We have a DBQ Essay on the development of the Chesapeake region and the New England region up to the 1700's. Why did they develop into different societies?
Here is my thesis paragraph.
Since the founding of the first settlement in the New World (Jamestown in 1607), the Chesapeake region and the New England region, both developed quite differently. New England would develop into a society more focused on long term development and successful future, socially, economically and politically. However the Chesapeake region was founded by settlers who were looking for a quick gain and to leave and therefore did not share the same ideals as the New England region, and would therefore develop a slower economy, a less socially stable society and differed greatly from a political standpoint.
Any advice, I am really bad with this part of the essay which always drags my grade down. All help is appreciated!
Here is my two-bits:
Since the founding of the first English settlement in the New World at Jamestown in 1607, the Chesapeake and New England regions developed in opposing ways. New England, owing to poor soil and a cold climate, focused on a long-term development of social, economic, and political prosperity for the future. In contrast, the Chesapeake settlers were looking for a "fast buck" or immediate gain with the ultimate objective of leaving for somewhere better. Thus, the long-term view of stability and order in New England would be paired with the short-term instability of a weak economy, less political and social cohesion, and therefore an uncertain future.
I like that you have the problem broken into chunks of three, this is very useful both in writing it and in reading it.
Hope this helps.
Aren't thesis statements for DBQ's supposed to be only one sentence?
No, actually, they are supposed to be what is called a Complex-Split Thesis, that is, instead of doing the simple one-sentence thesis with its three or four key points, you take each key point and develop it into a statement itself. Thus, the overall intro-paragraph is essentially an intro-sentence, three to four key-point sentences (without explanation), and then a concluding sentence that wraps it all together like the traditional simple thesis does (they key to this concluding sentence is to incorporate SPRITE or SEP into it to indicate that it is a wrap-up.
Following the same procedure for the FRQs will likewise result in higher scores generally because with such a complex-split thesis, you are showing the readers that you not only can organize information, but that you also can discuss the information beyond the simple-sentence structure. Structure and Content are the two biggies that the readers are looking for.
Hope this helps
Maybe I'm just starting off at a simpler level then you guys for now. I was taught just recently to make one complex sentence. This looks like a lot of fun for next year. Great.
It's great to see that you are excited about it! The AP test is tough, indeed, the toughest one out there, and the essays are the killer parts of it. I hope you have a really good program and if you need any help, just let me know.
Good luck!
Well it was sarcastic, but I do get excited whenever things get harder. Everyone at my school class me a freak for that, which I quite agree with. haha.
By the way, what are SPRTIE and SEP?
They are acronyms for the way to respond to the essays: Social, Political, Religious, Intellectual, Technological, and Economic. SPRITE is the most common in use around the country. SEP is the abbreviated form of the three most popular themes the essays involve: Social, Economic, and Political.
It's okay to be an intellectual freak, somebody has to figure out how to solve the world's problems, and the "nerds" are the ones who are always called upon to do it. So, glad to have you in the freak club!
lol, thanks. Right, I knew SEP already, just under the name of "default topics". I hope we are going to learn the same stuff.
Making thesis is a hard task becasue there are lots of considerations. Consider yourself lucky if you have plenty of resources but if not, it's another pain on the neck.