1. AP English Language & Composition
Introduction to Argument Writing

2. Before you begin writing an AP Argument Essay, you must plan your response by doing the following:
Understand Your Task
Thoroughly Read and Annotate Your Prompt
Ask Guiding Question(s)
Choose Your Position
Answer Your Guiding Question(s)
Define Your Term(s)
Generate Appropriate Examples
Consider Why Your Argument Matters

3. Understand Your Task You are writing an Argument Essay.
YOU ARE NOT WRITING A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY! YOU WILL NOT DISCUSS THE AUTHOR’S STRATEGIES AT ALL.
You will take a position, support it, and tell your audience why it matters.
PEER: Body paragraphs should have a Point, Example, Explanation, and Relation that supports your claim/position. Do not use PETER; do not include the Terms/Techniques the author uses because this is not analysis writing! You are the author, and you can use rhetorical strategies but never name and discuss them in argument writing.
Most students do really well on these… if they understand the prompt and plan appropriately.
First person pronouns are acceptable. Think: I, me, mine, we, us, and ours.

4. Thoroughly Read and Annotate Your Prompt
If there are quotes and passages, you need to understand the position(s) that are being asserted. PARAPHRASING HELPS! Summarize the long quotes! You will need to agree with, disagree with, or modify the claim. You must first understand the assertion (claim, belief, view, or position) of the person/people quoted and then decide whether you agree with them.
Look for the words that are repeated; they’re probably the subject of your paper.
The subjects you must write on are usually abstract nouns that are widely open to interpretation and thus lend themselves to varied opinions and writing approaches. Consider: adversity, freedom, wealth, reality, illusion, character, motivation, culture, virtue, truth, love, opposition, language, manners, etc.
Look for the word “relationship,” but it might just be implied. You will more than likely have to discuss how one abstract noun relates to another abstract noun and why that matters.
The prompt will give you potential ideas, arguments, and examples to use in your essays; mark them and consider their uses.
It is YOUR prompt, make it your own! Own it!

5. Ask Guiding Question(s)
What do I have to say about <this subject> and its relationship to <this other related subject>?
How will I say it? (Come up with relevant examples and make use of the appeals, patterns of development, and rhetorical/literary devices).
Do I agree with <the stated position>?

6. Choose Your Position
You may or may not see the words “defend, refute, or qualify,” but you must always choose one of those positions. You may see synonyms:
Support, Agree, Argue for = Defend Challenge, Disagree, Argue against = Refute
Most students fail when they attempt the qualifying position because they come across confused, wishy-washy/waffling, or like they changed their minds in the middle of the paper. Yeah, don’t do that.
Defend = I agree with this position, statement, idea, or concept.
Refute = I disagree with this position…
Qualify = Yes, but… No, and… True, but with the following exceptions and qualifications.

7. Answer Your Guiding Question(s)
Give a basic answer to your first question and start considering your examples for the second question.
Start shaping this into a working thesis.

8. Define Your Term(s)
Most of the prompts ask you to define what you mean by the abstract subjects of the prompt. That means you must define what you mean by the use of certain abstract words and concepts.
ALWAYS DEFINE WHAT YOU MEAN. ALWAYS DEFINE THE SUBJECT OF YOUR DISCUSSION. Consider “its” nature, characteristics, examples, qualities, limitations, aspects, etc.
Consider doing this in your first and or second paragraph. (You could try to build up to it and or do it by example, but it is easier to state your definition EXPLICITLY before you get deep into your essay).

9. Generate Appropriate Examples
Use anything possibly relevant from your experiences, observations, and readings to support your claim.
Experience: Do I have any personal experiences with the subject that I could pull appropriate evidence from to answer this prompt?
Observations: What have I observed in my life, education, media exposure (movies, news, music, etc.), and the lives of others that could support my position?
What books, stories, poems, songs, essays, letters, speeches, scriptures, articles, blogs, research, etc. have I read that could possibly apply?

10. Generate Appropriate Examples (continued)
Consider the following two mnemonics. In order to use these two idea generators, you must be able to think abstractly, to move from broad concepts to specific ideas, and to be very discerning as to what is appropriate evidence for that particular prompt.
HPLACES: History, Politics, Literature, Art, Culture, Entertainment, Science/Technology or Sports
$SEEIT: Money, Safety, Ethics, Environment, International Impact, and Time

11. Consider Why Your Argument Matters
In your conclusion, you should TSS: restate Thesis, Summarize your main points, and give a Super So What?
But the most important is your SUPER SO WHAT! Why does what you have to say matter?

12. Want a Better Score?
Read a lot. Write a lot. Learn a lot. Open your eyes, ears, and mind to different texts, ideas, and opportunities.
Improve your vocabulary. Make flashcards and study.
Practice.
If you want a 7 or better, you must include a counterargument. Bring up the opposition’s points and refute them.
Learn to write this essay in minutes. You can spend roughly 40 minutes on each essay, attempting to earn a five or better on each of them so you will earn a total essay score of fifteen. Or you could spend an hour on the Argument essay to try to earn a seven, 40 minutes on the Synthesis to earn a five, and 20 minutes on the Rhetorical essay to earn a three. That totals to fifteen or better and lets you pass the essay section. The AP test is a game; pick your strategy to win it. Play to your strengths and learn the strategies while there is still time to practice.

13. Prompt: The former slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass ( ) wrote, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” In a well-written essay, examine the relationship between literacy and freedom in the world today, supporting your position with appropriate evidence.