The ID Process: What is your teacher really looking for?

An ID is not a definition. You should not be able to look any of the terms up in a dictionary and write the answer. An ID goes beyond defining and asks the AP student to critically analyze an event or a person.

The steps to a proper ID:

Step 1: Tell what the event is or who the person is. This is similar to a definition and will be 1 – 2 sentences.

Step 2: Explain the event or person. Tell what happened and explain what people, country, colony, or state was involved. This could be anywhere from 1 sentence to a paragraph, but is usually 1-3 sentences.

Step 3: THE MOST IMPORTANT! Tell the significance. In other words, explain what happened because of this event or person or what lasting impact this event or person had on the United States. This also could range anywhere from 1 sentence to a paragraph, but is usually 2-3 sentences.

When writing the IDs in your notebook you do NOT have to write in complete sentences. This is for you to use to study for the Era test. If bullet points work for you then go for it. However, you must remember that on the test I require that you write 1 to 3 paragraphs.

The ID assignment should never take more than 2 hours and should be completed while you are reading your chapter. These are assigned on Friday and are due on Tuesday. Also, since these are the events or people that are the most important for the unit, you will hear about them in my lecture. While I reserve the right to test you through multiple choice on topics learned solely from your reading, I would NEVER ask you an ID on an Era test that we have not discussed in class.

Look at the sample ID entries and sample Era (exam) entry. Both the examples use the Proclamation of 1763.

ID entry example

Proclamation of 1763

All lands west of the Appalachians reserved for Indians

1. British Reason:

• To stop conflict between the Colonists and the Indians and save them $$$$

2. Colonial Reaction:

• Frustrated and thought this was an attempt to limit freedom

Sample Exam entry

Proclamation of 1763

The Proclamation of 1763 was a law passed by the British government in the American Colonies. The proclamation stated that all lands west of the Appalachian Mountains were off limits to colonial settlements. The British passed this law to stop conflicts between the colonists and the Native Americans and to save the British crown money for colonial defense. This law frustrated the colonists and they felt it was an attempt to limit their freedom as English citizens (English Bill of Rights). The colonists settled the land anyway causing more conflicts with the Native Americans. Later, the British government was forced to impose taxes to pay for colonial defense. (6 sentences)