AP Course Information

Advanced Placement U.S. History

The Advanced Placement program in United States History is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in U.S. history. Students should learn to assess historical materials - their relevance to a given interpretative problem, their reliability and their Importance -and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. An advanced placement U.S. History course develops skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment and to present ideas clearly and persuasively. As much as possible, the A.P. course is taught by college format, emphasizing lectures and essay examinations.

The advanced placement course is designed to give students a grounding in the chronology of U.S. History and in major interpretative questions that derive from the study of selected themes. The approach is to conduct a survey course in which a textbook - with supplementary readings in the form of documents, essays, or books on special themes - provides chronological and thematic coverage. The objective of the course is to prepare students to take the AP examination, which is given in the middle of May. The saddest experience any student encounters is to study for a test and not be asked everything that he knows. The A.P. U.S. History course greatly increases the odds that you will be tested to the limits of your knowledge. If I don't you, ETS will!!!!

The basic text is Bailey and Kennedy, The American Pageant.

Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States will be used as a supplemental text.

Other resources will also supplement the basic text.

Of the Teacher:

1. Teach students how to prepare for the AP examination.
2. Assist students in distinguishing between myth, fact, opinion, and interpretation.
3. Provide students with guiding principles on how to analyze, understand, and interpret American history.
4. Provide students with guiding principles on how to write effectively.
5. Provide students with a working vocabulary in U.S. history.
6. Provide students with opportunities to apply the skills of reading, discussing, and writing as they explore the literature of history and learn to express and defend their conclusions.
7. Help students develop concepts and generalizations.
8. Challenge students to examine their feelings, beliefs, standards, and attitudes.

For the Students:

1. Attend class and be one time.
2. The major burden for acquiring the facts and ideas of the course falls squarely upon your shoulders, you must get at least one-half of the material on your own, including the majority of the facts.
3. Students must be able to draw on a reservoir of factual knowledge.
4. Analyze and interpret primary sources, documentary material, maps, statistical tables, and pictorial and graphic evidence.
5. You must take notes from lectures and discussions; I may check and grade your notebooks.
6. Read your assignments and contribute to class discussions; quizzes (surprise and announced) are a great tool to keep this in check.
7. Have knowledge of the steps in writing essays.
8. Adhere to college-level writing standards
9. Behave in a courteous manner that represents respect for yourself and for others.
10. Class time is not to be used for study hall.
11. Your assignments will be given with a task-appropriate due dates, do them!
12. All missed work must be made up or handed in within the number of days missed
    (early dismissals will be completed ahead of time)
    i.e. absent 1 day excused work is due the second day of your return (one day to get the assignment and one day to complete it)
    2 days = 2 days
    3 days = 3 days
    *** All tests and quizzes, regardless of days missed, will be made up within a maximum of a week after your return. You may also be subject to taking a make-up test or quiz which is ALL ESSAY! I will not chase you down to make up a test or a quiz, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!
    *** All tests and quizzes will be made up before or after school or during a study hall. At no time will they be made up during my class or that of another teacher.
13. All late work will receive a letter grade deduction for each day it is late. Students must consult with me both verbally and in writing prior to the due date n the case of essays, papers, or other major assignments.

Students are evaluated by objective tests, reviews of articles, class discussions, identification tests, and essay tests. Use a pen during essay tests.

You will have a couple of projects to complete during the course of the year. You will also complete intense research project based on the time period you choose. These projects will be presented in the spring after the AP Exam In May. In the course of the DBQ project you will analyze the social, political, educational, religious, and military themes in a particular decade.

Occasional after-school enrichment sessions will be held a couple of times per quarter during which various films are shown or other activities are held. Time does not allow for this during school hours, and students are eager to attend these sessions for a few extra points added to a grade. Bring snacks, juice, water, or soda to share.

If you are aware that you will be dismissed from school early you are to see me prior to class to get your assignments and inform me of your dismissal time. No individual or group will be dismissed prior to the time indicated on the activities calendar or attendance sheet. Please exit quietly at the time listed. If possible, please see me either before school or during 3rd period. You are welcome to attend an alternate class if you have a study hall during either 2nd or 4th periods. I am more than happy to write a pass out of study hall either the day before or before the school day. It is extremely detrimental to your education to miss class.

Diligent effort will be rewarded! A student who receives a grade of 3,4, or 5 on the May AP examination usually receives college credit for the high school course. This is a substantial savings of both time and money.

Many bright students have done very well in school up to this point simply because they could apply common sense, knowledge, and general reasoning. It has ended. Now specific knowledge is needed. Study!!!

There is no need for anyone to struggle with this class. If you find you need help with either the class or another area of your academics or life in general, please let me know. I am available for help before school (I usually arrive before 7:00 a.m.), during third, or seventh period, A or B lunch (A lunch I am in the cafeteria on duty or B lunch - make an appointment), or after school by appointment. I can also be reached at home most evenings between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at 610-xxx-xxxx.

Please share the above with your parents.