The Free Response

The Number One Rule of AP:

Don’t Panic!

There is more freedom in the free response than you may

think!

2006 Change Over Time

Analyze the cultural and political changes and continuities in ONE of the following civilizations during the last centuries of the classical era. • Chinese, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E. • Roman, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E. • Indian, 300 C.E. to 600 C.E.

Chinese, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------100 600

First, identify changes in China during this time period first:

What changed during this time period?

Chinese, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------100 600

Collapse of the Han Dynasty:

220 C.E.

Effects:

Chinese, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------100 600

Reunification of China under Sui Dynasty:

581 C.E.

Effects:

Chinese, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------100 600

Thus, the cultural and political changes are:

Chinese, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------100 600

However, even in the midst of changes, there are continuities.

Thesis:

1- Make an argument

2- The changes are more significant or the continuities are more significant

3- Use of the rule of TWO in your thesis; provide specific examples in the thesis

The Thesis:

Roman, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------100 600

First identify the changes that occurred in the Roman Empire during this time period first:

Roman, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------100 600

The Collapse of the Western Roman Empire:

476 C.E.

Roman, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------100 600

The cultural and political changes are:

Roman, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------100 600

However, even in the midst of changes, there are continuities.

Roman, 100 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------100 600

The cultural and political continuities are:

Thesis:

1- Make an argument

2- The changes are more significant or the continuities are more significant

3- Use of the rule of TWO in your thesis; provide specific examples in the thesis

The Thesis:

Indian, 300 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------300 600

First, identify the changes in India during this time period first:

Indian, 300 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------300 600

The Gupta Empire: 320 C.E. – 520 C.E.

Indian, 300 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------300 600

The cultural and political changes are:

Indian, 300 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------300 600

However, even in the midst of changes, there are continuities.

Indian, 300 C.E. to 600 C.E.

----------------------------------------------------------300 600

The cultural and political continuities are:

Thesis:

1- Make an argument

2- The changes are more significant or the continuities are more significant

3- Use of the rule of TWO in your thesis; provide specific examples in the thesis

The Thesis:

It is important to remember that every body paragraph must either analyze a change or a continuity!

2008 Comparative Essay Compare the emergence of nation-states in nineteenth-century Latin America with the emergence of nation-states in ONE of the following regions in the twentieth century.

• Sub-Saharan Africa • The Middle East

It is important to remember that several examples within a region qualify as addressing the region.

The Quick List:

List the facts that you know about the:

Emergence of nation-states in nineteenth-century Latin America

The Quick List:

List the facts that you know about the:

Emergence of nation-states in twentieth-century Sub-Saharan Africa:

The Quick List:

List the facts that you know about the:

Emergence of nation-states in twentieth-century the Middle East:

What region will you choose to compare to Latin America?

Compare your lists:

Find similarities and differences.

Thesis:

1- Make an argument

2- The similarities are more significant than the differences or the differences are more significant than the similarities

3- Use the rule of TWO in your thesis; provide specific examples in the thesis

My Thesis: