Atlantic Experience 9 GILLENTINE

Wednesday, May 21st (afternoon)

Third Trimester Exam Handout

SECTION ONE: SHORT ANSWER DIRECTIONS: GROUP PREPARATION ALLOWED. On the exam, you will have
a section of the exam which deals with various types of short answers (multiple choice, short
responses, etc.). This section of the exam will focus on the material learned in the third trimester
(Nation States and Revolutions).

Suggested Time: 20-30 minutes Value: 25%

SECTION TWO: GEOGRAPHY DIRECTIONS: GROUP PREPARATION ALLOWED. Use the maps provided to help
you answer multiple-choice questions about geography from the entire year. According to the
history department guidelines, every ninth grader is required to pass the geography component of
the exam. If this section is not passed, students must return to retest on this section only. The
format is similar to the geography component on the second trimester exam.

Suggested Time: 10-15 minutes Value: 25%

SECTION FOUR: MAJOR ESSAY DIRECTIONS: INDIVIDUAL PREPARATION ONLY. Use all of the resources
available to you in your preparation (books, notes, handouts, class website, etc.). It is considered a
violation of the honor code to discuss this part of the exam with other students; the essay should
reflect your own synthesis of the material. Since we have worked on writing skills throughout the
year (collecting evidence, developing a thesis, organizing thoughts), you should use the feedback
from your research paper in preparing this essay. Students are expected to treat the preparation of
their essays as part of the examination process; therefore, the teachers will not provide specific
feedback in the development of outlines or in individual conferences. Questions are allowed in the
classroom setting, especially during the review days. [Don’t Panic! Follow the guidelines below in
order to help you craft your answer. As a reminder, a rubric of the grading process is on the class
website.]

Identify a prevalent historical theme and analyze its development through three of the five major units
we have studied:
The Ancients, Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation, Nation States and Revolutions.

Things to Remember:
• You should consider which theme you are able to answer BEST.
• THESIS – Craft a strong, cohesive statement that fully addresses the prompt.
• Craft strong topic sentences. Remember also that you must synthesize the information; make
connections across a range of historical units.
• Be analytical; explain how your evidence supports your thesis (use specific details to support that
thesis throughout the essay.)

Suggested Time: 60-75 minutes; Value: 50%

Hints:

• “Specificity is the key to human existence.” Closer to exam; higher degree of detail…
• Use a variety of sources (notes, text, unit plans, quizzes, tests) to prepare for the exam.
• Seize this opportunity to show-off your knowledge!! Think of the exam as a “second chance at understanding…”