How to Ace the AP
Learning your STUDY
If you haven't already discovered what study habits are most efficient and effective, try using this Acronym throughout this year to find the best way for YOU to STUDY.
Space - Where do you work best? At a quiet library? On an online call with friends? At home in your own room?
Time - How do you manage your time? Do you work with breaks in between? Or can you finish an entire assignment in one sitting?
Utilities - Do you need to be listening to music while you study? Find out what you need to make studying most effective.
Discipline - How much time are you going to give for WHAP and your phone? Many people have a hard time learning WHAP. Find your time you need in WHAP and control your urge of going to your phone and spending 3 hours on instagram, snapchat, and other social networking apps.
You - Are you a kinesthetic learner, a visual learner, or an auditory learner? Some of the other study aspects above will depend on this element
Space - Where do you work best? At a quiet library? On an online call with friends? At home in your own room?
Time - How do you manage your time? Do you work with breaks in between? Or can you finish an entire assignment in one sitting?
Utilities - Do you need to be listening to music while you study? Find out what you need to make studying most effective.
Discipline - How much time are you going to give for WHAP and your phone? Many people have a hard time learning WHAP. Find your time you need in WHAP and control your urge of going to your phone and spending 3 hours on instagram, snapchat, and other social networking apps.
You - Are you a kinesthetic learner, a visual learner, or an auditory learner? Some of the other study aspects above will depend on this element
How to write an organized essay
The judges of your mission are the AP essay graders from CollegeBoard. They are looking for words and ideas in your essay that follow words written on the CollegeBoard rubric. They decide whether you receive 1 point (max) or 0 point for that specific field. Your goal here is to write a well organized essay that not only focuses on the thematic ideas, but also contains well-written analysis.
SAQ Formatting
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 8-12, depending on the SAQ you have.
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 8-12, depending on the SAQ you have.
First and foremost, your WHAP teachers will prepare you for this section of the WHAP exam more than you need to. Some of your quizzes will make you write a short paragraph about an idea in a chapter or an article that the quiz is over. However, many past mission conquerers had points taken off from the free response on the quizzes (we did too). We offer you the best advices we have for you to accomplish your goal of writing a well-developed and completed SAQ.
If you are confused by SAQ's points have ranges, go to "SURVIVAL TIPS" and look under "EXAM FORMATTING". You will have 4 SAQ questions to answer from ,and some questions may have parts a, b, and c; others may have only parts a and b.
If you are confused by SAQ's points have ranges, go to "SURVIVAL TIPS" and look under "EXAM FORMATTING". You will have 4 SAQ questions to answer from ,and some questions may have parts a, b, and c; others may have only parts a and b.
ACE is your temporary best friend!!
A - Answer the question (assertion or claim).
This is NOT your English essay! YOU DO NOT NEED A BEAUTIFUL INTRODUCTION!!! ANSWER THE PROMPT!
If the prompt is "Identify and analyze difference between WWI and wars prior to 1914". One topic sentence you can write is " One difference is the rise of new forms of art."
It is best to not say "WWI is from 1914 to 1918" or "WWI is a devastating war that killed 38 million people." Adding irrelevant detail is a waste of time and won't count toward your point.
C - Cite specific factual evidence (Don't just restate the quote or summarize it. Your AP graders already know what the quotes say.)
BE SPECIFIC!
Again, if the prompt is "Identify and analyze difference between WWI and wars prior to 1914". Make sure you provide a specific evidence such as dadaism (if the rise of new forms of art is in your topic sentence) or total war ( if civilian involvement in war is your topic sentence).
Do not say vague things like "an example can be seen as different arts forms flourished." AP readers will ask "what are the arts?"
E - Elaborate and explain how the evidence proves the assertion (your topic sentence)
Explain = Analyze! ANALYZE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO (LITERALLY) ACE ON !!!!!!!!!
Analyze why your example fits the prompt and what is your example's significance. If the prompt is "Identify and analyze difference between WWI and wars prior to 1914". Your analysis (for dadaism), for example, can be "The rise of dadaism is triggered by the devastation of war on the mental states of people. Because WWI bought much devastation and death, people began to view humanity as a source of evil and dishonored wars. Because of these pessimistic views, dadaism had caused a wave of both new and old artists to use art to express their devastation for humanity and their minimal hope for the goodness in people"
A - Answer the question (assertion or claim).
This is NOT your English essay! YOU DO NOT NEED A BEAUTIFUL INTRODUCTION!!! ANSWER THE PROMPT!
If the prompt is "Identify and analyze difference between WWI and wars prior to 1914". One topic sentence you can write is " One difference is the rise of new forms of art."
It is best to not say "WWI is from 1914 to 1918" or "WWI is a devastating war that killed 38 million people." Adding irrelevant detail is a waste of time and won't count toward your point.
C - Cite specific factual evidence (Don't just restate the quote or summarize it. Your AP graders already know what the quotes say.)
BE SPECIFIC!
Again, if the prompt is "Identify and analyze difference between WWI and wars prior to 1914". Make sure you provide a specific evidence such as dadaism (if the rise of new forms of art is in your topic sentence) or total war ( if civilian involvement in war is your topic sentence).
Do not say vague things like "an example can be seen as different arts forms flourished." AP readers will ask "what are the arts?"
E - Elaborate and explain how the evidence proves the assertion (your topic sentence)
Explain = Analyze! ANALYZE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO (LITERALLY) ACE ON !!!!!!!!!
Analyze why your example fits the prompt and what is your example's significance. If the prompt is "Identify and analyze difference between WWI and wars prior to 1914". Your analysis (for dadaism), for example, can be "The rise of dadaism is triggered by the devastation of war on the mental states of people. Because WWI bought much devastation and death, people began to view humanity as a source of evil and dishonored wars. Because of these pessimistic views, dadaism had caused a wave of both new and old artists to use art to express their devastation for humanity and their minimal hope for the goodness in people"
LEQ Formatting
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 6
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 6
We have found a PDF from another teacher that best describes the things you have to do for LEQ. If you go to the "SURVIVAL TIPS" tab, you will find a sample LEQ and realize that LEQ prompts are super short.
However, be sure to read the prompt. They may ask you one of the following: comparison, causation, change over time, or periodization. Argument development for each is different. WATCH OUT!!
However, be sure to read the prompt. They may ask you one of the following: comparison, causation, change over time, or periodization. Argument development for each is different. WATCH OUT!!
LEQ Organizer | |
File Size: | 79 kb |
File Type: |
DBQ Formatting
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 7
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 7
Paragraph Organization:
1st - Introduction - Thesis (doesn't have to be one sentence!)
2nd - Contextualization - (talk about what is going on around the world in the time period given by the prompt)
3rd - Discuss Documents and HIPP - (no O, and outside information if applicable)
4th - Discuss Documents and HIPP - (no O, and outside information if applicable)
5th - Synthesis Paragraph - (talk about events that are similar prompt's given event, but synthesis parapgraph's event has to be from another time period)
6th - Conclusion - (restate your thesis, and outside information if applicable)
This is the hardest essay to write in WHAP (according to class of 2019)!!! We have some short and sweet documents for you to look at that clarifies what you need to do to write a well organized and analyzed essay.
1st - Introduction - Thesis (doesn't have to be one sentence!)
2nd - Contextualization - (talk about what is going on around the world in the time period given by the prompt)
3rd - Discuss Documents and HIPP - (no O, and outside information if applicable)
4th - Discuss Documents and HIPP - (no O, and outside information if applicable)
5th - Synthesis Paragraph - (talk about events that are similar prompt's given event, but synthesis parapgraph's event has to be from another time period)
6th - Conclusion - (restate your thesis, and outside information if applicable)
This is the hardest essay to write in WHAP (according to class of 2019)!!! We have some short and sweet documents for you to look at that clarifies what you need to do to write a well organized and analyzed essay.
DBQ Structure | |
File Size: | 12 kb |
File Type: |
Common DBQ Mistakes | |
File Size: | 96 kb |
File Type: |