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How to Write the AP Lit Poetry Essay

What’s covered:.

• How to Write the AP Literature Poetry Essay
• Tips for Writing The AP Lit Poetry Essay

To strengthen your AP Literature Poetry Essay essay, make sure you prepare ahead of time by knowing how the test is structured, and how to prepare. In this post, we’ll cover the structure of the test and show you how you can write a great AP Literature Poetry Essay.

What is the AP Lit Poetry Essay? 

The AP Literature exam has two sections. Section I contains 55 multiple choice questions, with 1 hour time allotted. This includes at least two prose fiction passages and two poetry passages. 

Section II, on the other hand, is a free response section. Here, students write essays to 3 prompts. These prompts include a literary analysis of a poem, prose fiction, or in a work selected by the student. Because the AP Literature Exam is structured in a specific, predictable manner, it’s helpful to prepare yourself for the types of questions you’ll encounter on test day. 

The Poetry Essay counts for one-third of the total essay section score, so it’s important to know how to approach this section. You’ll want to plan for about 40 minutes on this question, which is plenty of time to read and dissect the prompt, read and markup the poem, write a brief outline, and write a concise, well-thought out essay with a compelling analysis. 

Tips for Writing the AP Lit Poetry Essay

1. focus on the process.

Writing is a process, and so is literary analysis. Think less about finding the right answer, or uncovering the correct meaning of the poem (there isn’t one, most of the time). Read the prompt over at least twice, asking yourself carefully what you need to look for as you read. Then, read the poem three times. Once, to get an overall sense of the poem. Second, start to get at nuance; circle anything that’s recurring, underline important language and diction , and note important images or metaphors. In your annotations, you want to think about figurative language , and poetic structure and form . Third, pay attention to subtle shifts in the poem: does the form break, is there an interruption of some sort? When analyzing poetry, it’s important to get a sense of the big picture first, and then zoom in on the details. 

2. Craft a Compelling Thesis

No matter the prompt, you will always need to respond with a substantive thesis. A meaty thesis contains complexity rather than broad generalizations , and points to specifics in the poem.

By examining the colloquial language in Gwendolyn Brooks’s poem, “We Real Cool”, we can see the tension of choosing to be “cool”. This raises important ideas about education, structure, and routine, and the consequences of living to be “real cool”.

Notice how the thesis provides a roadmap of what is to follow in the essay , and identifies key ideas that the essay will explore. It is specific, and not vague. The thesis provides a bigger picture of the text, while zooming in the colloquial language the speaker uses. 

A good thesis points out the why as much as the what . Notice how in the above example, the thesis discusses language in the poem as it connects to a bigger message about the poem. For example, it’s not enough to discuss Emily Dickinson’s enjambment and hyphens. A good thesis will make a compelling argument about why those infamous Dickinson hyphens are so widely questioned and examined. Perhaps a good thesis might suggest that this unique literary device is more about self-examination and the lapse in our own judgement. 

3. Use Textual Evidence 

To support your thesis, always use textual evidence . When you are creating an outline, choose a handful of lines in the poem that will help illuminate your argument. Make sure each claim in your essay is followed by textual evidence, either in the form of a paraphrase, or direct quote . Then, explain exactly how the textual evidence supports your argument . Using this structure will help keep you on track as you write, so that your argument follows a clear narrative that a reader will be able to follow. 

Your essay will need to contain both description of the poem, and analysis . Remember that your job isn’t to describe or paraphrase every aspect of the poem. You also need lots of rich analysis, so be sure to balance your writing by moving from explicit description to deeper analysis. 

4. Strong Organization and Grammar

A great essay for the AP Literature Exam will contain an introduction with a thesis (not necessarily always the last sentence of the paragraph), body paragraphs that contain clear topic sentences, and a conclusion . Be sure to spend time thinking about your organization before you write the paper. Once you start writing, you only want to think about content. It’s helpful to write a quick outline before writing your essay. 

There’s nothing worse than a strong argument with awkward sentences, grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Make sure to proofread your work before submitting it. Carefully edit your work, paying attention to any run-on sentences, subject-verb agreement, commas, and spelling. You’d be surprised how many mistakes you’ll catch just by rereading your work. 

Common Mistakes on the AP Literature Poetry Essay 

It can be helpful to know what not to do when it comes time to prepare for the AP Literature Poetry Essay. Here are some common mistakes students make on the AP Literature Poetry Essay:

1. Thesis is not arguable and is too general 

Your thesis should be arguable, and indicate the central ideas you will discuss in your essay. Read the prompt carefully and craft your thesis in light of what the prompt asks you to do. If the prompt mentions specific literary devices, find a way to tie those into your thesis. In your thesis, you want to connect to the meaning of the poem itself and what you feel the poet intended when using those particular literary devices.

2. Using vague, general statements rather than focusing on analysis of the poem

Always stay close to the text when writing the AP Literature Poetry Essay. Remember that your job is not to paraphrase but to analyze. Keep explicit descriptions of the poem concise, and spend the majority of your time writing strong analysis backed up by textual evidence.

3. Not using transitions to connect between paragraphs

Make sure it’s not jarring to the reader when you switch to a new idea in a new paragraph. Use transitions and strong topic sentences to seamlessly blend your ideas together into a cohesive essay that flows well and is easy to follow. 

4. Textual evidence is lacking or not fully explained 

Always include quotes from the text and reference specifics whenever you can. Introduce your quote briefly, and then explain how the quote connects back to the topic sentence after. Think about why the quotes connect back to the poet’s central ideas. 

5. Not writing an outline

Of course, to write a fully developed essay you’ll need to spend a few minutes planning out your essay. Write a quick outline with a thesis, paragraph topics and a list of quotes that support your central ideas before getting started.

To improve your writing, take a look at these essay samples from the College Board, with scoring guidelines and commentary. 

How Will AP Scores Affect My College Chances?

While you can self-report AP scores, they don’t really affect your admissions chances . Schools are more interested in how you performed in the actual class, as your grades impact your GPA. To understand how your GPA impacts your college chances, use our free chancing engine . We’ll let you know your personal chance of acceptance at over 1500 schools, plus give you tips for improving your profile.

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The Ultimate Guide to Writing an AP Literature Poetry Essay + Examples [2025]

Aug 12, 2024 | 0 comments

Aug 12, 2024 | Blog | 0 comments

If you’re diving into AP English Literature and Composition, you probably feel excitement and trepidation. Don’t worry; I’ve been there too! The poetry essay portion of the AP Literature exam can be particularly challenging, but with the right approach, you’ll be crafting insightful analyses in no time. 

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process on how to write an AP lit poetry essay, sharing tips and tricks I’ve learned from my experience as a student and a teacher. 

Let’s embark on this literary journey together!

Table of Contents

Decoding the Poem: Breaking Down the Elements

Before you can write an effective essay, you need to dissect the poem and identify its key components. This process begins with a careful reading of the poem. I recommend reading the poem at least three times: once for initial impressions, once for deeper understanding, and once for annotation.

As you read, pay close attention to the poet’s use of literary devices . Look for instances of imagery, metaphor, personification, and other figurative language. Don’t forget to examine the poem’s structure, including its rhyme scheme, stanza arrangement, and use of line breaks. These elements can often provide valuable insights into the poem’s meaning and the poet’s intentions.

Remember, annotation is your friend! Jot down your observations, questions, and initial interpretations in the margins. This will serve as a valuable resource when you start crafting your essay.

Now, let’s move on to the heart of your essay – the thesis statement .

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Formulating a Strong Thesis Statement

Now that you’ve analyzed the poem, it’s time to develop your thesis statement. This is the backbone of your essay, guiding your poetry analysis and providing a clear direction for your arguments. A strong thesis for an AP English literature poetry essay should do more than just state the obvious. It should present an arguable claim about the poem’s meaning, significance, or effectiveness.

For example, instead of writing, “This poem uses imagery to convey its message,” you might say, “ Through vivid natural imagery and somber diction, the poet creates a melancholic atmosphere that reflects the speaker’s sense of loss and longing.”

Remember, a good thesis statement should be specific to the poem you’re analyzing and should set up the main points you’ll discuss in your essay. It’s okay if your thesis evolves as you write – that’s part of the writing process!

With your thesis in place, it’s time to organize your thoughts coherently.

Structuring Your Essay for Maximum Impact

A well-organized essay makes your arguments clearer and demonstrates your ability to think critically about literature. In academic writing, structure is key. I recommend following the Five-Paragraph Structure (outline) for an AP Lit poetry essay.

While not mandatory, the five-paragraph structure provides a solid framework for effectively organizing your thoughts and arguments.

• Introduction (with thesis statement)
• Body paragraph 1: First main point
• Body paragraph 2: Second main point
• Body paragraph 3: Third main point (if time allows)

Each body paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence related to your thesis. As you progress your essay, use transitional phrases to create smooth connections between ideas. This will help your writing flow naturally and keep your reader engaged.

Now that we have our roadmap, let’s start our journey with the introduction.

Writing the Introduction: Setting the Stage

Your introduction should grab the reader’s attention, provide context for the poem, and present your thesis statement . Begin with a hook – perhaps a thought-provoking question or an intriguing observation about the poem. Then, briefly introduce the poet and the poem, providing any relevant background information. Finally, end your introduction with your thesis statement. This paragraph sets the tone for your essay, so make it count!

With the stage set, it’s time to dive into the meat of your essay – the body paragraphs.

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Crafting Body Paragraphs: Supporting Your Argument

Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of the poem that supports your thesis, using textual evidence and analysis. Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that relates to your thesis. Then, provide a specific example from the poem – a quote , a description of imagery , or a discussion of a literary device .

After presenting your evidence, explain how it supports your argument. This is where your critical thinking skills shine! Don’t just describe what the poet is doing; analyze why they’re doing it and how it contributes to the poem’s overall meaning.

As we near the end of our essay, it’s time to bring everything together in a powerful conclusion.

Constructing a Powerful Conclusion

Your conclusion should restate your thesis, summarize your main points, and give the reader a final thought on the significance of the poem. But don’t just repeat what you’ve already said! Instead, synthesize your arguments to show how they all work together to support your thesis. 

You might also consider the poem’s broader implications or how it relates to larger themes in literature . End with a thought-provoking statement that leaves your reader with something to ponder.

Although our essay has been drafted, we’re not quite done yet. The final step is crucial for polishing your work.

Revising and Polishing Your Essay

After completing your first draft, revise your essay for clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness. Read your essay aloud to catch awkward phrasing or unclear ideas. Check that each paragraph flows smoothly into the next, using  transition phrases to link your ideas.

Make sure your  evidence directly supports your thesis and that you’ve fully explained your reasoning. Pay attention to your writing style , aiming for a formal yet engaging tone. And, of course, don’t forget to proofread for grammar and spelling errors!

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Using Textual Evidence to Support Your Claims

Use specific examples from the poem to convince your reader of your interpretation. When you claim the poem’s meaning or the poet’s techniques, always back it up with a relevant quote or reference to the text.

For instance, if you’re discussing the poet’s use of imagery, you might write: “The poet’s vivid description of ‘sun-blanched bones scattered across the desert floor’ (line 12) creates a desolate atmosphere, emphasizing the theme of mortality.”

Remember to integrate quotes smoothly into your sentences and explain how the evidence supports your argument. This shows that you’re not just identifying literary devices but truly analyzing their effect on the poem.

As we craft these paragraphs, we’ll need to pay special attention to the poet’s use of literary devices.

Analyzing Poetic Devices and Their Effects

Identifying literary techniques is insufficient; you must explain how these devices contribute to the poem’s overall meaning or impact. This is where your critical thinking skills come into play.

For example, don’t just point out that the poet uses alliteration. Instead, consider how the repetition of sounds contributes to the poem’s mood or reinforces its themes. Does the soft repetition of ‘s’ sounds create a soothing effect, or does a harsh repetition of ‘k’ sounds contribute to a sense of conflict?

Look for examples of literal and figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, and personification. Consider how the poet uses rhyme, rhythm, and sound devices to create effects. Analyze the tone and mood of the poem and how they’re created through word choice and imagery.

Remember, the goal is to show how the poet’s choices in language, structure, and literary devices work together to create meaning. This level of analysis separates a good AP Lit essay from a great one.

Connecting the Poem to Broader Themes or Context

A stellar AP Lit essay goes beyond surface-level analysis to explore the poem’s relationship to larger literary or historical contexts. This doesn’t mean you need to be an expert in the poet’s entire body of work or the historical period, but if you can make relevant connections, it will enhance your analysis.

For instance, if you’re analyzing a poem about nature by Robert Frost, you might discuss how it fits into the broader tradition of American Romantic poetry. Or, if you’re examining a World War I poem, you could consider how its themes reflect the disillusionment of the post-war period.

These connections show the College Board that you’re not just analyzing in a vacuum but thinking critically about literature in a broader context.

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Perfecting Your Writing Style and Tone

Your essay should be informative and demonstrate your ability to write with clarity, sophistication, and engagement. While AP Lit essays are a form of academic writing, they don’t have to be dry or overly formal.

Aim for a balanced tone that’s neither too casual nor too stiff. Use varied sentence structures to keep your writing dynamic, and choose precise, vivid words to convey your ideas. Remember, AP readers are looking for essays that showcase your analytical skills and your command of written English.

Time Management: Balancing Analysis and Writing

With only 40 minutes to plan and write your essay, effective time management is crucial for success. I recommend spending about 10 minutes reading and annotating the poem, 5-7 minutes planning your essay, and the remaining time writing.

Don’t get bogged down trying to create a perfect first draft. Focus on getting your main ideas down on paper, and if you have time at the end, go back and refine your writing. Remember, a strong argument with a few grammatical errors is better than a weak argument with perfect grammar!

As we wrap up, let’s consider some common pitfalls to avoid in your AP Lit poetry essay.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Be aware of common mistakes that can weaken your AP Lit poetry analysis essay, such as:

• Summarizing instead of analyzing or neglecting to support your claims with evidence.
• Avoid vague generalizations – always be specific in your analysis.
• Don’t try to cover every aspect of the poem; focus on the elements that best support your thesis.
• While using literary terms is important, don’t overdo it. You aim to demonstrate your understanding, not show off your vocabulary.

AP Lit poetry Essay Examples

• An Analysis of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” | AP Lit Poetry Essay
• The Beat Generation’s Manifesto: An Analysis of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” | AP Lit Poetry Essay

Conclusion: Final Tips on How To Write An AP Lit Poetry Essay

As you prepare for the AP Lit exam, remember that writing about poetry is a skill that improves with practice and reflection. Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts don’t meet your expectations. Keep reading poetry, analyzing it, and writing about it.

Familiarize yourself with the AP Literature and Composition rubric to understand exactly what the readers want. And don’t forget to read widely – the more literature you’re exposed to, the better equipped you’ll be to handle whatever poem the exam throws your way.

Remember, the goal of the AP Lit poetry essay isn’t just to get a good score (although that’s nice, too!). It’s to develop your literary analysis and critical thinking skills – skills that will serve you well in college and beyond. So approach each poem with curiosity and enthusiasm, and let your love for literature shine through in your writing. Good luck!

I am dedicated to creating engaging blog posts that provide valuable insights and advice to help students excel in their studies. From study tips to time management strategies, my goal is to empower students to reach their full potential.

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How to Write the AP Lit Prose Essay with Examples

March 30, 2024

AP Lit Prose Essay Examples – The College Board’s Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Course is one of the most enriching experiences that high school students can have. It exposes you to literature that most people don’t encounter until college , and it helps you develop analytical and critical thinking skills that will enhance the quality of your life, both inside and outside of school. The AP Lit Exam reflects the rigor of the course. The exam uses consistent question types, weighting, and scoring parameters each year . This means that, as you prepare for the exam, you can look at previous questions, responses, score criteria, and scorer commentary to help you practice until your essays are perfect.

What is the AP Lit Free Response testing? 

In AP Literature, you read books, short stories, and poetry, and you learn how to commit the complex act of literary analysis . But what does that mean? Well, “to analyze” literally means breaking a larger idea into smaller and smaller pieces until the pieces are small enough that they can help us to understand the larger idea. When we’re performing literary analysis, we’re breaking down a piece of literature into smaller and smaller pieces until we can use those pieces to better understand the piece of literature itself.

So, for example, let’s say you’re presented with a passage from a short story to analyze. The AP Lit Exam will ask you to write an essay with an essay with a clear, defensible thesis statement that makes an argument about the story, based on some literary elements in the short story. After reading the passage, you might talk about how foreshadowing, allusion, and dialogue work together to demonstrate something essential in the text. Then, you’ll use examples of each of those three literary elements (that you pull directly from the passage) to build your argument. You’ll finish the essay with a conclusion that uses clear reasoning to tell your reader why your argument makes sense.

AP Lit Prose Essay Examples (Continued)

But what’s the point of all of this? Why do they ask you to write these essays?

Well, the essay is, once again, testing your ability to conduct literary analysis. However, the thing that you’re also doing behind that literary analysis is a complex process of both inductive and deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning takes a series of points of evidence and draws a larger conclusion. Deductive reasoning departs from the point of a broader premise and draws a singular conclusion. In an analytical essay like this one, you’re using small pieces of evidence to draw a larger conclusion (your thesis statement) and then you’re taking your thesis statement as a larger premise from which you derive your ultimate conclusion.

So, the exam scorers are looking at your ability to craft a strong thesis statement (a singular sentence that makes an argument), use evidence and reasoning to support that argument, and then to write the essay well. This is something they call “sophistication,” but they’re looking for well-organized thoughts carried through clear, complete sentences.

This entire process is something you can and will use throughout your life. Law, engineering, medicine—whatever pursuit, you name it—utilizes these forms of reasoning to run experiments, build cases, and persuade audiences. The process of this kind of clear, analytical thinking can be honed, developed, and made easier through repetition.

Practice Makes Perfect

Because the AP Literature Exam maintains continuity across the years, you can pull old exam copies, read the passages, and write responses. A good AP Lit teacher is going to have you do this time and time again in class until you have the formula down. But, it’s also something you can do on your own, if you’re interested in further developing your skills.

AP Lit Prose Essay Examples 

Let’s take a look at some examples of questions, answers and scorer responses that will help you to get a better idea of how to craft your own AP Literature exam essays.

In the exam in 2023, students were asked to read a poem by Alice Cary titled “Autumn,” which was published in 1874. In it, the speaker contemplates the start of autumn. Then, students are asked to craft a well-written essay which uses literary techniques to convey the speaker’s complex response to the changing seasons.

The following is an essay that received a perfect 6 on the exam. There are grammar and usage errors throughout the essay, which is important to note: even though the writer makes some mistakes, the structure and form of their argument was strong enough to merit a 6. This is what your scorers will be looking for when they read your essay.

Example Essay 

Romantic and hyperbolic imagery is used to illustrate the speaker’s unenthusiastic opinion of the coming of autumn, which conveys Cary’s idea that change is difficult to accept but necessary for growth.

Romantic imagery is utilized to demonstrate the speaker’s warm regard for the season of summer and emphasize her regretfulness for autumn’s coming, conveying the uncomfortable change away from idyllic familiarity. Summer, is portrayed in the image of a woman who “from her golden collar slips/and strays through stubble fields/and moans aloud.” Associated with sensuality and wealth, the speaker implies the interconnection between a season and bounty, comfort, and pleasure. Yet, this romantic view is dismantled by autumn, causing Summer to “slip” and “stray through stubble fields.” Thus, the coming of real change dethrones a constructed, romantic personification of summer,  conveying the speaker’s reluctance for her ideal season to be dethroned by something much less decorated and adored.

Summer, “she lies on pillows of the yellow leaves,/ And tries the old tunes for over an hour”, is contrasted with bright imagery of fallen leaves/ The juxtaposition between Summer’s character and the setting provides insight into the positivity of change—the yellow leaves—by its contrast with the failures of attempting to sustain old habits or practices, “old tunes”. “She lies on pillows” creates a sympathetic, passive image of summer in reaction to the coming of Autumn, contrasting her failures to sustain “old tunes.” According to this, it is understood that the speaker recognizes the foolishness of attempting to prevent what is to come, but her wishfulness to counter the natural progression of time.

Hyperbolic imagery displays the discrepancies between unrealistic, exaggerated perceptions of change and the reality of progress, continuing the perpetuation of Cary’s idea that change must be embraced rather than rejected. “Shorter and shorter now the twilight clips/The days, as though the sunset gates they crowd”, syntax and diction are used to literally separate different aspects of the progression of time. In an ironic parallel to the literal language, the action of twilight’s “clip” and the subject, “the days,” are cut off from each other into two different lines, emphasizing a sense of jarring and discomfort. Sunset, and Twilight are named, made into distinct entities from the day, dramatizing the shortening of night-time into fall. The dramatic, sudden implications for the change bring to mind the switch between summer and winter, rather than a transitional season like fall—emphasizing the Speaker’s perspective rather than a factual narration of the experience.

She says “the proud meadow-pink hangs down her head/Against the earth’s chilly bosom, witched with frost”. Implying pride and defeat, and the word “witched,” the speaker brings a sense of conflict, morality, and even good versus evil into the transition between seasons. Rather than a smooth, welcome change, the speaker is practically against the coming of fall. The hyperbole present in the poem serves to illustrate the Speaker’s perspective and ideas on the coming of fall, which are characterized by reluctance and hostility to change from comfort.

The topic of this poem, Fall–a season characterized by change and the deconstruction of the spring and summer landscape—is juxtaposed with the final line which evokes the season of Spring. From this, it is clear that the speaker appreciates beautiful and blossoming change. However, they resent that which destroys familiar paradigms and norms. Fall, seen as the death of summer, is characterized as a regression, though the turning of seasons is a product of the literal passage of time. Utilizing romantic imagery and hyperbole to shape the Speaker’s perspective, Cary emphasizes the need to embrace change though it is difficult, because growth is not possible without hardship or discomfort.

Scoring Criteria: Why did this essay do so well? 

When it comes to scoring well, there are some rather formulaic things that the judges are searching for. You might think that it’s important to “stand out” or “be creative” in your writing. However, aside from concerns about “sophistication,” which essentially means you know how to organize thoughts into sentences and you can use language that isn’t entirely elementary, you should really focus on sticking to a form. This will show the scorers that you know how to follow that inductive/deductive reasoning process that we mentioned earlier, and it will help to present your ideas in the most clear, coherent way possible to someone who is reading and scoring hundreds of essays.

So, how did this essay succeed? And how can you do the same thing?

First: The Thesis 

On the exam, you can either get one point or zero points for your thesis statement. The scorers said, “The essay responds to the prompt with a defensible thesis located in the introductory paragraph,” which you can read as the first sentence in the essay. This is important to note: you don’t need a flowery hook to seduce your reader; you can just start this brief essay with some strong, simple, declarative sentences—or go right into your thesis.

What makes a good thesis? A good thesis statement does the following things:

• Makes a claim that will be supported by evidence
• Is specific and precise in its use of language
• Argues for an original thought that goes beyond a simple restating of the facts

If you’re sitting here scratching your head wondering how you come up with a thesis statement off the top of your head, let me give you one piece of advice: don’t.

The AP Lit scoring criteria gives you only one point for the thesis for a reason: they’re just looking for the presence of a defensible claim that can be proven by evidence in the rest of the essay.

Second: Write your essay from the inside out 

While the thesis is given one point, the form and content of the essay can receive anywhere from zero to four points. This is where you should place the bulk of your focus.

My best advice goes like this:

• Choose your evidence first
• Develop your commentary about the evidence
• Then draft your thesis statement based on the evidence that you find and the commentary you can create.

It will seem a little counterintuitive: like you’re writing your essay from the inside out. But this is a fundamental skill that will help you in college and beyond. Don’t come up with an argument out of thin air and then try to find evidence to support your claim. Look for the evidence that exists and then ask yourself what it all means. This will also keep you from feeling stuck or blocked at the beginning of the essay. If you prepare for the exam by reviewing the literary devices that you learned in the course and practice locating them in a text, you can quickly and efficiently read a literary passage and choose two or three literary devices that you can analyze.

Third: Use scratch paper to quickly outline your evidence and commentary 

Once you’ve located two or three literary devices at work in the given passage, use scratch paper to draw up a quick outline. Give each literary device a major bullet point. Then, briefly point to the quotes/evidence you’ll use in the essay. Finally, start to think about what the literary device and evidence are doing together. Try to answer the question: what meaning does this bring to the passage?

A sample outline for one paragraph of the above essay might look like this:

Romantic imagery

Portrayal of summer

• Woman who “from her golden collar… moans aloud”
• Summer as bounty

Contrast with Autumn

• Autumn dismantles Summer
• “Stray through stubble fields”
• Autumn is change; it has the power to dethrone the romance of Summer/make summer a bit meaningless

Recognition of change in a positive light

• Summer “lies on pillows / yellow leaves / tries old tunes”
• Bright imagery/fallen leaves
• Attempt to maintain old practices fails: “old tunes”
• But! There is sympathy: “lies on pillows”

Speaker recognizes: she can’t prevent what is to come; wishes to embrace natural passage of time

By the time the writer gets to the end of the outline for their paragraph, they can easily start to draw conclusions about the paragraph based on the evidence they have pulled out. You can see how that thinking might develop over the course of the outline.

Then, the speaker would take the conclusions they’ve drawn and write a “mini claim” that will start each paragraph. The final bullet point of this outline isn’t the same as the mini claim that comes at the top of the second paragraph of the essay, however, it is the conclusion of the paragraph. You would do well to use the concluding thoughts from your outline as the mini claim to start your body paragraph. This will make your paragraphs clear, concise, and help you to construct a coherent argument.

Repeat this process for the other one or two literary devices that you’ve chosen to analyze, and then: take a step back.

Fourth: Draft your thesis 

Once you quickly sketch out your outline, take a moment to “stand back” and see what you’ve drafted. You’ll be able to see that, among your two or three literary devices, you can draw some commonality. You might be able to say, as the writer did here, that romantic and hyperbolic imagery “illustrate the speaker’s unenthusiastic opinion of the coming of autumn,” ultimately illuminating the poet’s idea “that change is difficult to accept but necessary for growth.”

This is an original argument built on the evidence accumulated by the student. It directly answers the prompt by discussing literary techniques that “convey the speaker’s complex response to the changing seasons.” Remember to go back to the prompt and see what direction they want you to head with your thesis, and craft an argument that directly speaks to that prompt.

Then, move ahead to finish your body paragraphs and conclusion.

Fifth: Give each literary device its own body paragraph 

In this essay, the writer examines the use of two literary devices that are supported by multiple pieces of evidence. The first is “romantic imagery” and the second is “hyperbolic imagery.” The writer dedicates one paragraph to each idea. You should do this, too.

This is why it’s important to choose just two or three literary devices. You really don’t have time to dig into more. Plus, more ideas will simply cloud the essay and confuse your reader.

Using your outline, start each body paragraph with a “mini claim” that makes an argument about what it is you’ll be saying in your paragraph. Lay out your pieces of evidence, then provide commentary for why your evidence proves your point about that literary device.

Move onto the next literary device, rinse, and repeat.

Sixth: Commentary and Conclusion 

Finally, you’ll want to end this brief essay with a concluding paragraph that restates your thesis, briefly touches on your most important points from each body paragraph, and includes a development of the argument that you laid out in the essay.

In this particular example essay, the writer concludes by saying, “Utilizing romantic imagery and hyperbole to shape the Speaker’s perspective, Cary emphasizes the need to embrace change though it is difficult, because growth is not possible without hardship or discomfort.” This is a direct restatement of the thesis. At this point, you’ll have reached the end of your essay. Great work!

Seventh: Sophistication 

A final note on scoring criteria: there is one point awarded to what the scoring criteria calls “sophistication.” This is evidenced by the sophistication of thought and providing a nuanced literary analysis, which we’ve already covered in the steps above.

There are some things to avoid, however:

• Sweeping generalizations, such as, “From the beginning of human history, people have always searched for love,” or “Everyone goes through periods of darkness in their lives, much like the writer of this poem.”
• Only hinting at possible interpretations instead of developing your argument
• Oversimplifying your interpretation
• Or, by contrast, using overly flowery or complex language that does not meet your level of preparation or the context of the essay.

Remember to develop your argument with nuance and complexity and to write in a style that is academic but appropriate for the task at hand.

If you want more practice or to check out other exams from the past, go to the College Board’s website .

Brittany Borghi

After earning a BA in Journalism and an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Iowa, Brittany spent five years as a full-time lecturer in the Rhetoric Department at the University of Iowa. Additionally, she’s held previous roles as a researcher, full-time daily journalist, and book editor. Brittany’s work has been featured in The Iowa Review, The Hopkins Review, and the Pittsburgh City Paper, among others, and she was also a 2021 Pushcart Prize nominee.

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