How to Write an Essay/Free Response

you can used tamplets to help start your response paragraph.
 * Pay attention to the text--the methods the author uses, or the language the author uses (preferably both). Get your ideas through to the reader before labelling something as a rhetorical technique. If you do use names of rhetorical techniques, do not simply throw them out there. Explain why.


 * The rules for grading the FRQ change radically on the different AP tests. Be careful.

Ex: "One nation of the people, by the people, and for the people" is famous in part because Abraham Lincoln made a grammatically appealing statement. (Topic sentence) By using the prepositions ("of", "by", "for"), he reinforces his point by using parallel structure, and a repetitive vocative anaphora which harkens back to the role that the "people" play in making up a "nation".

Reasons why this is a good passage:
 * It uses quotations from the passage.
 * It analyzes the parts of speech (prepositions) that add meaning, the sentence structure (my reference to parallel structure).
 * It has a nice sentence to conclude the paragraph, naturally and effectively. This could be seen as a negative if it detracts from the topic of the paragraph or adds irrelevant or extraneous information.
 * It uses the word "vocative" and "refers" and has a high level of diction. I really think that your ideas are always more important than diction, so please do not memorize a vocabulary list and agonize over diction during the 40-minute essay period.

Vocative comes from the Latin (vocare) and is similar to other English word such as "vocation". It means "call". The "-ive" postfix normally means you are looking at a noun.