Blog Articles
Confronting the Audit Demon
Simply stated, the new audit process is a ton of work. As one of the auditors, I've reviewed nearly one hundred submissions since the program began. I would like to...
Confronting the Audit Demon
Simply stated, the new audit process is a ton of work. As one of the auditors, I've reviewed nearly one hundred submissions since the program began. I would like to offer several observations about the process and tips to help you avoid some common omissions.
Confronting the Audit Demon
Picking up where I left off in Part 1, I offer you several more "pain points" in the audit process and my advice on how best to handle them.
Confronting the Audit Demon
Picking up where I left off in Part 1, I offer you several more "pain points" in the audit process and my advice on how best to handle them.
Did the College Board Let APUSH Teachers Down T...
I've decided to devote this entry to acknowledging the lack of support extended to teachers and validate the challenges they are facing. I'm also writing about it to remind teachers,...
Did the College Board Let APUSH Teachers Down This Year?
I've decided to devote this entry to acknowledging the lack of support extended to teachers and validate the challenges they are facing. I'm also writing about it to remind teachers, students, and parents that despite the many unknowns, there is a silver lining that we can all cling to, united.
The New Rubrics: Test Prep vs. College Prep
The newly-revised writing rubrics for the Long Essay Questions (LEQs) and the Document-Based Questions (DBQs) have raised many concerns and caused not a small amount of anxiety among AP U.S....
The New Rubrics: Test Prep vs. College Prep
The newly-revised writing rubrics for the Long Essay Questions (LEQs) and the Document-Based Questions (DBQs) have raised many concerns and caused not a small amount of anxiety among AP U.S. History teachers these last few months. Every teacher aims for the best for his or her students and wants to instruct them in a way that will maximize their performance on the new 2015 exam. With this as motivation, instructors have expressed deep concern around how to help their students earn the synthesis point in their essays.
The New DBQ Rubric: A Step in the Right Direction
In July, the College Board released a number of revisions to the new course guidelines, including a new DBQ rubric. The changes to the DBQ rubric certainly help to cut...
The New DBQ Rubric: A Step in the Right Direction
In July, the College Board released a number of revisions to the new course guidelines, including a new DBQ rubric. The changes to the DBQ rubric certainly help to cut through the fog, but there is a downside for teachers.
Giving Synthesis Another Shot
Having just returned from the AP U.S. History exam reading in Tampa, I have new concerns about the latest iteration of the LEQ and DBQ scoring rubrics—as did most, if...
Giving Synthesis Another Shot
Having just returned from the AP U.S. History exam reading in Tampa, I have new concerns about the latest iteration of the LEQ and DBQ scoring rubrics—as did most, if not all, of the readers I spoke with over the week.
Recently Added Blog Posts
Winning the Sourcing Point: Synthesis and Analy...
Master the most challenging points on the AP® History rubric by bridging rhetorical and historical analysis to achieve the sophisticated document sourcing and argument synthesis required for top-tier exam scores.
Winning the Sourcing Point: Synthesis and Analysis in AP History (Part 3)
Master the most challenging points on the AP® History rubric by bridging rhetorical and historical analysis to achieve the sophisticated document sourcing and argument synthesis required for top-tier exam scores.
Winning the Complexity Point: Using Evidence in...
Learn how to master the elusive Complexity point by transforming primary source evidence into a cohesive historical conversation using proven instructional strategies from veteran AP Exam Readers.
Winning the Complexity Point: Using Evidence in AP History (Part 2)
Learn how to master the elusive Complexity point by transforming primary source evidence into a cohesive historical conversation using proven instructional strategies from veteran AP Exam Readers.
Mastering the DBQ: How Inquiry Drives Better Wr...
Discover how to move students beyond a "flashcard mentality" by using historical inquiry and precise definitions to build the sophisticated lines of reasoning required for AP® History DBQ and LEQ...
Mastering the DBQ: How Inquiry Drives Better Writing (Part 1)
Discover how to move students beyond a "flashcard mentality" by using historical inquiry and precise definitions to build the sophisticated lines of reasoning required for AP® History DBQ and LEQ success.