Cracking the Free-Response Questions

1
Cracking the Free-Response Questions
2
What is the Free-Response Question

• Two-part essay section consisting of two groups
  of questions
• First group asks questions about the period
  before the Civil War
• Second groups asks questions about the period
  after the Civil War
• You must choose 1 question from each group

3

• Free Response is the final section of the AP US
  History Exam
• Administered immediately following the DBQ
• 70 minutes to plan and write both essays
• Graded on a scale of 1-9
• Free Response is worth 25 of your AP Grade

4
So Remember

• Free Response has 2 pairs of questions-you must
  answer 1 question from each of the pairs (1st
  pair pre-Civil War 2nd pair post 1865)
• Choose the questions you know most, not ones that
  look easiest
• Analyze the question. Circle/underline important
  words and phrases
• Once you understand, create grids, graphs,
  columns, diagrams in which to organize your notes
  on the essay

5

• Decide on a thesis, and then write an outline for
  your essay
• Follow your outline. Stick to one important idea
  per paragraph
• Support your ideas with historical evidence
• Write clearly and neatly. Do not write overly
  complex sentences
• Use transition words to indicate continuity of
  thought and changes in the direction of your
  argument
• Stay positive. Do not panic.

6
Look at the Free Response Rubric

• What are the differences in
• Superior Essay
• Strong Essay
• Adequate Essay
• Essay-AP Score 2-4
• Essay-AP Score 1

7
Unit II Free-Response Samples

• Question 1
• Explain the influence of TWO of the following on
  the U.S. decision to go to war in 1812
• Embargo policies of Jefferson and Madison
• British impressment of American seamen
• Settlers conflicts with Native Americans
• Expansionist goals of the War Hawks

8
Sample answer to question 1

• The U.S. went into the war of 1812 because of
  British impressment of American seamen and the
  embargo policies of Jefferson and Madison

9
Based on the rubric, what would you rate this?

• Superior thesis (with strong analysis)
• Strong thesis (contains general analysis)
• Clear thesis (needs general analysis)
• Undeveloped thesis (simple thesis, no analysis)
• No thesis

10
What is analysis?

• In a history based essay analysis refers to using
  historical evidence to support
• Cause and Effect
• How
• Why

11
Now, based on the rubric, what would you rate
this?

• Superior thesis (with strong analysis)
• Strong thesis (contains general analysis)
• Clear thesis (needs general analysis)
• Undeveloped thesis (simple thesis, no analysis)
• No thesis

12
Undeveloped thesis

• Why?
• It simply restates the question
• Does not have any analysis
• No why, causes and effect or how addressed in
  thesis statement

13
What would a superior thesis look like?

• Clearly answers all parts of the question
• Can be 1-2 sentences in the first paragraph of
  the essay
• Provides clear analysis of the topic by
  addressing why, cause and effect and/or how

14
Undeveloped thesis

• The U.S. went into the war of 1812 because of
  British impressment of American seamen and the
  embargo policies of Jefferson and Madison

15
Clear thesis (needs more general analysis)

• The War of 1812 had many causes, but the two
  most significant causes are British impressment
  of American seamen and embargo policies of
  Jefferson and Madison.

16
Strong thesis (contains general analysis)

• The War of 1812 had many causes, but the two
  most significant causes are British impressment
  of American seamen and embargo policies of
  Jefferson and Madison. The issue of British
  ships taking American sailors fueled the anger of
  Americans towards the British. In addition to
  impressment, the embargo acts negatively impacted
  American and British trade, further fueling the
  desire to go war with the British.

17
Superior thesis

• The U.S. went into the war of 1812 because of
  British impressment of American seamen and the
  embargo policies of Jefferson and Madison.
  Although Washington had the Jay Treaty with
  Britain, the issue of British ships taking
  American sailors was not addressed, fueling the
  anger towards the British among Americans. To
  address the issue of impressment, Jefferson and
  Madison enacted embargo policies, which resulted
  in negatively impacting both United States and
  British trade, further adding to the desire to go
  to war with Britain.

18
Sample introduction paragraph

• After fighting for American independence and
  winning, the U.S. did not want further conflict
  with Great Britain. The U.S. was able to avoid a
  second war with Britain for25 years, but in 1812,
  the U.S. and Britain were engaged in conflict
  once again. This war became known as the War of
  1812. The War of 1812 had many causes, but the
  two most significant causes are British
  impressment of American seamen and embargo
  policies of Jefferson and Madison. Although
  Washington had the Jay Treaty with Britain, the
  issue of British ships taking American sailors
  was not addressed, fueling the anger towards the
  British among Americans. To address this issue
  of impressment, Jefferson and Madison enacted
  embargo policies, which resulted in negatively
  impacting both United States and British trade,
  again fueling the desire for war with Britain.

19
What will the rest of the essay look like?

• Paragraph 2 TS
• After winning its independence, the United States
  wanted to avoid further foreign conflict in order
  to focus on domestic issues as evident through
  the Neutrality Proclamation and Jay Treaty.
• Paragraph 3 TS
• Although Washington had signed the Jay Treaty in
  hopes of avoiding conflict with Britain, the
  issue of British impressment of sailors
  continued, which made Americans angry towards the
  British.

20

• Paragraph 4 TS
• In reaction to British impressment, President
  Jefferson and Madison passed embargo acts. One
  of the goals of the embargo acts was to force
  Britain to stop impressing sailors. The result
  of the embargo acts through, was that both
  American and Britain trade was negatively
  impacted.
• Conclusion
• Restate thesis impressment and embargo acts
  were most influential causes of War of 1812
• Restate 3 points
• US wanted to avoid conflict
• British impressment continued
• Embargo acts hurt US economically

21

• Work in pairs to form a superior thesis to this
  question
• How did economic, geographic, and social factors
  encourage the growth of slavery as an important
  part of the economy of the southern colonies
  between 1607 and 1775