1. Tips for Answering Free Response Questions
2 required Free Response (essay) Questions
50 minutes
1/3 of the overall grade - 1/6 of grade for each question
Points are given for correct responses, not taken away for incorrect material
Once given, points can only be removed if one part of an answer contradicts another part
Read through both questions before doing anything else
Think through the answer before starting to write

2. Tips for Answering Free Response Questions
Write an outline or notes on the test question pages.
Don't be afraid to cross something out, if needed.  Anything crossed out will not be scored.
Write in complete sentences - DO NOT OUTLINE OR BULLET YOUR ANSWER.
Be as complete as possible, but keep to the point.
Watch the time. Don't get caught short on essay #2
Structure the answer following the structure of the question

3. Tips for Answering Free Response Questions
define and give an example of every term whether it is asked for or not.  It is always better to include more versus less.  For all you know, the extra sentence or two is what ends up giving the student the point for the concept.

4. Ch. 4 Free Response Question
Meyers’ for AP pg. 173
A Musician is walking home alone late one night and is startled when a dog in a yard to his left barks unexpectedly. Respond to each of the following regarding the musician’s ability to hear the bark.

5. Part 1 – path of the sound wave
Trace the path that the sound waves travel as they enter the ear and proceed to the receptor cells for hearing
1 point for the auditory canal and eardrum
1 point for the bones of the middle ear
1 point for the cochlea
3 points Total for Part 1

6. Part 2 – path of the neural impulses
Trace the path that the neural impulses created by the bark travel from the receptor cells to the brain
1 point for the hair cells
1 point for the Thalamus and temporal lobes
2 points Total for Part 2

7. Part 3 – pitch perception
Using two theories of pitch perception, explain how the brain might process the pitch of the dog’s bark
1 point for place theory and its role in perceiving a high pitched bark
1 point for frequency theory and its role in perceiving a low pitched bark
2 points total for Park 3

8. Part 4 – sound localization
Explain how the musician would know that the bark originated to his left even without seeing the dog
1 point for more intense sound from the left
1 point for a louder sound from the left
2 points total for Part 4