Test-taking+Skills

7/20/11

What does it mean to study? How do you study for a test? -it means to look over and revisit your work so you can remember it -create a flip vocab/definition sheet -reread notes and parts of textbook -look over homework/classnotes -write down most important facts that I need to focus on and study off that paper so I'm not overwelmed by how much there is to study - to look back at work you have done - to review things you learned to gain a better understanding -look back at notes/book - test myself - memorize important info - look back and then don't look and try to remember anything that I just looked at
 * Activity # 1: How do you study:**

There are two basic of every Multiple Choice Question:
 * Activity # 2: Deconstructing Multiple Choice Questions **
 * Stem - the actual question - determine what you are being asked to respond to
 * Answer options

Some multiple choice questions will have a third part: a root. The question root provides background knowledge and facts before the actual question.
 * [[image:ap-hsummerprogram:Mutiple_Choice_Question_Break_Down.PNG caption="What is the correct answer?"]] ||
 * What is the correct answer? ||

Copy the following types of multiple choice questions to your "Test-Taking Skills" page. You will write your answers in a different color. For this section, you will see several different format of multiple choice questions, all on the topic of the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention. Some of you may have studied this a long time ago - for this activity, you may look up some information if you don't remember.

//*NOTE: For those of you who are not in class on Wednesday, the answers to these multiple choice questions will be posted in the Discussion Tab of this page. Check there after you have tried the questions on your own*//

These are straight forward knowledge questions: do you know specific information about a topic? You need to know key terms, specific facts, basic concepts and principles. Some key terms to look for in the stem to signify a recall question: define, list, state, identify, label, name, who? when? where? what?
 * //__Recall__ //**

//Sample: // //Delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 adopted the Great Compromise to settle differences over // //A. slavery- sort of, but not the main topic // //B. representation in Co ﻿ ngress // //C. interstate trade- not talked about // //D. taxation- not really talked about //


 * Highlight the answer you think is correct.
 * What are some steps you can do to help you answer a recall based question? define, list, name
 * Next to the three wrong answer choices, explain why each one is a wrong answer.

//**__Odd One Out__ **// This type of questions asks you to establish a pattern among the answer choices and determine which one does not fit with the others.

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sample: // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Which of the following ideas was NOT a part of the Great Compromise? // // A. All of the slave population would be counted for both representation and taxation // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">B. A bicameral legislature // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">C. The number of representatives for each state in the lower house is determined by population // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">D. Each state has an equal number of representatives in the upper house //


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Which one doesn't fit? Highlight it.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What is the pattern established here that the other three answer choices have in common? Things that actually happened in the great compromise
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What words should you look for to signify this type if question? NOT, EXCEPT

//**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">__Accuracy/Judgement__ **// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When there is not an exact, factual answer, some questions will ask you to pick the most or least accurate answer to the stem question.

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sample // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Which of the following regions of the country benefited most from the ⅗ compromise? // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A. The North // // B. The South // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">C. The West // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">D. The East //


 * Which region benefited the most? The south
 * Which other region would enjoy some benefits of the 3/5 compromise? West
 * Why did you pick B over C? The south benefitted more than the west
 * What are some key terms to look for in this type of a question? MOST

__//**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Consequence **//__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You will be asked to identify the cause and effect of an event or idea. As a result of one thing, something else changed. Some words to look for: change, challenge, result, effect, outcome, impact, and caused.

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sample // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">One result of the Great Compromise was // // A. the creation of a bicameral legislature // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">B. the creation of a unicameral legislature- false // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">C. the ⅗ compromise- true // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">D. the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution- false //


 * Highlight the correct answer.
 * Give the other three responses the "True/False" test: does it fit with the topic of the Great Compromise? True or false.

__//**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">Comparison **//__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">These questions will assume you have recall knowledge of several events and then ask you to compare and contrast them. They can also take the form of an analogy.

//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sample: // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The New Jersey Plan was very similar to: // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">a. The Declaration of Independence // // b. The English Bill of Rights // // c. The Articles of Confederation // //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">d. The Canadian Constitution //


 * Highlight the correct answer.
 * How is this compromise similar to the Great Compromise? Both about representation

There are many other types of multiple choices questions. The ones listed above are the most common format for social studies AP questions.

__//**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">Answer Choices **//__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Always read through every possible answer choice before you decide which one is right. Answer options that are wrong are called distractors, and they often include information that is close to the correct answer. Sometimes, you will not have any idea what the information in the question is asking you. In this case, you must guess. Do not just guess randomly - make an **educated guess**!

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Copy and past in your notebook these general tips for educated guessing: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Eliminate options you know are incorrect <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Eliminate options that are completely unfamiliar to you <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Echo options: If two answers contradict each other, one of them is likely to be the correct answer. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Look for “modifiers.” Options that include superlatives (always, never) are usually wrong. Superlatives indicate that the correct answer must be an indisputable fact. As you know, in social studies this is rarely the case!

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Remember to relax as you read each question and answer option carefully, and pace yourself. The best way to improve your multiple choice test taking skills is the practice, practice, practice. Learn from your mistakes. In the next activity, you will apply the techniques above to a series of multiple choice questions. When you have no clue how to answer the question, use an educated guess!

1. The National Road was constructed primarily for the purpose of (a) demarcating the southwestern boundary of the Louisiana Purchase (b) promoting trade and communication with the Old Northwest (c) opening the Southwest to ranchers (d) assisting the movement of settlers to the Oregon Country (e) relieving overpopulation and crowding in the Northeast -recall -eliminated the completely wrong answers and thought back on what I knew about this topic and arrived at this answer
 * Activity # 3: Practice Multiple Choice Questions**

2. At the beginning of the Civil War, Southerners expressed all of the following expectations EXCEPT: (a) The materialism of the North would prevent Northerners from fighting an idealistic war. (b) Great Britain would intervene on the side of the South in order to preserve its source of cotton. (c) Northern unity in the struggle against the Southern states would eventually break. (d) The South’s superior industrial resources would give it an advantage over the North. (e) The justice of the South’s cause would prevail. -odd one out -established a pattern and saw which one didn't fit in

3. Before 500 C.E. Judaism and Hinduism were similar in that both (A) had written scriptures and an ethical code to live by (B) spread widely around the Mediterranean (C) promoted teachings about reincarnation (D) advocated a monastic life and a rejection of the world -comparison -thought of it as an analogy

4. In the period 1450–1750, which of the following, produced on large plantations by slave labor, were significant commodities in the growing world market? (A) Grains such as wheat and barley (B) Tropical fruits such as bananas and oranges (C) Animal products such as wool and beef (D) Cash crops such as sugar and tobacco -recall - ﻿ ﻿think back to what I've learned and choose the best answer

5. The Constitution and its amendments expressly prohibit all of the following except (a) slavery (b) double jeopardy (c) cruel and unusual punishment (d) unreasonable searches and seizures (e) sex discrimination in employment -odd one out -find the one that doesn't fit in to pattern

6. Which of the following is NOT a core value of United States political culture? (a) Legal equality (b) Political equality (c) Economic equality (d) Freedom of religion (e) Freedom of speech -odd one out -which one doesn't fit in

7. In psychological research, which of the following is most appropriate for identifying cause and effect? (a) Participant observation (b) Survey methodology (c) Case study (d) Experimentation (e) Correlational techniques -accuracy/judgement -best answer/reasonable

8. An individual who experiences major distortions of reality is most likely suffering from which of the following types of disorders? (a) Anxiety (b) Mood (c) Adjustment (d) Schizophrenic (e) Bipolar -recall -think back to what we learned and find the best answer that answers the question

How do you remember information? What tricks do you use? -read aloud things that I need to remember several times -make pictures out of words ex. (kid example) - bed - draw two lines, one below the letters and one in the middle going through the stems of the b and d -to remember a list I'd try remembering them in alphabetical order -ask someone to quiz me to see how much I remembered
 * Activity # 4:**

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. “I remember the information when I’m studying, but I forget it the day of the test.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. “I remember things I read in the textbook, but I can’t seem to remember what the teacher talks about in class.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7. “I’m just so bored with what we have to learn. I can’t remember things if they’re not interesting to me.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. “I remember every word the teacher says in class, but I have trouble remembering information from what I read.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. “I just can’t remember anything when I take tests.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. “I can’t even remember information while I am studying, much less during the test.” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. “My memory is so bad that I can’t even remember three pieces of information!
 * Activity # 5: Memory:**

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 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Activity # 6: **

Memory Principles Quiz Score- 93.33% 14/15
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Activity # 7: **


 * Acitivity # 8: ﻿﻿ **