How to write a Long Essay Question AP World History

Overview of the LEQ 6 points. 15% of your exam score. 40 minutes to complete 1 essay. 1 of 3 Historical Reasoning Skills will be addressed in the prompt. Comparison Causation Continuity and Change Over Time Historical Reasoning Skill “Contextualization” alwasy required in conjuction with one of the three above. Select 1 prompt from 3 options on the same theme and same historical reasoning skill. Periods (Units) 1-2 Periods (Units) 3-4 Periods (Units) 5-6

Thesis Statement aka Claim

AP History Disciplinary Practices: Argument Development Make a historically defensible claim in the form of an evaluative thesis. Support an argument using specific and relevant evidence. Use historical reasoning to explain relationships among pieces of historical evidence. Consider ways that diverse or alternative evidence could be used to qualify or modify an argument.

Thesis Statement (1 point) Respond to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis/claim that establishes a line of reasoning. The line of reasoning will be related to the skill being asked of you. The thesis must consists of one or more sentences located in one place. Either in the introduction or the conclusion

Evidence

Evidence (2 points) Provide specific examples of evidence relevant to the topic of the prompts. (1 point) Supports an argument in response to the prompt using specific and relevant examples of evidence.

Analysis and Reasoning Using the AP History Reasoning Skills

Comparison History Reasoning Skill #2

AP History Reasoning Skills: Comparison Describe similarities and/or differences between different historical developments or processes. Explain relevant similarities and/or differences between specific historical developments and processes. Explain the relative historical significance of similarities and/or differences between different historical developments or processes.

Sample Prompt Comparison Analyze at least one similarity and one difference in the causes of the French Revolution and the Haitian Revolution. Analyze at least one similarity and one difference in the outcomes of the French Revolution and the Haitian Revolution.

Causation History Reasoning Skill #3

AP History Reasoning Skills: Causation Describe causes or effects of a specific historical development or process. Explain the relationship between causes and effects of a specific historical development or process. Explain the difference between primary and secondary causes and between short and long term effects. Explain the relative historical significance of different causes and/or effects.

Sample Prompt Causation Using specific examples, analyze causes of imperial expansion and consolidation in the period circa 600 BCE to 600 CE. Using specific examples, analyze causes of imperial decline and collapse in the period circa 600 BCE to 600 CE.

Continuity and Change Over Time Essay Style #3

AP History Reasoning Skills: Continuity and Change Over Time Describe patterns of continuity and/or change over time. Explain patterns of continuity and/or change over time. Explain the relative historical significance of specific historical developments in relation to a larger pattern of continuity and/or change.

Sample Prompt Continuity and Change Over Time Using specific examples, analyze continuities and changes in the relationship between legal systems and social hierarchies in the period circa 2000 BCE to circa 1000 CE. Using specific examples, analyze continuities and changes in the relationship between labor systems and social hierarchies in the period circa 600 CE to circa 1750 CE.

Analysis and Reasoning (2 points) Using historical reasoning (e.g. comparison, causation, CCOT) to frame or structure an argument that addresses the prompt. (1 point) Demonstrates a complex understanding of the historical development that is the focus of the prompt, using evidence to corroborate, qualify, or modify an argument that address the question.

Contextualization This AP History Reasoning Skills #1 and it required for any style essay.

Contextualization (1 point) Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.

Organization Layout and structure of your essay

Organization of Paragraphs Introduction Establish setting for your essay Contextualization is a great way to start and keep up good practice and writing skills. Thesis Statement Should include your main argument (claim) and three key points to support your argument. Argumentation Key Point #1 Topic sentence that establishes your key point that supports the argument from your thesis. Evidence #1. Analysis of how the evidence supports your argument. Evidence #2. Reasoning for your key point based how your evidence and analysis connects back to your thesis. This can also be done within or allowing the individual evidence anaylsis. Argumentation Key Point #2 Evidence #3. Evidence #4. Argumentation Key Point #3 Topic sentence that establishes your key point that supports the argument from your thesis. Evidence #5. Analysis of how the evidence supports your argument. Evidence #6. Reasoning for your key point based how your evidence and analysis connects back to your thesis. This can also be done within or allowing the individual evidence anaylsis. Conclusion Restate thesis statement and contextualization.

Final Words Accuracy, Clarity, and Argumentation

Accuracy The components of this rubric each require that you demonstrate historically defensible content knowledge. Given the timed nature of the exam, your essay may contain errors that do not detract from the overall quality, as long as the historical content used to advance the argument is accurate.

Clarity Exam essays should be considered a first draft and thus may contain grammatical errors. Those errors will not be counted against you unless they obscure the successful demonstration of the content knowledge, skills, and practices described in the rubrics.

Argumentation To fully and effectively substantiate the stated thesis or a relevant argument, responses must include a broad range of evidence that, through analysis and explanation, justifies the stated thesis or a relevant argument.