Free AP US Government Tests
AP US Government Free Response Question 4: Argument Essay
Below is our final AP Government Free Response Question (FRQ), known as the Argument Essay. This FRQ is part of our free AP US Gov Practice Exam. In this essay, you will need to present a defensible thesis that responds to the question and establishes a clear line of reasoning. After you complete your response, use the link at the bottom of this page to review a sample answer.
In recent years, there has been much discussion as to whether the federal government or individual states are more effective in protecting civil liberties. Take a position as to whether state governments or the federal government best protect citizens’ civil liberties.
Use at least one piece of evidence from the following documents to support your argument:
- Federalist No. 51
- The Constitution
- Brutus No. 1
In your essay, you must:
- Articulate a defendable claim or thesis that responds to the prompt and establishes a line of reasoning.
- Support your claim or thesis with at least TWO pieces of accurate and relevant evidence.
One piece of evidence must come from one of the foundational documents listed above. A second piece of evidence can come from any other foundational document not used as your first piece of evidence, or it may be from your knowledge of course concepts.
- Respond to an opposing or alternative perspective using refutation, concession, or rebuttal.
- Use reasoning to explain why your evidence supports your claim or thesis.
After you finish typing your answer to this AP Gov Argument Essay, be sure to review our sample response along with an explanation of the scoring process.