Writing an Essay

AP Language Style
Where do I begin?
Read the prompt completely! Circle key verbs and pieces of the
prompt that may be important.
Read the following passage and explain how the author uses rhetorical
devices to establish his attitude towards the subject.

Read the Passage(s) completely! This is the source of your

information!
Make a PLAN!
S.O.A.P.S
Rhetorical Strategies employed
Appeals (Pathos, Ethos, Logos)
Style (diction, syntax, imagery, tone)
Rhetorical Triangle
Purpose, Audience, Occasion, Subject
SOAPS
State the subject in a few words or a short phrase.
What is the occasionthe time and place of the piece; the current
situation; historical background that encouraged the writing to
happen.
Who is the audiencethe group of readers to whom this piece is
directed.
What is the purpose the reason it was written?
Who is the speakerthe voice that tells the storyremember the
speaker is not always the author.
What is the tonethe attitude of the authortoward the subject.
Why did the author choose these strategies for
the particular audience, occasion, and/or
purpose? This is the analysis part!
Without this, you are
The Rhetorical Triangle merely summarizing the
text.
Think about these
questions:
HOW do the rhetorical
strategies help the
author achieve his/her
purpose?
WHY does the author
chose those strategies
for that particular
audience and for that
particular occasion?
Tips from AP Readers
Make notes as you read
Summarize the prompt in your
own words
DO NOT Restate the prompt
as your introductory
paragraph
Avoid the 5 paragraph essay
Read Mary Olivers essay
Owls. Analyze how her style
explains her complex
response to the natural world.
Read the two passages
carefully and analyze Woolfs
underlying attitude toward
womens place in society as
she describes the two meals.
Read the Prompt and
complete a plan for The Scarlet
Letter.
Introductory
Paragraphs
The Thesis Statement
tells the reader how you will
interpret the significance of the
subject matter under discussion.
is a road map for the paper; in
other words, it tells the reader
what to expect from the rest of
the paper.
directly answers the question
asked of you. A thesis is an
interpretation of a question or
subject. The subject, or topic, of
an essay might be World War II
or Moby Dick; a thesis must then
offer a way to understand the
war or novel.
makes a claim that others might
dispute.
is usually a single sentence
somewhere in your first
paragraph that presents your
argument to the reader. The rest
of the paper, the body of the
essay, gathers and organizes
evidence that will persuade the
reader of the logic of your
interpretation.
Tips from AP Readers
While AP Readers are trained to read your entire paper, a weak
introduction can turn them off from the start.
Generalized openings that offer no insight into the passage result
in low scores.
Shoot for a 3- answer all parts of the prompt in your intro and
expand in the following paragraphs.
Your introductory paragraph should not be your longest
paragraph.
Generalized Thesis Statements
"All people at some point in
time have encountered a
great deal of trouble in their
lives. I know of so many
people who have been
embarrassed by parents that
will wave at you from across
a room. I have a friend who
told me that her parents did
this very same thing."
Throughout history, people
have dealt with the fear and
hysteria. This fear is troubling
and Miller didnt like seeing it
unfold in his country,
America. So, he used a
yellow bird in this scene.
This essay is going to talk
about how Miller uses hysteria
in his playwright, The Crucible.

Format
Speaker, Occasion, and Subject
(Writers credentials), (writers first
and last name), in his/her (type of
text), (title of text), (strong verb see
list at end of this handout) (writers
subject).
Purpose
(Writers last name's purpose is to
(what the writer does in the text).
Audience
He/she adopts a [n] (adjective
describing the attitude/feeling
conveyed by the writer) tone in
order to (verb phrase describing
what the writer wants readers to
do/think) in his/her (intended
Novelist, Amy Tan, in her
narrative essay, Fish
Cheeks, recounts an
embarrassing Christmas Eve
dinner when she was 14
years old. Tans purpose is to
convey the idea that, at
fourteen, she wasnt able to
recognize the love her
mother had for her or the
sacrifices she made. She
adopts a sentimental tone in
order to appeal to similar
feelings and experiences in
her adult readers.
Sample #1
In The Box Man, by Barbara Lazear Ascher, the protagonist
reveals that a life of solitude need not always be lonely. Though
the Box Man lives a life of solitude as a homeless wanderer,
Ascher describes his grand design and grandmotherly finger
licking to convince readers that their assumptions about
homeless people are unfounded and that they can live a
dignified life. By describing the Box Man as dignified and at
ease, Ascher paints a vivid picture of a man who chose a life a
comfort and solitude and defeated loneliness by becoming his
own friend.
Sample #1
In The Box Man, by Barbara Lazear Ascher, the protagonist
reveals that a life of solitude need not always be lonely. Though
the Box Man lives a life of solitude as a homeless wanderer,
Ascher describes his grand design and grandmotherly finger
licking to convince readers that their assumptions about
homeless people are unfounded and that they can live a
dignified life. By describing the Box Man as dignified and at
ease, Ascher paints a vivid picture of a man who chose a life a
comfort and solitude and defeated loneliness by becoming his
own friend.
Sample #2
In Upon the Burning of Our House, Anne Bradstreet ponders her
unfortunate circumstances and appreciates that it was Gods
will that her house burned to the ground. Bradstreet believed
that every misfortune she encountered served to remind her of
Gods will in this case, she was reminded that All is vanity a
Biblical allusion meaning that everything in life is futile and the
only worthy goal is entry into heaven. Bradstreets attitude is
further revealed when she says The world no longer let me love,
/ My hope and treasure lies above. Bradstreet clearly feels that
worldly life is fruitless; her sole concern is God.
Sample #2
In Upon the Burning of Our House, Anne Bradstreet ponders her
unfortunate circumstances and appreciates that it was Gods
will that her house burned to the ground. Bradstreet believed
that every misfortune she encountered served to remind her of
Gods will in this case, she was reminded that All is vanity a
Biblical allusion meaning that everything in life is futile and the
only worthy goal is entry into heaven. Bradstreets attitude is
further revealed when she says The world no longer let me love,
/ My hope and treasure lies above. Bradstreet clearly feels that
worldly life is fruitless; her sole concern is God.
Sample #3
In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck characterize the
protagonist, Tom Joad, as a morally conscious person who
stands up against evil. The image of Toms mother slow with
weariness sitting and scraping potatoes affects Tom very much
so much that he is willing to give his life to rebel against the
people who seek to harm his family. Through the use of imagery
and diction, Steinbeck reveals Toms noble conscious and
characterizes him as a rebellious albeit rash young man.
Sample #3
In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck characterize the
protagonist, Tom Joad, as a morally conscious person who
stands up against evil. The image of Toms mother slow with
weariness sitting and scraping potatoes affects Tom very much
so much that he is willing to give his life to rebel against the
people who seek to harm his family. Through the use of imagery
and diction, Steinbeck reveals Toms noble conscious and
characterizes him as a rebellious albeit rash young man.
Last Sample =)
In the His Dark Materials Series by Philip Pullman, the setting is an
essential element in the development and outcome of the plot in
more ways than one. The protagonist, 11-year old Lyra Belacqua, lives
in the precincts of Jordan College in Oxford growing up as an orphan
among the old scholars. Her cheerful existence consisted of playing on
the rooftops of the college and waging war with the local children.
This contrasts sharply with the bright and exciting future she soon
experiences after she escapes from the drudgery of college life. After
escaping, Lyra begins a grand adventure, journeying to the north to
meet armored bears, witches, and Egyptians. The initial setting is
important to the development of the plot because Lyras future
resourcefulness and quick-wittedness in difficult situations were fine-
tuned during the numerous challenges she faced as a child while
fighting wars with the other local children. In addition, by
understanding Lyras humble background, the reader can appreciate
her future accomplishments.
Last Sample =)
In the His Dark Materials Series by Philip Pullman, the setting is an
essential element in the development and outcome of the plot in
more ways than one. The protagonist, 11-year old Lyra Belacqua, lives
in the precincts of Jordan College in Oxford growing up as an orphan
among the old scholars. Her cheerful existence consisted of playing on
the rooftops of the college and waging war with the local children.
This contrasts sharply with the bright and exciting future she soon
experiences after she escapes from the drudgery of college life. After
escaping, Lyra begins a grand adventure, journeying to the north to
meet armored bears, witches, and Egyptians. The initial setting is
important to the development of the plot because Lyras future
resourcefulness and quick-wittedness in difficult situations were fine-
tuned during the numerous challenges she faced as a child while
fighting wars with the other local children. In addition, by
understanding Lyras humble background, the reader can appreciate
her future accomplishments.
Your turn!
Look again at The Scarlet Letter prompt, and write your thesis
statement.