Social Studies Skills and Methods
Miss Greene
Ohio Graduation Test (OGT)
 32 Multiple Choice
 4 Short Answer (2 points)
 2 Extended Response (4 points)
 Extra Experimental Questions: Not graded
 Content:
 US History (1877-Present) and World History (1750-Present)
 People in Societies: Cultures
 Geography: Maps, charts, graphs
 Economics: Economic systems and money
 Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities: What are they and when can
they be taken away
 Social Studies Skills and Methods: Basic Vocabulary and using sources
Terms and Definitions
 Primary Source: First hand account
 Secondary Source: Taken from firsthand account, evaluation of








original information
Credible: Believable, trustworthy
Reliable: Dependable, authentic
Stereotype: Simplified, standardized image of someone/something
Bias: Prejudiced, opinion
Propaganda: Ideas/rumors deliberately spread to help or harm a
person/group/organization
Thesis: An idea put forth for discussion to prove or refute
Refute: To go against
Support: To maintain or advocate
Determining Credibility
 How do you know if a source is credible?
 Author’s qualifications
 Consistency with other sources
 Factual, not bias
 Doesn’t use stereotypes
 Uses and sites reliable sources of their information
Multiple Choice Questions
 Which source has the appropriate qualifications to be a
credible source of information about how a proposed tax cut
would affect the U.S. national debt?
 a. A letter to the editor of the New York Times from an
astrophysicist
 b. A film producer of a documentary about the New Deal era
 c. A recent report published by the Congressional Budget Office
 d. A television advertisement sponsored by a veterans’ group
Multiple Choice
 1. Read the question: Think about it and define any
vocabulary you aren’t sure about
 2. Read Answers (Don’t pick one yet!)
 3. Read question again: Make sure you know what they’re
asking you
 4. Read Answers: Cross out those that you know are wrong
and then choose the best answer
Practice M.C.
 Which source of information about a candidate for the school
board would likely be biased?
 A. A televised debate of all the school board candidates?
 B. A copy of the candidate’s voting record from her previous
term?
 C. A letter to the newspaper editor from a supporter of the
candidate
 D. A copy of the candidate’s latest income tax return.
4-Step Process
 Read Question: Define vocabulary terms and look for signal
words
 Compare and Contrast or Define or Explain or Analyze, etc.
 What are they asking for?
 2 point short answer question=2 bullet point answer
 4 point extended response question=4 bullet point answer
 Outline your answer: Help gather your thoughts
 In the margins or at the bottom of the page
 Answer the Question: Use correct number of bullet points
for clear and concise answer
Practice Short Answer
 Compare and Contrast an absolute Monarch and a
Constitutional Monarch? (2 point)
 Describe the living conditions and working conditions in
England during the Industrial Revolution: (4 point)
Types of Government: Monarchy
 Absolute Monarchy: Monarch has absolute power
 Past Examples: France and England
 Present Example: Saudi Arabia
 Constitutional Monarchy: Monarch’s power is limited by the
Constitution, the people have representation
 Magna Carta (1215)
 English Bill of Rights (1689)
 Examples: Great Britain
Democracy
 Parliamentary Democracy: Power is divided between
executive and legislative branches of the government
 Parliament elected by people, Prime Minister elected by
Parliament
 Often have monarch as a figurehead
 Example: Great Britain
 Presidential Democracy: President is the head of the
government, balanced by the legislative and judicial branches
 Power is given by the people through elections
Dictatorship
 Absolute power is held by one individual or group
(Oligarchy)
 Authoritarian or Totalitarian or Despotism
 Power is often obtained by force or inheritance
 Examples: Hitler’s Germany, or North Korea since 1953
Theocracy
 Government based on religion where God is the head of state
 The government officials are a hierarchy of clergy that are
guided by God and make laws based off their religion
 Example: Tibet with their leader the Dalai Lama