Tips for Writing an Tips for Writing an Essay on the AP US Essay on the AP US

History ExamHistory Exam

General PointersGeneral Pointers

• Be persuasive, convince the reader that your Be persuasive, convince the reader that your answer is correctanswer is correct

• Take a stand, have an opinion, don’t be timidTake a stand, have an opinion, don’t be timid

• Avoid fragmented sentences & run-onsAvoid fragmented sentences & run-ons

• Avoid slang and informal languageAvoid slang and informal language

• Avoid using first person; “I,” “my,” “we,” & Avoid using first person; “I,” “my,” “we,” & “our”“our”

• Essays must be written in black or dark blue inkEssays must be written in black or dark blue ink

General PointersGeneral Pointers

• Don’t waste time with white out, instead cross Don’t waste time with white out, instead cross out words or sentencesout words or sentences

• Write legibly in fairly large sized lettersWrite legibly in fairly large sized letters

• The average reader spends only a few The average reader spends only a few minutes on each essay. Your goal is to minutes on each essay. Your goal is to distinguish your essay from mediocrity in the distinguish your essay from mediocrity in the 11stst paragraph. paragraph.

Understanding the Understanding the Essay PromptEssay Prompt

• All AP essays are written in response to a All AP essays are written in response to a “prompt”“prompt”

• Understanding what this prompt is asking you Understanding what this prompt is asking you to do is very importantto do is very important• Read the WHOLE prompt, every word; don’t be Read the WHOLE prompt, every word; don’t be

in a hurryin a hurry• Examine the VERB in the prompt. It tells you Examine the VERB in the prompt. It tells you

what you must dowhat you must do• Commonly used verb phrases: analyze, evaluate, Commonly used verb phrases: analyze, evaluate,

assess the validity, compare and contrast, discuss assess the validity, compare and contrast, discuss or consideror consider

Understanding the Understanding the Essay PromptEssay Prompt

• Carefully observe any NUMBERS in the Carefully observe any NUMBERS in the questionquestion

• Observe the GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIESObserve the GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES

• Center your answer within the TIME FRAMECenter your answer within the TIME FRAME

• USE THE CATEGORIES given in the questionUSE THE CATEGORIES given in the question• Social, economic, political, cultural, religious, Social, economic, political, cultural, religious,

geographical, etc.geographical, etc.• Announce the categories in your thesis & then Announce the categories in your thesis & then

write a paragraph about eachwrite a paragraph about each

Sample PromptsSample Prompts

• Analyze the effect of the French and Indian Analyze the effect of the French and Indian War and its aftermath on the relationship War and its aftermath on the relationship between Great Britain and the British between Great Britain and the British colonies. Confine your response to the period colonies. Confine your response to the period from 1754 to 1776.from 1754 to 1776.

• Compare & contrast United States foreign Compare & 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 1919-Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950. 1928 and 1945-1950.

Sample PromptsSample Prompts

• Analyze the origins and outcomes of the intense Analyze the origins and outcomes of the intense cultural conflicts of the 1920s. In your response, cultural conflicts of the 1920s. In your response, focus on TWO of the following. focus on TWO of the following. • Immigration Immigration • Prohibition Prohibition • Religion Religion

• Compare and contrast the Cold War foreign Compare and contrast the Cold War foreign policies of TWO of the following presidents. policies of TWO of the following presidents. • Harry Truman (1945–1953) Harry Truman (1945–1953) • Dwight Eisenhower (1953–1961) Dwight Eisenhower (1953–1961) • Richard Nixon (1969–1974) Richard Nixon (1969–1974)

Create an outlineCreate an outline

• After you understand the task at hand, create After you understand the task at hand, create a brief outlinea brief outline

• This maybe a chart, diagram, outline, or list, This maybe a chart, diagram, outline, or list, but do not skip this stepbut do not skip this step

• Organize your thinking so that you cover all of Organize your thinking so that you cover all of the material you need to cover in order to the material you need to cover in order to address the prompt completelyaddress the prompt completely

• You are advised to spend 5 minutes planning You are advised to spend 5 minutes planning and 30 minutes writingand 30 minutes writing

Writing a thesisWriting a thesis

• A clear thesis is essential to a solid score, it is A clear thesis is essential to a solid score, it is the most important sentence in your essaythe most important sentence in your essay

• A thesis sentence is a single declaratory A thesis sentence is a single declaratory sentence that “answers” the prompt with a sentence that “answers” the prompt with a clearly and simply stated opinion that does not clearly and simply stated opinion that does not restate the prompt.restate the prompt.

• Do nor rewrite or restate the question/promptDo nor rewrite or restate the question/prompt

• A good thesis shows that the writer is going to A good thesis shows that the writer is going to answer all parts of the question within the answer all parts of the question within the boundaries of the questionboundaries of the question

Writing a thesisWriting a thesis

• ““Slavery was the principal cause of the U.S. Civil Slavery was the principal cause of the U.S. Civil War. Assess the validity of this statement.”War. Assess the validity of this statement.”

• GoodGood• Although slavery was a significant factor in the coming Although slavery was a significant factor in the coming

of the Civil War, the primary causes were the political, of the Civil War, the primary causes were the political, economic, and moral implications of the extension of economic, and moral implications of the extension of slavery to the territories.slavery to the territories.

• BadBad• Slavery was the principal cause of the Civil WarSlavery was the principal cause of the Civil War

• UglyUgly• The Civil War had many causes.The Civil War had many causes.

Writing a thesisWriting a thesis

• It may be helpful to answer the prompt in a It may be helpful to answer the prompt in a single sentence in order to help establish your single sentence in order to help establish your thesisthesis

• Use this prompt to try:Use this prompt to try:

• ““How successful was organized labor in How successful was organized labor in improving the position of workers in the period improving the position of workers in the period from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that contributed to the level of success achieved.”contributed to the level of success achieved.”

Writing a thesisWriting a thesis

• Concept Thesis vs. Organizational ThesisConcept Thesis vs. Organizational Thesis

• Concept thesis examples:Concept thesis examples:• Although this was a period of intense labor Although this was a period of intense labor

pressure, unions failed to make the lives and pressure, unions failed to make the lives and status of workers better.status of workers better.

• Although this period saw increased labor Although this period saw increased labor involvement, state and federal government involvement, state and federal government antagonism kept unions from being effective.antagonism kept unions from being effective.

• This type of statement acknowledges that the This type of statement acknowledges that the question is complexquestion is complex

Writing a thesisWriting a thesis

• Organizational thesis examples:Organizational thesis examples:• Labor unions failed because they were confused Labor unions failed because they were confused

in their goals and were aggressively opposed by in their goals and were aggressively opposed by both state and federal governments.both state and federal governments.

• Organized labor unions were successful because Organized labor unions were successful because they were not unified in their demands and they were not unified in their demands and were associated with radical European groupswere associated with radical European groups

• These statements specifically mention what These statements specifically mention what the topics of the body of your essay will bethe topics of the body of your essay will be

Creating an Creating an introductionintroduction

• Avoid fluffy statementsAvoid fluffy statements

• It’s OK if your intro is only 2-3 sentencesIt’s OK if your intro is only 2-3 sentences

• Ideally your first sentence is the thesisIdeally your first sentence is the thesis

The BodyThe Body

• Essays often fall short b/c they lack facts, Essays often fall short b/c they lack facts, support your thesis w/ FACTSsupport your thesis w/ FACTS

• It is wise to show more than one side of an It is wise to show more than one side of an argument (although thesis statements)argument (although thesis statements)

• Showing exceptions demonstrates analysis & Showing exceptions demonstrates analysis & critical thinkingcritical thinking

• Write down your most factually supported Write down your most factually supported ideas in your 2ideas in your 2ndnd & 3 & 3rdrd paragraphs in case you paragraphs in case you run out of timerun out of time

The BodyThe Body

• Things to Avoid:Things to Avoid:• RepetitivenessRepetitiveness• WordinessWordiness• Mush: vague generalities unsupported by factsMush: vague generalities unsupported by facts• Facts that do not pertain to the question/promptFacts that do not pertain to the question/prompt• Telling a narrativeTelling a narrative

What are graders What are graders looking for?looking for?

• Thesis StatementThesis Statement

• Facts (outside info for DBQs)Facts (outside info for DBQs)

• AnalysisAnalysis• Did you show that you understood the question?Did you show that you understood the question?• Did you make reasonable, logical arguments?Did you make reasonable, logical arguments?

• SynthesisSynthesis• Did you put your facts & reasoning together & Did you put your facts & reasoning together &

make reasonable inferences & conclusions?make reasonable inferences & conclusions?

ETC.ETC.

• Multiple Choice Questions=50% of gradeMultiple Choice Questions=50% of grade• 80 Qs in 55 minutes80 Qs in 55 minutes

• Essay Exams=50% of gradeEssay Exams=50% of grade• 1 DBQ in 45 minutes1 DBQ in 45 minutes• 2 Free Response Essays (choose one of two 2 Free Response Essays (choose one of two

twice), 35 minutes eachtwice), 35 minutes each