1. FRQ 101
AP US HISTORY

2. What is an FRQ? FRQ stands for Free Response Question
You will be asked to write 2 separate FRQs on the AP exam in May

3. The AP Exam – Free Response Section
Time Limit: 130 minutes
Percent of Total Exam Score: 50%
PART A: 1 DBQ (Document Based Question)
Suggested Time: 15 minutes reading & 45 minutes writing
Counts for 22.5% of total score
We’ll talk more about this essay at a later date
PART B: 2 FRQs (Free Response Question)
Suggested Time: 5 minutes reading & 30 minutes writing each
Each essay counts as 13.75% of total score
Standard essays chosen from two groups of questions each containing two choices (four questions)

4. Format of FRQs The FRQ is your standard essay
Typically, many students use the 5 paragraph essay template
However, do not feel confined to that! You may write as many or as few paragraphs as you need to fully answer the prompt
You will need to write a strong thesis statement in your intro paragraph
Though a conclusion is the cherry-on-top, it is not necessary as long as you have proven your thesis throughout your essay
I only say this because some students spend so much time writing the bulk of their essay & don’t get to the conclusion.
If you run out of time, do not worry about not finishing – worry more about fully answering the question throughout the body of your essay

5. History Essay Writing Tips
Always think of your reader
Use black ink only
Do not use contractions
Write in the 3rd person
First person = I, we, our, us, me, mine, my
Second person = you, your
Write in the past tense
You may mark out mistakes. BUT…
Do not try to be cute
Use STANDARD ENGLISH!
Use correct historical terms
i.e. “normalcy” is not a standard English word, but it is a historical term
Facts are names, dates, people, events, places, things

6. Terms Often Used in AP Essay Questions
Assess the validity of…
To estimate, to appraise the value of
Analyze the…
Separate into parts or principles and examine each part
Compare and/or…
How much alike
Contrast the…
How much different
Criticize the…
Make judgments as to merit and faults
Degree to which…
One step or stage in a progression
Define the…
Say what something is; give its meaning

7. Terms Often Used in AP Essay Questions
Discuss the…
Talk about; write about; consider or examine
Describe the…
What does it look like; create a mental picture
Extent: To what extent…
The range over which something goes; how far
Evaluate the…
Ascertain or fix the worth of
Explain the…
To make plain, comprehensible, make clear by detail
Illustrate…
Explain or make clear by using examples

8. Terms Often Used in AP Essay Questions
Justify…
Use evidence to prove something is right, wrong, or just
Prove…
Establish the truth of something by providing factual evidence
Reasons for…
The motives for actions or inaction
Relative importance of…
Having pertinence; connected to
Valid or validity…
How sound, how well-grounded, how good is the stated premise

9. General Scoring Guideline for APUSH
The 8-9 Essay
Contains a clear, well-developed thesis that addresses all parts of the questions
Provide substantial relevant information in support of the thesis
Provides effective analysis addressing all parts of the question
May contain minor errors
Is well organized and well written
The 5-7 Essay
Contains a thesis that may be partially developed and addresses most parts of the question
Supports the thesis with some relevant information
Provides some analysis of most parts of the question
May contain errors that do not seriously detract from the essay
Has acceptable organization and writing

10. General Scoring Guideline for APUSH
The 2-4 Essay
Contains a thesis that may be underdeveloped or poorly developed
Includes minimal information relevant to the question
Provides little or no analysis, or contains on generalizations
May contain major errors
May be poorly organized and/or poorly written
The 0-1 Essay
Lacks a thesis or restates the question
Has little or no relevant information regarding the question
Has little or no understanding of the question
May contain numerous errors
Is poorly organized and/or poorly written
The – Essay
Is blank or completely off task

11. Before You Begin to Write:
Carefully read the question to make sure you understand what it is asking you to do.
Pay careful attention to the TASK WORDS in the question
Look closely at the CHRONOLOGY (time periods) of the question
Many students write great essays that unfortunately don’t answer the question that was asked! You must discuss those time periods, locations, and topics that apply to the question and only those!
Take a few minutes to review what you already know about the question and develop a thesis statement
Write a brief outline of your essay before you begin to write

12. The Introduction
This is where you make your first impression on the reader. Therefore, it is important that you have a strong introduction that defines your thesis and your argument.
Your essay should be clearly organized around a thesis statement.
The thesis should clearly respond to the question, without directly repeating it
Should represent your own original interpretation or analysis of the information
Should make a clear argument
Does not need to be the first sentence of your introduction and, in fact, provides better essay organization if it is the last sentence in your introduction.

13. The Introduction
Define important terms (i.e. humanism, secular, absolutism) to demonstrate that you understand the question and the essay topics.
Provide a concise statement (no more than 1 sentence) that places the essay topic in its historical context
Clearly identify the supporting arguments that you will use in your essay. Again, make sure you are responding to all parts of the question
After reading your introduction, your reader should know exactly what your argument is (your thesis) and how you are going to prove it (your supporting arguments) – sometimes called a “preview”

14. Other Tips Be sure to write with “voice” in your essay.
In other words, pretend that you have some authority on the subject. Make sure to take a stand in your answer and not be wishy-washy.
Be sure that your essay includes historical facts to prove your thesis.
However, “data dumping” will not gain you any extra points and can result in a lowering of your score. It also runs the risk of you including incorrect data which would hurt your overall score.
Avoid broad survey questions.
They appear easy because you know a lot of information about them. However, they are often the most challenging because of the breadth required to answer them effectively. Writing a provable thesis can pose real problems for these types of questions
Content is critical, but so is your presentation
Be attentive to grammar, syntax, spelling, penmanship, etc. A well-written essay is much easier to understand than a poorly written essay

15. FRQ Write down the prompt on a clean sheet of paper. 2005 FRQ:
Compare and contrast the ways in which economic development affected politics in Massachusetts and Virginia in the period from 1607 to 1750.
Your essay will be due FRIDAY SEPT. 21st