Your First Box Prompt

While AP Lang concentrates on full 40-minute prompts, AP Lit mixes up the action by using box prompts throughout the year to practice analytical skills on a smaller scale. 

What is a box prompt? It is a series of boxes organizing an essay in which you compose a thesis in box one; select three literary elements, jot down related evidence, and thoroughly analyze the element in regards to the prompt in boxes 2-4; and write down 1-2 sentences for a conclusion in box 5. In essence, you are organizing an essay without writing an entire essay. 

Today, you completed a box prompt for a passage in Grendel. Since this is your first box prompt, I gave your 35-40 minutes (the rest of the hour) to work on your analysis. Normally, you will only have 25 minutes to do so. Any absentees, you will have to wait for a hard copy as I do not have a digital one for you. 

On Thursday, we will discuss the rest of chapters 5-7, and I will share my epiphany regarding your box prompt passage. Then, we will analyze the remainder of Grendel -- just wait until you see how Gardner organizes later chapters! (Personally, I think Grendel is trying out different narrative styles to tell his story.) In addition, we have one more text, a poem, to read prior to your first big essay assignment. 

2: Vocab Quiz on Thursday

4: Vocab Review on Thursday