AP European History

1. AP European History Erin O’Connor Melissa Etchison

2. The Basics • AP European History is a year-long class that meets every other day • Be prepared to work really hard! This is an extremely rigorous course • There is required reading from the book every night, but not much other homework  • This class can be used for your world history credit sophomore year, but the class is mostly seniors

3. Topics Covered First Sem. • Renaissance • Reformation • Wars of Religion • Emergence of Absolute Monarchies and Representative Government • Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment • French Revolution and Napoleon • Industrialization and Urbanization • Rise of the modern state • Nationalism and Socialism • Imperialism

4. Topics Covered Second Sem. • World War I • Dictatorships • World War II • Postwar Europe: Rise and fall of the Soviet Empire • Postwar Europe: a unified Europe?

5. The AP Exam • 3 essays • 1 free response before WWI; choice between 2 essay ?s • 1 free response after WWI; choice between 2 essay ?s • 1 DBQ • 80 selected response • In class after the test you play Diplomacy; a game where you control a European nation prior to WWI

6. Mr. Ellenberger!! • CRAZY • The notes that he gives aren’t detailed, but they do cover everything that you need to know • He lectures, but the lectures always engage the students • The questions that he asks are thought provoking

7. Grading • Nothing is weighted • Grade for participation • ALMOST NO HOMEWORK!!!!!! Except reading • Tests are curved to the AP scale • Very few grades; graded like an actual college class

8. Tips from us • ALWAYS do the readings and don’t get behind on them • Don’t freak if you don’t do so hot on the multiple choice questions • Study in groups, if you don’t know something, chances are somebody else does • Start studying for the AP test about a month before, don’t cram the week of • Buy a review book (Princeton Review, Barron’s, etc.)