{"id":10542,"date":"2017-07-13t11:55:24","date_gmt":"2017-07-13t18:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/hs\/?p=10542"},"modified":"2019-02-07t09:17:11","modified_gmt":"2019-02-07t17:17:11","slug":"4-example-ap-us-history-short-answer-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/hs\/ap\/4-example-ap-us-history-short-answer-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"4 example ap us history short answer questions"},"content":{"rendered":"
the short answer is one of the newer features of the apush exam, and at 20% of your overall apush score<\/a>, you want to make sure you can tackle these questions with confidence. use these 3 questions \u2013 and one student example \u2013 to help you study for the short answers on the apush exam.<\/p>\n taken from the apush website, a short answer question will have you:<\/p>\n 1. analyze historians’ interpretations, historical sources, and propositions about history. think of the short answer as an opportunity for you to do more of the historical thinking work that you have prepared to do.<\/p>\n i can do that and break down why the student got the score that they did.<\/p>\n the following example, and student response, is taken from the 2016 apush exam<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n let\u2019s break this down a little bit.<\/p>\n for part (a), the question is asking you what contributed to the change shown on the graph \u2013 not what was the most important cause, or the major factor, but what contributed. this opens up a lot of possibilities for you! the graph is showing an exponential increase in immigration to the united states (notice the question isn\u2019t asking for a specific part of the united states \u2013 score!) between 1820 and 1859.<\/p>\n questions (b) and (c) are asking you to explain historical events that resulted from this increase in immigration; again, this is not requiring you to talk about an immediate result or the most significant, but just to explain events that resulted from the change depicted in the graph.<\/p>\n you can do both of these things. let\u2019s see how students responded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n how well do you think this student addressed the three components in the question?<\/p>\n did you get a little confused at the third response? after all, what is this 3% limit on immigration this student is responding to?<\/p>\n the apush exam graders agreed. as stated by the college board, the makers of the apush exam, this student earned 1 point for part (a) \u2013 \u201cthis brief response earned a point for identifying that due to the industrial revolution \u201cmore and more factory jobs were available,\u201d causing \u201can influx of immigration.\u201d \u2013 1 point for part (b) \u2013 \u201cthe response earned a point for…stating that \u201c \u2018true americans\u2019\u201d developed \u201cnegative feelings towards immigrants.\u201d \u2013 but earned 0 points for part (c) \u2013 \u201cno point was awarded for this response because it incorrectly asserts that a \u201c3% limit applied to immigration\u201d during this period.\u201d<\/p>\n let\u2019s look at another example that got all 3 points.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n your default assumption may be that this second response is longer, and therefore, it earned more points.<\/p>\n but that\u2019s not what the apush scorers believed; after all, you only have 40 minutes. you need to be efficient in your responses.<\/p>\n they stated the following (again, from the college board website):<\/p>\n (a) 1 point:<\/strong> this well-written response earned a point for identifying increased immigration in the given time period as a result of the potato famine in ireland. my point in showing you these two examples is to demonstrate that (1) being accurate, (2) writing clearly,<\/strong> and (3) referencing specifics<\/strong> are what the exam graders are looking for in responses. if you can do those three things, you will be well on your way to full credit for each short answer question.<\/p>\n using the political cartoon, answer (a), (b), and (c) .<\/p>\n (a) briefly describe one historical perspective that would support the ideas presented in this political cartoon. using the political cartoon, answer (a), (b), and (c) .<\/p>\n (a) briefly describe one event or idea that nast was responding to in this cartoon.what does a short answer question require me to do?<\/h2>\n
\n2. answer questions that may include texts, images, graphs, or maps.
\n3. update for 2017-18<\/strong>: the number of required short answer questions has been reduced to three, and the time allotted has been decreased to 40 minutes. students will choose between two options for the final required short answer question, each one focusing on a different time period.<\/p>\n\n
can you give me an example of past short answer questions?<\/h2>\n
\n(b) 1 point:<\/strong> the response earned a point as it connects xenophobia to the fear that \u201cimmigrants would disrupt american culture\u201d thereby leading to the know-nothings.
\n(c) 1 point:<\/strong> in spite of the reference to specific examples outside the period, the answer earned a point for noting that increased immigration made for \u201ccheap labor.\u201d<\/p>\n3 sample short answer questions<\/h2>\n
short answer 1<\/h3>\n
\npolitical cartoon, 1856. source stanford history education group<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n(b) briefly describe one historical perspective that would contradict\/disagree with the ideas presented in this political cartoon.
\n(c) describe one event that was the result of the event presented in this political cartoon.<\/p>\nshort answer 2<\/h3>\n
\nthe cartoon was drawn in 1871 by thomas nast for harper\u2019s weekly, a northern magazine. in this cartoon, we see columbia, the feminine symbol of the united states, protecting a chinese man against a gang of irish and german thugs. at the bottom, it says “hands off-gentlemen! america means fair play for all men.” source stanford history education group<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n(b) briefly describe one way you know from the cartoon that this was published in a northern magazine.
\n(c) briefly describe one outcome of the event or idea that is depicted in this cartoon.<\/p>\nshort answer 3<\/h3>\n