AP Lit & Comp - WordPress.com · Prose Prompts The prose prompt will always be an excerpt from a short story or novel. This prompt will 90% of the time ask you about character.

AP Lit & Comp 3/1 ‘17

1. “Under the Feet of Jesus” and “Where are you Going…?”

2. AP Essay Tips & What AP Readers Look For 3. Prose prompt timed writing: 40 minutes

Prose Prompts The prose prompt will always be an excerpt from a short story or novel. This prompt will 90% of the time ask you about character. You’ll have to describe a character and explain/show HOW that characterization is developed through literary devices. ALWAYS figure out the character traits themselves first, THEN decide which devices are used to accomplish the characterization.

Excerpt from last week… ▹Carefully read the following excerpt from the novel Under the Feet of Jesus by Helena Maria Viramontes. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze the development of Estrella’s character. In your analysis, you may wish to consider such literary elements as selection of detail, figurative language, and tone.

▹1. I’ve got to make a statement about Estrella’s character. The easiest way to do this? ▹Think of as many relevant adjectives as possible. ▹Narrow it to three. ▹Estrella is ___________________________________(adjective_) (adjective), and (adjective). ▹Estrella is insecure, frustrated, and persistent.

Excerpt from last week… ▹Estrella is insecure, frustrated, but persistent. ▹2. Now I can figure out which literary devices the author uses to SHOW these character traits. I need at least two, preferably three. ▹Selection of detail, figurative language, and point of view. ▹Now I can write a thesis. ▹In the excerpt from her novel Under the Feet of Jesus, Helena Maria Viramontes vividly describes the insecure, frustrated, and persistent character of Estrella utilizing selection of detail, figurative language, and point of view. ▹Now I can set up my body paragraphs:

Excerpt from last week… ▹In the excerpt from her novel Under the Feet of Jesus, Helena Maria Viramontes vividly describes the insecure, frustrated, and persistent character of Estrella utilizing selection of detail, figurative language, and point of view. ▹Rather than organizing by literary device, I can be more sophisticated and organize by character trait. ▹One paragraph will look at Estrella’s frustration. ▹Another will analyze her insecurity. ▹The third will discuss her persistence despite her insecurity and frustration. ▹This way, I will wind up with some highly sophisticated analysis of Estrella’s characterization, and it won’t be cookie-cutter.

Here’s an example: Here’s an example: Viramontes reveals Estrella is an angry and frustrated young girl. Through the writer’s selection of detail, Estrella’s rage becomes apparent to the reader: The items in the tool box she finds, “the funny-shaped objects, seemed as confusing and foreign as the alphabet she could not decipher. The tool chest stood guard by the door and she slammed the lid closed on the secret. For days she was silent with rage.” Clearly, Estrella is weary of “when things are kept from her,” “never giving her the information she wanted.” Continuing with her characterization of Estrella’s frustration, Viramontes uses figurative language to show how Estrella’s teachers make her feel insufficient and frustrated. “Mrs. Horn, who had the face of a crumpled Kleenex and a nose like a hook—she did not imagine this—asked how come her mama never gave her a bath.” These words cause Estrella to realize for the first time that “words could become as excruciating as rusted nails piercing the heels of her bare feet.”

Prompt from last class… Read carefully the following passage from Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how Oates uses techniques such as narration, point of view, and description to build tension in the scene. 1. To analyze the tension and techniques, I’ve first got

to identify the tension itself. Scene with the parents before the barbeque Car coming up the drive Conversation with the driver What might I say about the tension? It comes and goes? It changes?

Prompt from last class… Read carefully the following passage from Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how Oates uses techniques such as narration, point of view, and description to build tension in the scene. 2. Now that I know where the tension is, what tells me these scenes are “tense”? “she wasn’t interested, rolling her eyes to let her mother know just what she thought of it.” Her mother responds “sharply.” “Her mother with a look that was still angry and not at all softened through the windshield.”

Prompt from last class… 2. Now that I know where the tension is, what tells me these scenes are “tense”? “she wasn’t interested, rolling her eyes to let her mother know just what she thought of it.” Her mother responds “sharply.” “Her mother with a look that was still angry and not at all softened through the windshield.” What would the above be called? Dialogue? Narration? Where do I see the next piece of tension?

Sample Thesis… In Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Oates utilizes parallels between positive and negative connotations built through narrative pacing and diction to build tension in the scene. In the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Joyce Carol Oates utilizes point of view, imagery, and word choice to effectively build tension in the scene.

Sample Thesis… In the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates portrays the tension of Connie’s situation through the use of description and diction which ultimately reveal how the mood changes from hostility to contentment to nervousness and fear. In Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Have You Been, Where Are You Going?” Oates builds tension through her use of adjectives in each of Connie’s actions, careful description of each situation, and omnipotent narration throughout.

Top Ten Tips 1. Write about literature in present tense. Example: The aristocrats in A Tale of Two Cities live lush and luxurious lives (use present tense verbs, not past tense.) Example: Dickens illustrates Madame Defarge’s seemingly pure evil acts are actually motivated by her broken heart, demonstrating that even the darkest of characters still possess redeemable qualities. Literature is timeless. The story is ALWAYS occuring, every time it is read; therefore, it must be written in PRESENT TENSE.

Top Ten Tips 2. Avoid first-person (I, me, my) and second-person (you, your) pronouns in composing literary analysis. Remember that you are analyzing literature, not criticizing the writer or character. 3. Punctuate titles properly: underline the titles of novels and plays; place poem and short story titles in quoation marks. 4. Create a thesis that addresses ALL elements of the prompt and states an opinion that you can defend. That opinion needs to be stated as fact, (not, “I believe the character of Estrella is insecure, frustrated, and persistent.” Just state it as fact.

Top Ten Tips 5. Unify each paragraph around an idea or element that is a part of the thesis you have written. For the prose essay, focus each paragraph on a different character trait. This way, you can discuss multiple devices within each paragraph.

Top Ten Tips \ 6. Include specific evidence (either textual evidence or direct quotations) for each idea you express, and remember that depth is more important than breadth. It is better to choose a limited number of convincing examples than to list every example you can think of. o For the poetry essay (#1), you need to cite specific

examples from the poem.

o For the prose essay (#2), you need to cite specific lines/words from the passage.

o For the OEQ (#3), you need to give specific textual examples (but not actual quotes.)

7. Explain each piece of evidence thoroughly. Introduce the quotation or reference; state the evidence, and then reveal its connection to your paragraph’s central idea and/or the thesis. 8. Conclude in your conclusion by making a clear connection between your thesis and the literary work’s meaning or theme. It is always ultimately about the work’s overall meaning. (or for the prose essay about overall characterization.) You do not need to write an entire concluding paragraph, but you do need a concluding statement. Try to wow your readers with something profound.

Top Ten Tips

Top Ten Tips 9. Be precise in referring to characters’ names and to plot details. (This means correct spelling, correct details, etc.) 10. Pay attention to your grammar (such as apostrophe mistakes or comma splices) and style (variety in diction and sentence structure.) Show the readers that you write well because they may reward you with an extra point if you do.

AP Readers say…

Fully develop your essay; try to write a minimum of two complete pages. It’s a shame to read the first page of what promises to be an 8 or 9 essay and then have the writer not develop his ideas and quit after one page. As long as you are writing quality content, length = strength. Spend time planning your essay (10 minutes), and find some angle, within the context of the prompt, that you feel passionate about, whether emotionally, intellectually, or philosophically (passion moves reader\s.)

AP Readers Say If the prompt refers to “literary devices” or any other technical aspects of the work, ignore the reference and ask first, “What does the prompt want me to address? \Or HOW would I describe this character? 1. Once you’ve figured out the above, do it. Write

a thesis that describes the character or the meaning of the passage.

2. Then decide which character traits you’ll focus on (and which devices are used to portray those traits)

3. Then start proving how the characterization or meaning happens with the use of those devices.

AP Readers say… Make sure your essay has a clear ARGUABLE thesis statement which clearly reflects what you intend to discuss. Make sure your thesis is an EXACT reflection of what the prompt is asking WITHOUT simply restating the prompt. A good formula is: “The text shows X in order to show/highlight/accomplish Y.” Connect all literary devices and examples back to the author’s point. (For essay #2 this will be characterization or overall meaning of the passage)

1. Work the prompt: this means box key tasks and underline/circle important words. Number the tasks it asks you to accomplish. 2. SLOWLY close read and annotate the passage. This should take AT LEAST five minutes. 3. Think of 4-5 adjectives to describe the character and choose three that are most prominent. Figure out which literary devices SHOW this characterization – circle them. 4. Plan your paragraphs: organize by trait – this way you can write about multiple devices within single paragraphs.

Prose prompt

For Friday

Have read all of “Bel and the Serpent” Read, annotate, and analyze the sonnets I’ve posted online (our class website, NOT Classroom.) I gave you directions on the poems themselves.