Otay Ranch High School
Dear Student,
I would like to welcome you to AP U.S. History (APUSH) and let you know that I expect great things from you! For some students, this is their first time in an AP course at Otay Ranch High School, and it may seem difficult because students must learn and practice the writing and critical thinking skills that will be required to pass the AP Exam. By the end of the year (and for many students by the end of the first semester) most will feel at ease with the work required in this college level course. To ensure your success, I would like you to be aware of the standards, requirements, grading policy, and classroom rules for this course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND STANDARDS
This course is designed to provide a college-level experience and preparation for the AP Exam. An emphasis is placed on interpreting documents, mastering a significant body of factual information, and writing critical essays. Topics include: Transatlantic Encounters and Colonial North America, the American Revolutionary Era, the Early Republic, the Economic Social, Political and Religious Transformation of Antebellum America, Territorial Expansion and Manifest Destiny, the Crisis of Union and the Civil War; Reconstruction and the Origins of the New South; Western Development in the Late 19th Century; Industrialization and Urbanization of American in the Late 19th Century; Populism and Progressivism; the Emergence of America as a World Power; the 1920s; the Great Depression and New Deal; the Second World War (abroad and on the home front); The Cold War; the 1950s; the 1960s; Politics and Economics at the End of the 20th Century; Society and Culture at the End of the 20th Century; the Post-Cold War World. This course will fulfill the United States History graduation requirement.
In addition to the topics listed above, the course will also emphasize a series of key themes throughout the year. These themes have been determined by the College Board as essential to a comprehensive study of United States History. These themes are woven throughout unit activities, with essential questions, and assessments being structured around them. They include: American Diversity, American Identity, Culture, Demographic Changes, Economic Transformations, Environment, Globalization, Politics and Citizenship, Reform, Religion, Slavery and its Legacies in North America, and War and Diplomacy.
GRADING POLICY
1. Items to be graded and evaluated:
a. Unit Exams and Final.………………………………………………………………… 40%
b. Writing Assignments/Essays/DBQs ……………………………………….…………. 40%
c. Unit Packets and Projects…….. .……………….…………………………………….. 10%
d. Chapter Quizzes and Outlines….……………………………………………………… 10%
2. Grading System and Record Keeping
a. A unit exam will be given at the completion of each unit. Students who take the unit exam on the assigned ay are eligible for “the curve.” All testing dates are available on Mrs. Kray’s website. Students who do not take the exam on the assigned day are NOT eligible for their score to be curved. If a student scores lower than a 70% on any unit exam then they may complete a TEST CORRECTION ASSIGNMENT to raise their exam score to 70%. The test correction assignment should be completed BEFORE the next unit exam. Test corrections are NOT available for final exams.
b. Chapter quizzes will be given any time a chapter outline is due. Typically this will be on a Monday but you should check the website calendar for an exact list of all chapter outline due dates. The quizzes are open note; meaning you may use the outline that you completed for that chapter to help you on the quiz. All outlines must be HANDWRITTEN.
c. All class work, lecture notes, worksheets, and homework will be turned in as part of a unit packet. The unit packet is typically due the day of the corresponding unit exam.
d. Late assignments will be accepted but will only receive partial credit (50%). Late assignments are defined as work turned in after teacher designated due dates. In cases of extreme emergency, students may email an assignment to BEFORE IT IS DUE or bring an electronic copy of the assignment with them to class on a USB. Any “technical difficulties” that prevent the assignment from being emailed before the due date will be counted as late work. Check Mrs. Kray’s website for important due dates.
e. Missed unit exams and in-class essays will be made up the day you return to class. CHAPTER QUIZZES CANNOT BE MADE UP IF MISSED, however, I replace your missed quiz score with your score on the unit exam that corresponds with that chapter.
f. Students who score less than a 70% on unit exams have the option of completing test corrections during ELP or after school on Tuesdays to improve their grade.
g. I reserve the right to move your grade up or down 1-2% based on effort and citizenship.
3. Community Service Requirement: SUHSD requires that students complete 30 hours of community service in order to graduate. Don’t wait until the last minute! You can pick up forms in the counseling office or download them from Internet.
4. Plagiarism and Cheating: WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. The first offense will result in an automatic zero on the assignment or test and an F in citizenship on the six-week progress report. The second offense is grounds for failure of the course. Plagiarism is defined as “representing as one’s own work the work of another without appropriately acknowledging the source.” It is unacceptable to take a classmate’s assignment, something off the Internet, or out of a book, newspaper, journal, or any other printed source, and pass it off as your own. The most blatant example of this is to directly copy something word for word, but paraphrasing without citing the source, is also considered plagiarism. It doesn’t matter if it’s only one sentence, if it’s not yours, don’t use it or place it in quotes and cite it. There are different methods for citing your sources, the important thing is that the reader can tell which ideas are yours and which are someone else’s. Also, giving your work to someone else is the equivalent of cheating and will be handled accordingly.
CLASS RULES
1. Attendance: Attendance is important, if you are not here how can you learn everything you need to know to pass the course? Excessive unexcused absences and/or tardies will affect your citizenship grade.
a. 5 or more tardies = F; 4 tardies = D; 3 tardies = C; 2 tardies = B; 1 or less = A.
b. I follow the school policy for unexcused absences
2. Citizenship: Uncooperative, disruptive, or disrespectful behavior will result in lower citizenship grade, referral to office, and/or suspension from class. The citizenship grade will be based on the student’s behavior, participation, attendance, and punctuality. The classroom rules are as follows:
a. BE PREPARED FOR CLASS
i. MATERIALS NEEDED: 1” – 1 ½” three-ring binder, paper, highlighter, 2 pens (different colors)
ii. As soon as the bell rings be in your assigned seat, have your APUSH binder and/or textbook, as well as any other needed assignments or supplies
iii. Textbooks should be brought on all block days and any other day designated by Mrs. Kray
iv. Homework is due the next class period unless otherwise noted on the assignment calendar. When in doubt check the website.
b. BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS – Do not interrupt the teacher during lectures or discussions. When the teacher or a fellow classmate is talking, side conversations and activities should cease.
c. STAY ON TASK – this course is a rigorous college level class. It is important to stay on top of assignments and due dates. Don’t wait until the last minute and get overwhelmed; take things one step at a time and you’ll be fine J.
d. NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES – cell phones, iPods, make-up, etc. should be kept in your backpack at all times. All such items will be confiscated on sight.
3. Tutoring: Tutoring is available on Mondays at lunch. I am also available before schools most mornings or you can make an arrangement with me for an afterschool appointment.
4. ELP (Extended Learning Period): ELP is a valuable opportunity to make up missing assignments and tests, complete test corrections, get extra assistance, or get ahead. Don’t waste it!!!
5. Substitute Policy: In the event that the class has a substitute teacher, all students are expected to be respectful and courteous. If a substitute teacher leaves a note identifying a particular student as being a discipline problem, that student will receive an automatic F in citizenship for that grading period and a referral to the assistance principal.
6. School Policies: All Otay Ranch High School policies will be strictly enforced in this class.
7. “R” RATED MOVIES: From time to time, movies are helpful for students to watch in social science classrooms because they drive home important concepts. Some of the movies and/or movie clips that we will be watching are rated R. By signing below, you are giving your son or daughter permission to watch R rated movies or clips of R rated in my classroom.
It is my goal that every student achieves success in my class. For that reason, I ask that we work together and follow the basic strategies outlined above. If you need to contact me for any reason, please feel free to do so at . I look forward to working with you; let’s make it a great year!
Respectfully,
Melanie Kray
Advanced PlacementTeacher
Advanced Placement U.S. History Contract
Student Initials Parent Initials
______I have read, understood, and agree to follow the rules, procedures, and grading policy for Mrs. Kray’s
AP U.S. History class.
______I have read, understood, and agree to follow Mrs. Kray’s plagiarism policy.
I agree to take the AP U.S. History Exam on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. The cost of the exam is $89 dollars (and could be higher if the College Board and/or ETS raises the price).*
I understand this class is the study of United States History from settlement of the New World to the present. This class is designed to focus on the taking and passing of the United States History Advanced Placement Exam. This class will be approached as a college level class. I will be self-motivated, thoughtful, and complete assignments on-time without constant monitoring.
My signature below indicates that I have read and understood the requirements for APUSH.
Student Name:______Period: ______
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Student Signature Date
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Parent Signature Date
“The Deal”
Within certain conditions, if you receive a grade of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement U.S. History Exam in May, you will receive an “A” for both semesters of APUSH. If you have an A and do not pass the test, you keep your “A”. The conditions are as follows:
1. If, in the opinion of the instructor, you have NOT been working at your best effort, “the deal” is null and void.
2. If, in the opinion of the instructor, you have not completed a reasonable amount of the assignments, “the deal” is null and void.
Any an all decisions are made by the instructor and considered final. If you are conscientious and hard working, you will have no problems.
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Student Signature
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Parent Signature
*There are options available to help offset the costs of the AP U.S. History Exam. Please see Mrs. Kray individually for details.