5 Steps to a 5: AP English Literature - Estelle M. Rankin, Barbara L. Murphy 2019
How to plan your time
Set up your study program
IN THIS CHAPTER
Summary: Assess your own study patterns and preparation plans.
Key Ideas
Explore three approaches
Choose a calendar that works for you
Three Approaches to Preparing for the AP Literature Exam
No one knows your study habits, likes, and dislikes better than you do. So you are the only one who can decide which approach you want and/or need to adopt to prepare for the Advanced Placement Literature exam. Look at the brief profiles below. These may help you to place yourself in a particular prep mode.
You’re a full-year prep student (Approach A) if:
1. You’re the kind of person who likes to plan for a vacation or the prom a year in advance.
2. You’d never think of missing a practice session, whether it’s your favorite sport, musical instrument, or activity.
3. You like detailed planning and everything in its place.
4. You feel you must be thoroughly prepared.
5. You hate surprises.
6. You’re always early for appointments.
You’re a one-semester prep student (Approach B) if:
1. You begin to plan for your vacation or the prom 4—5 months before the event.
2. You are willing to plan ahead so that you will feel comfortable in stressful situations, but you are okay with skipping some details.
3. You feel more comfortable when you know what to expect, but a surprise or two does not floor you.
4. You’re always on time for appointments.
You’re a 4—6 week prep student (Approach C) if:
1. You accept or find a date for the prom a week before the big day.
2. You work best under pressure and tight deadlines.
3. You feel very confident with the skills and background you’ve gained in your AP Literature class.
4. You decided late in the year to take the exam.
5. You like surprises.
6. You feel okay if you arrive 10—15 minutes late for an appointment.
CALENDARS FOR PREPARING FOR THE AP LITERATURE EXAM
This is a personal journey, and each of you will have particular time constraints. Choose the calendar that will work best for you.
Calendar for Approach A: Yearlong Preparation for the AP Literature Exam
Although its primary purpose is to prepare you for the AP Literature exam you will take in May, this book can enrich your study of literature, your analytical skills, and your writing skills.
SEPTEMBER—OCTOBER (Check off the activities as you complete them.)
_______ Determine the student mode into which you place yourself.
_______ Carefully read Chapters 1 and 2.
_______ Pay close attention to the walk through the Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Take a close look at the AP Central website(s).
_______ Skim the Comprehensive Review section.
_______ Buy a highlighter.
_______ Flip through the entire book. Break in the book. Write in it. Highlight it.
_______ Get a clear picture of what your own school’s AP Literature curriculum is.
_______ Review the Bibliography and establish a pattern of outside reading in the literary genres (pp. 221—223).
_______ Begin to use the book as a resource.
NOVEMBER (The first 10 weeks have elapsed.)
_______ Write the free-response essay in the Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Compare your essay with the sample student essays.
_______ Refer to the section on the free-response essay.
_______ Take five of our prompts and write solid opening paragraphs.
DECEMBER
_______ Maintain notes on literary works you studied in and out of class.
_______ Refine your analytical skills.
_______ Write the prose passage or poetry essay in the Diagnostic/Master exam. (This will depend on the organization of your own curriculum.)
_______ Compare your essay with sample student essays.
JANUARY (20 weeks have elapsed.)
_______ Write the third essay in the Diagnostic/Master exam. (This will depend on the one you did previously.)
_______ Compare your essay with sample student essays.
FEBRUARY
_______ Take the multiple-choice section of the Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Carefully go over the explanations of the answers to the questions.
_______ Score yourself honestly.
_______ Make a note of terms, concepts, and types of questions that give you difficulty.
_______ Review troublesome terms in the Glossary.
MARCH (30 weeks have elapsed.)
_______ Form a study group.
_______ Outline or create a chart for full-length works that would be appropriate for the free-response essay.
_______ Choose a favorite poem and create an essay question to go with it, or use one of our suggested prompts.
_______ Choose a prose passage or essay and create an essay question to go with it, or choose one of our suggested prompts.
_______ Write the poetry essay.
_______ Write the prose essay.
_______ Compare essays and rate them with your study group. (Use our rubrics.)
APRIL
_______ Take Practice Test 1 in the first week of April.
_______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct your weaknesses.
_______ Practice creating multiple-choice questions of different types with your study group.
_______ Develop and review worksheets for and with your study group.
MAY—First 2 Weeks (THIS IS IT!)
_______ Highlight only those things in the Glossary you are still unsure of. Ask your teacher for clarification. Study!
_______ Thoroughly prepare three to five complete, full-length works; include several quotations that you can work into various responses.
_______ Write at least three times a week under timed conditions.
_______ Take Practice Test 2.
_______ Score yourself.
_______ Give yourself a pat on the back for how much you have learned and improved over the past 9 months.
_______ Go to the movies. Call a friend.
_______ Get a good night’s sleep. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.
GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST.
Calendar for Approach B:
Semester-Long Preparation for the AP Literature Exam
Working under the assumption that you’ve completed one semester of literature studies, apply those skills you’ve learned to prepare for the May exam.
You have plenty of time to supplement your course work by taking our study recommendations, maintaining literary notations, doing outside readings, and so on.
We divide the next 16 weeks into a workable program of preparation for you.
JANUARY—FEBRUARY (Check off the activities as you complete them.)
_______ Carefully read Chapters 1 and 2.
_______ Write the three essays in the Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Compare your essays with the sample student essays.
_______ Complete the multiple-choice section of the Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Carefully go over the answers and explanations of the answers.
_______ Take a close look at the Bibliography for suggestions on possible outside readings.
MARCH (10 weeks to go.)
_______ Form a study group.
_______ Outline or create a chart for full-length works that would be appropriate for the free-response essay.
_______ Choose a favorite poem and create an essay question to go with it, or use one of our suggested prompts.
_______ Choose a prose passage or essay and create an essay question to go with it, or choose one of our suggested prompts.
_______ Write the poetry essay.
_______ Write the prose essay.
_______ Compare essays and rate them with your study group. (Use our rubrics.)
APRIL
_______ Take Practice Test 1 in the first week of April.
_______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct your weaknesses.
_______ Practice creating multiple-choice questions of different types with your study group.
_______ Develop and review worksheets for and with your study group.
MAY First 2 Weeks (THIS IS IT!)
_______ Highlight only those things in the Glossary you are still unsure of. Ask your teacher for clarification. Study!
_______ Thoroughly prepare at least three to five complete, full-length works; include several quotations that you can work into various questions.
_______ Write at least three times a week under timed conditions.
_______ Take Practice Test 2.
_______ Score yourself.
_______ Give yourself a pat on the back for how much you have learned and improved over the past 9 months.
_______ Go to the movies. Call a friend.
_______ Get a good night’s sleep. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.
GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST.
Calendar for Approach C:
4—6 Week Preparation for the AP Literature Exam
“One of the first steps to success on the AP exam is knowing your own study habits.”
—Margaret R. AP English teacher
At this point, we are going to assume that you have been developing your literary, analytical, and writing skills in your English class for more than 6 months. You will, therefore, use this book primarily as a specific guide to the AP Literature exam.
Remember, there is a solid review section in this text to which you should refer.
Given the time constraints, now is not the time to try to expand your AP Literature background. Rather, it is the time to limit and refine what you already know.
APRIL
_______ Skim through Chapters 1 and 2.
_______ Carefully go over the “rapid reviews.”
_______ Strengthen, clarify, and correct areas you are weak in after taking the Diagnostic/Master exam.
_______ Write a minimum of three sample opening paragraphs for each of the three types of essays.
_______ Write a minimum of two timed essays for each type of essay on the exam.
_______ Complete Practice Test 1.
_______ Score yourself and analyze your errors.
_______ Refer to appropriate chapters to correct your weaknesses.
_______ Refer to the Bibliography.
_______ If you feel unfamiliar with specific poetic forms, refer to the list of suggested, appropriate works.
_______ Create review sheets for three to five solid, full-length works.
_______ Skim and highlight the Glossary.
_______ Develop a weekly study group to hear each other’s essays and to discuss literature.
MAY—First 2 Weeks (THIS IS IT!)
_______ Complete Practice Test 2.
_______ Score yourself and analyze your errors.
_______ Refer to appropriate chapters to correct your weaknesses.
_______ Go to the movies. Call a friend.
_______ Get a good night’s sleep. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.
GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST.