4 | FRQ (Question 1: Synthesis) | Practice Sessions | AP English Language and Composition

Summary

In this AP Daily Practice session, John Zia, an AP Language teacher, guides students through the complexities of the AP Language synthesis essay. He emphasizes the importance of identifying key factors in source materials, pulling out quotable evidence, and using commentary to connect this evidence to the thesis. Zia explains the importance of balancing evidence and analysis, as well as putting sources in conversation with each other. The session includes practical exercises, with a focus on a sample source discussing the costs of vertical farming, to help students refine their writing skills for the exam.

Takeaways

• 😀 The synthesis essay on the AP Language exam requires you to analyze multiple sources and develop a defensible thesis in response to a prompt.
• 😀 You need to pull evidence from the provided sources, using quotes, facts, and statistics to support your argument.
• 😀 It's crucial to comment on the evidence in your own words, explaining how it connects to your thesis and overall argument.
• 😀 Aim to identify key factors or considerations in each source, focusing on the main ideas and themes the authors emphasize.
• 😀 Look for quotable lines, statistics, or facts in each source. Try to collect 3-4 key pieces of evidence to use in your essay.
• 😀 Putting sources in conversation with each other adds depth and complexity to your argument, showing how they either support or challenge each other.
• 😀 The body paragraph of your synthesis essay should have a clear topic sentence and use evidence from multiple sources to support your claim.
• 😀 Your commentary should not only introduce the evidence but also explain its relevance and significance in relation to your thesis.
• 😀 A well-balanced paragraph incorporates both evidence and commentary. Ensure you don't over-rely on one or the other.
• 😀 When drafting your body paragraph, be mindful of clarity and specificity, using strong and precise examples from the sources.
• 😀 A successful synthesis essay is one where the sources are woven together to create a nuanced and sophisticated argument.

Q & A

What is the focus of this AP Daily Practice session?

The session focuses on the synthesis essay, which is a key component of the AP Language exam. It covers how to effectively respond to the prompt, integrate evidence from sources, and structure a well-reasoned argument.

How does John Zia recommend approaching the sources in the synthesis essay?

John Zia recommends identifying the key factors or considerations in each source, looking for quotable lines, facts, or details, and then using commentary to explain how the evidence supports your thesis. He also suggests putting sources in conversation with one another to add complexity to your argument.

Why is it important to identify key factors or considerations in each source?

Identifying key factors helps you understand the central arguments and perspectives of each source, enabling you to effectively use them in your essay. It ensures you select relevant evidence that supports your thesis and highlights the complexity of the issue.

What is meant by 'putting sources in conversation with one another'?

Putting sources in conversation involves comparing or contrasting ideas from different sources to show relationships between them, either by supporting or challenging one another. This adds depth and nuance to the argument, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

What is the importance of commentary in the synthesis essay?

Commentary is essential because it helps connect the evidence you present back to your thesis. It explains the significance of the evidence and guides the reader in understanding how it supports your argument.

How many pieces of evidence should you aim for in each source?

John Zia suggests aiming for 3 to 4 strong pieces of evidence per source. These could be statistics, facts, or quotable lines that are compelling and relevant to your thesis.

Why is it useful to highlight multiple types of costs in the source about vertical farming?

Highlighting multiple types of costs (such as initial construction costs, food production costs, and energy consumption) provides a more nuanced understanding of the financial burden of vertical farming. It allows the essay to address the complexity of the issue, not just the surface-level costs.

What advice does John Zia give when drafting a body paragraph for the synthesis essay?

Zia advises starting with a clear topic sentence that establishes the main point of the paragraph. Then, include specific evidence from the sources, followed by commentary that explains how the evidence supports the thesis. It's also important to consider integrating multiple sources to deepen the argument.

What are the strengths of the example student paragraph provided in the video?

The strengths of the student paragraph include a clear topic sentence, the use of specific and convincing evidence (such as the cost of $80,000 per container), and effective commentary that links the evidence back to the thesis. Additionally, the student successfully puts multiple sources in conversation to build a deeper argument.

What can be improved in the student paragraph, according to John Zia?

Zia suggests that the evidence regarding operating costs could be more specific. For example, instead of simply stating that 'a large amount of power is required,' a more detailed statistic would strengthen the argument. Also, there should be more specific commentary to explain the significance of the evidence.