<p>I have AMSCO, and I'm doing the questions in the book. I don't have all the right answers, but some of the questions are tricky. I'm reading the sections, but I feel like I'm getting nothing out of it. Do you think using the answers that I have (from a previous post) will be enough to get me through this? Also I have all of REAs answers/tests....so you think they'll repeat questions (well as in the concepts some of the questions)? </p>
<p>I'll need help on my essays.</p>
<p>bump it up</p>
<p>bump x second time</p>
<p>yeah review texts never seem too enriching. have you read the textbook?</p>
<p>No...we don't have US AP.</p>
<p>i've heard a lot of self-studyers have found wikipedia to be of great help?</p>
<p>I'm reading AMSCO....I'm on chapter 6/30. I want to get through the review, but I want to be prepared. Should I read the sections and answer the questions, or slow down and do a couple of essay practices, but get the chance of not getting done?</p>
<p>just go through all of the sections. skip some essays if you need to to make sure you cover all the material. I think if you make sure you do enough MC practice and you've read all the material the essays will come fairly easily.</p>
<p>Glucose, AMSCO is one of the best AP USH review books out there. There's still time to read through it. Just be an active reader. Read for content (don't just rush to finish). Read a chapter, answer the chapter questions, and move on. Just make note of the ones you get wrong, and then right before the exam, review those specific areas. I promise you, if you read through the AMSCO review book, you will be BEST prepared to score a 5. I scored the only 5 in my school with a combination of reading AMSCO, doing the AMSCO m.c. after each chapter, doing the REA practice tests (and skimming through the short review before the exam), taking most of the quizzes on: <a href="http://www.historyteacher.net/USQuizMainPage.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.historyteacher.net/USQuizMainPage.htm</a>, making a general time line of eras/events in USH, and going to review sessions. Try to do some combination of the above, of course with as much effort as you can possibly muster, and I promise you, you will do great on the AP Exam. Don't worry about being only being on chapter 6 at this point. You have a little less than 3 weeks. Read a chapter a night (and then eventually 2 a night when you get closer to the AP exam date), and you'll cover everything. You can even skip the early colonial chapter and the recent history. Just focus on everything in between! We didn't cover the early colonies in my class last year. I skimmed the AMSCO chapter on them and was able to EASILY answer the very few questions on the AP exam on colonies last year. So, try my advice, and see if it works for you. There's still time left! The exam is NOT tomorrow (that is provided you're not reading this post on May 4th ;))! Good luck!</p>
<p>Btw, I PMed DuffClown65 with a more detailed review plan. PM me if you'd like the same info I sent him. Later guys!</p>
<p>-Jon :)</p>
<p>Thanks...very helpful.</p>
<p>Do you think this would work well?: I'm definitely reading AMSCO and taking the multiple choice questions in, but like I said, I don't have time as of now to do the essay questions. Because I probably won't remember a lot of it, like one other person said, I think I'm gonna look at Wikipedia to reforce what I know. I plan on looking at REA questions after I finish the AMSCO book.</p>
<p>Hmmm.... w/ REA, I would suggest (since it's pretty quick review compared to other books), that you read it days before the exam. It's short enough (definitely possible). Don't focus too much on the essay questions. I'm not sure how much essay practice you've done all year in your class (unless you're self-studying). We did a lot of essays last year, so I barely focused on them before the exam.
Focus on the material! Read AMSCO, and check out Wikipedia. Just beware, take what you see on Wikipedia w/ a grain of salt. Anyone can post on that site. Haha... and accordingly, ANYONE can fancy themselves a historian one night and write a poor account of historical events and post it on Wikipedia. So be careful! At least w/ AMSCO you know everything is accurate and written by professionals. Honestly, focus MORE on AMSCO.
To share my essay experience in a nutshell, I was able to remember passages from the ASMCO book when I wrote my essay. Not exactly like a photographic memory, but that's just how carefully I reviewed AMSCO. I was pulling out acronyms galore on the last thematic last year (about the 60s and 70s), CORE, ERA, NOW, etc.. and I knew what they all stood for and the circumstances behind them all. The DBQ is VERY easy b/c the documents often tend to help jog your memory of what you covered in review. We were EXTREMELY fortunate we had a DBQ on the American Revolution. We were dreading that the DBQ would be on a strange time period that we didn't cover extensively. Haha, luckily, we nailed the Revolution in our review quite well, so we all found it to be a gift. I sure hope that for you guys this year, something similar happens. I've heard horror stories about worse things... But again, don't worry. Like I said before, the DBQ is considerably easier b/c the documents help you through everything.
So the moral of my story is, focus on the events in history and keep that all in mind as you're reading. DON'T RUSH YOUR REVIEW. If you read AMSCO carefully, you'll recall a lot when it comes down to the thematics (and it'll help unbelievably on the m.c. section). Good luck! I'm logging off. Haha it's 1:39 PM! I should get some sleep. I'll be back on sometime later. PM me if you need more advice!</p>
<p>-Jon</p>
<p>I'm self-studying, so I have no NO essay practice.</p>
<p>Still don't sweat it. If you read the review, you'll recall what you need for the essays. One thing you should keep in mind though, is that AP USH essays are NOT like english essays at all!</p>
<p>Come up w/ a good thesis (postion + rationale). Admit that there may be an opposing view (in certain essay prompts). FILL your intro w/ historical background. Your body paragraphs substantiate your position and show why your rationale makes sense (and why perhaps other positions may be refuted). Don't even worry about a conclusion. I didn't write one on my last essay.</p>
<p>W/ English essays, you typically give a shorter, to the point introduction that launches you right into an in-depth discussion. AP USH essays are different.</p>
<p>OH! Here's a good idea. So you can further understand what I mean, I suggest you read the sections in the AMSCO about essay writing. I remember they were very helpful. Do that, and try a practice essay. Just one. B/c you only really have time for one. You really MUST concentrate more of your time on reading the actual text!</p>
<p>Haha! Something else just came to me. A piece of advice I forgot completely! MAKE AN ACCOUNT ON APCENTRAL! <a href="http://www.apcentral.collegeboard.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.apcentral.collegeboard.com</a> Registration is free. Then look up past AP USH Free Response Questions. To get you more comfortable w/ the essays, READ ALL OF THE HIGH-SCORING ESSAYS. SEE WHAT UNDERLYING STRENGTHS THEY ALL SEEM TO HAVE. Focus also on the lower-scoring ones for comparison. You'll want to see what to avoid! You really must check these out. They've got everything from 1998 (or 1999) to last year's (2005)! That will be your crash-course in AP USH essays. You'll feel comfortable w/ a combo of the above advice and some solid review of AMSCO and the quiz website.</p>
<p>Try it out. Ok, I'm REALLY out. Later...</p>
<p>-Jon ;)</p>
<p>meh, we have 1-2 AP-style essays (no typing allowed :() due each week and it sucks. I'm not sure what's worse, like 40 essays or none.</p>
<p>Ziggy (what's your name btw?), check out the rest of my post above. You may benefit also from that advice! Good luck to you! You the man, ziggy! Haha, later :)</p>
<p>-Jon</p>
<p>well, Zane's my given name, but in most situations I am refered to as Ziggy (family, classmates, 50% or so of teachers)</p>
<p>Cool Zane. If you'd prefer Ziggy, that works for me too (just as I prefer Jon to Jonathan).</p>
<p>lol either works. i'm not particularly partial to either, so i basically let ppl decide for themselves (while i find ziggy slightly more casual, some of my close friends use Zane, which other peers i've barely ever spoken to use ziggy) so yeah, personal preference </p>
<p>gah, must shamlessly boost my Post count so i can reach 'member' status.</p>
<p>Anyone else disturbed that Amsco:
Goes through about five presidencies in two pages. (there is like 3 lines about Madison)
Goes through the Seven Years War in about 2 lines
etc.</p>
<p>I know AMSCO is good for an review of all of history, but should i be looking at other resources for more depth? I feel Amsco can definately secure a 3, but I am aiming for a 5</p>
<p>Subsidon, the review that AMSCO covers is exactly what is to be expected on the AP Exam. If you find that a particular section is "lacking in your standards" that may be due simply to the fact that there are different degrees of emphasis on the AP exams for different events, presidencies, and overall trends. The writers of the AMSCO book worked meticulously to ensure that everything was given its due coverage. The problem with many review books is that they cover the wrong material extensively and leave important material only weakly introduced. I'm sorry that you feel that way. I do agree with you on one thing. AMSCO can definitely secure a 3 - but it all depends on the effort you put into it. AMSCO is the best book for students who want 5's, because AMSCO exposes students to exactly the amount of coverage that any given topic is given on the AP exam. In looking at past released exams, and from my experience actually taking the exam last year, I CANNOT agree with you that AMSCO lacks the depth required to score a 5. It just isn't true. You are sorely mistaken.
However, you most definitely should consult other resources, b/c no review book is 100% the best path to a 5. I've suggested many valuable resources in several threads about AP USH. I'll name them briefly now, but if you'd like more specific information, you're welcome to PM me. There's AMSCO, REA (both good review books), AP Central, and the AP USH quizzes website, to name a few of the most powerful resources out there. I used those in combination and I scored the only 5 in my school (out of around 40 students). It depends on the effort you put into it as well. It's one thing to say that you're "aiming for a 5" but is that claim substantiated in your actions? As far as I can tell, at least you're discriminating between review texts and seeking further sources. From that, I gather that you are genuinely diligent and are willing to work for your 5. Just be a little more open-minded, and you'll make the BEST use of available resources. Good luck to you, subsidon. Again, if you would like some more advice (particularly, specific advice about those resources I mentioned), feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Later.</p>
<p>-Jon :)</p>