AP Exam Writing Tips from Educators

General Advice

• Appearance matters: neat writing puts the reader in a good mood.
• Address the "why" behind your arguments.
• Tie back to the audience and always answer "So what?"
• Read everything carefully and think critically before writing.
• Understand the prompt fully and go straight to the point.
• Be concise and use relevant examples or anecdotes.
• Your voice and argument should drive the essay, not quotes or sources.
• Avoid cliché openings.
• Be true to your unique voice.
• Develop ideas fully, even further than you think is needed.

Question Specific Advice

Rhetorical Analysis

• Focus on what seems most deliberate in the piece.
• Don't feel obliged to comment on everything; prioritize purposeful elements.

Argument Essays

• Use personal experiences as evidence, but explain their relevance.
• Organize by reasons supported by examples, not just a list of examples.
• Know your audience and meet their expectations.
• Consider developing a thoughtful introduction, not just a one-sentence thesis.
• When thinking of examples, write down several and choose from the less obvious ones.
• For the open-ended prompt, list your initial ideas and select from the bottom to avoid clichéd responses.

Synthesis Essays

• Your argument needs to be primary; use sources for support.
• Ensure your voice is the prominent one in your writing.

Unique Tips

• Don't rely heavily on ethos, pathos, logos; focus on the writer's choices.
• Avoid overusing common literary examples like "The Great Gatsby".
• For rhetorical analysis, consider changing the synthesis question rule to "quotations of four words or fewer".

Preparation

• Read about current events before the test for contemporary examples.
• Think critically about the purpose, audience, and genre of your writing.