APUSH2014-2015ESSAY WRITING 101

Writing component Section I, Part B: Short-answer questions

4 questions, 45 min. (20%) Section II, Part A and Part B: DBQ, LEQ

DBQ- 60 min. (25%) LEQ- chosen from 2, 35 min. (15%)

HTS Argumentation Using evidence Contextualization Interpretation Synthesis

THE EXAM

What will you be asked to do in a prompt? Causation

Identify, analyze, evaluate cause-and-effect relationships Long term vs. proximate

CCOT Recognize, analyze, evaluate CCOT over periods of time Relate patterns to larger historical context, themes

Periodization Describe, analyze, evaluate, construct models of periodization Categorize events into blocks, ID turning points

Comparison Describe, compare, evaluate various developments ID, compare, evaluate multiple perspectives

PROMPT HTS

THE BIG FOUR MODEL ARCH-TYPES

Cause and eff ectPre-write chart examples

Prompts: Explain the major causes and consequences of the

American Civil War. Evaluate the extent to which westward expansion led to the

development of sectionalism prior to 1860. Explain the major political and economic causes and

consequences for the growth of big business in American society from 1870-1900.

HISTORICAL CAUSATION

CCOT- what stayed the same and what changed?Pre-write chart examples

See board for others

Prompts: Evaluate the extent to which trans-Atlantic interactions from

1600-1763 contributed to maintaining continuity as well as fostered change in labor systems in the British North American colonies.

Identify and analyze the changing role of women within American society from the American Revolution to the Civil War.

Evaluate major changes and continuities in the social and economic experiences of African Americans who migrated from the rural South to urban areas in the North in the period 1910-1930.

CONTINUITY AND CHANGE OVER TIME

Compare AND contrastPre-write charts

Prompts: Compare and contrast the New England colonies with the

colonies in the Chesapeake. Be sure to address two of these three characteristics in your answer: political, economic, and social patterns

COMPARISON

OR take a position (TAP)Pre-write chart

Prompts To what extent were the Articles of Confederation

successful in dealing with the problems faced by the new nation after the American Revolution?

Evaluate the extent to which the Spanish-American War was a turning point in foreign policy in the United States.

Historians have argued that the Era of Good Feelings was a misnomer. To what extent is this true politically and economically?

PERIODIZATION

THE BEGINNING. . .

Read the question and figure out WHAT it is asking Analyze, Assess/Evaluate, Compare/Contrast, Describe,

Discuss, Explain How many questions are there within the question?

Pre-write: Outline your answer What is the question asking you FOR? What is the question asking you TO DO?

THE ESSAY STRUCTURE

Intro & Thesis

BodyConclusion

“What I am going to show you.”

SHOW me!“What I just showed you.”

Part of Essay It’s Function or Job

•Thesis is usually the last sentence of the introduction

THE THESIS

Purpose is to state your position AND ANSWER THE QUESTION! Your thesis is your theory on the answer to the question. OWN IT!

Intro. Paragraph usually contains 3 elements: A background to the question of your thesis Thesis statement Intro. to main ideas or points of your essay that will be supported in

the body

Analysis is KEY Take a position! Don’t just write about the prompt and list facts, but

choose a position and DEFEND IT with historical facts, documents.

Persuade your reader that your analysis is correct based on info., facts, or documents. (WHY did A cause B or to what extent did A impact B)

IN THIS PAPER, I AM GOING TO PROVE THAT. . .

Your thesis is a blueprint! An introduction to the main ideas and points to be

developed, supported in your essayALL parts of your essay should support your thesis IF YOU DON’T HAVE A THESIS, YOU DON’T HAVE A

PAPER!

Compare and contrast the cities of, and Mrs. Scully’s experiences with, Bartow and Lakeland.BARTOW

Works inSmall town

Orange/blue/JacketsA few lakes

Not much shoppingEntertainment found

elsewhere

LAKELANDLives in

Larger townOrange/black/’Naughts

Many lakesShopping optionsEntertainment

Friends, FSC

BASIC EXAMPLE PROMPT

BOTHTowns in Polk County, Mrs. Scully spends a lot of time there, locally

owned restaurants, same division in sports

In this paper, I am going to prove that ___________________. DO NOT WRITE THE UNDERLINED PORTION!

Compare and contrast the cities of, and Mrs. Scully’s experiences with, Bartow and Lakeland.

In this paper, I am going to prove that ___________________ Bartow and Lakeland are both important to Mrs. Scully.

Although both towns are located in Polk County and offer a variety of local eating establishments, Bartow is much smaller and has less to offer in the form of entertainment than Lakeland. As a larger city, Lakeland has more shopping and leisure activities than Bartow.

SIMPLE FORMAT

The end of this sentence will serve

as your thesis statement!

The Irish Thesis Formula

X. However, A, B, and C. Therefore, Y.

X= the strongest point against your argument. THE COUNTER ARGUMENT

A, B, C = the three STRONGEST points for your argument. ORGANIZATION CATEGORIES

Y= the position you will be taking YOUR STAND ON THE PROMPT

IRISH FORMAT

Compare and contrast the cities of, and Mrs. Scully’s experiences with, Bartow and Lakeland.

Bartow and Lakeland are both towns in Polk County which have similar eating restaurants and will face the same challenges during sports competitions. However, the locations and size of each city varies, both have different mascots and school colors, and Mrs. Scully spends different parts of her day in different capacities within each town. Therefore, despite some common features, Lakeland and Bartow are very different cities.

You have to find a happy medium with information

Don’t be too general and don’t be too specific Bartow and Lakeland have many similarities and differences Bartow and Lakeland are both in the western area of Polk

County and both offer diners options to eat at Palace Pizza, to have Cuban food, Mexican food, or one of the many fast-food chains in town. Despite these commonalities, Lakeland has a movie theater and multiple shopping areas whereas Bartow does not.

Don’t give it all away! You want your reader to keep reading!

THESIS TIPS

What are the major causes or consequences of _______?

X- least important cause or consequence and whyA,B,C- most important causes/consequences, w hy,

broken up into categoriesY- your assertion statement

IRISH THESIS- CAUSATION

What are the major patterns of continuity and change over the time period and was there more continuity or change over that period?

X- continuity or change, your counter-argument (the “less”)

A,B,C- continuity or change during the specific period, broken up into categories

Y- your assertion statement

IRISH THESIS- CCOT

What similarities and diff erences are there between the two things, are there more similarities or diff erences and why (account for those similarities and diff erences)

X- more similar or diff erent, your counter-argumentA,B,C- similarities or diff erences between the two

things, broken up into categoriesY- your assertion statement

IRISH THESIS- COMPARISON

Evaluate whether something was a turning point or a major marking period in history, noting what things were like before and after that period

X- counter-argument, why something was or was not a turning point

A,B,C- argument, why something was/was not a turning point broken up into categories

Y- your assertion statement

IRISH THESIS- PERIODIZATION

22

Are the economies of the Northern and Southern colonies more similar or diff erent?

What HTS?What do you have to do? What is the question

asking?Pre-write!X. However, A,B,C. Therefore, Y.

YOUR TURN!