Practice Makes Perfect!

As the title of this blog suggests, practicing these prompts leading up to the exam will help you to do your best on the exam. Additionally, practicing how to argue is at the heart of AP Language and Composition. You have read and analyzed many, many arguments and have written your own. This prompt is about community service, so many of the information you might want to use is fresh! I implore you to try this pre-writing exercise and upon completing it, set a timer for 40 minutes and go to town! Make sure your essay is fully developed. When you are finished writing it, click on the link below and read the samples. After checking the samples, choose and comment on three of your classmates' essays. Give them a score and give a synopsis of why you awarded the score you did. Be specific and refer to their argument. Do not just say it is good or that you liked it, comment on what was good about it and what they might consider improving.
Pre writing Question 3

Scroll Down to Question 3

Sample Responses

To Serve, Or Not to Serve, That is the Question!

http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-high-schools-require-community-service

Should students be required to complete community service hours in order to graduate? Make sure you establish your ethos, and that you appeal to logos and pathos. Your initial entry must be at least 350 words.

What's All the "Jazz" About?

The Real Women Who Inspired "Chicago"  Read this article. Also, take a good look at the original poster for the show. 
Why, in the 1920's was the public so riveted by homicides committed by women? Did it involve the changing image of women in the jazz age? How did the history of the time in which the original play and subsequent musical were created impact the success of the show? And why is it still so popular today?

(Your Name) of the Americas

Read and consider the poem Child of the Americas by Aurora Levins Morales

            I am a child of the Americas,

            A light-skinned mestiza (Mischling) of the Caribbean,

            A child of many diaspora (verstreute Völker), born into this continent at a crossroads.

            I am a U.S. Puerto Rican Jew,

5           A product of the ghettos of New York I have never known.

            An immigrant and the daughter and granddaughter of immigrants.

            I speak English with passion: it’s the tongue of my consciousness,

            A flashing knife blade (Klinge) of cristal, my tool, my craft.

            I am Caribeña (aus der Karibik), island grown. Spanish is my flesh,

10         Ripples (fließen) from my tongue, lodges (wörtl. logieren, wohnen) in my hips:

            The language of garlic (Knoblauch) and mangoes,

            The singing of poetry, the flying gestures of my hands.

            I am of Latinoamerica, rooted in the history of my continent:

            I speak from that body.

15         I am not African. Africa is in me, but I cannot return.

            I am not taína (Name eines Indianerstammes). Taíno is in me, but there is no way back.

            I am not European. Europe lives in me, but I have no home there.

            I am new. History made me. My first language was spanglish.

            I was born at the crossroads

20         And I am whole.

After reading the poem, decide what the tone of the poem is. Cite specific words that support your response.  How does the speaker describe herself? Why does Morales introduce the characteristics in the order that she does? Speak about the structure of the poem. And finally, what is the argument that Morales makes?

After an analysis, write a poem about yourself that mimics this poem, its structure and its tone. It does not need be about your nationality, but that is okay too, but I want to encourage you to be creative! Have fun with it.