All about APUSH
AP United States History – 11th
Grade – 2019 – 2020 School Year
Ms. Jessica Parfitt – Pittsburg High School – Room G215
[email protected] or [email protected] (925)473-2390 ext. 7776
Office Hours – Before any day or after school only on Tuesdays & Thursdays
Remind: (925)968-4837 @apush1920
Ms. Jessica Parfitt – Pittsburg High School – Room G215
[email protected] or [email protected] (925)473-2390 ext. 7776
Office Hours – Before any day or after school only on Tuesdays & Thursdays
Remind: (925)968-4837 @apush1920
Course Description: This course is designed to teach students to think critically about the issues that have confronted and influenced the United States through a process that integrates the examination of factual knowledge, the development and application of analytic skills, and the assessment of primary and secondary sources. This class is the equivalent of an introductory college survey course in U.S. History, and its content spans the discovery and settlement of the New World to the present.
AP United States History students will:
· Develop thinking skills and enduring understandings necessary to deal critically with the main issues and documents of U.S. History
· Prepare for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands equivalent to those made by full-year introductory college courses (study habits, reading schedules, time management, asking for help, etc.)
· Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources— their relevance, historical context, authorship, intention, point of view, their reliability, and their importance — and weigh the evidence and interpretations of the past presented as well as comparing and synthesizing varying viewpoints.
· Arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment and present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in an essay format, displaying mastery of historical thinking skills and thematic understandings of course content.
· Work effectively with others to analyze history.
· Prepare for the AP exam in May.
There is no pre-requisite for AP US history, but students must be committed to hard work. The course covers approximately 500 years of US history, more than twice the content of the grade-level course, so it is quite challenging and fast paced. College admission boards also recognize this, and they look favorably at students who choose to complete AP coursework. Grades earned in AP US history are weighted (5.0 scale rather than 4.0), so GPA reflects the higher-level work. Also, many colleges and universities accept the passing of the AP exam with a 3 or higher for the replacement of an intro to US History course.
Further information regarding this course can be found at: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-us-history-course-and-exam-description.pdf
Textbook: Kennedy and Cohen. (2016). The American Pageant, AP Edition, 16th Edition. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. [ISBN 978-305-26845-6]
Review/Prep book: Newman, John J., and John M. Schmalbach. United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination. New York, N.Y: AMSCO School Publications, 2014 [ISBN-13: 978-0-7891-8904-2]
Supplies: I recommend a binder dedicated to just this class, dividers (9 for each period of history), binder paper or notebook, and a blue or black ink pen
Grading:
Notes/Homework - 40%
Reading Notes
Article Reviews
Assessments – 30%
Exams
DBQ
Free Response Questions
Class Work – 30%
Class assignments
In-class essays and practice
Class discussions
Reading Schedule: The most taxing component of APUSH is the reading schedule. Students are expected to do a considerable amount of reading from both the AMSCO Review Book and from supplementary sources such as essays provided by the teacher. A reading schedule for prep book reading will be provided via the class calendar. This reading should be accompanied by one of the approved note taking activities and should be done outside of class. It is up to the students to plan, based on their own personal schedules, when to complete their reading and notes prior to the class period they are due. On the other hand, class time will focus on applying primary and secondary readings to the content and themes of this course. This will be done in a variety of ways, including analysis of Primary and Secondary sources, class discussions, writing, and other activities. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to study, are necessary to succeed in this class. (see class calendar for reading schedule)
Course Format: The course will be a combination of lecture and seminar (class discussion) formats. Students will take notes, discuss important readings relating to the themes of United States History, as well as analyzing primary and secondary sources (i.e. speeches, photographs, maps, charts, articles, etc.), discuss questions they have about the readings, practice essay writing, discuss course themes, and learn to make historical claims that they can defend with evidence. Students will be expected to read outside of class, so that the bulk of class time will be available for questions and discussion. Readings and notes MUST be done prior to class!
Course Expectations: Your presence in the classroom is fundamental to your success in the class. To this end, DO NOT be late or absent, and make arrangements to avoid conflicts involving this class with appointments, trips, and other meetings (including those related to leadership/sports/band/etc.). If a student is absent, they should make sure to keep track of the reading schedule - reading notes are due when they are due! If absent on the day they are due, then they should be turned in upon the student’s arrival back to class. Any classwork or quiz/test missed, can be made up if a student is absent. Any class project is due the day it is due without exception. Other Basic Expectations: Students will turn work in on time… consistently work hard… not expect to be spoon fed material... take responsibility for their own learning… strive to think like a historian… back up opinions with evidence… be honest and do their own work… communicate and ask for help when needed… follow school policies. And…TRY THEIR BEST!
Exams: Exams will mirror the AP exam, which is a combination of primary source based multiple-choice questions, short answer questions as well as document based and free response essays. After an exam is given and graded, students who do not like their score can make corrections on each part. They can earn all credit back on all parts of the exam, if they meet with Ms. Parfitt and make corrections in the classroom either before school any day or after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will need to bring in their test sheet, grade sheet, completed chapter notes, and text/prep book in order to be allowed to make corrections. Students will only have until the next exam to make corrections on a previous exam.
Homework & Classwork: Homework will consist of chapter readings and notes. Reading quizzes will be given to check for understanding when necessary. Take home practice essays and article reviews will also be given out. These are intended to provide greater writing practice and will be discussed evaluated in class. Take home essays & articles reviews can be corrected for full credit. Classwork activities will include practice test questions, peer editing on practice DBQ/Essay responses, analyzing time periods or important topics, lectures, and classroom discussions. Students are expected to contribute to class discussions and participate effectively in class activities. Many class sessions are seminar style. In order for seminars to work, student preparation and participation is critical.
Extra Help: The teacher is available before school any day, Tuesdays & Thursdays after school, and on Weekend Study Session Days. Students can come with questions about anything relating to the course or exam, help with corrections, or additional practice.
Failing Grades: Parents/guardians are contacted using many methods throughout the semester to report failing grades including school progress reports, quarter report cards, and semester report cards. Email tends to be the best form of communication.
Presidents Quiz: By the end of the 1st quarter, every student must take the President’s Quiz and receive an 86 out of 90 in order to earn full credit. If you take the quiz and pass at the time of progress reports for the 1st quarter and pass you will receive +50 points.
Late Work: Late work is not accepted in college courses, and therefore it is not accepted in this course. Reading notes MUST be turned in on time. This is due to a need to confirm that all students are keeping up with their reading for this course and to allow for full class participation for all students. For all classwork and other homework assignments, students must turn their work in on time, but they will be allowed to make corrections to raise their scores.
Tardies and Unexcused Absences: Both tardies and unexcused absences have a negative impact on your grade. If a student is absent, it is up to them to schedule any make ups for quizzes or tests, as well as, to turn in any missing work immediately following their absence. If a student knows that they are going to be absent, they should inform the teacher ahead of time to try and make any accommodations for missing work. If a student is absent for an assignment, then they will have as many days as they were absent to make up any missing work, and they will have 1 week to make up any tests or quizzes.
AP Exam: The exam cost is $0, so every student will take the AP Exam on Friday, May 8. The exam is the culmination of all of the hard work that the students have done all year. They should take the exam to prove to themselves that they can complete this course from start to finish. (Colleges also prefer to see that a student took both the class & exam) I will do everything in my power to make sure that every student feel prepared for this exam. Exam registration is in the fall and there is a fee for any missed exam.
Dropping the Class: Due to the fact that APUSH and the grade level History class are not only taught differently but cover history at different paces, it is suggested that an AP student only drop the class at the end of a quarter or semester. To do so at any other time will make it very difficult to get caught up in the grade level class since you will be expected to get caught up on not only the missing content, but also to get caught up on the quarter long project the grade level classes are working on. To drop this course, it must first be okayed by the student, parent, teacher, counselor, and Mr. Whitmire.
AP United States History students will:
· Develop thinking skills and enduring understandings necessary to deal critically with the main issues and documents of U.S. History
· Prepare for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands equivalent to those made by full-year introductory college courses (study habits, reading schedules, time management, asking for help, etc.)
· Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources— their relevance, historical context, authorship, intention, point of view, their reliability, and their importance — and weigh the evidence and interpretations of the past presented as well as comparing and synthesizing varying viewpoints.
· Arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment and present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in an essay format, displaying mastery of historical thinking skills and thematic understandings of course content.
· Work effectively with others to analyze history.
· Prepare for the AP exam in May.
There is no pre-requisite for AP US history, but students must be committed to hard work. The course covers approximately 500 years of US history, more than twice the content of the grade-level course, so it is quite challenging and fast paced. College admission boards also recognize this, and they look favorably at students who choose to complete AP coursework. Grades earned in AP US history are weighted (5.0 scale rather than 4.0), so GPA reflects the higher-level work. Also, many colleges and universities accept the passing of the AP exam with a 3 or higher for the replacement of an intro to US History course.
Further information regarding this course can be found at: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-us-history-course-and-exam-description.pdf
Textbook: Kennedy and Cohen. (2016). The American Pageant, AP Edition, 16th Edition. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. [ISBN 978-305-26845-6]
Review/Prep book: Newman, John J., and John M. Schmalbach. United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination. New York, N.Y: AMSCO School Publications, 2014 [ISBN-13: 978-0-7891-8904-2]
Supplies: I recommend a binder dedicated to just this class, dividers (9 for each period of history), binder paper or notebook, and a blue or black ink pen
Grading:
Notes/Homework - 40%
Reading Notes
Article Reviews
Assessments – 30%
Exams
DBQ
Free Response Questions
Class Work – 30%
Class assignments
In-class essays and practice
Class discussions
Reading Schedule: The most taxing component of APUSH is the reading schedule. Students are expected to do a considerable amount of reading from both the AMSCO Review Book and from supplementary sources such as essays provided by the teacher. A reading schedule for prep book reading will be provided via the class calendar. This reading should be accompanied by one of the approved note taking activities and should be done outside of class. It is up to the students to plan, based on their own personal schedules, when to complete their reading and notes prior to the class period they are due. On the other hand, class time will focus on applying primary and secondary readings to the content and themes of this course. This will be done in a variety of ways, including analysis of Primary and Secondary sources, class discussions, writing, and other activities. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to study, are necessary to succeed in this class. (see class calendar for reading schedule)
Course Format: The course will be a combination of lecture and seminar (class discussion) formats. Students will take notes, discuss important readings relating to the themes of United States History, as well as analyzing primary and secondary sources (i.e. speeches, photographs, maps, charts, articles, etc.), discuss questions they have about the readings, practice essay writing, discuss course themes, and learn to make historical claims that they can defend with evidence. Students will be expected to read outside of class, so that the bulk of class time will be available for questions and discussion. Readings and notes MUST be done prior to class!
Course Expectations: Your presence in the classroom is fundamental to your success in the class. To this end, DO NOT be late or absent, and make arrangements to avoid conflicts involving this class with appointments, trips, and other meetings (including those related to leadership/sports/band/etc.). If a student is absent, they should make sure to keep track of the reading schedule - reading notes are due when they are due! If absent on the day they are due, then they should be turned in upon the student’s arrival back to class. Any classwork or quiz/test missed, can be made up if a student is absent. Any class project is due the day it is due without exception. Other Basic Expectations: Students will turn work in on time… consistently work hard… not expect to be spoon fed material... take responsibility for their own learning… strive to think like a historian… back up opinions with evidence… be honest and do their own work… communicate and ask for help when needed… follow school policies. And…TRY THEIR BEST!
Exams: Exams will mirror the AP exam, which is a combination of primary source based multiple-choice questions, short answer questions as well as document based and free response essays. After an exam is given and graded, students who do not like their score can make corrections on each part. They can earn all credit back on all parts of the exam, if they meet with Ms. Parfitt and make corrections in the classroom either before school any day or after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will need to bring in their test sheet, grade sheet, completed chapter notes, and text/prep book in order to be allowed to make corrections. Students will only have until the next exam to make corrections on a previous exam.
Homework & Classwork: Homework will consist of chapter readings and notes. Reading quizzes will be given to check for understanding when necessary. Take home practice essays and article reviews will also be given out. These are intended to provide greater writing practice and will be discussed evaluated in class. Take home essays & articles reviews can be corrected for full credit. Classwork activities will include practice test questions, peer editing on practice DBQ/Essay responses, analyzing time periods or important topics, lectures, and classroom discussions. Students are expected to contribute to class discussions and participate effectively in class activities. Many class sessions are seminar style. In order for seminars to work, student preparation and participation is critical.
Extra Help: The teacher is available before school any day, Tuesdays & Thursdays after school, and on Weekend Study Session Days. Students can come with questions about anything relating to the course or exam, help with corrections, or additional practice.
Failing Grades: Parents/guardians are contacted using many methods throughout the semester to report failing grades including school progress reports, quarter report cards, and semester report cards. Email tends to be the best form of communication.
Presidents Quiz: By the end of the 1st quarter, every student must take the President’s Quiz and receive an 86 out of 90 in order to earn full credit. If you take the quiz and pass at the time of progress reports for the 1st quarter and pass you will receive +50 points.
Late Work: Late work is not accepted in college courses, and therefore it is not accepted in this course. Reading notes MUST be turned in on time. This is due to a need to confirm that all students are keeping up with their reading for this course and to allow for full class participation for all students. For all classwork and other homework assignments, students must turn their work in on time, but they will be allowed to make corrections to raise their scores.
Tardies and Unexcused Absences: Both tardies and unexcused absences have a negative impact on your grade. If a student is absent, it is up to them to schedule any make ups for quizzes or tests, as well as, to turn in any missing work immediately following their absence. If a student knows that they are going to be absent, they should inform the teacher ahead of time to try and make any accommodations for missing work. If a student is absent for an assignment, then they will have as many days as they were absent to make up any missing work, and they will have 1 week to make up any tests or quizzes.
AP Exam: The exam cost is $0, so every student will take the AP Exam on Friday, May 8. The exam is the culmination of all of the hard work that the students have done all year. They should take the exam to prove to themselves that they can complete this course from start to finish. (Colleges also prefer to see that a student took both the class & exam) I will do everything in my power to make sure that every student feel prepared for this exam. Exam registration is in the fall and there is a fee for any missed exam.
Dropping the Class: Due to the fact that APUSH and the grade level History class are not only taught differently but cover history at different paces, it is suggested that an AP student only drop the class at the end of a quarter or semester. To do so at any other time will make it very difficult to get caught up in the grade level class since you will be expected to get caught up on not only the missing content, but also to get caught up on the quarter long project the grade level classes are working on. To drop this course, it must first be okayed by the student, parent, teacher, counselor, and Mr. Whitmire.
2019-2020 Syllabus | |
File Size: | 128 kb |
File Type: |
2019-2020 APUSH Contract | |
File Size: | 62 kb |
File Type: |
2019-2020 Calendar | |
File Size: | 362 kb |
File Type: |