Chapter 1: An Overview of the Exam 3

What to Expect from the Ap English Language and Composition Exam 4

Exam Questions, Up Close and Personal 5

The Score: Grades and Reports 12

Practical Considerations 14

Test Day Countdown 17

Exam Day Survival 20

After The Exam 23

Chapter 2: Tips for Success in AP English Class 25

Annotation and Note-Taking 26

Close Reading 28

Pump Up Your Vocabulary 30

Writing: Process Makes Perfect 31

English Class Research 36

Visual Sources 38

Part II: The Writer’s Toolkit 41

Chapter 3: Writing’s Building Blocks: Words 43

Beyond the Dictionary: Connotation 43

Analysis of Diction, Tone, and Attitude 45

A Focus on Figurative Language 49

Sensory Appeal: Imagery 51

Chapter 4: Sentences and Paragraphs 53

The Secret of Syntax 53

Paragraph Construction 58

The Author’s Point of View 62

Chapter 5: Rhetorical Strategies 67

Cause and Effect 68

Compare and Contrast 70

Anecdote and Example 72

Classification and Definition 74

Process and Chronology 76

Chapter 6: Essential Grammar Skills 79

Elements of A Sentence 80

Verb Usage 81

Pronouns 85

Parallel Sentences 88

Modifiers 88

Punctuation 89

Chapter 7: Visual Literacy 93

Step-By-Step Interpretation 93

Cartoon Analysis 95

What Photographs Reveal 97

Powerful Advertisements 98

How to Read Charts, Tables, and Graphs 100

Part III: Types of Writing Found on the Exam 105

Chapter 8: Four Modes of Discourse 107

Narrative (Story) Passages 108

Descriptive Passages 110

Argument Passages 113

Expository Passages 115

Chapter 9: Essay Analysis 119

Characteristics of an Essay 119

Essay Structure 121

Sample Essays 123

Chapter 10: How to Pick Apart Memoirs and Biographies 131

Rhetorical Devices in Biographies and Autobiographies 132

A Focus on Autobiography 133

Others’ Lives Presented as Literature: Biography 137

Chapter 11: Tips for Reading Letters and Speeches 143

The Essential Elements of Letters and Speeches 144

Practice with Letters 146

Practice with Speeches 150

Chapter 12: Citation Essentials 155

Types of Citation Questions on the Exam 156

Essential Elements of All Citations 157

Parenthetical Citations 158

Footnotes and Endnotes 159

Some Unusual Citation Cases 160

Part IV: Exam Strategy and Practice Questions 163

Chapter 13: Strategies for Multiple-Choice Questions 165

Multiple-Choice Section Timing 165

How to Make a Guess 169

Types of Multiple-Choice Questions 170

Chapter 14: Practice Multiple-Choice Questions 181

Practice Passage 1: Francis Bacon 182

Practice Passage 2: A Letter to Punch 185

Practice Passage 3: Richard Henry Dana 190

Practice Passage 4: Columbian Exposition 194

Practice Passage 5: Japan in 1800 199

Chapter 15: Strategies for the Essay Section 205

The Logistics of the Essay Section 206

Time Management 207

Your Writing Process on the Ap Exam 208

How to Handle Evidence 213

Essay Structures 216

Types of Essays 218

Chapter 16: Practice Essays 223

Practice Essay General Guidelines 223

Analysis of a Single Passage 224

Paired Passages 229

Essay Based on a Quotation 232

An Opinion Piece 234

The Synthesis Essay 235

Part V: Practice Exams and Answer Sheets 251

Chapter 17: Practice Exam 1 253

Before You Take the Practice Exam 253

The AP English Language and Composition Test 254

Section One: Multiple Choice 255

Section Two: Essay Questions 271

Chapter 18: Answers and Explanations for Practice Exam 1 277

Guidelines for Scoring and Reviewing Your Practice Exam 277

The Multiple-Choice Section 278

How to Grade Your Essay Responses 285

Scoring Essay 1: Synthesis Essay on the Internet And Society 287

Scoring Essay 2: Analytical Essay on Paul Robeson 293

Scoring Essay 3: Leadership 298

Exam Conversion Chart 303

Chapter 19: Practice Exam 2 305

The AP English Language and Composition Test 305

Section One: Multiple Choice 306

Section Two: Essay Questions 321

Chapter 20: Answers and Explanations for Practice Exam 2 327

The Multiple-Choice Section 327

How to Grade Your Essay Responses 335

Scoring Essay 1: Synthesis Essay on Regulating The Media 335

Scoring Essay 2: Paired Passages 342

Scoring Essay 3: Friendship 347

Exam Conversion Chart 353

Answer Sheet For Practice Test 1 355

Answer Sheet For Practice Test 2 357

Appendix: Answer Sheets 355

Index 359