AP Language MULTIPLE CHOICE Test Strategy

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AP Language MULTIPLE CHOICE Test Strategy

• Olson and Bailey

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Annotate the Passage

• Clear statement of Argument or Thesis
• Identify the kind of argument being made
• Vivid Language or vivid Metaphors
• Shifts in point of view or tone
• Parallel syntax
• Underline unknown words with context clues
• Bold claims or false arguments
• CONTROL THE PASSAGE

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General Guidelines

• Answer every question in which you can eliminate
  at least one or two answers
• Leave blank the answers you dont have time to
  finish
• Context clues
• Often times the unknown word will be placed with
  a passage with a certain image, that should be
  enough to give you a clue as to the answer,
• Questions are sequential from the beginning of
  the passage to the end, not from easiest to
  hardest

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Advice for Certain Questions

• Pronoun Antecedents
• It refers to which of the following nouns?
• To answer this question, substitute each word in
  its place
• Familiar but unfamiliar vocabulary
• In colonial times, it was important to husband
  the food supply during the winter.
• Our future would be better insured if we
  carefully husband our natural resources.
• Best Answer
• To use, to marry, to conserve, to waste, to join

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Advice for Certain Questions

• Roman Numeral Questions
• Look at the Roman Numerals first, decide which of
  these are correct then move to the A, B, C
  choices OR Find the Roman numeral you know is
  wrong then eliminate those answers.
• Figures of Speech
• Questions clarify an unknown with something that
  is known and add a layer of meaning
• The new CEO entered the boardroom with the flair
  of a matador.
• This analogy makes all the following inferences
  EXCEPT
• The new CEO is the center of attention
• The new CEO is in high risk profession
• The new CEO faces substantial opposition from
  others
• The new CEO exudes power and strategy
• The new CEO is and effective delegator of
  responsibility

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Advice for Certain Questions

• Main Idea Stem Questions
• the authors primary focus
• the intent of the passage
• the anticipated outcome of the argument
• Dont be fooled by the partial idea distractor
• Tone or Mood Questions
• Defined by the connotation or imagery
• Know your tone words

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Footnote Questions

• Footnotes can
• Identify sources
• Define Terms
• Add facts or details
• Clarify confusion
• Set the Record Straight
• READ FOOTNOTES!

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Syntax Questions

• Parallel Syntax
• Provides good momentum, gives drive and energy
• Rhetorical Question
• The reader is being manipulated into giving the
  answer the writer wants
• Function as transitions
• Organizational techniques from discussion to
  solution

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Syntax Questions

• Clauses and Phrases
• Clauses are either Independent or Dependent
• Phrases do not have verbs
• Think about what the clause and phrase is doing
  for the writer to the reader
• Loose Sentence
• Ind. Clause followed by Dependent Clauses
• Periodic
• Dependent clause followed by the Ind. Clause

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Attacking the Questions

• Read and annotate the question stem
• Underline words like except, best, primarily
• Make sure you know what each question is asking
• Your Answer
• Think of the answer before looking at the
  distractors
• POE Rule out certain answers
• x words/phrases/clauses that make answers wrong
• ? Possible answers