WRITING THE APUSH ESSAY Is it formulaic, or is it liberation?
Responding to the Prompt Prompt Example How successful was organized labor in improving the position of workers in the period from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that contributed to the level of success achieved. Read the WHOLE prompt Big mistake: answering only part of the prompt p Circle or underline the VERBS. Your task ANALYZE What does it mean to analyze? Explain HOW and WHY
Responding to the prompt p Analyze Explain how AND why something Explain how AND why something occurred
Responding to the prompt p Discuss or Consider Usually same as analysis essays.
Responding to the prompt p Assess The Validity How true is the statement? There are shades of gray!
Responding to the prompt p Evaluate Which factor(s) was most (and less) important?
Responding to the prompt p To What Extent cause &effect relationship state ranking (evaluation)
Responding to the prompt p Compare &Contrast discuss BOTH similarities AND differences
Responding to the Prompt Define terms in the prompt that you need to explain Reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic ideals. Jot down some democratic ideals and be prepared to explain how they are democratic.
Responding to the prompt p Pay attention to the time period! If the prompt asks you to discuss reform between 1865 and 1900, you must include information for the WHOLE time period.
Constructing a Thesis A Thesis tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself.
Constructing a Thesis Sample Question: To what extent did the Civil War constitute a revolution in American society? Establish the setting of the essay. Briefly introduce the reader to the subject. Example: The Civil War, occurring between the years 1861 and 1865, was the most devastating ti conflict in American history.
Constructing a Thesis Provide aninsightful i comment thatt establishes your basis for analysis. Example: In determining whether the Civil War was a revolution in American society, one must assess the extent to which society was changed by the war.
Constructing a Thesis Provide a partition thatt establishes three major sub-topics you plan to discuss. Example: "Politically, the war established the supremacy of the Republican party in national politics for much of the next fifty years. Socially, the war saw significant gains in African American rights. And constitutionally, the war established the supremacy of the federal government over the states.
Constructing a Thesis Finishi paragraph with a clear thesis statement that establishes the purpose of the essay Example: "Thus, the Civil War did, in fact, represent a political, social and constitutional revolution in America.
Thesis types Simple thesis The Civilil War was a revolution in American society. (Rating: poor) far too simplistic no partition or analysis. Simple-split thesis The Civil War was a revolution in America politically, socially, and constitutionally. (Rating: fair) provides a partition lacks explanation/ general analysis in the partition. Complex-simple thesis In some respects, Americans experienced profound changes duringthewar.afterthewar,itwas clear that society had also been changed dramatically in a number of important areas. (Rating: fair) no partition is established thesis doesn t establish how American society was changed by the war. Complex-split thesis "Politically, the war established the supremacy of the Republican party in national politics for much of the next fifty years. Socially, the war saw significant gains in African American rights. And constitutionally, the war established the supremacy of the federal government over the states. Thus, the Civil War did in fact represent a political, social and constitutional revolution in America." (Rating: superior)
The coveted gray-area Thesis The more sophisticated complex-split gray area thesis "Althoughh the Civilil War resulted in the supremacy of the Republican party for the next fifty years and led to a constitutional revolution regarding African American rights, blacks in the South were virtually abandoned by the North in 1877 and subsequently dominated by the white-supremacist Democratic party of the Solid South. Thus, to a larger extent, the Civil War did represent a revolution constitutionally and in national politics but it was not a complete revolution regarding social and political issues in the South."
Building Your Partitions Categories of support for the thesis PERSIA Political Economic Religious Social Intellectual Artistic Time Frames Comparison/contrast paragraphs Order them as they are listed in intro
An intro to Introductions Think about your prompt Let s use the following question as an example Drawing on The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, discuss the relationship between education and slavery in 19th century America. What role did education play in the acquisition of freedom? Most importantly, consider the degree to which education was or was not a major force for social change with regard to slavery.
An Intro to introductions Try writing your intro last Or Write a loose introduction and return to it after you have written the body of your essay Try opening with an attention-grabber BUT, avoid clichés
An Intro to introductions A puzzling scenario Frederick Douglass says of slaves that "[N]othing has been left undone to cripple their intellects, darken their minds, debase their moral nature, obliterate all traces of their relationship to mankind; and yet how wonderfully they have sustained the mighty load of a most frightful bondage, under which they have been groaning for centuries!" Douglass clearly asserts that slave owners went to great lengths to destroy the mental capacities of slaves, but yet his own life story proves that these efforts could be unsuccessful.) A thought-provoking question Gi ll f th f d th t d i d l d i di id l i th Given all of the freedoms that were denied enslaved individuals in the American South, why does Frederick Douglass focus his attentions so squarely on education and literacy?)
An intro to introductions An intriguing example The mistress who initially taught Frederick Douglass eventually ceased her instruction as she learned more about slavery. A provocative quotation Douglass writes that "education and slavery were incompatible with each other. "
Introductions- What to avoid The Placeholder ld Vague sentences that don t say much Just filling up the introduction space Weak Example: Slavery was one of the greatest tragedies in American history. There were many different aspects of slavery. Each created different kinds of problems for enslaved people. The Dawn of Man Weak Example: Since the dawn of man, slavery has been a problem in human history. Webster s s Dictionary Weak Example: Webster's dictionary defines slavery as "the state of being a slave," as "the practice of owning slaves," and as "a condition of hard work and subjection." j The Restated Question
Body Paragraphs + Analysis Do not be limited to the 5 paragraph essay Body Paragraph #1 Topic Sentence Term, event, detail, proof #1 Definition Significance/ relate to thesis Term, event, detail, proof #2 Definition Significance/ relate to thesis Term, event, detail, proof #3 Definition Significance/ relate to thesis Transition Bd Body Paragraph #2 & #3 and so on Topic sentence and segue from previous paragraph Repeat from above
Conclusion Strategies Return to the theme in the introduction Synthesize, don't summarize Include a provocative insight or quotation from the research or reading you did for your paper Point to broader implications DON T Begin with an unnecessary, overused phrase such as "in conclusion," "in summary," or "in closing." Although these phrases can work in speeches, they come across as wooden and trite in writing State the thesis for the very first time in the conclusion. Introduce a new idea or subtopic in your conclusion. End with a rephrased thesis statement without any substantive changes Make sentimental, emotional appeals Including evidence (quotations, statistics, etc.) that should be in the body of the paper.
Citations USE MLA Cite your sources in a bibliography No need for in-text unless you use a quote.
Revisions 1, Peer Reviews 2, Proofreading 3 1 A good idea 2 A good idea 3 A great idea
Avoiding the Temptation of Plagiarism Don t do it If you are caught. You will fail the assignment You will conference with Mr. Correa, your parents, me, and your counselors You will be embarrassed You will only be cheating yourself!
General writing tips MLA format Refer to people p by full 1.5 Margins names first, then last names Last name page # top right header No contractions Times New Roman, 12 pt font No cliches Double-spaced A country is an it not a No slang they No colloquialism Active verbs No FIRST OR SECOND Check grammar and person (EVAARRR!) spelling