Aim: How Can I Write AP World
History Essays?
Do Now: Using a Venn Diagram, compare and
contrast Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift.
HW: September 2013 Writing Prompt due Friday
September 13
Tuesday September 10, 2013
Developing a Thesis Statement
Based on the information in your Venn Diagram, what
conclusions can you draw? Using your conclusions, you
will now create a thesis statement.
A thesis statement should be a specific argument (1-2
sentences) that answers the question at hand. When
lacking a question, create your own!
Example: While Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift are both ________
and _________, Miley/Taylor is a superior __________
because ________ and ____________.
AP World History Thesis Practice
Example Test Question Prompt: Compare and contrast the
Roman Empire during 206 BCE-220 CE with the Spanish
Empire of the sixteenth century.
What differences do you see in the thesis statements
below?
A: “There were many similarities and differences between the Roman Empire
during 206 BCE-200 CE and the Spanish Empire of the sixteenth century.”
B: “There were many similarities and differences between the Roman Empire
during 206 BCE-220 CE and the Spanish Empire of the sixteenth century.
One was land-based while the other was sea-based yet they both grew rich
from conquest of territory outside their boundaries.”
The AP World History Exam: An Overview
The multiple-choice section of the examination accounts for half of the student's exam
score, and the free-response section for the other half.
Type of
Question
# of Questions
Timing
Multiple Choice
70
55 minutes
Document-Based Question
1
50 minutes (includes a 10
minute reading period)
Continuity and ChangeOver-Time Essay
1
40 minutes
Comparative Essay
1
40 minutes
5 Steps to Attack the DBQ
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Thesis Statement
Author’s Point of View
Grouping Historical Documents
Translating Historical Documents
Additional Historical Documents
Author’s Point of View
A) According to AP World History DBQ guidelines, the author’s point of view
must be discussed within a DBQ essay at least twice.
B) When discussing the author’s point of view, it is best to quote and/or
translate why the author is biased toward a particular issue or why they have
the views they have.
C) When grouping historical documents, they must be placed or
“translated” into proper groupings. In other words, the grouping of
documents must make sense and present at least two sides of an issue or
argument.
D) Historical documents can be organized into main groups, groups
within main groups, and cross groupings.
On a piece of paper, write 1-2 sentences about your first day back to school.
Then exchange your paper with another student.
When we read some of these out loud, write down as many ways you can
think of as to how we can group these documents.
Author’s Point of View: Main Groups
DBQ Essay: Muslim and Christian views toward
merchants and trade from the origins of Christianity
and Islam until 1500.
Documents 1, 3, 4, and 6 support Christian views towards
merchants and
trade. For example, in document 1………
Author’s Point of View: Groups Within Groups
DBQ Essay: Muslim and Christian views toward
merchants and trade from the origins of Christianity
and Islam until 1500.
Documents 1 and 6 support Christian views towards
merchants and trade when
it comes to the original views Christians had towards
merchants
and trade. For example, in document 1………
Author’s Point of View: Cross Groupings
DBQ Essay: Muslim and Christian views toward
merchants and trade from the origins of Christianity
and Islam until 1500.
Documents 1 and 5 support Christian and Muslim
views against merchants and trade. For example, in
document 1………
Translating Historical Documents
A) According to AP World History DBQ guidelines, the
translation of historical documents must be discussed
throughout the entire DBQ essay.
B) Translations of all but one of the given historical
documents within a DBQ essay prompt are required.
C) When translating historical documents, it is best to
not only translate the meaning of the historical
documents, but to also translate how the
documents fit into unique groupings and support
those groupings.
Translation Example
DBQ Essay: Muslim and Christian views toward
merchants and trade from the origins of Christianity and
Islam until 1500.
Document 1 supports Christian views against trade. For example,
when Jesus
says that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle than for a
rich man to get into heaven”, he is saying that there is no way
that a rich man
will get into heaven because there is no way that a camel can fit
through the
eye of a needle. This document supports the original view of
Christians toward
merchants and trade because Jesus in the founder of Christianity.
Additional Historical Documents
A) According to AP World History DBQ guidelines, an
additional historical document must be discussed within a
DBQ essay at least once.
B) When discussing the additional historical document, it
is best to argue how the additional historical document
will help support the argument of the essay.
C) Additional historical documents used could be any
historical document and does not have to necessarily
exist. Some examples of historical documents
that could be used include government documents,
treaties between nations, maps, ship manifests or logs,
trade documents, letters to Kings/Queens, etc.
DBQ Grading Rubric
Basic Core (7 points total) Score
1 Point Has acceptable thesis.
1 Point Demonstrates understanding of basic meaning of all documents or all but one. Merely
listing or grouping the documents does not suffice. Must include a short explanation of the
document.
2 Points Supports thesis with appropriate evidence from all or all but one document AND be
connected to the thesis.
1 Point Analyzes point of view in at least two documents.
· POV explains why this particular person might have this particular opinion OR what particular
feature informs the author’s POV.
· Students must move beyond mere description of that individual by considering and explaining
the tone, the characteristics of the author, the intended audience and/or how the intended
outcome may have influenced the author’s opinion.
1 Point Analyzes documents by grouping them in AT LEAST one clear way.
1 Point Identifies and explains the need for one type of appropriate additional document or
source.
Expanded Core (2 points possible) *Student must achieve all 7 basic core points to be eligible.
Has a clear, analytical, and comprehensive thesis. Shows careful and insightful analysis of the
documents · Analyzes POV in more than two documents. · Analyzes the documents in
additional ways—groupings, comparisons · Brings in relevant “outside” historical content.
· Identifies more than one type of appropriate additional document or provides a particularly
sophisticated explanation of why the additional document is necessary.
HW Due Friday September 13
A) Find any 4 sources on NYC’s mayoral race. You must have sources on at
least 2 of the candidates.
B) Analyze the 4 sources:
1. What is the major point of the source? (No more than 2
sentences)
2. What is the point of view of the source?
3. Group the sources in as many ways as possible.
C) Write a 4 paragraph DBQ essay that answers the following prompt:
“Which candidate for NYC Mayor is the best for the job?”
Essay Outline:
1st Paragraph: Thesis statement and introduction to the topic
2nd Paragraph: Discuss Candidate A using evidence from 2 sources
3rd Paragraph: Discuss Candidate B using evidence from 2 sources and why B is
superior to A
4th Paragraph: Suggest another source that can help answer the question. *It is not
necessary in an AP essay to state a conclusion.
HW Due Friday September 13
Suggested News Sources:
msnbc.com, cnn.com, bbc.com, nbc.com, nytimes.com, ny1.com
Suggested Candidate Sources:
cats2013.com
anthonyweiner.com
billthompsonformayor.com
quinnfornewyork.com
You only need to
excerpt important
information; you do
not need to use the
entire site.
*You do not need to print or cut out the entire article. You
do need to list ALL of your sources, including author, title,
date, and source of publication.