1. FRQ 101
AP EUROPEAN HISTORY

2. What is an FRQ? FRQ stands for Free Response Question
You will be asked to write 2 separate FRQs on the AP exam in May

3. The AP Exam – Free Response Section
Time Limit: 130 minutes
Percent of Total Exam Score: 50%
PART A: 1 DBQ (Document Based Question)
Suggested Time: 15 minutes reading & 45 minutes writing
Counts for 22.5% of total score
PART B: 2 FRQs (Free Response Question)
Suggested Time: 5 minutes reading & 30 minutes writing each
Each essay counts as 13.75% of total score
Standard essays chosen from two groups of questions each containing three choices (six questions total)
MUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FROM EACH GROUP.

4. Format of FRQs The FRQ is your standard essay
Typically, many students use the 5 paragraph essay template
However, do not feel confined to that! You may write as many or as few paragraphs as you need to fully answer the prompt
You will need to write a strong thesis statement in your intro paragraph
Though a conclusion is the cherry-on-top, it is not necessary as long as you have proven your thesis throughout your essay
I only say this because some students spend so much time writing the bulk of their essay & don’t get to the conclusion.
If you run out of time, do not worry about not finishing – worry more about fully answering the question throughout the body of your essay

5. History Essay Writing Tips
Always think of your reader
Use black ink only
Do not use contractions
Write in the 3rd person
First person = I, we, our, us, me, mine, my… NEVER.
Second person = you, your…… NEVER.
Write in the past tense, because it’s history.
You may mark out mistakes. BUT…
Do not try to be cute
Use STANDARD ENGLISH!
Use correct historical terms
i.e. “normalcy” is not a standard English word, but it is a historical term
Facts are names, dates, people, events, places, things

6. Terms Often Used in AP Essay Questions
Account for the…
Explain the changes of, explain the differences between
Assess the validity of…
To estimate, to appraise the value of
Analyze the…
Separate into parts or principles and examine each part
Compare and/or…
How much alike
Contrast the…
How much different
Criticize the…
Make judgments as to merit and faults
Degree to which…
One step or stage in a progression
Define the…
Say what something is; give its meaning

7. Terms Often Used in AP Essay Questions
Discuss the…
Talk about; write about; consider or examine
Describe the…
What does it look like; create a mental picture
Extent: To what extent…
The range over which something goes; how far
Evaluate the…
Ascertain or fix the worth of
Explain the…
To make plain, comprehensible, make clear by detail
Illustrate…
Explain or make clear by using examples

8. Terms Often Used in AP Essay Questions
Justify…
Use evidence to prove something is right, wrong, or just
Prove…
Establish the truth of something by providing factual evidence
Reasons for…
The motives for actions or inaction
Relative importance of…
Having pertinence; connected to
Valid or validity…
How sound, how well-grounded, how good is the stated premise

9. Understanding the Prompt
FRQ prompts put a lot of responsibility on the writer.
Some prompts can be very open. For example:
“Discuss the political and social consequences of the Protestant Reformation in the first half of the sixteenth century.”

10. Understanding the Prompt
Read it carefully:
“Discuss the political and social consequences of the Protestant Reformation in the first half of the sixteenth century.”
As with all FRQ’s, this prompt has MANY LAYERS.
To address this prompt, the following must be answered:
What time period is this? (Early-mid 1500’s)
What were the political and social consequences of the Protestant Reformation?
What does it mean to “discuss”?

11. Understanding the Prompt
Some prompts provide clear time periods and more specific tasks.
What are the LAYERS of the following examples?
Compare and contrast the motives of Martin Luther in the German states and King Henry VIII in England in bringing about religious change during the Reformation.
Machiavelli suggested that a ruler should behave both “like a lion” and “like a fox.” Analyze the policies of TWO of the following European rulers, indicating the degree to which they successfully followed Machiavelli’s suggestion. Choose two: Elizabeth I of England, Henry IV of France, Catherine the Great of Russia, Frederick II of Prussia.

12. General Scoring Guideline for APEH
The 8-9 Essay
Contains a clear, well-developed thesis that addresses all parts of the questions
Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the complexity of the topic
Provide substantial relevant information in support of the thesis
Provides effective analysis addressing all parts of the question
May contain minor errors
Is well organized and well written
The 5-7 Essay
Contains a thesis that may be partially developed and addresses most parts of the question
Demonstrates a general understanding of the topic
Supports the thesis with some relevant information
Provides some analysis of most parts of the question
May contain errors that do not seriously detract from the essay
Has acceptable organization and writing

13. General Scoring Guideline for APEH
The 2-4 Essay
Contains a thesis that may be underdeveloped or poorly developed.
Demonstrates simplistic understanding of the topic.
Includes minimal information relevant to the question.
Provides little or no analysis, or contains generalizations.
May contain major errors.
May be poorly organized and/or poorly written.
The 0-1 Essay
Lacks a thesis or restates the question
Demonstrates little or no understanding of the topic
Has little or no relevant information regarding the question
Has little or no understanding of the question
May contain numerous errors
Is poorly organized and/or poorly written
The – Essay
Is blank or completely off task

14. Before You Begin to Write:
Carefully read the question to make sure you understand what it is asking you to do.
Pay careful attention to the TASK WORDS in the question
Look closely at the CHRONOLOGY (time periods) of the question
Stick to the time period specified- don’t wander.
Many students write great essays that unfortunately don’t answer the question that was asked! You must discuss those time periods, locations, and topics that apply to the question and only those!
Take a few minutes to review what you already know about the question and develop a thesis statement.
Write a brief outline of your essay before you begin to write. Refer to your sketch or outline as you write.

15. Before You Begin to Write
Your outline does not need to be anything formal.
A quick sketch, diagram, or key evidence points can be enough to keep you on track.
To help organize information, remember GPERSIA!
Geographic
Political You don’t have to use every aspect of
Economic GPERSIA. But refer to it if you get
Religious stuck.
Social
Intellectual
Artistic

16. The Introduction
This is where you make your first impression on the reader. Therefore, it is important that you have a strong introduction that defines your thesis and your argument.
Your essay should be clearly organized around a thesis statement.
The thesis should clearly respond to the question, without directly repeating it.
Should represent your own original interpretation or analysis of the information.
Should make a clear argument.
Does not need to be the first sentence of your introduction and, in fact, provides better essay organization if it is the last sentence in your introduction.
Be specific! No “fluff” words, like “stuff”, “many things” “lots of”, etc.

17. The Introduction
Define important terms (i.e. humanism, secular, absolutism) to demonstrate that you understand the question and the essay topics.
Provide a concise statement (no more than 1 sentence) that places the essay topic in its historical context
Clearly identify the supporting arguments that you will use in your essay. Again, make sure you are responding to all parts of the question
After reading your introduction, your reader should know exactly what your argument is (your thesis) and how you are going to prove it (your supporting arguments) – sometimes called a “preview”

18. Other Tips Be sure to write with “voice” in your essay.
In other words, pretend that you have some authority on the subject. Make sure to take a stand in your answer and not be wishy-washy.
BE SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC!!!!!!!
Be sure that your essay includes historical facts to prove your thesis.
However, “data dumping” will not gain you any extra points and can result in a lowering of your score. It also runs the risk of you including incorrect data which would hurt your overall score.
Avoid broad survey questions.
They appear easy because you know a lot of information about them. However, they are often the most challenging because of the breadth required to answer them effectively. Writing a provable thesis can pose real problems for these types of questions
Content is critical, but so is your presentation
Be attentive to grammar, syntax, spelling, penmanship, etc. A well-written essay is much easier to understand than a poorly written essay