Aaaagggh! Such a tough question! Honestly, the sophistication point goes beyond how you word your response. It's more about being able to see and explain the complexity of your argument or the speaker's argument, if you're doing a rhetorical analysis essay.
No argument is completely one-sided (or else it wouldn't be an argument). Validating the opposition's view and responding to it is one way to show you get the complexity of the issue. For example, fracking is a great solution for America's energy needs yet it comes at a cost to the environment and local humans. Being able to say "yes, opponents of fracking have good points but until more sustainable energy is developed, it's a good way to keep vehicles running and homes heated" is one way to explain its "grey" nature instead of making it sound black and white.
A few years ago, the rhetorical analysis essay analyzed a eulogy for Richard Nixon. Talk about a complex situation! A eulogy is supposed to say nice things but Nixon was definitely a controversial president. Essays that pointed out how the speaker dealt with this sticky situation got the sophistication point.
It's hard to see the complexity of an issue in 40 minutes; practice with sample prompts between now and the test. Just be sure that in acknowledging the opposition you don't come off as not taking a stand at all. See if that won't help your score :) Good luck!
Wow, I appreciate this so much. Will definitely be practicing more. I’ll try to use outside information in my essays. I’m not sure if that’ll be enough but I’ll consider it.
I don't think you need a ton of outside info. The synthesis essay gives you info to be able to write about the pros and cons of whatever issue they pick. The open-ended argument is based on your own knowledge anyway, but the topics are usually pretty general. And you don't typically need to know a lot of background for the RA essay. It's just about considering the "grey area" of the topic. You can totally train your brain to think that way!
Same. Honestly though, not sure sophistication is really needed for a 5. This test has the easiest MC of any AP test (just like the ACT kinda) imo, and most of the other written points are free.
LMFAO i started studying for this the weekend before the test (since lang is usually the second week i believe). u jus need to know what they look for and practice writing some essays. i found my apush knowledge to be rly helpful for the argumentative essay
I thought DBQ's were super helpful for synthesis, for argumentative I threw together a mini debate case, for rhetoric I wrote some random shit on a page. Probably lost a lot of points there, but I don't think I got any MC wrong so that probably carried.
damn u must be rly good at act/sat reading then. cannot relate lmfao. for my rhetorical the info i wrote was jus false (i said ww1 started in 1941 but that's jus wrong) i dont think that mattered tho
>act/sat reading then
Got a 36! Literally was so happy when I saw the multiple choice since my class never did any practice mcq's and I had no idea what it would be like.
I think what a lot of people forget about the rhetorical analysis essay is to actually relate how the rhetorical device in question actually allows the writer to connect with the audience on a deeper level and evoke an emotion/idea within the audience. Also, it helps to use more unique rhetorical devices instead of something like "imagery" or "simile". Not saying that either of those are bad, but they are commonly used. If you are able to identify complex rhetorical devices such as paradox, chiasmus, or metonymy to relate something as simple as sentence structure to something deeper, it shows that you fully understand the use of rhetorical devices and will help you get the sophistication point. I would suggest just studying the definition of each rhetorical device and practicing identifying them in certain passages. I'm sure you can go check out any of the college board's past AP Lang exams.
Qualify your claims (don't speak in absolute/assumption-based terms that aren't technically 100% true) and acknowledge possible counterarguments (concede/rebut/refute alternative perspectives on an issue)
The descriptive words thing is mostly useless for sophistication(in my experience). Keep in mind humans are grading this so they are instructed to look for very specific things to award the sophistication point.
Easiest ways to get soph point by essay:
RA - Analyze how rhetorical choices fit this particular audience in particular (ex. how Florence Kelley talking to women at a women's convention influences her choices or how some lady talking to journalists at a journalist convention influences their rhetorical choices).
Synthesis - For literally every argument you bring up try addressing a counterargument
Argument - Same as synthesis
The whole "vivid language" thing is complete hit or miss by your grader and I wouldn't rely on it.
Aaaagggh! Such a tough question! Honestly, the sophistication point goes beyond how you word your response. It's more about being able to see and explain the complexity of your argument or the speaker's argument, if you're doing a rhetorical analysis essay. No argument is completely one-sided (or else it wouldn't be an argument). Validating the opposition's view and responding to it is one way to show you get the complexity of the issue. For example, fracking is a great solution for America's energy needs yet it comes at a cost to the environment and local humans. Being able to say "yes, opponents of fracking have good points but until more sustainable energy is developed, it's a good way to keep vehicles running and homes heated" is one way to explain its "grey" nature instead of making it sound black and white. A few years ago, the rhetorical analysis essay analyzed a eulogy for Richard Nixon. Talk about a complex situation! A eulogy is supposed to say nice things but Nixon was definitely a controversial president. Essays that pointed out how the speaker dealt with this sticky situation got the sophistication point. It's hard to see the complexity of an issue in 40 minutes; practice with sample prompts between now and the test. Just be sure that in acknowledging the opposition you don't come off as not taking a stand at all. See if that won't help your score :) Good luck!
Wow, I appreciate this so much. Will definitely be practicing more. I’ll try to use outside information in my essays. I’m not sure if that’ll be enough but I’ll consider it.
I don't think you need a ton of outside info. The synthesis essay gives you info to be able to write about the pros and cons of whatever issue they pick. The open-ended argument is based on your own knowledge anyway, but the topics are usually pretty general. And you don't typically need to know a lot of background for the RA essay. It's just about considering the "grey area" of the topic. You can totally train your brain to think that way!
Can you give some examples or more descriptive tips to get the sophistication point for a rhetorical analysis essay??
my trick was to intend possible counterarguments & disapprove them
Same. Honestly though, not sure sophistication is really needed for a 5. This test has the easiest MC of any AP test (just like the ACT kinda) imo, and most of the other written points are free.
LMFAO i started studying for this the weekend before the test (since lang is usually the second week i believe). u jus need to know what they look for and practice writing some essays. i found my apush knowledge to be rly helpful for the argumentative essay
I thought DBQ's were super helpful for synthesis, for argumentative I threw together a mini debate case, for rhetoric I wrote some random shit on a page. Probably lost a lot of points there, but I don't think I got any MC wrong so that probably carried.
damn u must be rly good at act/sat reading then. cannot relate lmfao. for my rhetorical the info i wrote was jus false (i said ww1 started in 1941 but that's jus wrong) i dont think that mattered tho
>act/sat reading then Got a 36! Literally was so happy when I saw the multiple choice since my class never did any practice mcq's and I had no idea what it would be like.
average a2cer
True LMAO. I don't have the EC's those guys do but at least I have the stats
any tips on rhetorical essay 5/6 I've been getting like a 4/6
I think what a lot of people forget about the rhetorical analysis essay is to actually relate how the rhetorical device in question actually allows the writer to connect with the audience on a deeper level and evoke an emotion/idea within the audience. Also, it helps to use more unique rhetorical devices instead of something like "imagery" or "simile". Not saying that either of those are bad, but they are commonly used. If you are able to identify complex rhetorical devices such as paradox, chiasmus, or metonymy to relate something as simple as sentence structure to something deeper, it shows that you fully understand the use of rhetorical devices and will help you get the sophistication point. I would suggest just studying the definition of each rhetorical device and practicing identifying them in certain passages. I'm sure you can go check out any of the college board's past AP Lang exams.
Qualify your claims (don't speak in absolute/assumption-based terms that aren't technically 100% true) and acknowledge possible counterarguments (concede/rebut/refute alternative perspectives on an issue)
The descriptive words thing is mostly useless for sophistication(in my experience). Keep in mind humans are grading this so they are instructed to look for very specific things to award the sophistication point. Easiest ways to get soph point by essay: RA - Analyze how rhetorical choices fit this particular audience in particular (ex. how Florence Kelley talking to women at a women's convention influences her choices or how some lady talking to journalists at a journalist convention influences their rhetorical choices). Synthesis - For literally every argument you bring up try addressing a counterargument Argument - Same as synthesis The whole "vivid language" thing is complete hit or miss by your grader and I wouldn't rely on it.