How To Answer AP Questions Target Skill: Context and Periodization

Why are these questions so hard? The answer is not in the stimuli It is asking you to think at the highest level Analytical Synthesis *These are the highest forms of thinking the brain can do

Let’s talk about CONTEXT What is it? Historical thinking involves the ability to connect historical developments to specific circumstances in time and place, and to broader regional, national or global processes. (CB, 2016) How is it used? CB uses it to evaluate or explain patterns, cause and effect, phenomena, process of how events connect to each other Why does CB like it so much? Well it separates a 5 from a 3…. Again it makes the brain tackle the most difficult thinking skills it can hold

Let’s practice The first man landed on the moon was Neil Armstrong in the summer on 1969. Space Race Ing, Speech JFK Cold War-Flexi Response Founding and Funding of Nasa NASA tragedies Private Space funding—Elon Musk Space X Exploration of Mars 2. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Civil War 14th Amendment 15th Amend. Fugitive Slave Law Dred Scott v. Sanford Slave Trade Dependency Cotton as King Triangular Trade Cotton Gin

Practice Part Deux 3. FDR used federal programs to fix the nations failing economy . Three R’s Great Depression Stock Market Crash Consumerism Roaring 20’s Buyiing on credit/margin Recovery by WWII Social Security CCC-National Forest Service Hoover Dam FDIC FERA 4. New weapons introduced in the CW made it more deadly than previous American wars. Betters Guns—bolt action Improved barrels Minnie Ball Imterchangable parts-Eli Whitney Gallatin Gun Old Wolrd fighting, meets

And now for some Periodization What is it? Explain ways that historical events and processes can be organized within blocks of time. Analyze and evaluate competing and contrasting models of US history. How is it used? It is obvious that the new curriculum targets this thinking skill due to our 9 set historical periods. Knowing when and why a period ended or began is essential. Knowing how other periods connect to each other is also imperative Why does CB like it so much? Again it reaches into your most sophisticated layers of those amazing brains of yours.

Periodization Practice Women have definitively over time fought or championed for societal issues. 2. U.S foreign policy kept the country out of global war from the 1810’s to the 1890’s.

Periodization oh my! 3. The policies pushed by FDR have a legacy in U.S society today. 4. The U.S. has determined to shield democracy from other world powers.

Last words How your learning will be assessed on the AP Exam: Achievement of the thematic learning objectives will be assessed throughout the exam Use of the historical thinking skills will be assessed through the exam (comparison, context, periodization, synthesis, etc..) Understanding of all 9 periods No DBQ will exclusively focus on Period 1 or Period 9…but you can bring it in!!!! You will always write at least one essay that examines long-term developments that span historical time periods...last year is was the DBQ The coverage of the periods in the exam as a whole will reflect the approximate period weightings

Ok now really my Final Last Words… YOU CAN DO IT, I am so proud of the growth we have made this year… Section I: Part A: Multiple Choice (55 questions; 55 Minutes; 40% of total exam score) Part B: Short-answer questions (4 questions; 45 minutes; 20% of total exam score) Section II: Part A: Document-based question (1 question; 55 minutes (includes 15 minute reading period); 25% of total exam score)---YOU HAVE TO MOVE YOURSELF FROM READING TO WRITING!!!!!!! Part B: Long essay question (1 question (chosen from a pair); 35 minutes; 15% of total exam score)