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| AP TEST FORMAT - The Long Essay | |
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APUSH HISTORICAL THINKING SKILLS EXPLANATION Examples of Continuity and Change to consider!
You will be given a Document Based Question essay and a standard Long Essay. The DBQ makes up 25% of your grade, and the Long Essay is worth 15%.
The Long Essay is what you might consider a standard essay. You will
be given a question, and might have to consider how history changed,
or remained the same over time. Or, perhaps it’s an essay targeting
the skill of comparison, or causation. Nonetheless, this essay will
need a thesis and historical evidence to support that thesis. Your
goal is to persuade the reader that your thesis is sound and
well-supported by historical facts. Introduction and conclusion
paragraphs are required.
You will be graded out of 6 points. You will write on historical
developments in one of three time periods (1491-1800, 1800-1898, or
1890-2001). Each essay choice will address the same skills and
reasoning process.
Your Score on the LONG ESSAY breaks down as follows:
Point 1 - Thesis Similar to the DBQ, you must have an ORIGINAL thesis. If you copy the statement they give you ... SORRY! NOTE: They may ask you to "Support, Modify, or Refute" a question. If this happens, on say, a "turning point" question: Support Thesis: The New Deal was a turning point because, .... Modify Thesis: Although the New Deal was a turning point because ... it also can not be considered such as ... Refute Thesis: The New Deal was not a turning point because ... NOTE: Modifying the thesis would give you an opportunity to write more and show you can see both sides of the argument!
Point
2 - Contextualization Similar to
what was seen with the DBQ, you must show
contextualization.
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Points 3-4 -
Evidence
The degree to which you
argue the thesis with specific and
relevant evidence will determine if you get 0, 1, or 2
points. You must
argue your thesis and
support it with at least 2 pieces of relevant evidence for 2 points.
The more analysis, explanation, and linkage between evidence and
argument, the more likely you are to succeed.
Therefore, it is recommended that you write a lot! Show all
you know! This is where studying comes in. For the long essay, you
should be examining major concepts and time periods more so than the
miniscule facts.
Although you shouldn’t get an essay devoted only to Macon’s Bill #2,
you might get one that is relevant to Jeffersonian ideology and
early political parties.
IF they ask COMPARE AND CONTRAST ... hit them both with specific examples for 2 points. IF they ask CAUSATION ... hit both causes and effects for 2 points. IF they ask PERIODIZATION ... explain similarities and differences in both time periods for 2 points.
Examples of Continuity and Change to consider!
Points 5-6 – Analysis and Reasoning
You
need to dig deep to get both points.
Your options are similar to
the Complex Understanding examples for the
DBQ mentioned above.
However, when it comes to multiple pieces of evidence, you must have
4 when supporting a nuanced or complex argument.
If you use evidence
effectively to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding, you can
achieve this point. Be sure to
read the concrete examples of continuity and change over time,
comparison, and causation. They are critical for understanding
connections throughout history. RETURN TO APUSH REVIEW SHEET CLICK FOR HISTORICAL THINKING SKILLS |
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