Common APUSH Terms, Phrases, and Exam Tips

Front

describe

Back

Give the relevant characteristics of using at least ONE specific piece of evidence.

Front

explain

Back

Make an argument using claim, evidence, and reasoning

Front

Analyze the extent to which.../ Examine the extent to which....

Back

LEQ or DBQ command term in a prompt, asks you to make a multi-claim thesis interpreting how much

Front

Evaluate the relative importance of...

Back

LEQ or DBQ command term, asks you to give a multi-claim thesis weighing how much different factors caused or effected something

Front

historical development or process

Back

something that happened in history or happened over a period of time in history

Front

elaborate

Back

Command term usually seen in MCQs and SAQs. Asks you to explain how 1 piece of evidence not mentioned in the source would support an author's argument or the historical event discussed in the source. To prove your point, you MUST identify the author's argument or historical development in the source.

Front

refute

Back

Command term usually seen in MCQs and SAQs.

Asks you to explain how 1 piece of evidence not mentioned in the source would counter/ disagree with an author's argument or the historical event discussed in the source.

To prove your point, you MUST identify the author's argument or historical development in the source.

Front

Historical reasoning skills

Back

Identify this in your SAQs, LEQ, and DBQ to help you unpack the prompt.

Causation, Comparison, and Continuity and Change Over Time

Front

Comparison

Back

1 of the historical reasoning skills: similarities and differences

WHAT is the similarity? HOW is it similar?

WHAT is the difference? HOW is it different?

Claims have to address BOTH things you are comparing.

Front

Causation

Back

1 of the historical reasoning skills: cause and effect (led to/ impact)

WHAT (X) is the cause of Y? HOW did X cause Y?

WHAT (X) is the effect of Y? HOW did X happen as a result of Y?