AP U.S. History

Welcome to Advanced Placement United States History. This course will be one of the most challenging courses of your high school career. It is specifically designed to be a college level course. Thus, it will require “college level” work, a “college level” attitude, and “college level” performance. Anything less will be unacceptable. What this means, specifically, is that

a. the class will require much more than the normal amount of homework and daily preparation as you prepare to take the AP exam in May; if you are unwilling or unable to put in the time and effort required for success in this course, you should immediately see your counselor to switch into a regular U.S. History class.

b. the study of American History will involve much more than just a simple memorization of facts (although memorization will indeed be necessary);

c. the mastery of this content will require independent preparation and a sophisticated level of synthesis, analysis, creative thought, and skill development;

d. classes will be structured and designed to take advantage of your ability and willingness to work and to study without being spoon-fed; to analyze material on your own; to be responsible for information even though we may not cover it in class, and to approach the study and understanding of history from a more mature perspective than ever before.

Expectations