AP Latin Multiple-Choice Item Writing Tutorial
How to Choose a Passage: Vergil

1. Choose from the AP Vergil syllabus:
   
   

Aeneid	1.	lines 1-519
	2.	lines 1-56, 199-297, 469-566, 735-804
	4.	lines 1-448, 642-705
	6.	lines 1-211, 450-476, 847-901
	10.	lines 420-509
	12.	lines 791-842, 887-952.



2. Select a text.
   
   
• Use the most recent Oxford Classical Text edition (Mynors, 1990)
  
  
• Adjust capitalization to conform to common English usage. Change accusative plurals in -is to -es and consonantal u to v. Do not use j for consonantal i. You may adjust punctuation to increase clarity.
  
  
3. Seek a passage that
   
   
• is 8 to 12 lines in length
  
  
• treats a self-contained episode or incident
  
  
• employs manageable vocabulary and syntax (few, if any, glosses appear)
  
  
• lends itself to a variety of item types (grammar, translation/comprehension, reference, metrics, figures of speech, background)
  
  
• is not easily confused with another passage (e.g., Jupiter speaking to Mercury and Mercury speaking to Aeneas, in Book 4)
  
  
• can easily be placed in its book and context (since book and line numbers are not given to students)

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