How to Prepare for the AP U.S. Government and Politics

Rating:
Summary: Very helpful studyguide
Review: I've checked out other study guides, but this one was the most comprehensive. The author makes history seem very simple and easy to understand. I've done really well on the sample tests. My little sister even used it to study for her high school history exam. I highly suggest it to anyone taking the AP exam.

Rating:
Summary: Mixed...
Review: Let me get this out in the kindest words: this book is bad.

I have used review books for AP/Regents exams to great success in the past, and Barron's and Princeton Review are very trusted names. However, this is just horrible...almost.

Let's take a look:
-Each chapter is well-written and informative, and covers exactly what my textbook did very well. Good job here.
-The sample multiple choice questions at the end of chapters are, for the most part good, though some are too easy, and some have a horrible selection of answers. The descriptions of the right answers are average, at best.
-The sample essay QUESTIONS are good, though they ask to know some pretty specific stuff, but they're good to think about to help prepare for the exam.
-The sample essays: absolutely, unforgivably bad. My first problem is that they are too exact: "...was first mentioned in Ronald Reagan's State of the Union Address on January 25, 1982". I'm sorry, but who is actually using such a fact on the actual AP exam? There have been other examples too, such as citing the name of a mayor from Chicago from 20 years ago...we're supposed to know these things? I think not. However, what compelled me to speak out against this book was the sample essays in Chapter 11. These are, in every meaning of the word, horrible. The first one is a pretty good response to the question, but the analysis offered by the author is terrible...his analysis of the thesis says it is clear (which it is), but claims it is one thing, when it is in fact another. He then draws conclusions from the sample essay that are far-fetched, and are never mentioned in the essay. Furthermore, the essay itself only partially answers the question. The second essay is ridiculous. He is writing from a graph of party identification, and though he cites some good facts, they contradict the graph. For example, he claims that after Watergate, the number of people calling themselves independents increased. A logical conclusion, but the graph shows the complete opposite...that LESS people called themselves independent after 1976. That is inexcusable. Further, the essay is poorly structured, and offers average answers to the question asked.

There have been many examples of overly-precise, badly worded, and just flatout incorrect ideas in the sample essays offered by the author. This is unacceptable in a book designed to prepare the highly motivated student for a difficult exam...it is not fair to the student putting in the effort to do well, to confuse him, and to give him a poor impression of what a good essay is. Further, it is pretty sad that as a student myself, I can point out Mr. Lader's ineptitude.

Overall, I would say, if you can get a deal from your teacher to get this book for $10 or less, then get it, read the chapters and do the questions at the end. Skip his essays, they will just frustrate you. I have yet to even do the practice exams at the end, but I am sincerely hoping they're much better than what I have seen from Mr. Lader through 11 chapters. I paid $10 for this, but personally, I want my money back.

Rating:
Summary: Mixed...
Review: Let me get this out in the kindest words: this book is bad.

I have used review books for AP/Regents exams to great success in the past, and Barron's and Princeton Review are very trusted names. However, this is just horrible...almost.

Let's take a look:
-Each chapter is well-written and informative, and covers exactly what my textbook did very well. Good job here.
-The sample multiple choice questions at the end of chapters are, for the most part good, though some are too easy, and some have a horrible selection of answers. The descriptions of the right answers are average, at best.
-The sample essay QUESTIONS are good, though they ask to know some pretty specific stuff, but they're good to think about to help prepare for the exam.
-The sample essays: absolutely, unforgivably bad. My first problem is that they are too exact: "...was first mentioned in Ronald Reagan's State of the Union Address on January 25, 1982". I'm sorry, but who is actually using such a fact on the actual AP exam? There have been other examples too, such as citing the name of a mayor from Chicago from 20 years ago...we're supposed to know these things? I think not. However, what compelled me to speak out against this book was the sample essays in Chapter 11. These are, in every meaning of the word, horrible. The first one is a pretty good response to the question, but the analysis offered by the author is terrible...his analysis of the thesis says it is clear (which it is), but claims it is one thing, when it is in fact another. He then draws conclusions from the sample essay that are far-fetched, and are never mentioned in the essay. Furthermore, the essay itself only partially answers the question. The second essay is ridiculous. He is writing from a graph of party identification, and though he cites some good facts, they contradict the graph. For example, he claims that after Watergate, the number of people calling themselves independents increased. A logical conclusion, but the graph shows the complete opposite...that LESS people called themselves independent after 1976. That is inexcusable. Further, the essay is poorly structured, and offers average answers to the question asked.

There have been many examples of overly-precise, badly worded, and just flatout incorrect ideas in the sample essays offered by the author. This is unacceptable in a book designed to prepare the highly motivated student for a difficult exam...it is not fair to the student putting in the effort to do well, to confuse him, and to give him a poor impression of what a good essay is. Further, it is pretty sad that as a student myself, I can point out Mr. Lader's ineptitude.

Overall, I would say, if you can get a deal from your teacher to get this book for $10 or less, then get it, read the chapters and do the questions at the end. Skip his essays, they will just frustrate you. I have yet to even do the practice exams at the end, but I am sincerely hoping they're much better than what I have seen from Mr. Lader through 11 chapters. I paid $10 for this, but personally, I want my money back.

Rating:
Summary: An extensive review yes............
Review: While it extensivley details out the US government and its workings, it is hardly more than bloat.......

In addition, the bloat leads to confusion, because the author often fails to clarify major points, such as federalism. The author adequately describes everytype of conceivable federalism, but fails to integrate their definational function into a working defination that a student may readily understand.

The questions are of dismal quality, and do not reflect those that are asked on the AP exam. I currently own the 1994, 1999, and the 2002 released exams. I also possess a copy of Kaplans 2004, Princetons 2005, and "The Best Test Prep for the Advanced Placement Exams in Government and Politics."

If you are looking for a book that will give you good test questions, buy the princeton. If you want a book that will fill in various gaps of understanding, you may consider the Barron's (Whatever you do DONOT Buy Kaplans, it is little more than a the remains of a dead tree)

If, however, you want to just buy one book, buy Anita C. Danker's "The best test prep", it is truly wonderful. I had been in AP US Government for one month before reading the entire review book in one sitting. I proceeded to take the the 1994, 1999, and 2002 released exams (keep in mind this was my first time looking at such, without any source other than Danker's I managed to score a 50/60, 52/60, and 53/60, without any classroom experience, and or textbook. All knowledge to gain such scores I had learned in a single sitting (4 hours long). The exercises are also high quality..... If you want to additional practice questions, then you should consider buying Princeton, but only after first buying Danker's.