AP Gov Exam Basics

• 55 Multiple Choice questions in 1 hour, 20 minutes

(50% of score)
• 4 Free Response Questions in 1 hour, 40 minutes
(50% of score)
• Q #1: Concept Application (12.5%)
• Q #2: Quantitative Analysis (12.5%)
• Q #3: SCOTUS Comparison (12.5%)
• Q #4: Argument Essay (12.5%)
 The
Argumentative
FRQ
•Worth 6 points
•Suggested time to
write: 40 minutes
1

1
 You have to choose a side to argue so you want to consider two sides and you do this by
filling out an FRQ Outline.
What’s 2 reasons in
support of this
option? (Claim/thesis)

What part(s) or
argument(s)
from a
foundational
docs (from the
choices listed in
the prompt) can
you cite to back
up your claim?

How does the

foundational docs you
cited as evidence back
up your claim?
 Test Taking Tip!
•Filling out the FRQ outline helps guide you
through the rest of your argument essay.
•It is my #1 recommendation for writing this
essay!
•A hard copy is available in the room, e-
copies are on our eKadence homepage.
After you
fill out
the
outline
you pick
a side!
 The Thesis Statement
• Should be one sentence.
• You must make a claim (take a position) on the
prompt and set up a line of reasoning.
• State your claim + BECAUSE + line of reasoning
• Do not cite documents in your thesis.
• No “I believe” or “I think” just state your position as
a fact.
• The main intent of the framers was to
create an elite democracy because
the way they designed the
appointment of Senators and the
election of the president through the
Electoral College demonstrates they
just wanted a few people to make the
important decisions.
 Let’s practice evaluating thesis
statements!
Would you give the following examples
the point?
(Do they state a position and establish
a line of reasoning?)
Do they earn the point?
Do they earn the point?
Do they earn the point?
Do they earn the point?
Do they earn the point?
Do they earn the point?
 Evidence #1 & Reasoning
• Should be 2-3 sentences.
• You must choose from the documents in the
prompt!
• 1.) First you must describe the
evidence(document) you are citing.
• Name the document and summarize the
(relevant) evidence from the document.
• Do not directly quote the document.
• 2.) Then explain how the evidence you
provided supports your thesis.
• This supports my claim because…
• Your reason should directly connect
back to the reasoning you provided in
your thesis statement.
 Evidence #1 & Reasoning
• 1.) First you must describe the evidence(document) you
are citing.
• Name the document and summarize the (relevant)
evidence from the document.
• 2.) Then explain how the evidence you provided
supports your thesis.
• This supports my claim because…
As laid out in the original Constitution members
of the Senate were appointed by state
legislatures and members of the House were
elected by the people. They also gave the Senate
only the power to ratify treaties and
appointments. This supports my claim that the
framers intended an elite democracy because
the framers only entrusted a few well-educated
state legislators the power to appoint members
to the “upper” chamber.
 Evidence #2 & Reasoning
• The ONLY difference between
this and evidence #1 is you
don’t have to use any of the
documents named in the
prompt as evidence.
• You can BUT you can just cite
anything you learned in class
– court cases, other
foundational documents,
principles, concepts, etc. as
evidence for this paragraph.
 Evidence #2 & Reasoning
• 1.) First you must describe the evidence(document) you
are citing.
• Name the document and summarize the (relevant)
evidence from the document.
• 2.) Then explain how the evidence you provided supports
your thesis.
• This supports my claim because…
The elitist intentions of the framers are further
seen in the method they created to elect the
President – the Electoral College. Under this
system the people are allowed the “popular vote”
for President, when they are really just choosing
electors who will then attend a meeting where
they will cast their vote for President and Vice
President. This supports my claim because it
shows the framers did not trust the people to
elect the nation’s leader, instead entrusting it to a
small group of “wise” individuals.
 Counterargument
• Should be 1-2 sentences.
• 1.) First you must state an opposing
viewpoint to the one you have
presented and explain why other
may argue that viewpoint.
• Use transitional working like
“Others may argue…”
• 2.) Restate your position and explain
why your position is superior.
• My claim is superior because…
• Hint: Go back to your FRQ
outline and use the side you did
not choose to formulate your
counterargument!
 Counterargument
• 1.) First you must state an opposing
viewpoint to the one you have
presented and explain why other may
argue that viewpoint.
• Use transitional working like
“Others may argue…”
• 2.) Restate your position and explain
why your position is superior.
• My claim is superior because…
Others may argue the framers
intended to set up a pluralist
democracy because they created a
republic designed to accommodate
different groups. However, my
claim is superior because a republic
itself is an example of elitism. Only
a few (the elite) people are elected
to Congress – but they have the
power to pass laws the rest of us
must obey.
 Argument Essay Cheatsheet (Quick Guide)
1. Read the prompt
2. Fill out the FRQ Outline
3. (Paragraph 1) Write the thesis statement
• State your claim + BECAUSE + line of reasoning
4. (Paragraph 2) Cite evidence (from a document in the prompt) and explain how that
evidence supports your thesis.
1. Name the document and summarize the (relevant) evidence from the document.
2. This supports my claim because…
5. (Paragraph 3) Cite another price of evidence (from a document in the prompt or anything
you learned in class) and explain how that evidence supports your thesis.
1. Name the document or concept and summarize the (relevant) evidence from the document/concept.
2. This supports my claim because…
6. (Paragraph 4) State an opposing viewpoint, why someone would think that, and why your
position is superior.
1. “Others may argue…”
2. My claim is superior because…
Your Turn!