2012 AP English Language and Composition Free-Response Question English Language and Composition Section II

Total Time 2 hours

Question 1 (Suggested time 40 minutes. This question counts for one-third of the total essay section score.) Directions: The following prompt is based on the accompanying six sources. This question requires you to synthesize a variety of sources into a coherent, well-written essay. When you synthesize sources, you refer to them to develop your position and cite them accurately. Your argument should be central; the sources should support the argument. Avoid merely summarizing sources. Remember to attribute both direct and indirect references. Introduction With the nation still recovering from the 2008 financial crisis that led to the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, most Americans voting say and believe that the economy and jobs were the most important issues in the 2012 election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Obama says he wants to "grow the economy from the middle out." By this he means that public investments should be made in programs that he believes will mostly benefit the middle class, such as education, infrastructure and job training. To boost the economy and lower unemployment, Romney has mostly talked about keeping tax rates low (not letting them go up), and tax reform. On regulation, Romney would repeal the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare," and the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill, reduce a number of regulations passed during the Obama administration and place limits on new regulations that add to the costs of businesses. Assignment Read the following sources (including the introductory information) carefully. Then synthesize at least three of the sources into an essay that evaluates the ideas presented by each candidate on the issue of unemployment and offers a stand on the issue (pro, con, neutral). You may refer to the sources by their titles (Source A, Source B, etc.) or by the description in parentheses.

Source A Source B Source C Source D Source E Source F

(Zeleny) (Censky) (Luhby) (Censky) (Kim) (graph)