How+to+be+successful+in+an+AP+class

How to be Successful in AP European History
1. **READ EVERY NIGHT!** The reading homework can quickly become unmanageable if you don't keep up with the schedule. The best strategy is to block time to read every night so that you are always prepared for class and the material is understood and learned. Rome wasn't built in a day and the same applies to your knowledge of European history. 2. As you read LOOK UP WORDS YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH. Write these words down in your study guide and/or notebook. **The writers of the** 3. ASK QUESTIONS in class when you are confused or struggling to understand - chances are others would like clarification as well. 4. TAKE NOTES as you read and during the lectures in class. **Be an active reader and note-taker**, ask questions and summarize as you go AND review when you are finished. The text cannot be read as a novel – you MUST be engaged in the reading. 5. BUDGET YOUR TIME thoughtfully - don't underestimate the amount of time you need to do your reading and complete assignments. 6. Form small STUDY GROUPS to review for tests and make sure that when you get together that you stay on task. 7. **REVIEW past chapters as we go through the course - it will continuously help you to see and understand the big picture of history.** 8. THINK OF HISTORY as a story unfolding for you throughout the year. Become intrigued in the personal stories, emotional battles, exciting ideas, amazing accomplishments, disheartening (and sometimes humorous) failures, and the fascinating and often strange personalities of the people we are studying. 9. **STAY ORGANIZED** - purchase four 3-ring binders (one for each term) and dividers to organize your study guides, notes, essays, articles, and other materials by chapter as we advance throughout the year. When it comes time to review in the spring you'll have everything at the ready and your review time will be more purposeful. 10. BE IN CLASS - everything we do every day has purpose. When you are not in class you are indeed missing something important - a step along the journey. 11. **PREPARE for tests appropriately** - if you are in the habit of "cramming" the night before the test, you will be disappointed with your results in this class - **you must read each night**. There is just far too much content to "cram." Be persistent; read and prepare each night - it's a college-level course. 12. ASK FOR HELP if you need it - perhaps with your writing or in preparing for exams; it's important that you talk with your teacher.
 * AP European History Exam expect you to have a college-level vocabulary. It's your job to develop your vocabulary**.

//from T. Beach and E. Vande Berg.//