Welcome to Advanced Placement US History
5th Period
AP US History Class Contract
Course Description:
United States history is the history of a great experiment in representative democracy. One major goal of the State curriculum calls for students to learn about the structure and function of governments and to learn how to take on their roles as citizens. Students should understand those basic principles and the cultural heritage that support our democracy so that they can become informed, committed participants in our democracy. This core curriculum lists examples that describe how individuals and groups throughout history have challenged and influenced public policy and constitutional change. These examples and this course of study should help students understand how ordinary citizens and groups of people interacted with lawmakers and policy makers and made a difference. This class is required for graduation. In addition, students will prepare for and take the AP US History Exam in May 2012.
Objectives
Students will be able to do the following by the end of the class:
1. Demonstrate mastery of a broad body of historical knowledge
2. Use historical evidence to defend and support basic arguments and positions
3. Demonstrate an effective use of analytical skills of evaluation, cause and effect relationships, etc.
4. Interpret and draw conclusions from various pieces of historical data including original documents,
cartoons, graphs, etc.
Grading Policy
Tests, quizzes, projects 60% There will be at least one project per marking period and several tests and quizzes. You will
also have a midterm and a final exam, which will count twice.
Attendance and Participation 20% Daily attendance is expected. Cutting, excessive absences, lateness, sleeping in class, and
off-task behavior will cause you to lose points. Active participation in class/group discussions,
being prepared, and attentiveness will help your grade.
Homework 20% Completion of assignments are essential to understanding the course material. Failure to complete
these will reduce your grade.
Completion of assignments
1) All essays and projects must be typed, double spaced, using 12 point font and one inch margins. Only tests, homework and class notes can be handwritten.
2) All assignments will be turned in on time or early. Late assignments will result in points off. Assignments can be emailed to avoid late penalties.
3) Students who do not do the required work will fail the class. Hard work and effort will be rewarded, while laziness will be penalized.
4) Academic honesty is expected. Cheating on exams and projects is unacceptable. Plagiarism, whether it is copying from another student or copying from sources (ex: the internet), will result in a failing grade for that project or exam.
Classroom Procedures
-Arrive on time and prepared to work. Bring a pen, notebook and all notes each day.
-Raise your hand to speak and do not interrupt one another. Please have respect for fellow students’ ideas, comments, and questions.
-Do not disrupt class for personal reasons (to get a note signed, to ask about a grade, etc.) Take care of these things before class begins or after class.
-Make-up work: If you are out of class for any reason it is YOUR responsibility to make up any work that you missed. I recommend getting a “buddy” in the class in case you are absent, so that you can copy notes/get handouts from that person. If you are absent on a test day, you will be permitted to take the exam only with a written, acceptable excuse on the day you return to class.
–Use of the pass: the pass is for emergencies only. If you come in late, you cannot use the pass, so do not ask for it. School policy says that the pass cannot be used during the first/last ten minutes of the period, on even days during even periods or on odd days during odd periods. If you abuse the pass, your pass privileges will be revoked for the rest of the semester.
-Discipline problems will be dealt with through warning, parental contact, administrative referral, etc., depending on the severity of the problem.
United States history is the history of a great experiment in representative democracy. One major goal of the State curriculum calls for students to learn about the structure and function of governments and to learn how to take on their roles as citizens. Students should understand those basic principles and the cultural heritage that support our democracy so that they can become informed, committed participants in our democracy. This core curriculum lists examples that describe how individuals and groups throughout history have challenged and influenced public policy and constitutional change. These examples and this course of study should help students understand how ordinary citizens and groups of people interacted with lawmakers and policy makers and made a difference. This class is required for graduation. In addition, students will prepare for and take the AP US History Exam in May 2012.
Objectives
Students will be able to do the following by the end of the class:
1. Demonstrate mastery of a broad body of historical knowledge
2. Use historical evidence to defend and support basic arguments and positions
3. Demonstrate an effective use of analytical skills of evaluation, cause and effect relationships, etc.
4. Interpret and draw conclusions from various pieces of historical data including original documents,
cartoons, graphs, etc.
Grading Policy
Tests, quizzes, projects 60% There will be at least one project per marking period and several tests and quizzes. You will
also have a midterm and a final exam, which will count twice.
Attendance and Participation 20% Daily attendance is expected. Cutting, excessive absences, lateness, sleeping in class, and
off-task behavior will cause you to lose points. Active participation in class/group discussions,
being prepared, and attentiveness will help your grade.
Homework 20% Completion of assignments are essential to understanding the course material. Failure to complete
these will reduce your grade.
Completion of assignments
1) All essays and projects must be typed, double spaced, using 12 point font and one inch margins. Only tests, homework and class notes can be handwritten.
2) All assignments will be turned in on time or early. Late assignments will result in points off. Assignments can be emailed to avoid late penalties.
3) Students who do not do the required work will fail the class. Hard work and effort will be rewarded, while laziness will be penalized.
4) Academic honesty is expected. Cheating on exams and projects is unacceptable. Plagiarism, whether it is copying from another student or copying from sources (ex: the internet), will result in a failing grade for that project or exam.
Classroom Procedures
-Arrive on time and prepared to work. Bring a pen, notebook and all notes each day.
-Raise your hand to speak and do not interrupt one another. Please have respect for fellow students’ ideas, comments, and questions.
-Do not disrupt class for personal reasons (to get a note signed, to ask about a grade, etc.) Take care of these things before class begins or after class.
-Make-up work: If you are out of class for any reason it is YOUR responsibility to make up any work that you missed. I recommend getting a “buddy” in the class in case you are absent, so that you can copy notes/get handouts from that person. If you are absent on a test day, you will be permitted to take the exam only with a written, acceptable excuse on the day you return to class.
–Use of the pass: the pass is for emergencies only. If you come in late, you cannot use the pass, so do not ask for it. School policy says that the pass cannot be used during the first/last ten minutes of the period, on even days during even periods or on odd days during odd periods. If you abuse the pass, your pass privileges will be revoked for the rest of the semester.
-Discipline problems will be dealt with through warning, parental contact, administrative referral, etc., depending on the severity of the problem.