Good luck tomorrow

Two years ago, Mr. Frank Franz, who teaches in Virginia offered a list of great suggestions that will help you write better responses to FRQs.

I posted them then, and last year, and here they are once again.

I think these ideas are excellent. The only thing I’d add to the list would be to paraphrase the question as an introduction. In the last couple years some rubrics have insisted that responses have introductions that label what is being discussed.

Here's what Mr. Franz wrote,
Here's the strategy I place on every FRQ I give my students. I believe it helps them focus on the questions and will help them earn as high of a score as possible. Some of these ideas are my own and some are from colleagues who have served as readers and table leaders.

Free Response Strategy
    •    Mark-up the question.
    •    Count up how many points you are trying to earn. (Look for number references, count the verbs)
    •    Write as many sentences as there are points.
    •    Write simple, declarative sentences.
    •    Answer the question asked. Nothing else.
    •    Answer every part of the question.
    •    Look for time references, patterns, and passage of time.
    •    Do not argue with the premise of the prompt.
    •    Skip a line between parts, but do not label.

How to succeed

Want a hint for doing well on the FRQs on the exam next Tuesday?

I said it in 2006. I said it again in 2009. I said it in 2010. And I said it in 2011.

(I probably said it before 2006 and at other times. It's the best advice I can offer.)

READ THE VERBS!

2012 - Question #16 –country context question

(A)          Explain two reasons we would expect the British political system to be more amenable to change than the Iranian system.

(B)          In terms of being open to change, how would the Mexican system compare with the British and Iranian systems? Why?

See pp. 65-67, 151-152, and 137-138 in What You Need to Know

2012 - Question #15 – country context question

(A)          Identify two factors that make the UK regime a parliamentary system.

(B)          Identify two factors that make the Nigerian regime a presidential system.

(C)          Explain how the factors you identified make one of those regimes better able to make effective social welfare policies.

See pp. 42, 57-62, and 109-112 in What You Need to Know

2012 - Question #14 –conceptual analysis question

(A)          What is meant by structural adjustment?

(B)          Identify a political power (person, group, or institution) that would oppose structural adjustment in China and explain a primary reason for that opposition.

(C)          Identify a political power (person, group, or institution) in Iran that would support structural adjustment in Iran and explain a primary reason for that support.

See pp. 44, 90-96, 143-146, and 148-151 in What You Need to Know

2012 - Question #13 – short answer/concept question

(A)          What is an example of "rent-seeking" behavior in the Nigerian political system?

(B)          Explain how that example is beneficial or detrimental to the people of Nigera.

See pp. 43, 103-109, and 121-122 in What You Need to Know

2012 - Question #12 – short answer/concept question

(A)          Describe an aspect of the Mexican regime that uses plurality elections.

(B)          Describe an aspect of the Mexican regime that uses proportional elections.

(C)          What is a political reason for using each of these electoral methods?

See pp. 42, 43, and 131-132 in What You Need to Know

2012 - Question #11 – short answer/concept question

(A)          What do political scientists mean by accountability?

(B)          Describe briefly the primary means of ensuring accountability in Russia.

See pp. 37 and 74-81 in What You Need to Know

2012 - Question #10 – short answer/concept question

(A)          What is a "catch-all" political party?

(B)          What's an example of a party in the UK that is not a "catch-all" party?

(C)          Why is it not a "catch-all" party?

See pp. 38 and 59-62 in What You Need to Know

2012 - Question #9 – short answer/concept question

(A)          What is a prominent political cleavage in Russia?

(B)          How is that cleavage expressed (visible)?

See pp. 78-81 in What You Need to Know

2012 -- Question #8 – country context question

(A)          Describe the most democratic aspect of the Russian regime.

(B)          Describe the most democratic aspect of the PRC regime in China.

(C)          Identify which regime is more democratic.

(D)         Explain why.

See pp. 73-78 and 88-94 in What You Need to Know

2012 -- Question #7 – country context question

(A)          Describe the role religious authority plays in the Iranian political system.

(B)          Describe the role religious authority plays in the Mexican political system.

(C)          In which system does religious authority better promote a democratic regime?

(D)         Why?

See pp. 142-146, 127-130, and 136-137 in What You Need to Know

2012 -- Question #6 –conceptual analysis question

(A)          Define rule of law.

(B)          Explain two examples of the role that the constitution plays in the Mexican political system to guarantee a rule of law.

(C)          Explain two features of the political system in the UK that serve to guarantee rule of law without a constitution.

See pp. 43, 57-60, and 130-133 in What You Need to Know

2012 - Question #5 – short answer/concept question

(A)          What is one aspect of Chinese politics that empirical analysis would examine?

(B)          What is one aspect that empirical analysis would ignore?

(C)          Why would those aspects be examined or ignored?

See pp. 27-29 and 39 in What You Need to Know

2012 - Question #4 – short answer/concept question

(A) What is an example of political corporatism in Mexico?

(B) Has that corporatism been strengthened or weakened by events of the past 12 years?

(C) Why?

See pp. 39, 128-129, and 134 in What You Need to Know

2012 Question #3 – short answer/concept question

(A)          What is one way that political leadership in Iran expresses the country's sovereignty?

(B)          Briefly explain why that expression creates or resolves political conflict within the country.

See pp. 44 and 143-146 in What You Need to Know

2012 Question #2 – short answer/concept question

(A) What is a prominent parastatal in one of the countries you studied?

(B) Does that parastatal promote or inhibit democratization?

(C) How?

See pp. 42 and 61-62, 71-12, 97, 137, or 143-145 in What You Need to Know

2012 Question #1

This is a short answer/concept question (like the first 5 FRQs on the exam).

In the description of the United Kingdom, political scientists identify several nations that make up the country.
(A) What are two of them?
(B) What is a feature of the regime that bridges the cleavages between those nations?
(C) How does that feature reduce the political effects of the cleavages?

See pp. 41 and 62-64 in What You Need to Know