U.S. Government & Politics ESSAYS AP PREP

FOUR Free Response Questions 100 minutes total to complete ALL FOUR essays (25 minutes each) 100 minutes total to complete ALL FOUR essays (25 minutes each) Mandatory equally weighted questions Mandatory equally weighted questions

Key Essay Components Readings are critical for preparation Readings are critical for preparation Follow directions Follow directions Less general and more focused questions Less general and more focused questions Questions are often TWO-PART; list and compare, define and explain, outline and explain Questions are often TWO-PART; list and compare, define and explain, outline and explain Questions do not have to be answered in order Questions do not have to be answered in order

Strategies for Answering the Free- Response Essay Question Read the entire question. Underline key words that will help you understand what the question is looking for. Read the entire question. Underline key words that will help you understand what the question is looking for. Base your decision on your overall familiarity with the subject matter of the questions and the specific areas related to the general question asked Base your decision on your overall familiarity with the subject matter of the questions and the specific areas related to the general question asked

More Strategies Make sure your supporting evidence and data support your thesis and your opening statement or references to data Make sure your supporting evidence and data support your thesis and your opening statement or references to data Make sure that your examples and answers are linked to the question Make sure that your examples and answers are linked to the question REREAD! Do not hesitate to add any part of your answer. REREAD! Do not hesitate to add any part of your answer.

Pointers Know your tasks Know your tasks Map out your answer/outline your response Map out your answer/outline your response Time Constraints Time Constraints Write in blue or black ink Write in blue or black ink Learn point system (Speculation) Learn point system (Speculation) Think of direct answer/action Think of direct answer/action DO WHAT IS ASKED!!!!!!! DO WHAT IS ASKED!!!!!!!

Jargon Be familiar with the language of a particular area/field. Be familiar with the language of a particular area/field. Essential terms and phrases Essential terms and phrases

Data-Based Question (DBQ) Identify charts, graphs, or political cartoons Identify charts, graphs, or political cartoons Study the data and describe what you can Study the data and describe what you can Analyze the data by explaining some of reasons behind patterns & trends Analyze the data by explaining some of reasons behind patterns & trends Assess the larger significance of the data Assess the larger significance of the data

Sample Questions Presidents are generally thought to have advantages over Congress in conducting foreign policy because of the formal and informal powers of the presidency Presidents are generally thought to have advantages over Congress in conducting foreign policy because of the formal and informal powers of the presidency A. Identify two formal constitutional powers of the President in making foreign policy A. Identify two formal constitutional powers of the President in making foreign policy B. Identify two formal constitutional powers of the Congress in making foreign policy. B. Identify two formal constitutional powers of the Congress in making foreign policy. C. Identify two informal powers of the President that contribute to the President’s advantage over Congress in conducting foreign policy C. Identify two informal powers of the President that contribute to the President’s advantage over Congress in conducting foreign policy D. Explain how each of the informal powers identified in (c) contributes to the President’s advantage over Congress in conducting foreign policy D. Explain how each of the informal powers identified in (c) contributes to the President’s advantage over Congress in conducting foreign policy

Rubric 8 POINT RUBRIC (QUESTION VALUE) A. 2 points – 1 point for each of two identifications B. 2 points – 1 point for each of two identifications C. 2 points – 1 point for each of two identifications D. 2 points – 1 point for each of two explanations *Score of zero (0) for attempted answer that earns no points

Part A EXPLICIT---Formal Constitutional Powers of the President Commander-in-chief; power to commit troops Commander-in-chief; power to commit troops Appointment of ambassadors and foreign policy officials Appointment of ambassadors and foreign policy officials Negotiate/Make treaties Negotiate/Make treaties Recognition of nations Recognition of nations Receive ambassadors/heads of state/public ministers Receive ambassadors/heads of state/public ministers Veto Foreign Policy Legislation/laws Veto Foreign Policy Legislation/laws

Part B EXPLICIT---Formal Constitutional Powers of Congress Confirm ambassadors-Senate Confirm ambassadors-Senate Power of the purse (Military/foreign issues) Power of the purse (Military/foreign issues) Declare war Declare war Pass laws/resolutions-(Military/foreign issues) Pass laws/resolutions-(Military/foreign issues) Regulate foreign trade/commerce Regulate foreign trade/commerce Ratify treaties Ratify treaties Raise and support an army Raise and support an army

Part C Informal Powers of the President Executive agreements Executive agreements Access to the media Access to the media Agenda setting Agenda setting Meet with world leaders Meet with world leaders More access to information, knowledge, and expertise More access to information, knowledge, and expertise Recognized as a global leader—great authority, main person, 1 st in America, chief leader Recognized as a global leader—great authority, main person, 1 st in America, chief leader Crisis manager Crisis manager

Part D Explanations: HOW or Why? (Edge/Advantage) Persuade Congress: negotiate, offer support, threats, etc. Persuade Congress: negotiate, offer support, threats, etc. Persuade public: various means of persuasion) of foreign policy process/issues (apply pressure on Congress) Persuade public: various means of persuasion) of foreign policy process/issues (apply pressure on Congress) Ability to circumvent the formal process-- Bypassing/Congress out of the loop/Avoid/Without interference from Congress Ability to circumvent the formal process-- Bypassing/Congress out of the loop/Avoid/Without interference from Congress Bully pulpit Bully pulpit Diplomacy—contact with foreign leaders Diplomacy—contact with foreign leaders Must LINK to Part C