Mr Rappleye Welcome The Exam Perspectives on Advanced Placement Literature and Composition

Looking at the Exam: a frame of reference 3 hour exam in early May 1 hour: Multiple Choice Questions: 2 hours: 3 essays –Poem –Prose –“Open” Question (analytical-expository essay)

Multiple Choice 4 passages: period/diversity/canon questions on each passage Close Reading Poetry/prose/plays Late 16th century to present 60 minutes weighted :45 % –reliability available

Essays 3 Essays Approximately 40 minutes each “Sight Reading” Poem Prose “Open question” –device or theme –choose a work of merit

Scoring Each Essay read and scored separately, by different readers Readers are trained for ONE question One room reading Each Essay Chief Faculty Consultant (1) Question Leader (3) “Table”: 6 readers and a Table Leader 600+ readers from around the country Experienced High School AP teachers College teachers (rhetoric and confidence)

Reading Holistic Scoring Scoring Guide 9 point scale “Range Finders” First half of first day Regular checks after that: after every break Table leaders’ first days checking scores

9 point Scale First Draft Top half or Bottom half? Scoring Guide: key terms Samples--range finders Internalizing Standard Watch the “5” (Nine Point Scale) Use full range

Touchpoints You don’t know what the score means in terms of final grade AP: 1:No Recommendation 2:Possibly Qualified 3: Qualified 4:Well Qualified 5:Extremely Well qualified

Cross referencing Standards established by the students’ performance; NOT before the essays are read Similarities in phrasing but… Reader’s results correlated to the MC Emphasis on accuracy Grading “Blind”

Getting to the Final Score Raw Score Multiple Choice: 45 % (67 pts) Raw Score of Essays: 55% (83 pts) FORMULA: 150 Point total The “lines” separating 1,2,3,4,and 5 are then determined by Chief Reader, looking at results, comparing to past in consultation with statisticians from ETS. What does the score mean?

FYI AP Lit and Comp Exam 176,221 candidates FIVE: 11.3% FOUR: 21.5% THREE: 35.5% TWO: 26.4% ONE: 5.4% 25 Questions on Prose Global mean: Questions on Poetry Global mean: 18.5 Poetry Analysis: 4.6 Prose Analysis: 4.6 Analytical-Expository Essay: 5.0

of Tone of Characterization of Theme Also, Cultural Literacy Style (composition) Timed Testing (practice and preparation) Implications: Habitual focus on COMPLEXITY

To Whom? Various Perspectives on the Exam Colleges Administration/Marketing Students…do you know why they are there? –Marketing? –College Credit? –Interest! Parents ETS… You!

My perspective... English teacher at MICDS 14 yrs –Evolution of an AP program Coach Cross Country and Track Reader for the AP Lit and Comp exam –try to get involved Have taught AP Lit and Comp as –year long junior level course –year long senior course –semester long course

The Test and YOUR Course No required Coverage BUT! Variety –Genre –Period Skills Test: Close Reading Freedom and Limitations

Limits and/as Opportunities What’s Your Unique Situation? Who’s Paying? Texts... Teaching to the Test: It’s a good test, but... Teaching Your Passion What can you Control and what lies beyond your control? Enrollment How many take tests? How will You Evaluate your success? How will OTHERS?

Sharing some perspectives This Course and how it got that way Items for Emphasis: Some Things that work Items to Mention: helpful hints Scoring the Exam: practice Questions