AP Language & Composition: Argument Essay Tips

Overview

• Presenter: Dr. Clark
• Topic: How to write the argument essay on the AP Language and Composition test
• Key Point: The argument essay is the third question on the AP test. It allows students to make an argument based purely on their own knowledge.

Argument Essay Prompt

• Adopted a stable prompt wording
• Asks to argue a position on a literary or rhetorical concept
• Past topics include overrated things, value of exploring the unknown, artifice in politics, value of disobedience, etc.

Scoring Rubric

• Total Points: 6
  • Thesis: 1 point
  • Evidence and Commentary: 4 points
  • Sophistication: 1 point

Thesis

• Must present a defensible position
• Should not be general; take a clear stance on a specific aspect
• Directly respond to the prompt; irrelevant theses lose points

Tone and Style

• Approach argument as a conversation, not a confrontation
• Avoid ranting and ad hominem attacks
• Target audience: open-minded, academically oriented

Supporting Claims

• Establish 2-4 supporting claims
• An argument with only one claim is insufficient
• Use strong transitions to establish a logical progression

Evidence

• Comes solely from the writer’s knowledge
• Types of evidence:
  • Historical examples
  • Contemporary events
  • Personal experience
  • Literature (including popular fiction)
  • Academic texts
  • Theoretical or academic concepts
• Provide specific evidence for every claim

Commentary

• Show how evidence supports the thesis
• Connect evidence explicitly back to the thesis at every level

Sophistication

• Show understanding of the rhetorical situation
• Explore complexities and tensions within the topic
• Discuss the implications of the argument

Grammar and Mechanics

• Aim for clarity and cleanliness without obsessing over minor errors
• Excessive grammatical errors that hinder communication can affect scores

Conclusion

• Should be brief, 1-2 sentences
• Restate the thesis in different words and end with a "mic drop" moment

Final Advice

• Writing should be clean and clear from the start
• Edit as you go, but don't spend excessive time on minor edits
• Conclusions are important but should not be overly lengthy