AP Lit & Comp 5/1 18

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1 AP Lit & Comp 5/ AP essay tips round #1 2. Discuss Black Walnut Tree essay and Belinda prose essay 3. OEQ flashcards 4. For next class: prose packet & full length M/C

2 AP Literature Teacher Tips Always remember the author s purpose. Retelling what happened in the story is not an analysis. You must understand and relay WHY the author wrote it the way he/she did and what he/she is trying to tell readers! This is crucial! HEART OF THE PROMPT. 2. Be original. Think about the fact that the AP Test readers have been looking at essays on the same topics for three days. What will you do to be original and stand out that will surprise the reader at 4:30 pm on day three? Think about what everyone else will say before writing. Then, don t write on those topics. 3. Box the but because shift happens. In poetry, box the word but or other prominent conjunctions. Shifts happens in poetry, and such words will usually lead to complexity in meaning. 4. Answer the question as it is actually asked. It s easy to see a title or an author and jump to conclusions, and sometimes that means students are writing about what they think the question is asking instead of what the question actually is asking. In the pressure to complete three essays in 120 minutes, it s an easy mistake to make and a good one to avoid!

3 AP Literature Teacher Tips 5. Address the whole prompt in your introductory statement / paragraph. 6. Focused writing on two or three aspects of the text (characterization, use of devices, etc.) accompanied with analysis will generate a higher score than lightly touching on 5 to 7 aspects. 7. Always answer the question: So What? Yes, the writer used an extended metaphor, so what? Why did they choose that metaphor? How does that choice reflect the author s intent? What effect does it create within the text and within the reader? Provide the reader with the so what to help drive your analysis deeper.

4 AP Literature Teacher Tips 8. Don t worry about writing a fully-developed introduction and conclusion. Instead, use your time to focus on meaning. What important insights do you have to share? Make sure you are providing much more analysis than plot summary. Begin with a clear thesis and end with one strong concluding statement. 9. Mark up the prompts and the poem. Find the heart of the prompt FIRST. Circle action verbs and underline what you need to focus on. Create a quick outline or plan before writing. The time spent will prevent the heartache of not addressing the prompt. 10. Each essay is worth the same amount of points, but one is set for you to shine. Know five books really well so you can rock the free-response essay. On the exam, do it first while your mind is still fresh.

5 AP Literature Teacher Tips 11. Go online to the AP College Board test page and check out the various student essays from prior years. What makes an essay a 9? 7? or even a 4? There are usually reader comments at the end of the essay which add further clarity to how readers score essays. Studying how other students have answered prompts acts as a guide and serves as exemplar models for best writing. 12. For all poetry: a. Figure out the heart of the prompt. b. determine the author s central purpose, c. Explain the speaker s attitude toward the subject, d. Analyze any figurative language. 13. Never be unacceptably brief: Even if the selection is difficult, there will be something in it that all students can analyze. Analyze that and then keep writing!

6 The Black Walnut Tree OVERVIEW

7 THE PROMPT Carefully read the following poem by Mary Oliver. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how Oliver conveys the relationship between the tree and the family through the use of figurative language and other poetic techniques. of the prompt? relationship between the tree and the family

8 Thesis There are some things more important than money. In her poem The Black Walnut Tree, Mary Oliver explores the role and meaning one magnificent, but also burdensome, tree holds for a family now comprised of only a mother and daughter. Through extensive figurative language and deliberate diction, Oliver convincingly conveys the symbolic value and sentimentality this tree possesses for the two women and the sacrifices they will make to keep it in their lives.

9 Thesis Humans have the tendency to build relationships with things that are not alive. These things can serve as portals to memories, happiness, or mourning. This relationship is complex but deeply important to those who create it. In her poem, The Black Walnut Tree, Mary Oliver explores the deep rooted relationship between a walnut tree and the family that cares for it. She primarily uses natural imagery and nostalgic tone to artfully describe this deep and complex relationship.

10 Thesis In her poem The Black Walnut Tree, Mary Oliver portrays a conflict between practicality and sentimentality as a mother and daughter debate selling a tree to pay off their mortgage. By utilizing specific figurative language and bold diction, Oliver conveys how while the tree is a burden to the family, it is a representation of the family history and the fathers labors, and holds high sentimental value.

11 High level analysis & textual support Through the use of figurative language, Oliver takes the literal meaning and transforms it into something much deeper. Perhaps the most prominent form of figurative language is Oliver s use of personification. The family decides not to sell the tree and will suffer through the leaping winds and the whip-crack of the mortgage. Oliver personifies these nuisances to ultimately portray how difficult and trying they are on the family. Despite the consequences of keeping the tree, the family puts up with the hardships month after month because the tree is meaningful. However, the trees sentimentality is not fully revealed until Oliver utilizes metaphor. Their own fathers backyard is a metaphor for the family s heritage. The storm that will churn down the dark boughs eventually smashing the house metaphorically represents all of the hardships and trials in life. When the family refuses to sell the tree, they show the importance of not only the tree, but also their family because they are willing to face the consequences.

12 Apt and specific textual references Oliver utilizes figurative language to show the complexity between the mother and daughter and the walnut tree. Oliver s use of similes reveals the family s conflicting emotions and financial instability. The pair argues, we could sell to the lumberman, and pay off the mortgage, only to then contemplate, something brighter than money moves through our blood an edge sharp and quick as a trowel. While the family knows that giving the tree away will financially support them for some time, their emotion leaves them at a crossroads. Though the leaves get heavier every year, and the fruit harder to gather away, the women will crawl with shame in the emptiness we d made so the black walnut tree swings through another year, as the skies become darkened with the threat of too little money and impending loss.

13 Apt and specific textual references The speaker uses negative connotation such as debate, churn, harder, and crawl to describe the family s current conflict. Yet for the past, the speaker uses more lighthearted words like brighter, generous, and bounding to reference the father. This juxtaposition allows the reader to separate the family s current condition from their father who has passed. Similar to this, the tree is described as a heavy burden with the possibility of its dark boughs smashing the house, its leaves getting heavier, and the fruit harder to gather. While after the family s realization, brighter than money an edge sharp and quick as a trowel to keep the tree, it is described with peaceful imagery. The tree swings in sun leaping winds of leaves and bounding fruit. This strengthens the separation for the reader but also unifies the happy relationship with the family s father. This happy relationship, shown through the symbolic nature of the tree, is cemented with the speaker s shame in the emptiness that would exist in their fathers backyard if the tree were not there.

14 MUST DO s Must use the specific language of poetry: speaker, poet, stanza You MUST blend in LOTS of snippets of text for proof and support. Without it, no higher than a 5. Quote lines correctly: How do I love thee / Let me count the ways. SNIPPETS, SNIPPETS, SNIPPETS Try not to say, this quote shows. Try this instead: We talk slowly, two women trying in a difficult time to be wise, allows the poet to further develop a serious and contemplative tone.

15 Get to deeper meaning! Heart of the prompt = what s the relationship and connection between the tree and the family. Yes, it s important to them, but you need to discuss specifically WHY and HOW it s important. What does the tree specifically mean to them? Family heritage? Family s history? Memories of childhood or the father? The father himself? Family connection? American heritage? Ultimately, what is the poem saying about the role and significance of family?

16 IMPORTANT You need to write at least 2 pages the only reason for not doing so is if you legitimately run out of time. However, if time is an issue for you, between now and the exam, work on additional practice essays to learn how to speed up. Essays that are only 1 page or even 1.5 pages are normally either superficial, which earns a score of 5 OR partial which is in the 4-3 category. Don t cite line numbers the grader won t go back and look at the line instead, quote the line itself. Poem titles always go in quotation marks only.

17 Belinda passage OVERVIEW

18 THE PROMPT In the following passage from Maria Edgeworth s 1801 novel, Belinda, the narrator provides a description of Clarence Hervey, one of the suitors of the novel s protagonist, Belinda Portman. Mrr. Stanhope, Belinda s aunt hopes to improve her niece s social prospects and therefore has arranged to have Belinda stay with the fashionable Lady Delacour. Read the passage carefully. Then write an essay in which you analyze Clarence Hervey s complex character as Edgeworth develops it through such literary techniques as tone, point of view, and language. of the prompt? Analyze Clarence Hervey s complex character

19 The heart of the prompt What can be said about Clarence Hervey s complex character? arrogant & sense of entitlement considerable literary talents by which he was distinguish at Oxford pretends to be ignorant very concerned with what others think of him chameleon character could be all things to all men and to all women. -values his own gallantry he had a strong sense of humor and quick feelings of humanity -is easily swayed by others and could become vicious vain of having it seen by the world that he was distinguished by a lady of her wit and fashion -sees Belinda almost every day, and every day he saw her with increasing admiration of her beauty -suspicious of Belinda s artifice cursed his folly and drew back with sudden terror at the idea of marrying Belinda

20 The heart of the prompt Once you ve determined which of Clarence Hervey s traits you ll focus on, decide which devices to use. The prompt suggests tone, point of view, and language You can use those, but you re not required to Diction would be a good choice Point of view a narrator who paints Hervey as almost entirely unfavorable Long, elaborate syntax mirrors the complexity of his character There s also some parallel structure or anaphora Selection of detail would also be a good choice

21 Example Thesis In the passage from Maria Edgeworth s novel Belinda, Clarence Hervey is revealed to be a learned but also arrogant and self-conscious man through the careful use of syntax and selection of detail.

22 Body paragraph Clarence Hervey is nothing if not a man of great sophistication. He had been flattered with the idea that he was a man of genius and had considerable literary talents. By these, he was distinguished at Oxford, showing the reader a man who is highly learned. Not only do these details reveal his sophisticated nature, but so does the writing style. The passage contains a plethora of long sentences which contain semicolons and commas as opposed to short and simple sentences, which are few and far between. One such sentence, As to his connection, he would have started ;but in her family, he said, there was ; he was vain, and he did not spans a total of eight lines. Such syntax reflects the complicated character of Hervey who is very well educated.

23 Body paragraph Throughout the pasage, a comprehensive diction is utilized, showcasing the narrator s as well as Clarence Hervey s educational background. Clarence is described as a man of genuis; and he imagined that, as such, he was entitled to be imprudent, wild, and eccentric. This is further examined and presented through the notion of his considerable literary talents and having been distinguished at Oxford. This characterization makes the utilization and incorporation of a scholastic diction appropriate. This is emphasized through words such as gallantry and scrupulous. This style of diction emphasizes the strengths of Clarence s personality and talents; however, it also showcases his weaknesses. With each positive attribute given, Edgeworth follows it with the repeated use of the conjunction but. By repeating this framework throughout the passage, it demonstrates every strength has a weakness. Despite Clarence being a genuis, he is also insecure about passing for a pedant so he {pretends} to disdain every species from knowledge. This concept is also prevalent in his strong sense of humour and quick feelings for humanity; but {he s} easily led by his companions. The diction and style of language showcases the complex nature of Clarence as well as humanity.

24 Body paragraph Clarence Hervey is nothing if not a man of great sophistication. He had been flattered with the idea that he was a man of genius and had considerable literary talents. By these, he was distinguished at Oxford, showing the reader a man who is highly learned. Not only do these details reveal his sophisticated nature, but so does the writing style. The passage contains a plethora of long sentences which contain semicolons and commas as opposed to short and simple sentences, which are few and far between. One such sentence, As to his connection, he would have started ;but in her family, he said, there was ; he was vain, and he did not spans a total of eight lines. Such syntax reflects the complicated character of Hervey who is very well educated.

25 Example Thesis In the passage from Belinda, Maria Edgeworth utilizes demeaning point of view, strategic description, and intense language to describe the suitor, Clarence Hervey, as a man whoe intellectual prowess allows him to be smitten and imprudent, ultimately revealing his resolve not to be cast aside by those of lesser intelligence.

26 For next class Take 60 timed minutes to complete the fulllength practice M/C test. Pretend like it s the real thing. Use all those strategies we ve talked about. Complete your OEQ flashcards. Write a poetry essay for the 2017 prompt: The Myth of Music. 40 minutes (7-10 minutes to plan and work the prompt) No outside sources Snippets, heart of the prompt, spicy verbs Do as much AP Lit exam prep as possible over this next week!