Writing the Free Response Essay A Guide to Writing for Students Who Don’t Know How To Write (This is all of you.) 1. Focus on the Introduction Three sentence minimum An opening, scope-defining statement which places the question in context A strong thesis statement which clearly defines the position you are taking An organizational statement which sets up (categorizes) the rest of the essay

Free Response Essay Writing First Writing Assignment Three Introductory Paragraphs Peer Reviews Take this seriously Refer to assignment for due date

Free Response Essay Writing 2. First body paragraph Should address the first category of your organizational statement Should contain at least three facts supporting your thesis Should contain some analysis of these facts related to the thesis Should end with a transitional statement for the next paragraph

Free Response Essay Writing COMPLEX SENTENCE writing Term+ identification phrase + interpretive commentary = analytical (complex) The Stamp Act, which required printing in the colonies on specially stamped paper, was passed in 1765. The Stamp Act, a tax on legal documents during the colonial era, united the colonies in protest against British policy. The Stamp Act, a tax passed without colonial consent, angered many colonial leaders.

Free Response Essay Writing 3. Next body paragraphs – rinse, repeat Should address the other parts of your organizational statement Should support your thesis Should include supporting facts, analysis, and a transitional sentence

Free Response Essay Writing 4. The “Money” Paragraph Presents the other side Shows the reader that you are aware of other arguments, other factors, other effects Warning – this should be a brief presentation and not a contradiction of your thesis!

Free Response Essay Writing 5. Conclusion Should not introduce any new information or ideas Should not contradict your thesis statement! Should briefly summarize the major points

Free Response Essay Writing 6. Don’ts!! Use the words I, we, our, you, us “I think that…..” (don’t think, prove with facts) “We achieved the goal of…..” “As you can see…..” Wave the flag “……and because of this, the United States became the great nation that it is today.”

Free Response Essay Writing 6. Don’ts!! Try to be creative This is NOT a literature paper. You are not being evaluated on humor and cuteness Use a pencil ever ever ever (don’t type it either) I will not read your paper You will write it again

Writing the DBQ 2015 Major Points 1. The DBQ is like any other essay question – it must be answered. 2. The DBQ gives you a set of 5-7 documents to HELP you formulate your answer. 3. The DBQ is scored on a 0-7 scale.

Writing the DBQ 2015 4. The DBQ is 25% of your APUSH Exam score and the last element of the exam we have not addressed. (MC, SA, FRE) 5. The DBQ requires more depth and synthesis. 6. The DBQ is NOT about the documents! It is an essay question that must be answered, but you get a cheat sheet to help you!!

Citing the Documents in a DBQ There are numerous ways. 1. Reference the documents parenthetically in the middle or at the end of a sentence. Booker T. Washington supported vocational education (Doc 1) as a means of gaining economic independence for black citizens. Booker T. Washington supported vocational education as a means of gaining economic independence for black citizens (Doc 1).

Citing the Documents in a DBQ 2. Reference the documents by name. In a speech given in Atlanta, Booker T. Washington outlined his strategy to black citizens for achieving equality in the United States.

Citing the Documents in a DBQ 3. Do both. In a speech given in Atlanta, Booker T. Washington offered a strategy to black citizens for achieving equality in the United States (Doc 1). He supported vocational education to enable blacks to gain economic independence as a first step toward full equality. He founded Tuskegee Institute to provide such training in an educational setting.

How NOT to Cite the Documents in a DBQ Document 1 says…….. Document 2 is about……… Document 3 shows how…….. The DQB is NOT about the documents!! (Did I say that yet?) Quoting the Documents

Scoring the DBQ 2015 Refer to the handouts: The Dreaded DBQ and the APUSH DBQ Rubric Based on a 0-7 scale. 0-1 points. Thesis which addresses all parts of the question and sets up the argument. 0-3 points. Uses of all, all but one, or a majority of the documents. Connects them to the thesis and to each other when appropriate. Connects them to the context of the times, intended purpose/audience, or point of view (POV) being expressed.

Scoring the DBQ 2015 0-1 point. Essay provides outside information/evidence of historical examples not included in the documents to support the thesis. Outside evidence must advance the essay – more than just a mention. 0-1 point. Essay connects the question to the larger context of U.S. History within the time period and makes connections between the documents.

Scoring the DBQ 2015 0-1 point. Essay synthesizes the information (documents and outside evidence) by: extending the thesis OR providing contradictory evidence of another argument OR connecting the question to other historical periods outside of the question.

1st DBQ 2015 Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois Appropriateness of their strategies in the context of their times. Question – all parts Seven documents – what’s in them?, what context clues do they provide for outside information/examples you might bring into your answer? Your answer is a combination of info in the documents and outside information/examples

1st DBQ 2015 Due Monday January 26th HW – read the docs, note the purpose, POV, extract the essntial message or info, what O.I. does the document trigger