Final Reflection

Throughout my year in AP World History, I've developed a significantly deeper understanding of the relations among human societies across different time periods. The most prominent themes and trends I identified during the year included the rise and decline of empires, the diffusion of religion and culture, and the effects of trade networks. These themes not only influenced individual civilizations but also shaped global interactions over time.

As the year unfolded, my grasp of world history improved considerably. At first, I viewed history as a series of disconnected events and facts, but over time, I began to recognize the overarching patterns that linked different parts of the world. I began to understand how even the slightest change in one area could have significant repercussions elsewhere. For example, the spread of the bubonic plague in the 14th century illustrated how a single epidemic could profoundly impact the social, political, and economic structures of entire continents. This idea of interconnectedness emerged as a central theme in my understanding, leading me to realize a global perspective on history rather than concentrating solely on single civilizations.

One of my strengths as a history student this year was my ability to identify connections across different periods and regions. I was able to use information from different chapters and identify trends that spanned across several centuries. However, I also faced challenges in remembering specific details, such as dates and and names of important figures, which sometimes made it challenging to recall important facts during tests.

As a result, I started to develop strategies such as creating timelines and flashcards to improve my memorization skills, and thus my grades. Additionally, my ability to analyze content has been sharpened as I learned to examine historical events from different perspectives, taking into account the viewpoints of others and assessing one's effects.

As I get ready for the AP exam, I'm planning on using this portfolio to strengthen my understanding of essential concepts and themes. By reviewing everything I've added here and projects I have completed over the year, I'll be able to see which areas and topics require further improvement on my part. My main focus will be on honing my paragraph-writing abilities, particularly in effectively using evidence to support my points, to help my score on the writing-based questions.

Finally, I'll be sure to continue practicing multiple-choice questions and revisiting important historical terms to ensure that I'm prepared for the exam. In general, I'm confident in my ability to analyze events and trends, and I think that I'm ready to apply this knowledge during the AP exam.