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Lesson 4Lesson 4

Writing Effective Free Writing Effective Free Response EssaysResponse Essays

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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.

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Free response essay prompts put a lot of Free response essay prompts put a lot of responsibility on the writer:responsibility on the writer:

Some prompts are very open. Here is an Some prompts are very open. Here is an example of this type of prompt:example of this type of prompt:

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

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

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

been considered a been considered a failurefailure. . Describe three actionsDescribe three actions of the of the Confederation government Confederation government and explainand explain how these actions how these actions may or may notmay or may not be considered failures. be considered failures.

To address the prompt, he following questions must be To address the prompt, he following questions must be answered:answered:– What time period does this question address? [1781-1789]What time period does this question address? [1781-1789]

– 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”?

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

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

after the First World War and after the Second after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 and World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.1945-1950.

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

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These prompts require you to limit your These prompts require you to limit your evidence and to define certain terms.evidence and to define certain terms.

With the first prompt– With the first prompt– – Compare Compare andand contrast United States foreign contrast United States foreign

policy after the First World War and after the policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.1919-1928 and 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 and the different and similar between the early and the later time periods.later time periods.

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

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

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

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

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

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

what you must “prove” in the essay.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 proper nouns—words that need to be Use proper nouns—words that need to be

capitalized.capitalized. Never use generalities, i.e. many reforms, lots Never use generalities, i.e. many reforms, lots

of reformers, many things changed.of reformers, many things changed.

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Tip #2Tip #2

Organize your thinking BEFORE you write.Organize your thinking BEFORE you 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 discuss,Decide two or three things you need to discuss,– Organize the facts you have under those Organize the facts you have under those

headings,headings,– Check through them to see that you “balance” Check through them to see that you “balance”

the discussion—give each part of the topic the discussion—give each part of the topic equal discussion.equal discussion.

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Outlines do not have to be formal, just Outlines do not have to be formal, just sketch a structure and put your facts into sketch a structure and put your facts into

that structure.that structure.

SocialSocial

PoliticalPolitical

EconomicEconomic

List factsList facts

List factsList facts

List factsList facts

List factsList facts List factsList facts

List factsList factsList factsList facts

List factsList facts List factsList facts

List factsList factsList factsList facts

List factsList facts List factsList facts

List factsList factsList factsList facts

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

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

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

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

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

After writing your thesis paragraph, go back and After writing your thesis paragraph, go back and re-read the prompt.re-read the prompt.

Ask yourself, “Have I ‘answered’ the prompt Ask yourself, “Have I ‘answered’ the prompt with my thesis?”with my thesis?”

What three or four points MUST you make to What three or four points MUST you make to support your thesis. Write these down.support your thesis. Write these down.

As you write, look back at the prompt and at As you write, look back at the prompt and at your thesis. Are you sticking to the topic?your thesis. Are you sticking to the topic?

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

Check the clock. Know how much time you Check the clock. Know how much time you have to produce the essay. have to produce the essay.

Check your thesis and your outline frequently.Check your thesis and your outline frequently. Make sure that you have time to go back and Make sure that you have time to go back and

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

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

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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. Specifics—proper nouns—only. No Specifics—proper nouns—only. No

generalizations.generalizations. Organize before writing.Organize before writing. Check your thesis and your outline as you Check your thesis and your outline as you

write.write. Leave time to read your essay before finishing.Leave time to read your essay before finishing.