How do you write an APUSH essay?

Test Preparation AP History & Social Sciences
1

So, basically, how do you write an APUSH essay?</p>

I’m self studying this course, and I still have no idea how to write one…both DBQs and regular ones.</p>

Please help me!!!</p>

Thanks :)</p>

2

Bump- specifically DBQs</p>

3

a regular essay is pretty much a standard 4 or 5 paragraph essay, but you only have 30-35 minutes to write it. quality of evidence over quantity is important, and be specific.
dbqs give you a bunch of documents and you have to build a persuasive argument for the question by analyzing as many of the documents as you can and incorporating outside evidence. you have more time for this one, but its a lot tougher to do well.
for both, you want to make sure you have a solid and complex thesis statement that you prove in your body paragraphs, and you can’t just list evidence-you have to analyze its significance!
good luck, i don’t think i would be able to self study, apush is a tough class</p>

4

The Free Response Section of the exam is 130 minutes.
Collegeboard recommends you spend 15 minutes reading the DBQ and 45 minutes writing the response, and 5 minutes planning and 30 minutes writing for each thematic.</p>

For the DBQ, you get a question that usually deals with a specific time period and you get around 10 documents to analyze and interpret. The documents have charts, graphics, cartoons, pictures, articles, quotes, etc. that are most likely unfamiliar to you. You need to structure an essay using most of the documents that SUPPORTS THE QUESTION. Be sure not to just summarize the documents and be sure not to quote a lot from them.</p>

Then you get to the thematic section, parts B and C. For Part B, you have a choice between two questions. Same for Part C. I think Part B has two questions that deal with information you should have learned in the first semester while the questions in Part C deal with later topics. Make sure you answer the question in a standard essay format. The thesis is the key with these things, because it allows the reader to know what you are going to talk about and then be able to look for what you said you were going to prove in the thesis.</p>

According to one of my review books, the Free Response Section does not address issues that occurred from 1980 to the present.</p>

Grading:
The Free Response Section is worth 50% of your AP composite score. The DBQ is worth 45% of your Free Response Score, and each Thematic is worth 27.5% of your Free Response Score.
To get your composite score for Free Response Section:
Take your DBQ score (1-9) and multiply it by 4.5.
Take each Thematic score (1-9) and multiply each by 2.75.
Add the three scores together.
To get your total composite score, add the number you calculated to the number of multiple choice questions you got right.</p>

5

^Your review book is wrong. On the 2007 FRQ #5, one of the choices to write about was Reagan’s 1984-1988 administration.
<a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board;

6

This explains it all:</p>

[-</a> AP US History DBQ - AP US History Exam Review Course -](<a href=“http://www.apexamreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=564&Itemid=74]-”>http://www.apexamreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=564&Itemid=74)</p>

7

apn00b: I think what my book was saying is that you won’t be forced to answer anything that pertains to 1980 and beyond. Looking at the question, that is the only choice that comes after 1980 and you only have to pick two.
Thanks for pointing that out though. :)</p>

8

Thanks everyone!!!</p>

I’m just wondering though, what would be a good thesis?</p>