Writing Essays for History

Types of Essays

The Free Response Questions test how much information students know about certain topics. The questions usually focus on important themes throughout United States history or on pivotal moments of a specific time period. These questions require students to take a stand as they answer the question. Readers are more interested in how well your evidence supports your thesis than in what stand you take.

More information about the both the DBQ and Free Response Essays is in the pages below.

  • United States History DBQ suggestions
  • United States History FRQ suggestions