How to PLAN a LEQ (Long Essay Question) for AP World History

Heimler's History
21 Apr 202107:21
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script outlines a strategic approach to preparing for the AP World History Long Essay Question (LEQ) section, specifically focusing on how to construct an argumentative essay in response to a question about the Columbian Exchange's impact on the Americas between 1450 and 1750. The presenter advises viewers on understanding the prompt, developing a thesis, using historical evidence, and organizing body paragraphs. The script emphasizes the importance of complexity and contextualization in essay writing, providing examples of how to use evidence such as the introduction of diseases, animals, and food, as well as the diversification of the population due to the African slave trade and the caste system.

Takeaways
  • 📝 The video provides a guide on how to plan for an AP World History LEQ, specifically focusing on the time period 1450 to 1750 and the Colombian Exchange.
  • 🎯 Understand the prompt correctly to ensure the essay answers the question asked, not a different question you wish was asked.
  • 🤔 Develop an argument that evaluates the impact of the Colombian Exchange on peoples in the Americas, considering both changes and continuities.
  • 📈 The historical thinking skill involves identifying the type of change the question is asking about, in this case, how the Colombian Exchange changed the peoples in the Americas.
  • 📝 Start constructing the essay by brainstorming topic sentences for each body paragraph, focusing on key areas such as food, disease, animals, and population diversification.
  • 📝 Write a thesis that includes a counter-argument, specific historical evidence, and the main argument, following the formula 'Although X because A and B, therefore Y'.
  • 🌍 Use contextualization to explain the causes of the Colombian Exchange, such as trade needs, the capture of Constantinople, and the Spanish crown's involvement.
  • 🔍 Connect the contextualization evidence to the larger argument about the changes in the Americas.
  • 📜 For each topic sentence, provide specific historical examples as evidence, such as smallpox, horses, wheat, and grapes, and explain how they demonstrate the changes.
  • 📝 Aim for a minimum of two pieces of evidence per body paragraph, but aim higher to achieve the complexity point on the rubric.
  • 📚 The video also offers resources like the APSA cram course for further essay writing help and understanding the scoring system.
Q & A
  • What is the main focus of the video?

    -The main focus of the video is to guide viewers on how to plan and write an effective AP World History Long Essay Question (LEQ) on the topic of the Columbian Exchange and its impact on peoples in the Americas between 1450 and 1750.

  • What are the two key items needed to follow along with the video?

    -To follow along with the video, one needs the LEQ worksheet that the presenter is working on and the LEQ from the 2018 exam.

  • How does the presenter suggest understanding the prompt for an LEQ?

    -The presenter suggests ensuring a thorough understanding of the prompt by focusing on what is being asked and not on the questions one wishes were being asked, to accurately answer the given question with the essay.

  • What type of question is the LEQ asking about the Columbian Exchange?

    -The LEQ is asking a change question, specifically how the Columbian Exchange affected peoples in the Americas during the specified time period.

  • What is the presenter's approach to developing the argument for the LEQ?

    -The presenter's approach involves brainstorming evidence related to the topic, forming topic sentences for each body paragraph, and then constructing a thesis statement that outlines the argument.

  • What does the presenter include in the thesis statement?

    -The thesis statement includes a counter-argument, specific historical evidence named 'A' and 'B', and the presenter's argument 'Y'. It also sets up the complexity point by mentioning the persistence of indigenous religion alongside the changes brought by the Columbian Exchange.

  • How does the presenter suggest using contextualization in the LEQ?

    -The presenter suggests using contextualization to explain the causes of the Columbian Exchange, such as trade and luxury goods from China to Europe, the capture of Constantinople, and the Spanish crown's financing of Columbus's voyages.

  • What evidence does the presenter use to support the first topic sentence on disease, animals, and food?

    -The presenter uses smallpox as evidence for disease, horses for animals, and wheat and grapes for food to support the argument that the Columbian Exchange changed the peoples of the Americas.

  • How does the presenter advise connecting evidence to the argument?

    -The presenter advises to name and explain the evidence and then use phrases like 'which shows' or 'this demonstrates' to connect it directly to the argument, ensuring that the evidence supports the thesis and topic sentences effectively.

  • What is the second topic sentence that the presenter focuses on?

    -The second topic sentence focuses on the diversification of the population as a result of the Columbian Exchange.

  • What examples does the presenter provide to support the diversification of the population?

    -The presenter provides the examples of the African slave trade and the caste system to support the argument that the population in the Americas diversified due to the Columbian Exchange.

  • What additional resource does the presenter offer for help with essay writing?

    -The presenter offers an APSA cram course that goes in-depth on the writing required for the exam and provides examples of what earns points and what does not.

Outlines
00:00
📝 Preparing for AP World History LEQ

The speaker introduces the video's purpose, which is to assist in preparing for the AP World History exam, specifically focusing on how to plan for a Long Essay Question (LEQ). The speaker emphasizes the need for viewers to have the LEQ worksheet and the 2018 exam's LEQ for reference. The example LEQ discussed involves the Columbian Exchange's impact on peoples in the Americas from 1450 to 1750. The speaker outlines the importance of understanding the prompt and constructing an argument that addresses the question directly. The speaker then explains the process of developing an argument by creating topic sentences for body paragraphs, brainstorming evidence, and formulating a thesis statement that includes a counter-argument and specific historical evidence.

05:01
🎓 Elaborating on the LEQ Structure and Content

In this section, the speaker delves deeper into the structure and content of the LEQ. They discuss the importance of supporting arguments with historical evidence and the need to connect this evidence to the overall argument. The speaker provides a step-by-step guide on how to use evidence effectively, including naming it, explaining it, and demonstrating how it supports the argument. They also stress the importance of having a minimum of two pieces of evidence to earn points on the rubric but recommend aiming for more, especially for complexity. The speaker then provides examples of evidence for both the negative impacts of the Columbian Exchange, such as the introduction of smallpox, and the positive changes, like the diversification of the population due to the African slave trade and the caste system. The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to start writing their essays after planning and offers additional resources for exam preparation.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡AP World History LEQ
AP World History LEQ stands for Long Essay Question, which is a part of the AP World History exam. It requires students to develop an argument using historical evidence. In the video, the speaker guides viewers on how to plan for an AP World History LEQ, emphasizing the importance of understanding the prompt and organizing arguments around it.
💡Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread exchange of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following the voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492. This exchange had a profound impact on the histories and ecologies of both hemispheres. In the video, the main argument is centered around evaluating how the Columbian Exchange affected peoples in the Americas from 1450 to 1750.
💡Historical Thinking Skill
Historical thinking skill involves the ability to interpret and analyze past events, understand the causes and effects of historical changes, and construct arguments based on historical evidence. In the context of the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of using this skill to develop a well-structured argument that addresses the specific question posed in the LEQ prompt.
💡Topic Sentences
Topic sentences are the opening sentences of a paragraph that express the main idea of that paragraph. They serve as a roadmap for the reader and provide a clear indication of what to expect. In the video, the speaker uses topic sentences to brainstorm evidence and construct body paragraphs that support the main argument of the essay.
💡Thesis
A thesis is a statement that presents the main argument or claim of an essay. It provides a clear and concise overview of the essay's purpose and direction. In the video, the speaker formulates a thesis that encapsulates the argument about the transformative effects of the Columbian Exchange on the peoples of the Americas, setting the stage for the essay's central line of reasoning.
💡Contextualization
Contextualization in historical writing refers to the process of providing the historical background or circumstances that led to the events under discussion. It helps the reader understand why certain events occurred and how they fit into the larger historical narrative. In the video, the speaker discusses the importance of contextualization in explaining the causes of the Columbian Exchange, such as trade, the capture of Constantinople, and the Spanish crown's financing of exploration.
💡Evidence
In the context of historical writing, evidence refers to the factual information, examples, or data used to support an argument or thesis. It is crucial for substantiating claims and making a persuasive case. The video emphasizes the need to select specific historical examples that illustrate the changes brought about by the Columbian Exchange and to connect these examples to the essay's main argument.
💡Diversification of Population
Diversification of population refers to the process by which the composition of a population changes to include a greater variety of ethnicities, cultures, or other demographic characteristics. In the video, the speaker argues that the Columbian Exchange led to the diversification of the population in the Americas through events like the African slave trade and the establishment of the caste system.
💡Continuity
Continuity in historical analysis refers to the persistence of certain aspects, elements, or practices despite changes or transformations in the historical context. In the video, the speaker discusses the continuity of indigenous religion in the Americas after the Columbian Exchange, highlighting the complexity of cultural changes and the syncretism between indigenous beliefs and Catholicism.
💡Complexity Point
The complexity point in an AP World History essay refers to the additional analytical depth that students can achieve by discussing nuances, contradictions, or other complexities in their arguments. In the video, the speaker aims to earn the complexity point by not only discussing the changes brought about by the Columbian Exchange but also by considering elements of continuity, such as the persistence of indigenous religion.
Highlights

The video provides a comprehensive guide on how to plan for an AP World History LEQ.

The presenter emphasizes the importance of understanding the prompt to answer the question correctly.

The historical thinking skill of evaluating the impact of the Colombian Exchange on peoples in the Americas is discussed.

The time period of focus for the LEQ is specified as 1450 to 1750.

The presenter suggests using personal knowledge as evidence since no documents are provided in an LEQ.

The development of body paragraphs with topic sentences is emphasized for structuring the essay.

The presenter brainstorms different kinds of evidence, such as food, disease, animals, and population diversification.

A thesis statement is constructed using a specific formula involving a counter-argument and historical evidence.

The complexity of the essay is increased by discussing both change and continuity, such as the persistence of indigenous religion.

Contextualization is crucial, and the presenter discusses the causes of the Colombian Exchange, including trade and the capture of Constantinople.

The presenter outlines how to connect the contextualization evidence to the larger argument of the essay.

Specific historical examples, such as smallpox, horses, wheat, and grapes, are used to support the first topic sentence.

The presenter explains the importance of connecting evidence to the argument using phrases like 'which shows' or 'this demonstrates'.

The second body paragraph focuses on the diversification of the population due to the African slave trade and the caste system.

The presenter encourages aiming for four or five pieces of evidence per body paragraph, especially for earning the complexity point.

The video concludes with a recommendation for the presenter's APSA cram course for further essay writing help.

The presenter invites viewers to subscribe for more content on preparing for the AP exam.

Transcripts
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