![]() What are similarities and differences? What specific connections can be made between the two? A better response would be: ![]() Students also need to be clear on why the abolitionist movement and Civil Rights movement are related. Students need to explain what the Civil Rights movement is: who are the main leaders, what were some of their goals, and/or what were successes and failures of the movement. This is not enough depth to be awarded a Synthesis point. This is similar to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Comparing Different Time Periods and Eventsįor example, if students are writing an essay about the causes and effects of the abolitionist movement, they may write: Students need to go into detail explaining what the connection is and why there is a relationship between their essay and the examples they chose. Regardless of which way students try to earn the synthesis point, one of the biggest pitfalls that students fall into is simply referencing the connection in a few words or a phrase without going into substantive depth. Examples of Successful Student Synthesis Points Finally, it makes it less likely that their synthesis attempt will get confused with evidence they are using to build their argument. It also ensures that students are thorough and don’t just treat the connection in a superficial way (more on this below). I think it makes the most sense there because going beyond the argument of the essay is a good way for students to tie up their thoughts, which typically occurs in the final paragraph. However, I encourage students to write their synthesis in a conclusion paragraph. Synthesis can technically happen at any time throughout the essay. This third option is not open as a possibility for APUSH students. Note: There is also an additional way in that AP® European History and AP® World History students can earn the synthesis point, by using another discipline like anthropology or government to explore a historical issue. The second way essentially gives students the ability to add an additional category of analysis: If the question asks for political and economic factors, students could additionally discuss social factors for a particular issue or event. (College Board AP® Course and Exam Description, AP® US History, Fall 2015) Make connections between different course themes and/or approaches to history (such as political, economic, social, cultural, or intellectual) for a given historical issue. This could be something from another one of the nine time periods, another region or part of America, or a similar event.ī. The first way to earn the synthesis point is to take a part of the essay and compare it to something else that was covered in the course. Make connections between a given historical issue and related developments in a different historical context, geographical area, period, or era, including the present. There are two different ways that the College Board has defined that students can “extend the argument:”Ī. In order to earn the synthesis point, students must “extend the argument.” This means that in addition to making an argument with a thesis and supported by evidence, students must do something beyond answering the specific prompt. The place it is most relevant in the course is as one potential point students can earn on both the Document Based Question (DBQ) and Long Essay Question (LEQ). Making connections between different time periods, events and various contexts throughout American history is something I have always attempted to do in my classroom, but the College Board explicitly defining this skill has made me much more cognizant and proactive in helping students see interconnectedness between our past and today. In my opinion, this is a great skill to actively address in the classroom. Synthesis is a crucial critical thinking skill that is featured in the newly redesigned course. Historical thinking involves the ability to develop understanding of the past by making meaningful and persuasive historical and/or cross-disciplinary connections between a given historical issue and other historical contexts, periods, themes, or disciplines. What is the Synthesis Point?Īccording to the College Board, Synthesis refers to: In this post, we will explore one of these points students will be looking to earn to help their chances at passing the APUSH exam this Spring: the Synthesis point. ![]() Disclaimer: Please note that synthesis is no longer a component of the DBQ or LEQ rubrics for the AP® Histories as of the 2017-2018 school year. ![]()
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