WRITING FOR DIFFERENT
AP CLASSES:
AP LANG & COMP VS. APUSH
Mr. Richardson, MAT
GHHS
• LEQ is like Argumentative
• DBQ is like Synthesis
STRUCTURE
• There are no SAQs on the AP Eng exam
• AP Lang and Comp will have Synthesis, Rhetorical Analysis,
and Argument, 40 minutes per essay
• APUSH Pacing:
• 15 minutes planning time
• 5 minutes, pick which LEQ, and pre-write,
brainstorming, categories of analysis, thesis
• 10 minutes on DBQ: Brainstorm w/ thesis THEN look
at documents
• 40 minutes writing DBQ
30 minutes writing LEQ
SIMILAR PROBLEMS:
ANALYSIS
• You get 0 points for telling me what a document said.
You must analyze EVERY document, place it in context.
• APUSH: Explicitly use one H-A-P-P analysis for each
• AP ENG: analyze re: apparent claim, your own
argument, how that text relates to other texts, credibility
SIMILAR PROBLEMS:
ARGUMENTATION
• Saying there’s an opposing side: meh
• Presenting the opposing argument, with documents: ok
• Presenting the opposing argument, with documents, and
then REFUTING that: A++  
• You can argue throughout, don’t just mention it once
• Throughout this, recognize opposing side has merit
SIMILAR PROBLEMS:
QUOTING & SUMMARIZING
• Don’t waste your time quoting documents.
• You are trying to show you can form an
argument, not copy and paste
• Summarizing is insufficient
• Carrington’s 1->2 rule: for every bit of quoting
or summarizing, you should have TWICE as
much analysis
SIMILAR PROBLEMS:
QUOTING & SUMMARIZING
• Quoting or summarizing
• JQ Adams’ speech argued European powers should
stay away from America as evidenced by when he
wrote, “lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.”
• Forming an argument
• JQ Adams’ nationalistic perspective in his Monroe
Doctrine shows an American point of view which
reflects the growing belief that America could exert its
power in the world.
SIMILAR PROBLEMS:
INDIVIDUALITY
• Your personal beliefs do not matter on these essays.
• If you can make a better argument which is the
OPPOSITE of your own beliefs, write that essay!
• This is not a time for creative writing.
• No grandiose statements. Don’t hide intent.
Don’t make untenable claims.
AP LANGUAGE &
COMPOSITION
• Argument, Synthesis, and rhetorical analysis
essay
• Synthesis essay uses 3 of 7 sources
• DOES NOT give points for outside info
AP LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION
THESIS STATEMENTS
• Thesis statements should be specific and
thorough; however, they should not spell out ALL
of the specifics of your argument
• i.e., “In his inaugural address President
Kennedy makes uses of sundry rhetorical
devices…” vs. “In his inaugural address,
President Kennedy utilizes anaphora,…”
APUSH
• This is technical writing.
• Everything is explicit: your overall structure is
Introduction, Body, Conclusion.
• Similarly, each body paragraph should introduce your
topic and how it relates to thesis, have analysis, and
conclude with synthesis
APUSH THESIS STATEMENTS
• One sentence, end of intro paragraph
• Show point of view, list three argumentative points.
• Don’t explain your full argument
• Sample “Although the settlement of the Americas by
Europeans following the arrival of Columbus in 1492
created many positive outcomes, the resulting issues of
disease, human enslavement and biological diversity
combine to make it on the whole a negative event for
humanity”
APUSH DBQ
• Must use 6 of 7 documents
• Always past tense, never first person
• I belive …
• a
APUSH: BE EXPLICIT
• Don’t paraphrase if you’re going for H-A-P-P
• E.g., “the historical context of Officer
Decatur’s toast
• Explicitly say which skill you’re addressing
(Continuity and Change)