Advanced Placement United States History
Mount Tabor High School
Course Syllabus
I. Instructor
Mike Kneisel
Room 108, Mt. Tabor High School
School Phone: 703-6700
Home Phone: 659-7816
Cell Phone: 414-0474
Email: mkneisel@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
II. Course Description and Goals:
Advanced Placement is a program designed by the College Board that offers students an
opportunity to take introductory college level courses while still in high school.
AP United States History is a survey course emphasizing the development and changing nature of
American society. By the end of the course students will: 1. be familiar with the basic
chronology of American history; 2. understand its principal themes; 3. learn to write clearly and
effectively; and 4. be able to analyze and evaluate primary sources.
III. Grade Evaluation
40% - Tests
30% - Essays/DBQ’s
20% - Quizzes
10% - Classwork, Homework, Notebook, Participation
IV. Evaluated Work
 Homework
Homework will consist primarily of reading assignments. Students can expect to have
15-20 pages of textbook reading per assignment (or, an average of 7-10 pages per school
night). In addition, there will be several supplementary readings throughout the year.
Students will also be responsible for a terms/identification list each unit that is due on the
day of the unit exam.
 Classwork, Notebook, Participation
Students will have several smaller classwork and group assignments throughout the year.
Students will be required to keep a well-organized notebook, which will be checked
periodically for a grade. Finally, class participation is an important part of this class.
Please participate in class discussions.
 Quizzes:
Each week you will take one or two unannounced reading quizzes. In addition, each
semester you will be required to take the following quizzes:
1. States, capitals, geography, and U.S. expansion
2. The Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution
3. Important Supreme Court decisions
4. Presidents, term of office, party affiliation, factual (“SFI”) association
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Tests:
There will be four (4) unit tests per semester (2 per quarter). A typical unit test will be
primarily objective (approx. 70-80 questions). At the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters there
will be a quarterly exam. These will be cumulative, include both objective questions and
an essay, and will count as two test grades. At the end of the 2nd quarter the quarterly
will be replaced by the midterm exam.
Essays/DBQ’s:
In addition to essays on quarterly exams, each unit you may be required to write a
traditional free response essay or a document based question essay. These essays may
either be in class or take home assignments.
Extra Credit:
Historical film reviews are the only opportunities for extra credit I offer. Students will be
provided with instructions on how to complete the review and a list of eligible films for
each quarter. Students may complete 2 of these opportunities per quarter. Each
completed review is worth 4 points on a unit test grade (for a total of 8 extra credit points
available each quarter).
V. Additional Course Requirements and Information:
 Required materials: 3-ring binder with loose leaf paper and dividers (8); pencils/pens
(blue/black ink please)
 Required Texts (textbook is provided; other texts must be purchased. See additional text
purchase information at the bottom of this sheet): The Enduring Vision: A History of the
American People (Boyer); United States History: Preparing for the AP Examination
(AMSCO); Founding Brothers (Ellis) – 1st semester; Ragtime (Doctorow) – 2nd semester
 Attendance:
It is unreasonable for you to expect to succeed if you have excessive absences.
Attendance is expected and will be dealt with in accordance with school policy. It is your
responsibility to get all missing assignments and notes when you miss a class. It is also
your responsibility to keep up with ALL readings, even when you are absent. There is a
reading schedule attached to this syllabus so you will know your reading HW every
night, even when you are not in school! You will be allowed 5 school days to complete
all missing written work upon return from an absence.
 Classroom Rules:
1. Follow all adult instructions.
2. Be respectful.
3. Bring notebook and a pen/pencil to class every day. Textbooks may be left at home.
4. Be on time!
5. This is AP History time, not the time to sleep, write notes, hold private
conversations, work for other subjects, etc.
6. Assignments are to be turned in on or before the due date. Failure to do so will result
in a grade deduction or not accepted at all. I would suggest you turn in work on time!
7. NO WHINING!!! This is a college level course.
 *Failure to comply with these rules will result in potential disciplinary action. The
discipline steps are as follow: 1. Warning; 2. Teach-student conference; 3. Call
home; 4. Discipline referral
 Additional Texts Purchase Information:
It is each student’s responsibility to purchase the additional readings. Mr. Kneisel will
have copies of the AMSCO review text available soon for purchase. They will be
approximately $18-20. Please make checks payable to Mount Tabor High School (not
yet…I will let you know when we will need the $). Copies of Founding Brothers and
Ragtime will be ordered at Barnes and Noble on Hanes Mall Blvd. You can go pick them
up there at the appropriate time (not yet) or order one on your own through
barnesandnoble.com (or Amazon or Borders, etc.). Price is approximately $14 for each
book. Another option is to try to purchase one from a former student of mine…that
would probably be the most economical option.
Reading/Test/Quiz Schedule (First Quarter – B Day):
Unit I: The Colonial Era, 1607 to 1750 (August 26 – September 16):
Aug. 26: p. 23-42
30: p. 42-51; 53-61
Sept. 1: p. 61-80
6: p. 80-85; 87-91; Study for Geography Quiz
8: p. 91-106
12: p. 106-119
14: Study for Unit I Test
16: Work on Take Home Essay
September 8th – Geography Quiz: States, Caps, Physical, Expansion
September 16th – Unit I Test
September 20th – Take Home Essay Due
Unit II: The Revolutionary Era, 1750-1800 (September 20 – October 12):
Sept. 16: p. 121-137
20: p. 137-154
22: p. 157-175
26: p. 175-189
28: Founding Brothers: The Generation and The Duel
30: p. 191-205
Oct.
4: p. 205-219; Study for Amendments Quiz
6: Founding Brothers: The Dinner and The Farewell
10: Study for Unit II Test
October 6th – Bill of Rights/Amendments Quiz
October 12th – Unit II Test (includes in-class essay)
Unit III: The Early National Period, 1800-1824 (October 14 – October 26):
Oct. 12: p. 221-234
14: p. 234-247
18: p. 249-267
20: Founding Brothers: The Collaborators and The Friendship
24: Study for Quarter Exam
October 26th – Quarterly Exam (includes in-class essay)
*Reading assignments are for the night of the day listed and are “due” the following
class period.
*Remember, at least once a week you can expect a pop reading quiz.