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COURSE DESCRIPTION

Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH) is a rigorous course that is designed to be the equivalent of a freshman college course. It is a two-semester chronological survey of American history from the age of exploration to the present with emphasis on interpretation and analysis of the material by contemporary and modern historians. APUSH is considerably more demanding than the college preparatory (CP) equivalent in terms of ability, commitment, independent reading, and depth of focus. Successful completion of APUSH satisfies the State of California’s 11^th grade content standards requirements for United States History and Geography: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century.

The curriculum of this course requires students to utilize higher order thinking skills. Accordingly, students will analyze, synthesize, and evaluate primary and secondary sources in addition to memorizing, comprehending, and applying facts. Extensive independent reading is required. This course uses a college-level textbook with an advanced vocabulary and supplemental materials including outside readings; articles; primary & secondary sources; technology-based activities, presentations and materials; documentary material; maps; statistical tables; in addition to pictorial and graphic evidence of historical events.

PURPOSE

This course has several purposes. First and foremost, the course 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. The course prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by full-year introductory college courses. Students will learn to assess historical materials—their relevance to a given interpretative problem, reliability, and importance—and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. Students will develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format. This course is also intended to prepare students to take the AP U.S. history examination in May. This course promotes development of 21^st Century skills and the Trabuco Hills High Student Learning Outcomes: problem solvers, responsible digital citizens, independent learners, community participants, and effective communicators.

Course Details

Students learn more when they are present, active and engaged with the material.

The objective is for students to be able to demonstrate the highest level of thinking skills: synthesize, evaluate, apply and hypothesize. The current framework for advanced placement and focus on common core literacy are aligned with this educational philosophy. Therefore, the learning environment is provided to promote active learning. Delivery of course content is mainly through discussions, review activities, reading assignments and research projects.

OBJECTIVES

The student will:

learn more when actively engaged;
master an extensive body of historical knowledge;
demonstrate an understanding of historical chronology;
effectively use historical data to support an argument;
develop historical reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking skills;
recognize and differentiate between historiographical schools of thought; and
prepare for and successfully pass the Advanced Placement Exam in May

Expectations

Course Requirements

Students are expected to complete all assigned work regardless of whether an assignment is collected or scored; to attend class prepared to participate and to learn; to take academic risks to explore new concepts, strategies, and to develop historical interpretations; and to engage in thinking and communicating.

Proactive Communication

Students need to develop effective, proactive and timely communication skills. In this class, students are to send a well-written email to the teacher regarding grade inquiries (i.e. data input errors, clarification questions), learning inquiries, scheduled absences (personal & school related), and unscheduled absences (i.e. sick the day of a test). The email needs to be sent by the student and should use proper writing conventions and include specific details so the inquiry can be addressed by the teacher in a timely manner.

Place for Honesty & Integrity

Honesty and integrity cannot be compromised. Academic dishonesty in ANY form will not be tolerated and will result in immediate, severe consequences. Make sure you know and adhere to the difference between collaboration and collusion. Your work in this class must be your work. Breaches of honesty and integrity are a violation of trust and have no place in this course and at THHS. Please refer to the Mustang Handbook for the most up to date SVUSD and THHS coverage of these policies.

Making Wise Choices and taking Academic Responsibility

Students are expected to constantly make sound academic choices, to take action, and to actively participate in the process of learning. It is important for students to understand that each choice, each action will have a reaction. Regardless of the final result it is also important for students to accept the outcome of those choices and actions.

Technology

Technology can be a powerful tool to assist with the learning process; however, it does not replace individual learning, thinking, or effectively communicating. Technology is taken out and used only with permission.

Grades

Grades are not rounded nor are they bumped or changed based on AP Exam scores.

The standard grade distribution scale is utilized for this course (100-90%=A, 89-80%=B, 79-70%=C, 69-60%=D, 59% and below=F).

Overall course grades are weighted using two main categories: 85% assessments (BMCQ, MCQ, DBQ, SAQ, LEQ, some projects); 15% supplemental assignments (TR, LS, BRQ, learning activities, some projects, school/district business).

Instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to the course as needed.

Learners Beware!

Attendance does make a difference.

Excessive absences have a negative impact on learning and academic performance. Students participating in extra-curricular activities must be cognizant of all assigned work and responsible for meeting all academic deadlines. Proactive, timely communication and planning is essential for maintaining balance during times of absence.

Be on time. Punctuality is a sign of respect to others.

Please refer to the Mustang Handbook for the most up to date SVUSD and THHS coverage of these policies.

Make-ups

As per Education code 48205 and SVUSD AR 6154, assessment and long-term project dates have been identified and posted; therefore, assessments shall be made up immediately upon return or by previous arrangement and long-term projects are due on the original due date or by previous arrangement. A first-day absence that coincides with an assessment shall be made-up the day of return or by previous arrangement. Failure to complete any make-up in a timely manner will result in a reduced score.

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