How to Write the AP Lang Argument Essay + Examples


In this essay, it’s important to do more than just provide examples relevant evidence. After each piece of evidence you include, you’ll need to explain why it’s significant and how it connects to your main argument. The analysis you include after your evidence is commentary.


Typically, the AP Lang Argument Essay prompt asks you to reflect on a broad cultural, moral, or social issue that is open to debate. For evidence, you won’t be asked to memorize and cite statistics or facts. Rather, you’ll want to bring in real-world examples of:

According to the , one point can be awarded to AP Lang Argument essays that achieve a high level of sophistication. You can accomplish that in four ways:

Tips for Writing the AP Language Argument Essay · 1

The sample AP Lang Argumentative Essay above has some strengths and some weaknesses. Overall, we would give this essay a 3 or a 4. Let’s break down what’s working and what could be improved:

Don’t be fooled by the fact that this is an English class, or by the fact that your teacher may (and likely will) decide to pile novel after novel onto your syllabus. The trick to doing well on this exam does not hinge upon your ability to manipulate literary devices such as similies and metaphors. Memorizing the plots of novels and scouring cram books will be of limited use. In the end, doing well on AP® Lang will actually mean becoming a master of argumentation, plain and simple. Instead, reading, understanding, and practicing the usage of argumentative tactics will get you a 5.

And, yes, they COULD write basic persuasive essays at the start of the year, but they could not write great ones; that's where AP Lang & Comp teachers come in.

This rubric category is graded on a scale of 0-4 where 4 is the highest grade. Unlike the rhetorical and synthesis essays, the evidence you need to write your AP Lang Argument Essay is not provided to you. Rather, you’ll need to generate your own evidence and comment upon it.


How to Ace the AP Language Argument Essay - YouTube

o This is where you ease the reader into the structure of your paper. While you want to make sure you discuss argumentative devices such as ad-hominem attacks and paradoxes, you want to be careful not to turn your essay into a list of terms. This makes for a choppy, amateurish paper that will not merit full points.

Types of Evidence for Argumentative Essays | AP Lang Q3 - YouTube

o Key tip: the very best essays make concessions to the other side of the argument. You can get the concession over with at the beginning or the end of the paper, just make sure that when you make a reasonable concession it does not overshadow your main argument.

Argumentative Essays (AP Lang Q3) - YouTube

The AP Lang Argument Essay is graded on : Thesis, Evidence and Commentary, and Sophistication. How can you make sure you cover all three bases in your essay? We’ll break down each rubric category with dos and don’ts below:

How to Write an Argument Essay Thesis | AP Lang Q3 - YouTube

o This depends on how many pieces of evidence fit in with this type of argumentative issue/device. It’s important to resist the urge to “megagraph” aka, the creation of huge, meandering paragraphs chockfull of evidence. If you do this, your meaning will get lost. Instead, stick with six succinct paragraphs with selectively chosen, strong evidence that supports your thesis and shows what you know.

Argument Essay: Evidence - AP English Language - Fiveable

As if there wasn’t enough for students to deal with their junior and senior year – college or career planning, senioritis, prom drama – we have to go and layer in high-stakes, high-stress standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, and even the AP Language and Composition test for the brave souls who choose to face the AP Lang synthesis essay, respond to the AP Lang essay, and approach the AP Lang argument essay on the AP Lang exam. Ah, to be a student again!

Unlocking the Nuances of the AP Lang Argument Essay

So, then, how do we get students ready for AP Language, particularly when it comes to the AP Lang argument essay? Read on to learn about unlocking the nuances of the AP Lang argument essay.