SAQ

Background

🕰️ You have 40 minutes to write it

3 questions: 2 with stimulus 1 without

Spend ~5 min on each subpart with stimulus
Spend ~3 min on each subpart without stimulus

How to Write an SAQ

Should be 3-4 sentences max

Before You Start Writing

Don’t read the stimulus first! Read the prompts then the stimulus

In the prompts, mark up:

what time period they want you to write about
the theme they are asking you to write about (SPICE-T)
the historical thinking skill they want you to answer with

How to Actually Write It: ACE

Answer the prompt

The prompt is a question: say what side you are taking/what you are trying to prove

Restate the important parts of the prompt and name a specific piece of evidence

Cite evidence

Say what your evidence is and define it

Note: try not to use TPEs from the stimulus

Try turning it into a synonym or something related (ex. self determination → nationalism)
If you really can’t think of anything then it’s better than nothing

Explain

This is your analysis: connect your evidence back to your answer to the prompt

You should explain how your evidence based on its definition shows whatever you are trying to prove is true

Repeat ACE nine times and you should be good 👍

Example

Describe one significant cultural or intellectual change during the Renaissance

Answer the prompt:

One significant intellectual change during the Renaissance was the emphasis on humanism

Cite evidence

Humanism described the Renaissance belief in the ultimate potential of human beings as ends in themselves

Explain

Prior to the Renaissance the prevailing view of human potential was limited by the widespread belief in the doctrine of original sin, but because of the innovative work of Petrarch and other humanists a new confidence in human potential began to emerge during the Renaissance

👉

You may be familiar with other acronyms such as, but not limited to:

TEA (Topic Sentence, Evidence, Analysis)

CWI (Claim, Warrant, Impact)

All of these acronyms, including ACE, are basically the same. Just use whatever works best for you ✌️