2 | MCQ (Writing Questions) | Practice Sessions | AP English Language and Composition

Summary

In this AP Language practice session, John Zanan, an AP Language teacher, provides an in-depth review of the writing section of the AP exam. He explains strategies for approaching the multiple-choice questions, emphasizing the importance of identifying the passage’s main topic, thesis, tone, and method of development. He also highlights tips for parsing loaded questions, eliminating incorrect answer choices, and validating the right options. Through a series of example questions, Zanan demonstrates how to apply these strategies effectively, ensuring a better understanding of how to tackle writing revision tasks on the exam. This session aims to build confidence for students preparing for the AP Language exam.

Takeaways

• 😀 The writing section of the AP Language exam focuses on three passages, with questions that assess revision and editing skills.
• 😀 It's important to read the passage to identify the main topic, thesis, tone, and method of development to prepare for revision questions.
• 😀 Pay attention to potential revision spots in the passage as they often become the focus of specific multiple-choice questions.
• 😀 Parsing questions carefully is crucial since they can be multi-layered or tricky, requiring a deep understanding of what's being asked.
• 😀 Narrowing options by eliminating incorrect choices is key in answering multiple-choice questions effectively.
• 😀 Identifying a passage's big-picture elements, such as the thesis, is essential for understanding its overall message and structure.
• 😀 The tone of the passage is often academic or persuasive, and any revisions should maintain that tone to be effective.
• 😀 Recognizing the method of development in a passage helps in understanding how the argument or information is built and can guide revisions.
• 😀 In revision questions, it's critical to identify the sentence's purpose and choose the answer that enhances clarity, engagement, and focus.
• 😀 When encountering an 'except' question, the goal is to eliminate answers that support the argument and focus on the one that doesn't fit.
• 😀 Understanding the overall structure of a persuasive essay, including hooks, claims, and concessions, helps when analyzing and revising the passage.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video script?

The primary focus of the video script is to review strategies for answering multiple-choice questions in the writing section of the AP Language and Composition exam.

What are the two main sections of the multiple-choice test discussed in the video?

The two main sections of the multiple-choice test discussed in the video are the reading section and the writing section.

How many passages are included in the writing section, and how many questions accompany each passage?

The writing section includes three passages. The first two passages have 7 to 9 accompanying questions, and the third passage has 4 to 6 questions.

What are the general skills and tips mentioned to help approach the writing section?

The general tips for approaching the writing section include identifying the main topic, claim, thesis, tone, and method of development; anticipating potential spots for revision; parsing questions carefully to understand what they are asking; and narrowing options by eliminating incorrect keywords or phrases.

Why is it important to identify trouble spots in the passage during the review?

Identifying trouble spots in the passage helps to anticipate areas that may need revision, which could be addressed in the multiple-choice questions later on.

What was the topic of the passage used in the example within the video?

The topic of the passage was the conversion of the United States to the metric system, comparing the imperial system to the metric system and highlighting the benefits of making the switch.

What is the key advice for understanding and answering multi-layered questions in the writing section?

The key advice is to carefully parse each question, as they can often be multi-layered or complex. It’s important to dig into the question to fully understand what it’s asking before selecting an answer.

How should incorrect answer options be handled according to the video?

Incorrect answer options should be eliminated based on validating key phrases or words that don’t match the context or reasoning of the passage. If any part of an answer is wrong, the entire answer is considered wrong.

What is a notable feature of the thesis in the passage discussed in the video?

A notable feature of the thesis is that it is located at the very end of the passage, which is somewhat unusual because thesis statements typically appear earlier in the text.

Why does the presenter prefer Option B over Option D in the first multiple-choice question example?

Option B is preferred because its diction is stronger, with phrases like 'we are aghast' and 'vanished,' which are more gripping and better capture the reader’s interest compared to Option D, which uses less striking language.

What is the main issue with Option C in the final multiple-choice question example?

Option C, which references Thomas Jefferson’s proposal for a new Decimal System, is considered out of place because it introduces a completely new system rather than staying focused on the metric system, which is the central argument of the passage.

What is the key strategy when selecting the correct answer in a multiple-choice question that asks about supporting evidence?

The key strategy is to determine which pieces of evidence directly support the main argument of the paragraph, eliminating any options that do not contribute to or align with the paragraph’s focus.