AP English Literature and Composition · Exam guide
AP English Literature Open Essay: How to Choose and Prepare Works You Can Write About
The third essay asks how a literary concept or idea contributes to an interpretation of a work of fiction as a whole. You choose the work, from your own reading or from a list of about 40 titles on the exam. The choice matters, and so does preparing before the exam. This guide shows how to choose and what to prepare.
What makes a good choice
| Look for | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| A work you know well | You need specific details from the whole book or play, not a vague memory. |
| A work with a rich setting, narration or structure | Prompts often ask about one of these concepts, so a work that has several is flexible. |
| A work with tensions | A work with conflicting characters or values gives you something to interpret. |
| A work you have thought about | An opinion you have already formed is easier to write quickly. |
Works that often serve many prompts
Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, The Great Gatsby and Hamlet are all works students often use, and each offers a lot to discuss. Any work you know well enough to write about from memory can work. Titles on the exam list change, so check the list when you see the prompt.
Prepare an evidence bank
For each of three works, write down six to eight specific details with a sentence about what each shows. Example for Frankenstein:
| Detail | What it can support |
|---|---|
| The story is nested: Walton's letters hold Victor's story, which holds the creature's. | Structure, narration, and the idea that every account is partial. |
| The creature learns language by listening to a family through a wall. | Education, isolation and the desire for belonging. |
| Victor's story ends on the Arctic ice, far from any home. | Setting, consequence and isolation. |
Matching a work to a prompt
- Read the prompt's concept (for example setting, a character's choices, or a symbol).
- Write one sentence on how that concept shapes the whole work.
- Choose the work where you can write that sentence fastest and support it with the most detail.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a work you only half remember.
- Retelling the plot instead of analyzing it.
- Writing about a minor detail with no link to the work as a whole.
- Using a work that does not fit the concept in the prompt.
- Starting without a plan for which details to use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I write about a play?
Yes. The question asks about a work of fiction, and plays are included in the course's reading.
Do I have to choose from the list on the exam?
No. You may choose from your own reading or from the list.
How many works should I prepare?
Three is enough if each is prepared well, with specific details you can recall.
Can I use a movie or a graphic novel?
Choose a work that is generally recognized as fiction of literary merit, and check with your teacher about what suits the exam.
Where can I find the official scoring rules?
Exam formats change a little from year to year, so check the current course and exam description on the College Board site before test day.
Keep practicing
The AP English Literature course has five practice prompts for each of the three essay types, with a timed writing space that scores your response against the official 6-point analytic rubric. These free lessons also build the skills the free-response section tests:
- Free lesson 1.6: claim, evidence, commentary
- Free lesson 1.5: literal and figurative, one detail two ways
See the AP English Literature and Composition course Free lessons and lesson list
More AP English Literature and Composition guides (10)
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Free-response and writing
- AP English Literature Poetry Analysis Essay Explained: How to Earn the 6 Points
- AP English Literature Prose Analysis Essay Explained: How to Earn the 6 Points
- AP English Literature Literary Argument Essay Explained: How to Earn the 6 Points
- AP English Literature Thesis Statements Explained: Earning the Thesis Point on Poetry, Prose and Literary Argument
- AP English Literature Evidence and Commentary Explained: Earning the Four Points in Row B
- AP English Literature Sophistication Point Explained: Tensions, Shifts and Complexity
- AP English Literature Poetic Devices and Their Effects: From Naming to Interpreting
- AP English Literature Prose Techniques: Narration, Diction, Syntax and Shifts
Multiple choice
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