how to write a synthesis essay ap lang

Finally, we want to leave you with a quick list of things to strive for and things to avoid at all costs. Learn how your comment data is processed. Because the writer did a good job consistently developing their argument and incorporating evidence, they received full marks in this category. Although, as renewable power goes, wind is incredibly cheap, it is still significantly more expensive than fossil fuels. White paint is the most common choice because it "[is] associated with cleanliness." Before you can start writing a quality synthesis essay, you need to spend some time developing your ideas and seeing how they do or do not relate to your source materials. And that's an entire AP Lang synthesis essay example, written in response to a real AP Lang exam prompt! One thing for power companies to consider is working with turbine manufacturing to make the machines less aesthetically impactful, so as to garner greater public support. The draw of power coming from industry and private life is overwhelming current sources of non-renewable power, and with dwindling supplies of fossil fuels, it is merely a matter of time before coal and gas fuel plants are no longer in operation. We're not going to include all of the sources in this article, but you can view the six sources from this question on the 2018 AP Lang exam here. The first of the three essays you'll have to write on the AP Language exam is called the "synthesis essay." Also write down some of the main points upon which you will base subsequent paragraphs and mark quotes or sections of the sources you can use in each of these paragraphs. We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. When thinking about what to say in your commentary, remember one thing the AP Lang synthesis essay prompt specifies: don't just summarize the sources. While it's definitely important to make good use of your time, it's also important to read closely enough that you understand your sources. In this case, you'll have to choose a stance on whether television has positively or negatively affected U.S. elections. The AP Lang synthesis essay portion of the Free Response section lasts for one hour total. Why is it so important to read the prompt before you read the sources? Instead, the writer is ambiguous and non-committal, saying, "As with most things, wind power has no easy answer. Obviously, it’s going to ask you to synthesize some stuff, but keep an eye out for these helpful guide words: Read the source material; then, read it again to annotate. But just what is this influence, and how has it affected who is elected? Summarizing ideas and source material is easy, and for that reason it is not going to do a whole lot in the way of getting you a great score. No other method of electricity production is even half that efficient. The AP Lang exam synthesis essay prompt indicates that you can use generic labels for the sources provided (e.g. Did you know there are technically two English AP exams? Indicate clearly the sources used through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Unfortunately, these prompt-specific rubrics are not available to the public until after the exams. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? To earn the 6th possible point on the synthesis essay, make sure your commentary demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the source material, explains this nuanced understanding, and places the evidence incorporated from the sources in conversation with each other. Your outline doesn’t need to be especially detailed, but it will be tremendously helpful for you to have a general plan to work from. Reading the sources without having read the prompt first is kind of like trying to drive while wearing a blindfold: you can probably do it, but it's likely not going to end well! Give some BACKGROUND information and CONTEXT on the general topic of your essay. In one Texan town, McCamey, tax revenue increased 30% from a wind farm being erected in the town. The exam presents six to seven sources that are organized around a specific topic (like alternative energy or eminent domain, which are both past synthesis exam topics). In other words, you'll argue that eminent domain isn't productive or beneficial. If you want to earn full points on this portion of the AP Lang Exam, you need to know what a synthesis essay is and what skills are assessed by the AP Lang synthesis essay. The AP® English Language and Composition Exam synthesis essay does not have right or wrong answers; rather, it asks you for your opinion. That's because you'll need a thorough understanding of the topic before you can accurately address the prompt! You’ve already learned how to structure persuasive essays in this class and in other classes you have taken; put that knowledge to good use now, and have your main points set out before you start writing. Once you've got your thesis statement drafted, you have the foundation you need to develop a bare bones outline for your synthesis essay. Keep your pencil in hand to quickly mark important passages that you might want to use as evidence in your synthesis. When you finish reading, take a few seconds to summarize, in a phrase or sentence, whether the source defends, challenges, or qualifies whether eminent domain is beneficial (which is the claim in the prompt). What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? In this case, you'll have to show that eminent domain is a good thing. The efficiency and clean nature of wind power are important to consider, especially because they contribute back to power companies economically. Once you complete the supremely humbling hour-long multiple-choice section, making up only 45% of your score, the trial has only just begun. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Formulate your thesis statement. Compare and Contrast. When you have a thesis statement down (at least a tentative one—you should always be open to revising it as you go), you should sketch a simple outline that includes your thesis statement, supporting points that you can use for topic sentences, and a rough idea of how you will incorporate your sources. The rationale behind eminent domain is that governments have greater legal authority over lands within their dominion than do private owners. Next, let's analyze this example essay and talk about what it does effectively, where it could be improved upon, and what score past exam scorers awarded it. (See what we did there?). It is the responsibility of the companies building them to weigh the benefits and the consequences. The sources include five print-text sources and one visual source, which is a cartoon. The AP Language and Composition exam is notoriously difficult. If you finish reading and annotating early, you can always move on to drafting your synthesis essay. For instance, you may argue that eminent domain can be a productive tool for governments, but it's not beneficial for property owners. Throughout this article, the concept will surely become clearer to you. In this guide, we’ll answer these questions and a lot more. It is the responsibility of the companies building them to weigh the benefits and consequences.". But, by balancing economics, efficiency, and aesthetics, power companies can create a solution which balances human impact with environmental preservation. Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument. Or maybe you argue that eminent domain is useful in certain circumstances, but not in others. The main factors for power companies to consider when building wind farms are environmental boon, aesthetic, and economic factors. It may sound obvious, but when you're pressed for time, it's easy to get flustered. Restate your THESIS statement in a new and interesting way (that is, do not simply repeat your thesis word-for-word as it appears in the introduction!). It's tempting to skip one or two sources to save time--but we recommend you don't do this. We'll advise you on how to balance your schedule between regular and honors/AP/IB courses, how to choose your extracurriculars, and what classes you can't afford not to take. On first read, you might be nervous about how to answer this prompt...especially if you don't know what eminent domain is! (Source E). When you decide whether you want your synthesis essay to defend, challenge, or qualify that claim, you need to convey that stance clearly in your thesis statement. Television has been influential in United States presidential elections since the 1960's. The exam prompt will indicate which label corresponds with which source, so you'll need to make sure you pay attention and cite sources accurately. With that in mind, we recommend spending 5 to 10 minutes outlining your synthesis essay. Beyond diligently studying with a top-rated AP Lang review book, you should also carefully review our comprehensive guide on how to write a synthesis essay for AP Lang featured in this article. 10 Best SAT Prep Book Reviews 2019| Most Effective Strategies, Study Tips and Practice Tests, 7 Best SAT Prep Courses Reviews in 2020 | Ace the Test With Solid Preparation, 7 Best ACT Prep Courses of 2020 Reviews | Everything You Need to Ace the Test, 10 Best ACT Prep Book Reviews | Ace English, Math, Science, Reading and Writing Tests in 2020, 7 Best GRE Prep Course Reviews of 2020 | Top Online Learning Solutions, 10 Best GRE Prep Book Reviews | All the Help You Need to Ace Your Exam in 2020, Magoosh GRE Reviews | One Way to Crack The Graduate Record Examination, 7 Best MCAT Prep Course of 2020 Reviews | For Effective Test Preparation, 7 Best MCAT Prep Books Reviews 2020 | Top Study & Practice Guides, Kaplan MCAT Books Review | A Great Choice for Med School Prep, Princeton Review MCAT | A Good Study Prep Box Set for Getting Into Med School, 9 Best LSAT Prep Books Reviewed 2020 | Ace the Law School Admission Test, 7 Best LSAT Prep Course Reviews in 2020 | A Major Step Towards a Successful Career In Law, 5 Best GMAT Prep Course Reviews of 2020 | Take Advantage Of Our Top Recommendations, 9 Best GMAT Books Reviews | 2020 Top Picks for Your Effective Test Prep, 7 Best PMP Prep Book of 2020 Reviews | Pick the Right Materials to Help You Get Project Management Certification, 7 Best PMP Prep Course Reviews of 2020 | The Right Way to Get Project Management Professional Certification, College Board’s AP Language and Composition scoring guidelines. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This prompt comes straight from the 2018 AP Lang exam: Eminent domain is the power governments have to acquire property from private owners for public use. If your synthesis essay meets the criteria above, then there's a good chance you'll score well on this portion of the AP Lang exam! Use the sources to develop your argument and explain the reasoning for it. that will bolster your synthesis argument. Present your THESIS STATEMENT (this is usually the very last sentence of the paragraph). The remaining four to five sources are print text-based, and each one contains approximately 500 words. After all, what does it mean to “synthesize” something anyway? Instead, as you provide commentary on the evidence you incorporate, you need to explain how that evidence supports or undermines your thesis statement. Instead, it explains and analyzes the evidence presented in the selected sources and connects them back to supporting points the writer makes in each body paragraph. After you've analyzed the prompt and thoroughly read the sources, the next thing you need to do in order to write a good synthesis essay is write a strong thesis statement. While you're reading the sources and marking passages, you want to think about how the information you're reading influences your stance on the issue (in this case, eminent domain). Most importantly, the thesis for your argumentative synthesis essay must be a proposition that can be debated. Mention you heard about us from our blog to fast-track your app. The defensible position that you establish in your thesis statement will guide your argument in the rest of the essay, so it's important to do this first. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? Kickstart your AP® English Language prep with Albert. This section requires you to compose three essays of distinct types: an argumentative essay, a rhetorical analysis essay ( you also need to learn how to use AP Lang rhetorical devices) and, the most dreaded of all, the synthesis essay. However, this isn’t just about writing a beautiful essay, so read on to Tip # 5! Wednesday, December 5, 12 #1: Cite four sources Technically, you’re only required to cite three sources.

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