1. ACE the SAQ

2. GENERAL SAQ GUIDELINES
Label each part: A,B,C.
Do not skip lines or double-line.
Do not indent.
Do not write an introduction or conclusion. This is not an essay.
Write in complete sentences. No bullet points or sentence fragments.
Complete each task in order; A, B, C.

3. ACE – a (answer)
Depending on the prompt, this component requires you to directly answer the question by identifying a specific historical claim, general historical assertion, or historical interpretative analysis.
It is here where you confidently establish your historical argument.
It is similar to making a thesis/argument claim in an essay or topic/main idea sentence in a supporting paragraph.

4. Ace – c (cite)
Use a specific piece of factual information/evidence directly relevant to the prompt and Answer the question.
Be specific
Remember proper nouns!

5. Ace – e (expand)
This last component requires you to explain how your Answer best addresses the prompt.
The explanation should connect or tie back the Answer to the prompt and fulfill its historical intent.
Why Expand? The explanation of the Answer should include a further connection to a direct or broad historical phenomenon relevant to the intent and focus of the question.

6. Example
Prompt (Part A): Briefly explain ONE important political response to the sectional conflict over slavery during the 1850’s.
ANSWER: The Kansas Nebraska Act in 1854 was another attempt to settle the sectional conflict over slavery during the 1850’s. Machiavelli felt that in order to be a good leader a prince should be feared by his subjects.
CITE: The act split the Nebraska Territory into two new territories, Nebraska and Kansas, and allowed each territory to determine free state or slave state through popular sovereignty.
EXPAND: Although the Kansas Nebraska Act attempted to settle the conflict over slavery through a more democratic means, it consequently allowed slavery to expand beyond the Missouri Compromise line of 36’30 and was considered a political victory for “slave power.”

7. Example
Prompt (Part a): Briefly explain ONE characteristic of an ideal Machiavellian leader
ANSWER: Machiavelli felt that good leaders needed to be feared by their subjects.
CITE: Instilling fear in ones subjects was something that a prince was directly responsible for. For this reason being feared is superior to being loved because being loved is a trait that a prince cannot entirely control.
EXPAND: Although a prince should be feared by his people, he must at all costs avoid being hated. Being overly cruel or arbitrary in ruling can lead to hatred which inspires people to over throw their leaders.

8. Example PERIODIZATION

9. GENERAL WRITING GUIDELINES
Be explicit.
Avoid quote words or phrases from excerpts.
Unnecessary phrases to avoid: “According to the historian…,” “As seen in the excerpt/graph/image…,” “As written/mentioned by…”
Diction and syntax play an important role:
OK -> Europeans brought over diseases to the Americas and it had an impact on Native populations.
GO FOR THIS -> Contagious European diseases decimated Native populations.

10. SAQ
Answer a, b, and c.
Historians make a clear distinction between the Southern Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance.  
Identify and explain ONE distinct similarity between the two movements.  
Identify and explain a SECOND distinct similarity between the two movements.
Identify and explain ONE distinct difference between the two movements.

11. SAQ
Answer a, b, and c.
a) Briefly explain ONE example of how contact between Native Americans and Europeans brought changes to Native American societies in the period 1492 to 1700.
b) Briefly explain a SECOND example of how contact between Native Americans and Europeans brought changes to Native American societies in the same period.
c) Briefly explain ONE example of how Native American societies resisted change brought by contact with Europeans in the same period.