1. Agenda
Review rhetorical analysis and synthesis essays and thesis statements
Review of the argument essay
Argument Essay group practice with graphic organizer
Homework: Review for mock exam
By the end of class, you will be able to write an argument essay that scores an upper half score.

2. Remember: MANDATORY AP Saturday Session for the Mock Exam—January 14th 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

3. Rhetorical Analysis Review:
Thesis Statement:
What is the MODE?
What is being compared, contrasted, or juxtaposed?
What is the author’s tone? Purpose?
Are there any shifts? How do they relate to the tone? Purpose?
What rhetorical strategies support the tone or shifts in tone? Purpose?
In his autobiographical excerpt, Soto compares the weight of guilt to sin to show that one’s conscience always gets the best of the after a sin has been committed by using religious imagery, allusions to Christianity, and the motif of guilt.

4. Synthesis Essay:
Make sure to READ the prompt. Sometimes the wording can be tricky. Before looking at any text, make sure you understand what you are being asked to do. Analyze the task.
Are they asking you to take a position? (agree, disagree, or qualify?)
Are they asking you take a position about key issues or effects?
Example: After reading the sources, take a position about the need for smoking bans in public restaurants.
Thesis Statement:
Smoking bans are necessary because… (agree)
Smoking bans are not necessary because… (disagree)
Although some people make disagree that smoking bans are necessary due to the individual American rights, smoking bans should go into effect because… (qualify)
Due to the controversy of smoking bans, there are several key issues to consider… (take a position about the issue)

5. Synthesis Essay:
You will not always be asked to take a position. Sometimes the prompt is more of an evaluation where you will be asked to consider, identify, or acknowledge the importance or implication of something. **Always ask yourself if there more than one task? Possible prompts: Smoking bans are becoming more popular in several states and cities, evaluate the decision to ban smoking in restaurants and examine their effect on the local community. Smoking bans are becoming more popular in several states and cities, identify key issues associated with smoking bans in local restaurants and provide an ultimate conclusion about the decision. What about this one? Smoking bans are becoming more popular in several states and cities, write an essay in which you argue the extent to which smoking bans could affect chain and local restaurants.

6. Review of Argument Essay

7. Argumentative Essay Review
Two types of prompts:
1) Scenario or topic presented then you take a position
2) Short passage presented—you read it to identify the author’s argument then you take a position
You have THREE options:
AGREE
DISAGREE
QUALIFY
You should QUALIFY “Under certain circumstances, one should agree with _____ , but one should also disagree with _____.”

8. Argument Essay:
Scenario based prompts: These will ask you to consider the implications or effects on a situation then develop a position about a specific task – AGREE, DISAGREE, QUALIFY. Consider the implications of banning texts in public high schools, then write an essay in which you argue the need for bans of texts that can be deemed offensive. Consider the effects of texts that can be offensive to some students, then write an essay in which you take a position on the need for the ban of texts in public schools.

9. Argument Essay:
Passage based prompts: This is one of the most commonly missed prompts! Most students see a passage and assume they have to use rhetorical strategies. Your reasons for an argument should always come from the text. Rhetorical strategies should ONLY be discussed during the rhetorical analysis essay. Read the passage, quote, excerpt from _____’s _____. (Determine the author and genre) Consider the effects, implications, consequences of _______ (the issue). Then write an essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies… Consider the effects, implications, consequences of _______ (the issue). Then write an essay that develops a position about the author’s belief/argument about _______ (the issue).

10. Argumentative Thesis Statements
Start your sentence with a Subordinate Conjunction, like since, although, even though, unless, when, while
Select an idea or quote from the prompt
Take a position on the issue by creating a verb phrase with the topic
List THREE supporting reasons

11. Outline for writing an argument essay
I. Introduction – thesis statement
II. Refutation Paragraph (if you are qualifying)
III. Body Paragraphs
A. Supporting Reason 1
B. Quotes from sources to use
III. Repeat for Supporting Reason 2
IV. Repeat for Supporting Reason 3
V. Conclusion – restate main ideas

12. Practice with an AP Argument Essay in Groups
Use your argument planning organizer to help your group.

13. Homework: Review for mock exam