<p>Hi. So, for the essay parts of the test, my AP Euro teacher always tells us that its fine to only have two long body paragraphs instead of 3 shorter ones for the essays if
--you feel like the response to the question is best divided into two parts instead of three
--you answer the question
--you still have the same amount of info and analysis (and use the same # of documents for the DBQ)</p>
<p>However, the review book I have only mentions 3 body paragraph essays and doesn't say anything about different numbers of paragraphs being okay. So now I'm wondering if it is acceptable if the question seems to merit a two-part response in your mind, or if you could lose points for it.</p>
<p>Thanks. (:</p>
<p><em>bump</em>
please answer, someone</p>
<p>I am also very curious. Also, don’t you need four to get into the “Advance” core? Or am I possibly thinking of something else?</p>
<p>Your teacher is 100% correct. Some questions lend themselves much better to a 2 paragraph essay. But a DBQ response should always have a separate intro paragraph. (My teacher just told me this…>20 years of teaching AP history and he has never had anyone get less than a 4)</p>
<p>^^ on the DBQ or the test itself? I’m not stupid, rather smart in other subjects, but I’m still afraid I’m going to get a 2-3 :(.</p>
<p>Anyone else have any input?</p>
<p>…No?
<em>one last bump</em></p>
<p>on the dbq, i think its best to have 3 body paragraphs because dont you need to have three groupings for the basic core?</p>
<p>I took Euro last year and I’m taking World this year, and from what I know, there’s nothing wrong with having only two body paragraphs if you feel the question lends itself to that format. Now, it may help to have three paragraphs – readers are reading essays at an absurd pace, and any way to clearly distinguish yourself is good – but there’s no concrete rule or even general guideline in favor of three body paragraphs. With that said, you should write three if you can, especially on the DBQ – the more thoughts of yours you can express, the better – but there’s nothing in the scoring guidelines that favors three BP’s, and I haven’t heard any colloquial knowledge that suggests it’s hugely important to have three.</p>
<p>your teacher is correct.
Don’t FORCE yourself to divide into three paragraphs if that doesn’t seem logical… just do what the question lends it self to be divided into. I’m not taking AP Euro this year, but I imagine the rules are pretty similar for all AP histories. AP essays aren’t just based on the number of paragraphs you have (although it’s pretty standard to have at least a separate intro and conclusion).</p>