To have a strong piece of writing, one must have a clear thesis because this is essentially the entire foundation of the paper. The effectiveness of a piece of writing lies in the evidence one uses and how well he or she is able to explain its significance while also tying the concrete example back to the thesis. This is a great deal to juggle in order to score high on the AP test. My portfolio adequately demonstrates these qualities with somewhat clear theses, especially when I construct one that is neither too restrictive nor too general. The nonhistorical examples do need some alterations, however, so to avoid getting off track, then later not being able to relate them back to the thesis. This class has taught me the importance of revolving the essay around the thesis with clear, sensible