The AP English Language and Composition exam requires students to write three essays under time constraints. While many students approach these essays without preparation in the hopes that inspiration will strike during the exam, having a strong outline is one of the best ways to earn high scores and avoid writer’s block. An outline provides the basic structure for your essay and ensures that your analysis and argument flow in a logical order. This article will discuss how to create effective outlines for the different AP Lang essay types and include tips for each outline component.
The first thing to consider when outlining is determining what type of prompt you are responding to. There are generally two main essay types on the AP Lang exam – Rhetorical Analysis essays and Argument essays. Rhetorical Analysis essays will ask you to examine how an author uses rhetorical devices and stylistic elements to convey an idea or perspective. Your outline for this type of essay should include the following:
Introduction paragraph: Include a brief overview of the text/speech/passage and state your thesis about the author’s purpose and how specific rhetorical elements achieve that purpose.
Body paragraph 1: Analyze and provide examples of one rhetorical device/stylistic element used and how it conveys the author’s message. Be sure to have at least one cited quote or piece of evidence here.
Body paragraph 2: Repeat the analysis structure for a different rhetorical device or element.
Body paragraph 3: Repeat again for a third element. Or, you could group similar devices together if appropriate.
Conclusion: Restate your thesis and summarize how the analysis supports the author’s purpose without introducing new information.
For Argument essays, your outline should be structured similarly but focus on identifying different parts of the argument instead of rhetorical elements. Key components of an Argument essay outline include:
Introduction: Briefly summarize the argument’s claim and state your thesis about the logic/reasoning used.
Body paragraph 1: Address one part of the argument’s reasoning – such as evidence, assumptions, or counterarguments made. Analyze whether this reasoning strengthens or weakens the overall argument.
Body paragraph 2: Examine a different element of the argument’s reasoning using the same analysis structure.
Body paragraph 3: Analyze a third part of the reasoning. Alternatively, you could group similar issues together.
Conclusion: Restate your thesis and evaluation of the argument’s overall soundness without bringing in new information.
When outlining, make sure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence stating which element you will analyze. Your sentences should logically follow your topic to develop the paragraph. Cite any evidence you will discuss. Leave space under each component to jot down your bullet point ideas. This structure ensures each part of your essay is fully formed before you start writing.
Some additional tips for writing strong outlines include choosing higher level devices/parts of reasoning rather than superficial ones. Connect your devices/reasoning together to show how they work in tandem. Consider alternate interpretations to strengthen your own analysis. And practice condensing your outline to fit the recommended page/word length guidance. With practice, outlining can help you organize your analysis, structure your essays logically, and maximize your score on the AP Lang exam. Following this tried-and-true process is one of the best ways to avoid anxiety on test day and confidently articulate your insightful evaluation of challenging prompts.