes sure to delete notes she's already used, which makes it helpful in not repeating the same note too many times.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Dr. B is deleting notes she no longer needs, and is making sure that she is aware of time and planning ahead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good point Carolyn. When writing by hand, I simply check off (or scratch out) my notes on the prompt since I don't have the option to hit delete.

      Delete
  70. Dr. B checks time and makes note of what she needs to get done in the time she has left.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Dr. B makes sure to look at the time and see how she can finish her essay with only 10 minutes left.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Instead of staying on a sentence Dr. Brigman is stuck on, she continues with her writing and comes back to it once she has written more, so she then knows what to put as or in that sentence. This saves a lot of time.

    ReplyDelete
  73. After writing, Dr. B makes sure to go to her outline, and see what she has already addressed in the previous paragraphs. This helps her see what she needs to include in the rest of her essay.

    ReplyDelete
  74. It seems that rereading what you have already written makes continuing to write, faster, and keeps you on topic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely! I never thought about how re-reading your writing makes the writing faster, but it makes a lot of sense: because you know where you have been, you have a better sense of where you are going with your argument. Excellent point!

      Delete
  75. I like how she mentions the lines in which she got an idea for a sentence, despite not having a direct quote from the passage (i.e, par. 1)

    ReplyDelete
  76. Why would it make a difference if it were a 19th century novel when discussing point of view?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe it's because she trying to reach that universal understanding of the prompt and Arun's POV, and providing the college board readers that she understands how things could be different. Since she knows so much about the 19th century, she can make many interesting ideas that are relevant to the passage.

      Delete
    2. Excellent question Katrina (and nice observation Polina!). Polina is right, I bring up the nineteenth-century because it is a strong example of how the narrator's voice could be different. Many times, you will be given a prompt that asks you to explain/analyze how a third-person omniscient ("all-knowing") narrator relays a story. What's interesting about this passage is that the narrator is limited, *not* omniscient, meaning the analysis will have to rely on less information. Personally, I think the nineteenth-century comment gives AP readers a better sense of my understanding of literature and how this passage fits into that tradition. This is one way to think of Level 3 thinking in your essays.

      Delete
  77. DB also budgets her time very well, and knows what to do when.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Seems like the notes for the shift in the passage is already written as a sort of unfinished paragraph that only really needs a bit of touching up to be finished.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Dr.B saves time by using some of her pre-writing as a paragraphs.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Dr. B always re-reads her writing. This is very important and I will definitely do while taking the exam.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Dr. Brigman noted that she only had 10 minutes left, and made a plan to finish her essay in that time.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Even though she is limited on time, Dr. B doesn't get worried on focuses on finishing her essay. She does a good job at prioritizing what needs to be included in her essay, as well as the time she has left.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Dr. B notices a common human experience in the passage and uses it to help her write and prove her point.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Instead of just writing she looks at her time to make sure she can do everything

    ReplyDelete
  85. Dr. Brigman's prewriting on the essay's objective and her analysis on the setting is important for forming a thesis and gives her a head start on her essay. She backs up her claims with quotes, including their line number. She's chronologically paraphrasing important lines of the poems to keep in mind. I like that she remember's to point out the shift in the passage, again using a quotes and backing up why it supports her claim. She focuses on the connection between Arun and nature and goes in depth on the vocabulary used. I also like as she continues to prewrite she keeps editing her thesis at the top of the page. Because the thesis needs to be established at the end of the first paragraph, she extends an introduction sentence off of the beginning of the thesis to complete the beginning of her essay. She builds the template to her essay before filling in her claim for each paragraph, and then adding onto those claims as she sees fit. With her experience as an english teacher, she makes it seem like writing an essay is a piece of cake, crafting long detailed paragraphs using her prewriting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are so many things to reply to here Evan! I like that you pointed out how I continued to revise my thesis as I did my pre-writing. You will notice I did the same thing as I crafted the essay. Lastly, I am flattered I "made it look like a piece of cake," although I promise you, I was doing this exact same process when I was your age! I really enjoy testing/writing in timed settings, and find it very stimulating to jump into a writing task. I hope you were able to see how writing can be made so much easier when you follow some of the same steps I took.

      Delete
  86. Dr.B made the essay look easy and also did a really good job with pre-writing because it saves so much time

    ReplyDelete
  87. Instead of leaving thing unmentioned Dr.B finds a way to mention everything and never drifted away from the topic an found a way to connect everything

    ReplyDelete
  88. • reads the question, notes on what she needs to answer from the question
    • read massage and take notes/annotate, summarizes every chunk of text
    • makes note of setting and vocabulary
    • write down important quotes that go with a claim
    • makes note of laity devices- answering question
    • notices a shift- might be useful later
    • writes what the shits does and how it's introduced
    • relates Arun to nature- uses quotes to show relation, notices strong vocab to emphasize meaning
    • Use 10 mins for pre-write, reread the question to get ready to start
    • 1st thing- goes back to write thesis
    • identifies literary techniques in thesis to characterize Arun's experience
    • hook starts with something relatable, second sentence connects thesis and hook and introduces passage
    • intro to Arun's feelings, uses setting
    • explains deeper meaning to key vocab words
    • connects passage (exchange students) to real world
    • rereads to remind herself of thesis
    • rereads every paragraph as soon as she's done with each one to make sure it makes sense and add more to answer the question
    • takes note of time
    • connects experience with feelings and actions (hair on neck) connects to real world and relates back to thesis
    • used all of pre-writing

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.