The document provides a prompt for an AP argument essay about a quote by H.L. Mencken that "The average man does not want to be free. He simply wants to be safe." Students are asked to examine how much this observation applies to contemporary society and support their position with evidence. The document discusses understanding the quote and prompt, boiling it down to a choice between risking safety for freedom or giving up freedom for safety. It warns of potential pitfalls in misunderstanding or oversimplifying the prompt. It presents options of planning evidence first then thesis or thesis first then evidence, and provides examples of potential thesis statements agreeing, disagreeing, or qualifying Mencken's view, as well as potential pieces of evidence

2. AP ARGUMENT PROMPT

3. AP ARGUMENT PROMPT
American essayist and social critic H. L. Mencken
(1880–1956) wrote, “The average man does not want to
be free. He simply wants to be safe.” In a well-written
essay, examine the extent to which Mencken’s
observation applies to contemporary society,
supporting your position with appropriate evidence.

4. UNDERSTANDING THE QUOTE
American essayist and social critic H. L. Mencken
(1880–1956) wrote, “The average man does not want to
be free. He simply wants to be safe.” In a well-written
essay, examine the extent to which Mencken’s
observation applies to contemporary society,
supporting your position with appropriate evidence.

5. UNDERSTANDING THE
PROMPT
American essayist and social critic H. L. Mencken
(1880–1956) wrote, “The average man does not want to
be free. He simply wants to be safe.” In a well-written
essay, examine the extent to which Mencken’s
observation applies to contemporary society,
supporting your position with appropriate evidence.

6. WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO…
How much does the average person today care about
freedom? How far are they willing to either risk their
safety for freedom?
OR
How much are they willing to give up their freedom in
order to feel safe?

7. SOME PITFALLS
Misunderstanding the Prompt

8. SOME PITFALLS
Missing the “contemporary” part of the
prompt

9. SOME PITFALLS
Being too simple

10. TWO METHODS OF PLANNING
EVIDENCE FIRST —> THESIS SECOND
THESIS FIRST —> EVIDENCE SECOND

11. AGREE THESIS
Mencken’s observation on the average
person’s overwhelming preference for
safety over freedom doubly holds true
today as we face existential threats such as
terrorism and pandemic

12. AGREE THESIS
Mencken’s observation on the average
person’s overwhelming preference for
safety over freedom doubly holds true
today as we face existential threats such as
terrorism and pandemic contagions.

13. DISAGREE THESIS
Mencken’s belief that the average person
would sacrifice their freedom in order to
feel safe fails to take into account

14. DISAGREE THESIS
Mencken’s belief that the average person
would sacrifice their freedom in order to
feel safe fails to take into account our
willingness to face great dangers in the
name of science or patriotism.

15. QUALIFY THESIS
Mencken’s may be right that most people
usually value safety more highly than
freedom but he forgets how people will
risk everything if it means protecting the
people they love.

16. EVIDENCE FIRST?
PATRIOT Act
Volunteering for War
Sacrificing for a son/daughter
Thrill-seeking: Parachuting
Professions: Police Officers/Coal Miners

17. Thrill-seeking: Parachuting
Safety can be boring
SHOWS us…
Risking our lives can lend meaning
MOST people risk at some time
Many kind of risk taking possible

18. NEW THESIS
Despite Mencken’s belief that the average person is
willing to abandon freedom for safety, we can see that
most people actually enjoy risking their lives, at least
occasionally.