American History 102: Exams & Assignments

Midterm Review Materials

The midterm will consist of both identifications and a choice of essay questions. Sample midterm exams from previous semesters are available, HOWEVER: please note that the identification section of the exam has been revised as of Spring 1999. TAs will present you with pairings of probably three identifications at a time, and ask you to write a short essay (a paragraph or two) showing connections among the various items. For example, there might be a pairing such as "Social Darwinism, Dawes Severalty Act, Dillingham Commission Report" that would require you to draw connections among them. As we have done in the past, you will have a choice among the various pairings presented to you. Thus, the lists of IDs on the following sample exams will be useful study guides, but do not expect the test structure to be the same.

Spring 1999 Exam Review Sheet

Samples: Spring 1998, Fall 1996, Fall 1991. Following are some useful tips for taking a History 102 midterm exam:

Identifications are crucial events, persons, organizations, or ideas that exemplify an important trend or theme in American history. The identifications on the exam will be pulled from the list provided to you in discussion section, but they do not represent the only terms you need to know to produce an informed and worthy exam. In order to get full credit for an identification, you must explain both its content (who? what? when? where? why?) and it significance in relation to the other identifications paired with it. HINT: In order to show a full understanding of an identification, you must draw upon both lectures and readings and explain how it fits into the context of the larger themes of American history (do not simply look it up in the index of the textbook).

Essay: A well-written essay exhibits a balance between general observations and specific, factual support. Because the grading of any individual essay always occurs within the context of all essays written in response to the question, you should consult your teaching assistants or Professor Schultz with specific questions regarding the midterm exam.