Writing for AP Euro

1. Writing for AP Euro The Effective Thesis Statement

2. NOTE: • This slide cast will address thesis statements in general and should be used interchangeably with both DBQs and FRQs

3. The thesis statement declares the main point or controlling idea of your entire essay.A thesis statement usually answers these questions:—“What is the subject of this essay?”—“What is the writer’s opinion on this subject?”—“What is the writer’s purpose in this essay?”

4. A Well-Developed Thesis • Is a single sentence that asserts one controlling idea • Signals the dominant purpose of your essay • Clearly shows your opinion on a subject if purpose is persuasive/argumentative • Says something definite  and substantial about your topic • Is limited enough for an essay of the assigned length • …might announce main supporting points

5. Example: • Inadequate: The United States should not invest in a “star wars” missile defense system. • Better: Given the decreased Soviet military threat and the high cost of high-tech weaponry, The United States should suspend development of a “star wars” missile defense system

6. KNOW what the prompt is asking • Analyze: determine the nature and relationship of the component parts of; explain the importance of; break down. • Assess: judge the value or character of something; appraise; evaluate. • Compare: examine for the purpose of noting similarities and differences, focusing more on similarities. • Contrast: compare to show unlikeness or points of difference. • Criticize: make judgments as to merits and faults; criticism may approve or disapprove, or both. • Define: give the meaning (a word, phrase, concept); determine or fix the boundaries or extent. • Describe: give an account; tell about; give a word picture. • Discuss or examine: talk over; write about; consider by argument or from various points of view; debate; present the different sides. • Enumerate or list: mention or itemize separately; name one after another. • Evaluate: give the good points and the bad; appraise; give an opinion regarding the value of; discuss the advantages and disadvantages. • Explain: make clear or plain; make known in detail; tell the meaning of; make clear the cause or reason. • Illustrate: make clear or intelligible as by examples. • Interpret: explain the meaning; make plain; present your thinking about. • Justify: show good reasons; present your evidence; offer facts to support your position. • Prove: establish the truth of something by giving factual evidence or logical reasons. • Relate: show how things are connected with each other or how one causes another. • Summarize: state or express in concise form; give the main points briefly. • Trace: follow the course

7. Once you KNOW what the prompt is asking.. • Plan, plan and plan some more = OUTLINE • For DBQs -> read the historical background & the docs; as you scan the docs, make a note on the side referencing how it relates to prompt; after you look at all the docs, decide upon your thesis and your 3 main examples (select examples in which there are 3 documents that you can use as evidence) • For FRQs -> After you determine the tasks for each option, select the option(s) that you can answer most fully; write an outline, starting with the body paragraphs – how would you organize it? Determine your three main examples; Once this is complete, decide upon your thesis.

8. IDEALLY.. • Your thesis statement should: 1. Address the prompt 2. Make an argument 3. Preview body paragraphs (in order)

9. Thesis type 1 • Keep it ‘simple’ & say what you mean. • Poor Example: Humanism had a great impact on Renaissance art • Weak Example: Humanism had a great impact on Renaissance art as seen in Raphael’s School of Athens, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David • Good Example: With an emphasis on antiquity, individualism and the glorification of man, there is no doubt that humanism had an enormous impact on Renaissance art as seen in Raphael’s School of Athens, Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David

10. Thesis type 2 • Although X; A, B, C. • ‘X’ represents the strongest point against your argument. • ‘A, B, and C’ represent the three strongest points for your argument. • Poor Example: Although Henry VIII was a Catholic, he broke away from the Church for personal, political and succession issues • Example: Although Henry VIII believed in traditional Church doctrine, he still broke away from the Church due to his wife’s inability to produce a male heir, his infatuation with mistress Ann Boleyn and his frustration with the Pope for not giving in to his annulment request.

11. Common Mistakes Mistake 1 • Thesis as an announcement of essay subject matter • The subject of this essay is my experience with a pet boa constrictor. • In this paper, I am going to discuss How Henry IV was a politique • Possible solutions: • Henry IV made the ultimate sacrifice by foregoing his own religion to appease the majority of his country, thus securing his status as a true politique

12. Common Mistakes Mistake 2 • Cluttering your thesis with such expressions as “in my opinion,” “I believe,” and “in this essay I’ll argue that...” • My opinion is that the English Reformation never would have happened if Catherine of Aragon had a son • My thesis states that the English Reformation was political rather than religious. • Possible solution: • The English Reformation did not take place due to differences in religious doctrine, but rather for political reasons as Henry VIII desired a divorce from wife Catherine who did not produce a male heir.

13. Common Mistakes Mistake 3 • Making irrational or oversimplified claims and insulting possible audiences. • The Reformation began because the Catholic Church was completely corrupt, the Pope couldn’t read and there were a lot of other problems. • Possible solution • The Protestant Reformation was caused by corruption within the Catholic Church, clerical ignorance as well as problems regarding church offices such as pluralism and lay investiture.

14. Common Mistakes Mistake 4 • Merely stating a fact or selecting an idea that is self-evident or dead-ended. • The Protestant Reformation led to religious conflict. • Possible solution • The deep rift between Catholics and Protestants divided Europe resulting in a series of wars fought over territory, religious doctrine and independence.

15. Common Mistakes Mistake 5 • Expressing a thesis in a form of a question when the answer is not obvious to the audience • Was the Protestant Reformation inevitable? • Possible solution • Lay investiture, the sale of indulgences, clerical ignorance as well as other perceived violations of Church Doctrine made the Protestant Reformation inevitable.

16. Thesis Statement DON’Ts • DON’T simply restate the prompt! • DON’T include specific factual evidence from documents or outside information – this should be included in the body of the paper! • DON’T self reference.. EVER! Forbidden words: I, me, my, you, your, we, our • DON’T use present tense verbs!

17. Some tips to keep in mind for thesis, intro & entire essay: • 1)Avoid pronouns or generalizations (“the people”). Specifics are always better. • 2)Avoid metaphors, clichés, sarcasm, moralizing, or personal soapboxes. • 3)Try to spell words correctly, especially if they appear in the question. If you are not sure of a spelling, choose one and stick with it throughout the entire essay. • 4) Practice good grammar, including subject-verb agreement, punctuation, capitalization, and usage. Do not try to use 50-cent words if you do not know how to use them correctly. However, avoid using short, choppy sentences. • 5)WRITE LEGIBLY!! All of your essays will be handwritten, and the average reader spends about 45-60 SECONDS on each essay. If your essay is illegible, it may result in a lower score than you deserve!