AP Multiple Choice and Synthesis Essay Results

Hello Students,

Below are the updated and ongoing score totals so we can try and mimic the actual AP Exam piece by piece.  I've given you scores for the Synthesis Essay out of 10, but for AP scores most of you would probably get a 4 or 5 (if you scored just over 9).  I told you lower in my comments as a joke to make you angry (and therefore more inspired to try harder)  and see if you guys actually read what I put here.  Bonus marks to whoever calls me on it on Monday.: )

Check out the official AP Grading Guidelines for this essay HERE.  

Here are some tips from AP as to how to write the AP Synthesis.

The main things to keep in mind when writing these on the official exam:

1. Don't get fancy.  Get to the point - and maintain it.

2. Quality is important - but quantity to best serve a 5 paragraph structure is your best bet.  40 minutes isn't a lot.  Don't waste it on a fancy intro, padding, or meanderings.  The AP readers know you have limited time and don't expect a polished product.  They'd rather have a well developed essay than a witty yet incomplete read. 

3.  The prompt asks for "direct and indirect citations."  Clearly and effectively reference the sources and try to "quote" at least one source/expert directly.  The AP Reader is your intended audience, so don't summarize things for them.  They've read the materials hundreds of times and are well familiar.  They want to see how you can effectively work in the sources (at least 3) to support your argument (something they want to clearly find in your first few sentences).  I think it's best to use (Shaw) or (Red Cross) at the end of the sentence rather than (A) or (D).  In any case, use either one of them instead of none of them.  

ALIAS	APMC#1	APMC#2								In-Class Stythesis
Stitch	15/22	8/11								9.3/10
Gingerbread	14/22	10/11								9.1/10
Pooh	13/22	6/11								9.3/10
Tom the Cat	20/22	9/11								9.1/10
Simba	19/22	10/11								9.1/10
Peekachu	19/22	8/11								9.0/10
Nemo	22/22	11/11								9.6/10
Elmo	11/22	7/11								9.2/10
Modapi	21/22	9/11								9.1/10

Official AP Sythesis Essay: 40 Minute In-Class

Below are the scores from the first "official" AP multiple choice.  Much improved from Cliffs and Barron's, but hopefully these will improve.  Don't know your new alias? Ask me.

ALIAS	APMC#1					In-Class Stythesis
Stitch	15/22
Gingerbread	14/22
Pooh	13/22
Tom the Cat	20/22
Simba	19/22
Peekachu	19/22
Nemo	22/22
Elmo	11/22
Modapi	21/22

Hello Students,

The following is an official AP synthesis essay, which we are going to discuss and then write in class.  For best results, you might as well type these directly into your blogs and post them.

This exercise will help you prepare for your official take-home essay on the future of education, which you all have to contribute to.

To see the 6 different sources below at a larger size, right click and "view image."

Flamingo Feedback: Essay #3 Scores

 
These essays were pretty good, and I definitely got the impression that you are all reading each others work.  I think this is great, and makes the class that much more helpful.  However, some of these essays seemed too similar.  

You all did a sufficient job of analyzing Price's approach, but some of you missed out on her tone to some extent.  Like Douglass, she gets pretty sarcastic and even bitter, and she clearly identifies the pink plastic flamingo as a sad symbol of American kitsch.  This idea could, and arguably should, serve as the umbrella concept expanding over everything - be it her bold language or references to other cultures.

If you Google "Jennifer Price Flamingos" you will most likely, and very quickly, encounter other essays written for the same purposes.  Here's an essay by Chris Chen, some guy who goes to U of C.   Probably the same prompt.  And here's the AP website which has the scoring criteria (which I'm not supposed to show you guys according to some teachers - but if it helps your scores I think you should see it).

Read the student essays and read the official AP feedback at the end describing what the students did and didn't do to earn their scores.  The important thing is this essay is to have a clear idea of Price's view (that she doesn't like what the flamingo represents) and show where and how she strengthens this view.  The better scoring essays identified her distaste.  Some of your essays skirted this and I didn't really dock points for it. Most of your essays would get 4 or 5 on this.

Plato	9.3/10
Locke	9.3/10
Socrates	8.0/10
Descartes	9.2/10
Hobbes	9.2/10
Aristotle	9.3/10
Aquinas	9.2/10
Nietzsche	9.4/10
Marx	9.5/10

Sythesis Essay Assignment

A description of what a synthesis essay is, directly from AP:

What Is the Synthesis Essay on the Exam Like?

Basically, the student is presented with an introduction to and a description of an issue that has varying viewpoints associated with it. Accompanying this is a selection of sources that address the topic. These sources can be written texts that could include nonfiction, fiction, poetry, or even drama, as well as visual texts, such as photos, charts, artwork, cartoons, and so forth.

After carefully reading and annotating the sources, the student is required to respond to the given prompt with an essay that incorporates and synthesizes at least THREE of the sources in support of his position on the subject.

What Is the Purpose of the Synthesis Essay?

The College Board wants to determine how well the student can do the following:

• Read critically
• Understand texts
• Analyze texts
• Develop a position on a given topic
• Support a position on a given topic
• Support a position with appropriate evidence from outside sources
• Incorporate outside sources into the texts of the essay
• Cite sources used in the essay

The synthesis essay is a chance to demonstrate your ability to develop a "researched idea," using not only your personal viewpoint, but also the viewpoints of others. This essay is a reflection of your critical reading, thinking, and writing skills.

What Kinds of Synthesis Essays Can I Expect?

The synthesis essay has two primary approaches. The first kind of synthesis essay is one you're probably familiar with. This is the expository essay in which you develop your thesis and support it with specific examples from appropriate sources. You could develop this type of synthesis essay using any of the rhetorical strategies, such as:

• Compare and contrast
• Cause and effect
• Analysis

The second kind of synthesis essay presents an argument. Here, you take a position on a particular topic and support this position with appropriate outside sources, while indicating the weaknesses of other viewpoints.  You should be ready to write either of these two types of synthesis essays. Given the nature of the AP Language exam, however, it is more likely that you will be presented with a synthesis essay prompt that requires a response in the form of an argument. 

The important thing is to practice composing both types of synthesis essays. Practice. Practice. Being familiar and comfortable with the synthesis process is the crucial factor.

________________

For this assignment, I would like you to develop an opinion on the future of education, and argue a particular stance.  You will each be responsible for presenting one source of information to the class, using your blog as a stage.  This information can be an article, video, or any source of media that sheds light on our issue.   You have to include some points of opinion and share your impressions.  We will discuss these in class, and have graded discussions.

For the essay, you will be required to synthesize appropriate info from eachother's blogs, using at least three sources.

As a start, consider the following two videos presenting the views of Sir Ken Robinson.

In the above speech,  Sir Ken Robinson makes a case for reforming education to fit our changing times.  On the TED website, you can activate subtitles, and even read the entire transcript in just about any language. You can cut and paste from it to use in your essay.   Have fun watching this, as it's a very entertaining speech by a gifted orator.

For added fun here's an RSA Animate, where what he says is illustrated. 

As Korean students, do you feel your creativity has been suitably enhanced and encouraged since when you were young? Does KMLA meet your creative needs? Is creativity overrated? Underrated? Suitably treated in Korea's progressing education system? Is it progressing?  These are some questions to consider.  The focus of this paper should be focused generally.

Even the video below could by synthesized to become a part of your argument.   

This will be due in three weeks.  For next week, please have your source of information prepared.  You will be graded on it's value, so try to look around and find something credible, and worthy of discussion.

Practive Mini-AP Exam Results

Hello Students,

I don't know if it was because this test was written after lunch, or that I didn't play Eminem while you were writing, but we can all agree that we'd like better results without napping.  I'm sure none of you will nap during the official exam, but still we need to buckle down and take these more seriously.  

One thing that we will not be doing in the future is using Multiple Choice tests from CliffsAp, which is where these were from.  I looked the questions over more closely and the answers are, plainly speaking, arguable and subject to opinion.  A quick google turned up complaints from others, so CliffsAp is not a good resource.  Barron's has a better reputation, and, of course, the AP College Board itself is the best.  They are easier and clearer, while Cliffs is a nightmare.  So do these count?  No.  But the essay scores will.  If you didn't do so well, don't be alarmed.  We will do more of these, and I'll drop your lowest score(s) off the total when I calculate the end product.  That said, Class Participation is something I want to increase, and that particular score should not be forgotten. 

The essays were scored according to AP standards out of nine, so keep in mind 5 is about an average.

	M.C./26	M.C./20					Essay/9
Plato	4	8					6
Locke	14	11					3
Socrates	9	10					6
Hobbes	11	13					5
Aristotle	16	12					4
Aquinas	11	7					6
Nietzsche	11	9					7
Descartes	N/A	11					N/A
Marx	26	14					8

Here are the answers to the test photographed from the book.  Maybe you can read it.  Just right click and view image and zoom in if you are curious as to what the answers are (according to Cliffs).