How to Answer a

1. How to Answer a Focus Question Top Secret

2. This question deals with Chapter 23. Open your book and reference the text of Traditions & Encounters as I walk you through my thinking and writing process. This PowerPoint will use explanations along the left-hand side and my written response to the focus question on the right-hand side throughout the entire presentation. Follow along as I write a thorough answer to the following focus question: Discuss the four major ways in which Europe was transformed between 1500 and 1800. How to Answer aFocus Question

3. The organization of the textbook often provides clues in how to answer focus questions. In this case, the title of Chapter 23 is The Transformation of Europe … and I’ve found the basic answer in the titles of the four sections: The Fragmentation of Western Christendom, The Consolidation of Sovereign States, Early Capitalist Society and Science and Enlightenment. Europe underwent significant transformation in the early modern period in distinct ways that 1) impacted the Church, 2) influenced the organization of governments, 3) altered the economy in ways that efficiently accounted for supply and demand, and 4) revolutionized intellectual pursuits. First find the information …

4. Put the textbook’s words into your own because merely copying down information does not show that you understand what you’re reading and writing. Notice that this opening sentence provides a neat road map for the rest of my essay answer: I’ll sketch in some brief details about each of the four transformations in subsequent sentences. Europe underwent significant transformation in the early modern period in distinct ways that 1) impacted the Church, 2) influenced the organization of governments, 3) altered the economy in ways that efficiently accounted for supply and demand, and 4) revolutionized intellectual pursuits. Paraphrase rather than copy

5. The ability to summarize concisely requires that you read the text closely … and then step back and think about what’s truly important. What you should NOT be doing is setting out on a seek-and-find mission, looking for the key sentence to pluck from the text and transcribe onto your page. That type of approach does not allow you to absorb the onslaught of details and process them for essential cause-and-effect understanding. First, the Catholic Church in the West was forced into major reform as Martin Luther, John Calvin and others headed a movement that came to be called the Protestant Reformation, which led to the founding of Christian churches independent of the pope in Rome. From broad topics …to concise details

6. Provide enough detail to adequately answer the question, but not so much that the main idea is lost. Remember, entire libraries full of books have been written on many of the topics throughout world history. But being succinct (while remaining focused on the big picture) is about more than writing only a few sentences: They all must matter and cut to the heart of the matter. Here (on this slide and the last) I’ve pared more than four pages of textbook information down to three sentences. At the heart of the reform movement stood the individual, who in the reformers’ eyes should be allowed to read the Bible not in Latin but in everyday language – and thus not be dependent on a corrupt priestly class. As the Reformation spawned a Catholic counter-reformation, witch-hunts and finally religious wars between Protestant and Catholic states, the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) devastated much of Europe. Focused summarizationrequires much thought

7. Wherever and whenever possible, compare and contrast. This is central to critical analysis – a key skill of a historian. And again, I’ve summarized a handful of pages into three sentences. There’s no substitute for reading the text closely, but recall that the structure of the narrative can help you sort the details: Each section has an introduction followed by subsections under bold blue headings. A second major transformation during this time concerned government. In contrast to the decentralized rule of the Middle Ages, increasingly monarchs consolidated power over entirely sovereign states – often by exploiting religious controversy to their advantage and by profiting from imperial aggression. In England and the Netherlands, kings and queens were checked by representative parliaments, while in France, Spain and elsewhere monarchs ruled with absolute power. Let the structure lead you

8. When summarizing from Traditions & Encounters, it’s good practice to check what you’ve written against the key terms printed in the margins of the text. If you’re hitting many of them, that means you’re probably on the right track. How many of this section’s margin terms do you see in the three sentences to the right? Another transformation came as capitalism – spurred by rapid population growth (thanks in part to American food crops) – reshaped the European economy. To an unprecedented degree, merchants built efficient networks of transportation and communication, leveraging economies of scale with a new entrepreneurial entity: the joint-stock company. So-called “protoindustrialization” emerged as the “putting-out system” sparked social changes and set the stage for the later advent of factories during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century. Note key terms

9. As you move from point to point in your essay, lead the reader through each transition so that your thoughts remain clear. Notice how I’ve done it: First, A second major transformation Another transformation Finally, Finally, Europe was greatly transformed when advances in science and mathematics completely altered our understanding of the natural universe. The cold, secular rationality of scientists like Isaac Newton was then adopted by so-called Enlightenment philosophers and used to think anew about how best to organize human affairs and ensure individual freedom. This intellectual approach to analyzing society encouraged leaders to promote the theory of progress and prosperity, even as it further weakened organized religion and failed in its ultimate goal of social harmony. Transition for clarity

10. Europe underwent significant transformation in the early modern period in distinct ways that 1) impacted the Church, 2) influenced the organization of governments, 3) altered the economy in ways that efficiently accounted for supply and demand, and 4) revolutionized intellectual pursuits. First, the Catholic Church in the West was forced into major reform as Martin Luther, John Calvin and others headed a movement that came to be called the Protestant Reformation, which led to the founding of Christian churches independent of the pope in Rome. At the heart of the reform movement stood the individual, who in the reformers’ eyes should be allowed to read the Bible not in Latin but in everyday language – and thus not be dependent on a corrupt priestly class. As the Reformation spawned a Catholic counter-reformation, witch-hunts and finally religious wars between Protestant and Catholic states, the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) devastated much of Europe. A second major transformation during this time concerned government. In contrast to the decentralized rule of the Middle Ages, increasingly monarchs consolidated power over entirely sovereign states – often by exploiting religious controversy to their advantage and by profiting from imperial aggression. In England and the Netherlands, kings and queens were checked by representative parliaments, while in France, Spain and elsewhere monarchs ruled with absolute power. Another transformation came as capitalism – spurred by rapid population growth (thanks in part to American food crops) – reshaped the European economy. To an unprecedented degree, merchants built efficient networks of transportation and communication, leveraging economies of scale with a new entrepreneurial entity: the joint-stock company. So-called “protoindustrialization” emerged as the “putting-out system” sparked social changes and set the stage for the later What you come out with …

11. advent of factories during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century. Finally, Europe was greatly transformed when advances in science and mathematics completely altered our understanding of the natural universe. The cold, secular rationality of scientists like Isaac Newton was then adopted by so-called Enlightenment philosophers and used to think anew about how best to organize human affairs and ensure individual freedom. This intellectual approach to analyzing society encouraged leaders to promote the theory of progress and prosperity, even as it further weakened organized religion and failed in its ultimate goal of social harmony. … is something that looks like you’re striving for excellence! On Oct. 27, 1975, Bruce Springsteen appeared on the covers of Time and Newsweek simultaneously – something no other rock artist had ever done. His new album at the time, Born to Run, would not have been an instant classic – and he would not have gone on to sell more than 65 million albums – if he’d been in the habit of striving for mediocrity. So remember Rule #1: Strive for Excellence. Be a rock star!