Sample FRQ

AP Psychology

Question:

Describe 3 mnemonic devices that would enable you to remember the following list of grocery items: milk, eggs, butter, oranges, rhubarb, ice cream, eggplant, and sausage. Explain why each would be effective.

Sample Answer:

Mnemonic devices are memory aides or techniques, which use imagery and organizational devices to aid in remembering lengthy pieces of information such as grocery lists or in studying for a test.

Method of loci is used by imagining moving through a familiar series of locations, associating each place with a visual representation of the to be remembered topic. Using this technique, I might visualize the grocery store and create a visual picture of each department of the store, which I will need to go in order to gather each item.

A peg –word system would require both an acoustic and visual code, such as a jingle, where I would visually associate the peg-words with the to be remembered items. Using this technique, I might use the jingle from the book: one is a bun, two is a shoe, three is a tree, four is a door, etc.. I would then imagine each item on the list by associating it with one of the visuals. I could visualize the milk in a boot, an eggplant tree, eggs being covered up by a bun, etc…

Chunking, organizing information into meaningful units, is another technique I could use. I might put butter, and milk together in my mind because they are both dairy products, sausage and eggs together because they go together for breakfast, oranges, rhubarb, and eggplant together because they are fruits or vegetables, and ice cream last because dessert comes last.

Sample FRQ

AP Psychology

Question:

Describe 3 mnemonic devices that would enable you to remember the following list of grocery items: milk, eggs, butter, oranges, rhubarb, ice cream, eggplant, and sausage. Explain why each would be effective.

Sample Answer:

Mnemonic devices are memory aides or techniques, which use imagery and organizational devices to aid in remembering lengthy pieces of information such as grocery lists or in studying for a test.

Method of loci is used by imagining moving through a familiar series of locations, associating each place with a visual representation of the to be remembered topic. Using this technique, I might visualize the grocery store and create a visual picture of each department of the store, which I will need to go in order to gather each item.

A peg –word system would require both an acoustic and visual code, such as a jingle, where I would visually associate the peg-words with the to be remembered items. Using this technique, I might use the jingle from the book: one is a bun, two is a shoe, three is a tree, four is a door, etc.. I would then imagine each item on the list by associating it with one of the visuals. I could visualize the milk in a boot, an eggplant tree, eggs being covered up by a bun, etc…

Chunking, organizing information into meaningful units, is another technique I could use. I might put butter, and milk together in my mind because they are both dairy products, sausage and eggs together because they go together for breakfast, oranges, rhubarb, and eggplant together because they are fruits or vegetables, and ice cream last because dessert comes last.