Acronyms or Mnemonic Devices

G-SPRITE PERSIA EMPIRES

G Geography P Political E Economic
S Social E Economic M Military
P Political R Religion & Beliefs P Political
R Religion & Beliefs S Social I Intellectual
I Intellectual I Intellectual R Religious Beliefs & Values
T Technological A Achievements (Intellectual, E Environmental
E Economics Technological, Artistic) S Social

SCAPEGOAT SPIRTED EMPIRE BC

S Social S Social E Economic

C Commercial/Economic P Political M Military
A Arts & Culture I Intellectual P Political
P Political R Religion & Beliefs I Intellectual
E Environmental Impact I Interaction R Religious Beliefs & Values
G Geography T Technology E Ethical
O Outside Influence E Economics B Biological
A Advanced Thought D Dependence on Environment C Culture
(Religion & Philosophy)
T Technology (Science)
SPICE MISTER AP GRASPED-IT
S Spice M Military G Geography/environment
P Political I Intellectual R Religion & Beliefs
I Intellectual S Social A Arts
C Cultural T Technology S Social developments
E Economic E Economy P Politics
R Religion E Economics
A Art D Demography
P Politics I Intellectual developments
T Technology
AP Verbs

Effective answers to essay questions depend in part upon a clear understanding (and execution) of the meanings of
important directive words. These are the words that indicate the way in which the material is to be presented.

Following are the most commonly used verbs from AP tests.

1. Analyze: determine their component parts; examine their nature and relationship
2. Assess/Evaluate: judge the value or character of something; appraise; evaluate the positive points and the
negative ones; give an opinion regarding the value of; discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
3. Compare: examine for the purpose of noting similarities and differences
4. Contrast: examine in order to show dissimilarities or points of difference
5. Describe: give an account of; tell about; give a word picture of
6. Discuss: talk over; write about; consider or examine by argument or from various points of view; debate;
present the different sides of
7. Explain: make clear or plain; make clear the causes or reasons for; make known in detail; tell the meaning of

Essay Hints

Data Base Questions (DBQ) DBQ or Change-Over-Time(COT) COT or Compare & Contrast (C/C)

WASABE
W Well-developed essay, with
fully developed thesis
A Analyze, interpret, and use all
documents
S Sort docs to form groupings,
apples with apples
A Additional document, name two
& how you'd use them if you
had 'em
B Bias or POV discuss from
three documents
E Evidence, from documents to
support your thesis
G.O.A.L
Keep a G.O.A.L. in mind. Draw a
quick matrix chart with the following
categories across the top, and the
players, and/or regions and time
periods down the left, vertical
column.
G. Global context in the
introduction to your essay
(identify the Global issues
underlying the question).
O. Occupations, or positions of the
authors and/or major cultures
(their economic or political
significance)
A. Audience or peripheral players
surrounding the authors and/or
cultures in the question. What
do they add to the dynamics
L. Local context of the of the
documents/cultures in contrast
to the global ones
Draw a quick matrix chart with the
specified categories across the top
Down the left, vertical column place
the specified players, regions and
time periods down the left, vertical
column. In each column, list keys
words or ideas to include in the
essay. A C/C question matrix for
feudalism might look like:
Japan Europe
King
Knights or
Warlords
Military
Priests
Common
People

Women

Economics

Culture