Effective Reading and Essay Strategies for AP US History
Enhance your AP US History skills with these essential reading and essay strategies. This practice session focuses on key techniques for understanding complex texts and formulating a strong essay. Begin with a group reading of "Frustrated Freemen and Bacon’s Rebellion" and summarize the main ideas with supporting details. Then, practice individually with Chapter 6. Learn effective reading techniques such as note-taking, chunking information, and reviewing material. Understand the elements of a strong essay, and develop skills to brainstorm and outline effectively.
Effective Reading and Essay Strategies for AP US History
E N D
Presentation Transcript
AP US Help Session Reading Strategies FRQs 8/30/2010
Reading Practice • Group Practice: • Everyone read “Frustrated Freemen and Bacon’s Rebellion” from Chapter 4 • Determine the main idea of that section – try to do it in 1-2 sentences • List 2-3 supporting details • Individual Practice: • Select and read a subsection from Chapter 6 • Determine the main idea of that section – try to do it in 1-2 sentences • List 2-3 supporting details
Keys to Active Reading and Retention • Do it in chunks – it gives your brain a chance to rest and process • Take notes as you read – that way you check your comprehension throughout the process • Ask yourself, “Is this significant? Is this testable?” Don’t worry about taking notes on anecdotes. • Explain your reading to someone – often the best way to learn is to teach • Review the material – you can’t expect yourself to understand everything after one viewing • Make flashcards and try to categorize the supporting details into groups so that you can see relationships
Elements of a Strong Essay • Clear Thesis that is argued throughout the essay. • All paragraphs relate back to and clearly support the thesis. • Substantial, specific evidence is provided. • Provides analysis (why and how), not just description (what). • Smooth transitions and effective organization. • The closing paragraph reaffirms the thesis (no new info)
Additional Tips • If you don’t know the content, you can’t write a strong essay. Regularly reviewing the material is essential. • Show what you know – don’t stop at just one example, provide as much details as you can, and use specific content vocabulary where you can. • At the end of each paragraph, clearly explain how it relates back to your thesis – this keeps you focused and can improve transitions.
Let’s Practice • Make sure you understand the question. • Brainstorm applicable content. • Develop a thesis – position, categories, “so what” • Outline your essay – determine topic sentences and what specific content you’ll include in each paragraph Americans often pride themselves that theirs is a “land of opportunity”. How much economic opportunity truly did exist in colonial America, and what factors affected the colonists’ opportunities to succeed?
