1. A Strategy for attacking History STAAR questions to conquer them!
KEWAP!!
KAPOW!
No, …
A Strategy for attacking History STAAR questions to conquer them!

2. KEWAP is a question attack strategy to help you dominate STAAR!
ey Words!
motion + -
hat do I know?
nswer Choices 
rove it!

3. Key Words
Underline 5 words (more or less) in the question stem and answer choices that look important.
The Bessemer steel process affected westward expansion in the United States by enabling
clipper ships to be built in order to transport passengers from the East Coast to the West Coast.
interstate canal systems to be built in order to transport agricultural goods from west to east.
Conestoga wagons to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
railroads to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.

4. Emotions + -
Do any words in the question stem suggest emotions – either positive emotions or negative emotions?
Positive words in the question stem are likely to lead to a positive direction (positive words) in the correct answer choice.
Negative question stem words would likely lead to negative words in the answer choice.

5. Emotions + -
Some Positive (+) emotion words: encouraged, enabled, helped, assisted, rewarded, supported, etc.
Some Negative (-) emotion words: discouraged, denied, rejected, opposed, objected, etc.

6. Emotions + -
Do any words in the question stem suggest emotions – either positive emotions or negative emotions?
+ emotion
allowing
The Bessemer steel process affected westward expansion in the United States by enabling
clipper ships to be built in order to transport passengers from the East Coast to the West Coast.
interstate canal systems to be built in order to transport agricultural goods from west to east.
Conestoga wagons to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
railroads to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.

7. Unfortunately, not in this case, but it will happen on STAAR.
Emotions + -
Do any words in the answer choices suggest negative emotions? If so, they are likely to be incorrect responses.
+ emotion
allowing
The Bessemer steel process affected westward expansion in the United States by enabling
clipper ships to be built in order to transport passengers from the East Coast to the West Coast.
interstate canal systems to be built in order to transport agricultural goods from west to east.
Conestoga wagons to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
railroads to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
Unfortunately, not in this case, but it will happen on STAAR.

8. What do you know?
As you read through the question, jot down a few words showing what you already know about this topic. This will help you think about what the correct answer should be.

9. What do you know?
Jot down a few words showing what you already know about this information to help you think about what the correct answer should be.
Manifest Destiny, growing
+ emotion
West
allowing
The Bessemer steel process affected westward expansion in the United States by enabling
clipper ships to be built in order to transport passengers from the East Coast to the West Coast.
interstate canal systems to be built in order to transport agricultural goods from west to east.
Conestoga wagons to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
railroads to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
water
How would you get there? Go around South America?
water
covered, wood
steel

10. Answer Choices 
Can you eliminate any answer choices, based on your notes and thinking? Try to eliminate 1 or 2.
Manifest Destiny, growing
West
+ emotion
allowing
The Bessemer steel process affected westward expansion in the United States by enabling
clipper ships to be built in order to transport passengers from the East Coast to the West Coast.
interstate canal systems to be built in order to transport agricultural goods from west to east.
Conestoga wagons to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
railroads to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
water
How would you get there? Go around South America?
This seems to be the wrong direction? 
water
covered, wood
Is this more about wood than steel?
steel

11. Answer Choices 
Can you identify choices that might be correct answers?
Manifest Destiny, growing
West
+ emotion
allowing
The Bessemer steel process affected westward expansion in the United States by enabling
clipper ships to be built in order to transport passengers from the East Coast to the West Coast.
interstate canal systems to be built in order to transport agricultural goods from west to east.
Conestoga wagons to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
railroads to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
water
How would you get there? Go around South America?
This seems to be the wrong direction? 
water
covered, wood 
steel

12. Prove It!   Does what I know and what’s in the question match up?
Manifest Destiny, growing
West
+ emotion
allowing
The Bessemer steel process affected westward expansion in the United States by enabling
clipper ships to be built in order to transport passengers from the East Coast to the West Coast.
interstate canal systems to be built in order to transport agricultural goods from west to east.
Conestoga wagons to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
railroads to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West.
water
How would you get there? Go around South America?
This seems to be the wrong direction? 
water
covered, wood 
steel

13. Does what I know and what’s in the question match up?
Prove It!
Does what I know and what’s in the question match up?
Manifest Destiny, growing
West
+ emotion
allowing
The Bessemer steel process affected westward expansion in the United States by enabling
railroads to be built in order to carry people and goods to the West. 
steel
Correct!

14. KEWAP! K E W A P ey Words! motion + - hat do I know? nswer Choices 
rove it!

15. You can do it!
Try this when you are taking STAAR. What have you got to lose but a little time? You get 4 hours to take a 60 question test.

16. Chronological Order
Another STAAR tip for history – Take 10 or 20 minutes when you first get the test to write down what unit or era each question relates to.

17. Chronological Order
Then, answer the questions in reverse chronological order, as that will be the most recent information we’ve studied in class.

18. Reverse Chronological Order
Civil War and Reconstruction
Reformers, Art and Literature
Manifest Destiny/Westward Expansion
Age of Jackson
New Republic – first presidents …

19. Reverse Chronological Order
Government
Articles of Confederation and Constitution
Revolutionary Era
Colonial Era
Exploration

20. Practice and use these skills to help you DOMINATE the SOCIAL STUDIES STAAR!

21. Special Thanks to
Ms. Puckett and Mrs. Gutierrez-Banks for Cy-Fair ISD for sharing these strategies at the Region IV Social Studies Conference.