Writing “Killer” Writing “Killer” Free Response Free Response

Essays!Essays!

Writing “Killer” Writing “Killer” Free Response Free Response

Essays!Essays!

How to How to “Head-Off”“Head-Off”Weak Papers!Weak Papers!

How to How to “Head-Off”“Head-Off”Weak Papers!Weak Papers!

The AP European History The AP European History Exam:Exam:

• Multiple Choice Section – Multiple Choice Section – 80 multiple 80 multiple Choice QuestionsChoice Questions in 55 minutes in 55 minutes

• Three Essays – 2 Hours 10 minutes:Three Essays – 2 Hours 10 minutes:

1 DBQ1 DBQ (Document Based Question (Document Based Question Essay) Essay)

2 Free Response Essays2 Free Response Essays – 3 choices – 3 choices per essay.per essay.

TOTAL TIME FOR ENTIRE TEST: TOTAL TIME FOR ENTIRE TEST:

3 Hours, 5 Minutes3 Hours, 5 Minutes

Free Response Question Free Response Question EssaysEssays

• Even though both FRQ essays are worth Even though both FRQ essays are worth only one quarter of your exam score, they only one quarter of your exam score, they can make or break you!! can make or break you!!

• You cannot score above a 3 on this test if You cannot score above a 3 on this test if you neglect the FRQ essays and only you neglect the FRQ essays and only concentrate on the multiple choice concentrate on the multiple choice section and the DBQ.section and the DBQ.

Your Mission:Your Mission:

1.1. Write a Write a 55 paragraph essay. paragraph essay.

2.2. Write a Write a thesisthesis that answers that answers ALLALL parts of the parts of the essay prompt and has essay prompt and has threethree ways to prove your ways to prove your argument.argument.

3.3. Identify Identify three topicsthree topics for your for your body paragraphsbody paragraphs (these should be the same three ideas in your (these should be the same three ideas in your thesis). thesis). If the categories (If the categories (gendergender, , religionreligion, , politicalpolitical, etc.) are given to you in the prompt… , etc.) are given to you in the prompt… you you MUSTMUST use them! use them!

4.4. If the categories are not given in the essay If the categories are not given in the essay prompt, prompt, YOUYOU determine what they will be. determine what they will be.

FRQ Skills required?FRQ Skills required?1. 1. AnalyzeAnalyze: : determine various factors or component parts and examine determine various factors or component parts and examine

their nature and relationshiptheir nature and relationship

2. 2. Assess/EvaluateAssess/Evaluate: : judge the value or character of something; appraise; judge the value or character of something; appraise; weigh the positive and negative points; give an opinion regarding the weigh the positive and negative points; give an opinion regarding the value of; discuss the advantages and disadvantages ofvalue of; discuss the advantages and disadvantages of

3. 3. CompareCompare: : examine for the purpose of noting similarities and differencesexamine for the purpose of noting similarities and differences

4. 4. ContrastContrast: : examine in order to show dissimilarities or points of examine in order to show dissimilarities or points of differencedifference

5. 5. DescribeDescribe: : give an account of; tell about; give a word picture ofgive an account of; tell about; give a word picture of

6. 6. DiscussDiscuss: : write about; consider or examine by argument or from various write about; consider or examine by argument or from various points of view; debate; present the different sides ofpoints of view; debate; present the different sides of

7. 7. ExplainExplain: : make clear or plain; make clear the causes or reasons for; make clear or plain; make clear the causes or reasons for; make known in detail; tell the meaning ofmake known in detail; tell the meaning of

FRQ RUBRICFRQ RUBRIC• You can score 9 You can score 9

points on the FRQ.points on the FRQ.

• You can score 6 You can score 6 points on the “Basic points on the “Basic Core”.Core”.

• In you earn all 6 In you earn all 6 Basic Core points, Basic Core points, you might be able to you might be able to earn 3 additional earn 3 additional “Expanded Core” “Expanded Core” bonus points.bonus points.

2009 FRQ Choices2009 FRQ Choices

FRQs – What to ExpectFRQs – What to Expect

Both of the FRQ essays give you three Both of the FRQ essays give you three prompts to chose from. This means prompts to chose from. This means there will be 6 FRQ prompt choices! there will be 6 FRQ prompt choices!

Categories?Categories?

• Analyze the Analyze the political, economic, and political, economic, and socialsocial effects of anti-Semitism in effects of anti-Semitism in Europe from 1890 to 1939.Europe from 1890 to 1939.

• Compare and contrast the rise of Compare and contrast the rise of fascism in Germany and Italy in the fascism in Germany and Italy in the 1930s.1930s.

• Discuss the ways that seventeenth-Discuss the ways that seventeenth-century absolute monarchs and century absolute monarchs and twentieth-century dictators twentieth-century dictators gainedgained and and maintainedmaintained their power. their power.

THESISTHESIS

• Once you have your three categories, Once you have your three categories, you are ready to write your thesis.you are ready to write your thesis.

• Your thesis statement should always Your thesis statement should always start with the word “start with the word “AlthoughAlthough” or ” or “While” or “Despite the fact”.“While” or “Despite the fact”.

• Your thesis statement can be one or Your thesis statement can be one or two sentences.two sentences.

Example Prompt:Example Prompt:

““Compare and contrast the rise Compare and contrast the rise of fascism in Germany and Italy of fascism in Germany and Italy in the 1930s.”in the 1930s.”

THESISTHESIS

The BAD ThesisThe BAD Thesis

• The rise of fascism in Italy The rise of fascism in Italy and Germany was different and Germany was different in many ways yet they each in many ways yet they each shared similar aspects.shared similar aspects.

The “Blah” ThesisThe “Blah” Thesis

• The rise of fascism in Italy The rise of fascism in Italy and Germany was caused and Germany was caused primarily by primarily by economiceconomic hardships and hardships and politicalpolitical instability, yet both Hitler instability, yet both Hitler and Mussolini had different and Mussolini had different aims and methodsaims and methods. .

Although both Italian and German fascism Although both Italian and German fascism were cultivated during the devastating were cultivated during the devastating economic conditions of post-WWI Europe, and economic conditions of post-WWI Europe, and both had charismatic leaders who were able both had charismatic leaders who were able to convince large populations to accept a to convince large populations to accept a militant political movement that emphasized militant political movement that emphasized unquestioned loyalty to the state and an unquestioned loyalty to the state and an extreme sense of nationalism, the ideologies extreme sense of nationalism, the ideologies which contributed to their rise differed which contributed to their rise differed somewhat. German fascism was more somewhat. German fascism was more focused on a specific leader and focused on a specific leader and identification with a particular ethnic group, identification with a particular ethnic group, whereas Italian fascism advanced the ideas whereas Italian fascism advanced the ideas of corporatism and collectivist rule.of corporatism and collectivist rule.

The Winner ThesisThe Winner Thesis

What To Do With The Body?

• TOPIC TOPIC SENTENCESENTENCE #3#3

• FACT #1-FACT #1-

• FACT #2-FACT #2-

• FACT #3-FACT #3-

• ANALYSIS-ANALYSIS-

• TOPIC TOPIC SENTENCESENTENCE #2 #2

• FACT #1-FACT #1-

• FACT #2-FACT #2-

• FACT #3-FACT #3-

• ANALYSIS-ANALYSIS-

THESIS PARAGRAPHTHESIS PARAGRAPH

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

• TOPIC TOPIC SENTENCESENTENCE #1#1

• FACT #1-FACT #1-

• FACT #2-FACT #2-

• FACT #3-FACT #3-

• ANALYSIS-ANALYSIS-

Analysis StatementsAnalysis Statements• The How or Why StatementThe How or Why Statement

(Explanatory Sentence): (Explanatory Sentence): You must go You must go beyond mere statement of historical beyond mere statement of historical facts to earn this point. You must facts to earn this point. You must address “how” or “why” an event address “how” or “why” an event occurred or why there was a similarity occurred or why there was a similarity or difference.or difference.

• If you get stuck – remember these If you get stuck – remember these phrases:phrases:

1.1. This was most likely due to the This was most likely due to the fact that…fact that…

2.2. Obviously, this was a result of…Obviously, this was a result of…

3.3. This similarity/difference/event This similarity/difference/event was necessitated by …was necessitated by …

Write the EssayWrite the Essay1. Remember the 1. Remember the “Rule of Three”“Rule of Three”

• ThreeThree points in your thesis points in your thesis• ThreeThree body paragraphs body paragraphs• ThreeThree pieces of evidence in support pieces of evidence in support

of each point/paragraphof each point/paragraph• ThreeThree analysis statements (one per analysis statements (one per

paragraph)paragraph)

2.2. Write the paper – Write the paper – Maintain Maintain parallel orderparallel order from thesis from thesis

3. Don’t forget to include 3. Don’t forget to include topic sentencestopic sentences. . Also include Also include transition sentencestransition sentences at the at the end of your body paragraphsend of your body paragraphs