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AP US History I and II Study Guide

Page history last edited by Peter H. Bond 15 years, 9 months ago

2008 – 2009 Study Guide

A.P. U.S. History I & II

 

Remember:  Your goal, while working in our classrooms or while studying at home, ought to be to know the material we are currently working with.  However, the process of coming to truly know something requires more than a mere memorization of certain facts (though this is certainly a good place to begin); it also requires that an effort be made to understand[1] those facts.  To understand something requires that you put it in context, that you can make sense of it within a wider world of facts, concepts, ideas and issues.  This is true no matter where the material comes from.  (E.g. classes in ‘history’, ‘English’, ‘math’, etc.)

That having been said:

q       First:  You ought to study a little bit every night.  Do not wait until the night before a test to start studying.

·        You should take 10-15 minutes, each night, to review any new material and to study older material; this is to keep it fresh in your mind. 

·        While studying from your textbook, the following guidelines ought to be observed:

Ø      For each section in your textbook, make certain you understand:

§         the general topic;

§         several specific facts relating to the general topic;

§         the important items (below) relating to that general topic and those specific facts:

v     Ideas, Concepts, Issues (themes).

v     People

v     Events; General Chronology (and, when necessary, specific dates).

v     Geographic features, etc.

Ø      Next, link each section of your textbook with the section just before it and just after it.  As yourself such questions as:

§         Are there any common themes, people or events, which tie these sections together?

§         Is one section more important than the others?  And, if so, why?  If not, why not?

§         What is the relative importance of each section with respect to the others?  Why?

§         Are there any other connections?

Ø      Finally, since this is a survey course, you should ask yourself:  “How does this whole unit (multiple sections, chapters, etc.) connect with other units (within the textbook and outside of it) we have discussed?”

q       As to studying for tests, ‘quests’ and quizzes:

·        Be certain you have completed all relevant reading assignments.

·        Be sure you have completed all relevant homework, worksheets, etc.

·        Be certain your class notes (and handouts) are in order.

·        Start with any and all tests, ‘quests’ and quizzes that relate to the material you are to be tested on – study these carefully.  Pay close attention to your mistakes – being certain that you have corrected them.  If not, seek clarification from your notes, handouts, homework, or the textbook itself.  (You may also see your teacher, of course.)

·        Next, go back to your class notes (and handouts) – study them carefully.  These will help you focus upon the material deemed most important to your teacher (because it is what was focused upon in class).

HINT #1:  You should be taking notes in class each day.

HINT #2:  You should review these class notes each night when you go home.

Even the best students have trouble making sense of notes taken in class if no effort is made, soon afterwards, to connect them with earlier work.

·        After that, study any and all relevant worksheets and homework.

·        Then, and only then, go back to your textbook for some selective re-reading and selective studying.

Ø      Whatever you do, do not attempt to re-read each and every page of the material since your last test, ‘quest’ or quiz.  This is a colossal waste of time.

Ø      Focus, instead, upon the material that does not make sense or which is still unclear to you.

Remember, again:  Your goal should be to know and understand.  Make use of this

handout where it will be helpful for you.  Modify it when necessary.  But, regardless of how you use it, commit yourself to making studying a discipline.  Avoid random and haphazard studying at all costs!  This means you must find a quiet place to do your work.  It also means:  turn off the TV; turn off the radio; turn off the stereo; take the headset from your tape or CD player off your ears; let your mind focus on the material – just the material.  Your will do much better and, eventually, spend less time studying because the time actually spent will be much more productive.

A final note for those of you who have trouble knowing “what to study”:

  • While you are studying, it might help to place various people, places, dates, events, ideas and themes into one of the following categories.

q       Very Important

q       Important

q       Background

q       Trivial; Trivia

  • Obviously, if you are able to train yourself to distinguish between the categories, above, you can begin to focus your studies.

q       If you have limited time then you must focus on the top category first; the second category next. 

q       If you have more time, you can (and should) study and learn background and some of the little historical tid-bits that, while not strictly necessary, always help to make history more “concrete”.



[1] Understand:  Verb.  Definition (2) to perceive the significance or explanation or cause of.

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