AP History Exam Response Preparation

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the essential terminology, acronyms, and rubric requirements for writing successful SAQs, LEQs, and DBQs on AP History exams.

SAQ (Short Answer Question)

A question type in APUSH, AP World, and AP Euro consisting of either a stimulus with three prompts or three standalone prompts, requiring answers of roughly two to three complete sentences.

Stimulus

A document to read or an image to interpret that precedes the ABC prompts in a short answer question.

Prompt Marking

The process of identifying three things in a prompt: the category (economic, political, etc.), the time period, and the historical thinking skill (causation, comparison, etc.).

T E A

An acronym for responding to SAQs: Topic sentence, Explanation of evidence, and Analysis.

Topic Sentence (SAQ)

A single declarative sentence that restates important parts of the prompt and names a specific piece of evidence to ensure the answer stays on topic.

Analysis (SAQ)

The third part of an SAQ response that shows how the provided evidence proves the topic sentence.

LEQ (Long Essay Question)

An essay written without provided documents that requires students to use their own historical knowledge to answer one of three prompt options from specific time periods.

Historically Defensible Thesis

A thesis that takes a stand or makes a clear argument rather than just stating generalities.

Line of Reasoning

A component of a thesis that establishes how the argument will be defended, often using an "Although X, because A and B, therefore Y" formula.

Contextualization

A rubric requirement to describe relevant events roughly 50 to 100 years before the period of the prompt to set the stage for the argument.

Arguing with Evidence

Connecting specific historical evidence back to the thesis and demonstrating how that evidence proves the sub-argument of a paragraph.

Complexity Point

A point earned for the entire essay by performing sophisticated analysis, such as weaving a counter-argument or using all seven documents in a DBQ.

DBQ (Document-Based Question)

An essay task involving seven documents where students must use at least four documents to support an argument and one piece of evidence beyond the documents.

Citation Analysis

Reading the source info (author, year, description) before the document text to gain critical context and help identify point of view under time pressure.

HAPI (Sourcing)

An acronym for sourcing documents by identifying their Historical situation, Audience, Purpose, or Point of view.

Evidence Beyond the Documents

A specific piece of external information from the prompt's time period that the writer must name, explain, and connect to their argument.

Document Grouping

Organizing relevant documents into 2 to 3 categories (e.g., social, economic, political) to help structure the thesis and body paragraphs.