Advanced Placement: United States History Syllabus 2013-2014
Course Description:
Welcome to Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH). This will be a challenging
class that is meant to be the equivalent of a freshman college course. This course will cover
the entire body of America History, from Pre-Columbian societies in America up to the
present state of our nation. You will need solid reading and writing skills as well as a
willingness to devote a considerable time to homework and study to be successful in this
class. An emphasis is placed on interpreting documents (DBQs), mastering key concepts of
chronological periods in US History, and writing critical essays. Because this course covers
a broad expanse of history, you must be disciplined to complete all course work to prepare
you for the rigorous, nationally administered AP exam, which will take place in the month
of May.
As an APUSH student, you can earn college credit and high school credit for the same class
as long as you “pass” the AP Exam. This can save you time and money in college. But most
importantly, by exposing you to college-level rigor in high school, you will be much more
prepared for greater success in your university coursework.
The APUSH course is significantly harder than a non-AP course. The emphasis is to learn
History while learning the skills of an historian and applying your knowledge to pass the
AP Exam. In addition to the rigor of the coursework, the pace is faster as well. We must
finish a college textbook in April, well before the end of the second semester.
As a result, only bright, motivated, and disciplined students are likely to succeed in this
course and on the exam. Even though good attendance and completing homework are
essential to success, they are not enough. Students will have to demonstrate their mastery
of essential skills and content on college-level exams and essays. This will require a level of
hard work and study. Many students may struggle at first as they adjust to the work load,
expectations, and pace. Students involved in extracurricular activities, taking multiple AP
classes, and/or who are employed need to make sure they have enough time and discipline
to manage all of the commitments successfully.
The A.P. U.S. History Exam
The A.P. U.S. History exam, administered Wednesday May 14, 2014, is 3 hours and 5
minutes long. Half of the exam is a 55 minute, 80 question multiple choice section with
20% of the multiple choice questions covering American history through 1789, 45% of the
multiple choice questions covering the years 1790-1914, and the remaining 35% of the
multiple choice questions are taken from 1915 to the present. The other half of the exam is
a 130 minute essay section. Students are required to answer three of the five essays.
The A.P. U.S. History exam is graded on a five point scale. Generally, most public
universities award credit or placement to students who earn a 3 or higher while many
private colleges require a score of 4 or higher. However, since each school is free to set its
own policy, so students should check carefully.
All students enrolled in this class second semester are required to take the A.P. U.S. History
exam. Each A.P. exam costs about $87. Any student who does not take the A.P. exam will
be required to take a similar exam on the same day that will comprise 20% of that student’s
second semester grade. Even so, AP exam scores will not be linked to semester grades. In
other words, no grade changes will be made on the basis of a student’s performance on the
AP US History exam.
Themes of study in AP US History:
Students will learn content and critical thinking skills through the study of major themes
and overarching questions found throughout the history of the United States. These
themes include, but are not limited to:
A. Politics and Power: 1) How and why have different political and social groups
competed for influence over society and government in what would become the
United States? 2) How have Americans agreed on or argued over the values that
guide the political system, as well as who is a part of the political process?
B. America in the World: 1) How have events in North America and the United States
relate to the contemporary developments in the rest of the world? 2) How have
different factors influenced U.S. military, diplomatic, and economic involvement in
international affairs and foreign conflicts, both in North America and overseas?
C. Ideas, Beliefs, and Culture: 1) How and why have moral, philosophical, and cultural
values changed in what would become the United States? 2) How and why have
changes in moral, philosophical, and cultural values affected U.S. history?
D. Identity: 1) How and why have debates over American national identity changed
over time? 2) How have gender, class, ethnic, religious, and other group identities
changed in different eras?
Course Objectives:
• Master a broad body of historical knowledge
• Use historical evidence to defend and support an argument or position
• Differentiate between various schools of historical thought and interpretation
• Interpret and draw conclusions from various pieces of historical data including
original documents, cartoons, graphs, letters, etc.
• Demonstrate an effective use of analytical skills of evaluation, cause-and-effect,
chronological reasoning, and compare and contrast
• Work effectively in groups, make presentations, and solve problems
• Prepare for and receive a grade of 3 or higher on the AP U.S. History Exam
Textbook:
Henretta, James, et. al. America’s History: Fifth Edition (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004)
Primary Source Document Readers:
Bailey, Thomas A. and David M. Kennedy. The American Spirit, Eighth Edition, Volumes I, II
(Lexington: D.C. Heath and Company, 1994)
Johnson, Michael P. Reading the American Past: Fifth Edition (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s,
2012)
Yazawa, Melvin. Document to Accompany America’s History: Fifth Edition, Volumes I, II
(Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004)
Class guidelines, grading scale, district policy for attendance,
Grading Scale
90-100%
80-89 %
70-79 %
59-69 %
0-58 %
Categories
A
B
C
D
F
Homework
Projects/group assignment
Quizzes
Unite Tests
Timed Essays
Final Exam (1st semester)
20%
20%
10%
30%
10%
10%