Introduction to World

History AP

Tools for Learning History

• Think about the Big Pictureo Marker events that make a difference in the course of history

• Think about themeso Unifying threads that can be separated but often intertwineo Themes in AP world: humans and the environment, cultures, political

structures and power (govts and politics), economic systems, and social structures

• Think about chunkso Periodization o Marker events make one period distinct from another o Five main periods in AP world

Tools for Learning History

• Think comparativelyo Think about comparisons with big pictures, themes, and chunks.

• Think about change over timeo What happens in the beginning, causes things to change, how does the

characters influence the ending?

• Think like a historiano Look at evidence to reconstruct the pasto Analyze perspective or point of view

Necessary Habits for a Historian

• Evaluation based on evidence• Analysis of primary documents and data• Comparison and continuity and change over time• Understanding both global and local events• Understanding how the past impacts the present

and the future

Ap World History exam

Basics• Given in May in a 2 week period• Test is 3 hours and 5 minutes• Half the grade is multiple choice and other half

based on 3 essays

Section I: Multiple Choice

• 70 multiple choice questions based on give time periods in 55 minutes

• All periods equally represented with slightly more questions on 600-1450 CE

Section I: Multiple Choice

• Scoring:o Subtracts ¼ of the number of questions answered incorrectly from

number of questions answered correctlyo Answered 30 questions right and 10 questions wrong. 10 x ¼ = 2.5, so

get credit for 27.5 questions

• Pay attention to any visual (maps, charts, photographs, etc) information given, including titleso Sometimes it requires content knowledge to answer.

• Be prepared for EXCEPT, NOT, LEAST

Section II: Free-Response

• You have 130 minutes to answer 3 free-response (essay) questions

• You can allocate your time however you like so don’t get too bogged down in any one question

• Part A is the Document Based Question (DBQ) that includes a 10 minute reading period and a 40 minute writing period

• Part B is an essay that deals with continuity and change in one of the 5 time periods (40 minutes)

• Part C is a compare and contrast essay between at least two societies (40 minutes)

• You do not have to answer them in order; just allow enough time for each

• Scores range from 0-9

The Document Based Question (DBQ)

• Designed to measure our skills as an historian• Question first then set of primary documents that

must be read before the question can be answered

• You come up with a thesis and back it with specific evidence from the documents

The Document Based Question (DBQ)

• Response graded on these guidelines:o Thesis – answer the question, not just repeat it

• Requires some judgment and interpretation of the evidence• Focus on the question• Example: Tensions existed between nomadic and sedentary people

during the period before 600 C.E.” is NOT A GOOD THESISo Be specific

o Use all of the documents• You must USE ALL THE DOCUMENTS in your response• Must be clear which document you are referring

o Can refer by number (Document 1), author, or brief description• Must demonstrate understanding of documents but you can

misinterpret one and still get the point

The Document Based Question (DBQ)

• Response graded on these guidelines:o Supporting evidence

• You may use quote from a document or simply describe which part you are using. Do not quote extensively from documents because it is too time consuming.

• Receive 1-2 points for this parto 2 for appropriate evidence from all but one doco 1 point from all but two docs

o Point of View• Must analyze the author’s point of view in at least TWO documents• Look carefully of when it was written and evaluate how objective

the author might be• You are seeking the truth and all docs must be evaluated for

reliability

The Document Based Question (DBQ)

• Response graded on these guidelines:o Grouping documents

• Group docs based in ways that make sense based on the question• Group chronologically, region, culture, or theme• May also group by authors who agree with each other• Make sure groups are clearly identified• You get 2-3 points for this

o Additional documents• Identify one additional document or source and explain why it

would you answer the question• “If only I have this document” and why

Continuity and Change Over Time

• Analyze change and continuities over the course of at least one timer period

• Usually have to explain how one aspect of a society or region changed and/or stayed the same over time

Continuity and Change Over Time

• Graded on:o Acceptable thesis

• Answer the question, not just repeat it.• Has some judgment and interpretation of evidence• Must be focused on the question

o Complete answer• Answer ALL parts• Must address both CHANGES and CONTINUITY (things that stay the

same)• 2 points for answering all of the question, 1 point for addressing

most of the question

Continuity and Change Over Time

• Graded on:o Supporting evidence

• Evidence must come from content knowledge• No required evidence – question is so broad that many different

pieces of evidence can be presented• 2 points for providing appropriate evidence• 1 point for partially substantiating the thesis

o World Historical Context• Must be explained in the broader world history of the time period

o If your question is about China, put China within the context of the era. What contacts did China have with other civilizations that affected its politics, etc?

Continuity and Change Over Time

• Graded on:o Analysis of the process of continuity and change

• Determine how various factors or parts of the topic relate to the change or explain the continuity

• Why did the changes occur?

The Comparative Essay

• Compare at least two societies or regions in terms of one of the major themes

• Asks for both similarities and differences and usually some choice of the societies involved.

The Comparative Essay

• Graded on:o Acceptable thesis

• Answer the question, not just repeat it• Requires some judgment and interpretation and focused on the

questiono Complete answer

• Answer ALL parts of the question• Discuss both similarities and differences• 2 points is awarded for answering ALL parts of the question• 1 point is awarded for address MOST parts of the question

The Comparative Essay

• Graded on:o Supporting evidence

• Must come from content knowledge• Usually so broad that there are many different pieces of evidence

that may be presented• 2 points for provided appropriate historical evidence• 1 point is awarded partially substantiating the thesis

o Direct comparison• Don’t present both societies and then not directly point out

differences or similarities between them• Ex: Unlike in Rome, Chinese society was held together by

Confucianism”• Organize essay topic, rather than by country or society

The Comparative Essay

• Graded on:o Reason for a similarity or differenceo Explain why the two societies are different or similar o Must be made without the context of a direct comparison

• Ex: The difference in the outcomes of the fall of the Rome and India might be explained by the unifying influence of the fall of Rome and India might be explained by the unifying influence of Hinduism in India and the lack of a comparable unifying influence in Rome.