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Preparing for the AP Exam ■ Free-Response Question: Argument 151

and to oneself. Finally, make a list of examples from your reading, your observa-
tion, or your experience that illustrate that unjust laws harm others and oneself.
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➔ Step Two: Develop a Defensible Claim and Unified Line of Reasoning PREPARING FOR THE AP ® EXAM
Once you have chosen a unifying idea and determined your perspective, you will
need to develop your claim which includes your perspective about the unifying
idea. Simply restating the original claim or quotation in the prompt is not enough.
You must convey your perspective on the topic. Thus the combination of your idea
and your perspective about that topic becomes your claim.

Topic: Laws
Idea: Unjust Laws
+
Perspective: Unjust laws harm self and others
Thesis: Citizens should rebel against “unjust laws” because these laws
cause harm to others and require citizens to violate their own
moral code of behavior.
This thesis statement conveys a position through a claim (idea + perspec-
tive) that can now be developed through a line of reasoning. You should now gen-
erate two to three reasons to support your claim. These reasons will become your
topic sentences for your body paragraphs. Your body paragraph should directly
connect to your unifying idea and perspective.
Thesis statements may present a line of reasoning to help you structure your
argument and help the audience navigate through your reasoning. In other words,
claims can be justified by reasons that will serve as the basis for each of your body
paragraphs.

Thesis Effectiveness
I agree with St. Augustine’s No original position. It simply restates the
statement that societal laws should prompt.
not contradict natural laws.
No line of reasoning
Citizens should rebel against “unjust Clear position
laws” because these laws cause Citizens should rebel against unjust laws.
harm to others or require citizens
to violate their own moral code of Line of reasoning
behavior. [because]
They cause harm to others.
They violate personal moral code.

INSIDER Your position should be embedded in your
perspective. Issues are complex; therefore, the most
TIP intriguing arguments are not simply pro or con. Instead,
they reveal their position, either in support of or in
opposition to the issue at hand, through the perspective they take.

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