The APUSH Essay Writing

1. The APUSH Essay Writing

2. The Thesis Paragraph • What should be in here? *STP- subject, time and place (to set the stage for your paper) *Thesis statement *Subtopics/sub points for the essay

3. Subject, Time and Place • Let’s review from your WH days. • Any different? • Not really!! • The STP should help set the stage for your essay. • It should give the reader hope that the writer of the paper knows what they are writing about!!!!

4. Brainstorm STP • Essay prompt: Compare the ways in which religion shaped the development of colonial society (to 1740) in TWO of the following regions: New England Chesapeake Middle Atlantic (2002)

5. Thesis Statement • What is it? • Tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. • It is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. • It is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. • It also contains sub points to help the reader know how the essay will be organized.

6. Key Features of a Thesis Statement • It must answer the prompt!!!! (AP stands for answer the prompt) • It must address the directive. • It must have an opinion or attitude on the topic. • It acknowledges the other opinion or attitude. (Although, However, ect.) • It often lists subtopics.

7. Directives • It the directives (s) is/are *Analyze *In what ways *Discuss *How and for what reasons *Describe *Relate *Compare and contrast *Trace *How did *Summarize *What were *Examine/explain Discuss the topic politically, economically, and socially by arguing which was most important/significant.

8. Directives cont. • If the directive (s) is/are *How successful *Assess *Evaluate the effect *Evaluate the effectiveness *To what extent *Criticize Discuss the topic politically, economically and socially by giving it a grade.

9. Brainstorm a Thesis Statement • Essay prompt: Compare the ways in which religion shaped the development of colonial society (to 1740) in TWO of the following regions: New England Chesapeake Middle Atlantic (2002)

10. Subtopics • Some prompts will specify the subtopics, so be sure to read the prompt carefully. • If the prompt does not state the subtopics, ESP (Economically, Socially, Politically) could be a good way to organize your paper. • Don’t make your subtopics too specific because it will limit the outside information that you can use in your paper.

11. The Body Paragraphs • The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation. • Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. • Don’t “laundry list” the outside evidence/information

12. Topic Sentences • What are they? *A well-organized paragraph supports or develops a single controlling idea, which is expressed in a sentence called the topic sentence. *A topic sentence has several important functions: -it substantiates or supports an essay’s thesis statement. (Refers back to the thesis) -it unifies the content of a paragraph and directs the order of the sentences. -it advises the reader of the subject to be discussed and how the paragraph will discuss it. -it does not contain OI, save it for the paragraph.

13. Brainstorm Topic Sentences • Essay prompt: Compare the ways in which religion shaped the development of colonial society (to 1740) in TWO of the following regions: New England Chesapeake Middle Atlantic (2002)

14. Body Paragraphs • This is were the writer proves that their argument is correct. • The writer must use outside evidence/information to prove the argument. • Never use the first person. Ex. “I believe..” “I am going to show the reader..”