How To Write An Saq 8 Tips To Ace Your Ap History Test

Identify, outline, list: Give a basic answer or a specific example without much elaboration. These questions can be answered in as little as 1 sentence. Describe, define: Show you know the relevant characteristics of a topic by providing specific details or examples. This answer may be longer than an “identify” answer, but still doesn’t require too much explanation. Explain, compare, discuss: Show the “why” or “how” of the question by using evidence to analyze a historical development or the reasons behind it. These answers take the most writing and may be up to 3 sentences (4 max).

SAQs don’t need introductions or thesis statements like LEQs or DBQs. Get straight to the point and answer the question directly as quickly as possible.

If you’re tight on space, indent the start of each answer on a new line without leaving a blank line between answers. [4] X Research source As long as it’s clear you’re answering each part distinctly, there’s no penalty for how you separate your answers.

Answer: The Kansas Nebraska Act in 1854 was another attempt to settle the sectional conflict over slavery during the 1850’s. Cite: The act split the Nebraska Territory into two new territories, Nebraska and Kansas, and allowed each territory to determine free state or slave state through popular sovereignty. Expand: Although the Kansas Nebraska Act tried to settle the conflict through democratic means, it allowed slavery to expand past the Missouri Compromise line and was a political victory for “slave power. ”

For example, if a question asks about locations marked on a map, include the names of those places in your answer to show you’re using the source material. Alluding to the stimulus or source provided will help you earn a point for your answer.

A) In ancient Mesopotamia, stability was based on all men and women contributing to an agrarian society. The primary occupations were growing crops and raising livestock and the secondary occupations, like beermaker, tanner, weaver, and shoemaker, were dependent on agriculture. Although different empires rose and fell across the Fertile Crescent, the survival of all states were dependent on the production of surplus grains. B) Both the Egyptians and Babylonians expanded their empire through standing armies. Both empires employed volunteers who were trained as professionals, drafted citizens, and hired foreign mercenaries. The empires took territory along waterways that allowed them to expand their trade networks. C) Ancient Egypt expanded the authority of their society through building monuments for great pharaohs and noblemen while the Zhou Dynasty venerated their ancestors by constructing big palaces. The Egyptian pyramids were not only tombs for their deceased leaders, but public monuments proclaiming that the pharaohs were Gods and would continue to rule in the next life. The Zhou emperors built private residences with ancestor shrines and colored pillars reserved for use by the royal family and forbidden to commoners regardless of wealth.

This comes out to about 3-5 minutes for each individual part of the SAQs.

Very minor historical errors are OK as long as they don’t detract from your overall argument. SAQs are considered “first drafts” and grammatical errors won’t count against you unless they make your answer hard to understand. Good descriptions contain the important characteristics of a topic and not just a keyword, name, or term. Points are only awarded on AP exams and never taken away, so try not to leave anything blank. Any answer is more likely to get a point than no answer.

Choose between questions 3 and 4 for your third SAQ. Neither question will have a stimulus and your answer depends on your knowledge alone. Only answer 1 of the optional questions. If you answer both, only the first one will be scored and counted.

Part A: What was the Compromise of 1850? Part B: To what extent was it really a compromise? Part C: Which events were directly linked to the passage of the compromise?