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I'm a little stressed about the AP English Language and Composition exam, mainly the argumentative essay. What's the best structure/strategy for this type of essay? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
No need to stress, you're tackling this head-on and that's great! Here's a general structure you could follow:
1. Introduction: Start by introducing the issue at hand. Remember to contextualize it within a broader scope to make your argument more persuasive. Finish the introduction with your thesis statement, clearly stating your stand on the issue.
2. Claim: Make your first claim that supports your thesis statement. This should be a point that you can argue for, with substantial evidence.
3. Evidence: Provide solid evidence that supports your claim. For the AP English Language and Composition essay, this is usually a logical assumption, a real-world example, or a reference to an authority on the issue. Be sure to explain how this evidence supports your claim.
4. Counterargument: Anticipate possible counterarguments to your claim. This shows that you're considering all perspectives and makes your argument more balanced.
5. Rebuttal: Rebut the counterargument you've mentioned. Explain why your claim is still valid in spite of the counterargument.
6. Repeat the Claim-Evidence-Counterargument-Rebuttal Pattern: Do this for about 2 to 3 more claims, depending on the complexity of your argument and the time available.
7. Conclusion: Round off your argument by restating your thesis statement in light of the claims and evidence you’ve presented. You can also show how your argument fits into a larger context or has broader implications.
While this is just a general structure, personal writing style also plays a big role. You might want to intertwine evidence with your claim instead of separating them, or you may choose to counter-argue as you go along each point rather than doing it separately. The point is to have a roadmap, so you don't lose your way while constructing your essay.
A good strategy is to practice past AP English Language argument essays. You can get prompts from the College Board website or your AP English Language textbook. Review the sample responses and take note of what they did well. This way, you’ll get a feel of what makes a high-scoring AP Lang argument essay. Best of luck!
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