Tips for writing for history and APUSH
General Historical Writing information:
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Short Answer Questions:
| short_answer_directions.pdf |
LEQ (Long Essay Question) Information:
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| contextualization_handout.pdf |
DBQ (Document Based Question) Information:
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| contextualization_handout.pdf |
Sample Essays:
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LEQ's
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DBQ's
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Thesis Practice: if you're having trouble with your thesis statements, try this tool for practice: http://johnmcgarvey.com/apworld/student/thesiscreator.html
Richardson's writing abbreviations:
DNAP - does not address prompt
DNF - does not follow
LnA - "Listing, not Arguing" you’re listing but you should be using this information to form an argument
RAT - Return to Argumentation (did you do this at the end of each paragraph?)
CAT - categories of argumentation
OOS - out of scope (usually time)
WDTA - what does this add?
SFI1 - You need specific factual information to back up this claim
SFI2 - You need to explain the significance of this information
SFI3 - You need to clearly connect this information to your claim
Con1 - make sure you note when contextualization is in time. Avoid modernity (too dangerous!)
Con2 - must develop relationship of contextualization to your overall argument
Con3 - back up contextualization with SFI
Th1 Thesis must take a position
Th2 Thesis must respond to all parts of prompt
Th3 - argumentation should include a specific counterargument, instead of alluding to a vague, general existence of one
ThP- Thesis should be one clear sentence at end of introduction paragraph
To1 - topic sentence needs to directly reference thesis
To2 - topic sentence lays out what will be discussed, but does not make into argument
To3 - topic sentence needs to directly make clear what will be argued (don’t make me decipher your creativity)
Style notes
pp - poor phrasing
PCS - Parenthetically Cite Sources. You should not say, "Doc A says..." but use the source in context, then cite at the end. e.g. "Washington's address admonished current and future politicians to avoid political factions (Doc A)."
PTO - use Past Tense Only. No present tense. Pluperfect is ok.
[circled semicolon] - Kurt Vonnegut once wrote a semicolon represents "absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college." Do you really need a semicolon here?
w/r/t - "with respect to"
