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activity Writing a Body Paragraph
Write a body paragraph that uses evidence to back a claim in support of one of the
claims you make in the thesis statement you developed. Be mindful of developing com-
Argument
mentary that builds a bridge between the claim in the paragraph’s topic sentence and
the evidence you’ve chosen.

Concluding Your Argument

Perhaps the most difficult part of an essay — especially in a timed environment — is the
conclusion. How do you conclude without saying, “In conclusion . . .”? It may help to
keep in mind that the most important function of a conclusion is to move the reader’s
attention from what your essay has argued to so what, or why your argument matters. In
your introduction, you addressed why the reader should care about
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AP TIP the subject; you can bring your essay full circle by returning to that
Just like with essay idea. Why should the reader care about the position you have devel-
introductions, you can oped? You might appeal to pathos, reminding your audience that
model your conclusions on the issue has real-world consequences. Or, you might appeal to a
the moves that published
writers make. value you share with your audience that bears on your subject and
on your position, subtly emphasizing some common ground.

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Revising an AP Argument Essay
Revision is an important part of the writing process, especially because reflecting on
your work can often yield new and nuanced insight. But revision isn’t necessarily a solo
activity; feedback from a good critical reader, whether peer or teacher, can help you see
your work with fresh eyes. No matter how you approach it, revision ultimately gives you
the opportunity to strengthen your arguments.
Although it is important to catch grammatical errors and to think carefully about your
language choices, keep in mind that revision is more than proofreading. Effective revi-
sion can involve honing the position you’ve taken in your thesis and the claims in your
topic sentences, revisiting your evidence, and, most crucially, refining the line of reason-
ing in your commentary connecting that evidence to your claims. Following are a series
of considerations and questions that thoughtful writers ask themselves in order to revise
just about anything they’ve written — especially when working on an argument essay:

• Reread your entire essay for comprehension. Is there a clear line of reasoning
that supports a defensible claim in response to the prompt? How do your
explanations help readers make sense of your argument?
• Reread your introduction and thesis statement. Is the thesis clear — that is, have
you taken a position in response to the prompt that goes beyond summary or
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