AP US History
Outside Class
Reading Assignments and Instructions
Foster 2012-2013
gretchen.foster@bisd.net
o Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis is the summer
reading assignment. Read the entire book and take notes over the highlights of each chapter.
The notes will be graded. Be prepared for an in- class essay exam on Wednesday,
September 5, 2012.
o The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara is the Fall outside reading assignment. Read the entire
book and write a “What if…” paper. Describe events and decisions that could have unfolded
slightly differently on those days and thus changed the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg.
What could that have meant for the outcome of the Civil War and the U.S.? (See below for
paper details.) The paper is due Thursday, December 6, 2012.
o The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson is the winter outside reading assignment. Read
the entire book and choose one aspect of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition to research.
This is your opportunity to be very creative! You could choose anything from the architecture
to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show to Thomas Edison’s light bulb as your topic. Write a brief
paper (see below for details) explaining the history of your topic, how it related to the 1893
Exposition, and what relevance it has in today’s society. Create a visual to accompany your
paper. You must use footnotes and a bibliography to properly reference your sources.
(Chicago Manual Style) This assignment is due Monday, February 25, 2013.
Writing Details
** You must do original work for each of these assignments or you will receive a zero for the
assignment and other disciplinary consequences are possible. (See BHS Honor Code).
**All papers are to be typed in either Arial or Times New Roman 12 point font.
**Papers should be double spaced.
**Top and bottom margins should be one inch and side margins should be one to one and a quarter
inches.
**All papers must have your name, class period, date, and the title of your paper.
**Each page should have a header with your last name and the page number.
**Staple all pages together in the top left corner before turning in your work.
Some Random, But Important--Additional Instructions
o Each student will be responsible for purchasing the assigned books. We encourage you to
purchase them during the summer to avoid problems obtaining the books close to the due
dates. Buying them early will also give you the opportunity to become familiar with them prior
to the start of the school year.
o The essay exam over Founding Brothers will require an in-depth understanding of the material.
We urge you to take detailed notes over each chapter, but you will not be allowed to use the
notes on the exam.
o There is no particular format required for the Founding Brothers chapter notes. But I will be
looking for effort, organization and completion as I grade them.
o The “What if…” paper should be somewhere around 3 pages.
o The research paper should be 3-5 pages.
o Additional instructions will be given in class.
RUBRIC FOR Founding Brothers IN CLASS ESSAY
(Based on the AP Essay Rubric) –
You will not receive the prompt until the day of class. Here are general guidelines for organized and
thoughtful writing.
SCORING STANDARDS
8-9
Displays superior organization and meets all requirements
(94-100)
Displays superior accuracy of historical content
Displays superior originality and writing skills
5-7
Displays adequate organization and meets most requirements
(80 -93)
Displays adequate accuracy of historical content
Displays adequate originality and writing skills
2-4
Displays fair organization and meets some requirements
(70-79)
Displays fair accuracy of historical content
Displays fair originality and writing skills
0-1
Unacceptable work