AP Analysis Essay

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AP Analysis Essay

• Distribute essays
• Explanation of AP rubric and score value
• 9100
• 895
• 790
• 688
• 584
• 478
• 374
• 265
• 150
• 00

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• Distribute model high scoring essay and
  explanation of why the essay was a high score.
• You are now responsible for the following
  information since I know youve been taught it
• (Itll hurt your grade if you ever do it again!)

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What is an analysis essay?

• In an analysis essay, you separate a selected
  text into parts and study them. Ultimately, you
  attempt to make a discovery about the text as a
  whole.
• An analysis essay will always answer a question
  about a text, e.g. How does Steinbeck use
  symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath? Read the
  prompt carefully.
• Then, to answer such a question
• Closely read the text. Youll evaluate the
  writers purpose, style, and/or rhetoric, as well
  as the effect, intended or actual, that the text
  has on readers. Youll be taught how to annotate
  text in a later lesson.

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Then, after you have read

• First, and most importantly, determine what the
  authors purpose for writing is and what his or
  her main idea is.
• Second, go back to the prompt and determine what
  is really being asked of you (well cover this in
  another lesson)
• Third, do some prewriting (later lesson) and
  decide what your thesis will be and the topics of
  your three body paragraphs.

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AP Essay Set Up

• Introduction
• 3 Body Paragraphs
• Short Conclusion

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Introduction (later lesson)

• Begin with an attention step.
• Clarify who the author is, what he or she is
  saying, what his or her purpose is, and if the
  piece is effective in achieving the authors
  purpose. (Basically, proving to the grader you
  understand the prompt and the passage.)
• End the introduction with a thesis statement
  (later lesson).

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Body Paragraphs

• Transition
• Topic sentence and connection back to thesis
• Explanation of topic sentence
• Example from passage
• Explanation of example and the effect of using
  the example (most important in getting to the
  higher score!)

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Conclusion

• Short
• Revisits thesis

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Other points

• Formal analysis essays should not have
• first person pronouns (I believe the author is
  trying to say)
• contractions (use it is, not its)
• Adverbs (avoid them)
• Never use
• very
• really
• kind of
• sort of

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• Assume your reader is well-educated and well-read
  and can understand your subject without extensive
  background.
• Refer to the author in the introduction paragraph
  by his or her full name. After doing that once,
  refer to the author by last name only (no Mr. or
  Mrs.)
• authorbook or nonfiction
• essayistessay
• poetpoem
• dramatist/playwrightplay

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• Underlined/Italics
• novels
• books
• plays
• magazines
• newspapers
• movies

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• Quotation Marks
• poems
• articles
• short stories
• essays

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• Over the next few months, youll slowly learn all
  the skills necessary to become a better analysis
  essay writer.
• Once we discuss a writing topic, you are expected
  to remember it, and always incorporate it into
  your writing.
• Essentially, the more we write and learn, the
  better I expect you to be.

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Now, your portfolio.

• Put in this order
• Diagnostic writing prompt
• Your graded response
• The model and explanation of why it got a high
  score
• The notes you just took
• A reflection (next slide)

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Reflection

• Top Line Refection of Diagnostic Essay
• Score 2
• I need to work on (three items and an
  explanation.
• I need to work on my thesis statements because I
  did not have it as the last sentence and it
  wasnt a correct thesis for what the prompt was
  asking.
• Then, explain what you will focus on in the next
  essay.
• In the next analysis essay I write, I will
  primarily focus on the correct set up. I did not
  write 5 paragraphs for this essay and the
  structure of my paragraphs was not correct. I
  will focus especially on the set up for my
  introduction.