Write As Historian: WRITE AS A HISTORIAN: CHECKLIST fOR A LONG ESSAY ANSWER
The long essay question will require you to develop an argument, which requires asserting a defensible claim and backing it up with evidence. (For more on arguments, claims, and evidence, see page xxxviii.) The process for developing your argument is described in the checklist below. (See also pages xxxiii-xxxviii.) Each stage of the process will be the focus of a writing activity at the end of units 3–8. These activities will help you apply to each stage the historical thinking skills you must demonstrate in your essay.
1. Carefully read and analyze the task. Read the question carefully. Within your argument, you will be asked to evaluate the extent to which subjects show similarity or difference, continuities or changes, or causation. (See page xxiii.) Look for key words defining the task. Note the geographic area(s) and time period(s) framing the task.
2. Gather and organize the evidence you will need to complete the task. Write down everything you know that is directly related to the topic. Include both broad ideas and specific incidents or events. Then review your information looking for patterns and connections. Also determine a way to organize the evidence to fulfill the task.
3. Develop a thesis—a defensible claim—that lays out a line of reasoning. (See page xxxiv.) You should be able to defend your claim using the evidence you collected and express your thesis in one or more sentences in the same location in your essay, typically in the introduction.
4. Write an introductory paragraph. Use the introduction to relate your thesis statement to a broader historical context. Explain how it fits into larger or divergent historical trends.
5. Write the supporting paragraphs. Use information you gathered in step 2 to support the argument expressed in your thesis statement with corroboration (support), modification (slight change), or qualification (limitation). Use transitional words to tie ideas together.
6. Write the conclusion. To unify your essay, return to the ideas in your introduction. Instead of restating your thesis statement, however, extend it to draw a nuanced conclusion that follows from your evidence.
7. Reread and evaluate your essay. Become familiar with the scoring rubric (see page xxxix). Check your essay to make sure you have included everything needed to earn the maximum number of points.
Application: Follow the steps above as you develop a long essay in response to a prompt on page 71.
For current free response question samples, visit: https://apcentral.collegeboard. org/courses/ap-world-history/exam