Mr. Sacerdote Advanced Placement U.S. History (APUSH)
Atlantic Coast High School (ACHS) Jacksonville, FL
APUSH Syllabus
2016-2017
Mr. Kevin Sacerdote, M.Ed.
Room: 626 Email:
Class Wiki: http://apushsas.wikispaces.com/
Office Hours Daily: Generally after school, except Wednesday, by appointment
SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
AP US History is a challenging course that is designed to be the equivalent of a freshman college course in a high school setting. It is a year-long survey of American history from the age of exploration to the present. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study, are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking skills, essay writing, interpretation of original documents and historiography.
COURSE MATERIAL:
Mandatory Text:
Bailey, Thomas Andrew, David M. Kennedy, and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant: A History of the Republic. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. Print.
Test review book Mandatory- refer to the posted summer assignment:
United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination
By John J. Newman (2016 revised edition) published by AMSCO.
Supplementary Reading:
Various Primary documents and readings throughout the year provided by the instructor in print and/or on-line.
MATERIALS NEEDED/SUGGESTED:
Staying organized is an important skill that will help you to be more successful in college and the professional world. All the materials listed below will help you to keep your notes and materials organized.
1. Notebook A 2”-3” inch 3-ring binder with 10 dividers (pockets and or zipper pouch optional).
2. One yellow 8 ½ X 11” legal pad (used for in-class essays to be left in the classroom, can be college or wide-ruled).
3. One 4 X 6” index card box with alphabetical dividers, and index cards to match.
4. Blue or Black pens for all written work.
5. #2 Pencils to be used ONLY on ‘scantrons.’
Optional Items
1. High quality eraser (Hi-Polymer)
2. Small package or ream of Printer Paper
3. One box of tissues and/or 1 container of Clorox wipes
EXPECTATIONS: The expectation of this classroom will focus on our school’s handbook and will hold the values and virtues that our school holds true.
The expectations below are just a few of the things students must do daily to be successful in this classroom: REMEMBER YOU ARE AN AP STUDENT!
v STAY AHEAD OF EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING. Think Ahead!!!
v ATTENDANCE is required, as is being on TIME!!!! Alternative assessments will be the norm for any respective attendance concerns, as well as the voiding of any possible test score adjustments for those not assessing on-time. Students will have three school days for any missed assessments, unless the instructor decides differently.
v BATHROOM BREAKS- This is an AP class with lectures, independent work and group work, so when you leave the classroom, the world does not stop. We continue our lecture, our discussion and our notes. You can’t follow notes, lecture and discussion if you’re not in your seat.
v BE RESPECTFUL…of me, your classmates, your environment, materials, law/school rules and of yourself.
v BE PREPARED for class with the necessary materials including agenda, assignments, books, paper, pen, attitude, and desire to succeed!
v ALL HOMEWORK PASSED IN ON TIME!! NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. If a student is absent he/she will have the number of school days to make up that work: example: If a student is absent one day, it is the student’s responsibility to see me the next day whether I have them in class on that particular day or not during school hours to show me their work. The absence MUST BE EXCUSED.
¨ However, if a student is present and forgets his/her homework, it will not be accepted. No exceptions. Homework needs to be completed prior to the start of class and be in your possession to receive credit. If you do not have the homework with you, you receive no credit and CANNOT pass it in at a later time or date unless there are extenuating circumstances that you have come and spoken to me about prior to class
v COMMUNICATION- I can’t help you unless you tell me if there is an issue or a problem. This is the responsibility of the student.
v TESTS/QUIZZES/EXAMS—you should NEVER be absent on a day of a quiz, test, or any type of examination, as stated above.
v DAILY ROUTINE
1. Enter the class on time, turn cell phone off before you enter.
2. Bell Work- Complete any instructions on the board. (Usually Questions on the reading or notes from the previous day or Test Prep questions; Bell work is used as a method to review)
3. Review Bell Work)/Questions/Concerns/Comments
4. Begin our Lesson
5. Recap/Questions
6. Stay in your seat until the exit bell rings.
INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:
The course will be built around the lecture/discussion format whether it be whole group or small group; individual work; group work; peer editing of essays; and any other method as instructor sees fit that will be beneficial for the students and the course.
At the conclusion of each unit students will take a rigorous timed, multiple choice test containing approximately 55 questions which will mimic the multiple choice section of the AP exam. Pop quizzes may be used as a means to keep students focused and prevent procrastination at any time. There is too much to cover by the teacher alone. You must do your part and there is no substitute for reading.
I will give FRQ/LRQ (Free/Long Response Questions) and DBQ (Document Based Response questions) throughout the year. At the beginning of the year these will be done in class or at home untimed. As we begin to master the skill of writing, these will be done in class and timed. All rubrics will be online; you will print them out and keep in your binder as your reference. All of these assignments are for “practice” of the AP Exam; however, all of these assignments will be used to grade you in my class. Remember your goal, DO well in my class as well as prepare for the AP EXAM. They go hand in hand!
Continuous Assignments:
•Home Learning/In class assignments:
• You will always have something to read, either assigned that day or text that you are responsible for over the course of the unit. All readings must be done BEFORE the due date.
• Any writing, research, work, or activities as assigned by instructor in class or outside of class
Grading System: Points System (points earned versus points possible). Optional work provided by the instructor is that and the due date will not be negotiable.
Grading Scale: The instructor may choose to adjust individual assessments, and thus he will NOT curve course averages at any time.
Grade / Numerical Value (%) / Verbal Interpretation / Grade Point ValueA / 90-100 / Outstanding Progress / 4
B / 80-89 / Good Progress / 3
C / 70-79 / Average Progress / 2
D / 60-69 / Needs Improvement / 1
F/I / 00-59 / Unsatisfactory / 0
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
“In all academic work, the ideas and contributions of others must be appropriately acknowledged and work that is presented as original must be, in fact, original” (source: https://wustl.edu/about/compliance-policies/academic-policies/undergraduate-student-academic-integrity-policy/).
Closing Thoughts
Video Statement:
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Throughout the school year we may view either segments from the following films, or the films in their entirety: Iron-Jawed Angels, Pearl Harbor, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Schindler’s List, 42, We Were Soldiers, Letters Home from Vietnam, Argo, Blackhawk Down, The Butler, United 93, and possibly others. These films are a powerful look at the horror and violence of World War II, the Holocaust, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War and current events. They are potentially disturbing films with at least a PG-13, and in many cases, an 'R' rating for the war violence depicted, strong language, and adult situations.
Due to this content we ask that each student have a parent/guardian return a signed permission slip so that they may participate in this activity. As always we respect your opinion as a parent and if you would prefer that your son or daughter not see the film, arrangements will be made for them to work on an alternative assignment in a different location. I believe that seeing these films, in the context of our class' study of US history, would be a valuable learning experience for your son or daughter. If you agree would you please sign the permission form below:
I hereby give my permission for my son/daughter to view and discuss films as presented above, and
I have read and understand ALL guidelines and procedures in Mr. Sacerdote’s AP U.S. History Course Syllabus and I agree to follow ALL guidelines and procedures. I am aware that if I do follow these guidelines and procedures my grade will be substantially higher and understand that this is a model for success. If you have any questions at all, please never hesitate to ask.
· STUDENT’S NAME (print): PERIOD:
· Student’s signature: DATE:
· Parent’s signature: DATE:
(Please print last name if different from the student)
Parent e-mail and phone number:
THEMES IN AP U.S. HISTORY (Thematic Learning Objectives)
At the completion of AP U.S. History, the student will be able to identify and explain the major individuals and turning points in American History based on the following themes:
1) American and National Identity (NAT)
2) Politics and Power (POL)
3) Work, Exchange, and Technology (WXT)
4) Culture and Society (CUL)
5) Migration and Settlement (MIG)
6) Geography and the Environment (GEO)
7) America in the World (WOR)
AP EXAM INFORMATION
1. Date: Friday, May 5th, 2017 (8AM)
2. Section 1: Part A: 55 multiple choice questions: 55 minutes, 40% of score
Part B: 4 short-answer questions: 50 minutes, 20% of score
3. Section 2: Part A: 1 DBQ: 55 minutes (15 mins. of planning), 25% of score
4. Part B: 1 long-essay question; 35 minutes, 15% of score
MOCK EXAM INFORMATION
· Specifics to follow
· I will be giving you this dates far in advance. Everyone must attend.
· Plan accordingly!
· This will counted as a class assignment, and there will be no make-up.
Course Coverage
TIME
PERIOD DATE RANGE APPROXIMATE % OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME & AP EXAM
1 1491-1607 5% 5%
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2 1607-1754 10%
3 1754-1800 12%
4 1800-1848 10% 45%
5 1844-1877 13%
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6 1865-1898 13%
7 1890-1945 17% 45%
8 1945-1980 15%
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9 1980-PRESENT 5% 5%
LINKS
· Memrise
Written Rubric General Guide (X1 or X2): SAQ (Max. 10) 3= 10, 2= 7, 1= 5
LEQ Essay (Max. 40) 6=40, 5=35, 4=30, 3=25, 2=20, 1=15 DBQ Essay (Max. 50) 7=50, 6=45, 5= 40, 4= 35, 3= 30, 2= 25, 1= 20