ADVANCED PLACEMENT U.S. HISTORY
SYLLABUS 2015-2016
INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Seidel
Office: C272 (Social Studies Office)
Classroom: E251
Phone: 847-842-3269 or Voicemail: 847-842-3200 ext. 5067
E-mail: RSeidel@barrington220.org (THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME)
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT MISSION STATMENT:
“Developing skilled, knowledgeable, and concerned citizens of the community and world”
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is intended to provide students with a rigorous survey of American History from colonization
through contemporary America with a focus on the themes and concepts that have defined our way of life.
Students will study the constitution with a required test. Completion of both semesters of this course fulfills the
one-year requirement in U.S. History. Because students have the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement
examination in May, this course will closely follow Advanced Placement Curriculum.
What does AP mean?
AP is an acronym for Advanced Placement. The College Board has authorized this course as AP, which means
that it is designed to prepare you to take the AP U.S. History exam. Passing the AP U.S. History exam with a
score of at least 3 or 4 will result in acquiring college credits.
Simply put, since this course can ultimately earn you college credits, it means that this course is college-level.
Not only will this course be taught at such a level, the amount of effort and work that you put in must be at that
level as well.
Historical Thinking Skills:
The AP U.S. History course, along with the AP World History and AP European History courses, seeks to
apprentice students to the practice of history by explicitly stressing the development of historical thinking skills
while learning about the past.
Historical Causation
Periodization
Contextualization
Appropriate use of Relevant Historical Evidence
Synthesis
Patterns of Continuity and Change Over Time
Comparison
Historical Argumentation
Interpretation
Major Themes:
The College Board lists seven themes that will provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge
necessary to deal critically with issues in U.S. History. We will focus on those themes in order to encourage
you to think conceptually about the past to focus on historical change over time.
Identity
Peopling
America in the World
Ideas, Beliefs, and Culture
Work, Exchange, and Technology
Politics and Power
Environment and Geography
TEXTS
Required Text:
America Past and Present – 9th Edition
You will refer to the textbook every night. Some content will not be addressed in class and will
be covered in the book only. You are responsible for utilizing the textbook as an appropriate
resource.
Recommended Texts:
2016 AP U.S. History Review Book – Kaplan, Barron’s, or Princeton Review
TECHNOLOGY
Course Website with Resources and Calendar:
https://sites.google.com/a/bsd220.org/apush/
Shared Folder on Google Drive:
www.bsd220.org
I accept completed assignments on paper or turned-in via a shared folder on Google Drive.
Required Apps: Twitter & Evernote
Both apps are free downloads through the Apple App Store. Please use your bsd220.org email
address to create new accounts.
Evernote Portfolio:
Using Evernote, you will compile a “notebook” full of material for each of our Periods. Each of
your notebooks will include your notes from class, in-class readings, chapter vocabulary, the
Key Concepts, and additional outside sources. All entries in the portfolio must be tagged with
the relevant content and a relevant Major Theme.
The Portfolio will be self-assessed immediately following the Unit Exam. The grade will count
as an Analysis Assignment. Passing grades are subject to random audit. See the APUSH
Evernote Portfolio Audit Rubric for details.
Twitter & Participation:
It is expected you participate in the course. This can be done in person, online via Twitter, or
both. Twitter will be used to share information and articles while allowing us to continue the
conversation outside of class. If you have a personal Twitter you’d prefer to use, that is fine.
Our course hashtag is #APUSH220, and all students from all sections can contribute. You do
not need a Twitter login to view the conversation, but you do need one to contribute. See the
Twitter FAQ for additional details.
GRADING POLICIES
The grading scale for this class will be the standard scale:
100 – 90% = A
89 - 80% = B
79 – 70% = C
69 – 60% = D
< 60% = F
Your in-progress grade will be weighted as follows:
85% = Final Assessments
 Final Assessments will include chapter quizzes, unit exams, and essays.
o Chapter Quiz – These quizzes are non-stimulus multiple-choice and typically
consist of 15 questions. They occur after every chapter or two.
o Unit Exam – These exams consist of stimulus multiple-choice and an essay,
either LEQ or DBQ. All work will be graded using AP rubrics.
 Test Corrections: This opportunity will be available after each Unit
Exam. In order to be eligible to correct a Unit Exam, for that unit
the student needs to earn a participation score of 4 or 5 on at least
half the chapters, a verified portfolio score of 4 or 5, and have all
homework completed.
 The final exam will be worth 20% of your final semester grade.
15% = Analysis Assignments (Document Analysis and Historical Thinking Skills)
 In order to earn full credit, Analysis Assignments must be completed by the due date.
Analysis Assignments turned in on time can be redone for a higher grade.
o Late work completed by the start of the Chapter Quiz will be worth a maximum
score of 4/5.
o Late work completed by the start of the Unit Exam will be worth a maximum of
3/5.
o Work completed after the Unit Exam will not be accepted.
o Late assignments cannot be redone.
0% = Participation
 You will be assessed every chapter. See Participation Rubric for details.
Analysis Assignments, Evernote Portfolio, and Participation are graded on a 5-point
mastery scale:
5 - Perfect. It is clear that the student fully understands the material.
4 - Nearly perfect, but has minor errors. It is clear that the student still fully understands
the material.
3 - Completed, but has major errors. It is clear that the student understands some or most
of the material, but they are still emerging.
2 - Completed with several major errors or partially incomplete. Student has not
demonstrated understanding.
1 - Mostly incomplete. Student has not demonstrated understanding.
CLASS POLICIES
Here are many of the guidelines and policies regarding homework, absences, tests, and other related
issues. These polices are subject to change, but I will let you know if and when they do. If you do not
understand any of my policies, please ask me.
Tardies
Please refer to the student handbook for the school’s policy on tardies. You will be in the room before
the bell rings.
Attendance
If you miss a class for any reason it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. It is your
responsibility to acquire any missed notes. Homework assignments and readings will be shared with
you on Google Docs. If you know that you will be absent ahead of time, please speak with me so I can
make arrangements to get you any assignments beforehand if possible. Cutting class is not permitted.
You will receive time equal to the number of days you have been absent, plus one, to make up any
work you missed before they are considered late. This includes tests and quizzes! You must make
arrangements to make up tests and quizzes. If you fail to do so you will take them at my discretion.
Calendar
A Google calendar for the course has been shared with you. It includes test dates and the homework
each night. It is important to remember that the homework is assigned to you in-class, not when it is
posted to the calendar. An inaccurate or missing calendar post does not excuse you from the
assignment.
Email Etiquette
I encourage all of you to use email to communicate with me regarding classroom matters. However, it
is important that you use proper formatting, spelling, and punctuation when writing me. I do not
respond to emails that are written poorly or informally.
1:World
Laptops and other electronic devices are permitted during class as long as their use supports the
instructional activities currently occurring in the instructional environment. Please turn them off and
put them away when instructed to do so. Please silence your cell phones.
Self Advocacy
As you continue to advance through your education, it becomes more expected that you advocate for
yourself. If you have questions, concerns, or other issues, please see or write me personally. Being
able to handle issues yourself is an important skill to develop before you enter the collegiate or
professional world.
ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL HANDOUTS (Also Available on Google Docs)
 APUSH Evernote Portfolio Audit Rubric
 Twitter FAQ & CRAAP Test
 Participation Rubric
 APUSH Expectations & Read Think Share Repeat
 Historical Thinking Skills & Thematic Learning Objectives Packets