A.P. Lit Apples to Apples
Source/Author: Natalie Updike, Upper School English Teacher
May 11, 2023
In preparation for A.P. exams, Ms. Updike's A.P. Literature and Composition classes played a literary version of Apples to Apples. Small groups of seniors had a designated "listener" / "judge" who read a prompt that was pulled from Free Response questions of previous A.P. Literature and Composition exams dating from 1970-2022 (with emphasis on exams from the past five years). The other 3-4 students in each group then had to select a card with the name of a book discussed this school year they would choose to write about in response the the prompt. Students could choose from "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston, "1984" by George Orwell, "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison, "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros, or any book they read additionally over the summer, which varied by student.
The listener / judge would then hear each students' one minute thesis statement or argument as to how they'd use their chosen text to address the prompt. After each student was given their chance to argue their thesis, the listener / judge would decide upon the strongest line of reasoning or argument, awarding that student with the prompt card. The student at the end of the game who had the most prompt cards won!
This game provided important, comprehensive review for students to remember main themes, characters, plot details, etc. while practicing their all-important argumentative and analytical skills.
The listener / judge would then hear each students' one minute thesis statement or argument as to how they'd use their chosen text to address the prompt. After each student was given their chance to argue their thesis, the listener / judge would decide upon the strongest line of reasoning or argument, awarding that student with the prompt card. The student at the end of the game who had the most prompt cards won!
This game provided important, comprehensive review for students to remember main themes, characters, plot details, etc. while practicing their all-important argumentative and analytical skills.
