Essay Format/Guidelines
Paragraph 1
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Backstory- Starting place is going to be the historical context in your essay packet Also reading your
corresponding chapters and gaining BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Basis of Analysis: The task section of your packet (what are you supposed to address in your essay).This is your head topic.
Blueprint – This is the subheading in your essay task. What are you going to discuss? What is your
standpoint?
Thesis Statement: Compose a statement/standpoint addressing the key points in your blueprint
EXAMPLE FROM AN AP EXAM
Analyze how the ideas and values held by Puritans influenced the political, economic and social development
of the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660s.
Paragraph One ExampleBackstory The New England colonies developed quickly and rapidly through the early 1600s. The colonies
development was largely influenced by the Puritans who helped found most of the colonies in the region after
emigrating from Britain. Basis of Analysis The philosophies, ideas and values of the Puritans greatly shaped
the development of the colonies in a number of distinct ways.- Blueprint Politically, the idea of a united
representative government that later became a staple of the U.S. derived from Puritan ideals. Economically,
the ideals of fair pricing and the celebrated “Yankee frugality and thriftiness” originates from the Puritans.
Socially, emphasis on church religion and community was another lasting influence of the Puritans ThesisClearly the values held by the Puritans greatly influenced the political, economic and social development of
the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660’s
Body Paragraphs 2 - 4- All have same format
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Paragraph 2 addresses claim 1 (b.)
Paragraph 3 addresses claim 2 (c.)
Paragraph 4addresses claim 3 (d.)
Each body paragraph has 4 parts
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Claim- Topic sentence (what are you going to discuss in this paragraph)
Evidence/Event- (what are you discussing )
Definition- (explain your evidence/event)
Significance- (relate the information to your thesis)
EXAMPLE OF A BODY PARAGRAPH FROM AN AP EXAM
Topic Sentence-The Puritans greatly impacted the political development of the New England colonies. The
idea of a representative government was derived from Puritan ritual. Event 1 Many of the Puritans believed
the congregation should elect a reverend. The Puritans also believed that the government should get its
power from the people. Definition 1. This experiment in democracy was one of the hallmarks of Puritan
influence on the New England colonies. Extending that idea was the idea of unity, politically speaking. As said
by John Winthrop “Wee must be knit together… as one man… wee must delight in each other, make other’s
conditions our own” (Doc A). Significance 1 The concept of unity and loyalty to one another and to a
government greatly shaped future development in the New England colonies.Event 2 Furthermore the religion
centric approach of the New England colonies also had its roots in Puritan ideology. Definition 2-The enlarged
Salem Covenant of 1636 proclaims “We will do nothing to the offence of the church… we do hereby promise
to carry ourselves in all lawful obedience to those that are over us, in church or commonwealth” (Doc C)
Significance 2-This steadfast pride and devotion to both church and commonwealth (or government) as well
as respective rules and regulations again shaped the New England colonies, later manifesting itself in the
American Revolution. Event 3 A third interesting political influence is the origin of religious freedom, or at
least the demand for it. Definition 3-Though the Puritans were notoriously zealous to their own faith, even in
those times the cries for religious tolerance were present. Roger Williams, later the founder of Rhode Island,
pleads: “God requireth not a uniformity of religion…” (Doc F). Significance 3-The origins of religious freedom
take root in this Puritan’s quest for equality to all. Event 4 A final political influence of the Puritans was the
responsibility to a higher power. Definition 4-The deeply religious Puritans believed in salvation and the
existence of a power capable of accepting or denying that salvation. Thus, they hit upon the “limitations of
government” as explained by John Cotton: “Let all the world learn to give mortal men no greater than they are
content to use… it is most wholesome for magistrates…in commonwealth never to affect more liberty and
authority than will do them good” (Doc. H). Significance 4 Thus the governments of New England colonies
were duly impacted to account for these limitations. Thus it is clear that the Puritans greatly affected the
political development of the New England colonies
Paragraph 5- Conclusion
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Refer back to the thesis statement
Do not include any new information