Product Description

This blueprint to acing the essay uses real-life situations, exam approximated experiences, simulated practices, humor, and examples from various subject areas to define exactly what comprises a first-rate AP essay. It also presents the four modes of discourse, explaining how each is used on the AP essay portion of the exam, and examines the basic rhetorical strategies and techniques with samples and practice activities.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #230972 in Books
• Published on: 2003-12-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author

Barbara L. Murphy is a reader of the AP Language and Composition exam, a consultant for the College Board's A Language and Composition and its Building for Success divisions, and is on the faculty of Syracuse University's Project Advance in English.

Estelle Rankin was honored with the AP Literature Teacher of the Year award by the College Board in 1996. She also received the Long Island Teacher of the Year award in 1990 and the Cornell University Presidential Scholar's award.

Customer Reviews

Ace the Exam!
This is an excellent review workbook for AP English writing exams. As a high school AP teacher, I am using this as a textbook in my junior and senior English classes with much success. The text is easy to read and very visual; that is, important points are highlighted, while activities are clearly noted with eye-catching icons. Most importantly, information found in this text is accurate and pertinent. Topics include modes of discourse (narration, exposition, etc.), rhetorical strategies and devices, in addition to vocabulary work, rubrics for scoring, etc. Adequate explanation and practice activities are provided, as well as sample student essays and AP exam questions. HIGHLY recommended for both students and teachers alike!

5 Steps to a 5 on the AP: Writing the AP English Essay
You've got to get this book. As an AP English teacher, I found this book to be a great workbook for my students from day one of the course. It gives them a student-friendly approach to the language, practice and exams connected to the AP English course. I teach both Lit and Lang and have used it in each with tremendous success. By the way, it's a valuable resource tool for the AP English teacher, too.

It worked!
I got this book about two months before the AP English exam to self-study for the AP test. This book helped me immensely to familiarize myself with some of the rather different requirements and focuses of the AP test. I did not have time to do all the drills in the book, but still managed to score a 5. :) I am quite positive that I would have scored a two or a three without this book. The book focuses almost exclusively on the writing portion of the exam-exactly what I was looking for. About half the book was devoted to the English Language test, and the other half to the English Literature test. (I didn't use the English literature portion of the book, so no review for that part.) The book does an excellent job of explaining the format and preparing one for what is on the test. I highly recommend it!