Tips for Essay Portion

The cartoon may have a caption or conversations. Be sure to read these words carefully!

Photographs can be important tools in studying American history. Photographs offer a snapshot of a time period and show how certain people lived. Questions about photographs usually ask you what is taking place in the photo. The question will usually want you to place the photograph in political context.

Questions based on artwork, like paintings, drawings, sculptures and architecture, are not as common. These questions will be similar to the ones asked about photographs. Be sure to pay close attention to the details, and the captions, if there are any!

Tips for Essay Portion

Here are general tips for the essay portion.

Read the directions carefully. Review all four test questions before you start writing. Think of good points and examples for your essay. You can use the green booklet to outline your essays and create a thesis statement.

Read the question carefully and be sure you understand EXACTLY what the question is asking. Listing means you can just name the concepts requested. Spend more time on concepts if the question asks you to describe or discuss.

Include terms and concepts in your essay and be sure to define them.