Debates regarding the proper balance of power between the national government and the states have existed since the founding of the United States. Develop an argument as to whether a strong central government or strong state governments are best suited to protect individual liberty.
Use at least one piece of evidence from one of the following foundational documents:
Brutus No. 1: An Anti-Federalist essay arguing that a large central government poses a threat to individual liberty
Federalist No. 10: A Federalist essay by James Madison arguing that a large republic is the best defense against the dangers of factions
The Declaration of Independence: The foundational document asserting natural rights and the principle of popular sovereignty
In your response you should do the following:
Respond to the prompt with a defensible claim or thesis that establishes a line of reasoning.
Support your claim with at least TWO pieces of specific and relevant evidence. One piece of evidence must come from one of the foundational documents listed. 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.
Use reasoning to explain why your evidence supports your claim or thesis.
Respond to an opposing or alternate perspective using rebuttal or refutation.
What the Argument Essay asks
The Argument Essay is FRQ 4 on the AP US Government exam. You take a position on a political debate, support it with evidence that includes a foundational document from the prompt’s list, and respond to an opposing view.
A defensible claim that sets up a line of reasoning
1 pt
B
Part B: Evidence
Two pieces of specific evidence, one from a listed foundational document
3 pts
C
Part C: Reasoning
Why your evidence supports your claim
1 pt
D
Part D: Alternate perspective
An opposing view, answered with rebuttal or refutation
1 pt
How Argument Essay practice works
Each question follows the exam’s format, from the full prompt to a score on every part.
1
Read the full prompt
The debate, the listed foundational documents, and the four requirements, laid out the way the exam shows them.
2
Write on a 40-minute timer
The time to plan for on exam day. Pause it or turn it off, and your response saves as you go.
3
Submit for a score out of 6
Your response is scored against the scoring guidelines written for that question. Your first score is included.
Feedback on every part
A summary at the top tells you what to work on next. Below it, each part shows whether you earned the point and what the scoring guidelines were looking for.
Earned the point. You made a defensible claim that the government should prioritize individual liberty and established a line of reasoning by explaining that 'without these, there would be no public order.' This creates a clear argumentative position with rationale.
Part B(B1): 1/1 point
Earned the point. You provided specific evidence from the First Amendment, naming the particular freedoms it protects (speech, religion, assembly, press, petition). This is specific evidence from one of the required foundational documents.
Part C(C1): 0/1 point
Did not earn the point. While you mentioned that the First Amendment allows federal courts to strike down state laws, you didn't explain HOW or WHY this supports your claim that liberty should be prioritized over order. To earn this point, you needed to connect the First Amendment's protections to your argument - for example, explaining that these protections show the Founders designed the government to restrict its own power to protect citizens' rights from an order-obsessed authority.
Detailed feedback on a practice Argument Essay
Questions about the Argument Essay
How many responses can I get scored?
You can read every question without a plan. Your first scored response is included. A plan unlocks unlimited scoring.
Which documents can I use as evidence?
One piece of evidence must come from a foundational document listed in the prompt. The other can come from another foundational document or from course concepts.
Is there a right answer?
No. Any defensible position can earn all 6 points when it’s supported with specific evidence and reasoning.
Are these real College Board questions?
No. We wrote them in the AP format, with the same four requirements, and wrote scoring guidelines for each one.
Can I write my answer by hand?
Yes. Switch the editor to handwrite, write on paper, and add a photo of your page.
More AP US Government practice
Concept Application FRQ practice
Concept Application questions with the full scenario and all three parts.
