Lesson #1:Lesson #1:

The Essay The Essay PromptPrompt

AP European AP European HistoryHistory

FRE & DBQFRE & DBQ

The Prompt The Prompt

All AP essays are written in All AP essays are written in response to an essay response to an essay ““prompt.prompt.”” or or ““question.question.””

Examples of PromptsExamples of Prompts Sample prompt:Sample prompt: Analyze the factors that contributed to

the increasing centralization of Spain and the factors that contributed to the continuing fragmentation of Italy in the period 1450–1550.

Compare and contrast Enlightenment and Romantic views of nature, with reference to specific individuals and their works.

STEP #1STEP #1READ THE WHOLE QUESTIONREAD THE WHOLE QUESTION

The first thing you need to do is to The first thing you need to do is to read the WHOLE prompt, every word read the WHOLE prompt, every word of it. This is especially true if the of it. This is especially true if the prompt is in two sentences like this prompt is in two sentences like this one….one….

How successful was organized labor in How successful was organized labor in improving the position of workers in improving the position of workers in the period from 1875 to 1900? the period from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that contributed Analyze the factors that contributed to the level of success achievedto the level of success achieved

STEP #2STEP #2IDENTIFY WHAT YOU ARE BEING IDENTIFY WHAT YOU ARE BEING

ASKED TO DOASKED TO DO Having read the whole prompt, circle Having read the whole prompt, circle

or underline the THING YOU ARE or underline the THING YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO DO. BEING ASKED TO DO.

Analyze the factors that contributed to the increasing centralization of Spain and the factors that contributed to the continuing fragmentation of Italy in the period 1450–1550.

What are you being asked to do? What are you being asked to do? ANALYZEANALYZE..

The following is a list of The following is a list of THINGS YOU MIGHT BE THINGS YOU MIGHT BE ASKED TO DO as used by ASKED TO DO as used by

the College Board.the College Board.

Analyze – Analyze – MOST COMMONMOST COMMON Explain how AND AND why something occurred.

Any question that uses “how” and/or “why” is an analysis question even if the word “analyze” is not in the prompt.

Compare AND contrast – SECOND MOST COMMON To do this correctly you need to discuss both

similarities AND differences between two events or periods. It is important to do both in as balanced a way as possible without shortcoming either.

Evaluate Which factor is more important. You

usually need to rank several events or factors and specify which is most and which is least significant.

To what extent This prompt frequently requires you to

specify a cause and effect relationship and then state which causes are most important.

Discuss or consider These are frequently used in FRE

prompts and should be written as analysis essays.

Assess the validity How true or valid is the statement. The

statement does not have to be all true (remember the historical grey area!). It can be true in one instance or circumstance and false in another.

STEP #3STEP #3UNDERLINEUNDERLINE

CONJUNCTIONS CONJUNCTIONS

After finding the verbs, look carefully After finding the verbs, look carefully and mark any CONJUNCTIONS and and mark any CONJUNCTIONS and circle or underline them. For instancecircle or underline them. For instance Compare Compare andand contrast the ways in which contrast the ways in which

the French Revolution and the Russian the French Revolution and the Russian Revolution changed the status of women.Revolution changed the status of women.

You must compare AND contrast You must compare AND contrast these revolutions to successfully these revolutions to successfully complete the task. complete the task.

STEP #4STEP #4UNDERSTAND THE DATESUNDERSTAND THE DATES

Understand the TIME SPAN you are Understand the TIME SPAN you are being asked to address.being asked to address.If the prompt asks you to discuss during If the prompt asks you to discuss during a given time span (for example, the a given time span (for example, the period between 1865 and 1900), then period between 1865 and 1900), then you must include information from the you must include information from the WHOLEWHOLE time period. time period.

Tip: list the facts from the last 10 years Tip: list the facts from the last 10 years of the time period FIRST, then work of the time period FIRST, then work backwards with the details. backwards with the details.

Things to KnowThings to Know

If you see the wordIf you see the word various various you are you are expected to name at least three views, expected to name at least three views, examples, etc. to support your point.examples, etc. to support your point.If your question is If your question is not nation specificnot nation specific, , you need to you need to mention more than one mention more than one locationlocation

SamplesSamples ““Analyze various ways in which the Analyze various ways in which the

Protestant reformation between Protestant reformation between 1500-1700 saw the relationship 1500-1700 saw the relationship between church and statebetween church and state””

““Analyze various ways in which Analyze various ways in which religious reform in the sixteenth and religious reform in the sixteenth and seventeenth century influenced the seventeenth century influenced the artsarts””

STEP #5STEP #5BEGIN OUTLINEBEGIN OUTLINE

After you are clear as to your task After you are clear as to your task ( analyze, evaluate, assess the validity, ( analyze, evaluate, assess the validity, etc.), sketch out a quick, informal, etc.), sketch out a quick, informal, OUTLINEOUTLINE of how you are going to of how you are going to proceed. This is very important in proceed. This is very important in guaranteeing that you address all parts guaranteeing that you address all parts of the prompt. of the prompt.

Your outline should also include the Your outline should also include the major facts you are going to address in major facts you are going to address in the essay paragraph by paragraph. the essay paragraph by paragraph.

Your outline will serve as a check-off list Your outline will serve as a check-off list so you donso you don’’t forget anything in your t forget anything in your discussion. discussion.

STEP #5STEP #5BEGIN OUTLINEBEGIN OUTLINE

STEP #5STEP #5BEGIN OUTLINEBEGIN OUTLINE

Analyze the ways in which the events of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic period (1789–1815) led people to challenge Enlightenment views of society, politics, and human nature.

Graphic OutlineGraphic Outline

 

French Revolutionary Era Napoleonic Era

1789Conscription,

1815 

Napoleonic Code, French military success, etc.

Sample OutlineSample Outline Thesis statementThesis statement Topic of Body Paragraph 1Topic of Body Paragraph 1

Topic of Body Paragraph 2Topic of Body Paragraph 2

Topic of Body Paragraph 3Topic of Body Paragraph 3

Conclusion (might also Conclusion (might also include your thesis include your thesis statement)statement)

You will only have 5 minutes to write your thesis and your outline for an FRE.

Understand what the question is asking you to do.

Create a visual outline

Write a compelling thesis statement.

AP European AP European HistoryHistory

FRE & DBQFRE & DBQ

Lesson #2:Lesson #2:

The Thesis The Thesis StatementStatement

The Thesis statement The Thesis statement is the most important is the most important part of your essay.part of your essay.

It must be clear and It must be clear and properly structured.properly structured.

Current AP essay rubrics Current AP essay rubrics award high scores to essays award high scores to essays that have that have ““clear, well-clear, well-developed thesisdeveloped thesis”” that is that is ““focused on the promptfocused on the prompt”” and and ““guides the essay throughout.guides the essay throughout.””

A Thesis A Thesis Statement…….Statement…….defines the scope and purpose of the paper. It defines the scope and purpose of the paper. It

needs to meet three criteria: needs to meet three criteria: 

1. It must be 1. It must be arguablearguable rather than a  rather than a statement of fact. It should also say statement of fact. It should also say something original about the topic. something original about the topic. 

2. It must be 2. It must be limitedlimited enough so that the  enough so that the paper develops in some depth. paper develops in some depth. 

3. It must be 3. It must be unifiedunified so that the paper does  so that the paper does not stray from the topic. not stray from the topic. 

        

After After reading the whole prompt reading the whole prompt figuring out what you are being asked to figuring out what you are being asked to

dodo underlining conjunctionsunderlining conjunctions understanding the time frameunderstanding the time frame creating an outlinecreating an outline

Then you Then you Answer the prompt Answer the prompt with a thesis statement.with a thesis statement.

??????????????

AlthoughAlthough

WhileWhile

DespiteDespite

A thesis statement defines the scope and purpose of the paper. It needs to meet three criteria: 

1. It must be arguable rather than a statement of fact. It should also say something original about the topic. 

2. It must be limited enough so that the paper develops in some depth. 

3. It must be unified so that the paper does not stray from the topic. 

    

It is extremely important to get your It is extremely important to get your thinking clearly into a simple thinking clearly into a simple ““answeranswer”” to to the prompt.the prompt.

Try not to restate the wording of the Try not to restate the wording of the prompt. prompt. Rather than saying Rather than saying ““ the time period of 1620- the time period of 1620-

1700,1700,””say say ““ the early decades of the 17 the early decades of the 17thth century century”” or or ““the the

early decades of colonial settlement…early decades of colonial settlement…”” Rather than saying Rather than saying ““English colonists,English colonists,”” refer to refer to

American colonists, British colonists or settlers.American colonists, British colonists or settlers.

Sample Jot OutlineSample Jot Outline Thesis statementThesis statement Topic of Body Topic of Body

Paragraph 1Paragraph 1 SFESFE

Topic of Body Topic of Body Paragraph 2Paragraph 2 SFESFE

Topic of Body Topic of Body Paragraph 3Paragraph 3 SFESFE

Concluding sentencesConcluding sentences

You will only have 5 minutes to write your thesis and your outline for an FRE.

You will only 15 minutes to read the documents, write your thesis and your outline for a DBQ so……

Knowing the FACTS and understanding what the question is asking you to do is vital to your success!!