AP Language GENERAL ARGUMENT Test Strategy

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AP Language GENERAL ARGUMENT Test Strategy

• Olson and Bailey

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A Value Question

• What are your values?
• What do you think society should value?
• What should a moral, thoughtful, or reflective
  society consider its most important strengths?

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The Basics

• The prompt is set-up by a passage of some length,
  long or short.
• The passage provides an opinion
• You must agree, disagree, or qualify based on
  your own experience and reading
• Plan this essay first

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Recent Topics

• How do blogs and radio talk shows encourage or
  discourage the democratic process
• How US wealth could be better used to foster
  development in emerging countries
• Whether US society pries too much into lives of
  private citizens
• Whether money can purchase justice
• Charitable acts and their motivations

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Identify the Claim

• Understand the claim being made
• Need to perceive the larger social context and
  express feelings about it
• Use examples from your own experience

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Starting the Essay

• Critically read the passage and underline
  anything that clearly defines the authors claim
• Set forth your immediate reaction to the issue in
  a few words ADQ
• List viable, thoughtful examples you can use to
  help illustrate your argument
• Examples in the essay should be included with
  elaboration and commentary, identifying their
  relevance to and importance in your argument.

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Sample List

• Create a sample list of works and experiences to
  draw upon when you are considering your argument
• Books, movies, TV shows, current events, history
  lessons, personal experiences
• Example American obsession with wealth
• The Great Gatsby, Madoff scandal, The Color of
  Money, Wall Street, Federal Bailout, Golden Age,
  European Colonization

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Writing the Essay

• Identify and restate the fundamental claim and
  then indicate to the grader whether you intend to
  agree, disagree, or qualify
• Be clear in the discussion of positives and
  negatives
• Presentation of evidence with commentary about
  quality and meaning
• Summarizing statement
• Remember Formulate Opinion - Explain Evidence
  Finish the Essay