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 Read Mary Olivers essay
Owls. Analyze how her style
Summarize the prompt in your explains her complex
own words response to the natural world.
DO NOT Restate the prompt Read the two passages
as your introductory carefully and analyze Woolfs
paragraph underlying attitude toward
Avoid the 5 paragraph essay 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 makes a claim that others might
interpret the significance of the dispute.
subject matter under discussion.
is usually a single sentence
is a road map for the paper; in somewhere in your first
other words, it tells the reader paragraph that presents your
what to expect from the rest of argument to the reader. The rest
the paper. of the paper, the body of the
essay, gathers and organizes
directly answers the question evidence that will persuade the
asked of you. A thesis is an reader of the logic of your
interpretation of a question or interpretation.
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.
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 Throughout history, people
time have encountered a have dealt with the fear and
great deal of trouble in their hysteria. This fear is troubling
lives. I know of so many and Miller didnt like seeing it
people who have been unfold in his country,
embarrassed by parents that America. So, he used a
will wave at you from across yellow bird in this scene.
a room. I have a friend who
told me that her parents did This essay is going to talk
this very same thing." about how Miller uses hysteria
in his playwright, The Crucible.
 Novelist, Amy Tan, in her
Format narrative essay, Fish
Cheeks, recounts an
Speaker, Occasion, and Subject
(Writers credentials), (writers first embarrassing Christmas Eve
and last name), in his/her (type of dinner when she was 14
text), (title of text), (strong verb see years old. Tans purpose is to
list at end of this handout) (writers
subject).
convey the idea that, at
fourteen, she wasnt able to
Purpose recognize the love her
(Writers last name's purpose is to mother had for her or the
(what the writer does in the text).
sacrifices she made. She
Audience adopts a sentimental tone in
He/she adopts a [n] (adjective order to appeal to similar
describing the attitude/feeling feelings and experiences in
conveyed by the writer) tone in
her adult readers.
order to (verb phrase describing
what the writer wants readers to
do/think) in his/her (intended
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.