Introduction
AP exams provide students with the opportunity to earn college credit for introductory-level courses. One important component of many AP exams is the free response or essay section, which allows students to showcase their writing, analytical, and synthesis skills. Strong performance on AP essays can help students earn higher AP exam scores and potentially earn more college credit. AP essays also pose unique challenges compared to typical high school essays due to stringent formatting, thesis, and evidence requirements. This article provides an overview of best practices for writing successful AP essays based on College Board rubrics and feedback from AP readers.
Thesis Statements
A clear, well-formulated thesis statement is crucial for any successful AP essay. AP readers are trained to look for a thesis as the first evaluative claim in the essay’s introduction. The thesis should take a position on the question or prompt and outline the key points and evidence that will be discussed in the body paragraphs. Avoid writing an “announcement thesis” that simply restates the question without taking a position. Instead, directly answer the question while signaling the organization and argument of the response. For example, a potential thesis for an AP Comparative Government Free Response question about political stability in Russia and Mexico may be: “While economic turmoil has undermined stability in Mexico, Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian tactics have maintained stability in Russia despite economic challenges.”
Body Paragraph Structure
AP readers expect a consistent structure across body paragraphs that directly supports and proves your thesis. Each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that relates back to your thesis and previews the evidence and analysis for that paragraph. The bulk of each paragraph should then feature analysis of your evidence and how it supports the topic sentence. Conclude each body paragraph by directly linking the evidence back to your thesis. Avoid simply listing evidence without context or analysis. Maintain a consistent logical flow between paragraphs by using explicit transitional words and phrases. For a 5-paragraph essay, three solid body paragraphs are ideal.
Using Evidence
Being able to effectively select and use evidence is crucial for scoring well on AP essays. Find specific, well-chosen examples, facts, anecdotes, or statistics from your course materials, texts, or outside sources to support each point. Introduce evidence with a signal phrase like “For example,” or “As illustrated by…” before directly quoting or paraphrasing the evidence. Then analyze the evidence by explaining how it relates to and proves your topic sentence and thesis. Do not simply include evidence without framing or discussing its significance. Additionally, if using outside sources, be sure to properly cite them using in-text citations or footnotes depending on the style guide.
Addressing Counterclaims/Alternative Views
While not always explicitly stated, AP readers appreciate essays that display nuanced understanding of broader contexts and alternative viewpoints. Consider addressing credible counterarguments or rival theories in your analysis, especially for questions that ask you to critically evaluate multiple perspectives. For example, you could acknowledge other viewpoints in a concession paragraph before reasserting how your evidence and argument outweigh them. Showing awareness of objections to your argument without succumbing or altering your thesis demonstrates advanced critical thinking skills.
Conclusion
Bring your response to a logical conclusion by directly restating your thesis and summarizing your main evidentiary points without introducing new information. Clarify why your argument is the most compelling interpretation based on the evidence discussed. You can also suggest broader implications or applications of your analysis. Avoid open-ended conclusions or recommendations without tying them back to prove your original thesis. Conclude confidently by underscoring for the reader why your thesis should be considered the strongest answer to the question.
Additional Tips
Additional ways to score highly on AP essays include following standard formatting guidelines, avoiding informal language, maintaining strict objectivity without including personal opinions, using grammatically correct and precise language throughout, avoiding plot summaries for questions asking for analysis, and budgeting sufficient time to proofread. While time limitations are tight, taking an extra few minutes to catch typos or unclear phrasing can significantly boost scores. Practicing AP essay prompts under timed conditions is also crucial for becoming comfortable with the demands of the format. With dedication to developing these key AP essay writing skills, students can earn their best possible scores.
Conclusion
Writing effective AP essays takes both content mastery and skill in academic writing conventions. Following a proven framework with a clear thesis, well-structured body paragraphs, logical flow, relevant evidence analysis, and a concise conclusion allows students to showcase their strongest abilities. With sufficient guided practice applying these strategies, students can feel prepared to tackle the AP essay writing challenges and maximize their potential scores. Continuing to develop nuanced thinking around course topics and crafting persuasive written arguments is worthwhile training for both the AP exams and college coursework ahead.
Andrew Stroud