Transcript How to Write an APUSH LEQ and SQ3R

Redesigned LEQs
FOR APUSH
Long Essay Question
You will have a choice between 2 questions
Obviously you should choose the one you’re most confident with
Focus on a particular Historical Thinking Skill
35 Minutes = 15% of APUSH score
4 parts of the essay for 6 points
1. Argumentation
2. Use of Evidence
3. Targeted historical thinking skill
4. Synthesis
Remember that your opinion is worthless unless you support it with evidence
and connect it to a broader historical context
Thesis = 1 point
Directly address all parts of the prompt
Remember not to be extreme, you can be in gray area but make sure you stay
focused.
Multiple questions in prompt = all addressed in theses
3 part prompt = 3 items in thesis
Evidence = 2 points
Clearly and consistently state how the evidence supports your essay and
establish clear links
Analyze … don’t describe
Its not what you know, its what you can prove
Historical Thinking Skills = 2 points
1.Causation
2.CCOT
3.Comparison
4.Periodization
Causation
Describe causes and effects
Analyze specific examples that illustrate
Example:
Evaluate how the French and Indian War (Seven Years War) impacted the
relationship between Great Britain and the British colonies from 1754-1776
Continuity and Change Over Time
Describe and analyze specific examples that illustrate historic CCOT
Interpretation
Example:
Identify and analyze the changing relationship between England and the British
colonies between the years 1607-1763
Comparison
Describe similarities and differences
Provide specific examples
Analyze reasons
….and depending on the prompt
Evaluate the relative significance of the historical development
Example:
C&C the colonies in the Chesapeake with the New England colonies. Be sure to address two of
the three areas in your essay: economic, political, and social.
Periodization
Analyze the extend to which the historical development was different and
similar to developments that preceded/followed
Specific examples to illustrate analysis
Example:
Evaluate the extent to which the French and Indian War was a turning point in
American History
Synthesis = 1 point
Extend or modify thesis
Additional category beyond the prompt
Connect to another period, geographical area, context or
circumstance
Connect analysis to different fields
◦ World
◦ European
Summer Assignment
SQ3R
Survey
Look over the reading (chapter/section/subsection)
◦ This is NOT reading.
Jot down items such as headings, subheadings, captions, graphs, illustrations, maps etc…
Get a feel for what will be important in the reading
◦ Glance at any questions the text might include, these are good indicators of important points
After you Survey you can answer…
◦ What is the topic of this reading?
◦ What is the purpose of this reading?
◦ What do I already know about this
topic?
◦ Making mental connections from new to
prior information is the heart of learny stuff
Question
Develop a (3) higher level question about each section of
the reading
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Why?
How?
Explain
Analyze
Answer your own questions in a simple, well constructed
paragraph*
*Done after the Read step
Read
Read the section
◦ Answer the questions you developed (SQ3R)
Take notes on key concepts in your own words:
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Definitions
Characteristics
Names / Dates
Examples
Cause / Effect
Similarities / Differences
Recite
Look away from the text and your notes
Answer your questions out loud*
Recite a very brief summary of what you’ve just
read
If you can’t do this then you probably don’t
understand what you’ve just read to the extent
that you need to, go back and re-read
*Don’t be embarrassed about talking to yourself out loud, you are already the living version of the pictures your future-self will be embarrassed of
Review
Super important
After completing the previous 4 steps you should be able to create a written summary (outline)
of the section you’ve just read
◦ You don’t necessarily HAVE to do a written outline but you should be able to speak about the reading
without notes and in your own words at this point
Finally, SQ3Rs…
…are
essentially your Summer Assignment
…are a great way to learn from readings more deeply
…should not be quick or easy
…a favorite assignment of Mr. Lipman