Writing for the AP Government Exam

Types of AP Essays 1. Formal Essay –This type of essay requires a thesis, supporting paragraphs and a conclusion 2. Thesis Paper –This type of essay is a full research paper with a thesis, background research and supporting material with documentation and a conclusion & will be 10 pages in length 3. Free Response Answer –This type of essay will be a short answer format that will give direct concise answers to the prompt

Points for all essays Read the question carefully ! –Identify the issues of the question –Bracket the core of the question –Underline operative words such as define, compare, describe, evaluate -Delineate the scope of the question is there a time frame ie: after / congressional powers/ analyze two of the following/ etc. – circle these words

Question: The U.S. Constitution has endured for more than two centuries as the framework for government. However, the meaning of the Constitution has been changed by both formal and informal methods. –(a). Identify two formal methods for adding amendments to the Constitution. –(b). Describe two informal methods that have been used to change the meaning of the Constitution. Provide one specific example for each informal method you described. –(c). Explain why informal methods are used more often than the formal amendment process.

Rubric – 8 points Part (a): 1 point for each method identification (2 pts total) Formal Methods: must include one method of proposal and one method of ratification Methods of proposal:  By 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress  By national constitutional convention at request of 2/3 of state legislatures Methods of ratification:  by legislatures in 3/4 of the states  By conventions in 3/4 of the states Students do not have to give exact fraction but a simple majority is not adequate. They also do not have to use exact terms (propose, ratify, federalism, supermajority)

Rubric – 8 Points Part (b): 1 point for each description of informal methods; 1 point for each example (4 pts total) Informal methods may include:  Courts (judicial review/judicial interpretation)  Elastic clause  Development of political customs/traditions (cabinet)  The example must be linked to the method described Part (c): 1 point for basic explanation; 1 point for elaboration (2pts total) Can get one point for basic explanation (“it’s harder to amend formally”) but second point requires further elaboration (answering “why” to above)

Question: Using information in the figure to the right and your knowledge of US Politics, complete the following tasks: –(a). Describe what the figure demonstrates about the distribution of government benefits over time. –(b). Identify two politically relevant factors that have affected the changing distribution of government benefits between children and the elderly. –(c). Explain how each of the two factors identified in B. has affected the changing distribution of government benefits.

Rubric – 5 points Part (a): description must reference to movement over depicted period ( 1 point)  Elderly proportion of spending has gone up or  Children proportion of spending has gone down or  Proportions have moved in opposite directions Part (b): 1 point given per politically relevant factors (2 points total)  Rising elderly population/ Shrinking birth rates  Increased life expectancy  Voting numbers/rates  More effective elderly interest groups (AARP)  Public awareness of issues for elderly  Children cannot vote and aren’t politically active No points for mentioning programs in isolation (SocSec)

Rubric – 5 points Part (c): 1 point per explanation (2 pts total)  Requires linkage to a political factor showing how the factor affected changing distribution example: rising elderly population->increasing number of elderly receiving benefits who exert pressure or fund interest groups  Must make political connection to factor identified in (b)  Must go beyond merely stating that there are large numbers of beneficiaries; must link to political factors (pressure, votes, money)  Example: declining number of child beneficiaries okay for ID, but explanation must go beyond restating the identification (eg: voters exert less pressure to fund care for children)

Points for all essays Start with some sort of outline before you begin writing Scoring guidelines often require you to describe facts and then link them together Be careful of implicit and explicit understanding! Implicit understanding, where you seem to understand what you are saying but don’t come out and say it. You should explain what you mean – don’t assume the reader has full knowledge of the subject Check for the following: no preaching; no editorializing; no cute jokes; no vague references to authors (this doesn’t impress!) and NO slang!

Let’s try it out !