MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT

Test Taking Strategies and Social Studies Skills
 

TEST TAKING STRATEGIES 

            Preparing for the New York State Intermediate level Social Studies test begins when you first enter middle school.  With every test you take and every DBQ essay you write, you are practicing important skills that will enhance your performance on the NYS Test. 

BEFORE YOU TAKE A TEST:            

·                    Keep all hand outs organized.

·                    Keep up with class assignments.

·                    Highlight key ideas in notebooks, worksheets and photocopied readings.

·                    Review a little bit every day.

·                    Talk about what you have learned in class, outside of class.

·                    Practice vocabulary.  Use flashcards to first learn the definitions.  Use the terms in your writing and speech.

·                    Get enough sleep. 

·                    Eat a nutritional breakfast.

AT HOME 

·                    Have a well organized space to do your homework.

·                    Use a clean flat surface.

·                    Sit in a sturdy chair.

·                    Have necessary materials close by:  pens, pencils, hi-lighter, paper, etc.

·                    Avoid distractions.  Inform other members of the household that you are studying and are not to be disturbed.

·                    Schedule a specific time each day for school work at home. 

By following and implementing the above strategies you should be ready to take the test. 

So now what do you do…. 

Be a Wise guy

Be Test-Wise…
 

Be Test-Wise 

Skim the entire test when you first get it. 
 

Carefully read the directions for each portion of the test

(most students, who fail to do this, chose to fail). 

Answer the easy questions first, and then go back to the more difficult items.  You might find clues within other questions to help with the ones you’re unsure of. 

Watch your time.  Don’t get bogged down on the items you don’t know.  Pursue the questions you do know. 

Make sure you have answered all of the questions.  Do not leave any blank.  Use the process of elimination to help rule out choices that are definitely not correct.  If you have to guess, guess.  You just might guess right! 

Keep you first answer.  Don’t change it unless you clearly recall a new fact. 

Strategies to help with Multiple Choice questions 

*  Watch for qualifiers:  these words are generally associated with true statements. 

seldom                 most           usually

sometimes            many          generally

often                    few              ordinarily

frequently            some

These words are generally associated with false statements. 

no                        every          only

never                    always         entirely

none                    all                best

*  Read the whole statement before deciding on your answer.  If any part of a statement is false, the whole statement is false.

*  Always read the directions carefully. “Choose the best answer” or “choose all the correct answers” require different responses.

*  Read the stem of the question and try to answer it before you read the choices.  If you can finish the statement, skim to find the correct response.

*  Mark your answers in the Test Booklet first.  After you complete the test, double-check your answers as you record them on the answer sheet.

*If you are stumped on a question, do the following to help come up with the correct answer:

·                    Highlight key words in the question

·                    Identify the time period(s) of/in the question

·                    Identify the time period(s) of the choices given

Short Answer:  Constructed Responses 

Expect to find any of the following types of questions on this type of document: 

A descriptive/ fact-based/ recall question.  The answer is drawn directly from the document. 

A question may require you to make a connection between different parts of the document. 

Going beyond the data…  This type of question asks you to use outside information and prior knowledge as it relates to the document.  You may need to draw a conclusion, explain something about the data or make a prediction.  These answers may require more than one sentence. 

Only answer the question being asked. 

Use complete sentences.  Use the subject in your answer.  Avoid using pronouns. 

Do not begin answers using “because”. 

Essay Questions 

An essay is a piece of writing which uses accurate (true, from the documents) information, which is logically planned (well organized) and has coherent (sensible) ideas.  These main ideas are supported by reasons, details, examples and/or explanations that are relevant and appropriate to the topic.

Essays should have:

-                    An introductory paragraph that includes information from the historical context and from the task.

-                    A body which contains specific supporting details and examples.

-                    A closing paragraph which summarizes the entire essay and is likely to re-state the introduction.

-                    See the “Strive for 5” hand out as your guide to writing an essay that will meet the state Rubric elements.

-                    Remember that this is an essay, not a report.

Strive for 5!

Guidelines for Writing a Document-Based Question Essay

-Only use quotations when repeating dialogue of a direct statement from a document—use proper form when doing so.  Do not use quotations when stressing a point or belief.

-Use proper form when citing documents.

-Make sure to capitalize all proper nouns.  Proper nouns include the name of a person, formal name for a group of people, countries, states, counties, and towns.

-Spell out all numbers from 1-100 and any of the whole numbers followed by hundred, thousand, hundred thousand, million, and so on, except when writing out a date or when quoting a document.  (Examples: Instead of writing 1, write one.  Instead of writing 4,000, write four thousand.)

-Proofread your essay when finished.  Make sure you have avoided the following in your essay:

·        Contractions (can't, didn't, etc.).  These are meant for conversation, not essays.

·        Abbreviations (mtns., gov't., etc.). Write these words out in full. Numbers between 1 and 100 should also be written out (only dates can be written using numbers.)

·        Slang expressions ("stuff", for example; replace it with "things", "objects", etc.)

·        Symbols (plus sign instead of the word "and" or slash instead of the word "or".)  Use the words instead of the symbols.

·        "I", "me", "my", "you", "your": these are the five words which should never appear in a formal essay.  It is not a conversation; assume you are instructing your readers on a topic they have no knowledge of.  Do not address them, ask them questions, or offer them your opinions, just inform them.  A more mature style of writing suitable for middle school students preparing for high school does not include phrases such as: "In this essay I will talk about..........." or "I hope you enjoyed reading my essay on....".

SCORING GUIDE FOR 7^TH and 8^TH GRADE DOCUMENT-BASED QUESTION (DBQ)

Essential Social Studies Skills

I.                   GETTING INFORMATION

·        Identify a variety of sources of information

·        Locate sources of print and non-print information

·        Identify the types and kinds of information needed

·        Organize collected information:

Orderly, precise, summarized notes

Cited sources

II.                USING INFORMATION

·        Classify and/or categorize data

·        Evaluate data

·        Draw inferences from data

·        Check on completeness of data

·        Generalize from data

·        Scrutinize possible consequences of alternative courses of action

·        Revise generalizations in the light of new data

III.             PRESENTING INFORMATION

·        Speak in an effective way

·        Use media and various visuals for communicating ideas

·        Write in an expository way

·        Recognize and use nonverbal means of communication

IV.              PARTICIPATING IN INTERPERSONAL AND GROUP RELATIONS

·        Incorporate a set of positive learning attitudes

·        Participate in group planning and discussion

·        Assume responsibility for carrying out tasks

·        Be alert to incongruities and recognize problems

·        Define basic issues by:

Defining terms

Identifying basic assumption

Identifying value conflicts

·        Set up hypotheses and/or alternative courses of action

INTERPRETING DIFFERENT TYPES OF DATA

Understanding different types of data that are used to document, describe and interpret Social Studies information, is essential to answering questions about Social Studies. 

Use the following steps to understand the different types of data.

V.                 MAPS: A map is a drawing of a geographic area.

1.      Look at the Title

2.      Examine the Legend

3.      Check the Compass Rose (North Arrow)

4.      View the Scale

VI.              BAR AND LINE GRAPHS: A bar graph is made up of parallel bars with different lengths.  A line graph is composed of a series of points connected by a line.

1.      Look at the Title

2.      Examine the Key

3.      Look at the Vertical and Horizontal Axes.  Note the unit of measure (ex. Millions, years, dollars, thousands…)

a.       The vertical axis runs from top to bottom on the left-hand side of the graph

b.      The horizontal axis runs from left to right

VII.           PIE CHARTS: A pie chart, also called a circle graph, is a circle divided into sections of different sizes.

1.   Look at the Title

2.   Check the Slices of the Pie

3.   Examine the Key

VIII.        TABLES: A table is an arrangement of words or numbers in columns and rows

1.   Look at the Title

2.   Examine the Categories

IX.              TIMELINES: Timelines show a group of events arranged in chronological order along a line.

1.   Look at the Title

2.   Examine the Events

3.   Be mindful of the Dates

4.   Understand the Meanings of Special Terms

5.   Measuring the Passage of Time

X.                 POLITICAL CARTOONS: A Political Cartoon is a drawing that expresses an opinion about a topic or issue.

1.   Look at the Title or Caption

2.   Look at the Parts of the Cartoon

3.   Be aware of Symbols

XI.              PRIMARY DOCUMENTS: Primary documents could include, but are not limited to:  Pictures, photographs, illustrations, works of art, quotes, speeches, newspaper headlines, diary excerpts, news footage, radio/television broadcast.

1.   Look at the Title

2.   Look at the Caption

3.   Look at the Source

4.   Look at the Author

5.   Highlight/Underline important features

6.   Re-read/re-examine the document after reading the question

Source:  NYS Department of Education Social Studies Learning Standards, 1996

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