YE OLDE HISTORY SHOPPE

GUIDEBOOK TO
TEACHING AP
WRITING
OVERVIEW & OVERALL TIPS
On the next few pages, you will find tips & resources to teach each type of writing to your
classes. You can always reach out to me with questions!
[email protected]

TIP: ANYWHERE YOU SEE THIS ARROW, THERE IS A DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCE.

SOME ARE FREE & OTHERS ARE FOR SALE IN MY SHOPPE.

TOOLS & TECHNIQUES I RECOMMEND FOR TEACHING WRITING:

PEAR DECK - I really LOVE Pear Deck for writing instruction because I can see all students' work in real time. You
can also "star" certain responses so they show up at the top of the list. You can use this to show exemplary
models or provide feedback on common errors. Students' names are hidden on the projector.

PEER REVIEW - Peer Review can be a great teaching tool when it is done right. Students need a lot of guidance
at first. I have linked a couple worksheets & peer editing tools. I strongly suggest taking students step by step
and doing the peer editing as a class rather than assigning it as homework or individual work.

COLOR CODING & LABELLING - On the first few DBQs, I have students label or color code where they think they
are including outside info, HIPP statements, etc. This helps expedite my grading & I can more easily explain to
them why what they wrote would or would not meet the requirement.

ALLOW REVISIONS & REWRITES - Writing is a process. I allow students to rewrite up to an A- on each graded
writing assignment. Usually, I will require them to "earn" that rewrite by revising their original version. Then, I
provide them a new prompt to demonstrate their mastery of the writing skills.

REFLECTION - I encourage (or sometimes require) students to keep a writing portfolio in which they reflect on
their writing & the feedback. You can DOWNLOAD A COPY HERE (make a copy to edit)
 YE OLDE HISTORY SHOPPE

TIME-SAVING GRADING TIPS

NOTE: You don't HAVE to grade all writing practice. Sometimes,
they can just practice. In these cases, I will encourage students
to come during our study hall period to conference on their
writing or ask questions.

Use Rubrics: a well-made rubric can provide students with additional guidance as well
as provide an efficient mode of providing feedback. By anticipating some ways
students may fall short of full mastery, you can provide feedback even before the
assignment is submitted. You also can circle the most commonly used comments
which are already preloaded in the rubric! For a sample, check out this resource.

Peer Grade: Students really internalize requirements when they are responsible for
evaluating others. I find peer grading essays works best when students are supported
with feedback ideas or guided questions so they know what to look for.

Grade Selectively: You do NOT need to grade everything. Sometimes, I will have
students write a full DBQ but then only grade a few rubric points (intro & HIPP
statements, for example). Sometimes, essays will be checked for completion only. I
don't tell students in advance what will and won't be graded so they take all practice
seriously. On the planning sheet, you will see a space for "writing practice." This usually
indicates that the practice will be discussed but NOT graded or formally assessed.

Write Part of an Essay: I will often have students just write an intro and ONE body
paragraph for practice. If they can write one good paragraph, typically they can write
another. This saves class time & grading time as students practice DBQs & LEQs.
 YE OLDE HISTORY SHOPPE

PLANNING TO TEACH AP WRITING

OVERVIEW: The purpose of this plan is to provide teachers with an intentional and tested method for
introducing the MANY writing types and skills on the AP History exams. Depending on your students'
writing abilities and previous experience, you may need to add additional practice opportunities
before they master the skills for the exam.

Complete this planning calendar based on your school schedule. I also suggest writing notes to
yourself for the next year based on common questions & struggles.

teaching activities writing practice writing assessment

UNIT 1

NOTES TO SELF:

teaching activities writing practice writing assessment

UNIT 2

NOTES TO SELF:

teaching activities writing practice writing assessment

UNIT 3

NOTES TO SELF:

teaching activities writing practice writing assessment

UNIT 4

NOTES TO SELF:
 teaching activities writing practice writing assessment

UNIT 5

NOTES TO SELF:

teaching activities writing practice writing assessment

UNIT 6

NOTES TO SELF:

teaching activities writing practice writing assessment

UNIT 7

NOTES TO SELF:

teaching activities writing practice writing assessment

UNIT 8

NOTES TO SELF:

teaching activities writing practice writing assessment

UNIT 9

NOTES TO SELF:
 YE OLDE HISTORY SHOPPE

SAQ
WHEN: Teach it during the 1st Unit. Assess on each Unit exam. Additional practice & graded
SAQs can be assigned throughout the unit as well
WHY: It is the most straight-forward & quickest to complete & assess

HOW TO TEACH IT: The TEA Method (click the link for a helpful resource)

TOPIC SENTENCE - directly answer the question & introduce the evidence you will use
EXPLAIN - describe your evidence, providing the most relevant detail to answer the question

ANALYZE - tie back to the question and/or to larger themes

TIPS:
Start with the traditional questions & then work on stimulus-based SAQs

Use released College Board exams' scoring guides & student samples

Encourage students to write more sophisticated answers by using a rubric like the one below

Topic sentence directly answers Topic sentence answers the

the question: what + why question but may be more No real topic sentence--goes
superficial straight into information
Specific evidence is provided and Major errors in
explained thoroughly Specific evidence is provided but Evidence is more thematic or interpretation
should be explained more contains minor errors or very vague
Insightful analysis is present: thoroughly answer
connections to larger themes, Information may be slightly
explanation of WHY it occurred, Limited analysis is present. More off topic/tangentially related
etc. of a factual, simple response

DOWNLOAD THESE POSTERS

 YE OLDE HISTORY SHOPPE
DBQ
WHEN: Introduce it during the 2nd or 3rd Unit & practice it extensively throughout Semester 1
WHY: The DBQ is the most complicated type of writing. Students will need more time to practice the individual
skills. The DBQ is also a great way to cover content. Once students learn how to do the DBQ, I like to assign at
least one DBQ (or DBQ-related activity) each unit.

HOW TO TEACH IT: A few steps at a time!

DOWNLOAD THE DBQ INTRO PPT HERE.

CHECK OUT THE NO-PREP OPTION HERE

Lesson 1: thesis, context, evidence from documents & outside information

Depending on your students, you may want to teach the intro (context + thesis) as one lesson & wait on the
evidence. I do teach all 5 of those points as the first lesson.

TIPS:
I have been modeling CONTEXT in PPTs and before many
lessons using the "in last week's episode" metaphor.
Students will write an intro + one body paragraph. They
will peer evaluate the body paragraphs. You can check
out Peer Grading activities HERE
(I would walk students through each step)

Lesson 2: HIPP Statements & Complexity*

I usually do not explicitly cover the complexity point until the second semester beyond encouraging students to
cover "both sides" of the argument (continuity if the prompt asks about changes; similarities if the prompt asks
about differences, etc.)

ENRICHMENT & EXTRA PRACTICE

Check out the DBQ TOOLKITS for extra practice
on each rubric point! This is one of my favorite
tools to support students.
The EXTENDED RUBRIC can also help provide
effective feedback & facilitate peer grading.
 YE OLDE HISTORY SHOPPE
LEQ
WHEN: Save for Semester 2
WHY: The LEQ uses a lot of the same skills developed through the SAQ & DBQ (this is explained in the "How-to PPT)
Also, this style of writing is most similar to a "normal essay." Usually, the main challenge is knowing enough
information more than it is understanding the rubric.

HOW TO TEACH IT: DOWNLOAD THE LEQ HOW-TO PPT HERE.

→
Discuss with a neighbor & mark on rubric which points...

→
overlap with the DBQ or SAQ
what appears to be a new skill

→(changed, altered, shifted, continued, began, ended, transitioned from…)

Clarify HISTORICAL THINKING SKILLS
Change & Continuity (CCOT) - what changed & what stayed the same?
→(both,Comparison - similarities and differences
→(led Causation
similarly, shared, differed, varied, contrasted…)
- cause & effect
to, caused, resulted in, consequence of, affected…)

PRACTICE & PEER GRADE!

TIPS & EXTRA PRACTICE

Use the samples on the College Board website for students to
read samples, review scoring guides, etc. Students seem to
learn best by seeing samples first.

DOWNLOAD THE HISTORICAL THINKING SKILLS POSTERS HERE

 YE OLDE HISTORY SHOPPE

ADDITIONAL WRITING RESOURCES

My unit bundles (& full year bundles) include LOTS of writing
practice. If you have purchased those, you probably will have
more writing practice than you have time for. But if you are
taking a more "a la carte" approach to writing, check out these
additional resources.

EXTRA DBQS:

DBQS WITH SCORING GUIDES:

GUIDED LEQ PRACTICE:

 YE OLDE HISTORY SHOPPE

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO FOR YOUR STUDENTS!

AP teaching can be daunting. There are so many skills, much more grading,
and a rigid & rapid pace. But it can also be super fun! Don't be afraid to make
time for fun activities and let students get some content from their own
textbook reading.
Just as you give grace to your students, do the same for yourself. Take that
day off, show that documentary, check that assignment for completion!
If you are taking the time to read this, you are already going above and
beyond for your students. Give yourself credit for taking the extra step to
develop a writing program for your class.

If you found this guide useful, I would love it if you took a

moment to leave a review on TpT. Feel free to share the link to
download with any friends and colleagues who would benefit
from this guide.

YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A REVIEW

 YE OLDE HISTORY SHOPPE'S

TEACH AP WRITING ®

LIKE A PRO
THIS IS THE COURSE FOR YOU IF...

You have spent any time stressing / wondering whether or

not your students are prepared for the AP Exam.
You have spent wayyyy to many hours scouring the internet
for practice questions and creating activities to teach AP
Writing to your students.
You have been spending hours grading your students'
writing, which has cut into the time you'd rather spend with
your family or on yourself.

WHAT MAKES THIS COURSE SPECIAL?

You will walk away from this course with ALL the following:
A year-long plan for teaching, assessing and re-teaching
all 3 types of AP Writing

Ready to use -- but also editable -- Question Banks, PPTs,

worksheets, Peer grading sheets, intervention, and more!
A concrete understanding of how students earn all the
points on the free response questions & how to teach
them to earn those points
Ongoing support through live Zoom Office Hours all year

NOTE: AP® is a trademark owned by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this
product/site. Trademark is used with permission from College Board.
HOW WILL YOU LEARN?

ON DEMAND VIDEOS:
Learn at your own pace
on your schedule

WITH GOOGLE SLIDE PPTs:

you can also download, edit & use
with your students!

PRINTABLE & DIGITAL WORKBOOK:

Use as a reference & guide throughout
the school year
THE RESOURCES INCLUDED
TAKE ME TO THE COURSE!
FEEDBACK ON MY ULTIMATE GUIDE
TO APUSH PD
FAQS
Q: Is this course beneficial for both new and veteran teachers?
A: ABSOLUTELY! This course comes with editable writing activities and
banks of questions that can be used to supplement what you have or
create a solid foundation for a new teacher. It also guides you to use
them to their maximum effect with a comprehensive and planned out
writing program vs. just a bunch of resources.

Q: What classes is this geared toward?

A: The videos are created with APUSH examples, but all the skills are
perfectly transferable between classes. There are both APUSH and AP
Euro materials provided for every module. So this program is GREAT for
both APUSH & AP Euro

Q: Is there a way to get support during the school year?

A: There will be monthly Zoom "office hours" where you can come ask
questions, share successes, or collaborate with others. I am also
available via email throughout the school year.

Q: Do you offer a money-back guarantee?

A: I am so confident you will be thrilled with your purchase, I will refund
you if you are not satisfied with this course.

Q: What if I already bought some of your writing materials? Do I get a

discount?
A: You sure do! Forward your proof of purchase to
[email protected] and I will send you a coupon code for a
special discounted course price.

HAVE ANY questions?

SEND ME AN EMAIL!
[email protected]