APLang : MCQ, FRQ &

Course advice
Trinity Dickerson
MCQ Advice
 Multiple Choice Questions Advice
-Briefly read the questions, but don’t spend over a minute looking at them. Reading over the
questions helps you familiarize and prepare yourself with what you’re about to read.
***especially acknowledge questions asking about main ideas “(ex: based on the passage the
authors feels this way about that...this character’s attitude towards this occurrence is….)

-write questions throughout the term, multiple choice questions can be difficult but maybe a
lecture or some notes about the material can refreshing your mind

- rephrase the question, making sure the questions valid. Make the question easier for you to
understand and to answer.

- emphasize high level thinking, & think outside the box & really think in deft. About the topic.
Also come back to tricky questions and focus on the ones that are easier to understand to you.
FRQ Advice
 Free Response Questions
-Spend 5 to 10 (?) minutes creating an outline for what you’re about to write. Use one to three
letter words to summarize what it is you want to write per paragraph. This usually feels
unnecessary and time consuming but you’ll come to realize many times you’ll stop to collect
your thoughts or come up with something on the spot (which may decrease your accuracy and
sophistication or lead you to accidentally repeat thoughts). You may feel stumped because you
didn't formulate.

(example: Claim #1 explanation evidence / example

-Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself. Like Mr. Grether says, “show them that you know that
you know that you know.
-Avoid words like “you” and substitute it for something like “one”. Substitute “can” for “may.”
Avoid absolute terms like “all, none, must, every”
 Counterclaims
Not every single prompt requires a counterclaim. If you can envision a counterclaim that will
appropriately fit your specific essay, then add it in. However, if adding in a counterclaim seems
unnecessary for your topic, then do not add it in. Usually you can tell if you’re stumped in outlining.

(ex: 2012 prompt “argue your relationship between certainty and doubt”
Response: they are inversely proportional (one goes up, other goes down)

What would the counterclaim be? Maybe discusses they’re opposite, but that is still a relationship
they hold, just like being inversely proportional, so it is not exactly a counterclaim.)

When you write an essay centered around a claim many will likely argue against, add your
counterclaim in the beginning, after your introduction. This is because you will have to work harder to
get people onto your side concerning the topic. So, by adding a counterclaim in the beginning to
refute what the reader was going to argue against, you have a better chance at opening them up to
what your position is.

When you write an essay centered around a claim many will likely agree with, add your counterclaim
at the end. This is because you don't have to work as hard to get them onto your side considering your
position on the topic.
 Synthesis
Make sure you have your position / side on the given topic already in mind. That way, you
don’t have to read through every source. You would only have to skim read or read the first few
sentences to know whether or not that specific source is shares your position on the topic or
not. Highlight (or copy and paste into the textbox) any quotes from the passage that you plan
to use for your evidence. Bullet point any claims that come to mind, and write down what
source(s )connect to / inspired that claim as you read through them.

(example: - its preserves more energy (source 7) (source 1)

- Do not build your explanation around your evidence, but your evidence around
your explanation.

-It is strongly recommended to have at least one of your sources consist of a

visual. This shows you are skilled in analyzation.

-Answer the prompt! Be aware of whether or not the question wants you to pick
a side, or rather state the options / considerations / qualities of the topic itself.
 Rhetorical Analysis
As you read, highlight any phrases and quotes from the text that consists of
any rhetorical choices you notice. Write down what rhetorical choice it was
next to the quote.

Make sure the last sentences of any explanation is a connection to how that
rhetorical choice helps the writer portray his message.

As you read the passage, write down what you think the claim is. This should
come to you early on so you’re able to highlight which rhetorical choices
strengthen the author’s claim / purpose.
 Argument
Don’t entrap your mind into only coming up with education-based examples or evidences to
backup your claim. Your claim does not need to be something education-based either. It is best
to go with something you have a high knowledge about and can go into depth with in terms of
explanation.

(ex: prompt: Explain one overrated thing

your response: broccoli is overrated)

Make sure you always answer the “so what?” question when it comes to argument.

(ex: Broccoli is overrated because it’s not that high in nutrition (idk).

Did you realize how that does not exactly show why it’s overrated? It may have a flaw, but why
is that necessarily overrated?
General Advice
for the course
 General Advice for the Course
When it comes to this course, the workload may seem like a lot but if you do it in a timely
fashion then it should come easily for some. Time management is a big part of achieving in this
class. This class can give you great opportunities that will help you in college and life. You
learn how to form coherent essays that will help you when taking the exam at the end of the
year. Make sure you ask questions and understand the material taught in class because when it
comes time for the exam you won’t be able to ask questions then. If there is something that
you don’t understand or you are confused about don’t be afraid to ask you teacher for help,
that’s one of the reasons they are there for to help you.