1. 3 Parts of the APUSH Test Multiple Choice Questions –5 distracters Free Response Question DBQ Scoring the Exam –The multiple-choice and free-response sections each account for one-half of your final Exam grade. –Within the free-response section: the document-based essay question counts for 45% The two standard essays count for 55%.

2. Free Response Questions: Standard Essay You'll have a total of 70 minutes for the FRQ standard essay questions. –It's recommended that you spend 35 minutes on each essay: –five minutes planning and 30 minutes writing each essay. You are expected to have a general understanding of key interpretations of major historical events. You need to explain WHY events happened. –The Event happened because ……………………… Standard essays will be judged on: 1.The strength of the thesis developed. 2.The quality of the historical argument. 3.The evidence offered in support of the argument, rather than on the factual information per se. –FRQs and DBQs are both graded holistically.

3. APUSH MC Questions There are 80 multiple-choice questions on the AP U.S. History Exam. –5 distracters A-E. –55 minute time limit –To score a grade of 3 or above, you need to answer about 60 percent of the multiple-choice questions correctly. Topics: –20% of the questions deal with the period through 1789 –45% cover 1790 through 1914 –35% cover 1915 to the present including questions on events since 1980. Themes: –35% of the questions are on political institutions, behavior, and public policy –40% are about social and cultural developments –15% of the remaining questions cover diplomacy and international relations –10% cover economic developments.

4. FRQ Rubric The 8–9 Essay: 90-100% –________ Contains a clear, well-developed thesis that addresses all parts of the question. –________ Understands complexity of the question and deals with all parts of the question in depth. –________ Provides effective analysis of question. –________ May contain very minor errors that do not detract from the quality of the answer. –________ Is clearly written and organized. The 5–7 Essay: 80-89% –________ Contains a partially developed thesis that addresses question but not to the level as above. –________ Supports the thesis with some relevant historical information. –________ Provides some analysis of the question but mostly describes. –________ May contain minor errors that do not seriously detract from the quality of the essay. –________ Has acceptable organization and writing. The 2–4 Essay: 70-79% –________ Contains an undeveloped or unfocused thesis, or simply paraphrases the question. –________ Provides few relevant facts, or lists facts with little or no application to the question. –________ May address only part of the question with limited or no analysis. –________ May contain major errors. –________ May be poorly organized and/or written. The 0–1 Essay: 60-69% –________ Lacks a thesis or simply restates the question. –________ Demonstrates an incompetent or inappropriate response. –________ Has little or no understanding of the question. –________ Contains substantial errors. –________ Is poorly written and/or organized. The Essay: 0% –________ Is blank or completely off topic. Name_______________________ Period __Date________

5. DBQ Rubric The 8–9 Essay: 90-100% –________ Contains a well-developed thesis that analyzes and clearly addresses the question. –________ Presents an effective analysis of all parts of the question. –________ Discussion of one factor may be embedded in the discussion of other factors. –________ Effectively uses a substantial number of documents. –________ Supports thesis with substantial and relevant outside information. –________ May contain minor errors but is clearly organized and well written. The 5–7 Essay: 80 – 89% –________ Contains a thesis addressing the question but not as focused or comprehensive as above. –________ Has limited analysis of question in some depth. –________ Effectively uses some documents. –________ Supports thesis with some relevant outside information. –________ May have errors that do not seriously detract from the quality of the essay. –________ Shows acceptable organization and writing; language errors do not interfere with comprehension. The 2–4 Essay: 70-79% –________ Contains a limited or undeveloped thesis. –________ Deals with the question in a general manner; simplistic, superficial treatment of the subject. –________ Merely paraphrases quotes or briefly cites documents. –________ Contains little outside information or information that is inaccurate or irrelevant. –________ May have major errors. –________ May be poorly organized and/or written. The 0–1 Essay: 0-69% –________ Contains no thesis or a thesis that does not address the question. –________ Exhibits inadequate or incorrect understanding of the question. –________ Has little or no understanding of the documents or ignores them completely. –________ Has numerous errors. –________ Is written so poorly that it inhibits understanding. The — Essay: 0% –________ Is blank or completely off topic. Name_______________________ Period __Date________

6. “Reader” Points This is in the “APUSH End of Year” Review Packet: This comes from a essay “reader” who grades essays during the summer: –When appropriate, the DBQ will include charts, graphs, cartoons, and pictures, as well as written materials. This gives you the chance to showcase your ability to assess the value of a variety of documents. –The DBQ usually requires that you relate the documents to a historical period or theme and show your knowledge of major periods and issues. Outside knowledge is very important and must be incorporated into the student's essay if the highest scores are to be earned. You Must use your outside information along with the provided documents to prove your interpretation and analysis of history. YOUR understanding and YOUR outside information is MOST IMPORTANT in the essay. To earn a high score it's also very important that you incorporate the information you learned in your AP U.S. History class. –The emphasis of the DBQ will be on analysis and synthesis, not historical narrative. Your DBQ essay will be judged on thesis, argument, and supporting evidence. The DBQ tests your ability to analyze and synthesize historical data, and assess verbal, quantitative, or pictorial materials as historical evidence.

7. Tips for writing a good DBQ Read the question -- that is, the prompt -- three times. Remember that in this instance "AP" stands for "address prompt." Identify the task. State in your own words what you are being asked to write. Circle or underline the main words, especially words of direction, such as "analyze," "explain," "compare and contrast," "evaluate," and "to what extent." Briefly list the main events of the historical time period addressed. The DBQ Documents should be in Chronological order. –Do not write outside of the Time Period. Read each document, noting the source or the title. Briefly write the main point of each document. If the prompt requires you to take one position or another, group the documents on the basis of those positions. For example, in the 1999 DBQ you are asked to evaluate colonial identity AND unity. Note that documents A, C, E, and G are about unity, whereas documents B, D, F, and H deal with identity. Some documents may be used to support both unity and identity. Use the source or the title when referring to the information in the document. Do not say “In document A, In document B etc… –Use (Doc A) After the sentences. The amount of accurate historical evidence you provide is the key to AP grading. –You must prove you know American History

8. Essay Writing To write a good historical essay you must: 1.Analyze the main points of the question. 2.Write a good thesis. 3.Draw on your outside knowledge. 4.Plan and organize before you write (outline). 5.For DBQs: Incorporate the documents into the essay. –DBQs also require Analysis and Synthesis of documents –Analysis: interpret and explain documents –Synthesis: Blend outside information with information from documents to explain the issue.

9. Analyzing Documents and Issues SPRITE: –S :Social –P :Political –R :Religious –I :International* –T :Technological (Intellectual) –E :Economic Changed from Mrs. Weinman

10. Outlining You should develop an outline before writing historical essays. Outlining: –Helps you brainstorm. –Prevents you from writing an disorganized essay. –Determines your perspective. If you have more outside knowledge or documents supporting one view over the other change your perspective.

11. Developing a Strong Thesis You MUST have a strong Thesis to have a good essay. A thesis requires you to interpret the question, take a position, and provide an opportunity to organize the essay. All information in the essay must support your position and relevant to the question.

12. Introductory Paragraph The introductory Paragraph should include: 1.The background to the question or your thesis. 2.Your strong thesis statement. 3.Main ideas and points or your essay showing an organized blueprint that controls your essay. –4-5 paragraph essay or more if needed. –3 rd person Only and past tense –Be careful of creativity, make it organized and easy to follow.

13. Supporting Paragraphs The supporting paragraphs depends on the thesis and blue print of the opening paragraph. The amount of accurate historical evidence you provide is the key to AP grading. –You must prove you know American History Not a laundry list, but relevant to the question. Use specific words, avoid absolutes (all or none). Define key terms. Distinguish important causes and effects to what is of lesser importance. Remain objective but understand most readers happen to have a more liberal bias. –This is not the place to argue that liberals or conservatives are wrong. Stay organized, provide transition words, and stay with the opening paragraph blueprint.

14. Conclusion The conclusion should focus on the thesis. –Restate the thesis in an interesting manner and explain its significance. –Do not try to summarize all of the data. –This is not the most important part of the essay.

15. Analyzing DBQ and FRQ Worksheet 1.What do the readers want you to write about if the question asks you to Evaluate? – ___________________________________________________ 2.What do the readers want you to write about if the question asks you to what extent? – ___________________________________________________ 3.What do the readers want you to write about if the question asks you to Compare and contrast? – ___________________________________________________ 4.What do the readers want you to write about if the question asks you to Analyze the political, diplomatic, and military reasons? – ___________________________________________________

16. Analysis Terms: Continued 1.What do the readers want you to write about if the question asks you to Explain the causes and consequences? – ___________________________________________________ 2.What do the readers want you to write about if the question asks you to analyze the social, political, and economic forces? – ___________________________________________________ 3.What do the readers want you to write about if the question asks you to analyze the effectiveness? – ___________________________________________________ 4.What do the readers want you to write about if the question asks you to analyze to what extent were these organizations successful? –____________________________________________________

17. Puritan DBQ Answer the following questions for each of the following Essays Puritan DBQ: What are 5 pieces of outside information about the Puritans that you would use in this essay? – From the section you read, what do you think of this essay? – What were the AP standards for a good essay on the Puritans? – What made it a good essay according to the readers? –

18. Women in the Revolution DBQ Women Revolution DBQ: What are 5 pieces of outside information about Women in the Revolution that you would use in this essay? – From the section you read, what do you think of this essay? – What were the AP standards for a good essay on the Puritans? – What made it a good essay according to the readers? –