AP US History, or Advanced Placement United States History, is a college-level history course and exam offered by the College Board to high school students in the United States. The course covers a broad range of topics, including colonial history, the American Revolution, the Constitution, westward expansion, the Civil War, and modern American history. The exam, which is administered in May, consists of multiple-choice questions and a series of free-response essays.
Writing essays is an important part of the AP US History exam, as it allows students to demonstrate their historical thinking skills and analysis of historical sources. To prepare for the essay portion of the exam, it is important for students to practice writing essays on a variety of topics.
One way to do this is to review sample essays written by other students. By reading and analyzing sample essays, students can get a sense of what a strong essay looks like and what elements are necessary for a high-scoring essay.
When reviewing sample essays, it is important to consider the following:
Thesis statement: Does the essay have a clear, well-developed thesis statement that is supported by evidence?
Historical analysis: Does the essay provide a thorough analysis of the historical context and events described in the prompt?
Use of evidence: Does the essay incorporate a range of primary and secondary sources to support its argument? Are the sources accurately cited and analyzed?
Writing style: Is the essay well-written and organized, with clear transitions between paragraphs and a strong conclusion?
By reviewing sample essays and considering these elements, students can improve their own essay-writing skills and increase their chances of success on the AP US History exam.