Advanced Placement US History
Andy Hunt dahunt@wcpss.net
Leesville Road High School (919) 870-4250
Websites:
https://sites.google.com/wcpss.net/mrhuntssocialstudies
http://collegeboard.org/joinapclass or http://myap.collegeboard.org/login
Purpose: The Advanced Placement program in United States History is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials of United States history. The course prepares students for intermediate and advanced college course work by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by full year introductory college survey courses. With this in mind, the acquisition of factual knowledge is the beginning point of the process, not the end. Students will learn to interpret and evaluate the relative significance of primary and secondary source material, and to present evidence and conclusions in an argumentative essay format.
There are no prerequisites for this class, but students should be able to read and understand texts that are consumed at the college level as well as being able to write coherent, complex sentences.
College credit can be earned with a score of a 3 or higher on the AP U. S. History Exam. The exam will be given on the morning of Friday, May 8. Students must register for the exam with Ms. Swann or via AP classroom.
Text: Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. New York: W.W. Norton, 2013.
Many students have found the use of a review text to be helpful-especially when pre-reading assignments. Purchase of one is optional and should not be expected to replace a thorough reading of the text. My personal favorite is
United States History—Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination, https://www.amscopub.com/social-studies/advanced-placement/united-states-history-ap-exam.html by
John J. Newman and John M. Schmalbach. It lists for $18.95. Go to the link above to order, or visit your local bookstore.
Other Materials:
The Google Site: Unit by unit assignments and readings are posted here. Regular access is integral for success in AP US History.
Google Classroom- I will provide more information about this resource later and on the Google site above.
AP Classroom- log in information and assignments will also be distributed in class. This is a new resource that I will be experimenting with this year. It looks like it will be a great resource for review and studying for tests in this class and the AP exam in May. Be aware that the intent of this site is to push students to take the exam in May!
Purely optional...a paperback brief version of the text. A new one is $85. Used ones can be had for substantially less. I have found an example here... Any edition from the third through the fifth should be fine.
Structure of the Course
There will be a close examination of the following periods in U. S. History in order to score successfully on the AP Exam and the final exam for LRHS. Study will be broken into the following periods and will usually be tested as units:
• 1491-1607
• 1607-1754
• 1754-1800
• 1800-1848
• 1848-1877
• 1877-1898
• 1898-1945
• 1945-1980
• 1980 to Present
AP History Thinking Skills
The skills below are the types of skills frequently used, developed, and assessed in this class.
· Identify and explain historical developments and processes.
· Analyze sourcing and situation of primary and secondary sources.
· Analyze arguments in primary and secondary sources.
· Analyze the context of historical events, developments, or processes.
· Using historical reasoning processes, analyze patterns and connections between and among historical developments and processes.
· Developing an argument
With an emphasis on the following types of reasoning:
· Comparison
· Causation
· Continuity and Change
Themes
We will focus on the following themes in the class:
· American and National Identity
· Work, Exchange, and Technology
· Geography and the Environment
· Migration and Settlement
· Politics and Power
· America in the World
· American and Regional Culture
· Social Structures
Grades
Grades will be based on a weighted total points system.
Categories Point Value
Major Tests 65%
Quizzes, worksheets, etc. 35%
Students are expected to prepare nightly for the next day’s class and are expected to contribute to class daily.There is a portfolio component to be added this semester. I will share more information about how that impacts grading and information is made known to me.
Pace
We will strive to finish the course work in January. Due to the nature of the course, students must read and take notes on the textbook consistently. There will be times when the reading schedule and the class discussion may be out of sync. Some assessments may be given electronically.
Inclement Weather
Given the amount of material that must be addressed in combination with the limited time available, students will be expected to stay on schedule regardless of inclement weather or some other unforeseen emergency that results in the dismissal of school. If an assessment is scheduled for a day where school is dismissed, expect to be assessed the day students return!
Expectations
1.) Come prepared to learn from bell to bell.
2.) Be willing to share and listen to ideas in a respectful manner.
3.) Respect everyone’s time and efforts by following the LRHS cell phone policy.
4.) No food or drink without permission. Please ask!
5.) Clean up after yourself.
Late Work/Help and Absences --It is your responsibility to make up missed work. Students should be able to see what they have missed using the website.
I am available to answer questions starting 7:00 am on most school days. I am available other times by appointment. If you contact me electronically, please note that e-mails sent after 2:30 have no guarantee of being read before 6:00 am the following day.
Cheating and Plagiarism per the LRHS 2019-2020 handbook:
Cheating is an academic deception where a student intends in some way to receive or attempt to receive credit for work not originated by the student, to give or receive unauthorized assistance, or to give or receive an unfair advantage on any form of academic work. Cheating includes giving or receiving any unauthorized assistance on academic work.
Plagiarism is using passages, materials, words, ideas, and/or thoughts of someone or something else and representing them as one's own original work without properly crediting the source.
When in doubt about whether “working together” is a violation of the above standards, please ask to avoid confusion and violations of academic integrity.
Final Thoughts
Those who came before you set the bar exceptionally high. You have much work ahead to continue the tradition.
I expect that you will take the exam and score well for this class thereby adding a well respected line to your transcript and college application. I also expect that you will develop the reading, writing, and analytical skills that are vital in any rigorous college education, any career, and life.
Parent Contact Information can be filled in by going to https://forms.gle/oFiHxKDyFzaDLBL48