Essay writing cheat sheet
Lounibos
APUSH
Essay Writing Cheat Sheet YOU MUST KEEP THIS SHEET IN YOUR BINDER AT ALL TIMES! We will refer to it often!
Evidence, Thesis, and Analysis
Before even starting to think about writing an essay, you need to understand the following:
Evidence is the foundation of all history papers. You cannot formulate a thesis until the evidence has been studied and analyzed for its significance. Evidence for history papers is usually found in primary sources (texts written during the period under study), but one may also write a history paper based on secondary sources (texts written after the period).
Evidence is comprised of: names, dates, events, places, laws, amendments, names, theories, concepts…all the nuts and bolts of history. A good starting point to learning evidence is to know the terms on the lists I provide you with. You will build these nuts and bolts into something by analyzing them (telling what they mean/represent), by using PERSIA, SOAPSToneS, the APUSH Themes….
A thesis… is your idea that takes a position on a topic. is the main idea of your essay in 1-2 sentences. makes a claim or argument which you will then prove or support throughout the essay with evidence and analysis. helps you organize your argument by laying out analytic categories (sub-points). is supported by evidence (specific facts that prove your argument is right) and analysis.
Thesis checklist:
Does your thesis… make an argument? get the job done in one to two sentences? build a roadmap (sub-points) for your essay? fit the evidence you use in your essay?
***You hold the burden of proof, meaning you must prove that your thesis is correct by presenting AND analyzing evidence.
Analysis shows how evidence helps prove your thesis, or main argument. In addition to presenting reliable evidence, you must take it a step further. First, you need to explain the evidence. What does it mean? Second, you must state the significance of your evidence. So
APUSH
Essay Writing Cheat Sheet YOU MUST KEEP THIS SHEET IN YOUR BINDER AT ALL TIMES! We will refer to it often!
Evidence, Thesis, and Analysis
Before even starting to think about writing an essay, you need to understand the following:
Evidence is the foundation of all history papers. You cannot formulate a thesis until the evidence has been studied and analyzed for its significance. Evidence for history papers is usually found in primary sources (texts written during the period under study), but one may also write a history paper based on secondary sources (texts written after the period).
Evidence is comprised of: names, dates, events, places, laws, amendments, names, theories, concepts…all the nuts and bolts of history. A good starting point to learning evidence is to know the terms on the lists I provide you with. You will build these nuts and bolts into something by analyzing them (telling what they mean/represent), by using PERSIA, SOAPSToneS, the APUSH Themes….
A thesis… is your idea that takes a position on a topic. is the main idea of your essay in 1-2 sentences. makes a claim or argument which you will then prove or support throughout the essay with evidence and analysis. helps you organize your argument by laying out analytic categories (sub-points). is supported by evidence (specific facts that prove your argument is right) and analysis.
Thesis checklist:
Does your thesis… make an argument? get the job done in one to two sentences? build a roadmap (sub-points) for your essay? fit the evidence you use in your essay?
***You hold the burden of proof, meaning you must prove that your thesis is correct by presenting AND analyzing evidence.
Analysis shows how evidence helps prove your thesis, or main argument. In addition to presenting reliable evidence, you must take it a step further. First, you need to explain the evidence. What does it mean? Second, you must state the significance of your evidence. So