(^44) › STEP 3. Develop Strategies for Success
Introduction
The long-essay question tests your ability to use your knowledge of European history to
create a historical argument. On the AP European History Exam, you will choose one of
three available long-essay questions and have 40 minutes to respond. All three questions
will focus on the same theme and skill, but give you a choice of three periods for considera-
tion (periods 1, 2-3, 3-4). The keys to success are choosing properly and following the five
steps to writing a history essay of high quality.Choosing Your Topic
You can choose which one of the topics you want to write about. The key to choosing prop-
erly is to understand that you are not looking for the “easiest” question to answer; each of
the questions you encounter on the exam will take equal amounts of knowledge and effort.
The key is to recognize the question for which you are best prepared to respond. Keep in
mind the five-step process to writing a history essay of high quality. That means that you
should look at each question and ask yourself, “For which of these questions can I most
quickly write a clear thesis and three topic sentences that I can illustrate and support with
several specific examples?” Then choose based on this analysis.Applying the Five Steps to a High-Quality History Essay
Once you have chosen your question, simply follow the five-step formula to constructing
a history essay of high quality:
Step 1. Find the action words in the question, and determine what the question wants you
to do.
Step 2. Compose a thesis that responds to the question and gives you something specific to
support and illustrate.
Step 3. Compose your topic sentences, and make sure that they add up logically to support
your thesis.
Step 4. Support and illustrate your topic sentences with specific examples.
Step 5. If you have time, compose a one-paragraph conclusion that supports your thesis.Also, remember the pitfalls to avoid:
• Avoid long sentences with multiple clauses. Your goal is to write the clearest sentence
possible; most often the clearest sentence is a relatively short sentence.
• Do not get caught up in digressions. No matter how fascinating or insightful you find
some idea or fact, if it doesn’t directly support or illustrate your thesis, don’t put it in.
• Skip the mystery. Do not ask a lot of rhetorical questions, and do not go for a surprise
ending. The readers are looking for your thesis, your argument, and your evidence; give
it to them in a clear, straightforward manner.Sample Question
Let’s look at a question similar to the one you’ll encounter on the AP European History
Exam and see how you could approach it.
Question: Discuss the relative successes and failures of seventeenth-century monarchs’
attempts to consolidate political power within their kingdoms.TIPSTRATEGYTIP07_Bartolini_Ch07_043-046.indd 44 12/04/18 12:13 PM