A.P. United States Government and Politics
A.P. / Final Exam Review
Final Exam Date: Friday, May 6, 2016
A.P. U.S. Government and Politics Exam Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 8 A.M.
Review Materials
1.
2.
Textbook. The College Board has adopted the O’Connor and Sabato textbook as one
of several texts from which the multiple choice and essay questions are developed.
Everything that will be on the final and Advanced Placement exams will be covered
in the O’Connor and Sabato text. The text contains issues and information that was
not highlighted in class lectures and discussions. Review of the text material is
important for that reason.
Review Term List. The list of review terms cover what has been presented in class
lectures and discussions. The terms are comprehensive but certainly not exhaustive.
This list is my best guess of “must know” items in preparation for the Advanced
Placement and final exams.
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to give students formal training in reviewing for high stakes
exams. At the conclusion of each of its chapters, the textbook provides a list “must know” key
terms. Students will provide detailed definitions which include an application example for each
of the listed key terms in the textbook as well as for each of the key terms on the review terms
list from class. Completed properly, this assignment will provide students with an understanding
of how the information, ideas, concepts discussed during the entirety of the course “fits together”
in a coherent manner. This is all part of the training for skills that are needed to be successful in
college. Since the Final and Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics Exam
are comprehensive, this review assignment will prepare students to perform at high levels on
both exams.
Assignment (100 Points)
Part One – Textbook Chapter Key Terms
Each student will write complete definitions with an application for each of the terms listed at the
conclusion of each textbook chapter. Hard copy of the definitions and applications for each term
shall be brought to class on the date listed on the syllabus.
Part Two – Review Term Definitions
Each student will write complete definitions with an application for each of the terms on the
class review terms list. Hard copy of the definitions and applications for each term shall be
brought to class on the date listed on the syllabus.
Grading
On the dates listed on the syllabus, the chapter key terms definitions and the unit key terms
definitions are due. Students may work in study groups on the due dates to review the definitions
of the terms and prepare for quizzes. The teacher(s) will visit with each study group during class
to make sure all work is completed on time. Points will be deducted for inferior, incomplete,
and late work. Since the study group discussions are vital to the review process, this assignment
will also affect the course participation grade as well. Between April 11th and April 29th, both
short answer and multiple choice quizzes will be given covering the chapters and terms. Students
may use the list of unit and text definitions to assist them during the quizzes. Each individual will
hand in the complete list of text chapter key terms and class unit review on Friday, April 22nd.
Unit Terms / Text Chapter Outlines
Unit #1 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 1 (p.29) and 2 (p.64)
Unit #2 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 7 (p.277), 16 (p. 612), 17 (p. 654), and 18 (p. 690)
Unit #3 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 3 (p.121), 4 (p.154), and 10 (p.387)
Unit #4 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 5 (pp. 194-195) and 6 (p. 236)
Unit #5 – Mock Election – No Terms or Chapters
Unit #6 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 11(p. 417),12 (p. 458),13 (p. 504), and 14 (pp. 542-3)
Unit #7 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 8 (p. 312), 9 (p. 344), 15 (p. 578), and 19 (pp. 731-2)
Due Dates
M/T 4-11/12: Unit #1 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 1 and, 2; and
Unit #2 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 7, 16, 17, and 18
W 4-13:
Unit #3 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 3, 4, and 10; and
Unit #4 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 5, and 6
M/T 4-18/19: Unit #6 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 11, 12, 13, and 14; and
Unit #7 Terms + Key Terms Text Chapters 8, 9, 15, and 19
F 4-22:
Hard copy of entire list of unit terms and key terms from the text chapters is
Due (100 Points)
Types of Multiple Choice Questions.
1.
Informational. These questions are the lowest-level intellectually. These questions
simply test your memory of important information.
EXAMPLE.
Brown v. Board of Education overturned which of the following
decisions?
a. Plessy v. Ferguson
b. Hammer v. Dagenhart
c. Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg
d. Katzenbach v. McClung
e. Dred Scott v. Sandford
2.
Interpretive. These questions ask for understanding of an issue addressed by the
question that require more than simple memorization.
EXAMPLE.
In the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the Warren Court
displayed all of the following EXCEPT:
a. a willingness to overturn past precedent
b. judicial activism in the name of civil rights for racial
minorities
c. judicial activism in the name of the 14th Amendment
“Equal Protection” clause
d. a strict construction of the 14th Amendment that reflected
The Plessy decision in 1896
e. a belief the “separate but equal is inherently unequal”
regarding racial segregation
3.
Application. These questions ask you apply your knowledge and understanding of
an issue to a specific situation.
EXAMPLE.
A local school district institutes a policy that segregates students
by race. The parents of an African-American child sue the district
when the school district informs them that she cannot attend the
“white” school near her home but must be bused to the “black”
school 10 miles from her home. What would be the result of this
case?
a. Dismiss due to lack of standing.
b. Uphold the school district policy because it applies equally
to both blacks and whites.
c. Strike down the policy as a violation of the 14th
Amendment “Equal Protection” clause.
d. Do not grant cert because this is a political question.
e. Strike down the policy as an interference with the federal
government’s power to regulate interstate commerce.
Tips for Success - Multiple Choice Questions.
1. Read the question carefully. Beware of “EXCEPT” questions that ask you to find the
only wrong response of the choices.
2. On your first read through the questions, do not spend too much time on any one
question. Skip questions for which you are not sure about the answer so you will have
the chance to answer all of the multiple choice questions on the exam. With time
remaining, go back to the questions you skipped and make an educated guess. There is
no penalty for guessing on the AP exams.
3. If you have time remaining, review all of your answers to make sure you did not make a
silly error. However, never change one answer that you are not sure about to another
answer that you are not sure about. If you are not sure about an answer, go with your
first instinct. You will be right 75% of the time.
Tips for Success - Free Response Questions
1. Read the question carefully. Find key terms in the question so you know exactly what
the question is asking you to do. You must answer the directed question to earn points.
2. Determine the number of points on the rubric. This is done by finding the “command”
words in the prompt and multiplying them by the number of times the examiners ask you
to perform that task. (Example: Identify and explain two formal powers of the President =
4 points on the rubric).
3. Answer the question according to the rubric. Brilliant responses that don’t fit the rubric
will receive a low score.
4. Know the meaning of the “command” words.
a. Define
b. Identify
c. Describe = define/identify + what / how
d. Compare
e. Explain = define/identify + how + why
5. Time permitting, do more than what the question asks. (Example: Explain two formal
powers of the President). If you can think of more than two formal powers, explain them
as well. You will not receive extra credit for doing more. However, if you make a
mistake on the first two powers you explain, you may receive points for the third or
fourth powers you and explain if you did so correctly.
6. Don’t label the sections of your essay. Write the answer in sections as provided by the
question. However, if you label the sections of you essay, you will not be able to earn
points for section “A” if you have that information in section “C.”
7. If unsure about an answer, write as much as you know about the topics addressed in the
question. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. You may accidently hit on some of the
rubric points and earn a higher score on the essay.
Common topics for Free Response Essay Questions
Federalism: Division of powers between the states and federal government; How the states
operate within the federal government; How the states are represented in the federal government.
Separation of Powers / Checks and Balances: The powers and responsibilities delegated to
each branch of the federal government; How each branch checks the other branches
Explanations of Policies, Laws, Court Decisions
Explanations of Procedures of Government and Politics: Elections; Political Parties;
Campaigning; Interest Groups; Lobbying; How a bill becomes law; Role of Executive Agencies