Long essay question (LEQ)
New ideas and religious authority
- Units 4, 6 and 7
- 6 points
- About 40 minutes
You write an argument essay from your own knowledge, with no documents. Starting May 2027 there is one required prompt with a short opening statement; it spans about half of the course's time periods and you can focus on the part you know best. On the exam: 1 required question (Section II, Question 2), 40 minutes, 15% of the score.
The question
From the Scientific Revolution to the eve of the First World War, Europeans developed new ways of studying nature, society and the human mind. These ideas often raised questions about long-held religious beliefs and about the churches that taught them.
Suggested time: 40 minutes
Your answers are saved in this browser as you type.
The essay
6 pointsEvaluate the extent to which new scientific and intellectual ideas challenged traditional religious authority in Europe in the period 1650 to 1914. You are not expected to address the entire time period in your response. You may focus on one or more developments referenced in the prompt. In your response you should do the following: • Respond to the prompt with a historically defensible thesis or claim that establishes a line of reasoning. • Describe a broader historical context relevant to the prompt. • Support an argument in response to the prompt using at least two pieces of specific and relevant evidence. • Use historical reasoning (e.g., comparison, causation, continuity or change) to frame or structure an argument that addresses the prompt. • Demonstrate a complex understanding of a historical development related to the prompt through sophisticated argumentation and/or effective use of evidence.
0 / 12,000 characters
Checking scoring…
Scoring it yourself shows you the rubric, examples and a model answer. Try writing your answer first.