How to Write a LEQ for APUSH, AP World, & AP Euro
TLDRThe video script offers a comprehensive guide on how to tackle long essay questions (LEQs) in AP exams, emphasizing the importance of understanding the prompt, marking key details such as time periods and historical thinking skills, and structuring the essay to align with the rubric. It provides strategies for crafting a strong thesis, contextualizing the argument, utilizing evidence effectively, and incorporating analysis and reasoning. The speaker also recommends aiming for a score of 5 out of 6 possible points, and suggests resources for further preparation.
Takeaways
- 📝 Understand the LEQ format: The LEQ (Long Essay Question) is the final part of the AP exam, where students have 40 minutes to write an essay without external help.
- 🎯 Choose the right question: Students are given three options for the LEQ, and should select the one they know the most about to maximize their score.
- 🖋️ Read the prompt carefully: Mark up the prompt to identify the time period, historical thinking skill required (e.g., causation), and the categories to compare or analyze.
- 📈 Develop a strong thesis: The thesis must be historically defensible, take a clear stand, and establish a line of reasoning, using specific historical evidence.
- 📝 Use thesis formulas: Two formulas are suggested - a complex one from John Irish ('Although X because A and B, therefore Y') and a simpler one ('restate important parts of the prompt because A and B').
- 🌍 Provide historical context: Write a paragraph before the main argument to contextualize the thesis within a larger historical context, using specific historical evidence.
- 🔍 Use evidence effectively: Describe and argue with evidence, with at least two pieces of evidence used throughout the essay to support the thesis.
- 📊 Structure paragraphs properly: Each paragraph should have a topic sentence, evidence, and a connection back to the thesis, demonstrating how the evidence supports the argument.
- 🏆 Aim for a high score: While the rubric allows for up to six points, aiming for five is advised as the complexity point is challenging to achieve.
- 💡 Show causation or other historical thinking skills: The essay should demonstrate the skill required by the prompt, such as causation, change, or comparison.
- 🌟 Add complexity if possible: To earn the complexity point, consider weaving a counter-argument throughout the essay with specific historical evidence that could support it.
Q & A
What is the LEQ in the context of AP exams?
-The LEQ, or Long Essay Question, is a part of the AP exam that requires students to write an essay without the aid of documents or external help, typically within a 40-minute time frame. It is the last section of the exam and can significantly impact the student's overall score.
How does the scoring rubric work for the LEQ?
-The LEQ is graded using a rubric that awards up to six points. The first point is for the thesis, the second for contextualization, and two points for evidence, with the final point for analysis and reasoning. Each section has specific requirements that must be met to earn the points.
What are the three key elements to mark on the essay prompt?
-The three key elements to mark on the essay prompt are the time period, the historical thinking skill required, and the categories to write about. These elements guide the structure and content of the essay.
What is the importance of thesis in the LEQ?
-The thesis is crucial in the LEQ as it sets the argument and the line of reasoning for the essay. It must be historically defensible and establish how the argument will be defended, often using specific historical evidence.
How can a student effectively contextualize their argument?
-To effectively contextualize their argument, a student should provide a brief historical background before the period they are writing about, using specific historical evidence and demonstrating its relevance to the argument.
What is the minimum number of pieces of evidence required in the LEQ?
-The rubric requires a minimum of two pieces of evidence, as it specifies 'pieces of evidence' plural, indicating that at least two are needed to describe or argue within the essay.
What is the difference between describing and arguing with evidence?
-Describing evidence involves naming and defining it, while arguing with evidence requires using it to substantiate the thesis and demonstrating how it supports the essay's overall argument.
How can a student earn the complexity point in the analysis and reasoning section?
-A student can earn the complexity point by weaving a counter-argument throughout the essay, using specific historical evidence that could support the counter-argument, and acknowledging alternative interpretations of the evidence.
What is the advice for students struggling with the LEQ?
-Students struggling with the LEQ should aim for a score of five out of six, as the complexity point is challenging to earn. They should also consider using a thesis formula, such as the one by John Irish, and focus on structuring their paragraphs effectively with topic sentences and evidence.
How much time is allocated for the LEQ in the AP exam?
-Students are given 40 minutes to complete the LEQ in the AP exam.
What are some tips for writing a successful LEQ?
-Tips for writing a successful LEQ include thoroughly reading and marking the prompt, understanding the rubric, creating a strong thesis, providing historical context, using at least two pieces of evidence, arguing effectively with evidence, and incorporating historical reasoning and complexity where possible.
Outlines
📝 Understanding the LEQ and its Importance
This paragraph introduces the long essay question (LEQ) as a critical part of the AP exam, emphasizing its difficulty and the need for effective strategies to achieve a perfect score. It outlines that the LEQ is the final task in the exam, where students have 40 minutes to write an essay without the aid of documents. The speaker reassures the audience that they will provide strategies to excel in the LEQ, applicable to AP World, APUSH, and AP Euro essays, which are all graded using the same rubric. The paragraph also mentions the speaker's more comprehensive courses for further guidance.
🎯 Strategies for Approaching the LEQ
The speaker provides a step-by-step guide for tackling the LEQ. The first step is to thoroughly read and understand the prompt, marking key elements such as the time period, historical thinking skill required (e.g., causation), and the categories to compare. The speaker stresses the importance of identifying these aspects to avoid common mistakes. They also mention that the College Board provides information on the time periods in advance, which students should be familiar with to select the most suitable essay topic.
📈 Crafting a Strong Thesis and Understanding the Rubric
The speaker explains the importance of crafting a strong thesis for the LEQ, which must be historically defensible and establish a line of reasoning. They provide two formulas for constructing the thesis: a complex one from John Irish and a simpler alternative. The speaker also discusses the rubric, detailing the six points available, and advises aiming for five to ensure a focused and effective essay. They explain the requirements for earning points for the thesis, contextualization, evidence, and analysis, providing specific examples and advice for each section.
📝 Structuring the Essay and Aiming for Complexity
The speaker continues with advice on structuring the essay, focusing on the evidence section where students can earn up to two points for both describing and arguing with evidence. They clarify the difference between describing and arguing, emphasizing the need to tie evidence back to the thesis. The speaker then discusses the analysis and reasoning section, where points are awarded for demonstrating historical thinking skills and complexity. They suggest weaving a counter-argument throughout the essay to earn the complexity point and provide guidance on using specific historical evidence to support this counter-argument.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡LEQ
💡AP Exams
💡Rubric
💡Historical Thinking Skill
💡Thesis
💡Contextualization
💡Evidence
💡Analysis and Reasoning
💡Complexity
💡Counterargument
💡John Irish Thesis
Highlights
The LEQ is a challenging part of the AP exam that requires students to write an essay without any documents or help.
To achieve a perfect score on the LEQ, understanding the prompt and marking it up for time period, historical thinking skill, and categories is crucial.
The College Board provides information on the time periods for LEQ questions in their course and exam descriptions.
The LEQ is the last part of the exam and students have 40 minutes to complete it.
For the thesis, it must be historically defensible and establish a line of reasoning, with specific historical evidence.
Two formulas for writing a thesis are presented, one complex from John Irish and a simpler restatement of the prompt with specific historical evidence.
Contextualization should be done before the period in question, using specific historical evidence and demonstrating relevance to the argument.
A minimum of two pieces of evidence is required for describing or arguing in the essay, as stated by the rubric.
Describing evidence involves naming and defining it, while arguing with evidence requires tying it back to the thesis and forming a structured paragraph.
The rubric awards points for historical reasoning, complexity, and the use of evidence, with a total of six points available.
The video provides examples and templates for writing LEQs, as well as a link to an APSA cram course for further study.
The LEQ, along with DBQ and SAQ, are essential components of AP exams like AP World, APUSH, and AP Euro.
The video emphasizes the importance of not just writing about causes but also comparing them to argue which is most significant in a causation essay.
For the analysis and reasoning section, weaving a counterargument throughout the essay can help earn the complexity point.
The video offers advice on structuring paragraphs and using topic sentences that steal from the thesis for effective argumentation.
The transcript is part of a larger course that goes into greater depth on writing DBQs, LEQs, and SAQs for AP exams.
Transcripts
Browse More Related Video
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
Thanks for rating: