ANSWERING ANSWERING APUSH ESSAY APUSH ESSAY QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Free response essays, in many ways, Free response essays, in many ways, are the very heart of the AP exam. are the very heart of the AP exam.

They measure your reasoning ability They measure your reasoning ability as well as your historical knowledge. as well as your historical knowledge.

To succeed with these essays, you must To succeed with these essays, you must understand the prompts, organize understand the prompts, organize

your information, and write a clear your information, and write a clear and accurate response.and accurate response.

Essay PromptEssay Prompt All college-level essay test All college-level essay test

answers are written in answers are written in response to an essay response to an essay “prompt.”“prompt.”

You You mustmust answer the question answer the question askedasked in order to score well. in order to score well.

Answering essays is a skill Answering essays is a skill that takes practice.that takes practice.

OverviewOverview 1.1. READ theREAD the entireentire prompt prompt!! 2.2. Reread & Mark the IMPORTANT Reread & Mark the IMPORTANT

WORDSWORDS..3.3. UnderstandUnderstand your TASK your TASK (question verb).(question verb). 4.4. Define any “loaded” TERMSDefine any “loaded” TERMS..5.5. Make aMake a quick OUTLINEquick OUTLINE.. 6.6. Cover theCover the entire TIME PERIODentire TIME PERIOD..7.7. Determine your THESIS.Determine your THESIS.8.8. Write your ESSAYWrite your ESSAY, using facts to , using facts to

prove your thesis prove your thesis

1. 1. Read the ENTIRE Read the ENTIRE prompt.prompt.

The first mistake that many The first mistake that many students make is in reading and students make is in reading and answering only part of the answering only part of the prompt.prompt.

2.2. Carefully REREAD the Carefully REREAD the prompt & mark the prompt & mark the IMPORTANT WORDSIMPORTANT WORDS VerbsVerbs,, ConjunctionsConjunctions, and, and thethe time periodtime period

2. Mark the important 2. Mark the important wordswords

Analyze the impact of the American Analyze the impact of the American Revolution on both slavery and the status Revolution on both slavery and the status of women in the period from 1775 to 1800.of women in the period from 1775 to 1800.

Compare and contrast United States foreign Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.1919-1928 and 1945-1950.

2. Mark the important 2. Mark the important wordswords

In what ways did the French and Indian In what ways did the French and Indian War (1754-1763) alter the political, War (1754-1763) alter the political, economic and ideological relations economic and ideological relations between Britain and its American between Britain and its American colonies? Use your knowledge of the colonies? Use your knowledge of the period 1740-1766 along with the period 1740-1766 along with the documents provided.documents provided.

3. 3. Understand the TASKUnderstand the TASKCommonly used verbs and explanations for Commonly used verbs and explanations for

the tasks they indicate:the tasks they indicate: Analyze: Analyze: Explain Explain howhow AND AND whywhy

something occurred. Any question that something occurred. Any question that uses “how” and/or “why” is an analysis uses “how” and/or “why” is an analysis question even if the word “analyze” is not question even if the word “analyze” is not in the prompt. in the prompt.

Discuss Discuss oror Explain: Explain: frequently frequently used in recent prompts. They should used in recent prompts. They should be written as analysis essays, not be written as analysis essays, not merely a list of events or facts.merely a list of events or facts.

3. Understanding the Task: 3. Understanding the Task: Commonly used verbs and verb Commonly used verbs and verb phrasesphrases To what extent: To what extent: How true is some How true is some

development or description of development or description of history? AP essay questions will history? AP essay questions will invariably be about a complex topic invariably be about a complex topic that is that is notnot completely true or false. completely true or false.

Assess the validity: Assess the validity: How true How true is a given statement? is a given statement? (variant: (variant: “Evaluate the validity”)“Evaluate the validity”)

3. Understanding the Task: 3. Understanding the Task: Commonly used verbs and verb Commonly used verbs and verb phrasesphrases (cont’d)(cont’d) Evaluate: Evaluate: Which factor was most Which factor was most

important? You usually need to rank important? You usually need to rank several events or factors and specify several events or factors and specify which is most and which is least which is most and which is least significant. significant.

Compare AND Compare AND contrast: contrast: Discuss Discuss BOTH similarities AND differences BOTH similarities AND differences between two events or periods. between two events or periods.

4.4. Define any “loaded” Define any “loaded” TERMS in the prompt that TERMS in the prompt that need clarificationneed clarification Examples: Examples: Assess the validity of the following statement: Assess the validity of the following statement:

“Reform movements in the United States sought “Reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic ideals,” to expand democratic ideals,”

jot down some “democratic ideals” and be prepared to jot down some “democratic ideals” and be prepared to explain how they are explain how they are democraticdemocratic..

““From 1781 to 1789, the Articles of From 1781 to 1789, the Articles of Confederation provided the United States with Confederation provided the United States with an effective government.” Using . . . your an effective government.” Using . . . your knowledge of the period, evaluate this statement.knowledge of the period, evaluate this statement.

5.5. BRAINSTORM: BRAINSTORM: sketch out a quick, sketch out a quick, informal OUTLINEinformal OUTLINE

This is This is crucialcrucial in helping you to: in helping you to: Cover the entire question asked,Cover the entire question asked, Organize your response, andOrganize your response, and Include as many important details Include as many important details

as as possible.possible.

Outlines do not have to be Outlines do not have to be formal, just sketch or a formal, just sketch or a

structurestructure

Political Economic Social

How did the American Revolution affect American society? Be sure to explain the political, social and economic effects during the period 1775-1800.

66: Outline: Outline Alternatively:Alternatively: Compare Compare andand

contrast United contrast United States foreign States foreign policy after the policy after the First World War First World War and after the and after the Second World War. Second World War. Consider the Consider the periods 1919-1928 periods 1919-1928 andand 1945-1950. 1945-1950.

1919-19281919-1928

similaritiessimilarities

1945-19501945-1950

differencesdifferences

6.6. Cover the TIME Cover the TIME PERIOD in the promptPERIOD in the prompt

If the prompt asks you to discuss reform between 1865 and 1900, you must include information for the ENTIRE time period.

Dates included in prompts are not random: test writers put a lot of thought into them

7. 7. Develop your thesisDevelop your thesis Historical essays require that you Historical essays require that you

take a clear positiontake a clear position that responds that responds to the promptto the prompt (state a (state a thesisthesis) and ) and

defend your thesis defend your thesis with facts.with facts.

ThesisThesis: : sentence that states a clear sentence that states a clear position in response to the promptposition in response to the prompt Better theses also tell the reader what Better theses also tell the reader what

evidence the essay will prove the evidence the essay will prove the thesis is true – they give a brief thesis is true – they give a brief overview of the essay. overview of the essay.

[[We will discuss developing a thesis in our We will discuss developing a thesis in our next session on answering essays.]next session on answering essays.]

8. 8. Write your essay Write your essay 4 -7 well-organized paragraphs4 -7 well-organized paragraphs, , incl’g intro & incl’g intro &

conclusionconclusion 2-3 lined pages in 35-40 minutes2-3 lined pages in 35-40 minutes

Write with a goal: Prove and support your thesisWrite with a goal: Prove and support your thesis using evidence (facts) and explanation (analysis)using evidence (facts) and explanation (analysis) Discuss/analyze Discuss/analyze as many relevant facts as as many relevant facts as

possiblepossible Analysis, analysis, analysis - don’t just list

facts/events. You must explain why they are significant and/or how they support your thesis.

Don’t ignore important facts that don’t support your thesis. Acknowledge them & show why they don’t undermine your thesis

In-class essays are a rough draftIn-class essays are a rough draft

SummarySummary 1.1. READ theREAD the ENTIRE promptENTIRE prompt!! 2.2. Mark the IMPORTANT WORDS Mark the IMPORTANT WORDS – verbs, – verbs,

conjunctions, time period conjunctions, time period 3.3. UnderstandUnderstand your TASKyour TASK. . What exactly what What exactly what

you are being asked to you are being asked to do?do?.. Consider the Consider the entireentire prompt. prompt.

4.4. Define any important “loaded” TERM(s)Define any important “loaded” TERM(s)..5.5. Make aMake a quickquick OUTLINEOUTLINE.. Organize your Organize your

thinking thinking beforebefore you begin writing. you begin writing.6.6. Cover theCover the entire TIME PERIODentire TIME PERIOD..7.7. Determine your THESIS.Determine your THESIS.8.8. Write your essayWrite your essay, using facts to support your , using facts to support your

thesis thesis

Free response essay prompts Free response essay prompts put a lot of responsibility on put a lot of responsibility on

the writer:the writer: Some prompts are very open. Here is Some prompts are very open. Here is

an example of this type of prompt:an example of this type of prompt: The government under the Articles The government under the Articles

of Confederation has been of Confederation has been considered a failure. Describe three considered a failure. Describe three actions of the Confederation actions of the Confederation government and explain how these government and explain how these actions may or may not be actions may or may not be considered failures.considered failures.

These prompts require you to These prompts require you to define the terms, specify the time define the terms, specify the time period, and understand the task.period, and understand the task.

For instance, read the prompt carefully: For instance, read the prompt carefully: The government under the Articles of Confederation The government under the Articles of Confederation

has been considered a has been considered a failurefailure. . Describe three Describe three actionsactions of the Confederation government of the Confederation government and explainand explain how these actions how these actions may or may notmay or may not be considered be considered failures.failures.

To address the prompt, the following questions To address the prompt, the following questions must be answered:must be answered: What time period does this question address? [1781-What time period does this question address? [1781-

1789]1789] What were 3 (no more) actions of the Confederation What were 3 (no more) actions of the Confederation

Congress that you are going to discuss?Congress that you are going to discuss? How are you defining “failure” or “success”?How are you defining “failure” or “success”?

Some prompts provide clear Some prompts provide clear time periods to be addressed:time periods to be addressed:

For instance, here are two prompts that For instance, here are two prompts that specify very clearly the time periods to specify very clearly the time periods to be discussed: be discussed: Compare and contrast United States Compare and contrast United States

foreign policy after the First World War foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider and after the Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.

How did the African American Civil Rights How did the African American Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s address movement of the 1950s and 1960s address the failures of Reconstruction?the failures of Reconstruction?

These prompts require you to These prompts require you to limit your evidence and to limit your evidence and to

define certain terms.define certain terms. With the first prompt– With the first prompt–

Compare Compare andand contrast United States contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider and after the Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.

The following need clarifyingThe following need clarifying Deal only with foreign policy decisions Deal only with foreign policy decisions You need to pick decisions that are BOTH You need to pick decisions that are BOTH

different and similar between the early different and similar between the early and the later time periods.and the later time periods.

The next prompt– The next prompt– How did the African American Civil Rights How did the African American Civil Rights

movement of the 1950s and 1960s address movement of the 1950s and 1960s address the failures of Reconstruction?the failures of Reconstruction?

Requires you to specifyRequires you to specify Several “failures of Reconstruction”Several “failures of Reconstruction”

Which implies that you know when Which implies that you know when Reconstruction occurred.Reconstruction occurred.

And to know several very specific results And to know several very specific results of the later Civil Rights movement that of the later Civil Rights movement that directly addressed the failures of directly addressed the failures of Reconstruction.Reconstruction.

Practice Question 1Practice Question 1

Analyze the impact of the Analyze the impact of the American Revolution on American Revolution on both slavery and the status both slavery and the status of women in the period from of women in the period from 1775 to 1800.1775 to 1800.

Practice Question 2Practice Question 2

Evaluate the relative importance Evaluate the relative importance of the following as factors of the following as factors promoting Americans to rebel: promoting Americans to rebel: parliamentary taxation, restriction parliamentary taxation, restriction of civil liberties, British military of civil liberties, British military measures and the legacy of measures and the legacy of colonial religious and political colonial religious and political ideas.ideas.

Practice Question 3Practice Question 3

““The United States Constitution The United States Constitution of 1787 represented an of 1787 represented an economic and ideological victory economic and ideological victory for the traditional American for the traditional American political elite.” Assess the political elite.” Assess the validity of that statement for the validity of that statement for the period 1781 to 1789. period 1781 to 1789.

Practice Question 4Practice Question 4

How did economic, geographic, How did economic, geographic, and social factors encourage the and social factors encourage the growth of slavery as an important growth of slavery as an important part of the economy of the part of the economy of the southern colonies between 1607-southern colonies between 1607-1775? 1775?

An Actual ExampleAn Actual Example

In what ways did the French and In what ways did the French and Indian War (1754-63) alter the Indian War (1754-63) alter the political, economic and ideological political, economic and ideological relations between Britain and its relations between Britain and its American colonies? Use your American colonies? Use your knowledge of the period 1740-knowledge of the period 1740-1766 along with the documents 1766 along with the documents provided to answer the question.provided to answer the question.

Tip #1Tip #1 Make sure you understand exactly your Make sure you understand exactly your

task, what you must “prove” in the essay.task, what you must “prove” in the essay. Stay strictly within the time period. Don’t Stay strictly within the time period. Don’t

wander.wander. You must be specific, specific, specific.You must be specific, specific, specific. Use relevant and time-sensitive PEPS Use relevant and time-sensitive PEPS

(people, events, places, significance). (people, events, places, significance). Think of PEPS as proper nouns (words that Think of PEPS as proper nouns (words that need to be capitalized).need to be capitalized).

Never use generalities, i.e. many reforms, Never use generalities, i.e. many reforms, lots of reformers, many things changed.lots of reformers, many things changed.

Tip #2Tip #2 Organize your thinking BEFORE you Organize your thinking BEFORE you

write.write. This doesn’t need to be a long processThis doesn’t need to be a long process

Decide two or three things you need to Decide two or three things you need to discuss,discuss,

Organize the facts you have under those Organize the facts you have under those headings,headings,

Check through them to see that you Check through them to see that you “balance” the discussion—give each part of “balance” the discussion—give each part of the topic equal discussion.the topic equal discussion.

Outlines do not have to be Outlines do not have to be formal, just sketch a formal, just sketch a

structure and put your facts structure and put your facts into that structure.into that structure.

SocialSocial

PoliticalPolitical

EconomicEconomic

PEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPS PEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPSPEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPS PEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPSPEPPEPSS

Write with clarity and Write with clarity and confidence– don’t be timid!confidence– don’t be timid!

Be definite. Your thesis should Be definite. Your thesis should ANSWER the prompt with your opinion.ANSWER the prompt with your opinion.

Having brainstormed then organized Having brainstormed then organized specific facts, start each paragraph with specific facts, start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence.a clear topic sentence.

Refer to specific facts to support your Refer to specific facts to support your thinking. Stick to your structure, refer thinking. Stick to your structure, refer to your outline as you write.to your outline as you write.

Good writing is a problem-Good writing is a problem-solving situation. Work the solving situation. Work the

process!process! After writing your thesis paragraph, go After writing your thesis paragraph, go

back and re-read the prompt.back and re-read the prompt. Ask yourself, “Have I ‘answered’ the Ask yourself, “Have I ‘answered’ the

prompt with my thesis?”prompt with my thesis?” What three or four points MUST you make What three or four points MUST you make

to support your thesis. Write these down.to support your thesis. Write these down. As you write, look back at the prompt and As you write, look back at the prompt and

at your thesis. Are you sticking to the at your thesis. Are you sticking to the topic?topic?

Plan your time so that you Plan your time so that you can read your essay before can read your essay before

you finish.you finish. Check the clock. Know how much time Check the clock. Know how much time

you have to produce the essay. you have to produce the essay. Check your thesis and your outline Check your thesis and your outline

frequently.frequently. Make sure that you have time to go back Make sure that you have time to go back

and read quickly through your essay.and read quickly through your essay. Don’t ignore a conclusion paragraph. Don’t ignore a conclusion paragraph.

Sometimes it makes up for weaknesses Sometimes it makes up for weaknesses earlier in the essay.earlier in the essay.