A.P. U.S. History The S.A.Q. L. Herrington 2015

Information  There are 4 Short Answer Question on the APUSH Exam.  You have 50 minutes to complete them.  Answer each in roughly 10 minutes. This will give you a few minutes when you are done with all of the questions to go back and review them and make any last minute corrections and/or changes.

Step 1  Read the question thoroughly.  Reread it as many times as necessary to fully understand it.  Be sure you that you know what the question is asking you to do.  What Historical Thinking Skill(s) are you required to use to answer the questions?  Be sure to answer all parts of the question!

Step 2  For each part of the question be sure to write 3 to 4 sentences.  Be sure to write FULL SENTENCES!!!!  A well developed thesis is NOT necessary.  Get to the point. Answer the question directly.  Don’t hesitate to brainstorm ideas, information, concepts. etc. into the margin areas around the answer box.

Step 2 - DO NOTS!!!!  DO NOT put fluff in the answer.  DO NOT get bogged down with too many details.  DO NOT write in First Person.  DO NOT put in rhetorical questions.  While you may brainstorm ideas outside of the answer box, DO NOT write anything outside of the box that you wish to include in your answer. Only what is inside of the answer box is scored.

Scoring  Each SAQ is scored on a 0 to 3 scale.  Score 3 – Response accomplishes all 3 tasks set by the question.  Score 2 – Response accomplishes 2 tasks set by the question.  Score 1 – Response accomplishes 1 task set by the question.  Score 0 – Response accomplishes none of the tasks set by the question.

Example Question  Answer parts a, b, and c.  a) New forms of mass culture emerged in the United States in the 1920s and in the 1950s. Briefly explain ONE important similarity in the reasons why new forms of mass culture emerged in these two time periods.  b) Briefly explain ONE important similarity in the effects of new forms of mass culture in these two time periods.  c) Briefly explain ONE way in which some Americans responded critically to new forms of mass culture in either period.

Attack Strategy  What is mass culture? What new forms?  Where? USA  When? 1920s and 1950s (comparison)  A – What reasons caused the emergence? (causation) Why were the reasons similar? (comparison)  B - What effects were there? (causation) Why were the effects similar? (comparison)  C – Why did Americans respond critically? (select only 1 of the periods) (interpretation)

Example Response  A) The explosion of mass culture in the 1920s and in the 1950s can be explained by the World War Era. In both the First and Second World Wars there was a great need for war materials to be mass produced. This ability to mass produce allowed for goods to become cheaper. In both post war eras the concept was applied to consumer goods allowing for Americans to buy a wide variety of household goods ranging from radios to television.  B) As everyday life was made simpler by the introduction of these new consumer goods, the amount of leisure time Americans had grew. Families could take their automobiles out for a drive or on a vacation. As a result, highways were built, professional sports in the nation took off, and new business like diners, gas stations, and drive-ins developed. American life became living and not just working to live.  C) Not everything about these changes were appreciated by the American people. Music is a good example of this. Rock ’n Roll in the 1950s was seen as having a negative impact on the youth of America. Some criticisms included the intermingling of Blacks and Whites and the lack of Christian morals displayed by the musicians and the people that listened/danced to this new form of music. Some critics went as far as to call it “The Devil’s Music”.