English Coach Hall's First Review Live Stream Notes

Introduction

• Welcome to the first review live stream of the season.
• Focus on tips and strategies for multiple choice and synthesis.
• Encourage participation in chat by including teacher's name and state.
• Shoutouts to special teachers.

Introduction of Hosts

• Beth Hall: Goes by Coach Hall Writes on social media.
  • AP Lang teacher from Arkansas.
  • AP Reader and Consultant for the College Board.
  • Author of a book for AP English exam preparation.

Multiple Choice Strategies

General Tips

• Eliminate distracting answers by ensuring the answer truly addresses the question.
• Look out for partially correct answers which are often incorrect.
• Approach the test with confidence to avoid questioning correct comprehension.

Types of Lead Distractors

1. Half-right, half-wrong answers.
2. Correct information but doesn’t address the question.
3. Vague answers that are in the ballpark of the correct answer.

Time Management

• No penalty for guessing; answer every question.
• Practice different strategies: Reading questions first vs. reading passage first.
• Start with questions that match individual strengths (reading or writing).

Reading Strategies

• Actively mark shifts in the text to understand argumentative structure.
• Understand context both before and after the underlined portion of the text.
• Practice reading strategies to stay engaged with non-interesting texts.

Critical Reading Questions

1. Infer the speaker’s background, values, beliefs, or character.
2. Infer the audience's background, values, beliefs, or needs.
3. Determine the emotional experience intended for the audience.
4. Understand the argument's importance or context.
5. Relate the section to other parts of the argument.

Writing Multiple Choice Tips

• Know the difference between reading and writing multiple-choice questions.
• Writing section will include passage drafts needing revision.
• Pay attention to how questions are crafted and what is truly being asked.

Synthesis Essay Strategies

• Ensure to cite at least three sources.
• Use credentials when introducing sources.
• Avoid saying "According to Source B"; use author’s name or publication instead.
• Practice revision by using past prompt samples for improvement.

Commentary Improvement

• Use the word "because" to explore why evidence matters.
• Use transitions like "consequently," "therefore," "furthermore."

Sophistication Point

• Craft a nuanced argument by exploring tensions and complexities across sources.
• Situate argument in a broader context; why is it important now?
• Make effective rhetorical choices; every word and transition has a purpose.
• Employ vivid and persuasive writing style through advanced punctuation and sentence variation.

Conclusion

• Practice makes perfect; use available resources for preparation.
• Engage with videos and content on Coach Hall Writes and Garden of English channels.
• Be informed about test components and strategies for success.