"If
you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development."
-Aristotle
AP United States History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a freshman college course and may enable students to earn college credit. The class is a two-semester (two-term) survey of American history from Columbus to the present time. Emphasis is placed on internet research, primary sources, debate, and group projects. AP History is weighted at 1.10 (an extra 10 per cent) when calculating overall grade point averages and signals admissions officers at competitive colleges that a student is willing to be challenged. Taking the AP test at the end of the course is NOT required.
Grading Policy
Grades will be calculated based on the following formula:
· Tests (includes final) and notebook (50%); Second semester EOCT (15%)
· Quizzes (30%)
· Homework (10%)
· In-class assignments or daily grades (10%)
Note: AP classes are weighted at 1.10 when calculating overall GPA. For example, if you earn a 90, a score of 100 will be used for calculating your GPA. However, a 90 will appear on your report card, not 100.
Homework
Homework will be accepted on the day it is due or on the first day following an absence. It will be graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory based on 70% accuracy. Because each homework assignment is tied to course objectives, tests, and to the AP test, doing homework will improve your grade.
Notebook
A chronological notebook is required and will be collected once per semester. The notebook counts as a test grade. See more specific instructions for organizing your notebook at the end of the syllabus page.
Attendance
To reward good attendance, any student who has perfect attendance will have one point added to his/her eighteen weeks average. Absences are cumulative, not per nine weeks. After the third absence students will not be eligible to apply bonus group points.
Make-up Work
Make-up work must be completed as stated in the student handbook (when the student is absent for the entire day). Students are responsible for obtaining missed assignments within three days of an absence. The best time for make-up work is any morning from 7:50 to 8:20 or after school by appointment (due to my after school duty assignment). Missed library and computer lab time must be made up at school
Extra Credit
Extra credit points may be earned by taking optional note cards quizzes. If the quiz score is 80% or above, five points will be added to any test grade. Optional note cards quizzes will be announced one week in advance and must be taken before school on the announced date. Students who are at CEC first block will be accommodated.
A Note About AP Classes
Since this is a college level class, you will be required and expected to do advanced, college work and thinking. In order to be successful, you must read the textbook! `
Expectations
· Your textbook and notebook are needed in class every day.
· Water bottles are permitted in class.
· Be on time and seated in your assigned seat when the bell begins to ring.
· Be prepared to give the extra effort necessary to be successful in this or any AP class.
Please don't hesitate to ask for extra help any time you need it, especially before school. Parents can reach me any time during the day at linda.fields@cowetaschools.net or by calling the school switchboard at 770-254-2880 and leaving a message on my voice mail. I hope that this school year and this class will be both successful and enjoyable for you.
More Information
1. You will need four pastel markers in the following colors when writing essays: yellow, orange, pink, and blue. (Please do not substitute colors.)
2. The following web sites will be useful for this class:
3. www.apstudent.com Use this site to print note cards in multiples of 50 for class quizzes. Choose the option "note cards", then select the numbers you need to print. For example, you may need to bring note cards 251 to 300 or 501 to 550. Note cards will be handed in to be checked and then placed in a separate note card section of your notebook since they do not coincide with textbook chapter numbers. Other study helps such as Supreme Court cases, additional outlines, etc. can also be found at this site.
4. www.course-notes.org This site is a very detailed outline of AP United States History from other textbooks. Chapter numbers from this outline do not coincide with our textbook.
5. If school is closed due to inclement weather, the assignment(s), quizzes, etc. due on the day school was closed will be due the first day school reopens.
6. Notebooks: Purchase a LARGE three ring binder. Specific instructions:
1. Place all notes (outlines), homework assignments, identify lists, etc. in chapter order. Do NOT divide notebooks by the above categories, as it will cause confusion when studying for the AP test.
2. Note cards and Supreme Court Cases (handouts) may be placed in a separate section, as they do not correspond with the chapters in our textbook.
3. Maps/geography pages should be placed in a separate section.
4. Create a separate section for AP test materials/handouts.
5. Notebooks must be neat, with your name clearly visible on the outside front cover, NO materials in the pockets, binders not broken, and the notebook intact.
7. Due to the overuse of cyber excuses, no extra time for computer printer problems can be allowed. If your printer fails to function, runs out of ink, etc. email your assignment to a friend who can print it for you or save it on a disk and print it in the media center after the disk has been scanned by a media teacher. Please do NOT email assignments to me or attempt to hand in a disk.
8. Third and fourth blocks of AP History usually have the same assignments and due dates. However, it is safer to check with a student in your block when inquiring about an assignment.
9. If you are absent and want to check with me about what we did in class that day, email me at linda.fields@cowetaschools.org. I can usually respond within an hour or two.
10. All assignments for this class should be written in black ball point ink (not marker pens). Since the AP test requires that you write in ink, you must use ink for this class as well.
11. Plan to take the SAT II Subject Test for U.S. History. This inexpensive test is great test preparation for the AP test and could be used for additional "evidence" toward college entrance and for exempting basic U.S. History. It is strongly recommended that you register for this test before the March 29 deadline so that you can take the test locally. Some questions on this test appear verbatim on the AP test.
12. You are not required to take the AP test, but you should maintain a high B average if you choose to do so.