ap literature exam helpful hints and tips. format: 1 hour for the multiple choice section. you will...

AP Literature ExamAP Literature Exam

Helpful Hints and TipsHelpful Hints and Tips

Format:Format:

1 hour for the multiple choice 1 hour for the multiple choice section. You will have four excerpts section. You will have four excerpts (most likely) about which you will (most likely) about which you will answer questions. Two will be prose, answer questions. Two will be prose, and two will be poetry. This section and two will be poetry. This section counts 45% of your total score.counts 45% of your total score.

2 hours for the essay section. You 2 hours for the essay section. You will write 3 essays: Prose, Poetry, will write 3 essays: Prose, Poetry, and Open-Ended. This section and Open-Ended. This section counts 55% of your total score.counts 55% of your total score.

Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice

Answer questions in the order Answer questions in the order presented per section.presented per section.


Scan sections first to get an Scan sections first to get an overview of the exam.overview of the exam.


Pace yourself and be aware of Pace yourself and be aware of the time.the time.


No penalty for guessing!!!! So, No penalty for guessing!!!! So, answer all questions!answer all questions!


Read the questions carefully and be aware Read the questions carefully and be aware of NOT, LEAST, EXCEPT and the choices of NOT, LEAST, EXCEPT and the choices which offer more than one such as BOTH I which offer more than one such as BOTH I and II, etc. and II, etc.

Also, read the questions very very Also, read the questions very very carefully. Some are going to be very tricky, carefully. Some are going to be very tricky, especially when you are asked about a line especially when you are asked about a line

of literature.of literature.

Essay QuestionsEssay Questions

Work the Work the prompt!!!!!!prompt!!!!!!


5-10 minutes of pre-writing5-10 minutes of pre-writing 20-25 minutes of writing the essay20-25 minutes of writing the essay 5-10 minutes of editing5-10 minutes of editing Pace yourself self and allow 40 minutes per essay.Pace yourself self and allow 40 minutes per essay.


For Questions 1 Poetry and 2 Prose: organize your ideas For Questions 1 Poetry and 2 Prose: organize your ideas organically. This means organize from the beginning of organically. This means organize from the beginning of the selection to the end. DON’T jump around.the selection to the end. DON’T jump around.


For Question 3, you are For Question 3, you are provided a list of titles that are of provided a list of titles that are of literary merit. You do NOT have literary merit. You do NOT have to choose a title from the list. to choose a title from the list. You just need to choose a book You just need to choose a book of commensurate literary merit. of commensurate literary merit.


Use transitions!: In addition, Use transitions!: In addition, therefore, nevertheless, in therefore, nevertheless, in contrast, furthermore, next, etc. contrast, furthermore, next, etc.

Extend your analysis. Analysis Extend your analysis. Analysis should be the bulk of your should be the bulk of your essay. Ask yourself “why” and essay. Ask yourself “why” and “how” after each piece of “how” after each piece of evidence and after each evidence and after each analysis. analysis.


Use Strong Verbs:Use Strong Verbs:


No “I”, no “you.”No “I”, no “you.” No “the reader”No “the reader”


Discuss literature in the Discuss literature in the PRESENT tense. PRESENT tense.


A theme is not a topic. A theme isn’t love. A theme is A theme is not a topic. A theme isn’t love. A theme is “what about” the topic. The theme of “what about” the topic. The theme of HamletHamlet isn’t isn’t indecision. It’s a topic of indecision. It’s a topic of Hamlet. Hamlet. A theme of A theme of HamletHamlet is is one must take action before time runs out. one must take action before time runs out.


ORGANIZE!!!!!!! If you are ORGANIZE!!!!!!! If you are organized in your pre-writing, so organized in your pre-writing, so you will be in your essay. you will be in your essay.


Simple and strong languageSimple and strong language Use academic vocabulary for literature terms (protagonist Use academic vocabulary for literature terms (protagonist

versus main character)versus main character) Be clearBe clear


For Question 3, here are some GREAT titles to use: For Question 3, here are some GREAT titles to use: -9-9thth: To Kill a Mockingbird, Romeo and Juliet, Frankenstein: To Kill a Mockingbird, Romeo and Juliet, Frankenstein-10-10thth: The Catcher in the Rye, 1984, Brave New World: The Catcher in the Rye, 1984, Brave New World-12-12thth:East of Eden, Wuthering Heights, Hamlet, Short Novel :East of Eden, Wuthering Heights, Hamlet, Short Novel

Selection, *Plays Selection, Benchmark novelsSelection, *Plays Selection, Benchmark novels


Underline Book TitlesUnderline Book Titles Instead of “would be” use “is.”Instead of “would be” use “is.” Avoid what isn’t. Focus on what is.Avoid what isn’t. Focus on what is. ANSWER THE PROMPT. The ANSWER THE PROMPT. The

prompt contains two parts to it. Make prompt contains two parts to it. Make sure you amply cover both parts.sure you amply cover both parts.

Shoot for at least 3+ pages. Shoot for at least 3+ pages. ““Apt and specific” language!!!Apt and specific” language!!!

Uh-Oh…Actual excerpts from Uh-Oh…Actual excerpts from ExamsExams• The past is an ever-present influence The past is an ever-present influence

on the present and thus the future.on the present and thus the future.• In Ethan Frome’s time, when a man In Ethan Frome’s time, when a man

married a woman, he was expected married a woman, he was expected to stay loyal to her.to stay loyal to her.

• Dr. Frankenstein was fatigued and Dr. Frankenstein was fatigued and his health was shot to hell.his health was shot to hell.

• In In Jane EyreJane Eyre, a man’s past sneaks , a man’s past sneaks up behind him and bites him in the up behind him and bites him in the butt.butt.

• Ethan had to care for his evil wife Ethan had to care for his evil wife and his vegetated lover.and his vegetated lover.

Continued…Continued…

In tragedies, tragic things happen.In tragedies, tragic things happen. In Cold BloodIn Cold Blood, written by Harriet S. , written by Harriet S.

Truman…Truman… Carpe dictum.Carpe dictum. Janie was a potato in life because life is Janie was a potato in life because life is

like boiling water.like boiling water. Odyssey-The poor dude is stuck at sea Odyssey-The poor dude is stuck at sea

and manages to piss off Poseidon. This and manages to piss off Poseidon. This makes Poseidon want to b*%$h slap his makes Poseidon want to b*%$h slap his boat off course. This event is what leads boat off course. This event is what leads the order for him to be vanished from his the order for him to be vanished from his homehome


From the 2006 Poetry Essay:From the 2006 Poetry Essay: This is the stupidest poem ever This is the stupidest poem ever

writin. Robert Penn Warren, you writin. Robert Penn Warren, you are a joke.are a joke.

A poem would be meaningless A poem would be meaningless without words.without words.

Hickory, dickory, dock, this Hickory, dickory, dock, this poem’s “The Evening Hawk”.poem’s “The Evening Hawk”.

Have a nice day!Have a nice day!


The tone was lingual. (I think I just made up The tone was lingual. (I think I just made up a word.)a word.)

If there were no death, life would be very If there were no death, life would be very long.long.

Personification is abundant as hell in this Personification is abundant as hell in this poem.poem.

Since I don’t have a clue what this poem is Since I don’t have a clue what this poem is saying, and since I don’t want to waste my saying, and since I don’t want to waste my remaining time, I will now write song lyrics remaining time, I will now write song lyrics from my current favorite songs. {student from my current favorite songs. {student closed with the following:} Sorry, Ms. H! I closed with the following:} Sorry, Ms. H! I really like the other two essay topics!really like the other two essay topics!

ap literature exam helpful hints and tips. format: 1 hour for the multiple choice section. you will...

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