Course Syllabus
2013-2014
Teacher: Jon Mansfield
Course Title: Advanced Placement United States History
Credit: 1
Grade: 11-12
Description: This course is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in United States history. In addition, this course prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by a full-year introductory college course. The course will cover the chronological time period from the Age of Exploration to the present. Students will learn to assess historical materials, analyze and interpret primary sources, write analytical and research papers, and conduct historical research.
Course Standards: (1) Students will demonstrate an ability to assess historical materials by writing analytical papers and discussing materials in class.
(2) Students will be able to analyze and interpret primary sources as demonstrated through writing and oral discussion.
(3) Students will demonstrate an ability to conduct historical research as reflected in research papers and class discussion.
(4) Students will achieve a mastery of relevant facts of United States history as measured by tests, quizzes, and a variety of writing.
Textbook: The American Pageant by David Kennedy, et al. This book will be accessible in .pdf form on my website. There are a limited number of hard copies available for check-out. Additional reading will be assigned throughout the year.
Method of Grade Calculation: Grades will be calculated on a total points system, and will consist of grades on tests, quizzes, essay and other writing, and special projects.
Homework Policy: The class will involve a considerable amount of homework, most often in the form of reading and writing. The homework acceptance policy will be consistent with the adopted MCHS policy detailed in the student handbook.
Make-up Work Policy: Make-up work will be accepted as outlined in the MCHS student handbook.
Procedures: AP U.S. history is primarily a lecture course. Students are expected to take notes from the lectures daily. If you are not prepared to take notes, then this is not the class for you. Students are also expected to read the corresponding material in the textbook. Unit tests will be taken from the lectures and textbook reading.
In addition, students will frequently be given supplementary reading in the form of historical articles, book excerpts, primary documents, etc. Students will be quizzed over the reading on the day after it is assigned. Other points will come from essay writing and special projects.
Participation: 50 “participation” points will be given each nine-week grading period. These are free points. However, students may lose points according to the following criteria:
1. Failure to take notes – minus 10 points per day.
2. Tardy to class – minus 10 points per tardy.
3. Inappropriate talking or otherwise providing a distraction – minus 10 points per day
4. Texting in class or cell phone visible – minus 25 points per incident.
5. Sleeping in class (or appearing to sleep) – minus 50 points per incident.
Missing class: Nothing is more damaging to a student’s grade than missing class. If you absolutely have to miss, see me to determine whether you missed a test, quiz or other assignment. Get any notes from that day from another student. Please do not ask to leave class for any reason unless it is a true emergency.
Note on Early Bird class: Regular attendance is expected for an Early Bird class. Missing your Early Bird class, but then showing up for the rest of the school day is skipping. It is also important that you not be late. More than one tardy in a nine-week grading period may result in your removal from the Early Bird class. More than three tardies - or more than one unexcused absence - during a grading period will automatically result in removal.
Extra Credit: While there will be occasional “bonus points” on quizzes or during lectures, no other kind of extra credit will be given. Please do not ask.
AP Exam: The AP exam will be given in May. All students are encouraged to take the exam. A score of at least 3 on a scale of 1 to 5 will allow the student to receive college credit at most institutions. More information about the AP Exam will be given later in the year.
Course Outline: The following units will be covered in class during the school year. The time spent on each unit will be approximately two weeks:
I. The Shaping of Early America
II. Revolution!
III. Forging a New Nation
IV. Defining Democracy: Jefferson to Jackson
V. The Quest for Identity
VI. Slavery and States Rights: The Nation Divides
VII. Reconstruction and the Gilded Age
VIII. Industrialism and the Progressive Movement
IX. American Imperialism and World War I
X. Boom to Bust: the 20s and 30s
XI. World War II and the Cold War
XII. Turbulent Times: The 1950s and 1960s
XIII. The Making of Modern America: The 1970s and 1980s
XIV. Generation Y: Your History
Independent Unit: The Old West
AP U.S. History
I have read and understand this course syllabus:
Student name (please print)______
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Student Signature Date
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Parent Signature Date
Detach this page and return signed form by Monday, August 19 for 10/10 points. One point deducted for each day late.