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Lesson Plan: AP Government: Argumentative Essay Practice

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The Federalist Papers

Boston College professor Mary Sarah Bilder gives a brief overview backgrounding the Federalist Papers

Description

This is intended as an end-of-course review activity for practice with the argumentative essay format included on the AP United States Government and Politics exam since the 2018 redesign. Eleven practice prompts are provided, reflecting content from Units 1-3.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY PROMPT ANALYSIS

  • Review the provided Argumentative Essay Prompts in either an individual or jigsaw format.
  • Write a thesis statement for your selected prompt(s) and identify the selection you would make from the provided list and the second piece of evidence you would choose.
  • If there are prompts for which you struggle to develop a thesis, or items on the bulleted lists with which you are not conversant, use the hyperlinked C-SPAN Classroom resources to extend your understanding of the required founding documents and SCOTUS cases that you found challenging.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

  • Chose one or more of the provided Argumentative Essay Prompts , as assigned, and use the planning and exploration you did above to write a full essay in response to your designated prompt(s) in 25 or fewer minutes , since that's the time limit you'll face on the AP Exam!
  • Exchange essays with a classmate and evaluate each others' work.
  • 1st Amendment
  • Branches Of Government
  • Constitution
  • House Of Representatives
  • Separation Of Powers
  • Supreme Court

ap gov unit 2 argumentative essay examples

Sample Prompts for the Argument Essay FRQ- AP government

ap gov unit 2 argumentative essay examples

Below are 16 topics, each of which includes:

  • A sample essential question which introduces the prompt
  • A draft prompt including three founding documents that could help shape the students’ arguments.

Each prompt is crafted to encourage deep analysis and aligns with key AP Government concepts, ensuring your students are well-prepared for exam success.

AP Government Argument Essay Samples

  • NEW ! Media censorship: Should the government play an active role in the censorship of social media?  
  • Independent judiciary:   Is an independent judiciary a threat to or a savior for democracy?  
  • Congressional roles:   Does the delegate or trustee model of Congressional representation best serve the needs of the people as the Framers intended?  
  • Federalism in the Age of Coronavirus:  Should the federal government or the states be most responsible for responding to the Coronavirus outbreak?  
  • Political Parties:  Do political parties hinder or promote democracy?  
  • Congressional oversight :  Is congressional oversight healthy or unhealthy for our system of government?
  • Interest groups: Do interest groups hinder or promote democracy? 
  • Civil Rights:  Should the federal government have power over states in the shaping of civil rights policies?
  • Citizen participation: Does citizen participation really matter? 
  • Photo IDs and federalism:   Do states have the authority to pass photo identification laws which restrict people’s ability to vote?  
  • Presidential power:   Do executive orders give the president too much power?      
  • Gridlock:   Is gridlock healthy or unhealthy for our system of government?
  • Term limits:   Do congressional term limits violate or honor popular sovereignty?
  • Primaries and caucuses: Is the presidential nominating process democratic? 
  • Social Media :  Is social media a healthy way for citizens to participate in our political system?  
  • Electoral College:   Should the electoral college be abolished?
  • Representative versus direct democracy: Which is a better vehicle to serve citizen needs– a representative or direct democracy?  

Enhance Your Classroom Experience! You understand the challenges of keeping students engaged and preparing them for the AP exam. Our carefully curated essay prompts are designed to align with AP standards, fostering critical thinking and discussion in your classroom. Get ready to inspire your students with materials that cater to the dynamic world of government and politics.

For more resources for AP government, visit HERE

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AP US Government FRQ

Ap government free response.

Check out the following resources for the AP Gov FRQ. Be sure to watch these strategy videos and work through all of the free response practice questions.

Official Sample FRQ

Frq strategy videos, how to write ap gov frqs, argumentative essay.

AP Government | Practice Exams | FRQ | Notes | Videos |  Flashcards |  Study Guides

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The Complete Guide to AP US Government FRQs

Advanced Placement (AP)

feature_apusgovfreeresponse.jpg

Free-response questions, or FRQs, on the AP US Government exam are more straightforward than those on some other AP tests, but they can still be tough if you're not ready for them. In this guide, we will lay out a simple step-by-step method for answering AP Government FRQs , go through a real example, and tell you where you can find additional practice resources.

AP Government Free-Response Section Format

The free-response section lasts one hour and 40 minutes and consists of four questions , each of which is worth 12.5% of your total score. So as a whole, the free-response section accounts for half your total AP Gov score (the other 50% comes from the multiple-choice section). Each FRQ is worth 3-6 raw points.

Here are the four types of FRQs you'll get on the AP Government exam:

  • Concept Application (3 raw points)
  • Quantitative Analysis (4 raw points)
  • SCOTUS Comparison (4 raw points)
  • Argument Essay (6 raw points)

The free-response questions will ask you to integrate your knowledge of the various content areas covered by the course. This includes analyzing political events in the US, discussing examples, and demonstrating your understanding of general principles of US government and politics. You'll also be asked to examine data from charts, define key terms, and explain the roles that different parts of our government play in the political system.

The following chart shows specifically what you must do for each FRQ on the AP Government test. All info below comes from the 2020 AP US Government and Politics Course and Exam Description .

1. Concept Application Presents students with an authentic scenario. Assesses student ability to describe and explain the effects of a political institution, behavior, or process. Additionally, this question assesses student ability to transfer understanding of course concepts and apply them in a new situation or scenario.
2. Quantitative Analysis

Presents students with quantitative data in the form of a table, graph, map, or infographic. This question assesses students' ability to perform the following:

3. SCOTUS Comparison

Presents students with a description of a non-required Supreme Court Case and its holding. This question assesses students' ability to do the following:

4. Argument Essay

Assesses students' ability to do the following:

Looking for help studying for your AP exam? Our one-on-one online AP tutoring services can help you prepare for your AP exams. Get matched with a top tutor who got a high score on the exam you're studying for!

AP Government FRQs: 5-Step Solution Process

This section provides a step-by-step process for answering any question on the AP US Government exam. Here's a sample question from the 2020 AP Gov Course and Exam Description that I'll reference throughout so you can see how these steps might work in practice:

body_ap_us_gov_free_response_sample_question

Step 1: Read the Introductory and Concluding Sentences

Free-response questions #1 and #3 will include passages, while question #2 will have an image or a chart with data. Skim the first and final sentences of the passage (or title of the graphic for #2) before you get to the tasks (labeled A-C or A-D). This will help you get a rough sense of what to expect in the rest of the question.

It's a good idea to read the intros and conclusions to all the FRQs before choosing which one to begin with. Doing this might help build up your confidence and improve your efficiency to start with a question that's easier for you.

In the sample question above, you would read the title of the graphic ("Public Education Spending: Amount Spent per Pupil by State in 2014") and then skim the image itself to get a sense of what it's asking you to analyze.

body_person_holding_magnifying_glass

Step 2: Identify (and Underline, If You Want) the Command Verb

For each task in each FRQ, you're given specific instructions on the type of answer that is expected; these instructions include command verbs that tell you what to do. It's important to be aware of exactly what the question is asking so you can earn full points.

These command verbs are the first words you should zero in on as you approach a question. If you think it'll help keep you focused, you can underline these verbs .

Here are the most commonly used task verbs, as described in the AP Gov Exam Description :

Compare: Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences.

Define: Provide a specific meaning for a word or concept.

Describe: Provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic.

Develop an argument: Articulate a claim and support it with evidence.

Draw a conclusion: Use available information to formulate an accurate statement that demonstrates understanding based on evidence.

Explain: Provide information about how or why a relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome occurs, using evidence and/or reasoning. Explain "how" typically requires analyzing the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome, whereas explain "why" typically requires analysis of motivations or reasons for the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome.

Identify: Indicate or provide information about a specified topic, without elaboration or explanation.

In part A of the sample question, the command verb is "identify," indicating that you need to correctly interpret the data in the image. In part B, the command verb changes to "describe," which means you'll need to go one step further and interpret and analyze data in the graphic that you have found.

Part C starts with "draw a conclusion," meaning that you will need to tie together the evidence you found in part B to come up with a final (accurate) statement on what this means. Finally, part D begins with the task verb "explain," showing that you must make a clear connection between the data in this graphic as a whole and the principle of federalism.

Step 3: Know Where You'll Earn Your Raw Points

In general, each part in a question (A, B, C, and D) will correspond to 1 raw point , but not all questions are like this.

After finding the task verb in the part of the question you're answering, take note of how many examples or descriptions you need to provide , as each will likely correspond to a point in your raw score for the question. There might also be more than one task verb in a question, in which case you'll likely get at least 2 raw points for it.

As a reminder, here is the maximum number of raw points you can earn for each question (don't forget that each question is still worth the same percentage of your score: 12.5%):

Take care to answer the question thoroughly but directly , addressing all points in a way that will make it easy for graders to assess your response. Remember that you don't need to write an essay for the first three FRQs, so just go straight for the answer to avoid any ambiguity.

In the sample question, we know there will be 4 raw points you can earn. And since the tasks are divided into four parts (labeled A-D), we can assume that each part will be worth 1 raw point .

You can see more sample FRQs and how they're graded with the official scoring guidelines here .

Step 4: Reread Your Answer

Once you've come up with an answer, reread what you wrote to ensure it makes sense and addresses the question completely . Did you give the correct number of descriptions or examples asked of you? Does your answer directly respond to what the question is asking?

If you're satisfied, move on to the next part of the question and return to step 2!

Step 5: Pace Yourself

The final step is to keep track of time so you can be sure you're pacing yourself effectively and are not spending too much time on any one question. As a reminder, you'll have one hour and 40 minutes for the entire free-response section of the AP Government exam.

It's suggested that you spend the following amounts of time on each FRQ:

FRQ #1: Concept Application 20 minutes
FRQ #2: Quantitative Analysis 20 minutes
FRQ #3: SCOTUS Comparison 20 minutes
FRQ #4: Argument Essay 40 minutes

As you can see, you should spend about an equal amount of time on the first three FRQs and save most of your time for your essay , which will likely require the most effort of the four.

body_us_capitol_building

A Real AP Government FRQ Example + Analysis

Now, let's go through the answers to a real AP Government free-response question from the 2019 released questions to show you what your responses should look like. This question is an example of a Concept Application question on the exam, meaning it's worth 3 raw points (1 point each for parts A, B, and C).

body_ap_gov_frq_sample_question

This question is all about the Johnson Amendment, which does not allow religious organizations to engage in political activities and contribute money to political campaigns. As this passage explains, the Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious group, encourages pastors to challenge this law by participating in an annual event called Pulpit Freedom Sunday.

Below, we go through how to answer each of the three parts correctly using the scoring guidelines .

Part A—1 Point

Part A asks you to come up with an example of a specific action Congress could take to address the concerns of the Alliance Defending Freedom. In other words, what could Congress do to allow groups such as the Alliance Defending Freedom to speak freely about political campaigns?

Note that the command verb used here is "describe," meaning you must "provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic," or elaborate on what you're proposing and why it would work.

There are two possible answers you could put down here, according to the scoring guidelines:

  • Congress could pass a law that would reverse the Johnson Amendment.
  • Congress could pass a law to allow religious organizations to participate more directly in politics.

Part B—1 Point

Part B asks you to go into more detail about what you proposed in part A . You must talk about how partisan divisions (i.e., differences in political parties among politicians) could stop whatever you proposed in part A from going into effect (whether that's a new law altogether or a reversal of the original Johnson Amendment).

The task verb used here is "explain," so you must use evidence to show how the action you wrote down in part A could be blocked or reversed.

Here are two possible answers , according to the scoring guidelines:

  • Partisan divisions make it more difficult to pass a law because parties adhere to different ideological points of view.
  • If Congress and the president are from different political parties, the president might threaten to veto the legislation.

Part C—1 Point

The final part of this free-response question asks you to examine the scenario again, this time from the perspective of the Alliance Defending Freedom , or the religious group in question.

How might the Alliance argue that the Johnson Amendment, which prevents them from speaking on political issues and contributing money to political campaigns, is taking away their rights?

The key here is to first think about what rights these could be . Perhaps freedom of speech or freedom of religion? As you probably noticed, the task verb is "explain," so once again you must use plenty of evidence to show why this contentious relationship exists between the Alliance and the Johnson Amendment/the US government as a whole.

Here are examples of answers you could write, according to the official scoring guidelines:

  • The Alliance Defending Freedom and other religious groups might argue that their First Amendment rights are being violated.
  • The Alliance Defending Freedom and other religious groups might argue that their freedom of speech/religion is being violated.

body_judiciary.jpg

Essential Resources for Practicing AP US Government FRQs

There are several resources you can use to hone your skills for answering AP Government FRQs.

Official College Board Resources

The College Board website hosts free-response questions from previous tests that you can use for practice. I recommend starting with the 2019 FRQs (unfortunately, they don't come with sample student responses), as these will look the most like the questions you'll get on test day.

Once you've used those, you can look at FRQs from the 2018 test and earlier; most of these come with sample student responses so you can see what a good response looks like.

If you're hoping to practice FRQs in the context of a full-length test, here are some links to past AP Government exams you can download (as always, prioritize the most recent tests):

  • 2018 Practice Test
  • 2013 Practice Test
  • 2012 Practice Test
  • 2009 Practice Test
  • 2005 Practice Test
  • 1999 Practice Test

These are by far the best sample AP US Government free-response questions you can get because they most accurately represent what you'll see on the real test.

AP Government Review Books

AP Government review books are also solid resources for free-response practice, though they vary a lot in quality.

The Princeton Review's prep book for AP Gov includes five full-length practice tests , so there should be tons of free-response questions you can use to hone your skills. Barron's AP US Gov review book also has some useful practice tests and free-response questions.

If you use these unofficial free-response questions for practice, just be sure to intersperse them with official questions from the College Board so that you maintain an accurate sense of what to expect on the real test.

body_reviewbooks.jpg

Recap: Everything to Know About AP US Government FRQs

The four free-response questions on the AP US Government and Politics exam can be approached methodically to earn the maximum number of points.

Read the intro and conclusion to the question first so you can get your bearings. Then, for each of the separate parts, identify the task verb, figure out where you'll earn your raw points, and double-check your answer for any missing pieces or careless errors.

You should also pace yourself so that you're spending no more than 20 minutes each on the first three questions and 40 minutes on the essay.

I suggest practicing at least a few free-response questions before heading into the AP exam. The best resource to use is the College Board website, which contains an archive of past questions accompanied by scoring guidelines and sample student responses. These questions are pretty simple compared to the free-response questions on other AP tests once you get the hang of them!

What's Next?

Not sure where to begin in your AP prep? Our five-step plan will prepare you to take on any AP test .

If you're missing some of your notes that you need to study for AP Gov, check out this article with links to all the content you need to know for the test . You can also learn about the test as a whole with our comprehensive AP Government and Politics review guide .

Do you have a target score in mind for this exam? Learn more about what it takes to earn a 5 on an AP test and whether you should aim for one yourself.

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AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam Tips

The following strategies for answering the free-response questions will help you on exam day.

  • Answering essay questions generally requires a good deal of training and practice. Students too often begin to write immediately, which can create a string of disconnected, poorly planned thoughts. You should approach questions methodically and plan your answers before putting pencil to paper.
  • Carefully analyze the question, thinking through what is being asked, and identify the elements that must be addressed in the response. Each AP Exam asks different types of questions about each subject. For example, some questions may require you to consider the similarities between people or events, and then to think of the ways they are different. Others may ask you to develop an argument with examples in support of or opposing a particular movement or policy. Be sure to carefully craft your answer in response to what is actually being asked in the question prompt.
  • After you have determined what is involved in answering the question, consider what evidence you can incorporate into your response. Review the evidence you learned during the year that relates to the question and then decide how it fits into the analysis. Does it demonstrate a similarity or a difference? Does it argue for or against a generalization that is being addressed?
  • Whenever you offer evidence to illustrate contrast or similarity, clearly state your intent. Then, with additional information or analysis, elaborate on the ways in which these pieces of evidence are similar or different. If there is evidence that refutes a statement, explain why it argues against the statement. Your answer should reflect an understanding of the subtleties of the questions.
  • Begin writing only after you have thought through the evidence you plan to use and have determined what your thesis statement will be. Once you have done this, you will be in a position to answer the question analytically instead of in a rambling narrative.
  • Learn how to present your thesis statement: make your overarching statement or argument and then position your supporting evidence so that it is obviously directed to answering the question, as opposed to being a string of abstract generalizations. State your points as clearly as possible and explicitly connect them to the larger thesis. Do not leave it to the reader to infer what is meant or how something illustrates a point.
  • If you have done the analytical work required prior to writing, you should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of the question. You should state your thesis, introduce the elements that support the thesis, and demonstrate the logic that led you to link the elements in support of the thesis. By applying these ideas you will construct an excellent essay.
  • While essay writing in general is a valuable exercise, you may wish to work specifically on free-response questions from previous AP Exams. This will allow you to compare your own responses with those that have already been scored and evaluated. Free-response questions are available through the AP Program in numerous formats. Fnd sample essays for U.S. Government and Politics on the Past Exam Questions page at AP Central.

Pay close attention to the task verbs in the question. Each one directs you to complete a specific type of response. Here are the task verbs you’ll see on the exam:

  • Compare : Provide a description or explanation of similarities and/or differences.
  • Define : Provide a specific meaning for a word or concept.
  • Describe : Provide the relevant characteristics of a specified topic.
  • Develop an argument : Articulate a claim and support it with evidence.
  • Draw a conclusion : Use available information to formulate an accurate statement that demonstrates understanding based on evidence.
  • Explain : Provide information about how or why a relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome occurs, using evidence and/or reasoning. Explain “how” typically requires analyzing the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome; whereas explain “why” typically requires analysis of motivations or reasons for the relationship, process, pattern, position, situation, or outcome.
  • Identify : Indicate or provide information about a specified topic, without elaboration or explanation.

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AP®︎/College US Government and Politics

Unit 1: foundations of american democracy, unit 2: interactions among branches of government, unit 3: civil liberties and civil rights, unit 4: american political ideologies and beliefs, unit 5: political participation, unit 6: about this ap us government and politics course, unit 7: resources and exam preparation.

ap gov unit 2 argumentative essay examples

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AP U.S. Government and Politics: Quantitative Analysis Example

Question 2 of the AP U.S. Government and Politics free response section is the Quantitative Analysis prompt. This FRQ begins with an information graphic, such as a table, chart, graph, or map. The information graphic will depict some kind of politically relevant data—presidential election results, political affiliations of federal judges, or voter turnout by state, for instance. The prompts that follow will require you to both analyze the information graphic and relate its data to government and politics concepts; later parts will likely require increasingly complex tasks.

  • Part A usually asks you to identify a piece of data or a trend from the information graphic.
  • Part B will likely ask you to analyze the information graphic, perhaps by explaining a possible reason for the graphic’s data trends or by using the data to draw a conclusion.
  • Part C will then involve applying the information graphic to a course concept; for example, the question could ask how a table’s depiction of popular vote results in a presidential election reflects the structure of the Electoral College system.

Quantitative Analysis Strategy

  • Take time to analyze the information graphic. The information graphic is just as important to answering the questions as the text stimulus on other prompts, and it requires some special analysis. Components such as titles, labels, and keys are vital for correct interpretation of the graphic. Ask yourself exactly what data the information graphic is depicting (and what data it is not depicting) and note relevant trends before you look at the questions.
  • At least one question will require you to identify a specific trend or data point from the information graphic. On such questions, focus only on the relevant part of the graphic and pinpoint the data you need.
  • When appropriate, refer to data from the information graphic in your response, and be specific (e.g., “only four amendments were passed in the nineteenth century” rather than “few amendments were passed in the nineteenth century”).

Sample Question

Step 1: analyze the prompt, step 2: plan your response.

  • $1,000–$1,999

Part B: Need one similarity or difference, and a conclusion based on this info.

  • similarity: <$200 largest proportion concl.: many want to support candidates; even small contributions add up

Part C: Need to fully explain two things.

  • caps on ind. contribs b/c concerns about buying elections, campaign finance laws
  • cap probably helps limit the total amount at the highest tier; caps help equalize contribs among candidates & limit scope of campaigning (ex. of candidate highly supported by wealthy)

Step 3: Action! Write Your Response & Step 4: Proofread

Sample high-scoring response, explanation of sample response.

  • Organization: The writer uses one paragraph for each part of the response and follows the plan from Step 2, helping to ensure that the response addresses every required task.
  • Complete sentences: The writer uses full sentences for every part of the response—even the brief identification task in Part A.
  • Specific data from the information graphic: The writer uses specific data for the response to Part B.
  • Addressing each action word: The writer addresses each action word appropriately. For instance, in Part A, the writer uses a brief sentence to address the requirement of identification. In contrast, Part C requires two explanations, so the writer fully explains both a reason for and an impact of contribution caps, effectively incorporating an example of a candidate with many wealthy supporters to help support the explanations.

Scoring for Question 2: 5 points (1 + 2 + 2)

  • Example similarities: both candidates had lowest tier (<$200) make up the largest percentage of contributions; middle tiers were similar for both candidates
  • Example differences: Clinton’s second-highest percentage tier was the highest contribution level ($2,000+) and made up about a third of her total contribution amounts, while Trump had a near-tie for the second-highest percentage tier ($200-$500 and $2,000+); Clinton had much higher total contribution dollars than Trump both at each tier and overall

One point for drawing a logical possible conclusion based on the similarity or difference.

  • Example conclusions: based on high percentage of lowest-tier contributions, both candidates may have had large numbers of supporters who could not afford contributions at higher tiers; based on Clinton’s larger percentage of highest-tier contributions, she may have had a greater number of wealthy supporters than Trump; Clinton lost the election although she had more individual contribution dollars than Trump, suggesting that the candidate with the highest contributions from individuals does not necessarily win the election
  • Example reasons for the cap: concerns about wealthy individuals and corporations “buying” elections have led to campaign finance laws and contribution caps; cap reflects attempts to limit spending on pervasive advertising, especially “attack ads”; cap reflects restrictions such as Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002’s regulations on “soft money” contributions by individuals

One point for explaining a possible impact of the cap on elections.

  • Example impacts on elections: limits potential for elections to be dominated by wealthy contributors; potentially limits unfair advantage of candidates who have more wealthy supporters; forces individuals who wish to contribute more than the cap to use other avenues of financial support, such as political party committees and PACs, which increases such institutions’ influence on elections

Learn more about the other free response questions on the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam. Concept Application   •   SCOTUS Comparison   •   Argument Essay

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  1. 2020 AP Government Argument Essay Example (Selective Incorporation and Democracy)

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  1. PDF AP United States Government and Politics

    Government and Politics Sample Student Responses and Scoring Commentary Set 1 Inside: ... Argument Essay 6 points ... 2021 AP Exam Administration Sample Student Responses - AP U.S. Government and Politics Free-Response Question 4: Set 1 Author: College Board Subject: 2021 AP Exam Administration: Student Samples and Commentary

  2. AP U.S. Government and Politics: Argument Essay

    The Argument Essay differs substantially from the other free-response questions on the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam, but you can and should still follow the Kaplan Method (AP-AP). It is recommended that you take 40 minutes to plan and write your Argument Essay (as opposed to 20 minutes each for the other free-response questions), so ...

  3. PDF AP United States Government and Politics

    Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org. AP Central is the official online home for the AP Program: apcentral.collegeboard.org. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org. https://collegeboard.org. establishes a line of. AP® United States Government and Politics 2021 Scoring Guidelines. Question 4: Argument Essay 6 points.

  4. 19 AP Government Argumentative Essays Flashcards

    The expanded powers of the national government benefit policymaking because they can create uniform policies that apply to all the states. - Articles of Confederation: weak national, all states had to agree, almost impossible to amend. - Federalist 10: Factions threaten small republics, strong national prevents singular faction domination.

  5. AP Government: Argumentative Essay Practice

    Chose one or more of the provided Argumentative Essay Prompts, as assigned, and use the planning and exploration you did above to write a full essay in response to your designated prompt (s) in 25 ...

  6. AP United States Government and Politics Unit 2

    Argumentative essay for Unit 2 AP United States Government and Politics student teacher ap united states government and politics 11 october 2022 independent. Skip to document ... Many anti-Federalists, however, would argue against and oppose an independent judiciary. An example of an argument would be in Brutus I, which argued that ...

  7. AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam Questions

    Note: Some questions and scoring guidelines from the 2023 and earlier AP U.S. Government and Politics Exams may not perfectly align with the course and exam updates that take effect in the 2023-24 school year. These questions remain available because teachers say that imperfectly aligned questions still provide instructional value.

  8. Sample Prompts for the Argument Essay FRQ- AP government

    Sample Prompts for the Argument Essay FRQ- AP government. Below are 16 topics, each of which includes: A draft prompt including three founding documents that could help shape the students' arguments. Each prompt is crafted to encourage deep analysis and aligns with key AP Government concepts, ensuring your students are well-prepared for exam ...

  9. How to Write the ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY FRQ for AP Gov

    More from Heimler's History:AP HEIMLER REVIEW GUIDE (formerly known as the Ultimate Review Packet): +AP Gov Heimler Review Guide: https://bit.ly/3rfXr2YCheck...

  10. AP US Government FRQ

    The 2018 official sample test from the College Board includes a full set of AP US Government & Politics free response questions. You need to be prepared for all 4 types: Concept Application, Quantitative Analysis, SCOTUS Comparison, and Argument Essay. ... This is Steve Heimler's video for the AP US Gov Argumentative essay. He uses examples ...

  11. AP United States Government and Politics Practice Exam Argumentative

    Essay for AP United States Government and Politics student teacher ap government politics 10 december 2022 the senate filibuster the senate filibuster is an ... AP United States Government and Politics Unit 2 - Argumentative Essay Independent Judiciary; Related documents. Ap lang speech -2 - jreknwknwlknwl ... Sample FRQ for lesson 3.06 about ...

  12. AP Gov Argumentative Essay Flashcards

    AP Gov Argumentative Essay. The polarization of congress has led to ideological warfare between parties that directly channels the passions of their most extreme constituents and donors - precisely the type of factionalism that the founders abhorred. Federalist 51- With the separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial ...

  13. AP Gov

    AP Gov - Unit 2 Essay Prompts. Thoroughly illustrate the structure of Congress, including significant differences between the chambers regarding organization, leadership, incumbency, and powers. Click the card to flip 👆. House of Representatives: 435 members. Elected for 2-year terms. Districts of equal size by population.

  14. PDF AP United States Government and Politics

    B. The response earn ed 2 evidence points for the description of "Letter from Birmingham Jail," which is relevant to the prompt (1 point) and supports the thesis (1 point). "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is also a given foundational document, but 2 points was the most that could be earned for one piece of evidence.

  15. AP US Government Unit 2 Review

    Study guides & practice questions for 15 key topics in AP Gov Unit 2 - Branches of Government. All Subjects. Light Unit 1 - Foundations of American Democracy ... 👩🏾‍⚖️ AP US Government Unit 2 - Branches of Government. 2.0. Unit 2 Overview: Interactions Among Branches of Government. 8 min read. 2.1.

  16. The Complete Guide to AP US Government FRQs

    Each FRQ is worth 3-6 raw points. Here are the four types of FRQs you'll get on the AP Government exam: Concept Application (3 raw points) Quantitative Analysis (4 raw points) SCOTUS Comparison (4 raw points) Argument Essay (6 raw points) The free-response questions will ask you to integrate your knowledge of the various content areas covered ...

  17. AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam Tips

    AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam Tips. The following strategies for answering the free-response questions will help you on exam day. Answering essay questions generally requires a good deal of training and practice. Students too often begin to write immediately, which can create a string of disconnected, poorly planned thoughts.

  18. AP US Government & Politics Exam Guide

    Unit 1 - Foundations of American Democracy. Unit 2 - Branches of Government. Unit 3 - Civil Liberties & Civil Rights. Unit 4 - American Political Ideologies & Beliefs. Unit 5 - Political Participation. Frequently Asked Questions. Previous Exam Prep. Study Tools. 2024 AP US Government & Politics Exam Guide.

  19. PDF 2020 Exam Sample Questions

    Sample Question 1 (Argument Essay) (Adapted from: 2019 AP® U.S. Government and Politics Question 4) Allotted time: 25 minutes (plus 5 minutes to submit) The United States Constitution establishes a federal system of government. Under federalism, policymaking is shared between national and state governments.

  20. AP U.S. Government and Politics: Concept Application Example

    AP U.S. Government and Politics: Concept Application Example. Question 1 of the AP U.S. Government and Politics free-response section will always be the Concept Application prompt. This prompt will begin with a stimulus that is a short paragraph or two describing a political scenario. The paragraph (s) could be an excerpt from news media, a ...

  21. AP®︎ US Government & Politics (College-level)

    Learn AP US Government and Politics: videos, articles, and AP-aligned multiple choice question practice, covering the Constitution, the branches of government, political beliefs, and citizen participation. Review Supreme Court cases, study key amendments, and reflect on how the founders' intentions and debates continue to influence politics in the Unite States today.

  22. PDF AP U.S. Government and Politics Practice Exam Sample ...

    Sample Responses. 2018 The College Board Exam. The most common level of education spending by states in the Southeast is $8,000 to $9,999. One difference between Florida and New York is that Florida spends approximately $8,000 to $9,999 per pupil while New York spends approximately $16,000 or more per pupil.

  23. AP U.S. Government and Politics: Quantitative Analysis Example

    Question 2 of the AP U.S. Government and Politics free response section is the Quantitative Analysis prompt. This FRQ begins with an information graphic, such as a table, chart, graph, or map. The information graphic will depict some kind of politically relevant data—presidential election results, political affiliations of federal judges, or voter turnout by state, for instance.