Lesson 4Lesson 4

Writing Effective Writing Effective Free Response Free Response

EssaysEssaysThanks to Keith Wood, Honors English and AP U.S. Thanks to Keith Wood, Honors English and AP U.S. History Teacher, Murray High School, Murray, UtahHistory Teacher, Murray High School, Murray, Utah

Edited slightly to customize for VCHS studentsEdited slightly to customize for VCHS students

Free response essays, in many ways, Free response essays, in many ways, are the very heart of the AP exam. are the very heart of the AP exam.

They measure your reasoning ability as They measure your reasoning ability as well as your historical knowledge. well as your historical knowledge.

To succeed with these essays, you must To succeed with these essays, you must understand the prompts, organize your understand the prompts, organize your

information, and write a clear and information, and write a clear and accurate response. accurate response.

Free response essay prompts Free response essay prompts put a lot of responsibility on put a lot of responsibility on

the writer:the writer: Some prompts are very open. Here Some prompts are very open. Here

is an example of this type of prompt:is an example of this type of prompt: The government under the Articles The government under the Articles

of Confederation has been of Confederation has been considered a failure. Describe considered a failure. Describe three actions of the Confederation three actions of the Confederation government and explain how these government and explain how these actions may or may not be actions may or may not be considered failures.considered failures.

These prompts require you to These prompts require you to define the terms, specify the time define the terms, specify the time period, and understand the task.period, and understand the task.

For instance, read the prompt carefully: For instance, read the prompt carefully: The government under the Articles of Confederation The government under the Articles of Confederation

has been considered a has been considered a failurefailure. . Describe three Describe three actionsactions of the Confederation government of the Confederation government and and explainexplain how these actions how these actions may or may notmay or may not be be considered failures.considered failures.

To address the prompt, the following questions To address the prompt, the following questions must be answered:must be answered: What time period does this question address? [1781-What time period does this question address? [1781-

1789]1789] What were 3 (no more) actions of the Confederation What were 3 (no more) actions of the Confederation

Congress that you are going to discuss?Congress that you are going to discuss? How are you defining “failure” or “success”?How are you defining “failure” or “success”?

Some prompts provide clear Some prompts provide clear time periods to be addressed:time periods to be addressed:

For instance, here are two prompts that For instance, here are two prompts that specify very clearly the time periods to specify very clearly the time periods to be discussed: be discussed: Compare and contrast United States Compare and contrast United States

foreign policy after the First World War foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider and after the Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.

How did the African American Civil Rights How did the African American Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s address movement of the 1950s and 1960s address the failures of Reconstruction?the failures of Reconstruction?

These prompts require you to These prompts require you to limit your evidence and to limit your evidence and to

define certain terms.define certain terms. With the first prompt– With the first prompt–

Compare Compare andand contrast United States contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. and after the Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 and Consider the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.1945-1950.

The following need clarifyingThe following need clarifying Deal only with foreign policy decisions Deal only with foreign policy decisions You need to pick decisions that are BOTH You need to pick decisions that are BOTH

different and similar between the early different and similar between the early and the later time periods.and the later time periods.

The next prompt– The next prompt– How did the African American Civil How did the African American Civil

Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s address the failures of Reconstruction?address the failures of Reconstruction?

Requires you to specifyRequires you to specify Several “failures of Reconstruction”Several “failures of Reconstruction”

Which implies that you know when Which implies that you know when Reconstruction occurred.Reconstruction occurred.

And to know several very specific results And to know several very specific results of the later Civil Rights movement that of the later Civil Rights movement that directly addressed the failures of directly addressed the failures of Reconstruction.Reconstruction.

Tip #1Tip #1 Make sure you understand exactly your Make sure you understand exactly your

task, what you must “prove” in the essay.task, what you must “prove” in the essay. Stay strictly within the time period. Don’t Stay strictly within the time period. Don’t

wander.wander. You must be specific, specific, specific.You must be specific, specific, specific. Use relevant and time-sensitive PEPS Use relevant and time-sensitive PEPS

(people, events, places, significance). (people, events, places, significance). Think of PEPS as proper nouns (words Think of PEPS as proper nouns (words that need to be capitalized).that need to be capitalized).

Never use generalities, i.e. many reforms, Never use generalities, i.e. many reforms, lots of reformers, many things changed.lots of reformers, many things changed.

Tip #2Tip #2

Organize your thinking BEFORE you Organize your thinking BEFORE you write.write.

This doesn’t need to be a long processThis doesn’t need to be a long process Decide two or three things you need to Decide two or three things you need to

discuss,discuss, Organize the facts you have under those Organize the facts you have under those

headings,headings, Check through them to see that you Check through them to see that you

“balance” the discussion—give each part of “balance” the discussion—give each part of the topic equal discussion.the topic equal discussion.

Outlines do not have to be Outlines do not have to be formal, just sketch a formal, just sketch a

structure and put your facts structure and put your facts into that structure.into that structure.

SocialSocial

PoliticalPolitical

EconomicEconomic

PEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPS PEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPSPEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPS PEPSPEPS

PEPSPEPSPEPPEPSS

Write with clarity and Write with clarity and confidence– don’t be timid!confidence– don’t be timid!

Be definite. Your thesis should Be definite. Your thesis should ANSWER the prompt with your opinion.ANSWER the prompt with your opinion.

Having brainstormed then organized Having brainstormed then organized specific facts, start each paragraph with specific facts, start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence.a clear topic sentence.

Refer to specific facts to support your Refer to specific facts to support your thinking. Stick to your structure, refer thinking. Stick to your structure, refer to your outline as you write.to your outline as you write.

Good writing is a problem-Good writing is a problem-solving situation. Work the solving situation. Work the

process!process! After writing your thesis paragraph, go After writing your thesis paragraph, go

back and re-read the prompt.back and re-read the prompt. Ask yourself, “Have I ‘answered’ the Ask yourself, “Have I ‘answered’ the

prompt with my thesis?”prompt with my thesis?” What three or four points MUST you make What three or four points MUST you make

to support your thesis. Write these down.to support your thesis. Write these down. As you write, look back at the prompt and As you write, look back at the prompt and

at your thesis. Are you sticking to the at your thesis. Are you sticking to the topic?topic?

Plan your time so that you Plan your time so that you can read your essay before can read your essay before

you finish.you finish. Check the clock. Know how much time Check the clock. Know how much time

you have to produce the essay. you have to produce the essay. Check your thesis and your outline Check your thesis and your outline

frequently.frequently. Make sure that you have time to go back Make sure that you have time to go back

and read quickly through your essay.and read quickly through your essay. Don’t ignore a conclusion paragraph. Don’t ignore a conclusion paragraph.

Sometimes it makes up for weaknesses Sometimes it makes up for weaknesses earlier in the essay.earlier in the essay.

Lesson 4 SummaryLesson 4 Summary Read the prompt completely more than once.Read the prompt completely more than once. Know your task. Know your task. Write a thesis that addresses the prompt.Write a thesis that addresses the prompt. Write a general topic sentence to lead off each Write a general topic sentence to lead off each

paragraph. (See notes page for this slide.)paragraph. (See notes page for this slide.) BeBe specific within your body paragraphs—use specific within your body paragraphs—use

proper nouns (or PEPS). No generalizations.proper nouns (or PEPS). No generalizations. Organize before writing.Organize before writing. Check your thesis and your outline as you write.Check your thesis and your outline as you write. Leave time to read your essay before finishing.Leave time to read your essay before finishing.