how to start an leq thesis

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How to Approach the AP U.S. History Long Essay Question

The second part of Section II of the AP US History exam contains three long essay questions—you must respond to one. The long essay question assesses your ability to apply knowledge of history in a complex, analytical manner. In other words, you are expected to treat history and historical questions as a historian would. This process is called historiography—the skills and strategies historians use to analyze and interpret historical evidence to reach a conclusion. Thus, when writing an effective essay, you must be able to write a strong, clearly developed thesis and supply a substantial amount of relevant evidence to support your thesis and develop a complex argument.

The College Board’s characteristics of a high-scoring long essay question response are listed below. Note that the requirements are very similar to those of the DBQ ; the primary difference is that any requirements related to use of the documents are removed from the scoring requirements for the long essay question.

• Thesis: Make a thesis or claim that responds to the prompt. The thesis or claim must be historically defensible and establish a line of reasoning.
• Context: Provide context relevant to the prompt by describing a broader historical development or process.
• Evidence: Use specific and relevant examples as evidence to support an argument in response to the prompt.
• Historical Skill: Use a historical reasoning skill (causation, comparison, or continuity and change) to develop an argument in response to the prompt.
• Complex Understanding: Demonstrate a complex understanding of an argument that responds to the prompt by using evidence to corroborate, qualify, or modify the argument.

AP U.S. History Long Essay Strategy

Consider the following special strategies for the long essay question. Scoring requirements are highlighted in bold.

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt

• Each long essay question will ask you to “evaluate the extent” of some factor in American history. Since you are evaluating, you will need to develop an argument that addresses the prompt. Make sure to read all three prompts carefully. Think of the evidence you could use and the argument you could develop in response to each one, then choose the question you feel most confident about.
• Begin crafting your thesis statement. You must have a thesis that makes a claim and introduces the reasoning of your argument. It is not enough to merely restate the question as your thesis; you must take a position. Don’t be afraid of making a strong claim; just be sure you can provide relevant evidence to support your assertion. Your thesis may also outline the categories of analysis, or the major points, you will use in your essay.
• Part of developing your thesis should be considering how your essay’s argument will demonstrate a complex understanding, perhaps by analyzing multiple variables, by considering both changes and continuities, or by making an insightful connection to another time period.

Step 2: Plan Your Response

• Making a careful plan can help you make sure you address all the scoring requirements.
• Paraphrase your thesis statement. Knowing your claim will make it easier for you to plan an effective argument in your essay. In light of the documents, you must make a claim and/or demonstrate a line of reasoning that responds to the prompt. Avoid statements that are vague or general (“The Vietnam War was very significant”) and make a claim that responds to the prompt, uses both the documents and your historical knowledge, and sets up the rest of your essay (“The Vietnam War impacted Americans’ perceptions of the U.S. role in international politics, the power of the federal government, and the status of young people, influencing legal and social changes in American society”).
• Be sure your thesis or overall plan incorporates a complex understanding . You need to demonstrate that you have more than just a basic understanding of the content, so your thesis or overall essay should address complexity in the historical development—perhaps by including multiple variables, by considering both causes and effects, or by making an insightful connection to another time period. See below for a complete list of ways to demonstrate complex understanding.
• Make a note about how you will provide context for the topic of the prompt. This may fit well in the introduction or first body paragraph.
• List the documents you will use as evidence —remember that you must use six or seven to earn the maximum number of points for using the documents.
• Consider whether the paragraph is a good place to provide additional evidence —you must include one additional historical example.
• Think about when it would be beneficial to explain sourcing , or how a document’s context or situation is relevant to the argument—you must do so for three documents.
• Finally, review your plan and check off each requirement in your test booklet to ensure you addressed all six.

Step 3: Action! Write Your Response

• Nothing is more important in the first paragraph than the clear statement of an analytical thesis. The reader is most interested in seeing a strong thesis as soon as possible.
• Your thesis can be more than just one sentence. With the compound questions often asked by the DBQ, two sentences might be needed to complete the idea.
• Refer to the authors of the documents, not just the document numbers.
• A good idea is to write a concluding paragraph that might extend your original thesis. Think of a way to restate your thesis, adding information from your analysis of the documents.

Step 4: Proofread

• Skim for any glaring errors and, if you have time, check again to make sure your response meets each of the DBQ requirements.

AP Expert Note

Be prepared to demonstrate complex understanding The AP exam asks you to analyze sources and develop arguments in a sophisticated way. Demonstrating your complex understanding of the topic at hand is crucial to your success, and here are some ways you can do so.

• Analyze multiple variables
• Employ a complex historical reasoning skill by explaining both similarities and differences, both continuity and change, both causes and effects, or multiple causes
• Explain relevant connections to other regions or other time periods
• Corroborate perspectives across multiple course themes (such as environment, cultural developments, governance, economic systems, social organization, and technology)
• Qualify an argument using other evidence or views

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How to Craft a Robust LEQ Thesis: Key Steps and Techniques

The Long Essay Question (LEQ) forms an integral part of the AP examination. It tests your ability to articulate a thesis and substantiate it with evidence and historical reasoning.

Understanding the LEQ

An LEQ asks you to write about a specific topic related to world, US, or European history. It involves constructing a robust thesis answerable through historical evidence and reasoning. The thesis must be placed in either the introduction or conclusion section of your essay, and it must be a few consecutive sentences long.

Stages of Handling the LEQ

Creating a successful LEQ involves several stages:

• Planning : Before you start writing, take some time to analyze the prompt and plan your essay. Even if you are pressured with time, planning is critical to your success.
• Brainstorming : Break down the question and understand the requested reasoning skill. From there, brainstorm what you know about the topic, separating ideas into context or evidence notes.
• Writing : After successfully creating a plan you like, you can start writing. Ensure your introductory paragraph includes contextualization and a complex thesis. Remember, your body paragraphs will vary in length but should maintain a consistent structure.

Writing a Complex Thesis

The thesis is the backbone of your essay. It introduces your main argument or claim, which is then supported with evidence and analysis. A strong thesis must be “historically defensible” – the evidence you present must be plausible.

Frequently, a complex thesis incorporates a counterclaim or an alternate viewpoint.

Importance of Contextualization

Contextualization involves providing a brief statement that outlines the broader historical background relevant to the prompt that can help readers understand the specific topic and argument you’re making. This is typically included in your introduction. Your contextualization must refer to events, developments and/or processes beyond the prompt’s time and place and must be connected to your thesis or argument.

Use of Evidence

Evidence is the backbone of your LEQ argument. Your evidence is drawn directly from your historical knowledge. Good evidence is accurate, relevant to the prompt, and specific.

Evidence should substantially populate your main body paragraphs, with each paragraph ideally having two pieces of quality evidence or more.

Analysis and Reasoning

Beyond having evidence, this phase is about using that evidence to support your argument. The recurring theme in your essay: connect your evidence back to your topic sentence and/or thesis. A good argument needs structure and your reasoning skills to create that structure.

Role of Complexity

The College Board rewards essays that demonstrate a complex understanding of the topic of the prompt. A complex argument often starts with a complex thesis, which can include a counter-claim or an alternate viewpoint.

Conclusions

The art of writing an LEQ entails creating a sophisticated thesis, providing contextual information, and supporting the thesis with historical evidence. Mastering the elements of crafting an LEQ might seem overwhelming at first, but with practice, it becomes much easier and leads to great success in your AP exams.

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The 6 Best Ways to Prepare for the LEQ APUSH Section

What Is the LEQ APUSH Section?

The LEQ APUSH section (a.k.a. the long essay question section) is worth 15% of your overall score. It asks you to choose one of two prompts. Then, you need to write a solid essay within the 35 allotted minutes. The essay should demonstrate one of the historical thinking skills . Here are the 6 best ways that you can prepare in order to ace the LEQ APUSH section.

1. Dissect the Question

Start by analyzing the question. Find out what the question is asking you to do. You need to make sure that you answer every part of it.

Go through the question and circle all the directive words, such as analyze , compare/contrast , or assess .

There may be a few trick directives in the question. These are there to distract you from the topics you really need to address. Pay attention, and read closely to determine what the question is really asking you to answer.

2. Craft a Solid Thesis

One of the most important parts of any essay is the thesis. Why? Because it is the outline to your paper. Your thesis tells the reader what your stance is on the issue, what you’re going to compare and contrast, etc. Then, it tells the reader which supporting details you will discuss further.

Practice crafting a thesis that won’t just reiterate the question. Be prepared to answer every part of the question, with relevant evidence to support your ideas.

3. Create an Outline

Once you have your thesis, you have a pretty good idea of what you’re going to discuss throughout your essay. Take a minute to brainstorm ideas. It could be a cluster, bulleted list, or other way to get your ideas on paper.

Then, jot down an outline with a few notes to remind you what you want to include in each paragraph. Refer to your outline while writing the essay. This will allow you to attack the question methodically to help you earn more points.

4. Use Historical Lingo

Since your essay should prove to graders that you know what you’re talking about, try to use as much historical lingo as possible. Of course, you need to use it correctly. Study the vocabulary so you can speak as an expert on American history.

5. Make Connections

The paragraph before your conclusion should be used to make connections to a different historical period , geographical area, or theme. Don’t just make the comparison. Take some time to develop the idea, so you can describe the period (or theme, geographical area, etc.) and discuss why you chose it.

6. Practice Good Writing Techniques

Don’t simply spill all your good ideas on the paper. You need to use good writing techniques, and pay attention to your spelling, grammar, capitalization, and so on. Some of the common things to watch for include:

• Active voice (not passive voice)
• Third person
• Strong verbs
• Descriptive adjectives and adverbs

Refrain from using abbreviations, casual language, or a lot of fluff. Keep your essay concise as you answer the question.

As you work on these 6 things, practice writing solid essays for the LEQ APUSH section. Have a friend or teacher check your writing to help you determine what you can do to improve. You can also refer to the College Board’s LEQ scoring guidelines and commentary for examples that can guide your writing, and help you ace the LEQ APUSH section. Remember, practice makes perfect!

Jamie graduated from Brigham Young University- Idaho with a degree in English Education. She spent several years teaching and tutoring students at the elementary, high school, and college level. She currently works as a contract writer and curriculum developer for online education courses. In her free time, she enjoys running and spending time with her boys!

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Writing – LEQ Evidence, Historical Reasoning, and Complexity Part I

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How to Write a DBQ, LEQ, & SAQ

General tips.

• Planning, reading, and annotating documents  (15 minutes) and writing essay (40 minutes) 
• Do NOT answer the question in bullet points.
• Read the question carefully.
• Use the language of the prompt to directly answer the questions.
• Look for key action words and circle them (describe, analyze, explain, identify, etc). 
• Look for plurals (ex: reason vs. reasons), if something is plural you must do two!
• USe specific proper nouns that are given in each part of the question. This will support what you are trying to say and will give you credibility. 

ACE The question

• Answer the question using a claim or topic sentence 
• Cite specific factual evidence
• Explain how the evidence proves the claim

DBQ: Requirements

• A DBQ is a document based question where you take information from given documents and write an essay
• There is no set format for DBQ writing, however there are certain things you have to touch up on which are 
• Thesis/Claim 
• Contextualization 

Analysis and Reasoning 

DBQ: Outline

Contextualization

• Conclusion (if you have time)
• Contextualization includes historical information relevant to the prompt
• Think before, during, and after what you are going to be writing about.
• Should be 3-4 sentences.
•        Last sentence is your thesis statement.

1.A Thesis Statement

• Your thesis statement is trying to prove a point.
• DO NOT RESTATE THE PROMPT.
• Should be 1-2 sentences.
• Be specific! 
• A strong thesis answers the “How” or “Why” question about your topic through a specific language.
• Should include date (can be centuries) and location.
• Ex: “ [Event] changed [example #1], [example #2], and [example #3] realities in [given place] during [date].” 
• Body paragraphs  
• Your body paragraphs go into detail for what you are trying to prove.
• Focus on these main categories (think PERSIANS ) based on your promt (remember, you will not need to cover all of these in your body paragraphs , but these are good ways to get analysis points. Political Social, and Economic are the ones that will show up the most).
• I ntellectual
• N ear (Geographical location)
• S ignificant Figures 

What should be included

• Document citations (you can just say “Doc #” next to where you add your information pertaining to the document).
• Description of document (even if it is a picture of a painting, you still have to describe it).
• Why does the document pertain to your thesis statement?
• For at least half of the documents you need to state at least one of the following and explain why it is relevant
• Credibility; is the document reliable?
• Point of view of the author
• Purpose of the document
• Intended audience (who would support/refute)
• *Remember, the whole point of doing this is to strengthen your argument. Choose something that is relevant to what you are talking about so you can earn points!
• Refresh everything that you have stated BRIEFLY.
• Try to end powerful, you want to show you have a complex understanding on what you are talking about.

Scoring on AP Exam 

Thesis/Claim

Responds to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis/claim that establishes a line of reasoning.

The thesis must make a claim that responds to the prompt rather than restating or rephrasing the prompt. The thesis must consist of one or more sentences located in one place, either in the introduction or the conclusion.

Describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt.

The response must relate the topic of the prompt to broader historical events, developments, or processes that occur before, during, or continue after the time frame of the question. This point is not awarded for merely a phrase or reference.

Evidence from Documents

Uses content of 

At least three documents to address the topic of the prompt

Supports an argument in response to the prompt using at least six documents

Evidence from Beyond the Documents 

Uses at least one additional piece of the specific historical evidence (beyond that found in the documents) relevant to an argument about the prompt.

To earn one point, the response must accurately describe — rather than simply quote — the content from at least three of the documents. 

To earn two points, the response must accurately describe — rather than simply quote — the content from at least six documents. In addition, the response must use the content of the documents to support an argument in response to the prompt

To earn one point, the response must accurately describe — rather than simply quote — the content from at least three of the documents. To earn two points, the response must accurately describe — rather than simply quote — the content from at least six documents. In addition, the response must use the content of the documents to support an argument in response to the prompt

 For at least three documents, explains how or why the document’s point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience is relevant to an argument. 

Demonstrates a complex understanding of the historical development that is the focus of the prompt, using evidence to corroborate, qualify, or modify an argument that addresses the question.

To earn this point, the response must explain how or why (rather than simply identifying) the document’s point of view, purpose, historical situation, or audience is relevant to an argument about the prompt for each of the three documents sourced. 

A response may demonstrate a complex understanding in a variety of ways, such as: • Explaining nuance of an issue by analyzing multiple variables • Explaining both similarity and difference, or explaining both continuity and change, or explaining multiple causes, or explaining both cause and effect • Explaining relevant and insightful connections within and across periods • Confirming the validity of an argument by corroborating multiple perspectives across themes • Qualifying or modifying an argument by considering diverse or alternative views or evidence This understanding must be part of the argument. 

(from AP history DBQ rubric (7 points) - MRCASEYHISTORY. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://mrcaseyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/ap-dbq-rubric-and-reasoning-skills.pdf ) 

LEQ: Requirements

• An LEQ is long essay question that is usually compare/contrast or cause/effect.
• Thesis based prompt. 
• Should take around 40-50 minutes.
• 15% of total grade. 
• You do NOT NEED to have a five paragraph essay, you need as many to make your point.

LEQ: Outline

• Body paragraph #1
• Body paragraph #2
• Conclusion (if you have extra time). 
•        Last Sentence is your thesis statement.
• Your thesis statement is what you are trying to prove.
• A strong thesis answers the “How” or “Why” question about your topic through a specific language. 
• Should have at least three points 
• ex:  if you are comparing and contrasting the French and American Revolutions,  you can have two differences and one similarity, or one similarly and two differences. 
• “While both [topic 1] and [topic 2] are similar in [similarity #1], they are different in terms of [difference #1] and [difference #2].”
• Body paragraphs 
• Your body paragraphs go into detail for what you are trying to prove
• Start each paragraph with a topic sentence.
• Ex: X caused significant [selected PERSIANS] change during [given period].
• Focus on these main categories (think PERSIANS ) based on your prompt (remember, you will not need to cover all of these in your body paragraphs , but these are good ways to get analysis points. Political, Social, and Economic are the ones that will show up the most).
• Specific examples and analysis to prove your thesis.
• Background information (bringing in an outside source of information) (ex: if you are talking about American and French Revolutions, you can talk about the Haitian Revolution). 
• BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE.
• However if you do not know something, do not make something up.

Scoring on AP Exam

Scoring Criteria

Decision Rules

Provides specific examples of evidence relevant to the topic of the prompt.

Supports an argument in response to the prompt using specific and relevant examples of evidence.

To earn one point, the response must identify specific historical examples of evidence relevant to the topic of the prompt.

To earn two points the response must use specific historical evidence to support an argument in response to the prompt.

Analysis and Reasoning

Uses historical reasoning (e.g. comparison, causation, CCOT) to frame or structure an argument that addresses the prompt.

To earn the first point, the response must demonstrate the use of historical reasoning to frame or structure an argument, although the reasoning might be uneven or imbalanced.

To earn the second point, the response must demonstrate a complex understanding. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, such as:

• Explaining nuance of an issue by analyzing multiple variables

• Explaining both similarity and difference, or explaining both continuity and change, or explaining multiple causes, or explaining both causes and effects

• Explaining relevant and insightful connections within and across periods

• Confirming the validity of an argument by corroborating multiple perspectives across themes

• Qualifying or modifying an argument by considering diverse or alternative views or evidence This understanding must be part of the argument, not merely a phrase or reference.

(From AP history long essay question (LEQ) rubric (6 points). (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2023, from http://www.sultztonianinstitute.com/uploads/7/8/5/5/7855396/leq-rubric.pdf ) 

SAQ: Requirements

• An SAQ (Short answer question) allows students to show their knowledge to answer questions from key concepts through a few sentences.
• Does not require a thesis statement.
• Does require complete sentences.
• Usually broken into parts A,B, and C, but sometimes one section might ask two questions (for example, part A might ask two questions and B will ask one) but there will always be three questions asked. 
• There is limited space to answer, so be careful not to overwrite!
• At least half of the questions will include a reference of some sort (ex: photos, charts, graphs) that could be primary or secondary.
• 40 minutes in total to answer all SAQs.

SAQ: Scoring

• Each part of the SAQ is worth 1 point, therefore there are 9 possible points to earn.
• Worth 20% of overall grade (most students who get a 5 get at least 7/9 points on the SAQ).
• Considered “rough drafts” (grammatical errors will not count against you).
• Points are earned through historical accuracy, quality of explanations, and depth of description that answer the question. 
• Remember points are only earned on AP exams. If you do not know something the worst thing you could do is not answer. ANSWER EVERYTHING!

SAQ Outline Example

• The Neolithic Revolution has been seen by many historians as the biggest cause of the early advent of civilizations.
• a)  Identify and explain ONE argument that supports the assertion above.
• b)  Identify and explain ONE argument that refutes the assertion above.
• c)  Explain which is more useful, (a) or (b), in evaluating the assertion above.

Scoring Guide for the above question

●  One point for ​identifying​ and explaining​ one argument that supports the Neolithic Revolution being the biggest cause of the early advent of civilizations. .

• ●  One point for ​identifying​ and explaining​ one argument that refutes (disproves) the idea that the Neolithic Revolution was the biggest cause of the early advent of civilizations.
• ●  One point for ​explaining ​which argument, (a) or (b), is more useful in evaluating the assertion that the Neolithic Revolution was the biggest cause of the early advent of civilizations.

(Birdville ISD / Overview. (n.d.). from https://www.birdvilleschools.net/ ) 

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How to Write an LEQ Essay? (Step-byStep)

Preparing to take AP History exams is always daunting — your score will play a major role in determining your future, after all. Many students find the LEQ portion of US, European, and World History exams to be the most challenging, as it requires quick thinking and relies on confident writing skills. Do you need a little extra help in preparing for your long essay question? We're here to help.

Understanding an LEQ

APUSH, AP World History, and AP European History exams feature the same question types every year. Each of the sections in your exam has an established format, and will be scored to make up a predetermined percentage of your overall exam result. Together, the types of questions you will find on your AP History exam serve to test your knowledge and analytical skills.

The APUSH exam, for instance, consists of:

• A total of 55 multiple-choice questions, which students are given 55 minutes to complete and which amount to 40 percent of the total score.
• Three SAQs, or short answer questions, in which students are called on to demonstrate their analytical skills. The SAQs represent 20 percent of the total score.
• DBQs, or document based questions, which make up 25 percent of the exam score.
• LEQs, long essay questions, which make up 15 percent of the total score.

Students will be offered two different prompts to choose from in this section of an AP History exam, and are given 40 minutes to complete a short essay with the purpose of demonstrating rhetorical and reasoning skills, as well as proving they have the required background knowledge to pass the exam.

While the LEQ portion of an AP History exam is bound to be daunting to many students, who find multiple-choice questions easier to tackle than a free response task, acing your long essay questions will be easier once you understand what the purpose of this portion of the exam is. The LEQ:

• Primarily serves to demonstrate that the student has a complex and nuanced understanding of historical events.
• Tests whether students are able to draw parallels and see contrasts in different historical events, as well as to compare and contrast distinct events or time periods.
• Puts the student's analytical and reasoning skills to the test.

Is the LEQ Hard?

Students who prepare for their AP History exams — and who have had plenty of practice in writing essays — should not find the long essay question too challenging. Students will be offered two prompts, and are given the opportunity to choose from among them.

Because the long essay question they select will prompt students to engage in a free response, and there is no clearly defined "right" or "wrong" answer, many students experience the long essay question as the most difficult part of the AP history exam. There's no need to be scared of this portion of the exam, though!

You will not primarily be judged on the beauty of the words you choose, and a formulaic response that "ticks all the right boxes", by answering the prompt in the expected format, will help you maximize your score. This ultimately means that the LEQ portion of your APUSH, World History, or European History exam does not have to be difficult, as long as you practice in advance and are familiar with the expectations being placed on you.

How Is the LEQ Scored?

The prompts students are able to choose from change every year — but the scoring guidelines for the LEQ remain consistent. Grading personnel will be on the lookout for evidence that students:

• Address the prompt directly. You will be given a clear task, and you will need to show that you have understood the prompt.
• Offer clear reasoning for the position they choose to take in the essay, citing evidence from the material encountered in the AP History coursework that precedes the exam.
• Draw on the wider historical context relevant to the chosen prompt, by addressing developments that occurred before the events in the prompt, by pointing to the effects of the event referenced in the prompt, or by comparing it to another event.
• Offer specific examples relevant to the prompt.
• Can compare and contrast the referenced event, or point to cause and effect. Alternatively, students may demonstrate complex understanding by discussing multiple consequences, causes, or variables related to the prompt.

You may notice that the beauty of your writing is not addressed in any of these points — especially artful wording or syntax cannot lead to additional points, because the examiners are looking for evidence that you have meaningfully interacted with your AP History classes, instead. It is therefore sensible to focus all your efforts on answering the LEQ prompt, without agonizing over your stylistic choices.

How to Format the APUSH LEQ?

While students are free to format their long essay questions in any way they would like, a five-paragraph essay format is extremely effective. This format offers students the chance to write an introduction in which they state their thesis — the historically-defensible claim they are making in the essay. They can then write three supporting paragraphs in which they elaborate on the thesis and explain why it is valid. Finally, such an essay should have a concluding paragraph in which the thesis is restated and defended in brief.

Students who believe they need additional paragraphs to defend their thesis can certainly write more, but each supporting paragraph in the body of the essay must speak to the prompt, by providing evidence to back the thesis up, in order for the student to gain as many points as possible.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing an LEQ Essay

Are you preparing for your AP History exams? Practice makes perfect — and practicing for your LEQ will help you knock an effective essay, one that ticks all the right boxes, out in no time. Practice using these techniques by looking up LEQ prompts from previous years!

1. Read the LEQ Prompts Carefully

Before you write a response to the long essay question of your choice, take the time to read both prompts carefully. You have 40 minutes to complete the entire LEQ portion of your AP History exam, and you would be advised to take at least 30 seconds to a minute to decide which prompt you are most likely to be able to answer well. Consider which topic you know more about, and what specific evidence you could offer to support your claim.

2. Formulate Your Response In Your Mind

Keeping in mind that students are expected to address the prompt directly, to formulate a thesis, to back it up with specific evidence, and to place their answers into a broader historical context, think about the points you would like to include in the response to your long essay question.

Take the time to formulate a specific and defensible thesis, and think about the evidence and context you can offer to support your claim. If you can, include a hook that will interest the person grading your LEQ, such as a quote, statistic, or interesting fact. Consider strong ways to end your LEQ essay, paying special attention to your concluding sentence.

Overall, this preparatory work should take you up to five minutes.

3. Write Your LEQ Response

Now that you have outlined the formula of your response in your mind, you can go ahead and write down your answer. Your LEQ should begin with an introductory paragraph, which will include your thesis statement. The next paragraphs in your LEQ essay should be devoted to showing why your thesis is defensible, using material you mastered during your AP History classes. Finish off with a concluding paragraph that clearly lays out why the points made in your essay are valid. You can take around 30 minutes crafting your LEQ essay.

4. Edit and Proofread Your LEQ Response

Finally, you will want to look over your LEQ essay and to check for grammatical errors or spelling mistakes. Correct those, as needed.

How to Pass the APUSH LEQ Exam

Do you suffer from essay-related "stage fright"? Are you a history buff, but was writing never your strongest point? Don't worry — it is entirely possible to earn a good score on the LEQ portion of any AP History exam without being a great writer. You can increase your chances of earning a great score on the LEQ portion of an AP US, European, or World History exam by:

• Using prompts used during previous years to practice for this portion of your exam — the more you practice, the easier it will be to simply write.
• Analyzing the prompt carefully, being sure to pay attention to the core message.
• Offering specific examples to show why the claim you are making is valid.
• Offering a broader context to show that you understand how the topic addressed in the LEQ relates to other historical events.

The long essay question requires writing, but the quality of your writing is not being examined — to pass your APUSH LEQ exam, you simply need to understand what expectations are being placed on you. If you arrive fully prepared, you will not have any trouble!

Related posts:

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• 14 Tips to Help you Write An Essay Fast
• How to Write an Effective Claim (with Examples)
• How to Write a Counter Argument (Step-by-Step Guide)
• How to Write an Effective Counterclaim in 5 Steps
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LEQ (Meaning, Nature, Application skills, Scoring, Expert tips to writing)

• by Stella-maris Achumba
• November 9, 2021

Do you hear about LEQ, but don’t know what it means? Then, this article is for you.

LEQ stands for “Long Essay Question.” It is an Advanced Placement (AP) historical language for a thesis -evident essay.

It is a type of essay introduced by the College Board as a part of their “re-structure,” beginning with the 2016 AP exam. 

Thus, LEQ exam is a question or task requiring students to develop a thesis and then use proof to support it.

Table of Contents

Nature of LEQ:

The long essay question evaluates students’ ability to apply historical knowledge in an analytical and complex manner. 

Moreover, the AP European History exam gives two LEQs. Students often have the option of choosing just one of the LEQs to answer.

The exam lasts for 35 minutes and makes up 15% of the final exam score. Moreso, it is graded on a 0-6 point scale.   

Each of the LEQs on the AP exam evaluates either the comparison, periodization, causation, or change and continuity over time. 

Historical Skills Used in the Application of LEQ Questions

These can otherwise be referred to as “types of LEQs” by some persons. These types of skills help with responding to an LEQ prompt. The skills include:

Causation:  

Here, you are expected to recognize, analyze, and assess multiple cause and effect relationships in a historical context, showing your ability to differentiate between the short and long term.

Change and Continuity Over Time:  

The ability to detect, investigate, and assess the dynamics of historical continuity and change over diverse time periods, as well as the relationship between these transitional patterns and larger historical themes or processes, is the application of your historical knowledge.

Periodization:

This involves your ability to utilize your historical knowledge well in the description, analysis, evaluation, and construction of models of historical periods. 

Because historians recognize that certain dates favor one narrative, group, or category over another, the transition of periodization can modify a historical narrative.

 Also, the specific situations and settings in which individual historians function and write would determine their interpretations of previous events.

Compare and Contrast:  

Historical thinking engages the ability of you to explain, compare, and evaluate multiple historical advancements within societies, could be one or more different societies, and in several chronological orders.

Related article: What is DBQ? (Meaning, format, DBQ Score, How-to)

Scoring Requirements for the Long Essay Question(LEQ)

A student is scored based on their ability to demonstrate historical knowledge effectively on past events. Below are the requirements used in scoring and grading students.

A thesis or claim that is relevant to the prompt should be made. It must be historically justifiable, and a path of reasoning must be developed.

Provision of relevant contexts to the prompt by depicting a wider historical process or development facilitates scores.

Relevant and specific examples should be cited as proof to support an argument as a response to the prompt.

Historical Skill: 

Ensure to use a historical reasoning skill, causation, periodization, compare and contrast or change, and continuity, to establish an argument response to the prompt.

Complex Understanding: 

Demonstrate a vast understanding of an argument that provides answers to the prompt using evidence to qualify, support, or modify the argument.

How to write the Long Essay Question(LEQ)

Introduction:.

• Make a contextualized start to your essay, then connect it to your overall topic.
• Then, using data to establish your topic sentence, write a structured body paragraph using one of the course reasoning skills (causation, periodization, comparison and contrast, change, and continuity through time).
• Continue with an analysis that expands on your main point.
• Continue in this manner until the prompt has been properly addressed.

Your introduction must include your contextualization and thesis.

It is a statement that establishes your place and time in history and then a short but concise description of the historical setting.

Moreover, link the relevant context to the prompt theme and topic, no matter how broad.

Then, make a thesis or claim that responds to the prompt, with a general overview of your interpretations and any counter-claim you intend to address.

Body Paragraphs: 

Body paragraphs will differ in length based on the number of documents or other evidence pieces included in your work. However, this should follow a regular structure.

Firstly, begin with a topic sentence that shows the particular aspect of the prompt the paragraph will address.

After that, outline specific points to guide you. These points for topic sentences will assist you with staying focused.

Then, support your topic sentence with an evidence piece and link it to your thesis and topic sentence.

Keep on repeating this with one to two pieces of evidence and more elaborations until you have completed the argument of your topic sentence.

New Paragraph?

Kick-off a new paragraph with a new topic sentence.

All body paragraphs follow this general format, and there is no limit to the number of paragraphs for the LEQ.

However, ensure to write as many paragraphs as needed to enable you fully respond to the prompt by formulating the argument (and counter-argument where applicable) from your thesis.

Conclusion:  

Unlike the introduction and necessary body paragraphs, the conclusion is, however, optional.

Depending on the time left, you may choose to write a conclusion if you do have time. Writing isn’t a must for you, so you may not do it if you’re rushed. 

But, it is noteworthy that the conclusion is the only place where you can earn or score the thesis point outside the introduction, so it’s not bad to strive in giving it a trial.

Here, you could re-state your thesis in a new way using different words or give any concluding thoughts in respect to analysis about your topic.

You might as well make your complexity point more tangible and concrete in the conclusion if written well.

Tips to writing a Good Long Essay Question(LEQ)

• Write essays using the third person pronoun, not the first person pronoun; that is, use “we” instead of “I.”
• Ensure to define or explain key terms. 
• Be particular about your choice of words.
• Be objective
• Add counter-claims where applicable
• Communicate history complexity awareness
• Concentrate more on the thesis in the conclusion
• Enable understanding of the logical formulation and organization of your argument.  

Conclusively, an LEQ is a type of question, like the DBQ organized by the College Board used in assessing students’ knowledge on historical past events.

Typically, it is the second part of section II of the AP United States history exam where students have to choose one.

The key steps to completing the LEQ include: analyzing the question, gathering substantial evidence, developing or formulating a thesis, writing the introduction, body/supporting paragraphs, and then conclusion if time permits you.

You could as well evaluate or proofread your essay.

Awesome one; I hope this article answered your question.

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Stella-maris Achumba

Hello, I am Stella-maris! For two years, I began actively assisting students in the United States, and Canada in their pursuit of college advice and scholarship prospects. I am a content writer at www.schoolandtravel.com.

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Score Higher on AP Euro 2024: LEQ Tips from Students

17 min read • june 18, 2024

This guide organizes advice from past students who got 4s and 5s on their exams. We hope it gives you some new ideas and tools for your study sessions. But remember, everyone's different—what works for one student might not work for you. If you've got a study method that's working, stick with it. Think of this as extra help, not a must-do overhaul.

• Students are asked to pick one topic out of 3 and write a historical essay supporting an argument
• 15% ****of Exam Score
• Spend about 40 minutes
• Thesis/Claim (1)
• Contextualization (1)
• Uses Specific Evidence (3)
• Complexity (2)

💭 General Advice

• It might be more helpful to leave the LEQ until the end since writing the DBQ takes longer and it can help you recall the information needed for the LEQ!
• A brief outline during those 5 minutes goes a long way when you’re writing the LEQ since you’ll have a basic idea of what you’re going to talk about instead of scrambling and wasting time.
• Focusing on dividing your paragraphs into the different parts of your thesis. 40 min is a good benchmark and it’s good to check in every 10 min to see if you should move on from a part if it’s not as important.
• Choose the topic that you know several pieces of outside information about and that you will feel most confident discussing.
• Make sure to reread the question at least 3-4 times. This helps you really understand what the question is asking you to do. Try using the method called “Topic, Task, Time Period” in which you identify all three components. This ensures that you aren’t going to write an essay on the wrong topic or even time period (don’t let the ‘centuries’ confuse you!)
• If you’re not confident with your time periods, avoid the choices with a strict time period. If you pick evidence that’s even slightly outside the time boundaries in the question you’re not likely to get a good score. It’s important to pick a question where you both know background information and can apply it by making sure it's within a time frame.
• Even if you’re not 100% sure about something, make sure to put something down that is somewhat related to the question—you’ll be surprised what gets partial credit sometimes.
• If you can work quickly, it’s best to come up with 2-3 possible arguments and determine which one you have the most evidence for — give yourself options.

🕐 Before you Write

• Word dump a bunch of ideas for like 1-2 minutes after you pick the prompt, this can help fill up your contextualization for the introduction paragraph and is a good way to start off the essay."
• When thinking about your answer for the prompt, not only evaluate solutions but also arguments from the opposing viewpoint. This will help you come up with a counter thesis. This is especially useful in trying to achieve the complexity point later in your thesis. By doing this, you have something to go off of later and it integrates well into your essay.
• This is a good thing to do for the outline as well! However, make sure you’re not sculpting your evidence to fit the thesis—your evidence should be creating the thesis, not just cherry-picking specific points to try and support your thesis in a narrow view."
• It might be easier to write your contextualization in the beginning of your essay. Try using this technique where you create a mini timeline for yourself prior to writing the thesis statement explaining the “Why” behind whichever direction you choose to answer the question in.
• In a simpler breakdown, it’s just a brainstorming process for myself where you can draw context from your own knowledge, the questions in the MCQ portion of the test, and provided documents.
• Knowing a broad timeline of key dates is extremely helpful in connecting your event to other events. Make sure you memorize the start and end dates for each AP Euro unit for sure! Knowing the dates of major events like WWI, WWII, Thirty Years War, Napoleonic Wars is also helpful.
• Avoid using first-person pronouns (i.e; I, we, our, my, etc…) and mundane language; for example, instead of saying “I think this is why the Cold War hurt countries trying to get out of colonialism”, say “The Cold War hurt decolonization movements because…”

💡 Tips for Earning Each Point

Example LEQ Prompt (we’ll be using this throughout this guide):

"Evaluate the extent to which the Scientific Revolution represented a shift in European thought." There are multiple ways to attack a prompt like this, so it’s best to start brainstorming right away.

Claim/Thesis

"Although some may argue that the Scientific Revolution was a continuation of earlier intellectual traditions because scholars like the ancient Greeks also engaged in scientific inquiry, ultimately, it represented a significant shift in European thought because it prioritized empirical evidence over religious and philosophical speculation, fostered the development of the scientific method, and promoted a worldview centered on human reason and observation.”

• The thesis should guide the structure of your entire essay, acting as a roadmap for reader and writer alike.
• If you struggle with coming up with a thesis statement, use this format: “Despite (counter argument), because (evidence 1) and (evidence 2), (your argument). Or “Although (counterargument) because (example), ultimately (argument) because X, Y, and Z.” XYZ being general ideas of the evidence you are going to use, rather than your exact examples.
• Develop categories that you will include in your thesis which you will use to form body paragraphs (ex. The political laws that affected the lives of everyday people).
• It doesn’t matter where you put your thesis as long as you have a “valid one.” But it’s recommended to put a thesis in your intro and conclusion to maximize the chances you have to earn your thesis point.
• Your thesis can be straight to the point, and the conclusion thesis to be broader and more developed based on what you write in the essay. After all, if you write the exact same thesis in both places and it’s a bad thesis, you won’t get the point anyway."
• Before you begin writing, write down the topics, and provide 2-3 details for each. The essay is for analysis.
• Make sure that you include your topic sentences – which corroborate your thesis – in your introduction! For example in the thesis above, it explains that “The Scientific Revolution marked a significant departure from previous European thought” and the reasons **why “**by challenging the authority of the Church, promoting empirical observation and rationalism”.
• Mark up the prompt as you write your thesis to make sure you are actually answering what the prompt is asking. The worst is writing a beautiful essay, but being unable to receive points because it does not answer the actual prompt. Remember, your thesis guides your essay!
• Underline your thesis statement. Not for the scorer, but for you so you don’t stray from it.
• BE SPECIFIC!

Contextualization

Before the 1500s, most Europeans believed in the ideas of ancient Greek and Roman scholars, who thought everything in the natural world could be explained by philosophy. However, during the Renaissance, people started questioning old beliefs and focusing more on human experience and observation. This shift set the stage for the Scientific Revolution, where scientists like Galileo and Newton used experiments to understand mysteries of the universe, changing how Europeans thought about the world around them.

• One way to think of this is like opening of a Star Wars movie!
• Connect the specific topic of your essay to larger historical trends or processes. This should be done consistently throughout the essay. You want to analyze the facts and their impact on surrounding history.
• For example, if a prompt is asking you something about the Romanticism period (movement), your contextualization can talk about the previous movement, the Enlightenment, and talk about how Romanticism was a rejection of the cold reason of the Enlightenment in favor of emotion.
• Likewise, you can include more context in an optional conclusion. For example, you could talk about how Realism (movement after Romanticism) rejected the superficiality of Romanticism in favor of depictions of ordinary working people.
• To get the point, you only need two well-explained events.
• Sentence starters: “Before [insert the earliest year], [bring up event one] occurred.”
• You have to explain the concept or event you bring up for context- at least one sentence.
• Be incredibly precise with your words and events; for example, focus on points between a span of 200 years, not too much further.
• For example, if the prompt asks; “Evaluate whether the English Civil War (1642-1649) was motivated primarily by religious reasons or primarily by political reasons,” your context should be between the 1400s-early 1600s range.
• If you choose to go the religion reasoning route, you can use the Protestant Reformation (1517) or the dissolution of monasteries under Henry VIII’s rule (1536-1541). The Gunpowder Plot (1605) is an example that is closer to the time period.
• If you choose to go the political reasoning route, you can use the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) or James I’s divine right clashing with Parliament’s desire for a limited monarchy (1603-1625).
• Describe the events leading up to the prompted event, the background of an invention or idea, or the location an event occurred and who was involved.
• Context shouldn’t be too long, maybe 3-4 sentences. If you’re writing a lot, you’re wasting valuable time. This is the place in the essay where you can be short & sweet, not diving into complex details.
• Although it is important to not spend too much time on contextualization it is very important that you make sure your contextualization is not vague. Contextualization sets the stage to introduce your thesis so it is very important to choose details that relate to the topic as well as tying it back into your thesis.
• Use many strong transitional words and phrases, such as consequently, due to, earlier, furthermore, therefore, etc. These will help your reader understand clearly the flow of events that you’re presenting to them. It can also aid with adhering to your outline.
• Embed the context naturally into your introduction or body paragraphs as needed. For example- have the first part of your introduction talk about the time period before the one the question is set in, connecting the ideas to what you will talk about in the LEQ.
• Try to give your contextualization a chronological flow.
• If you’re struggling to think of an event you can use, double check the specific time period or range they give you. The College Board usually uses a specific year to mark the beginning of the time period they give you as a notable event happened right before it.
• Remain true to the prompt and your thesis. There’s often information relevant to the bigger picture, but if it doesn’t assist in furthering your thesis, find something more important.
• Choose 1-2 events from each time period to prepare. The events should be multifaceted and easy to use for multiple questions in order to not cram too much information into my head. One obvious example is the Protestant Reformation because what didn’t that event help kickstart in Europe?
• Connect ideas and events across time.
• Think of wars, major turning points in time that reflect a movement, revolution, or important figure. Then think of what led up to those turning points and connect back with the questions.
• Try to set the stage for your essay and make sure the background information is relevant to your essay, be specific.

Specific Evidence Usage

Paragraph 1 – Prioritized empirical evidence over religious and philosophical speculation Galileo Galilei's Observations : Galileo's use of the telescope to observe the moons of Jupiter contradicted the geocentric model of the universe supported by the Church, showing reliance on observation rather than scripture or ancient philosophy. Copernicus' Heliocentric Theory : Nicolaus Copernicus proposed a heliocentric model of the universe, which directly challenged the geocentric view endorsed by the Church. This theory was based on mathematical calculations and astronomical observations, showcasing a shift towards empirical evidence and away from religious doctrine as the basis for understanding the cosmos. Paragraph 2 – Fostered the Development of the Scientific Method Francis Bacon's Empiricism : Bacon advocated for the empirical method, emphasizing observation and experimentation as the basis for knowledge, which was a departure from the deductive reasoning of the past. René Descartes' Deductive Reasoning : Descartes introduced a systematic approach to scientific inquiry based on deduction and rationalism, complementing Bacon's empiricism and forming the basis of the modern scientific method. Paragraph 3 – Promoted a Worldview Centered on Human Reason and Observation Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion and Universal Gravitation : Newton's work synthesized mathematics with physical observations, promoting a universe governed by natural laws understandable through human reason. The Enlightenment : The Scientific Revolution laid the intellectual groundwork for the Enlightenment, where reason and individual thinking were valued over traditional authorities. Philosophers like Voltaire and Diderot celebrated scientific progress and advocated for its application to societal reform.

• Earning these points requires demonstrating your ability to support your thesis with a range of historical evidence and incorporating at least one piece of evidence not directly mentioned in the prompt.
• “Specific evidence is such an important thing to have in your essay and you’re going to need it in every advanced class you’re going to take next.”
• Incorporate Additional Evidence Beyond the Prompt: Beyond the examples you use to support your thesis initially, include at least one more piece of relevance evidence that wasn’t explicitly asked for. This shows depth of knowledge and an ability to think critically about the topic.
• Be precise and specific with your examples. General statements without supporting details won’t earn points.
• Make sure the evidence is relevant and supports your claim.
• Use names! But don’t just name-drop - that won't help. Instead, specify and elaborate on each example; for example, the transition from specific absolutists to Enlightened monarchs for the example prompt.
• Get the who/what/when/where/how across- but don’t make it too long (more that 2-4 sentences).
• Think outside the box for your additional evidence. Consider cultural, political, economic, or social angles that add depth to your argument.
• For example, if you are talking about the Treaty of Versailles you would say: “The Treaty of Versailles, a peace agreement after world war one that made Germany pay all the damages…” and then you would connect that to your argument.
• If you’re lucky, you might get some ideas and evidence from the DBQ sources. Use those if your mind goes blank.
• It’s also a good idea to pay attention to the reading passages for the MCQ in case you can use it for evidence. Since you can’t access the MCQ portion while writing FRQs, try to get some rough ideas from the reading passages if you can remember their general content.
• Try to weave evidence into your essay since it helps with the overall flow of your writing.
• For example, if the prompt is about comparing Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, “One similarity between the two regimes was their complete control over information and media, with Joseph Goebbels’s propaganda ministry churning out media that glorified the Aryan race and demonized Jews and Stalin’s purges silencing dissenters and instilling fear to enforce party conformity… (analysis + reasoning).
• Don’t just cite an example and move one — they want you to use specific historical moments to support your thesis. “This shows…, this is important because…, etc..”
• Ex: Don’t say: “The Enlightenment was a philosophical and intellectual movement where many ideas were exchanged”
• Instead say: “The Scientific revolution’s reliance on logical and scientific thought shifted European thought to value reason. This is exemplified in Enlightenment writers, like Montesquieu, John Locke, and Voltaire, using reason to question traditional societal structures. Many of their ideas, like separation of powers, natural law, and freedom of religion have had sizeable impacts on future governments.”

Analysis and Reasoning

Earn this point by continuing to structure your argument that the Scientific Revolution did in fact represent a CHANGE in European thought. You have to demonstrate this point throughout your essay, not just in one part, but this is an example sentence:

"Following the Scientific Revolution, the reliance on empirical observation and experimentation in understanding the natural world became increasingly prevalent, marking a significant shift from the previous era, where knowledge was predominantly derived from religious texts and the authority of ancient philosophers.”

• The first analysis point uses historical reasoning (e.g., comparison, causation, continuity, and change) to frame or structure an argument that addresses the prompt.
• For causation, you could write 2 causes of a movement and one effect (or vice versa)
• For change over time, you could write 2 ways something changed society and one way it did not (or vice versa)
• For comparison, you could write two ways something are the same and one way is is different (or vice versa)
• Clearly Understand the Prompt : Before you begin writing, take the time to fully understand what the prompt is asking. Identify the key themes and historical reasoning skills it requires (e.g., causation, comparison, continuity and change).
• Develop a Strong Thesis Statement : Your thesis should directly address the prompt and set the stage for your argument. Make sure it reflects the type of historical reasoning you will use throughout your essay.
• Organize Your Essay Around Historical Reasoning : Structure your essay in a way that highlights your chosen method of reasoning. Make your case in each paragraph.
• Integrate Analysis with Evidence : Don’t just list facts or events; explain how they support your thesis. Show the connections between your evidence and the broader shift in European thought you're arguing. Use phrases like “marked a significant shift”, “represents a difference in how”, “supports the continuation of”
• Conclude Effectively : Sum up your argument in the conclusion, reiterating how the evidence you've presented supports your thesis. This is your last chance to remind the reader of the strength of your historical reasoning.
• The second analysis point is shown through complexity, and in order to get this point is seen below:

Awarded for demonstrating a complex understanding in one of these ways. Here’s a series of examples: Explaining the nuance of an issue by analyzing multiple variables: Analyze the domino effect of changes. Technological advancements (variable 1) led to changes in scientific understanding (variable 2), which then influenced labor dynamics (variable 3) and social structures (variable 4). The emphasis is on the interactions and causal relationships between these elements, showing the nuanced ways in which the Scientific Revolution impacted society. Explaining both similarity and difference or explaining both continuity and change: If your stance is that the Scientific Revolution changed European thought, also consider how thought stayed the same. Explaining relevant and insightful connections within and across periods : Link events, ideas, or people from different regions or time periods to show how they related to or influenced each other. You could discuss the Renaissance or Enlightenment and the similar impact of an intellectual movement. Confirming the validity of an argument by corroborating multiple perspectives across themes: Present evidence from different thematic perspectives to prove your point. The emphasis on empirical evidence also influenced political thought, encouraging new ideas about governance and society that valued reason over dogma. Qualifying or modifying an argument by considering diverse or alternative views or evidence. Address the counterargument, but establish your line of reasoning as stronger. Although in the short term most of the world remained traditionally religious, the intellectual shifts of the Scientific Movement represent the more significant legacy.

• Additionally, if you’re going for complexity you must have complexity in every paragraph, in addition to your complexity paragraph.
• This point is not awarded to students who use fancy language, complex transitions, and advanced sentence structure. This point is given for developing a strong argument and articulating it. Therefore, don’t stress about using the same word multiple times, having a run-on sentence, or writing three-sentence paragraphs. If you are able to present the information, provide evidence, and explain your evidence; you can write a high-scoring LEQ.
• Write a final paragraph that includes a different view of the situation. A way to approach this is by looking before or after an event. For example, if the prompt is about the causes of a war, for complexity, write about the effects of the war, and vice versa. If the prompt isn’t as simple as cause and effect, look to other “categories” of an event. For example, if writing about economic changes, look at its effect on religion or politics for the complexity point.
• Try to include multiple variables throughout your essay. For example, you could describe the religious, economic, and power-hungry motivations for colonization of the Americas and then compare or contrast them with the motivations for colonization of Asia and Africa.
• Ex: the French Revolution leading to the creation of the Napoleonic Code, which is still in place in France. If you want to try this method, it’s best to figure out what you want to reference and how it ties into modern day as soon as you see your prompt.
• At the end of the day, if you’re short on time, skip the complexity point and move on to finishing/writing your DBQ. The complexity points is the hardest point to earn for the essay so don’t prioritize it over writing a strong DBQ.

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