ANSWERING APUSH ESSAY QUESTIONS

Free response essays, in many ways, are the very heart of the AP exam. They measure your reasoning ability as well as your historical knowledge. To succeed with these essays, you must understand the prompts, organize your information, and write a clear and accurate response.

Essay Prompt All college-level essay test answers are written in response to an essay “prompt.” All college-level essay test answers are written in response to an essay “prompt.” You must answer the question asked in order to score well. You must answer the question asked in order to score well. Answering essays is a skill that takes practice. Answering essays is a skill that takes practice.

Overview 1. READ the entire prompt! 2. Reread & Mark the IMPORTANT WORDS. 3. Understand your TASK (question verb). 4. Define any “loaded” TERMS. 5. Make a quick OUTLINE. 6. Cover the entire TIME PERIOD. 7. Determine your THESIS. 8. Write your ESSAY, using facts to prove your thesis

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

2. Carefully REREAD the prompt & mark the IMPORTANT WORDS Verbs, Verbs, Conjunctions, and Conjunctions, and the time period the time period

2. Mark the important words Analyze the impact of the American Revolution on both slavery and the status of women in the period from 1775 to Analyze the impact of the American Revolution on both slavery and the status of women in the period from 1775 to Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods and Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods and

2. Mark the important words In what ways did the French and Indian War ( ) alter the political, economic and ideological relations between Britain and its American colonies? Use your knowledge of the period along with the documents provided. In what ways did the French and Indian War ( ) alter the political, economic and ideological relations between Britain and its American colonies? Use your knowledge of the period along with the documents provided.

3. Understand the TASK Commonly used verbs and explanations for the tasks they indicate: Analyze: Explain how AND why something occurred. Any question that uses “how” and/or “why” is an analysis question even if the word “analyze” is not in the prompt. Analyze: Explain how AND why something occurred. Any question that uses “how” and/or “why” is an analysis question even if the word “analyze” is not in the prompt. Discuss or Explain: frequently used in recent prompts. They should be written as analysis essays, not merely a list of events or facts. Discuss or Explain: frequently used in recent prompts. They should be written as analysis essays, not merely a list of events or facts.

3. Understanding the Task: Commonly used verbs and verb phrases To what extent: How true is some development or description of history? AP essay questions will invariably be about a complex topic that is not completely true or false. To what extent: How true is some development or description of history? AP essay questions will invariably be about a complex topic that is not completely true or false. Assess the validity: How true is a given statement? (variant: “Evaluate the validity”) Assess the validity: How true is a given statement? (variant: “Evaluate the validity”)

3. Understanding the Task: Commonly used verbs and verb phrases (cont’d) Evaluate: Which factor was most important? You usually need to rank several events or factors and specify which is most and which is least significant. Evaluate: Which factor was most important? You usually need to rank several events or factors and specify which is most and which is least significant. Compare AND contrast: Discuss BOTH similarities AND differences between two events or periods. Compare AND contrast: Discuss BOTH similarities AND differences between two events or periods.

4. Define any “loaded” TERMS in the prompt that need clarification Examples: Assess the validity of the following statement: “Reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic ideals,” Assess the validity of the following statement: “Reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic ideals,” jot down some “democratic ideals” and be prepared to explain how they are democratic. jot down some “democratic ideals” and be prepared to explain how they are democratic. “From 1781 to 1789, the Articles of Confederation provided the United States with an effective government.” Using... your knowledge of the period, evaluate this statement. “From 1781 to 1789, the Articles of Confederation provided the United States with an effective government.” Using... your knowledge of the period, evaluate this statement.

5. BRAINSTORM: sketch out a quick, informal OUTLINE This is crucial in helping you to: Cover the entire question asked, Cover the entire question asked, Organize your response, and Organize your response, and Include as many important details as possible. Include as many important details as possible.

Outlines do not have to be formal, just sketch or a structure PoliticalEconomic Social How did the American Revolution affect American society? Be sure to explain the political, social and economic effects during the period

6 : Outline Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods and Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods and similarities differences

6 : Outline Alternatively: Alternatively: Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods and Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods and similarities differences

6. Cover the TIME PERIOD 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. Develop your thesis Historical essays require that you Historical essays require that you take a clear position that responds to the prompt (state a thesis) and take a clear position that responds to the prompt (state a thesis) and defend your thesis with facts. defend your thesis with facts. Thesis: sentence that states a clear position in response to the prompt Thesis: sentence that states a clear position in response to the prompt Better theses also tell the reader what evidence the essay will prove the thesis is true – they give a brief overview of the essay. Better theses also tell the reader what evidence the essay will prove the thesis is true – they give a brief overview of the essay. [ We will discuss developing a thesis in our next session on answering essays.] [ We will discuss developing a thesis in our next session on answering essays.]

8. Write your essay 4 -7 well-organized paragraphs, incl’g intro & conclusion 4 -7 well-organized paragraphs, incl’g intro & conclusion 2-3 lined pages in minutes 2-3 lined pages in minutes Write with a goal: Prove and support your thesis using evidence (facts) and explanation (analysis) Write with a goal: Prove and support your thesis using evidence (facts) and explanation (analysis) Discuss/analyze as many relevant facts as possible Discuss/analyze as many relevant facts as possible 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 draft In-class essays are a rough draft

8. Write your essay: analysis Description: Who Who What What Where Where When WhenAnalysis: How How Why Why How much (to what extent) How much (to what extent) Causes, effects Causes, effects

Summary 1. READ the ENTIRE prompt! 2. Mark the IMPORTANT WORDS – verbs, conjunctions, time period 3. Understand your TASK. What exactly what you are being asked to do?. Consider the entire prompt. 4. Define any important “loaded” TERM(s). 5. Make a quick OUTLINE. Organize your thinking before you begin writing. 6. Cover the entire TIME PERIOD. 7. Determine your THESIS. 8. Write your essay, using facts to support your thesis

Free response essay prompts put a lot of responsibility on the writer: Some prompts are very open. Here is an example of this type of prompt: Some prompts are very open. Here is an example of this type of prompt: The government under the Articles of Confederation has been considered a failure. Describe three actions of the Confederation government and explain how these actions may or may not be considered failures. The government under the Articles of Confederation has been considered a failure. Describe three actions of the Confederation government and explain how these actions may or may not be considered failures.

These prompts require you to define the terms, specify the time period, and understand the task. For instance, read the prompt carefully: For instance, read the prompt carefully: The government under the Articles of Confederation has been considered a failure. Describe three actions of the Confederation government and explain how these actions may or may not be considered failures. The government under the Articles of Confederation has been considered a failure. Describe three actions of the Confederation government and explain how these actions may or may not be considered failures. To address the prompt, the following questions must be answered: To address the prompt, the following questions must be answered: What time period does this question address? [ ] What time period does this question address? [ ] What were 3 (no more) actions of the Confederation Congress that you are going to discuss? What were 3 (no more) actions of the Confederation 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 time periods to be addressed: For instance, here are two prompts that specify very clearly the time periods to be discussed: For instance, here are two prompts that specify very clearly the time periods to be discussed: Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods and Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods and How did the African American Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s address the failures of Reconstruction? How did the African American Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s address the failures of Reconstruction?

These prompts require you to limit your evidence and to define certain terms. With the first prompt– With the first prompt– Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods and Compare and contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods and The following need clarifying The following need clarifying Deal only with foreign policy decisions Deal only with foreign policy decisions You need to pick decisions that are BOTH different and similar between the early and the later time periods. You need to pick decisions that are BOTH different and similar between the early and the later time periods.

The next prompt– The next prompt– How did the African American Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s address the failures of Reconstruction? How did the African American Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s address the failures of Reconstruction? Requires you to specify Requires you to specify Several “failures of Reconstruction” Several “failures of Reconstruction” Which implies that you know when Reconstruction occurred. Which implies that you know when Reconstruction occurred. And to know several very specific results of the later Civil Rights movement that directly addressed the failures of Reconstruction. And to know several very specific results of the later Civil Rights movement that directly addressed the failures of Reconstruction.

Practice Question 1 Analyze the impact of the American Revolution on both slavery and the status of women in the period from 1775 to Analyze the impact of the American Revolution on both slavery and the status of women in the period from 1775 to 1800.

Practice Question 2 Evaluate the relative importance of the following as factors promoting Americans to rebel: parliamentary taxation, restriction of civil liberties, British military measures and the legacy of colonial religious and political ideas. Evaluate the relative importance of the following as factors promoting Americans to rebel: parliamentary taxation, restriction of civil liberties, British military measures and the legacy of colonial religious and political ideas.

Practice Question 3 “The United States Constitution of 1787 represented an economic and ideological victory for the traditional American political elite.” Assess the validity of that statement for the period 1781 to “The United States Constitution of 1787 represented an economic and ideological victory for the traditional American political elite.” Assess the validity of that statement for the period 1781 to 1789.

Practice Question 4 How did economic, geographic, and social factors encourage the growth of slavery as an important part of the economy of the southern colonies between ? How did economic, geographic, and social factors encourage the growth of slavery as an important part of the economy of the southern colonies between ?

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

Tip #1 Make sure you understand exactly your task, what you must “prove” in the essay. Make sure you understand exactly your task, what you must “prove” in the essay. Stay strictly within the time period. Don’t wander. Stay strictly within the time period. Don’t wander. You must be specific, specific, specific. You must be specific, specific, specific. Use relevant and time-sensitive PEPS (people, events, places, significance). Think of PEPS as proper nouns (words that need to be capitalized). Use relevant and time-sensitive PEPS (people, events, places, significance). Think of PEPS as proper nouns (words that need to be capitalized). Never use generalities, i.e. many reforms, lots of reformers, many things changed. Never use generalities, i.e. many reforms, lots of reformers, many things changed.

Tip #2 Organize your thinking BEFORE you write. Organize your thinking BEFORE you write. This doesn’t need to be a long process This doesn’t need to be a long process Decide two or three things you need to discuss, Decide two or three things you need to discuss, Organize the facts you have under those headings, Organize the facts you have under those headings, Check through them to see that you “balance” the discussion—give each part of the topic equal discussion. Check through them to see that you “balance” the discussion—give each part of the topic equal discussion.

Outlines do not have to be formal, just sketch a structure and put your facts into that structure. Social Political Economic PEPS PEPS PEPS PEPSPEPS PEPSPEPS PEPS PEPS PEPS PEPS

Write with clarity and confidence– don’t be timid! Be definite. Your thesis should ANSWER the prompt with your opinion. Be definite. Your thesis should ANSWER the prompt with your opinion. Having brainstormed then organized specific facts, start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence. Having brainstormed then organized specific facts, start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence. Refer to specific facts to support your thinking. Stick to your structure, refer to your outline as you write. Refer to specific facts to support your thinking. Stick to your structure, refer to your outline as you write.

Good writing is a problem-solving situation. Work the process! After writing your thesis paragraph, go back and re-read the prompt. After writing your thesis paragraph, go back and re-read the prompt. Ask yourself, “Have I ‘answered’ the prompt with my thesis?” Ask yourself, “Have I ‘answered’ the prompt with my thesis?” What three or four points MUST you make to support your thesis. Write these down. What three or four points MUST you make to support your thesis. Write these down. As you write, look back at the prompt and at your thesis. Are you sticking to the topic? As you write, look back at the prompt and at your thesis. Are you sticking to the topic?

Plan your time so that you can read your essay before you finish. Check the clock. Know how much time you have to produce the essay. Check the clock. Know how much time you have to produce the essay. Check your thesis and your outline frequently. Check your thesis and your outline frequently. Make sure that you have time to go back and read quickly through your essay. Make sure that you have time to go back and read quickly through your essay. Don’t ignore a conclusion paragraph. Sometimes it makes up for weaknesses earlier in the essay. Don’t ignore a conclusion paragraph. Sometimes it makes up for weaknesses earlier in the essay.