2. Whenever writing an ARGUMENT ESSAY FRQ – remember to:
1. Space appropriately between a CLAIM STATEMENT; ARGUMENT #1 and
ARGUMENT #2.
2. About that CLAIM STATEMENT: Use the language from the prompt and then
state a position plus a BECAUSE statement.
3. About ARGUMENT #1: Use one of the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. State the
document by name and say that it supports your claim. EXPLAIN the context of the
document. And then, this is really critical, ARGUE the document supports your
claim BECAUSE…
4. Repeat for ARGUMENT #2 what you did for ARGUMENT #1.
5. Avoid pronouns. If you say government, be specific, i.e. “national government” or
“state governments.” No “he, she, them….”
6. NOTE: For the 2020 AP TEST NO rebuttal is required.
7. Time provided: 25 minutes.
SUGGESTIONS
3. TEMPLATE
Sentence or two – CLAIM
[Restate exact language from the prompt]. The topic… [insert CLAIM – this must be a definitive position
statement. Claim cannot take both sides] BECAUSE _________________.
Paragraph 2 – ARGUMENT 1
[State the document you will be using] supports my claim. [State the document you will be using…put the
document into a context…i.e. identify the document]. [State the document you will be using] supports my
claim BECAUSE [connect the document to your claim]. [Restate argument again connecting claim +
document in other words].
Paragraph 3 – ARGUMENT 2
[State the document you will be using] supports my claim. [State the document you will be using…put the
document into a context…i.e. identify the document]. [State the document you will be using] supports my
claim BECAUSE [connect the document to your claim]. [Restate argument again connecting claim +
document in other words].
Sentence or two – CLAIM [Restate claim]
Time provided: 25 minutes.
