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AP History Exam Prep Course
(8 WEEKS)

Mastering AP History:
A Perspective from Our Instructor
on Thinking Like a Historian

What does it mean to think like an historian and how can we utilize historical thinking skills to better understand the world around us? The past stretches out behind us, a vast terrain, filled with evidence about those who came before us, the lives they lived, the choices they made, the events that unfolded and the legacy they left us. There is always more to discover and our understanding of the past is ever evolving. To study that terrain and make sense of what happened - and why - involves a set of skills; it’s a combination of being a detective, a scientist, a lawyer and a storyteller. Historians gather and collect data, make observations and inferences, and then report on their findings, crafting an argument about why their interpretation is valid. The story is never finished, as we continue to find new ways to make sense of the evidence we uncover, and our contemporary experience changes the way we look at that evidence. Thus, it’s an ongoing conversation between the past and the present, and the AP exams assess the ability of students to engage in that discussion.

While the various AP History exams focus on different historical content (US, European and World history), they each assess identical sets of analytical and writing skills. Historiography -- the study and methods of the discipline of history-- utilizes a range of techniques. The art of historical writing involves assessing evidence, placing it in broader context, and then developing a defensible argument. The AP History exams lean heavily on the skills of evaluating primary and secondary sources. Students are provided with documents, maps, cartoons, images of art and architecture, and are asked to evaluate them in the broader context of claims about the past. What does a particular piece of evidence mean? Is it a reputable source? How can we understand the perspective of those who created it? What can this document or drawing teach us about life in the past?

In addition to multiple choice questions that focus on specific historical facts (names, dates, wars, inventions and major events) there are several essay sections. These essays require students to evaluate evidence in the context of larger historical questions about causality, continuity and change. Students need to be ready to compare different periods of history, to assess claims about why things happened, and to evaluate what has changed and what remains the same. Just as there are conventions for making scientific and legal arguments, so too are there conventions about historical writing. In order to receive full credit for their essays, students must understand these conventions and be able to put them into practice effectively.

Ultimately, historical thinking skills are not just good for taking history tests, they are also essential for us as citizens, to help us place current national and world events in their larger historical context. The ability to assess evidence, make a clear argument and evaluate the arguments of others is also key for college as well as for professional life, and relevant for a wide range of careers, from science and law to business and journalism. This course will prepare your student to perform with excellence, both on their AP History exam and beyond.