FREE RESPONSE

The “FRQ”

“written section”

What is an “FRQ”?• Free Response Question = short

response question (couple paragraphs)

• 100 minutes – 4 mandatory questions– Don’t have a “choice” – must focus on

all – Weighted equally to each other

• Can do FRQs in any order• FRQs worth 1/2 of overall AP test

score• Need to budget your time!! = 25

minutes per question

Intro to FRQs• Qs will focus on issues, concepts

and content from the six Curriculum Requirements – Specific Qs require focused answers

• PURPOSE: to show understanding of “linkage” or “relationship btwn/among issues & concepts

• Responses generally 1¼ - 1½ hand-written pages– Essays written in third person

How FRQs are scored• Readers use RUBRICS to award

points – Trained to be “specialists” on

rubric– Readers score – don’t take away

points

Now before we start writing …

What NOT To Do …DON’T …

• … write in PENCIL – use black or blue pen• … SKIP a question – no “choice”• … use broad statements to introduce, etc

[“throughout history …]• … write a separate conclusion – waste of

time• … use big words [unless sure]• … Joke or Use drawings/cartoons• … give teacher/class evaluations

What NOT To Do …DON’T …

• … “data dump” – LINK data to main point• … highlighting/underlining important ideas

or points – distracting, amateurish • … give your opinion in response – I care,

reader doesn’tDON’T PREACH, MORALIZE, EDITORIALIZE

FRQ MANTRA: “Where can I earn points?”

General Info & “To Do’s”• WRITE LEGIBLY. If the reader can’t

read it, it’s not there. • USE COMPLETE SENTENCES – no

outlines, bulleted listsORGANIZATION is CRITICAL

• Easier to read, get points – better an org. resp. w/average info than unorganized w/ above average info

• Thesis at beginning – keeps resp. focused

General Info & “To Do’s”ORGANIZATION is CRITICAL

• If Q calls for paragraph style, split sections of ans into paragraphs

• If Q calls for listing of some kind, can ans using headings and sectioned info– STILL complete sentences, etc

• Short, Sweet, To the Point: concise answers, address question directly– No pts for length, verbosity

• Thesis @ end of 1st

General Info & “To Do’s”• Use specific examples when possible –

not always required but can help earn points

ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT IS ASKED.

• NOT what you think is asked, what you know …

• Answer all parts of Q – How many Ex’s asked for?

5 Steps to Writing an FRQ

1. Read [and re-read] the question–Understand AP tasks

[terminology]–Answer ALL PARTS of Q – FRQS

usually contain more than one prompt per Q

2. Identify key words in question–Terms w/in question – policies,

groups

5 Steps to Writing an FRQ

3. What does Q want you to DO w/ key words?–VERBS – define, explain [tasks]–What are they asking? How do I

respond?4. Outline response

–ORGANIZE – leads to best answers

5. WRITE ANSWER!!–Restate prompt in 1st line of P

Step #6?IF TIME ALLOWS

• AFTER ANSWERING ALL 4 … • Go back & re-read answers!!

– You have 100 minutes, why not re-read?

– Make sure you answered each Q FULLY

– Be sure you’re linking answer to Q• If you want to add something

after, write more @ end, draw an arrow to where it goes

General Info & “To Do’s”• List/Identify: enumerating some info• Define: provide meaning, “extend”

def’n• Describe: depict/portray; “what” qs;

details • Discuss: explore relationships btwn

concepts; pro/con, rule of 3, details• Explain: tell WHY, possible causal

relationships btwn concepts, more than just examples

General Info & “To Do’s”• Compare/Contrast: links btwn

concepts• Evaluate/Assess: consider how well

something meets a standard – usually P form, needs thesis– Impt: identify criteria for standard

• Analyze: be systematic – deal with parts of concept to understand the whole– Yield conclusions, supported by evidence

or argument