Cookie Policy

Our website uses cookies to understand content and feature usage to drive site improvements over time. To learn more, review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Skip Navigation
OER Logo

What Is This Asking?

Page 1 of 3
Checkmark Alert Banner
Did you know? You can access an editable version of this activity: Google Doc or Word Doc
WORLD HISTORY PROJECTAP/ LESSON 4.6OPENERWHAT IS THIS ASKING?Unless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “What Is This Asking?”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/1PurposeThis quick skill-building activity is intended to help you understand what is being asked of you when you’re presented with historical prompts, particularly those you’ll encounter in assessment prompts such as document-based questions (DBQs) and long essay questions (LEQs).ProcessIn this activity, you will revisit the process of how to parse a prompt. Remember, parsing a prompt is the process of analyzing a string of words—that is, trying to figure out what something is saying and asking!Take out the Question Parsing Tool and write down the following prompt at the top of the tool:Evaluate the extent to which religious responses to wealth accumulation in Eurasia in the period circa 600 B.C.E. to 1500 C.E. differed from state responses to wealth accumulation.Now, follow the tool directions. Be prepared to discuss your answers with the class!
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT AP / LESSON 4.6OPENERWHAT IS THIS ASKING?2Directions: Follow the steps to parse the prompt you are presented with. Use the key at the bottom to help you with the historical reasoning process and composition questions.1.Prompt:2.Rewrite the prompt in your own words:3.Periodization: What is the time periodyou are being asked to consider? Write out the years if you are given something in terms of century (for example, twentieth century = 1900s).4.Location: What areas of the world are included in this prompt?5.Topic: What is the main topic being asked about in this prompt?6.AP Theme: What AP theme is the prompt asking you to address as part of your response? Please explain your reasoning. PIECES is a helpful reminder for the AP themes.
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT AP / LESSON 4.6OPENERWHAT IS THIS ASKING?37.Historical reasoning process: What historical reasoning process is this prompt asking you to engage in? Provide justification for why you chose the one you did.8.Composition: What is the prompt stem asking you to do as part of your response? Remember the prompt stem is usually a verb.KeyHistorical Reasoning ProcessWords/Phrases to Look ForCausationCause, effect, led to, lead to, emergence, resulted, bring about, give rise to, be the cause of, result in, produce, generate, spawn, precipitate, prompt, induce, promote, foster, provoke, triggerComparisonSimilarities, differences, compare, contrast, set side-by-side, juxtapose, differentiate, liken, equateCCOTContinuities, changes, continuation, persistence, consistent, over time, two points in timePrompt Stem ExamplesWhat It’s Asking in Simpler LanguageTo what extentWeigh, evaluate, assessEvaluate, assessHow much—needs a quantitative answer/thesis/claim (Note: A quantitative answer is one that includes an amount or a number. For example: a lot, a little)Analyze, developDescribe and explainArgue, argumentMake a claim