WRITING A

FREE RESPONSE ESSAY

Mr. Goethals

AP US History

&

AP World History

What will you be asked to do?

Analyze: Determine to elements and

examine their nature and relationship

Assess / Evaluate: Judge the value or

character of something by identifying and

discussing positive / negative points

and/or advantages and disadvantages.

Compare and Contrast: examine the

similarities and differences of the topics

What will you be asked to do?

Describe: Give an account, a clear idea of,

or tell about the topic.

Discuss: Write about, examine, or debate a

topic from different points of view.

Explain: Tell the meaning or details of, or

the reasons for, the event or activity.

Identify: Cite specific events, conditions,

phenomena, and show a connection.

8 Commandments of Writing a

History Essay

1. Have a good thesis statement

2. Get to the Point

3. Use Factual Evidence

4. Take Contrary Evidence into Account

5. End the Essay Simply and Clearly

8 Commandments of Writing a

Good History Essay

Do NOT use Personal Pronouns!

Does NOT use First Person “I, Me, or My”

Do NOT Misspell or Use Poor Grammar.

They detract from the overall essay

Do NOT ask Rhetorical Questions.

Stick to the question given you

Don’t introduce new questions

Set Up the Essay by

Brainstorming your Information

Make sure you Understand the Essay

Prompt or Question.

Re-Read the Question at least twice!

Establish what the Question is asking you to

do.

Underline or Note the key elements!

Identify all the Facts and Information you

know that is Connected to the Topic

Set Up the Essay by

Brainstorming your Information

Organize your Information.

Use a Standard Format that Works for You!

Similar Unique or

Different

Unique or

Different

Set Up the Essay by

Brainstorming your Information

Organize your Information.

Use a Standard Format that Works for You!

Unique or

Different

Unique or

Different

Similar

Set Up the Essay by

Brainstorming your Information

Select the Information that best answers

the question.

Stick to the Facts you Know!

Arrange the facts in a logical sequence.

Write yourself a Good Thesis!

Write an effective 5 – 6 paragraph essay.

Generating your

Thesis Statement

Think about your essay topic or prompt.

Consider all the Facts that you know about

the topic.

Reduce topic or prompt to a single

question.

Compose one or two complete sentences

that effectively answer question.

A Strong Thesis Statement

The Author must Take a Stand or Position

on the topic

The Thesis must Justify your Discussion

The These must Express one Main Idea

but May Include sub-categories of analysis

The Thesis must Be Specific

Remember:

You are writing an analytical History

essay not an essay for English Class.

You are writing for a specific audience

(Fellow Historians).

Refer to your Essay Rubric or Writing

Handouts for detailed guidance on

writing better essays for History.