Deadline to Sign up for AP Test is in 5 Days - October 31st

 

Keep Up with APUSH - STUDY!!!

 

Colin Kaepernick taking a stand!

 

APUSH students must be able to write contextt for historical moments, or the topic of the Document Based Questions or Long Essay Question.  So today in class - 9/1/2023 - we gave context to this famous image of Colin Kaepernick kneeling at a football game.  We had the BEST conversation in each class!  Students get it!  My favorite context started "Prior to Kaepernick's stand..."  Such GOOD Writers!  

As we discussed this image every class told me about a series on Netflix called "Colin in Black and White."  It is so good!  I have watched 2 Episodes!  I would recommend it to all!

AP US HISTORY College Board Site

I was  having a bad day a few weeks ago!  Then I took students to the art show and I saw a former student from last year!  He declared he made a 5 on the APUSH Exam!  I instantly had a smile!  Then he said it was all because of me, and he wanted to say Thank You!  I became so embarrassed, and he explained he knew the content but also knew the structure of the Exam! That is so true  you need both!  Look at the College Board Site and learn the structure of the test!

APUSH College Board Site

First Political Parties

One must know the federalist and the anti-Federalist.  It all began ratifying the constitution, and then once that was done the debate/conflict turned into our first political parties!  

Here is a great site showing the debate of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist:

Fed and Anti Debate

I would know these Federalist Papers

Here is a great site showing the first political parties:

First Political Parties

Flash Card Idea for APUSH

This is a GREAT study idea for APUSH!  One thing I hear over and over is if you want to be successful on this test you MUST know vocabulary!   All of my students told  me last year that knowing the vocabulary was so helpful!!!!  So this year I am having my APUSH students complete flashcards for each chapter.  On that card they are creating a pictograph.  Explaining the definition, significance, and drawing a picture representing that term!

One great thing is that they can keep theses and review them throughout the year.  To keep them handy they could hole punch a corner, and put them on a ring!

Historical Thinking Skills!

Today in class we discussed the nine historical thinking skills!  The APUSH Exam is designed around them - so you must know them!!!!

The link below is the College Board explanation of the historical thinking skills.  Know these!!!!

College Board Historical Thinking Skills

Change Over Time - Historical Thinking Skills Practice

If you are in my APUSH class you need to practice looking at Change Over Time.  This is one of the Historical Thinking Skills that could be used on the APUSH exam.  I encourage you to practice seeing change over time.  The examples below are not historical, but with historical content you will do the same thing.  With the examples below it might seem like the similarities and differences are easy to see, but if you can do it here you can do it with APUSH!  Takes Practice, Practice, Practice!

Old and new cellphones - can you see change over time?

This week we looked at Period 1.  One thin I became present to this morning is a great change over time topic - Navigation.  In Period 1 you must know the improvements to technology Europeans made which allowed them come to the New World.  Since the begging humans have wanted to master navigation!  What has stayed the same, and what has changed?

AP Essay Writing

 

Essay writing is over half of the APUSH test.  You cannot pass the exam without passing the writing portions.  Below is a description of each writing and portion, and some tips!  In my class you will be practicing essay writing.  You will be writing an essay every two weeks plus write a short answer every week!  You must practice, practice, practice!  I do not want you to be surprised on test day!  The most important thing when writing an APUSH essay is answer the prompt!  Many in the APUSH world say AP does not stand for Advanced Placement, but Answer the Prompt!  That is so important I put it on my wall by the thinking skills!

 

 

I will go in order of what you will see on the Exam.  First is the Multiple Choice section then Short Answer (part B).  Remember College Board knows your phone and computer can tell you any answer!  So they want you to be a historian!  That is why there is a large emphasis on writing, and they have added this part - Short Answers.

 

You will have 4 questions to answer with 3 parts.  You must answer ALL parts.  You do not have to develop a thesis.  You may write in bullet points, but in complete sentences.  You will also have limited space.  You will have 23 lines, and 45 minutes.  Again each question may or may not come with a stimuli (chart, image, or graph).  Here is an example of a short answer:

Answer a,b, and c:

a. Briefly explain ONE example of how contact between Native Americans and Europeans brought changes to Native American societies in the period 1492 to 1700.

and etc.

 

Section 2 - Part A is the Document Based Question or D.B.Q

Now you really have to use AP - Answer the Prompt, and have a good thesis!  Having a good thesis is everything!  Your thesis tells the reader where you are going!  For your thesis you must use the exact words from the prompt!  There is no reason to think of new words for the American Civil War.  Use those words, but it is not restating the prompt because the other part of thesis writing is answer the question.  The essay prompt will ask a question, and you must answer it, and include your groupings.

 

 

A fun activity to do in class is divide the class into groups.  Give each group a bag of random candy, and tell them to put the candy into 3 groups.  The obvious groups are decided.  List all the groups on the board, Then tell the groups to come up with new groupings, but you cannot use any of the groups listed on the board.  That is when groups become very creative!  This is what you must do for your essay!  Look at all the information, and come up with at least 2 groupings.  Try to be generic so you can be more detailed in your essay.  If this seems overwhelming - don't worry we'll practice in class!

 

When writing your D.B.Q. brainstorm first!  See what you know about the topic before you read the documents.  Most students like the D.B.Q most of all because College Board gives you enough information in the documents to answer the prompt.  But they know that - so with the D.B.Q  the College Board will be looking at Outside Information.  That is why it is smart to brainstorm first!

 

The D.B.Q will have one of the following Historical Thinking Skills as their focus causation, continuity and change over time, comparison, interpretation, and periodization.  You will have 55 minutes to write your D.B.Q.  Many say you should plan for 15 minutes and write for 40 minutes.

 

The rubrics are core rubrics!  There is very specific things they are looking for!  Here is the rubric.  If you have these things - they have to give you the points!  Max points 7 points.  I am going to tell you the highest points possible because that is what you should be shooting for.  You will also be getting a copy of these rubrics! 

1. Thesis - 1 point

2. Analysis of historical evidence and the support of arguments - 4 points

a. Analysis of ALL the documents and relate back to your thesis and discuss one of the following for ALL documents:

1. Intended Audience

2. Author's Point of View

3. Purpose

4. Historical Context

We will do these four things every time we analyze documents!

b. Include Outside Information Analysis - 1 point 

3. Contextualization - 1 point

4. Synthesis - 1 point

a. Conclusion - restate your thesis

 

This is a GREAT video!

 

Section 2 Part B: Long Essay

 

When you see your prompt, and the great thing about the Long Essay is you WILL have choice!  You will choose between 2 prompts.  One will be early American History, and the other will be later American History.  When you choose your prompt you need to read it 3 TIMES!  Why 3?  That way you answer the whole prompt!  An APUSH essay prompt will most likely be very detailed and complex!  You need to Answer the Whole Prompt!

 

Do everything we discussed in the D.B.Q - write a Thesis Statement, Brainstorm, and Groupings.  When we write a long essay in class it will be great to brainstorm because it will be a great review!  The Long Essay Rubric will really depend on what Historical Skill you are using!  You must know them!  Max Points - 6 points.  Here is the Long Essay Rubric:

 

1. Thesis - 1 point

2. Support for the argument/thesis - 2 points

a. Must use adequate amount of historical evidence

3. Application of targeted historical thinking skills - 2 points

a. Continuity and Change Over Time - Must do BOTH and have analysis

This is a great video showing change over time!

b. Comparison - MUST show similarity and difference and have analysis

c. Causation - Shows BOTH Cause and Effect and Analysis

d. Periodization - Show how it was similar and different before and after the period stated and analysis

4. Synthesis - 1 Point

a. Again your Conclusion with a restated thesis

 

With all the essays there is NO DOUBLE DIPPING!

 

 

 

Structure of the New Exam

 

I am so honored that I get to be your APUSH Teacher!  I want nothing more than for you to pass the Exam in May!  I have worked hard all summer to prepare you for the Exam!  Everything we do in class is to help prepare you!  The first thing you need to know is the actual test!  Don't be surprised! 

 

In Fall of 2014 College Board completely restructured their course.  College Board knows and understand that your phone holds all the answers.  So they want you to be able to analyze and talk about US History!  If you cannot discuss these historical events you are in trouble!  College Board wants you to think like a Historian!  The Thinking Skills are important!

 

 

The Exam is 3 Hours and 15 Minutes.  There are two sections, and here is how it breaks down:

 

Section 1

Part A: Multiple Choice Questions/55 questions/55 minutes

Each Multiple Choice question is going to be a stimuli question.  Where you will be given a quote, chart, map, or image to help you answer the questions.

Part B; Short Answer Questions/4 questions/45 minutes

You do not have to write a Thesis, but you do have to write in complete sentences.  You will have limited space, and there will be 3 parts to answer.

 

 

Section 2

Part A: Document Based Question/1 Question/60 minutes

We will go over how to write this, and there is a specific rubric to follow.  They call it a Core Rubric.

Part B; Long Essay Question/1Question (You will choose from a pair)/35 minutes

Same as DBQ

 

Many were nervous about these new changes, but I think it is wonderful!  Before College Board would say know everything about US History.  Now it is more specific, and point blank.  You get to know specifically what you need to know!  I find that comforting!