Top 10 Tips for Tomorrow's AP World History Test

Well, one more pop culture reference that my students won't understand. Why not?

Top 10 Things That you should NOT forget for the WHAP Test Tomorrow:

10. Answer ALL the Multiple Choice. There is no penalty for guessing. Try to at least narrow the choices down to two good choices and then take a chance.

9. Bring a watch. Don't less the time slip away on the essays without answering one or two of them! Remember, they don't have to be perfect to still score some points. The readers are trying to help you, but you must hit the rubric.

8. There are FOUR main parts to the DBQ: Thesis, Grouping the documents, Point of View, and Need for an Additional Document. 

1. No Pizza-Taco Thesis! Make an analysis or judgement for your thesis and then back it up. Remember it is the opening statement in your court case. You are the prosecuting attorney and you are about to tell the jury who did it, where, when, and why. 

2. Group the documents 3 ways with 3 docs in each grouping. That is a safe bet. The groups should make sense. Establish a common reason for each group. 

3. For point of view, look for a document from a person that you clearly understand their background and what side they are on. For example, a quote from Maximilien Robespierre during the revolution would most definitely show a point of view that is against the king of France. State, "Maximillien Robespierre has a clear point of view that favors the third estate against the interests of the rich royals and fortunate clergy." You may even want to point out emotional language or possible bias. 

4. Students often forget to suggest a document. If you are totally and completely stumped, think of a historical figure that is not represented in the DBQ and suggest a quote from that person... or a chart, graph, map, or even a picture. Remember, you can't get that point if you fail to refer to a missing document. Remember you are trying to prove your case. So explain that although you may have the murder weapon (strong evidence), it would be great to have a fingerprint, lie detector test, or eye witness account. 

7. Do not forget to write your essays with your historical knowledge. This is your chance to show your knowledge of history and analyze World History in a serious way. I know the prompts (questions) are sometimes vague. But, if you get a date range, consider what events happened in that range. Don't just freak out that you "Don't know dates!" For example, between 1450 and 1750... do you know a certain someone who sailed the ocean blue? 

6. Bring 2 sharpened pencils and 2 blue or black ink pens.

5. Don't get frustrated. Remember you are going to miss a lot of questions and they are going to be hard. But, you don't have to be perfect to get a 3, let alone a 4 or 5. Keep marching. Keep chopping. Keeping running through the test. It is a marathon. 

4. Do NOT write a Pizza-Taco Thesis. (Pizza-Taco thesis is defined as any thesis where the words "Pizza" and "Taco" can be substituted for your actual comparison and still make sense. For example: "The Roman Empire (PIZZA) and the Han Chinese (TACO) were very similar, but they were also quite different." 

3. Know the code. On the test they often refer to a rather vague date, name, region, or theme without giving much information. If you 'know the code' you will understand what the question is asking for. 

Periodization: Memorize each of the 6 period dates and names. Include in your memory a few key dates to reference. 

Regions: East Asia (China), South Asia (India), Southeast Asia (Vietnam).. don't get tricked by these. 

Themes: Check below for the full breakdown on themes. We have covered them all!

2.Relax. You have an awesome (and good looking) teacher who has prepared you the best he could. Worst case scenario: you fail to get a 3, but you do leave with a learning experience that will help you prepare for the APUSH test. AND YOU ARE ALMOST A JUNIOR! Best case scenario - you relax, let your learning flow, remember these tips and you get college credit that could equal 6 full credits! At the University of Texas, 6 credits of World History would cost you $3,039. That's a nice savings!

1. Celebrate! When you are finished with this test... do something special for yourself. Celebrate your hard work. Don't forget about our party in class on Friday!

We are going to take a lot of fun pictures during the party on Friday. One of them will be a big picture with everyone who took this test. It will go on my wall in a frame and it will ALWAYS hang on my wall. 

It impossible for me to express how deeply proud I am of all of you. Thank you for your hard work this year!

If you absolutely can't read another word... 

Check out these videos. They do a great  job of analyzing world history. We have not watched them all in class.

CNN Millennium - The entire playlist (from Eleventh Century through Eighteenth Century)

John Green's Crash Course - The entire playlist (From Agricultural Revolution to Islamic Africa)

Mr. Duez' Youtube World History Playlist - 85 of the best World History videos on YouTube.

Themes of World History:

1. Interaction between humans and the environment

   1. Demography and Disease
   2. Migration
   3. Patterns of Settlement
   4. Technology

2. Development and interaction of cultures

   1. Religions
   2. Belief Systems, philosophies, and ideologies
   3. Science and Technology
   4. The arts and architecture

3. State-building, expansion and conflict

   1. Political Structures and forms of governance
   2. Empires
   3. Nations and nationalism
   4. Revolts and revolutions
   5. Regional, transregional, and global structures and organizations

4. Creation, expansion, and interaction of economic systems

   1. Agricultural and pastoral production
   2. Trade and Commerce
   3. Labor Systems
   4. Industrialization
   5. Capitalism and socialism

5. Development and transformation of social structures

   1. Gender roles and relations
   2. Family and kinship
   3. Racial and ethnic constructions
   4. Social and economic classes