You have practiced everything that might appear on the test. You know that you'll spend an hour answering 55 questions based on four or five readings. (You've practiced three take-home sets and one in class set.) You know that you'll spend two hours addressing three essay prompts: (1) poetry analysis (either one poem or a shuttle comparison), (2) prose analysis, (3) open question. You know you'll use pencil on the multiple choice section and pen on the essay section. You know that if you put together your best multiple choice performance and your best essay writing performance you'll get a three or higher.
Now what?
1. Make sure you sleep and eat . No heavy meals. No all night studying. The bulk of the preparation is done.
2. One thing you can control is how prepared you are for the question three essay prompt. Prepare at least four question three review sheets . Use any and all available resources to review narrative point of view, characters, plot, setting, symbols and motifs, themes. I'll collect the question three sheets tomorrow morning.
3. To prepare for the essays read over the handout entitled "Excerpts from 'Final Notes before AP Exam'" . This sheet contains some important reminders of strategies that should be in the forefront of your mind tomorrow morning.
4. (For people who are looking for something to do -- something more productive than worrying -- this afternoon and early evening.)
* For the multiple choice questions you might review the literary terms from the midyear exam: http://apenglishghs2011.blogspot.com/2011/01/midyear-exam-literary-vocabulary.html. You might review multiple choice strategies : use process of elimination, be on the lookout for misleading options, answer all questions on a particular reading before moving on though you might answer harder questions on a particular reading last, annotate (underline, circle, cross-out) text in the reading and questions.
* You might look at the Q1 (poetry analysis -- both single poem analysis and comparison analysis), Q2 (prose analysis), and Q3 (open question) essay examples in your binder .
* For Q1 single poem analysis check out "The Century Quilt" prompt from last year (2010). Here's the poem and prompt -- http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_frq_eng_lit.pdf -- and here are sample essays (a 7, 5, and 2) -- http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_english_literature_q1.pdf. I think by comparing the introduction of the 7 to the 5 you'll see the difference between a bold insight (7) and a general insight (5). You'll also see how the 7 connects the quilts meaning to the techniques used (the choices the poet makes).
* For Q1 comparison analysis check out the Keats and Longfellow comparison from 2008. (I gave you this back in December but if you don't have it it's here: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_english_literature_q1.pdf. And here are samples (an 8, 5, and 3): http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap08_eng_lit_op_q1.pdf. Notice the use of shuttle comparison in the 8. (We looked at this back in December.)
* For Q2 prose analysis check out the prompt from earlier in the year when you were asked to analyze how Bertha is characterized in a passage from Jane Eyre . All Q2 essays ask you to explain how meaning is conveyed by the techniques the author uses. And here you can check out last year's Q2 prompt (on page 3) -- http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_frq_eng_lit.pdf -- and here an 8, 5, and 2. In the 5 notice how it begins with a clear, bold insight linking technique with meaning. Notice how its analysis is present but inconsistent and underdeveloped.
* For Q1 check out this webpage where a teacher has listed all the AP Q3 prompts from '70-'08: http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/AP/APOpenQuestions.html. Read the prompt closely, identify the key words, choose a book of literary merit, plan how you'd use the book to address key parts of the prompt. You might practice a few so you feel confident.
I'm excited that we're finally on the eve of the big day. You've done a lot of work. You've spent hours on reading, rereading, writing, rewriting, discussing, and listening. Honor the hours of work you've already put in by spending of bit of time this afternoon or tonight reviewing what you need to review in order to feel confident tomorrow morning.
Thank you for all your hard work all year. I'll see you in room 2210 at 7:30 tomorrow morning.
all the best,
Mr. James Cook
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