AP Literature Normal Community West High School English Department Mrs.

Garard

A Few Do s and Don ts

Let s start with the Don ts 1. Trying to Say avoid using this phrase at all costs. The authors that we read aren t trying at anything. They are, um, pretty accomplished people, and they may be insulted that they tried but didn t quite get there. Deeper Meaning this becomes code for I don t have the vocabulary to say what I m really thinking Flows -again, code for not having the precise vocabulary you need to express yourself. For instance, For example these phrases reveal your inability to transition by using your thinking. These phrases signal a lack of internal coherence. Your ideas should build on each previous idea. Trust your reader to follow you if you lead them down the correct path. Don t use vague pronouns!! He, She, It, They, That, These only mean something if you ve used an antecedent. Don t assume that the quote you use will speak for itself. This is one of the TOP mistakes that AP writers make. You know why you chose a quote but your reader doesn t. It is incumbent upon you to break down your quote to the word and sometimes even sound level to show your analysis. See below:

2. 3. 4.

5. 6.

7. Kinnell uses words that reveal the connection between blackberries and words. He says, . . . like strength or squinched.

Kinnell uses words that reveal the connection between blackberries and words. His use of strength and more particularly, squinched mirror the action of one s mouth as he both chews a berry, and chews on and eventually pronounces, just the right word.

How about some Do s? 1. Do place all commas inside of quotation marks (i.e. blah, blah, blah, ) 2. Do cite line numbers when referring to poetry, page numbers for prose. There is no need to internally cite the poet s name if it is already clear in the surrounding context who you are writing about. 3. Do complete your analysis. Don t fall into the trap of positing a thesis or argument, setting it up, but then not actually getting to the analysis. 4. Get to the point. No introductions needed. 5. Put quotation marks around words used as words. 6. Use textual evidence. A lot of it. Maybe even too much of it.