METHOD FOR ANALYZING SAMPLE STUDENT ESSAYS
The following worksheet was designed to help you to analyze sample student essays for their strengths
and weaknesses. By using the worksheet you can see where you need to go with your own writing.
It would be worth your time to repeat this analysis process several times until you
clearly see the qualities of top essays versus their less effective counterparts.The steps of the process are as follows:Part 1:
1. Read and analyze the prompt for one question. (Don’t use question 3 because no text
is given for you to read.)
2. Paraphrase the task.
3. Read and annotate the passage.
4. Suggest literary devices, if needed.
5. Write your own introduction, for practice.
6. Write a mini-outline for the essay that you would write —if you were asked to write
it.Part 2:
1. Read and score each of the three essays.
2. Justify your score.Part 3:
1. Compare your score with the actual score that was given.
2. Read the commentary for each essay.
3. Draw your own conclusions.You will find everything you need for this exercise at the AP Central site:
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/examquestions/2002.html
You may choose any year, but it might be best to start with a recent year to get a prompt that indicates
current College Board thinking.