AP US History: Free Response Essay Tips

Objective: Your objective is to write a clear, concise essay in response to the question provided. Your essay must make an argument, which you will synthesize into a thesis statement. Your body paragraphs will defend your argument, using information that you have learned through your coursework. Of course, you will provide a brief introductory paragraph that summarizes your paper and contains the thesis, and a brief concluding paragraph that restates the thesis.

This document will provide writing strategies and helpful tips to guide your crafting of a super-duper essay.

Example Question 1: For our purpose, we will use this question as an example,

"Analyze the cultural and economic responses of TWO of the following groups to the Indians of North America before 1750:British, French or Spanish"

  1. Comprehending the Question
  2. Read the question three times
  3. Breakdown the question
  4. Underline key words
  5. “Analyze,” “discuss,” “consider” are all buzz words to discuss the what, how and WHY. These questions tend to give you more latitude on what to argue
  6. Assess the Validity – These tend to be provocative statements that ask you to agree or disagree. Support your conclusions!!!
  7. Compare and Contrast – They are looking for you to discuss similarities and differences.
  8. Underline timeframes as well!!!
  9. Stay within the scope of the question:
  10. See example 1 - Do not discuss Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Policy of 1830….while fascinating, it is outside the scope of the question (1750 was the cutoff)
  11. Try your hardest to cite examples throughout the given timespan
  1. Organize Your Thoughts
  2. Brainstorm (if necessary)
  3. Write down ideas that enter your mind. Put them in a graphic organizer.
  4. Outline
  5. Do a quick and basic outline to organize your thoughts.
  1. Essay Structure
  2. Introductory Paragraph (3-4 concise sentences)
  3. Tells the reader what you intend to discuss in the essay
  4. Get to the point!!! Do not write a long lead in.
  5. Have a solid topic sentence, briefly introduce the two or three main points
  6. Thesis Statement
  7. One sentence only (stand-alone)
  8. Last sentence of the intro
  9. Thesis Statements
  10. Should contain three things
  11. Must answer the question
  12. Must give the reader some direction as to what your main points will be
  13. Must contain an observation, made by you, related to the question that makes the argument stand out (THE HOOK)
  14. Examples….
  15. Example Question 2: Compare the foreign policies of Presidents Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy. To what extent did their policies strengthen the United States?
  16. Descriptive Thesis: “Harry Truman and John F.Kennedy were Cold War presidents whose foreign policies strengthened the United States.” (UNDESIRABLE)
  17. Yes it answers the question and makes an argument (“foreign policies strengthened the United States”), but it provides no insight into why… answering the “why” is paramount
  18. There is nothing insightful about this, it simply parrots the question back to the reader
  19. Argumentative Thesis: “While Truman and Kennedy successfully prevented war with the Soviets, the reckless, high risk brinksmanship they demonstrated in their foreign policy compromised the security of the nation and weakened the United States economically and culturally by prolonging the Cold War. (GOOD)
  20. Answers the question: “Weakened the nation”
  21. Sets up the paper: The reader knows the student will discuss how their foreign policies had a negative impact on the economy and culture
  22. Tells the reader why (this is the hook): “reckless, high risk foreign policy that prolonged the Cold War”
  23. Take a Stand – Be decisive! Pick the side that you feel you can best support, lay out your argument in the thesis and defend your position in the body paragraphs. The worst thing you can do is point out the positives of both sides of the argument.
  24. Respond to questions, like the one in example two, by selecting evidence from some of the following areas of historical consideration: political, economic, religious, social, intellectual, and artistic. Think “PERSIA”
  25. Body Paragraphs
  26. Does your essay have to be a five-paragraph essay? NO! It is up to you how to best structure your essay. That might mean four or five body paragraphs, plus the intro and conclusion.
  27. Write your essay’s content in the same order that you presented it in the intro and thesis statement.
  28. Topic sentences: The first sentence in each body paragraph must summarize what you intend to discuss in that paragraph. Only after you do that should you begin introducing the content.
  29. Facts, facts facts….When you make a point, make sure you support it with information that you have learned. Do not be shy about dropping names andevents from the term sheet. When you do, demonstrate to the reader that you know what that term is by briefly explaining it. Be concise…
  30. Example, (see example question #1)
  31. The Puritans rooted their faith in the idea of piety and dedication of one’s life to his relationship with God. Jonathan Winthrop, the spiritual and political leader of the Massachusetts Bay colony, embraced this philosophy and felt that the colony they developed would be a “City on a Hill,” an example after which English society could model itself.
  32. Dates: Reference a date only if you know it is right. If you know an approximate date then say something like, “In the early 1690s”
  33. Always make sure your body paragraphs answer the question and support your thesis.
  34. Example, (see example question #1)
  35. Winthrop’s vision did not apply to the Native Americans of New England as the British, unlike the French, preferred to distance themselves from Indian society…(continue your discussion of cultural relationships)
  36. Conclusion
  37. Keep it brief.
  38. Restate your argument, but do not repeat the thesis word-for-word.
  39. Do not begin the paragraph saying “In conclusion.”
  40. Maybe two or three sentences.
  1. General tips regarding those things that I look for when grading essays.
  2. Avoid absolutes
  3. Example: The British had a volatile relationship with the Native Americans, but the French always treated the Native Americans fairly, which led to an amicable relationship between the two.
  4. This is a false statement. The French treated the Native Americans poorly in some instances in the South along the Mississippi.
  5. Always say what you mean
  6. Avoid questions internally
  7. Example - French relationships with Native Americans were far more amicable than their British counterparts. Was it French dependence on Native American protection or perhaps French Catholic sensibilities that set them apart from the English? Evidence suggests that their small population influenced their behavior…
  8. Bag the question, get right to the point. You are supposed to make statements.
  9. Watch passive voice
  10. Do a find on "is, was, were, be, been, are." These are all indicators that you are being passive.
  11. Or, in Microsoft Word 2010, click on File  Options Proofing  Under “When Correcting Spelling and Grammar in Word” click on “Settings”  Make sure that “Passive Sentences” is checked. This will identify passive sentences. You must fix them. Run a spell check (Click Review  Spelling & Grammar). At the end of the spell check Word provides you with “Readability Statistics.” Passive sentences should be at 0%.
  12. Do not use contractions
  13. Do a find on apostrophe when editing
  14. Donot end sentences in prepositions
  15. E.g., "The colonists coveted the land that the natives lived on." It is better to say, "The colonists coveted the land on which the natives lived."
  16. Do not use first or second person in your writing.
  17. First Person: I, we, me, us, my, mine, our, ours
  18. Second Person: you, your, yours
  19. You can state your opinion without saying “I believe.”
  20. “I believe that Horatio Gates was a fraud of a general…” Instead, say, “Horatio Gates was a fraud of a general…”
  21. Do not use direct quotes
  22. If Jack Greene in his bookPursuits of Happinessstates, “The Southern British colonies encouraged conflict among enemy Native American tribes to weaken their numbers and make British conquest simpler.”
  23. You must not directly quote what Greene wrote in this passage. Instead, put into your own words what Greene is arguing. You must however reference Greene, his book and the page number in your citations. It is your scholarly obligation.
  24. Referencing historical figures
  25. Refer to people using their first and last names when you first introduce them in your writing. After that, refer to them by their last name only. In rare events, you will need to qualify names throughout the writing if they share a last name (John and Sam Adams). Do not refer to historical figures by their first name only.
  26. Avoid superlative language
  27. "TheAmerican forefathers and their sage-like wisdom developed the ideals that form the foundation of this, the greatest nation in the world, the United States of America."
  28. Get to the point!
  29. Avoid slang or informal language
  30. Sam Adams and his Sons of Liberty unruly mob action was wicked awesome.
  31. Only in Boston can you use wicked in this fashion.
  32. Remove the word “basically” from your writing.
  33. Disrespect as a verb is informal. This is rubbish.
  34. E.g., "Cortez disrespected the Aztecs"
  35. Better way to say it… "Cortez treated the Aztecs with disrespect"
  36. Impact as a verb is informal. This is drivel.
  37. E.g., "The colonists’shoddy behavior negatively impacted their relationship with the Native Americans"
  38. A better way to say it…"The colonists’shoddy behavior had anegative impact on their relationship with the Native Americans"