APUSH FRQ Practice - Late 1800s
1.Evaluate the impact of the Civil War on political and economic developments in TWO of the following regions. Focus your answer on the period between 1865 and 1900.
The SouthThe NorthThe West
2.Analyze the ways in which farmers and industrial workers responded to industrialization in the Gilded Age (1865-1900).
General Reminders for Essay Writing
- Analyze the question. Without a clear understanding of what the question (or statement) is, you cannot possiblywrite an adequate essay. In evaluating a statement or question, you are required to determine the value of or to appraisecarefully. Is the statement valid or true? The writer is not required to express a personal opinion in his or herown words.
- Collecting or sorting information. Prepare a rough outline. Write simple phrase illustrating certain aspects ofthe statement. There are numerous ways that you can organize your material. Consider the methods of presenting thisinformation.
- Develop your thesis. The stated thesis should be written in the introductory paragraph so the reader learnsimmediately your reaction to the question.
4.Write the introduction. The introductory paragraph usually answers two questions: "What is the question?" and"What is the author's opinion of that question?" Failure to answer these two questions may cause the reader to beconfused. An introduction to an essay must present a statement of the topic and should indicate the direction of theanswer. Often the statement of the topic comes in the first part of the paragraph, and the writer's opinion or thesis isthe last sentence of the paragraph.
5.Write the body of the essay. After the introduction, you now present the factual information to prove yourthesis. The facts should be presented in a logical sequence. Each major set of facts should be presented in a separateparagraph. These paragraphs must work separately, yet must be connected. There are many ways to achieve suchconnections - similar ideas, linking words (such as however, therefore, but), or repetition of an aspect of the question. Present your strongest evidence first, but be able to refute any arguments that are against your thesis.
6.Write the conclusion. The conclusion holds the essay together. The conclusion should bring the reader back tothe question and back to the thesis. An excellent preparation for writing the conclusion is to read your introductionand essay through before writing the conclusion. Then, write a paragraph that reintroduces the thesis and the topicwithout merely repeating the introduction. Try to prove to the reader that you have proven something of generalsignificance. Avoid presenting a summary of all you have written. Also, do not introduce new evidence that has notbeen included in the general body of the essay.
7.Read the essay over to check for spelling, style, and consistency. Make certain that the conclusion andthe introduction agree. It is possible that you could contradict yourself if you are not careful.
8.GENERAL NOTE OF INTEREST: Avoid the use of the first person I. The phrases "I think" or "I believe" areredundant. You may use the third-person editorial "we" or the impersonal "one".