Studying vocab! And the crowd goes wild!...or...not. Tough crowd, man. Tough crowd.
I know. Studying vocab. This is even more dull than annotation, isn't it? Le ew. Oh well, if you don't study your vocab--and I really mean study it, you may as well just give up now, and go talk to your counselor. There is absolutely no way you could withstand the course without adequate vocabulary study. Like, you'd have less chance than an ice cream cone sitting under the hot August sun.
Your vocab is your lifeline to understanding what exactly is going on in the class. Seriously. And I'm not talking about the wimpy English class vocab lists, with words like "hierarchy," and "adequate." I'm talking about the difference between a qualifier and an antithesis. Or the difference between a thesis and a claim. You have no idea, do you? If you do, congratulations, you're ahead of the game. Would you like a trophy? I'd give you one, but that wouldn't really mean much, because knowing simple differences isn't enough.
You have to know the exact definitions, especially for the evils of the vocabulary definitions quizzes. You don't define the words. The quiz has a bunch of blanks, no word banks, and a bunch of definitions. There will probably be at least 3 sets of words that have definitions that could mean the exact same thing.
Getting the idea, now? Vocabulary is the key to surviving...at least for the first semester or so of the course. After that, you'll probably be done with vocabulary--quizzes, at least. Oh, you thought that was the least of it? Unfortunately, no. You'll be expected to know just about every possible word to describe sentence structure, not to mention paragraph structure and various different ways to structure one's arguments. On what, you ask? On in-class essays, on timed writings, on the AP Exam.
I had one exam where I had to write an essay using rhetorical modes. Go figure I always mix up "Rhetorical Modes," "Rhetorical Structures," and "Rhetorical Devices," huh? Rather than modes, I put a bunch of rhetorical devices. I knew that I had done poorly, before I even handed it in. Why? Because even though, for once, I hadn't mixed up the various rhetorical ____s, I could not, for the life of me, remember a single mode. Not a one. Oh joy of joys.
You're going to need to be able to call on difficult terms at a moment's notice; whether it be during an essay, a quiz, a test, or a class discussion. It's probably a good idea to learn some studying habits now, while you have the chance.
Vocabulary doesn't stick well with me, for some reason. Grammar, sure. Vocabulary? Not so much. I've found that flashcards (if you have a different word for them, let me know; it's basically where you put the word on one side, and the definition on the other) and/or flashcard apps for my phone seem to work best for me. Physical flashcards being far better than the alternative. And there are even vocabulary fans you could use...all sorts of things.
Like I mentioned, practice studying terms now, because it can only get easier. There are also practice AP multiple choice exams you can take, to see how much you already know, so that you know what you need to study. I do that all the time, personally. We had several in-class or for homework over the first semester, and every time I got one back, I'd study the words I didn't know, or the answers that I didn't get correct, with fervor. I suggest doing the same, and saving all of those quizzes for reference. I mean, it's not like it can do anything to make your life more difficult; attempting new ways of studying can only make your life easier.
So, this one may not be interesting, but really...vocabulary is way important. Take my word for it, or don't. I've already learned the hard way; if you want to do so as well, that's your prerogative.
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