Spring Final Review

You will be given two different DBQ's to choose from. Both of which will cover the years 1820 to 1870.

To assist in writing a good DBQ, please read the following:

1. Read the question -- that is, the prompt -- three times. Remember that in this instance "AP" stands for "address prompt."
2. Identify the task. State in your own words what you are being asked to write.
3. Circle or underline the main words, especially words of direction, such as "analyze," "explain," "compare and contrast," "evaluate," and "to what extent."
4. Briefly list the main events of the historical time period addressed. Use the acronym PERSIA to help you categorize the political, economic, religious, social, intellectual, and artistic aspects of the period. This is outside information that may be included in the essay.
5. Read each document, noting the source or the title. Briefly write the main point of each document. If the prompt requires you to take one position or another, group the documents on the basis of those positions. 
6. Use the source or the title when referring to the information in the document. Do NOT use the word "document" in the narrative of your essay. (Writing "Document A says," "Document B says," and so on results in a laundry list of documents instead of an essay.) You may use the word "document" in parentheses as a reference to a specific document at the end of the information you have included from that document. These notes help you organize your use of the documents throughout your essay. Essential note to remember: Students write the essay; documents don't write the essay.

The following is what I posted on Sunday:

Thank you for your patience...

This year's final is going to be completely different from last year's...

First, you'll be required to write a DBQ...

I've just finished grading your DBQ from the Mexican War, and am quite horrified by some of the essays (ie, folks, there's a formula... an intro, followed by at least 3 body paragraphs, and ending with... a conclusion... but I hate to sound disconcerting, however, some of you still do not "get it").

Here's what's going to be required (before we get to the review).

We've written two DBQ's and you will be asked to submit each of these to a portfolio I will submit to Mr. Canning.

For the record, the DBQ's in question include:

1) The one that asked you to debate the relationship between the states and the federal government and over the principles of interposition and nullification... you have that in your possession;

2) The one on the Mexican War I'm giving back to you Tuesday.

Also, I'm going to ask you to respond in short answer to some basic concepts...

• Causes of conflicts (French and Indian War, Revolution War, War of 1812, Mex & Civil;
• Causes of Panics (1819, 1836, 1873);
• Compare and contrasts... Great Awakenings;
• List reasons why all attempts to reach a compromise in the time-honored why failed in 1860-1861;
• In defeating the South in the Civil War, identify the severe social, economic and political problems the nation then faced.

More tomorrow!

• The Industrial Revolution in the US
• War with Mexico
• Reconstruction