Study Skills Study Skills WorkshopWorkshop

How to Improve your How to Improve your AP Euro GradeAP Euro Grade

Mr. FreilerMr. Freiler

Reading/Study Reading/Study ApproachesApproaches

Eliminate distractions (that’s you, Eliminate distractions (that’s you, Facebook!)Facebook!)

Find a steady pace, not too slow or too Find a steady pace, not too slow or too fastfast

Be efficient—work smart, not just hardBe efficient—work smart, not just hard A typical 7-10 page assignment should A typical 7-10 page assignment should

take between 30-50 minutestake between 30-50 minutes Be active, not passive!Be active, not passive! Focus on building understanding, not Focus on building understanding, not

accumulating “facts” (use reading accumulating “facts” (use reading guide questions)guide questions)

Think of yourself as constructing an Think of yourself as constructing an analytical framework, rather than analytical framework, rather than obsessively highlightingobsessively highlighting

SQ3R SQ3R → SQ2RA→ SQ2RA SSurvey—take 1 minute to look through urvey—take 1 minute to look through

chapter/section headingschapter/section headings QQuestion—take 1 minute to ask analytical uestion—take 1 minute to ask analytical

questions regarding the reading, such as:questions regarding the reading, such as:– What caused this event/development?What caused this event/development?– What are the main features of this event?What are the main features of this event?– What other themes/key concepts does this What other themes/key concepts does this

relate to chronologically?relate to chronologically?– What resulted from this movement?What resulted from this movement?– What is the overall significance of the What is the overall significance of the

movement?movement?– How does this section fit with larger How does this section fit with larger

narratives?narratives? Note: Use reading guides and study guide Note: Use reading guides and study guide

questions to assist with this.questions to assist with this.

SQ3R SQ3R → SQ2RA→ SQ2RA RRead—remember to focus on connecting ead—remember to focus on connecting

main ideas with significant examples.main ideas with significant examples. AAnnotate—annotate rather than nnotate—annotate rather than

highlight, use margins to make notes on highlight, use margins to make notes on analytical statements, connecting key analytical statements, connecting key ideas-examples, noting cause-effect, etc.ideas-examples, noting cause-effect, etc.

RReview—take 2 minutes immediately eview—take 2 minutes immediately after to review main ideas and make a 1-after to review main ideas and make a 1-minute outline.minute outline.

RRevisit your notes at the end of the unit evisit your notes at the end of the unit or to study.or to study.

Historical Thinking SkillsHistorical Thinking Skills Chronological reasoning:Chronological reasoning:

– Cause and effect (long- and short-term)Cause and effect (long- and short-term)– Continuity and change over time (What’s changing? Continuity and change over time (What’s changing?

Where? Social developments especially…) Where? Social developments especially…) – Periodization (key dates, eras)Periodization (key dates, eras)

Comparison and ContextualizationComparison and Contextualization– Across time and space Across time and space – Situate explanations (what else during this era connects Situate explanations (what else during this era connects

with development X?)with development X?) Using Evidence to Make ArgumentsUsing Evidence to Make Arguments

– Note how text or other sources arrange evidence to Note how text or other sources arrange evidence to construct a narrative (evaluate them)construct a narrative (evaluate them)

– Pay attention to different types of sources (purpose, Pay attention to different types of sources (purpose, audience, bias)audience, bias)

Interpretation and SynthesisInterpretation and Synthesis– Historiography Historiography – Think in terms of writing an essay (anticipate question and Think in terms of writing an essay (anticipate question and

consider possible approaches)consider possible approaches)

Themes Themes (“build” the course!)(“build” the course!)

1. The interaction of Europe with the world and the economic, political, cultural, and social effects in both directions (exploration and colonization). 

2. Economic innovation increases prosperity but can also worsen or ignore poverty and inequality, raising important issues for governments (Italian city-states and recovery).

3. The movement from authoritative sources of knowledge (Bible, ancients) to objective sources and the tension between these and subjective interpretations of reality (emergence of quantitative thinking in ideas, art, culture, science, technology, economy). 

4. The growth in power of the state, the competition among these nation-states, and the resulting changes in the balance of power (New Monarchs and competition for colonial empires). 

5. Individualism can act as a force for progress but can conflict with the needs of the community and social institutions (women and the Renaissance).

Key ConceptsKey Concepts Key Concept 1.1: Europeans’ intellectual worldview

shifted from one based on the authority of scripture and the ancients to one based on inquiry and observation of the natural world.

Key Concept 1.2: The struggle for sovereignty within and among states resulted in varying degrees of political centralization.

Key Concept 1.4: Europeans explored and settled overseas territories, encountering and interacting with indigenous populations.

Key Concept 1.5: The capitalization of urban and agrarian economies redistributed wealth across social groups and regions of Europe.

Key Concept 1.6: The experiences of everyday life were increasingly shaped by commercial and agricultural capitalism, notwithstanding the persistence of medieval social and economic structures.

Visuals and DocumentsVisuals and Documents

DO look at charts, cartoons, DO look at charts, cartoons, maps, primary sources, and maps, primary sources, and art.art.

Think about how they reflect Think about how they reflect the period in which they were the period in which they were produced.produced.

Make notes by them for future Make notes by them for future study.study.

Remember, 15-20% of AP exam Remember, 15-20% of AP exam questions employ some form of questions employ some form of visual stimuli.visual stimuli.

Review visuals after completing Review visuals after completing a reading assignment.a reading assignment.

Organize and Think!Organize and Think!

After completing a unit, take about 30-45 After completing a unit, take about 30-45 minutes to complete an outline or visual map of minutes to complete an outline or visual map of the unit.the unit.

Focus on developing a precise and explicit grasp Focus on developing a precise and explicit grasp of key concepts, e.g., that the Renaissance of key concepts, e.g., that the Renaissance promoted: classical learning, secular values, promoted: classical learning, secular values, humanism, quantitative methods, etc.humanism, quantitative methods, etc.

Connect concepts to specifics—there is no “Connect concepts to specifics—there is no “little little

picture”picture” without the without the big picture.big picture. Spend more time Spend more time thinkingthinking and less time and less time

worrying, highlighting, memorizing.worrying, highlighting, memorizing.