How to answer regents style short answer questions

 

Historical Context: you need to know the historical background, how is it related to the main idea of the document

 

Author’s purpose: (Explain your answer)

• In general an author’s purpose is to persuade, inform, or entertain.  Finding the author’s purpose can help the reader understand the reason the text was created. 

• Explain using evidence from the document; you should cite specific evidence from the source that shows what the author’s purpose is.

• Or you cite who the author is and what was their purpose if you are familiar with the author.

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Reliability of Source:

• Can we trust the source? BIAS

• Can we not trust the source? BIAS

• What evidence supports your position? Information in the document, or who the author is, or both? Explain why.

• Being a primary source or a secondary source does not tell the reader whether the information is reliable.  The author of a primary or secondary source can be both reliable, or unreliable; that is why you must cite specific evidence from the source or about the author that supports your position.

 

Turning Point (must show understanding of related information beyond what is in the documents)

• What main topic are the sources related to?

• Why was that time period a BIG CHANGE?

• Show an understanding of the changes.

 

Regents style questions vocabulary:

Historical or geographical context:  The background information that helps to explain an event

Bias:  a person’s support or opposition to something

Point of view (POV):  A person’s attitude or belief that influences them

Purpose:  a goal, or a reason for doing something

Reliable Source:  information that can be accepted as accurate

Evidence:  The proof (facts) to support your answer

Cause and effect:  an event that leads to another event and/or a result

ENDURING ISSUE:  An issue that occurs in history and reoccurs throughout time, the issue can have a positive or a negative impact on society.