Advanced Placement Human Geography Writing Boot Camp

Writing is a challenge, no matter the subject or grade level. Most students have not had their writing graded against a rubric that contains very specific language and content. Many are paralyzed by the scope of the course, and the idea of answering a free response question is very intimidating. This lesson plan introduces a writing boot camp which takes place the first two weeks of the second semester. The author describes giving one-day tests, which are multiple choice. Free response questions (FRQs) are answered in class as the material covered. To begin, students are given the rubric, and they score their own FRQ responses. As the semester progresses, students score other students' FRQ responses. This exposes students to the rubrics and the expectations of writing a quality FRQ response. The goal is to get students to feel comfortable writing in class and to accept criticism of their writing.