Problem: Article: If you're taking an AP exam, you'll have 45 minutes to write your DBQ essay. Times may vary in other settings but, in any case, plan out how much time you can spend on each section of your essay. Do your best to leave at least 2 or 3 minutes at the end to make revisions. If you have 45 minutes to write, take about 5 minutes to make an outline. If you have an introduction, 3 main points that cite 6 documents, and a conclusion, plan on spending 7 minutes or less on each of these 5 sections. That will leave you 5 minutes to proofread or to serve as a buffer in case you need more time. Check the time periodically as you write to ensure you're staying on target. If you're taking an AP history exam, you'll lose 1 point (out of 7) if you don't relate the prompt to its broader historical context. Setting context is a natural way to start your essay, so consider using the first 1 to 2 sentences of your introduction to discuss context. To set the context, you might write, "The Progressive Era, which spanned roughly from 1890 to 1920, was a time of political, economic, and cultural reform in the United States. A central movement of the era, the Women's Rights Movement gained momentum as perceptions of the role of women dramatically shifted." If you'd prefer to get straight to the point, feel free to start your introduction with your thesis, then set the context. A timed DBQ essay test doesn't leave you much time to write a long introduction, so get straight to analyzing the documents rather than spell out a long, detailed intro. Your body paragraphs should be placed in a logical order, and each should address a component of your argument. For instance, you might discuss the attitudes toward women's suffrage in the decades leading to World War I, then explain how women joined the workforce and supported the war effort. Finally, assess how these new roles gave further credibility to advocates of women's rights and led to broader popular support. Each body section should have a topic sentence to let the reader know you're transitioning to a new piece of evidence. For example, start the first section with, "The 1890s saw shifts in perception that set the stage for the major advances in women's suffrage during and following World War I." Be sure to cite your documents to support each part of your argument. Include direct quotes sparingly, if at all, and prioritize analysis of a source over merely quoting it. Whenever you mention a document or information within a document, add parentheses and the number of the document at the end of the sentence, like this: "Women who were not suffragettes but still supported the movement wrote letters discussing their desire to help (Document 2)." You won't receive points if you just mention sources or add quotes arbitrarily. You must make logical connections between the documents, the inferences you've made, and your thesis. Additionally, demonstrate that you've developed a critical understanding of your sources by focusing on what they mean instead of what they say. For example, a private diary entry from 1916 dismissing suffrage as morally corrupt isn't necessarily a reflection of broader public opinion. There's more to consider than just its content, or what it says. Suppose a more reliable document, such as a major newspaper article on the 1916 Democratic and Republican national conventions, details the growing political and public support for women's suffrage. You'd use this source to show that the diary entry conveys an attitude that was becoming less popular. While you should sum up your argument, your conclusion shouldn't merely restate or rephrase your thesis and introduction. Remind the reader of how you've proved your claims, and take the opportunity to connect your argument to a broader historical context. In your essay on World War I and women's suffrage, you could summarize your argument, then mention that the war similarly impacted women's voting rights on an international scale.
Summary: Keep your eye on the clock and plan your time strategically. Include your thesis and 1 to 2 sentences of context in your introduction. Write your body paragraphs. Make sure to show how each body paragraph connects to your thesis. Weave together your argument in your conclusion.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: This will vary from oven to oven. Some ovens can go as low as 150F (66C), while others can only go down to 200 or 250F (93 or 121C). This method may cause the flowers to lose their shape. While they may no longer work for dried flower arrangement, they'll be perfect for potpourri and soap making. Pick a sturdy flower, such as a daisy, rose, marigold, sunflower, or zinnia. Use garden clippers or scissors to cut the stems as close to the bottom of the bloom as possible. You can try this method on more delicate flowers as well, such as poppies or pansies, but you will have to watch them carefully to ensure that they do not burn. Set a metal cooling rack into a baking sheet so that it is easier to move around. Next, spread the flowers evenly across the rack. Leave about a finger-width of space between each flower. Also, make sure that the blooms are facing up. Use the same type of cooling rack you'd use for baking cookies and cakes. How long it takes for the flowers to dry will depend on what temperature you used, how many flowers you are drying, and what type of flowers you are using. The flowers are ready when they start to deepen in color and take on a papery, crinkled texture. Expect to wait 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Remove any flowers that finish drying early. Do not get impatient and use a higher temperature. This will increase the chances of the flowers burning. It is important to check the flowers every 30 minutes, as some of them may finish drying before the others do. The flowers are delicate, so be careful when using them. Because of their bright colors, they are perfect for potpourri. You can also pull the petals off and use them in various craft projects, such as soap-making or candle-making. If you won't be using the flowers right away, store them in a box filled with crinkled paper. If the flowers came apart and turned to potpourri, store them in a box without paper.
Summary:
Preheat your oven to the lowest temperature possible. Choose a sturdy flower, then trim the blooms off. Spread the flowers across a metal cooling rack. Bake the flowers until they dry, checking on them every 30 minutes. Let the flowers cool before using them.