Writing Essays in AP World History Daniel W

Writing Essays in AP World History Daniel W. Blackmon Coral Gables Senior High

Purpose Essays in Advanced Placement History are Expository Essays, That is, they are arguments whose purpose is to convince the Reader.

Purpose You should always pay attention to your audience, and adjust your style to that audience. In this case, your audience is a Reader who is looking for certain specific elements in your essay.

Purpose The most important stylistic qualities therefore are Clarity (This is NOT “Mystery History”!),

Purpose followed by Analysis and Specific Factual Information (SFI).

Purpose Do Not try to be stylistically creative! The results can be pretty humorous, but do not help you with the Reader!

Examples of False Creativity “The Iron Curtain, which created a blindfold on the US was now shedding an eye-opening wake-up call of light on the US. ”

Examples of False Creativity “The Civil War was an eye opener for the colonies. . . “ (San Antonio 2003)

Examples of False Creativity “The North wreaked the benefits any nation gets when it wins a war. ” (San Antonio 2003)

Examples of False Creativity “Since mother nature is what is intended in life, women are the most, statistically speaking, individuals who bear children. ” (San Antonio 2003)

Examples of False Creativity “There were as many women as men suffering from puberty. ” (San Antonio 2003)

Purple Prose Deluxe “A dark gorge, a bloody chasm, ripped through the United States during the Civil War. The differences festering underneath a thin taut equality were smashed by a delicate balance of power.

Purple Prose Deluxe “The tensions finally erupted as the scales was tipped irrevocably toward the North and away from Southern control. ” (San Antonio 2003)

More Purple Prose!!!! “Upon the many dilapidated hardships during the Great Depression many distinctful yet suppressive thoughts and arguments changed the role of the federal government.

More Purple Prose!!!! “One’s view can only notice the stability of creative minds which enables the ‘strongest’ to ‘assist’ tand the ‘retarded’ to ‘recover. ’ One example can be women who are out of work and hungry. Another example could be the rivalry between ‘socialsim’ and ‘communism. ’

More Purple Prose!!!! “The New Deal in Review could be the only possible example which had a good effect, yet was looked upon as a casue as well. ” (San Antonio 2003)

More Creativity. . . “When America was a virgin. . . “

Our favorite: San Antonio 2001 “When Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, the industry took off faster than a prom dress. ”

The AP History Examination The College Board has redesigned AP World History, AP European History and AP United States History so that all three share the same examination format.

The AP History Examination There will be a Multiple Choice section with 55 questions. You will have 55 minutes to answer the questions. This will count for 40% of the final grade on the examination

The AP History Examination You will be asked to write: Four Short Answer Questions (SAQs) One Document Based Question (DBQ) One of two Long Essay Questions (LEQ)

The AP History Examination This presentation will focus on answering the LEQ Answering the SAQ and the DBQ will be separate presentations.

The AP History Examination You will have 50 minutes to answer the four SAQs, which will count 20% of the final grade on the examination.

The AP History Examination You will have 55 minutes to write the DBQ which will count 20% of the final grade on the examination.

The AP History Examination You will have 35 minutes to write the LEQ, which will count 15% of the final grade on the examination

The AP History Examination You will be given a score of 1 -5 on the examination. 5 = Extremely well qualified 4 = Well qualified 3 = Qualified 2 = Possibly Qualified 1 = No Recommendation

The AP History Examination A score of 3, 4 or 5 is considered a passing score.

The AP History Examination Depending on the score, you may receive college credit for an AP examination.

The AP History Examination Each university sets its own policy. Generally speaking, Ivy League schools will give credit for a 4 or a 5 on a History examination.

The LEQ Rubric

Targeted Skill: Argumentation: Thesis Presents a thesis that makes a historically defensible claim and responds to all parts of the question. The thesis must consist of one or more sentences located in one place, either in the introduction or the conclusion. 1 Point

Targeted Skill: Analyzing Evidence: Argumentation Describes Explains 1 Point

Targeted Skill: Contextualization & Argumentation Addresses the topic of the question with specific examples of relevant evidence 1 Point Utilizes specific examples of evidence to fully and effectively substantiate the stated thesis or a relevant argument. 1 Point

Targeted Skill: Synthesis Extends the argument by explaining the connections between the argument and ONE of the following… different historical period course theme different discipline 1 Point

Total Maximum Total = 6 points

Converting Numbers to a Letter Grade 6=A 5=A 4=B 3=C 2=D 1=F 0=F

Rule Number One Answer the question that has been asked!!!!!! (As opposed to the question you wish they had asked!!!!)

Rule Number One A starting point for making sure that you answer the question as asked is to copy the question in full at the top of your answer. That way, I know that you have at least read every word of the question.

Rule Number Two Make sure you understand what the question requires of you!

Rule Number Two If the question asks you to evaluate something, but you only describe, you cannot write a satisfactory answer.

Note the use of key terms: Analyze: determine their component parts; examine their nature and relationship.

Note the use of key terms: Assess / Evaluate: judge the value or character of something; appraise; evaluate the positive points and the negative ones; give an opinion regarding the value of; discuss the advantages and disadvantages of.

Note the use of key terms: Compare: Examine for the purpose of noting similarities AND differences.

Note the use of key terms: Contrast: examine in order to show dissimilarities or points of difference.

Note the use of key terms: Describe: to give an account of; to tell about; give a word picture of.

Note the use of key terms: Discuss: talk over; write about; consider or examine by argument or from various points of view; debate; present the different sides of.

Note the use of key terms: Explain: make clear or plain; make clear the causes or reasons for; make known in detail; tell the meaning of.

Rule Number Three Note the time frame of the question! Stay within the time frame, and attempt to discuss the entire time frame!

Rule Number Four Organize your answer!

Organize Your Answer! Jot down your sub-topics Jot down and arrange the Specific Factual Information (SFI) that will support your argument. Where appropriate, use the Five Paragraph Format

Five Paragraph Format ¶ 1: Thesis Paragraph, including sub-topics A, B, and C ¶ 2: Sub-Topic A ¶ 3: Sub-Topic B ¶ 3: Sub-Topic C ¶ 5: Summary

Rule Number Five Provide a clear, well developed thesis within a Thesis Paragraph that lays out the major sub-topics in your essay

Provide a Clear Thesis This is not Mystery History. Tell the Reader what you intend to prove, and how you intend to prove it.

Provide a Clear Thesis Clarity is always the prime stylistic virtue in expository essays; .

Provide a Clear Thesis The first thing I do is look for thesis!

Provide a Clear Thesis Many questions will tell you which subtopics you must discuss. For example: “Analyze the major social and technological changes that took place in European warfare between 1789 and 1871. ”

Provide a Clear Thesis The key words in that prompt are: Analyze Social change Technological change 1789 -1871

Provide a Clear Thesis Some questions, however, are relatively open-ended, and require you to provide the sub-topics yourself. For example: “To what extent is the term “Renaissance” a valid concept for a distinct period in early modern European history? ”

Provide a Clear Thesis In such cases, think of the mnemonic device PERSIA: P Political E Economic R Religious S Social I Intellectual A Aesthetic

Rule Number Six The paragraphs of the body of your essay must relate directly to the question! Each paragraph should have its own topic sentence and that topic sentence should refer to the original question. Transitional devices (such as “therefore, ” “as a result of” etc. ) help to give your answer organic unity

Rule Number Six There is no single way to organize the body of your essay. For example, with the question : “Compare the rise to power of fascism in Italy and in Germany. ”

Plan A I Thesis Paragraph A. Italy and Germany B. Subtopics: 1. Political 2. Economic 3. Social

Plan A II Italy A. B. C. Political Economic Social

Plan A III A. B. C. IV Germany Political Economic Social Summary

Plan B I Thesis Paragraph A. Italy and Germany B. Subtopics: 1. Political 2. Economic 3. Social

Plan B II Political A. B. Italy Germany

Plan B III A. B. IV A. B. V. Economic Italy Germany Social Italy Germay Summary

Plan A or Plan B? Either outline, if well executed and supported by SFI will produce a satisfactory essay. However, the second outline, Plan “B, ” is more analytical and therefore to be preferred. .

Rule Number Seven Each paragraph must be supported by Specific Factual Detail (SFI)!!!! My rule-of-thumb is at least three examples of SFI per paragraph in the body. SFI must be accurate and relevant to the question.

Rule Number Eight Be conscious of Change Over Time (COT). Most questions in history are going to deal with COT in some manner This usually require a discussion of causation.

The LEQ in the Redesign Each LEQ will focus on either: Causation or Periodization or Change and Continuity Over Time or Comparison

Rule Number Nine Conclude with a strong summary paragraph. First, you tell the Reader what you are going to tell him; then tell the Reader what you intend to tell him; then tell the Reader what you just told him.

Rule Number Ten It is your responsibility to write in such a manner as to allow the Reader to understand what you are saying.

Rule Number Ten This includes writing legibly!