AP Seminar Exam review

EOC A

1. Identify the argument.

2. Explain the line of reasoning.
a. Identifying all the claims and explaining connection between them
b. The line of reasoning is how the author constructs the argument.
3. Evaluate the Evidence
a. Tie the claims back to the overall argument.
b. How credible are the sources.
c. Relevance as to how appropriate are the sources in supporting the authors claims.
d. Connect the evidence to the claims.

Strategies

- Consider writing Q2 and Q3 before Q1

- Remember the objectives of each question: Identify, Explain, Evaluate
- Anywhere between 30-40 minutes
- Mark up the text

Tips for answering each question.

- Question 1
o 1-2 focus sentence (short but thorough)
o Look at the structure of the text to determine parts of the arguments.
o Avoid overgeneralization (go into specific detail of the argument)
- Question 2
o Don’t restate the argument but rather explain why and how the writer crafts the
argument.
o Underline and mark up the text with “C” for claim.
o Author’s claims are usually found at the beginning or end of a paragraph.
o Move chronologically through the article.
o Make sure to focus the response on explanation and not summary.
o Mainly explaining the connection between the claims.
o Explain the line of reasoning sentence that will help construct answer for Question 2:
 The author presents the scenario that….
 The author contrast this with….
 The author supports this claim by…
 The author follows this with an explanation of why…
 The author outlines multiple examples of…
 The author applies their claims to…
 The author addresses the counterargument by…
- Question 3
o Judge or determine.
o Underline specific pieces of evidence with “E.”
o Choose key pieces of evidence and evaluate their relevance, credibility, and connections
to the claims.
o Make sure to explain why and what makes the evidence strong, credible, or weak.
o Must be evaluative response.
o Use an objective tone. Be an impartial judge.
o We are evaluating individual pieces of evidence rather than a whole.
o Point out claims that are strongly supported with evidence and claims that have no
evidence.
o Address partially effective claims and evidence
o Evaluate the Evidence helpful phrases:
 This evidence is particularly effective because…
 The argument could be strengthened had the author included…
 This evidence is clearly credible because…
 By incorporating…the author successfully underscored…
 First, the author establishes his/her own credibility by…
 The author successfully supports the point that…by…
 This evidence directly supports the claim by…
 This evidence is not convincing because…
 The author provides no evidence to support this claim.
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