leq thesis example ap euro

Score Higher on AP Euro 2024: LEQ Tips from Students

1 min read • june 18, 2024

This guide organizes advice from past students who got 4s and 5s on their exams. We hope it gives you some new ideas and tools for your study sessions. But remember, everyone's different—what works for one student might not work for you. If you've got a study method that's working, stick with it. Think of this as extra help, not a must-do overhaul.

• Students are asked to pick one topic out of 3 and write a historical essay supporting an argument
• 15% ****of Exam Score
• Spend about 40 minutes
• Thesis/Claim (1)
• Contextualization (1)
• Uses Specific Evidence (3)
• Complexity (2)

💭 General Advice

• It might be more helpful to leave the LEQ until the end since writing the DBQ takes longer and it can help you recall the information needed for the LEQ!
• A brief outline during those 5 minutes goes a long way when you’re writing the LEQ since you’ll have a basic idea of what you’re going to talk about instead of scrambling and wasting time.
• Focusing on dividing your paragraphs into the different parts of your thesis. 40 min is a good benchmark and it’s good to check in every 10 min to see if you should move on from a part if it’s not as important.
• Choose the topic that you know several pieces of outside information about and that you will feel most confident discussing.
• Make sure to reread the question at least 3-4 times. This helps you really understand what the question is asking you to do. Try using the method called “Topic, Task, Time Period” in which you identify all three components. This ensures that you aren’t going to write an essay on the wrong topic or even time period (don’t let the ‘centuries’ confuse you!)
• If you’re not confident with your time periods, avoid the choices with a strict time period. If you pick evidence that’s even slightly outside the time boundaries in the question you’re not likely to get a good score. It’s important to pick a question where you both know background information and can apply it by making sure it's within a time frame.
• Even if you’re not 100% sure about something, make sure to put something down that is somewhat related to the question—you’ll be surprised what gets partial credit sometimes.
• If you can work quickly, it’s best to come up with 2-3 possible arguments and determine which one you have the most evidence for — give yourself options.

🕐 Before you Write

• Word dump a bunch of ideas for like 1-2 minutes after you pick the prompt, this can help fill up your contextualization for the introduction paragraph and is a good way to start off the essay."
• When thinking about your answer for the prompt, not only evaluate solutions but also arguments from the opposing viewpoint. This will help you come up with a counter thesis. This is especially useful in trying to achieve the complexity point later in your thesis. By doing this, you have something to go off of later and it integrates well into your essay.
• This is a good thing to do for the outline as well! However, make sure you’re not sculpting your evidence to fit the thesis—your evidence should be creating the thesis, not just cherry-picking specific points to try and support your thesis in a narrow view."
• It might be easier to write your contextualization in the beginning of your essay. Try using this technique where you create a mini timeline for yourself prior to writing the thesis statement explaining the “Why” behind whichever direction you choose to answer the question in.
• In a simpler breakdown, it’s just a brainstorming process for myself where you can draw context from your own knowledge, the questions in the MCQ portion of the test, and provided documents.
• Knowing a broad timeline of key dates is extremely helpful in connecting your event to other events. Make sure you memorize the start and end dates for each AP Euro unit for sure! Knowing the dates of major events like WWI, WWII, Thirty Years War, Napoleonic Wars is also helpful.
• Avoid using first-person pronouns (i.e; I, we, our, my, etc…) and mundane language; for example, instead of saying “I think this is why the Cold War hurt countries trying to get out of colonialism”, say “The Cold War hurt decolonization movements because…”

💡 Tips for Earning Each Point

Example LEQ Prompt (we’ll be using this throughout this guide):

"Evaluate the extent to which the Scientific Revolution represented a shift in European thought." There are multiple ways to attack a prompt like this, so it’s best to start brainstorming right away.

Claim/Thesis

"Although some may argue that the Scientific Revolution was a continuation of earlier intellectual traditions because scholars like the ancient Greeks also engaged in scientific inquiry, ultimately, it represented a significant shift in European thought because it prioritized empirical evidence over religious and philosophical speculation, fostered the development of the scientific method, and promoted a worldview centered on human reason and observation.”

• The thesis should guide the structure of your entire essay, acting as a roadmap for reader and writer alike.
• If you struggle with coming up with a thesis statement, use this format: “Despite (counter argument), because (evidence 1) and (evidence 2), (your argument). Or “Although (counterargument) because (example), ultimately (argument) because X, Y, and Z.” XYZ being general ideas of the evidence you are going to use, rather than your exact examples.
• Develop categories that you will include in your thesis which you will use to form body paragraphs (ex. The political laws that affected the lives of everyday people).
• It doesn’t matter where you put your thesis as long as you have a “valid one.” But it’s recommended to put a thesis in your intro and conclusion to maximize the chances you have to earn your thesis point.
• Your thesis can be straight to the point, and the conclusion thesis to be broader and more developed based on what you write in the essay. After all, if you write the exact same thesis in both places and it’s a bad thesis, you won’t get the point anyway."
• Before you begin writing, write down the topics, and provide 2-3 details for each. The essay is for analysis.
• Make sure that you include your topic sentences – which corroborate your thesis – in your introduction! For example in the thesis above, it explains that “The Scientific Revolution marked a significant departure from previous European thought” and the reasons **why “**by challenging the authority of the Church, promoting empirical observation and rationalism”.
• Mark up the prompt as you write your thesis to make sure you are actually answering what the prompt is asking. The worst is writing a beautiful essay, but being unable to receive points because it does not answer the actual prompt. Remember, your thesis guides your essay!
• Underline your thesis statement. Not for the scorer, but for you so you don’t stray from it.
• BE SPECIFIC!

Contextualization

Before the 1500s, most Europeans believed in the ideas of ancient Greek and Roman scholars, who thought everything in the natural world could be explained by philosophy. However, during the Renaissance, people started questioning old beliefs and focusing more on human experience and observation. This shift set the stage for the Scientific Revolution, where scientists like Galileo and Newton used experiments to understand mysteries of the universe, changing how Europeans thought about the world around them.

• One way to think of this is like opening of a Star Wars movie!
• Connect the specific topic of your essay to larger historical trends or processes. This should be done consistently throughout the essay. You want to analyze the facts and their impact on surrounding history.
• For example, if a prompt is asking you something about the Romanticism period (movement), your contextualization can talk about the previous movement, the Enlightenment, and talk about how Romanticism was a rejection of the cold reason of the Enlightenment in favor of emotion.
• Likewise, you can include more context in an optional conclusion. For example, you could talk about how Realism (movement after Romanticism) rejected the superficiality of Romanticism in favor of depictions of ordinary working people.
• To get the point, you only need two well-explained events.
• Sentence starters: “Before [insert the earliest year], [bring up event one] occurred.”
• You have to explain the concept or event you bring up for context- at least one sentence.
• Be incredibly precise with your words and events; for example, focus on points between a span of 200 years, not too much further.
• For example, if the prompt asks; “Evaluate whether the English Civil War (1642-1649) was motivated primarily by religious reasons or primarily by political reasons,” your context should be between the 1400s-early 1600s range.
• If you choose to go the religion reasoning route, you can use the Protestant Reformation (1517) or the dissolution of monasteries under Henry VIII’s rule (1536-1541). The Gunpowder Plot (1605) is an example that is closer to the time period.
• If you choose to go the political reasoning route, you can use the Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) or James I’s divine right clashing with Parliament’s desire for a limited monarchy (1603-1625).
• Describe the events leading up to the prompted event, the background of an invention or idea, or the location an event occurred and who was involved.
• Context shouldn’t be too long, maybe 3-4 sentences. If you’re writing a lot, you’re wasting valuable time. This is the place in the essay where you can be short & sweet, not diving into complex details.
• Although it is important to not spend too much time on contextualization it is very important that you make sure your contextualization is not vague. Contextualization sets the stage to introduce your thesis so it is very important to choose details that relate to the topic as well as tying it back into your thesis.
• Use many strong transitional words and phrases, such as consequently, due to, earlier, furthermore, therefore, etc. These will help your reader understand clearly the flow of events that you’re presenting to them. It can also aid with adhering to your outline.
• Embed the context naturally into your introduction or body paragraphs as needed. For example- have the first part of your introduction talk about the time period before the one the question is set in, connecting the ideas to what you will talk about in the LEQ.
• Try to give your contextualization a chronological flow.
• If you’re struggling to think of an event you can use, double check the specific time period or range they give you. The College Board usually uses a specific year to mark the beginning of the time period they give you as a notable event happened right before it.
• Remain true to the prompt and your thesis. There’s often information relevant to the bigger picture, but if it doesn’t assist in furthering your thesis, find something more important.
• Choose 1-2 events from each time period to prepare. The events should be multifaceted and easy to use for multiple questions in order to not cram too much information into my head. One obvious example is the Protestant Reformation because what didn’t that event help kickstart in Europe?
• Connect ideas and events across time.
• Think of wars, major turning points in time that reflect a movement, revolution, or important figure. Then think of what led up to those turning points and connect back with the questions.
• Try to set the stage for your essay and make sure the background information is relevant to your essay, be specific.

Specific Evidence Usage

Paragraph 1 – Prioritized empirical evidence over religious and philosophical speculation Galileo Galilei's Observations : Galileo's use of the telescope to observe the moons of Jupiter contradicted the geocentric model of the universe supported by the Church, showing reliance on observation rather than scripture or ancient philosophy. Copernicus' Heliocentric Theory : Nicolaus Copernicus proposed a heliocentric model of the universe, which directly challenged the geocentric view endorsed by the Church. This theory was based on mathematical calculations and astronomical observations, showcasing a shift towards empirical evidence and away from religious doctrine as the basis for understanding the cosmos. Paragraph 2 – Fostered the Development of the Scientific Method Francis Bacon's Empiricism : Bacon advocated for the empirical method, emphasizing observation and experimentation as the basis for knowledge, which was a departure from the deductive reasoning of the past. René Descartes' Deductive Reasoning : Descartes introduced a systematic approach to scientific inquiry based on deduction and rationalism, complementing Bacon's empiricism and forming the basis of the modern scientific method. Paragraph 3 – Promoted a Worldview Centered on Human Reason and Observation Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion and Universal Gravitation : Newton's work synthesized mathematics with physical observations, promoting a universe governed by natural laws understandable through human reason. The Enlightenment : The Scientific Revolution laid the intellectual groundwork for the Enlightenment, where reason and individual thinking were valued over traditional authorities. Philosophers like Voltaire and Diderot celebrated scientific progress and advocated for its application to societal reform.

• Earning these points requires demonstrating your ability to support your thesis with a range of historical evidence and incorporating at least one piece of evidence not directly mentioned in the prompt.
• “Specific evidence is such an important thing to have in your essay and you’re going to need it in every advanced class you’re going to take next.”
• Incorporate Additional Evidence Beyond the Prompt: Beyond the examples you use to support your thesis initially, include at least one more piece of relevance evidence that wasn’t explicitly asked for. This shows depth of knowledge and an ability to think critically about the topic.
• Be precise and specific with your examples. General statements without supporting details won’t earn points.
• Make sure the evidence is relevant and supports your claim.
• Use names! But don’t just name-drop - that won't help. Instead, specify and elaborate on each example; for example, the transition from specific absolutists to Enlightened monarchs for the example prompt.
• Get the who/what/when/where/how across- but don’t make it too long (more that 2-4 sentences).
• Think outside the box for your additional evidence. Consider cultural, political, economic, or social angles that add depth to your argument.
• For example, if you are talking about the Treaty of Versailles you would say: “The Treaty of Versailles, a peace agreement after world war one that made Germany pay all the damages…” and then you would connect that to your argument.
• If you’re lucky, you might get some ideas and evidence from the DBQ sources. Use those if your mind goes blank.
• It’s also a good idea to pay attention to the reading passages for the MCQ in case you can use it for evidence. Since you can’t access the MCQ portion while writing FRQs, try to get some rough ideas from the reading passages if you can remember their general content.
• Try to weave evidence into your essay since it helps with the overall flow of your writing.
• For example, if the prompt is about comparing Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, “One similarity between the two regimes was their complete control over information and media, with Joseph Goebbels’s propaganda ministry churning out media that glorified the Aryan race and demonized Jews and Stalin’s purges silencing dissenters and instilling fear to enforce party conformity… (analysis + reasoning).
• Don’t just cite an example and move one — they want you to use specific historical moments to support your thesis. “This shows…, this is important because…, etc..”
• Ex: Don’t say: “The Enlightenment was a philosophical and intellectual movement where many ideas were exchanged”
• Instead say: “The Scientific revolution’s reliance on logical and scientific thought shifted European thought to value reason. This is exemplified in Enlightenment writers, like Montesquieu, John Locke, and Voltaire, using reason to question traditional societal structures. Many of their ideas, like separation of powers, natural law, and freedom of religion have had sizeable impacts on future governments.”

Analysis and Reasoning

Earn this point by continuing to structure your argument that the Scientific Revolution did in fact represent a CHANGE in European thought. You have to demonstrate this point throughout your essay, not just in one part, but this is an example sentence:

"Following the Scientific Revolution, the reliance on empirical observation and experimentation in understanding the natural world became increasingly prevalent, marking a significant shift from the previous era, where knowledge was predominantly derived from religious texts and the authority of ancient philosophers.”

• The first analysis point uses historical reasoning (e.g., comparison, causation, continuity, and change) to frame or structure an argument that addresses the prompt.
• For causation, you could write 2 causes of a movement and one effect (or vice versa)
• For change over time, you could write 2 ways something changed society and one way it did not (or vice versa)
• For comparison, you could write two ways something are the same and one way is is different (or vice versa)
• Clearly Understand the Prompt : Before you begin writing, take the time to fully understand what the prompt is asking. Identify the key themes and historical reasoning skills it requires (e.g., causation, comparison, continuity and change).
• Develop a Strong Thesis Statement : Your thesis should directly address the prompt and set the stage for your argument. Make sure it reflects the type of historical reasoning you will use throughout your essay.
• Organize Your Essay Around Historical Reasoning : Structure your essay in a way that highlights your chosen method of reasoning. Make your case in each paragraph.
• Integrate Analysis with Evidence : Don’t just list facts or events; explain how they support your thesis. Show the connections between your evidence and the broader shift in European thought you're arguing. Use phrases like “marked a significant shift”, “represents a difference in how”, “supports the continuation of”
• Conclude Effectively : Sum up your argument in the conclusion, reiterating how the evidence you've presented supports your thesis. This is your last chance to remind the reader of the strength of your historical reasoning.
• The second analysis point is shown through complexity, and in order to get this point is seen below:

Awarded for demonstrating a complex understanding in one of these ways. Here’s a series of examples: Explaining the nuance of an issue by analyzing multiple variables: Analyze the domino effect of changes. Technological advancements (variable 1) led to changes in scientific understanding (variable 2), which then influenced labor dynamics (variable 3) and social structures (variable 4). The emphasis is on the interactions and causal relationships between these elements, showing the nuanced ways in which the Scientific Revolution impacted society. Explaining both similarity and difference or explaining both continuity and change: If your stance is that the Scientific Revolution changed European thought, also consider how thought stayed the same. Explaining relevant and insightful connections within and across periods : Link events, ideas, or people from different regions or time periods to show how they related to or influenced each other. You could discuss the Renaissance or Enlightenment and the similar impact of an intellectual movement. Confirming the validity of an argument by corroborating multiple perspectives across themes: Present evidence from different thematic perspectives to prove your point. The emphasis on empirical evidence also influenced political thought, encouraging new ideas about governance and society that valued reason over dogma. Qualifying or modifying an argument by considering diverse or alternative views or evidence. Address the counterargument, but establish your line of reasoning as stronger. Although in the short term most of the world remained traditionally religious, the intellectual shifts of the Scientific Movement represent the more significant legacy.

• Additionally, if you’re going for complexity you must have complexity in every paragraph, in addition to your complexity paragraph.
• This point is not awarded to students who use fancy language, complex transitions, and advanced sentence structure. This point is given for developing a strong argument and articulating it. Therefore, don’t stress about using the same word multiple times, having a run-on sentence, or writing three-sentence paragraphs. If you are able to present the information, provide evidence, and explain your evidence; you can write a high-scoring LEQ.
• Write a final paragraph that includes a different view of the situation. A way to approach this is by looking before or after an event. For example, if the prompt is about the causes of a war, for complexity, write about the effects of the war, and vice versa. If the prompt isn’t as simple as cause and effect, look to other “categories” of an event. For example, if writing about economic changes, look at its effect on religion or politics for the complexity point.
• Try to include multiple variables throughout your essay. For example, you could describe the religious, economic, and power-hungry motivations for colonization of the Americas and then compare or contrast them with the motivations for colonization of Asia and Africa.
• Ex: the French Revolution leading to the creation of the Napoleonic Code, which is still in place in France. If you want to try this method, it’s best to figure out what you want to reference and how it ties into modern day as soon as you see your prompt.
• At the end of the day, if you’re short on time, skip the complexity point and move on to finishing/writing your DBQ. The complexity points is the hardest point to earn for the essay so don’t prioritize it over writing a strong DBQ.

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Writing – LEQ Evidence, Historical Reasoning, and Complexity Part I

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AP U.S. History Long Essay Example

The second part of Section II of the AP exam contains three long essay questions—you must respond to one. The AP U.S. History long essay question assesses your ability to apply knowledge of history in a complex, analytical manner. In other words, you are expected to treat history and historical questions as a historian would.

This process is called historiography—the skills and strategies historians use to analyze and interpret historical evidence to reach a conclusion. Thus, when writing an effective essay, you must be able to write a strong, clearly developed thesis and supply a substantial amount of relevant evidence to support your thesis and develop a complex argument.

The College Board’s characteristics of a high-scoring long essay question response are listed below. Note that the requirements are very similar to those of the DBQ; the primary difference is that any requirements related to use of the documents are removed from the scoring requirements for the long essay question.

[ RELATED: Reading Strategies for AP US History Exam ]

Long Answer Sample Question

Evaluate the extent to which the migration of European colonists and the resulting encounters with American Indians affected social patterns in the period from 1495 to 1650.

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt

As you choose which question you will answer, begin thinking about what your thesis will entail and how your essay will demonstrate a complex understanding. The notes of a sample high-scoring writer are below.

Thesis (with complex understanding): Spanish, French, and British each used territory differently; result: distinct social patterns

This writer claims that three different countries’ approaches to settling territories resulted in different types of social development, but other types of thesis claims are possible. For instance, the thesis could make a single claim about overall social patterns (such as “Europeans’ economic goals in the New World and their attitudes of superiority over American Indians resulted in exploitative and hierarchical social structures”) or focus on only one or two European nations.

Step 2: Plan Your Response

• Context : motives for European exploration: new technology, navigation techniques, and trade routes
• Thesis   (with complex understanding ):  Spanish, French, and British each used territory differently; result: distinct social patterns
• goals: wealth and spread Catholicism
• methods: mining, large-scale agriculture, encomienda, disease/weapons, missions
• results: forced assimilation, social structure
• goal: fur trade
• method: mutually profitable trade relationships
• result: alliances
• goals: permanent settlements, Jamestown, religious freedom (New England)
• methods: occupying more land for farming, smallpox, Metacom’s War
• results: deaths of indigenous populations
• ¶ conclusion: where Europeans sought permanent settlements or forced labor, resulted in American Indian population decline, upheaval, and threats to tradition

Step 3: Action! Write Your Response & Step 4: Proofread

See the following high-scoring response, and be sure to read the rubric to help you identify what makes this response effective. Think about what features you can incorporate into your own free- response answers.

Sample High-Scoring Response

The Spanish had two major goals: to gain wealth and to spread Catholicism to the native populations. Realizing the potential to mine precious metals and profit from large-scale agriculture, the Spanish forced American Indians into labor, such as through the encomienda system. Violence and deception were often used to subdue the indigenous populations, aided by the technological superiority of European weapons and the spread of devastating diseases. Although some Spanish came as missionaries with the goal of converting American Indians to Christianity and often protested the abusive treatment of the American Indians, even missions sometimes essentially forced labor and coerced assimilation to Spanish culture. In the long term, a hierarchical social structure developed in the Spanish colonies in which the Spanish-born and their descendants (peninsulares and creoles) dominated those of mixed background (mestizos and mulattos) and especially those of pure African or American Indian heritage. Overall, millions perished between disease and mistreatment, devastatingly weakening traditional cultures but enriching the Spanish.

The French differed from the Spanish in their relationship with the indigenous populations. Using the St. Lawrence River for transportation and trade, the French profited from trading fur pelts, particularly beaver, with the American Indians, and then sending the pelts to Europe. These traders profited from the knowledge and goods of the American Indian populations who lived there, and certainly desired to develop mutually profitable relationships with them. Overall, this more cooperative relationship helped preserve American Indian cultures and led to alliances between the French and different American Indian nations. These alliances benefited the French in later wars with the British.

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