Hello! For my AP Lit semester final, we were assigned the impromptu #3 and I watched this video to prepare. Low and behold, I ended up earning a perfect score! I genuinely believe that I wouldn't have earned that grade without this vid! I cannot thank you enough! Liked & subscribed
Thank you so much for posting your videos about the AP test. I’m freaking out for my test tomorrow, I just want to do really well. I was thinking about focusing on Pride & Prejudice, Frankenstein, and King Lear. Do you think these are some good options or should I swap one out? Again thank you, I am a bit more confident now.
I suggest choosing two of those and sticking with them. Review them really closely and any of them would work. You just have to know details you can use.
Hi, thank your for the time you put into making these videos. I was considering focusing on Wuthering Heights, Hamlet, and Candide just in case they have a curve ball Q3 this year like you mentioned. Do you think these are good choices? I'm also concerned about finding meritorious hooks for each of these pieces, any ideas on where to start?
That sounds like a good range of works to use. I actually made a separate video about essay hooks, if you want to check it out. I just went up a week or two ago. Good luck tomorrow! 😁
Do you need to remember quotations? Or can you just paraphrase? Also, does the length of the essay matter? Like what would be the the ideal length, in your opinion? PS: I am deciding to review/study Hamlet and Catcher in the Rye for the Open Question Essay? Do you think they're too similar or they should cover pretty much everything?
Great questions! 1) You don't have to remember quotations (but if you know a few already, use them!) Close paraphrase - getting as close to the text as possible - is all they expect. 2) Err on the side of writing a longer essay, if you have time. I would recommend writing no less than four pages in the booklet they give you. That will give you the chance to really develop your argument. If you only have two great pages... that's better than two mediocre pages, but you'll get docked for not having enough persuasive depth. 3) Woo hoo! Great choices! They are thematically similar, but the style and time period are vastly different. As long as you know those works well enough, you should be able to field any question. I mean, if the question asks about humor, Hamlet and Polonius are there for you! Good luck!
The Fountainhead, Catcher in the Rye, and The Old Man and the Sea are my choices. Not too much variety but I know these works backwards and forwards. A bonus might be Old School but I haven't decided yet.
The most important thing is that you know the works super well. If you do, you can adapt them to almost any prompt. I have a girl in my class this year who can practically quote hers, and her essays have been great. It’s a little risky not having more variety of theme and such, but it sounds like you’re set up for success. 😊
Thank you for this video! I've been recently reviewing books including The Awakening, Frankenstein, and Othello for the free response prompt. Do you believe that these three novels are different enough to cover such a wide range of possible prompts? Also, what would be good hooks for these books? If it helps to be more specific, what would be good hooks to cover their main themes?
Those should be able to cover quite a wide range! I notice you said “including.” I would stop at three, or else you might see the list of options and be tempted to run off after something you’re less familiar with. For each of those works, a good place to find a hook would be the first time the theme appears. Take the talking bird at the beginning of the Awakening - “Get out! Get out!” Or Iago’s first conversation with Roderigo at the beginning of Othello - “I am not what I am” - the exact opposite of the name of God. You have several themes to work with. Write down one or two per work, and I’m sure you’ll think of other moments you can point to as you start off your essay with a bang! :)
my three books that i know well is the stranger from albert camus, fight club from chuck palahnuik, and shes come undone by wally lamb, i hope these books are pretty solid for me
AMAZING VIDEO! Super helpful for my last minute cram! Thanks for all the help. I have a quick question on my three review books. I have chosen: A Streetcar Named Desire, The Good Earth, and The Great Gatsby. Do you think that these cover enough of a spectrum for my open essay?
Definitely! If the prompt doesn’t seem to fit one of those, stick to your guns, choose one, and get creative. Having a non-standard (but persuasive) answer to the question is better than relying on summarizing a book you didn’t prepare. Good luck tomorrow!
Thank you for these videos!! They’ve helped me so much :) my 3 books are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, The Road, and The Kiterunner. Do you think I have enough variety? Or should I swap one of them out?
Can I use Susan Kay's "Phantom"? Or would it be better to use Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera? I absolutely love both books and I think I'd do good if I used them but I don't know if they have enough literary merit??? I absolutely love the conflict of Erik's character in the Susan Kay novel.
I’ll be honest - I haven’t heard of “Phantom.” Phantom of the Opera should be fine, though. Honestly, I’d get a second opinion on your first choice, but the main thing is how excellent your essay is. Can you give persuasive and insightful analysis using close, close details from both works? If so, you should be absolutely fine. :)
Thank you for these videos. They’ve been very helpful!!! I know it’s the wrong video but the video on hooks was especially helpful. Do you think Macbeth, Things Fall Apart and Medea are diverse enough topics for the open essay?
Thanks! They all have pretty dark tones, so I’d suggest keeping an important lighter scene in mind for one of them just in case you get an off the wall question about humor or something (it’s happened!) but you can definitely make those work. Good luck! 😁
Essays, definitely. Review literary devices and whatnot for the multiple choice, but the essays are worth more and you have more power over their quality.
thank you for all of the helpful advice! I am taking my exam in a few weeks. I was wondering if Hamlet, The Catcher in the Rye, and The Bell Jar would be good pieces to use for the open response question?
Hey thank you for posting this video! I found it very helpful. I was wondering if you could give me some examples of the hooks that you were talking about. If it helps, the works that I have chosen are the tale of two cities and the kite runner! Thanks again!
There are a ton of ways to hook your reader - the main thing is to avoid restating the prompt. A few years ago, the open question prompt (and I know I'm not supposed to know) was about sacrifice. A couple hooks to start answering a question about that might go like this: "Although Miss Pross isn't the first person that comes to mind when discussing sacrifice in Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, her single-minded devotion to Lucie illustrates the whole point of the novel." Or another option: "Twenty-three. That's the number that signals Sydney Carton's ultimate sacrifice." I hope those examples help. As long as you say something specific and relevant to kick things off, you'll be fine. Best of luck!
Hello! Thank you for this video it is very helpful! I was thinking about studying Heart of Darkness, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Death of a Salesman. Do you think this is a good selection?
Those are fantastic! I appreciate the variety. Just remember that detail. You chose popular works (especially Heart of Darkness) so the AP graders will read tons of essays about them. Yours has to shine with specifics. If you do that, though, you’re golden!
Are you talking about examples of essay hooks? If that’s true case, check out my replies to earlier comments - I give quite a few there. If you want different examples, just let me know. The more specific you are, the better I can help!
English Nerd Yes, I meant examples of the essay. Specifically, how to write an intriguing start to the essay? Thanks a lot. I will look through the comments and ask you if I need any help 😊
Absolutely! It’s more about the detail you use to make a persuasive argument than choosing just the right works. My only tiny hesitation is that they’re both quite dark and have a lot of thematic similarities. On the off chance that the prompt talks about humor or something, you’ll have to get extra creative. :)
i dont know if you'll even respond to this in time but im so confused when you say make "a perceptive point," and also when you say "why does this matter" or the "so what moment." im confused what you mean , can you give me 3 examples of these "so what moments" or soemthing that is further analysis? thank you because advice is good but without examples im left scratching my head. have a nice day!
Hello! For my AP Lit semester final, we were assigned the impromptu #3 and I watched this video to prepare. Low and behold, I ended up earning a perfect score! I genuinely believe that I wouldn't have earned that grade without this vid! I cannot thank you enough!
Liked & subscribed
That is so great to hear! Congratulations!
I haven't read any of the books on the list thanks to my teacher! Wish me luck I should be fine though I got a 5 on Lang last year
Luck!
Good luck!
Hi! My teacher linked these videos to our class assignments (since we're learning online) and honestly, I think it's pretty helpful! Thank youu!!
I’m so glad you found them helpful. I know these tips have helped me! 😊
Thank you so much for posting your videos about the AP test. I’m freaking out for my test tomorrow, I just want to do really well. I was thinking about focusing on Pride & Prejudice, Frankenstein, and King Lear. Do you think these are some good options or should I swap one out? Again thank you, I am a bit more confident now.
Jill Sny I’m taking it tomorrow too! I think those are good choices. It is always good to focus on a Shakespeare play! Good luck!
Ah, good luck! I'm doing it tomorrow too, so this is my last minute cram. King lear and Frankenstein are also on my list, btw.
I agree. Those are great choices. Good luck, tomorrow!
do you think The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath would work? I am also considering A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Kite Runner, and Jane Eyre@@englishnerd5580
I suggest choosing two of those and sticking with them. Review them really closely and any of them would work. You just have to know details you can use.
me preparing for our first in class practice Q3 over 1984 and not remembering that scene with the book right next to me
Used this in my class today. Thanks for posting!
Hi, thank your for the time you put into making these videos. I was considering focusing on Wuthering Heights, Hamlet, and Candide just in case they have a curve ball Q3 this year like you mentioned. Do you think these are good choices? I'm also concerned about finding meritorious hooks for each of these pieces, any ideas on where to start?
That sounds like a good range of works to use. I actually made a separate video about essay hooks, if you want to check it out. I just went up a week or two ago. Good luck tomorrow! 😁
Do you need to remember quotations? Or can you just paraphrase? Also, does the length of the essay matter? Like what would be the the ideal length, in your opinion?
PS: I am deciding to review/study Hamlet and Catcher in the Rye for the Open Question Essay? Do you think they're too similar or they should cover pretty much everything?
Great questions! 1) You don't have to remember quotations (but if you know a few already, use them!) Close paraphrase - getting as close to the text as possible - is all they expect. 2) Err on the side of writing a longer essay, if you have time. I would recommend writing no less than four pages in the booklet they give you. That will give you the chance to really develop your argument. If you only have two great pages... that's better than two mediocre pages, but you'll get docked for not having enough persuasive depth. 3) Woo hoo! Great choices! They are thematically similar, but the style and time period are vastly different. As long as you know those works well enough, you should be able to field any question. I mean, if the question asks about humor, Hamlet and Polonius are there for you! Good luck!
The Fountainhead, Catcher in the Rye, and The Old Man and the Sea are my choices. Not too much variety but I know these works backwards and forwards. A bonus might be Old School but I haven't decided yet.
The most important thing is that you know the works super well. If you do, you can adapt them to almost any prompt. I have a girl in my class this year who can practically quote hers, and her essays have been great. It’s a little risky not having more variety of theme and such, but it sounds like you’re set up for success. 😊
Thank you for this video! I've been recently reviewing books including The Awakening, Frankenstein, and Othello for the free response prompt. Do you believe that these three novels are different enough to cover such a wide range of possible prompts? Also, what would be good hooks for these books? If it helps to be more specific, what would be good hooks to cover their main themes?
Those should be able to cover quite a wide range! I notice you said “including.” I would stop at three, or else you might see the list of options and be tempted to run off after something you’re less familiar with.
For each of those works, a good place to find a hook would be the first time the theme appears. Take the talking bird at the beginning of the Awakening - “Get out! Get out!” Or Iago’s first conversation with Roderigo at the beginning of Othello - “I am not what I am” - the exact opposite of the name of God.
You have several themes to work with. Write down one or two per work, and I’m sure you’ll think of other moments you can point to as you start off your essay with a bang! :)
my three books that i know well is the stranger from albert camus, fight club from chuck palahnuik, and shes come undone by wally lamb, i hope these books are pretty solid for me
AMAZING VIDEO! Super helpful for my last minute cram! Thanks for all the help. I have a quick question on my three review books. I have chosen: A Streetcar Named Desire, The Good Earth, and The Great Gatsby. Do you think that these cover enough of a spectrum for my open essay?
Definitely! If the prompt doesn’t seem to fit one of those, stick to your guns, choose one, and get creative. Having a non-standard (but persuasive) answer to the question is better than relying on summarizing a book you didn’t prepare. Good luck tomorrow!
Thank you for these videos!! They’ve helped me so much :) my 3 books are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, The Road, and The Kiterunner. Do you think I have enough variety? Or should I swap one of them out?
lilly ? The kite runner for sure. I love me some rape action
Definitely enough variety. You gave different themes, genres, tones... If you know those well enough, you’re golden!
Can I use Susan Kay's "Phantom"? Or would it be better to use Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera? I absolutely love both books and I think I'd do good if I used them but I don't know if they have enough literary merit??? I absolutely love the conflict of Erik's character in the Susan Kay novel.
I’ll be honest - I haven’t heard of “Phantom.” Phantom of the Opera should be fine, though. Honestly, I’d get a second opinion on your first choice, but the main thing is how excellent your essay is. Can you give persuasive and insightful analysis using close, close details from both works? If so, you should be absolutely fine. :)
@@englishnerd5580 Ah, thank you for replying! I feel honored :)!!!!
Thank you for these videos. They’ve been very helpful!!! I know it’s the wrong video but the video on hooks was especially helpful.
Do you think Macbeth, Things Fall Apart and Medea are diverse enough topics for the open essay?
Thanks! They all have pretty dark tones, so I’d suggest keeping an important lighter scene in mind for one of them just in case you get an off the wall question about humor or something (it’s happened!) but you can definitely make those work. Good luck! 😁
Essays, definitely. Review literary devices and whatnot for the multiple choice, but the essays are worth more and you have more power over their quality.
thank you for all of the helpful advice! I am taking my exam in a few weeks. I was wondering if Hamlet, The Catcher in the Rye, and The Bell Jar would be good pieces to use for the open response question?
Those choices are perfect! A great range of times and styles. 😊
My go to books that I had to read in class were Jane Eyre and Hamlet. What do you think?
Good luck ap gang
Hey thank you for posting this video! I found it very helpful.
I was wondering if you could give me some examples of the hooks that you were talking about. If it helps, the works that I have chosen are the tale of two cities and the kite runner! Thanks again!
There are a ton of ways to hook your reader - the main thing is to avoid restating the prompt.
A few years ago, the open question prompt (and I know I'm not supposed to know) was about sacrifice. A couple hooks to start answering a question about that might go like this: "Although Miss Pross isn't the first person that comes to mind when discussing sacrifice in Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, her single-minded devotion to Lucie illustrates the whole point of the novel." Or another option: "Twenty-three. That's the number that signals Sydney Carton's ultimate sacrifice."
I hope those examples help. As long as you say something specific and relevant to kick things off, you'll be fine. Best of luck!
Hello! Thank you for this video it is very helpful! I was thinking about studying Heart of Darkness, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Death of a Salesman. Do you think this is a good selection?
Those are fantastic! I appreciate the variety. Just remember that detail. You chose popular works (especially Heart of Darkness) so the AP graders will read tons of essays about them. Yours has to shine with specifics. If you do that, though, you’re golden!
the importance of being earnest is where it's at. i used it on my mock for an open-ended humor question and i got a 5!
I agree. The play is hilarious! Wish I’d had time to teach it this year.
Hello! Would Frankenstein and The Great gatsby be good books for covering these?
Yes! It all depends on how you talk about them. If you know them very well, then sure.
@@englishnerd5580 ok thank you!
Yes, I need examples 😊 That would be really kind of you.
Are you talking about examples of essay hooks? If that’s true case, check out my replies to earlier comments - I give quite a few there.
If you want different examples, just let me know. The more specific you are, the better I can help!
English Nerd Yes, I meant examples of the essay. Specifically, how to write an intriguing start to the essay?
Thanks a lot. I will look through the comments and ask you if I need any help 😊
My go-to book: East of Eden.
Hello!! My 2 books are Wuthering Heights and Heart of Darkness, are those good? 😃
Absolutely! It’s more about the detail you use to make a persuasive argument than choosing just the right works. My only tiny hesitation is that they’re both quite dark and have a lot of thematic similarities. On the off chance that the prompt talks about humor or something, you’ll have to get extra creative. :)
@@englishnerd5580 okay thank you for your informative response!
i dont know if you'll even respond to this in time but im so confused when you say make "a perceptive point," and also when you say "why does this matter" or the "so what moment." im confused what you mean , can you give me 3 examples of these "so what moments" or soemthing that is further analysis? thank you because advice is good but without examples im left scratching my head. have a nice day!
this was awesome !!! thanks a lot.
Glad I could help! 😊
Test starts rn