The AP Human Essay

Identify the shapes on the flag

 Identify the shapes on the flag

Stars Stripes

 Describe the shapes on the flag

 Describe the shapes on the flag

50 white stars with 5 points 13 horizontal red and white stripes

 Explain the shapes on the flag

 Explain the shapes on the flag

50 white stars with points stand for the 50 states 13 red and white horizontal stripes stand for the 13 colonies

The AP Human Essay

The AP Human essay uses a few key words in the questions
Identify Define/Describe Discuss/Explain

Each one of the key words requires you to answer it in a specific way

The AP Human Essay

The AP Human essay uses a few key words in the questions
Identify : List a fact which answers the question Define/Describe Discuss/Explain

Each one of the key words requires you to answer it in a specific way

The AP Human Essay

The AP Human essay uses a few key words in the questions
Identify : List a fact which answers the question Define/Describe : List all possible definitions Discuss/Explain

Each one of the key words requires you to answer it in a specific way

The AP Human Essay

The AP Human essay uses a few key words in the questions
Identify : List a fact which answers the question Define/Describe : List all possible definitions Discuss/Explain : Identify the topic and then write everything you know about the topic

Each one of the key words requires you to answer it in a specific way

The AP Human Essay

Try to answer these essay-style questions:

1. Identify your favorite color 2. Describe your favorite pizza 3. Explain your favorite movie

The AP Human Essay

1. My favorite color is gray 2. My favorite pizza is thin crust with onions and green peppers 3. My favorite movie, The Hunt for the Red October, is based on a Tom Clancy book about a Cold-War Russian submarine commander who tries to defect and turn his submarine over to the American government. In the movie

The AP Human Essay

Lets look at an actual essay question

Find the key words

Find the key words

A. Identify the main source areas and explain two key push factors associated with the early twentieth-century peaks B. Discuss how change in the economic structure of the United States promoted immigration in the early twentieth century C. Identify the main source areas and explain two key push factors associated with the late twentieth-century peak D. Discuss how change in the economic structure of the United States promoted immigration in the late twentieth century

How many points is the essay worth?

A. Identify the main source areas and explain two key push factors associated with the early twentieth-century peaks B. Discuss how change in the economic structure of the United States promoted immigration in the early twentieth century C. Identify the main source areas and explain two key push factors associated with the late twentieth-century peak D. Discuss how change in the economic structure of the United States promoted immigration in the late twentieth century

How many points is the essay worth?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Identify source areas Explain push factor Explain push factor Discuss economic structure Identify source areas Explain push factor Explain push factor Discuss economic structure

How to earn those points

The essay is graded on a points earned basis.
You earn points for answering the questions correctly Points can never be taken away for incorrect answers/poor grammar/bad spelling

What does this mean about sentences which do not answer the question?

How to earn those points

The essay is graded on a points earned basis.
You earn points for answering the questions correctly Points can never be taken away for incorrect answers/poor grammar/bad spelling

What does this mean about sentences which do not answer the question?
They are worthless

How to earn those points

You should not have an introduction, a conclusion, or any extra crap in your essay
The first sentence answers the first question, the last sentence answers the last question, and every sentence in between is part of an answer to one of the other questions.

You should have a ton of information

The art of the shotgun response

The art of the shotgun response

Since you are only given points for right answers, and you dont lose any points for wrong answers, what is the best way to ensure that you earn as many points as possible for each question?
The shotgun response: You write everything you can think of about the topic. If it relates to the question, write it. If you think it might be correct, write it. If you arent sure, write it. If you have no idea, make something up and write it. It is almost impossible to have too much information on an AP Human essay

What about paragraphs?

What about paragraphs

Each letter should be its own paragraph. This lets the grade find the information easily.
If you answer the question in two sentences, then you have a two sentence paragraph. If you answer the question in two pages, then you have a two page paragraph

In short, an AP Human essay looks nothing like a normal English essay

Recap

Recap
Find the key words
Identify, Define/Describe, Discuss/Explain

Figure out what you need to say to answer each part No intro or conclusion One paragraph for each letter Write everything you know