Synthesis of Course Material #3

We have also learned an incredible amount of information on how to write an essay for the AP Exam that will get the highest amount of points possible. We have gone over good and bad examples of Open Prompt essays, and know what it takes to get an 8 or 9 on an essay. Now it is a matter of applying the information we learned and making the 8 or 9 happen in reality. A superior paper includes specific quotes and references to the text you are writing about. you should also use as many terms you can remember as possible. We learned countless terms for the first semester final. These are the terms you must refer to and use successfully to support your ideas. One thing that I personally need to watch out for when writing essays is avoiding plot summaries. This can be hard because you want to explain and give some background on what you are talking about, but the way that the reader understands the plot is more through your examples than a summary in general. In an 8 or 9 essay, you also can not have errors that will interfere with the readers understanding. Most of all, your ideas must be deeply thought about and show that you have true insight and understanding of the piece.

We also learned how to write an effective introduction. This starts with in introduction to the subject matter of your essay that is rather broad. It can not be some obvious fact, but something interesting but kind of broad about your topic of discussion. You then must provide almost a link from your first sentence to the piece you chose to write about in your essay. This is called background information, and it includes key elements you are arguing for in your piece. Finally, you state your thesis statement, and the entire point of your essay.