ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES HISTORY
Walsingham Academy 2011-2012
Ms. Hayden - Room 112
Email: jhayden@walsingham.org Cell Phone: 757.206.7928
Office Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 2:45pm – 3:30pm
Course Description
AP United States History is a course designed to provide high school students with the factual knowledge
and analytical skills necessary to deal with the issues in U.S. history. The course prepares students by making
demands upon them equivalent to those made by full year introductory college courses. Students learn to assess
historical material, their relevance to a given interpretative problem, their reliability and importance, and to
weigh the evidence and interpretation presented in historical scholarship. AP History will cultivate skills
necessary to arrive at conclusions based on an informed judgment and to present information and evidence
clearly and persuasively in essay format.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a mastery of a broad body of historical knowledge
2. Use historical evidence to defend and support basic arguments and positions
3. Differentiate between various schools of historical thought and interpretation
4. Interpret and draw conclusions from various pieces of primary source documents
5. Demonstrate an effective use of analytical skills of evaluation, cause-and affect relationships, and
compare and contrast
6. Work effectively in groups to produce products, make presentations, and solve problems
7. Prepare for and receive a grade of 3 or higher on the A.P. U.S. History Exam
Course Outline
Unit 1:
Unit 2:
Unit 3:
Unit 4:
Unit 5:
Exploration – French & Indian War
Treaty of Paris (1763) – Constitution
Early National Period – Era of Good Feelings
Age of Jackson
Causes of the Civil War - Reconstruction
Unit 6: Gilded Age - Populism
Unit 7: New Imperialism, Progressivism, WW I
Unit 8: 1920s – New Deal
Unit 9: WW II - 1960
Unit 10: 1960 – Present
Materials
1. Textbook: Shi, David & Tindall, George. America: A Narrative History 8th Edition, Norton 2010
2. AP Prep Book: Newman, John & Schmalbach, John. United States History: Preparing for the
Advanced Placement Examination.
Grading
Grading will be computed using a total points system. The following are examples of work you will be graded on
throughout the year (assigned points are estimates and may change depending on the assignment):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Tests: 100 points each (approx one per unit)
Quizzes: 20 points each (approx four per unit)
Homework/Class Work: 5 – 25 points (daily)
Projects/Papers (DBQs): 50 – 100 points (approx one per quarter)
Portfolio: 200 points (one per semester)
Cumulative Midterm and Final exam: 200 points each
7. AP Points: 25 Points per quarter - Since the limited class time we have must be supplemented by your own
exploration of history topics outside of the classroom, you will also be expected to earn 25 “AP points” per
quarter. You will be able to earn these points by viewing films, writing papers, or visiting museums.
8. Classroom Participation: 25 points per quarter (loss of points for tardiness, cheating or inappropriate behavior in
class)
Midterm
In order to adequately prepare for the AP exam in May, students must learn how to pace themselves through the
exam. To assist with this, the APUSH midterm will be held on Saturday, January 7th from 8am – 11am. The
midterm will mimic the format of a full AP US History exam consisting of 80 multiple choice questions, a DBQ and
two FRQs, however, the content will reflect only the information that has been covered in class and independent
assignments prior to Christmas break.
Course Expectations and Policies
All Walsingham Academy rules and regulations always apply in this classroom.
Classroom Rules
My expectations are that you:
1. Be respectful to yourself, myself and your classmates
2. Be on time to class each day with materials ready to start work immediately
3. Not cheat or plagiarize
Consequences for Cheating/Plagiarism
Cheating includes copying someone else’s work with or without permission for an assignment intended to be
completed individually. Plagiarism includes copying another’s work to use as your own without citing the
owner’s work for proper credit.
1st Infraction: Zero on assignment
2nd Infraction: Zero on assignment and referral to Honor Council
Attendance
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get any assignment missed on the day of your return. If you are out
for one day, the work due on your day of absence is due the day you return. If you are out for more than one
day, you have the number of days equal to the number of days of your absence to turn in all missed work. I
reserve the right to modify this rule when it applies to papers or projects. Most assignment may be submitted
via email, so there are very few instances in which an assignment cannot be turned in on time, even if you are
not able to physically hand the assignment to me. There is no makeup of work if you are truant.
Please contact me before or after school to discuss missed work. I will not use our class time to discuss missed
work with you and I will not track you down to turn in missed assignments.
Homework/Late Work Policy
Homework should be completed on the date specified and include (1) first and last name (2) date and (3) class
color.
I expect that all assignments will be turned in by the deadline specified. However, I do understand that there
may be times when circumstances prevent you from turning work in on time. Should you be unable to meet a
deadline, it is expected that you will make arrangements with me in advance to turn work in late.
Work turned in late will result in a loss of points equal to a letter grade each day (i.e. an assignment turned in
one day late will receive a grade no higher than a B, two days a C and so on).
Final Note
Your academic success and personal growth is important to me. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you
need additional support or resources. It is much easier to address concerns as they arise rather than when grades
are due. You can see me during my office hours or make an appointment to see me at another time. I look
forward to an exciting year working with each of you!
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