The Essay Question

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The Essay Question
The Basics of Writing a Successful AP Essay
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Types of Essay Questions

• Document Based Question (DBQ)
• Based on eight to ten primary sources plus
  outside knowledge
• Free Response Question (FRQ)
• Four questions
• Two pre-1865 (select one)
• Two Post 1865 (select one)

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Example Question

• Analyze the differences between the Spanish
  settlements in the Southwest and the English
  colonies in New England in the seventeenth
  century in terms of TWO of the following (2006)
• Politics
• Religion
• Economic Development

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What Are the AP Essay Graders Looking For?

• Answer the question
• Begin with a strong thesis
• Follow a reasonable outline
• The less confusing the better for the reader
• Be straightforward
• Readers are experts in history (dont try to fool
  them)

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What Are the AP Essay Graders Looking For?

• Focus on the question
• Make sure you answer the question being asked
• More that just facts although important
• Reveal an understanding of the general principles
  good analysis
• Big picture of American History

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What Are the AP Essay Graders Looking For?

• Thesis, Thesis, Thesis (Answer the ?)
• Relevant Facts, Facts, Facts
• Weave and understanding of content with analysis
• Originality of thought
• Well-written and organized

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What Are the AP Essay Graders Looking For? Summed
Up

• Express good ideas
• Present valid evidence to support those ideas
• Strong developed thesis
• Quality of historical argument
• Each essay is only read for about two minutes

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Things That Make Any Essay Better

• Two Components
• Plan what your are going to write
• Use effective writing techniques
• Better organized
• Better thought out
• Better written

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Before You Start Writing

• Read the question carefully
• Brainstorm for a couple of minutes
• Write facts, concepts and/or ideas that come to
  mind
• Decide on your thesis (point of argument)
• Organize information to fit thesis

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Before You Start Writing

• Aim for five paragraphs (although not an
  absolute)
• Paragraph 1 Introduction
• Thesis
• Summary of three or more basic arguments
• Paragraphs 2 4 or 5 Body
• Three or Four or more arguments that support the
  thesis
• Historical evidence
• Paragraph 5 Conclusion
• Conclusion and wrap up
• Restate thesis

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Types of Arguments

• Three or More Good Points
• The Chronological Argument
• Similarities and Differences
• The Straw Dog Argument

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Arguments Continued

• Organize essay
• First paragraph addresses the question and
  states how you are going to answer it (Thesis)
• Paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and 5 or more organized
  around a single argument ?by evidence ?thesis
• Paragraph 5 0R 6 Ties the essay into a neat
  package. Answer the question here again!!!

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Writing Guidelines

• Keep sentences an simple as possible
• You can throw in a few big words but dont over
  do it
• Write clearly and neatly
• Define your terms
• Use transitions words to show where you are going
• Keep referring to your thesis

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Writing Guidelines Continued

• Use structural indicators to organize your
  paragraphs
• Stick to you outline
• Try to prove one big picture idea per paragraph
• Evidence, evidence, evidence
• Turn the page
• Make sure the first and last paragraphs directly
  answer the question

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Summary

• Answer the entire question
• Brainstorm, choose a thesis, develop an outline
• Follow your outline
• One important idea per paragraph
• Evidence, Evidence, Evidence
• Write clearly, neatly and to the point

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Three Good Points

• Simplest strategy
• From brainstorming select three best points
• Each point the subject of a paragraph
• Save strongest point for last
• Topic sentence then support
• Opening paragraph what you intend to argue
• Final paragraph what you have proven

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The Chronological Argument

• Certain questions lend themselves to this
• Transitions between paragraphs essential
• Paragraph two leads to paragraph three which
  leads to paragraph four
• Opening paragraph sets the path
• Closing paragraph restate essay question and
  answer it

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Similarities and Differences I

• Comparison questions
• Start by setting a historical scene
• Each paragraph building an issue
• Last paragraph comparing and contrasting issues

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Similarities and Differences II

• Question my provide options
• Comparing political philosophies of two
  presidents
• Thesis states the essential differences between
  their philosophies
• One paragraph to each philosophy
• Fourth paragraph major differences and
  similarities
• Final paragraph draw conclusions

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Similarities and Differences III

• Start with a thesis
• Discuss three pertinent issues
• Each presidents view
• Final paragraph overview of your argument

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The Straw Dog Argument

• Choose arguments opposite of yours
• State their arguments, then tear them down
• You do not have to prove you are correct
• Paragraph 2 - Summarize your opponents
  arguments in
• Paragraph 3 - Collapse them in
• Paragraph 4 your argument
• Showing both sides demonstrates you understand
  history is complex