doing the leq part i: the parts of a long essay question

Doing the LEQ

Part I: The parts of a Long Essay Question

On the APUSH Exam in May

▪ There will be a choice of TWO Long Essay Questions for you to answer– Both prompts will be similar and will address the same Historical

Thinking Skill & have the same basic prompt

▪ You will be given 35 minutes to complete your essay – It is recommended that you take 5 minutes to prepare/outline

your essay– It is recommended that you take about 30 minutes to write your

essay

▪ The LEQ portion of the exam counts as 15% of your overall exam score

What is a LEQ?

▪ LEQ stands for Long Essay Question

▪ This is the normal, everyday type of essay exam question that you’re used to; you’re given a question and you have to use what’s in your brain to answer it.

▪ The only difference is that you’ll be scored on four elements:– A. Thesis (1 point)– B. Argument development: Using the Targeted Historical Thinking

Skill (2 points)– C. Argument development: Using Evidence (2 points)– D. Synthesis (1 point)

A. Writing a Thesis (0-1 point)

▪ To earn one point you must state a thesis that makes a historically defensible claim & responds to all parts of the question. It must consist of one or more sentences located in one place.

▪ A thesis statement includes your opinion about the topic—there can be disagreement about your opinion

▪ A good thesis statement will answer the question, state your argument, and cover all topics that will be addressed in your body paragraphs– The thesis paragraph should include some introductory information (put your

topic in historical context) either before or after your stated thesis statement– A thesis statement uses reason, not emotions, rhetoric or wordiness to be

proven valid. It may be short, concise and to the point—one or two sentences is sufficient

▪ The thesis statement for a single paragraph is known as a topic sentence.

B. Body Paragraphs

▪ Body paragraphs should each be about one broad aspect of your thesis—this should be a larger topic or theme, NEVER a single event

▪ Paragraphs should have topic sentences that refer to and directly mirror a topic or theme mentioned in your thesis

▪ Transitions such as “in the same way,” “also,” “in addition,” should be used to connect main topics in a paragraph. This helps the flow between examples

▪ Lots of historical facts should be used in each paragraph…

B. Body Paragraphs: Argument Development: Using the Targeted Historical Thinking Skills (0-2 points)

▪ Comparison– 1 point: Describes similarities AND differences among historical

individuals, events, developments, or processes– 2 points: Explains the reasons for similarities AND differences among

historical individuals, events, developments, or processes– OR, DEPENDING ON THE PROMPT- Evaluate the relative significance

historical individuals, events, developments, or processes.– Example:▪ Compare and contrast the patterns of immigration in the period 1880 to

1928 to the patterns of immigration in the period 1965 to 2000


▪ Causation– 1 point: Describes causes and/or (depending on prompt) effects of a

historical development– 2 points: Explains the reasons for the causes AND/OR effects of a

historical event, development, or process.– Scoring Note: If the prompt requires discussion of both causes and

effects, responses must address both causes and effects in order to earn both points.

– Example:▪ Explain the reasons why a new conservatism rise to prominence in the

United States between 1960 and 1989.


▪ Continuity and Change over Time– 1 point: Describes historical continuity AND change over time– 2 points: Explains the reasons for historical continuity AND change

over time– Examples:▪ Evaluate the extent to which trans-Atlantic interactions from 1600 to 1763

contributed to maintain continuity as well as fostering change in labor systems in the British North American colonies

▪ Evaluate the extent to which increasing integration of the United States into the world economy contributed to maintain continuity as well as fostering change in the United States society from 1945 to the present.

▪ Some historians have argued that the New Deal was ultimately conservative in nature. Support, modify, or refute this interpretation, providing specific evidence to justify your answer.


▪ Periodization– 1 point: Describes the ways in which the historical development specified in the prompt

was different from and similar to developments that preceded and/or followed– 2 points: Explains the extent to which the historical development specified in the

prompt was different from AND similar to developments that preceded and/or followed– Scoring Note: For both points, if the prompt requires evaluation of a turning point, then

responses must discuss the developments that preceded AND followed. For both points, if the prompt requires evaluation of the characteristics of an era, then responses can discuss developments that EITHER preceded or followed.

– Examples:▪ Some historians have argued that the Spanish-American War in 1898 marked a turning point in

United States foreign policy. Support, modify, or refute this contention using specific evidence. ▪ Some historians have argued that the development of the policy of containment after the

Second World War marked a turning point in United States foreign policy. Support, modify, or refute this contention using specific evidence.

▪ Evaluate the extent to which the Progressive Era (1890- 1920) marked a turning point in the history of women in the United States, analyzing what changed and what stayed the same from the period immediately before the Progressive Era to the period during and immediately after it.

C. Body Paragraphs: Support for Argument (0-2 points)

▪ To earn one point you must address the topic of the question with specific examples of relevant evidence

▪ To earn two points you must utilize examples of evidence to fully and effectively substantiate the stated thesis or a relevant argument. In other words, you need to explain how and why a piece of evidence proves your thesis.

▪ Scoring Note: To fully and effectively substantiate the stated thesis or relevant argument, responses must include a broad range of evidence that, through analysis and explanation, justifies the stated thesis or relevant argument.

▪ Specific evidence must be factual (they are sometimes referred to as “concrete details”). Specific evidence can include: names, dates, places or other measurable information about the topic that you remember from class, your textbook, documents or other sources. Sources do not need to cited, but evidence does need to be accurate

D. Conclusion: Synthesis (0- 1 point)

▪ 1 point: Extends the argument by explaining the connections between the argument and ONE of the following:– A development in a different historical period, situation, era or geographical

area.– OR A course theme and/or approach to history that is not the focus of the

essay (such as political, economic, social, cultural, or intellectual history)

▪ Scoring Note: The synthesis point requires and explanation of the connections to different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area, and is not awarded for merely a phrase or reference.

▪ The authors of the exam intended that the conclusion paragraph’s purpose was to synthesize your argument. However, to earn a synthesis point, it can technically occur anywhere in the essay….

Doing the LEQ

Part II: Writing strategies for the Long Essay Question

Step 1: Understand the Question

▪ Look at the question: read it at least three times– How many parts are there to the question?– What is the time frame?– Where did the event take place?– In other words, RTFQ!

▪ Rephrase the word in your own words – Separate out the different parts so that you’ll be sure to address

each part

▪ Make sure that you understand any and all terms that may be confusing– Define those words in order to make sure that your meaning is

clear to the reader

Step 2: Brainstorm Specific Factual Evidence

▪ Brainstorming will help with organization

▪ Organize your information into categories. Helpful categories in APUSH include:– The big three: Political, Economic, and Social– The “others”▪ Cultural, Intellectual, Military, Religious, Art, etc.

– Any of the seven course themes: American National Identity, Politics & Power, Work, Exchange & Technology, Culture & Society, Migration & Settlement, Geography & the Environment, America in the World

– Think PES, PRIMES, PERSIA, SPRITE, SPERM

Step 3: Form your thesis

▪ Based on your brainstorm list, and ideas regarding the prompt, form a thesis with at least 2-3 categories which will become the topics of your body paragraphs.

▪ Be sure that all parts of the question are explicitly addressed in your thesis statement

▪ While you may use some of the same wording as the prompt, use some of your own words (synonyms are okay)

▪ Even if you have no clue regarding the prompt, writing an adequate thesis will guarantee you at least one point

Step Four: Write your Essay

▪ 1st paragraph: Provide a bit of relevant background information in order to put the topic into context. Then write a 1-2 sentence thesis statement that includes a few categories of analysis—the categories that each of your body paragraphs will address

▪ Body paragraphs: Topic sentences need to state which category from the thesis will be addressed as well as what judgement is being made about that category. Specific factual evidence must be explained in relation to your thesis and be used to address the historical thinking skills from the prompt.

▪ Closing paragraphs are optional, but the essay must include synthesis and this is a good place to remember to do that.

doing the leq part i: the parts of a long essay question

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