The MoJo of WritingThe MoJo of Writing

Understanding the promptUnderstanding the prompt

All AP essays are written in All AP essays are written in response to an essay “prompt.”response to an essay “prompt.”Understanding what this prompt Understanding what this prompt asks you to do is the first asks you to do is the first important skill you need to important skill you need to acquire.acquire.

Two ExamplesTwo Examples

Sample DBQ prompt:Sample DBQ prompt: How successful was organized labor in How successful was organized labor in

improving the position of workers in the period improving the position of workers in the period from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that contributed to the level of success achieved. contributed to the level of success achieved.

Sample free response prompt: Sample free response prompt: Compare and contrast United States foreign Compare and contrast United States foreign

policy after the First World War and after the policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 and 1945-1950.1928 and 1945-1950.

MOJO’s TIP #1MOJO’s TIP #1The first thing you need to do is to read The first thing you need to do is to read

the WHOLE prompt, every word of it. the WHOLE prompt, every word of it. This is especially true if the prompt is in This is especially true if the prompt is in two sentences like this one…..two sentences like this one…..

How successful was organized labor in improving How successful was organized labor in improving the position of workers in the period from 1875 to the position of workers in the period from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that contributed to the 1900? Analyze the factors that contributed to the level of success achieved. level of success achieved.

The first mistake that many students The first mistake that many students make is in reading and answering make is in reading and answering only part of the prompt.only part of the prompt.

MOJO’s TIP #2MOJO’s TIP #2Having read the prompt, circle or Having read the prompt, circle or

underline the underline the VERBS. VERBS. These words These words will give you your task.will give you your task.How successful was organized labor in How successful was organized labor in

improving the position of workers in the improving the position of workers in the period from 1875 to 1900? period from 1875 to 1900? AnalyzeAnalyze the the factors that contributed to the level of factors that contributed to the level of success achieved. success achieved.

The important verb, and thus your The important verb, and thus your task, is in the second sentence: task, is in the second sentence: ANALYZEANALYZE

MOJO’s TIP #3MOJO’s TIP #3After finding the verbs, look carefully and After finding the verbs, look carefully and

mark any CONJUNCTIONS and circle or mark any CONJUNCTIONS and circle or underline them. For instanceunderline them. For instance

Compare Compare andand contrast United States contrast United States foreign policy after the First World War foreign policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider and after the Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 the periods 1919-1928 andand 1945-1950. 1945-1950.

You must compare AND contrast these You must compare AND contrast these periods to successfully complete the task. periods to successfully complete the task. Doing only one or the other will lower your Doing only one or the other will lower your score.score.

MOJO’s TIP #4MOJO’s TIP #4

Go back and look carefully at the Go back and look carefully at the VERB in the prompt. VERB in the prompt.

This word will tell you what you are This word will tell you what you are expected to do. expected to do.

The following is a list of commonly The following is a list of commonly used verbs and explanations for the used verbs and explanations for the tasks they indicate. These are verbs tasks they indicate. These are verbs the College Board has used recently. the College Board has used recently.

Commonly used verbs and verb Commonly used verbs and verb phrasesphrases

ANALYZEANALYZE

Explain Explain howhow AND AND whywhy something occurred. something occurred. Any question that uses “how” and/or “why” is Any question that uses “how” and/or “why” is an analysis question even if the word an analysis question even if the word “analyze” is not in the prompt. “analyze” is not in the prompt.

ASSESS THE VALIDITYASSESS THE VALIDITY How true is the statement. The statement How true is the statement. The statement

doesn’t have to be all true; it can be true in doesn’t have to be all true; it can be true in one instance or circumstance and false in one instance or circumstance and false in another.another.

Commonly used verbs (cont.)Commonly used verbs (cont.)

EVALUATEEVALUATEWhich factor was most important. You Which factor was most important. You

usually need to rank several events or usually need to rank several events or factors and specify which is most and factors and specify which is most and which is least significant. which is least significant.

TO WHAT EXTENT TO WHAT EXTENT This prompt frequently requires you to This prompt frequently requires you to

specify a cause and effect relationship specify a cause and effect relationship and then state which causes were more and then state which causes were more important.important.

Verbs cont.Verbs cont.

Compare AND contrast Compare AND contrast To do this correctly you need to discuss To do this correctly you need to discuss

BOTH similarities AND differences BOTH similarities AND differences between two events or periods. It is between two events or periods. It is important to both in a balanced way important to both in a balanced way without shortchanging either. without shortchanging either.

Discuss or Consider Discuss or Consider These are frequently used in free These are frequently used in free

response prompts. They should be response prompts. They should be written as analysis essays. written as analysis essays.

MOJO’s TIP #5MOJO’s TIP #5

Define any terms in the prompt that you Define any terms in the prompt that you need to explain. need to explain.

For instance, a recent essay prompt asked For instance, a recent essay prompt asked students to assess the validity of this students to assess the validity of this statement: “Reform movements in the statement: “Reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic United States sought to expand democratic ideals.” ideals.”

Jot down some “democratic ideals” and be Jot down some “democratic ideals” and be prepared to explain how they are prepared to explain how they are democraticdemocratic. . Failing to do this will lower your score. Failing to do this will lower your score.

MOJO’s TIP #6MOJO’s TIP #6

Clearly understand the time period in the Clearly understand the time period in the prompt. prompt.

If the prompt asks you to discuss reform If the prompt asks you to discuss reform between 1865 and 1900, you between 1865 and 1900, you mustmust include information for the WHOLE time include information for the WHOLE time period. period.

You can help yourself do this by listing You can help yourself do this by listing information from the last 10 years of the information from the last 10 years of the time period in the prompt FIRST, then time period in the prompt FIRST, then working backward with your details. working backward with your details.

MOJO’s TIP #7MOJO’s TIP #7

After you are clear as to your task After you are clear as to your task (analyze, evaluate, etc.) sketch out a (analyze, evaluate, etc.) sketch out a quick, informal outline of how you are quick, informal outline of how you are going to proceed. This is very important to going to proceed. This is very important to guaranteeing that you cover the whole guaranteeing that you cover the whole prompt. prompt.

For instance, if you were writing the For instance, if you were writing the following prompt. . . following prompt. . . Compare Compare andand contrast United States foreign contrast United States foreign

policy after the First World War and after the policy after the First World War and after the Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-Second World War. Consider the periods 1919-1928 1928 andand 1945-1950. 1945-1950.

You might jot down a You might jot down a simple “outline” like simple “outline” like the one at the right. the one at the right.

You would list things You would list things that were similar in that were similar in BOTH periods, BOTH periods,

Then list the Then list the differences in BOTH differences in BOTH periods. periods.

Your essay would then Your essay would then have either four body have either four body paragraphs as paragraphs as indicated by the circles indicated by the circles

1919-1919-19281928

1945-1945-19501950

similaritiesimilaritiess

differencesdifferences

Or you might have two Or you might have two longer and more longer and more involved paragraphs involved paragraphs as indicated by the as indicated by the two ovals. two ovals.

In either case, you In either case, you would have organized would have organized your thinking so that your thinking so that you cover all of the you cover all of the material you need to material you need to cover to address the cover to address the prompt completely. prompt completely.

1919-19281919-19281945-1945-19501950

similaritiessimilarities

differencesdifferences

Lesson on writing– Mojo says:Lesson on writing– Mojo says:

Read the WHOLE prompt! Read the WHOLE prompt! Mark the VERBS and the Mark the VERBS and the

CONJUNCTIONS in the prompt. CONJUNCTIONS in the prompt. Think about that verb. What, Think about that verb. What,

exactly, are you being asked to do. exactly, are you being asked to do. Consider the whole prompt. Consider the whole prompt.

ORGANIZE your thinking BEFORE you ORGANIZE your thinking BEFORE you begin writing. begin writing.