Writing an Writing an historical essayhistorical essay

Prep for the AP examPrep for the AP examMr. Lipman’s Mr. Lipman’s

StrategiesStrategies

The Prompt (aka the The Prompt (aka the question?)question?)• Read the question!!! (“really, you think? Read the question!!! (“really, you think?

Yes! I think!”)Yes! I think!”)• # 1 - Figure out what the prompt is # 1 - Figure out what the prompt is

NOTNOT asking? asking?• Aka – many prompts give you info, which you Aka – many prompts give you info, which you

have to accept as fact.have to accept as fact.• Ex. 2005 DBQ – In the early nineteenth Ex. 2005 DBQ – In the early nineteenth

century, century, Americans sought to resolve their Americans sought to resolve their political disputes through compromisepolitical disputes through compromise, yet , yet by 1860 this no longer seemed possible. by 1860 this no longer seemed possible. Analyze the reasons for this change. (use Analyze the reasons for this change. (use the docs and your knowledge of the period the docs and your knowledge of the period 1820-18601820-1860 in constructing your response.) in constructing your response.)

The Prompt (continued)The Prompt (continued)

• # 2 - Figure out what the prompt # 2 - Figure out what the prompt ISIS asking!! asking!!

• Is it a cause or effect? – ex.Is it a cause or effect? – ex.(compromises before 1860…) = (compromises before 1860…) = causes of the …causes of the …

• Is it a support or refute? Ex. Is it a support or refute? Ex. FDR was FDR was primarily responsible for helping end primarily responsible for helping end the Great Depression. (assess the the Great Depression. (assess the validity.)validity.)

• Analyze? = Analyze? = HOW and WHY???HOW and WHY???

The Prompt (continued)The Prompt (continued)

• To what extent,…????To what extent,…????– ““This is a tricky way of giving you lots of This is a tricky way of giving you lots of

options!!!”options!!!”

• Ex. 2005 - FRQ – To what extent was the Ex. 2005 - FRQ – To what extent was the US Constitution a radical departure from US Constitution a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation?the Articles of Confederation?

• # 1 – a complete departure# 1 – a complete departure• # 2 = it was a radical departure in… , but # 2 = it was a radical departure in… , but

did not radically change…did not radically change…• # 3 – it was not very different from…# 3 – it was not very different from…

The Prompt (continued) The Prompt (continued) still?still?• If you want to get better at writing essays, If you want to get better at writing essays,

then you want to re-write the questionthen you want to re-write the question• Or you want to figure out the Or you want to figure out the heart of the heart of the

question!question!• Ex. 2008 FRQ - Analyze the reasons Ex. 2008 FRQ - Analyze the reasons

for the Anti-Federalists’ opposition to for the Anti-Federalists’ opposition to ratifying the Constitution.ratifying the Constitution.

• The heart of the question is … The heart of the question is … what what were the Anti-federalists main were the Anti-federalists main arguments against the Constitution?arguments against the Constitution?

OutlineOutline

• #1 – Figure out what your argument will be, #1 – Figure out what your argument will be, and how you are going to support it! (AKA and how you are going to support it! (AKA THESISTHESIS) *Answer all parts of the prompt!!!**) *Answer all parts of the prompt!!!**– Jot down examplesJot down examples– If it is a DBQ – go through all of the Doc’s after you If it is a DBQ – go through all of the Doc’s after you

write down anything and everything you already write down anything and everything you already know. know.

– Remember to answer the main question, and the sub Remember to answer the main question, and the sub questions, if applicable.questions, if applicable.• Ex. What were the main causes of WWI? What was the final Ex. What were the main causes of WWI? What was the final

event that sparked WWI?event that sparked WWI?

– Make sure to organize your ideas around themes or Make sure to organize your ideas around themes or topics ( or even drinks?!!!) topics ( or even drinks?!!!)

““What is your favorite What is your favorite historical drink?”historical drink?”

•SPRITESPRITE = Social, Political, Religious, = Social, Political, Religious, Intellectual, Technological, EconomicIntellectual, Technological, Economic

• this is a great way to create topics for your this is a great way to create topics for your essay if it is a general question that is essay if it is a general question that is asking for the CAUSES or the EFFECTS of asking for the CAUSES or the EFFECTS of an event (on America.)an event (on America.)

• Ex. How did the Vietnam War Ex. How did the Vietnam War effect America?effect America?

• I would probably go with I would probably go with socially, politically and economically.socially, politically and economically.

Intro (paragraph)Intro (paragraph)

• You always want to start by giving You always want to start by giving the the time and placetime and place!!

• Ex. The 13 colonies prior to the Ex. The 13 colonies prior to the American Revolution…American Revolution…

• Ex. In the years following the Civil Ex. In the years following the Civil War, the southern states…War, the southern states…

Intro (continued)Intro (continued)

• There is no length requirements, but a few There is no length requirements, but a few sentences is fine.sentences is fine.

• Think of the intro as “stepping back” in history Think of the intro as “stepping back” in history and giving us a “lead in” to your thesis. and giving us a “lead in” to your thesis.

• Your sentences should all lead into…Your sentences should all lead into…• ………………• ““Your….Your….• THESIS, duh?!”THESIS, duh?!”• Thesis should always be the last sentence of your Thesis should always be the last sentence of your

intro, BUT it can be the last two sentences?!intro, BUT it can be the last two sentences?!

ThesisThesis

• This is the make or break of your paper!This is the make or break of your paper!• ““But no pressure!”But no pressure!”• STICK TO THE PROMPT!!STICK TO THE PROMPT!!• If the question is asking you about the If the question is asking you about the

causes of WWI, then you can NOT talk causes of WWI, then you can NOT talk about WWI, … or WWII for that matter.about WWI, … or WWII for that matter.

• Your thesis needs to stay within the time Your thesis needs to stay within the time period and the limitations given in the period and the limitations given in the question. (ex. During a presidency…)question. (ex. During a presidency…)

Thesis (continued, of Thesis (continued, of course)course)• Your thesis needs to be an argument. Your thesis needs to be an argument. • ““I know I’m crazy!!!”I know I’m crazy!!!”• This means that it can NOT be a fact, This means that it can NOT be a fact,

like “FDR was the president elected in like “FDR was the president elected in 1932 and he created the New Deal.”1932 and he created the New Deal.”

• You also can NOT just copy the You also can NOT just copy the prompt, this shows that you have no prompt, this shows that you have no clue how complex the question is. clue how complex the question is.

Thesis (statements)Thesis (statements)

• What effect did WWII have on America?What effect did WWII have on America?

• WWII WWII changedchanged America socially, politically, America socially, politically, and economically. *Don’t use “change”and economically. *Don’t use “change”

• WWII drastically impacted American society, WWII drastically impacted American society, politics and its economy.politics and its economy.

• WWII had a positive effect on the American WWII had a positive effect on the American economy, increased the powers of the economy, increased the powers of the federal government, and created a more federal government, and created a more unified society. unified society.

Body paragraphsBody paragraphs

• First, you need to have clear TOPIC First, you need to have clear TOPIC sentences.sentences.

• Topic sentences = what the entire Topic sentences = what the entire paragraph is going to coverparagraph is going to cover

• So… topic sentences should be more So… topic sentences should be more general, rather than specific.general, rather than specific.

• However, they can NOT be facts!!!However, they can NOT be facts!!!• If you have problems creating them, then If you have problems creating them, then

maybe write your paragraph (while leaving maybe write your paragraph (while leaving space for the topic sentence), and then space for the topic sentence), and then write your topic sentence afterwards.write your topic sentence afterwards.

Body paragraphs Body paragraphs (continued)(continued)• Within the body paragraphs should be Within the body paragraphs should be

details and facts, but more importantly details and facts, but more importantly you need to you need to analyze and synthesize!analyze and synthesize!

• ANALYSIS = WHY and HOW?ANALYSIS = WHY and HOW?– Ex. Why didn’t the Compromise of Ex. Why didn’t the Compromise of

1850 prevent the Civil War?1850 prevent the Civil War?– How did the Chinese Exclusion Act How did the Chinese Exclusion Act

impact immigration?impact immigration?

Body paragraphs (still…)Body paragraphs (still…)

• SynthesisSynthesis (the best essays have this!) (the best essays have this!)• Synthesis is connecting your analysis back to your Synthesis is connecting your analysis back to your

thesis, and/or connecting analysis with other analysis in thesis, and/or connecting analysis with other analysis in your essay.your essay.

• Ex. Analysis = Comp. of 1850 did not address the future Ex. Analysis = Comp. of 1850 did not address the future of slavery.of slavery.

• Analysis = Comp. of 1850 upset abolitionists.Analysis = Comp. of 1850 upset abolitionists.• Synthesis = For many southerners the Comp. of 1850 Synthesis = For many southerners the Comp. of 1850

appeared to limit the expansion of slavery, so appeared to limit the expansion of slavery, so abolitionists who did not help recover runaway slaves, abolitionists who did not help recover runaway slaves, only increased the chances of a civil war. only increased the chances of a civil war.

• You also want to try to connect examples back to your You also want to try to connect examples back to your thesis and/or your topicsthesis and/or your topics

Conclusion (?)Conclusion (?)

• It will surprise you, but a conclusion is not It will surprise you, but a conclusion is not necessary for AP US History.necessary for AP US History.

• ““No I am not joking!”No I am not joking!”

• If you have time, a conclusion is great, If you have time, a conclusion is great, but but if all you can do is repeat your thesis and if all you can do is repeat your thesis and your topics, then skip it.your topics, then skip it.

• However, great essays have analysis and However, great essays have analysis and synthesis of the whole essay in the synthesis of the whole essay in the conclusion.conclusion.

Conclusion (finally?)Conclusion (finally?)

• The conclusion is also where you can finally The conclusion is also where you can finally make connections to … THE NEXT STEP!make connections to … THE NEXT STEP!

• THE NEXT STEP… is what event, concept, THE NEXT STEP… is what event, concept, or time period, which follows up the or time period, which follows up the prompts inquiry. prompts inquiry.

• Ex. If question is about causes of Civil War, Ex. If question is about causes of Civil War, then conclusion could mention the Civil then conclusion could mention the Civil War, and maybe quickly, Reconstruction, War, and maybe quickly, Reconstruction, but NOTHING about but NOTHING about TODAY!! TODAY!!

FINAL TIPS, Do’s and Don'tsFINAL TIPS, Do’s and Don'ts

• Do’sDo’s– Have an argument!!!!Have an argument!!!!– Organize your topicsOrganize your topics– AnalyzeAnalyze– Write more specific, rather than generalWrite more specific, rather than general– SynthesizeSynthesize– Supersize?? j/kSupersize?? j/k

FINAL TIPS, Do’s and Don'tsFINAL TIPS, Do’s and Don'ts

• Don'tsDon'ts– Use “I”, “we”, “us”, “our”, etc.Use “I”, “we”, “us”, “our”, etc.– Make grand generalizations, like “all wars…” or Make grand generalizations, like “all wars…” or

“people like to fight.”“people like to fight.”– Go off-topicGo off-topic

• Use random quotes or cliches (like “doesn’t have a leg to Use random quotes or cliches (like “doesn’t have a leg to …”)…”)

• Use analogies – “America is like a tiger…”Use analogies – “America is like a tiger…”

• Give advice, like “If Lincoln would have just…”Give advice, like “If Lincoln would have just…”

• Make connections from the past to today! Why? Make connections from the past to today! Why?

• Write on something unrelated or beyond the prompt!!!Write on something unrelated or beyond the prompt!!!