FRQ Tricks and Tips
Writing Strategies: DOs
Briefly restate the prompt: "One environmental consequence is ______________________" not "One environmental consequence of slash and burn agriculture in Brazil is _____________________"
Watch out for answer modifiers: Except, besides, other than
Clearly separate answers when asked for more than one response. example: One limiting factor in a rainforest biome is ________________. Another limiting factor is ______________.
Clearly separate individual sections of the FRQs
Ai)
Aii)
B)
Stick to sentence limits (Identify = 1 sentence maximum, describe = two sentences).
Use APES vocabulary
pollute/pollution ------> Releases carbon dioxide, particular matter, mercury.
harm animals/plants ------>causes population decline due to [insert cause]
chemicals ------>Carbon monoxide, lead, asbestos, PCBs
mess up ----->disrupt the food chain
change ---> increase or decrease
make people sick ----> nerve damage, causes cancer, respiratory irritant.
The 3 Big Es: Environmental, Ecological, Economic
Environmental
Stick to answers that discuss water, soil, atmosphere, habitats or biodiversity
Focus on abiotic factors and the impact on biogeochemical cycles.
Ecological
Stick to answers that discuss food webs, biodiversity, population sizes, or trophic cascades
Focus on biotic factors and the impact on organisms.
Economic
Stick to answers that discuss revenue, profit, taxes, property damage, money saved, costs avoided, or health care costs.
Focus on money or jobs.
FRQ writing Don'ts
No flowery intros or transitions.
No persuasive or opinionated statements
no uncertainty
No vague eco-buzzwords: unhealthy, dirty, green, pollution (without the specific type), hurts the environment, chemicals.