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| | [[American History Lecture Eight|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Eight|Questions]] - [[American History Homework Eight Answers|Student Answers]] | | [[American History Lecture Eight|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Eight|Questions]] - [[American History Homework Eight Answers|Student Answers]] |
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| − | Next week: ''about'' 30 questions (the total will be different for the boys and girls tests), roughly broken down as follows: 10 questions political (e.g., presidents and congressmen), 5 questions economic (e.g., taxes and inflation), 5 questions social (e.g., slavery), 5 questions intellectual (e.g., inventions and books) and 5 questions foreign policy (e.g., wars and treaties). | + | Next week will be our midterm exam, which will consist of ''about'' 30 questions (the total will be different for the boys and girls tests). Because several students plan to take the first CLEP American History exam, which also covers the period through Reconstruction, we will follow the subject matter breakdown of the CLEP format: |
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| − | Know your [[Presidents of the United States|list of presidents]], by memorizing the list and counting forward. For example, who was president in 1842?<ref>[[John Tyler]]</ref> Who was the president in 1826?<ref>[[John Quincy Adams]]</ref>
| + | :35% on politics, such as the president, Congress and government policy |
| | + | :25% on social developments, such as slavery, utopian communities, religious and reform movements |
| | + | :15% on intellectual and cultural developments, such as books and inventions |
| | + | :15% on foreign policy, such as foreign wars, treaties and diplomacy |
| | + | :10% on economics, such as inflation, taxes, and protective tariffs |
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| | + | Only 30% of the first CLEP exam (through Reconstruction) is devoted to the beginning of time to 1789. So do not start with that period and burn out before you reach 1790 to 1877, where 70% of the questions will come from. Do not waste too much time studying exploration, settlement and colonial America! Perhaps only 10% of the CLEP exam (and our exam) will cover that period. Students often make a big mistake in preparation of not allocating their time properly in studying. |
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| | + | "Time is money" is a famous, and true, saying. The time you spend not making money could have been better spent making money. Wasted time is lost opportunity to make money, or do something else useful, such as charity or prayer. |
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| | + | A similar concept applies to studying for exams. You will spend a certain amount of time preparing for the midterm exam. Call that amount of time "x". How you allocate that time to different areas of the overall time period (1500-1877) will make a difference on how well you do on the exam. If you spend 90% of x on the period between 1500 and 1700, then you will do poorly on 90% of the questions, because they will be from the period 1700 to 1877. You would have done far better to spend the 90% of x on the time period that will have 90% of the questions. |
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| | + | It greatly helps to identify the time period of a history question before trying to answer it. In doing this, it helps to know which presidents served when. You can memorize a [[Presidents of the United States|list of presidents]] if you prefer. Or maybe you can figure it out from what you learned in the lectures. For example, who was president in 1842?<ref>[[John Tyler]]</ref> Who was the president in 1826?<ref>[[John Quincy Adams]]</ref> |
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| | There will be several cartoons on the exam. Realize that cartoons are a way for someone to describe facts with a point of view, in order to make a political statement. The cartoonist uses caricatures and draws situations in order to express a point of view. The key to deciphering cartoons is to have attention to detail, to pick up all the clues. | | There will be several cartoons on the exam. Realize that cartoons are a way for someone to describe facts with a point of view, in order to make a political statement. The cartoonist uses caricatures and draws situations in order to express a point of view. The key to deciphering cartoons is to have attention to detail, to pick up all the clues. |
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| | More generally, look for a purpose to a question, particularly the cartoons. Develop a sense of historical purpose in these exams. Prefer an answer choice that adds meaning and purpose to a question. | | More generally, look for a purpose to a question, particularly the cartoons. Develop a sense of historical purpose in these exams. Prefer an answer choice that adds meaning and purpose to a question. |
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| − | History exams have question selections based on importance, and a big mistake in preparation is to spend too much time on an obscure time period or issue. For example, only one third of the first CLEP exam (through Reconstruction) is devoted to the beginning of time to 1789. So do not start with that period and burn out before you reach 1790 to 1877, where two-thirds of the questions will come from.
| + | Here is a tip on reading maps on exams: before Civil War there was no West Virginia. If you see West Virginia on a map, then it was after the Civil War started. |
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| − | "Time is money" is a famous, and true, saying. The time you spend not making money could have been better spent making money. Lost time is lost opportunity to make money, or do something else useful, such as charity or prayer.
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| − | A similar concept applies to studying for exams. You will spend a certain amount of time preparing for the midterm exam. Call that amount of time "x". How you allocate that time to different areas of the overall time period (1500-1877) will make a difference on how well you do on the exam. If you spend 90% of x on the period between 1500 and 1700, then you will do poorly on 90% of the questions, because they will be from the period 1700 to 1877. You would have done far better to spend the 90% of x on the time period that will have 90% of the questions.
| + | There are three ingredients to success on any exam: |
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| − | A tip on reading maps on exams: before Civil War there was no West Virginia. If you see West Virginia on a map, then it was after the Civil War started.
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| − | <>Three ingredients to your exam score:
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| | *time spent studying | | *time spent studying |
| | *how effective your method of studying is | | *how effective your method of studying is |
| | *how clever you are in taking the exam | | *how clever you are in taking the exam |
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| − | On a 30 question exam, each of the above categories is worth a few more correct answers. Add them up and you can boost your score by 6 points or more on a 30-question exam, or 100 points or more on the SAT II. | + | On a 30-question exam, each of the above categories is worth a few more correct answers. Add them up and you can boost your score by 6 points or more on a 30-question exam, or 100 points or more on the SAT II. Mastering all three ingredients to success above can be the difference between passing and failing the CLEP exam. |
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| − | Identify the time period of a history question before trying to answer it.
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| | '''Above all, understand a question before trying to answer it!''' | | '''Above all, understand a question before trying to answer it!''' |