The APUSH Essay Writing

The Thesis Paragraph

What should be in here?*STP- subject, time and place (to set the stage for your paper)*Thesis statement *Subtopics/sub points for the essay

Subject, Time and Place

Let’s review from your WH days.

Any different?

Not really!!

The STP should help set the stage for your essay.

It should give the reader hope that the writer of the paper knows what they are writing about!!!!

Brainstorm STP

Essay prompt:

Compare the ways in which religion shaped the development of colonial society (to 1740) in TWO of the following regions:

New England

Chesapeake

Middle Atlantic (2002)

Thesis Statement

What is it?Tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. It is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. It is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. It also contains sub points to help the reader know how the essay will be organized.

Key Features of a Thesis Statement

It must answer the prompt!!!! (AP stands for answer the prompt)

It must address the directive.

It must have an opinion or attitude on the topic.

It acknowledges the other opinion or attitude. (Although, However, ect.)

It often lists subtopics.

Directives

It the directives (s) is/are

*Analyze *In what ways

*Discuss *How and for what reasons

*Describe *Relate

*Compare and contrast *Trace

*How did *Summarize

*What were *Examine/explain

Discuss the topic politically, economically, and socially by arguing which was most important/significant.

Directives cont.

If the directive (s) is/are

*How successful *Assess

*Evaluate the effect *Evaluate the effectiveness

*To what extent *Criticize

Discuss the topic politically, economically and socially by giving it a grade.

Brainstorm a Thesis Statement

Essay prompt:

Compare the ways in which religion shaped the development of colonial society (to 1740) in TWO of the following regions:

New England

Chesapeake

Middle Atlantic (2002)

Subtopics

Some prompts will specify the subtopics, so be sure to read the prompt carefully.

If the prompt does not state the subtopics, ESP (Economically, Socially, Politically) could be a good way to organize your paper.

Don’t make your subtopics too specific because it will limit the outside information that you can use in your paper.

The Body Paragraphs

The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence.

Don’t “laundry list” the outside evidence/information

Topic Sentences

What are they?*A well-organized paragraph supports or develops a single controlling idea, which is expressed in a sentence called the topic sentence. *A topic sentence has several important functions:

-it substantiates or supports an essay’s thesis statement. (Refers back to the thesis)

-it unifies the content of a paragraph and directs the order of the sentences.-it advises the reader of the subject to be

discussed and how the paragraph will discuss it.-it does not contain OI, save it for the paragraph.

Brainstorm Topic Sentences

Essay prompt:

Compare the ways in which religion shaped the development of colonial society (to 1740) in TWO of the following regions:

New England

Chesapeake

Middle Atlantic (2002)

Body Paragraphs

This is were the writer proves that their argument is correct.

The writer must use outside evidence/information to prove the argument.

Never use the first person. Ex. “I believe..”

“I am going to show the reader..”