Exam Format:
Your exam grade will be based on your response to four essay questions. Each question will be worth 25% of your total exam grade. You will have some choice in the questions that you answer (there will be a total of 6-7 essay questions to choose from). You should plan to spend about 30 minutes on each question (reading it, thinking about it, brainstorming, and writing your response).
What kinds of essay questions will there be?
The essay questions will include compare/contrast questions, questions that deal with change over time, and questions that deal with historical analysis:
- A compare/contrast question would ask you to discuss the similarities and/or differences between two or more societies or aspects of a society (such as government or religion)
- A change over time question would ask you to discuss and explain how a given region, society, or aspect(s) of a society changed over a specific period of time.
- A historical analysis question would ask you to analyze one or more historical developments, events, people, technology, etc. and demonstrate your understanding of the topic and its overall historical significance.
- There may also be questions that will require you to make use of primary document excerpts (they will be provided with the question) in order to effectively answer the question.
What’s an ‘effective’ answer?
An effective answer is one that:
- Is well thought out and organized.
- Incorporates substantial, relevant, accurate, and specific historical evidence as support for the response.
- Answers all parts of the question.
Points earned by each essay (up to 25) will reflect the extent that the above criteria are met.
How should I study?
While there is no “one way” to effectively study, here are some suggestions:
- Review the study guides from past tests you’ve taken this semester, all of which may still be found on this blog. Use these guides to break down the material as well as to provide an overall structure. Past tests themselves can also be helpful if you still have them, though all of the questions on the exam will be new.
- Use the P.E.R.S.I.A. method
- Think in terms of “comparing/contrasting” and “change over time” as you review the material. Try to anticipate questions—make up your own and then answer them.
- Finally: give yourself time and do not try to study everything all at once.
