The official 2009 APUSH after exam discussion thread

<p>What if your essay was mainly factual information with minimal analysis?</p>

<p>The more I think about this, the more I think I did that. I did #3 (ooh I wish we could talk about it!) and I included a RIDICULOUS amount of (true) facutal information… seriously, it was a blessing, I knew so many facts for that topic. But my analysis was probably pretty limited, especially in comparison to how many facts I had. I’m just praying I had enough in there to scrape by!</p>

<p>Overall I think this test probably went the worst for me so far… yikes</p>

<p>Lots of facts with limited analysis is a low score. However in most instances if you have a lot of facts, your bound to do SOME analyzing so it shouldn’t be that bad. But if all you have is facts that’s not going to go well.</p>

<p>The more I think about this test the worse I feel about my score.
I came out feeling like I got a 5 and in only 24 hours I have progressed to a 3.</p>

<p>What about more analysis and less facts? </p>

<p>Is that bad too?</p>

<p>I won’t discuss any specfics, but if I literally beasted on a portion of a question, but like for the other half, I made some errors in the period >.<, how many points will I get off. I know I beasted on that first half since I actually had a class that learned a lot about the topic and I started off with it just in case they love it so much, they skip the rest ahaha!</p>

<p>Less facts and more analysis is good. If made a good argument and had enough facts to support, you would get a very good score.</p>

<p>Yeah, I have a similar question. On essay #5, I had good facts and analysis for my first paragraph, completely blew the second one because of writing out of the time period(literally two or three out, but a total difference), than my third was half OK, half bad. I really just need a three or four, but since I blew it for basically half the essay, I’m really nervous.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about #5. There was little to write about, so most essays will have the same standard.</p>

<p>I have a question about this curve thing…</p>

<p>on M.C., if many ppl did not do so well, is the score for passing/getting a 4 lowered or something?</p>

<p>yes DANC989, but not by a lot. According to many people it was easy, so I am not sure. It really depends on the entire population of test takers, which we can’t guess.</p>

<p>Can we discuss MC answers after the 48 hours</p>

<p>I’m so worried that I didn’t analyze it enough. Like frq #2 was full of factual info but I did include some analysis. But more facts. And #5 was like all analysis cuz I couldn’t remember that many facts. I’m so worried now!</p>

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<p>well anyway why does everyone think you have to use all the docs to score high??? do some research people!!! the one that scored an 8 last year only used 4 of the ten docs that were given cuz she actually put in outside info hile the one that scored a four used most of them but didn’t include outside info. -_- uggh</p>

<p>My teacher stated that the best way to handle it is either use all of them or all but one.</p>

<p>Hmm…I can only think of one reason your teacher may have said that. Her reasoning must be that if you use a document incorrectly, it won’t detract from your score because you still used a lot of others, and at least some of those are bound to be used correctly. Otherwise, I do not think it is necessary to use them all or even most of them. As somebody noted above, one of the sample essays at APCentral got a 8 with only 4 of the 10 documents because they used them well, and had pretty superb essay structure, analysis, and outside info.</p>

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<p>Doesn’t this assume that the test-taker is a competent writer and also good at history?</p>

<p>The teacher’s advice, however, applies to all students–smart or student, good or bad–since it allows for you to integrate as much provided information as possible.</p>

<p>That as an aside, if you are great at history and good at writing, wouldn’t you secure a 9 by using all documents and having everything else you mentioned?..</p>

<p>these graders RARELY ever give 9’s on the essays… there’s a reason why all the best samples score an 8.</p>

<p>and yea, everyone says that no 2 was easy cuz there was soooo much to say, which was tru, but the questions asked for more of an analysis rather than a regurgitation of what you knew</p>

<p>^exactly. I didn’t do 2, but I know most of my friends did. They all acted like they aced Section II because of 2, but the way they said it, they probably just listed facts instead of analyzing WHY.</p>