EXAM FORMAT: 2010

185 MINUTES TOTAL TIME

80 MC QUESTIONS = 55 MINUTES

ESSAY PORTION = 130 MINUTES

• 15 MINUTE READING PERIOD
• 45 MINUTES TO WRITE THE DBQ
• 5 MINUTES PLANNING
• 30 MINUTES ON FR #1
• 5 MINUTES PLANNING
• 30 MINUTES ON FR #2

STRATEGY FOR APPROACHING DOCUMENTS

MY THANKS TO CATHERINE FORSLUND FOR THE FOLLOWING TECHNIQUE.  SHE SHARED IT WITH US AT THE AP REGIONAL CONFERENCE AT UW-MADISON IN APRIL OF 2003.

A:     WHO IS THE AUTHOR?

P:     PLACE AND TIME?

P:     PRIOR KNOWLEDGE (bracketing)

A:     AUDIENCE (who is it for?)

R:     REASON (why was it produced?)

T:     THE MAIN IDEA

S:     SIGNIFICANCE ("so what?")

HERE ARE SOME OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: 

• 14 Questions/ 1607-1789
• 40 Questions/ 1790-1914
• 26 Questions/ 1915-Present

Political Institutions/Behavior: 28

Social Change: 28

Diplomacy/ International Relations: 12

Economic Development: 8

Cultural/ Intellectual: 4

FR ESSAYS ARE JUDGED ON:

• Strength of the Thesis Developed
• Evidence offered in support
• Quality of historical argument

DBQ’s ARE JUDGED ON:

• The same things as the FR Essays
• Ability to analyze and synthesize historical data and primary evidence

HOW ABOUT INCLUDING ANY HISTORIOGRAPHY?

RECALL THE FOLLOWING:

1. Edward Potts Cheney v. Frederick Turner:

Cheney argued we were a product of the European past, whereas Turner emphasized a distinctly "American" history with a heavy emphasis on the FRONTIER! Turner’s Frontier Thesis was groundbreaking and shaped the arguments of two generations of historians.

2. Charles Beard: (Progressive Period)

An economic slant on the past. Groundbreaking work in 1913 with a economic interpretation of the Founders and the writing of the Constitution.

3. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.

The cyclical view of American history – repeated patterns of public interest vs. private concerns.

4. Richard Hofstadter (Consensus View):

Our shared values are more important than our conflicts. He did groundbreaking interpretations of several Presidents.

5. Howard Zinn (New Left History):

History from the "bottom up" – looking at the lives of common people. CONFLICT is important.