Ap Literature and Composition Preperation Packet

Question 1

What is a thesis?

Answer 1

The main idea of an academic essay. This is an opinion (a debatable, defensible claim / argument / position), not a fact. Any essay you write- on any topic, for any subject or any course- should contain a thesis statement.

Question 2

What is theme?

Answer 2

A novelist’s message or purpose or larger meaning (as interpreted and supported by the reader). It extends beyond the text, so it cannot refer by name to a specific character ir event in the story. This is also an opinion.

Question 3

Whar is MOD (Method of Development) or Line-of-Reasong?

Answer 3

A sentance or phrase (usually a very short, parallel-structered list) or organizational structure that explains how the student will support their Thesis statement. Usually, this involves some derivative of “the author uses” or “through the use of…”. If the Thesis tells the WHAT? of the essay, the MOD details the HOW?

Question 4

How to Cite

Answer 4

Use both parenthetical citation AND Works Cited page

Question 5

When should titles be in italics?

Answer 5

Novel, newspaper, painting, works that are 100+ pages. (Use underline for these if writing by hand)

Question 6

When should titles be in quotation marks?

Answer 6

Shorter works like short stories, poems, or articles. Less than 100 pages

Question 7

What should the title of my own writing look like?

Answer 7

NOT italicized, underlined, enlarged, placed in quotes, or bolded. Write the title plainly, capitilizing imprtant words.

Question 8

MLA Formatting

Answer 8

Format papers correctly. Use google if unsure

Question 9

Punctuation Rule #1

Answer 9

Punctuation goes inside quotation marks

Question 10

Punctuation Rule #2

Answer 10

Punctuation goes outside of quotation parks if it is followed by a parenthetical citation.

Question 11

Additional Punctuation

Answer 11

Exclamation mark and question marks go inside of quotation marks. “–?” Unless the punctuation is connected to the sentance as a whole.

Question 12

Language and Style devices

Answer 12

Figerative language, imagery, diction, ect.

Question 13

Major Narrative Elements

Answer 13

Theme, character, plot, setting, ect.

Question 14

What should be avoided?

Answer 14

Stand-alone quotes, comma-splices, and using page number as a lead-in.

Question 15

When should double quotation marks be used?

Answer 15

When copying from the text verbatim or introducing an unfamiliar term or nickname or indicating irony.

Question 16

When should single quotation marks be used?

Answer 16

Only when what you’re copying is already in quotes. (Dialogue)

Question 17

How should poetry be quoted?

Answer 17

Authors’s last name and line number, forward dash to indication multiple lines being used, indent if longer portion is being quoted.

Question 18

How should Shakspeare’s poetry be quoted?

Answer 18

Act #, then scene #, then line #. Sepperated by periods, not spaces.

Question 19

Rule #4

Answer 19

Always add a space between the end of a quote and the parenthetical citation.

Question 20

Avoid (#5)

Answer 20

Leaving quotation mark all by itself or use the author’s full name more than once in a sentance

Question 21

Never!

Answer 21

Refer to the author by “the author…”, say their first and last or just their last name.

Question 22

Active voice

Answer 22

I need to use active voice the majority of the time.