Transcript Preparing for the Social Studies 11 Provincial Exam

Preparing for the Social Studies 11
Provincial Exam
K.J. Benoy
Know What You Are Facing
• This is an exam that students all over the province
will write.
– It looks different to class exams, so get familiar with
the layout. The questions may also be worded a little
differently to what you are used to.
– At Sutherland we carefully follow the curriculum, so
all parts of the course were covered – but one or two
details may be unfamiliar and the emphasis may
sometimes be a little different to the way it was in
class.
– Don’t worry. All students in the province will face
these things – even those who had a teacher on the
exam writing team.
Know What You Are Facing
• The exam has two parts:
– Selected Response Questions – these are
usually multiple choice, but can also include
true and false or matching.
– Essay questions – there are two of these and
you must answer both of them.
Look at the Exam Specifications
• This can be found online at:
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/specs/grade11/ss/08_table_specs.pdf
How to Study
Karl Marx
• Know the language of
the course.
The creator of Communism
(Marxism).
He believed in materialism – only
things you can touch and feel are
real.
He wanted a world where everyone
was equal.
– Use flash cards to
study names and terms.
– Do not waste time
studying terms and
names you already
know!
How to Study
• For History, use timelines to get events in the right
order. Visual learners benefit from adding images.
How To Study
• Predict and Practice Essay
Questions
– These are the big questions
that make you think and
combine information.
– These questions will come
from the themes of the
course:
• Autonomy & International
Development
• Politics and Government
• Society and Identity
• Human Geography
– You have suggestions on
your Tips for Writing the
Social Studies 11
Provincial Exam handout.
Entering the Battle
• Be physically prepared.
– Get a good night’s sleep. Don’t
study all night. Watch a comedy
the evening before the test.
– Eat a good meal at least an hour
before the test – you don’t want
to be hungry or tired as you
digest food.
– Dress in layers. You don’t want
to feel too hot or cold when
writing.
– Arrive early to reduce stress.
– Go to the bathroom before the
test – you don’t want to be
distressed during the test.
How not to feel.
Entering the Battle
• Reduce Stress:
– A little worry is good – it
helps to focus your
attention. Too much stress
is bad and interferes with
memory
• Take 5 deep breaths to
pump oxygen to your
brain.
• If still anxious (you feel
this in your neck muscles),
practice passive relaxation
– consciously relax
muscle groups.
Close your eyes and
imagine yourself in your
favourite comfortable place.
Writing the Test – Selected Response
• Multiple Choice Questions.
– Only one answer is right.
– Eliminate wrong answers first – cross
them out on the test.
– History questions are usually in time
order – this may give you a clue.
– Whenever a question says “except” or
“not,” slow down to think more
carefully.
– Guess if you don’t know. Never leave
a blank.
– There are no trick questions. If it
looks too easy, it actually just is so.
– Check for frame-shifts from time to
time.
Writing the Test – Selected Response
• Matching Questions
– These are like multiple
choice, but with more
options.
– Always read all items in
both columns before
starting.
– It is unlikely an answer will
be used more than once – so
lightly cross out items you
know have been used
correctly.
Writing the Test – Selected Response
• True/False Questions
– These are rarely used.
• They are just simple
multiple choice items
with two choices.
• Do not over-complicate
them. Examiners are
never trying to trick
you!
Writing the Test - Essays
• There are two essay
questions.
• Write both of them.
• The test writing time is
long – you should have
plenty of time.
• If you are short of time, it
is better to write two
mediocre answers than
just one good one.
Writing the Test - Essays
• Know what the command words mean – see the handout.
Writing the Test - Essays
• Be Careful on
Geography options.
• Many students make
the mistake of just
relying on common
knowledge
• Make sure you use
specific course content
and employ terms we
have learned.
Writing the Test - Essays
• Always plan before you
write.
• Never just write off the
top of your head.
• There is little to no space
in the booklet to use, so
use any space in the
multiple choice booklet to
plan.
• Above all, your writing
needs a thesis – a
controlling statement. This
is a one sentence answer
to the question.
Writing the Test - Essays
• The following suggestions
from the Open School’s
Social Studies 11;
Provincial Exam
Preparation book are
spot-on:
– “Read the Question
Carefully.” Know what
you are being asked to do.
– “Identify the Command
word.” Circle it or put a
box around it and underline
any other key words.
– “Create a chart in your
planning space.” Fill it
with appropriate
information.
Writing the Test – Essays
Sample Charts
• The kind of chart you
should use depends on the
question.
• A history question might
ask you to cover a time
period – like from 19142000. If so use a
chronology chart like the
one to the left, to make
sure you use information
from the whole time
period.
Writing the Test – Essays
Sample Charts
• A chronology question that
asks you to assess something
over a time span could use a
diagram like the one to the
right – for example:
– “The most important influence
on Canadian government
policy during the 20th Century
was the United States.” Assess
the truth of this statement
making reference to events
throughout the time period
1914-2000.
Writing the Test – Essays
Sample Charts
• SPERM-G
– This is an acronym for: Social,
Political, Economic, Religious,
Military, and Geographic.
– Not all of these categories might
relate to any given question, but if
several do, then making a chart that
includes them will help you write a
thorough paper that doesn’t miss
important material.
– This chart might accompany the
question: Assess how much Canada
changed as a result of World War I.
Writing the Test – Essays
Sample Charts
• Any question that asks
you to look at two
sides of an issue could
use a chart like the one
to the right.
• An example of such a
question might be: To
what extent is global
warming a problem
for Canadians?
Writing the Test – Essays
• Write in essay format
if possible. This will
ensure that you are
organized.
– Introduction (with
thesis).
– Body (at least 3 points
of a paragraph each).
– Conclusion.
Writing the Test – Essays
• You will not be
marked down for not
using essay format,
but you will probably
not be as thorough or
as organized.
Writing the Test – Essays
• Write small. One of our biggest complaints about the essay
booklet is that it does not give enough space. We have
complained for years and nothing has been done about it. Once
again, write small!
• Write legibly. If a marker cannot read your writing it cannot be
credited. If your handwriting is as bad as mine, print!
• Use all of the time allowed. Once you leave the test, you cannot
return. Do not rush. Check your work and edit neatly (there is
no space to write a good copy, so do not rewrite).
• If you go back and check multiple choice items, do not change
them unless you are 100% sure. First guesses are often the best.
Now Practice on Sample Exams