Mrs. Casserly
Room 830
AP United States History
Course Syllabus
Text: Brinkley, Alan (2007). A Survey: American History. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill, 12th edition.
Additional Resources: Primary and secondary source documents are used extensively throughout the course.
Course Description: This course is designed to study the history of the United States chronologically, with
emphasis on interpretation and analysis of the material. Through the use of primary and secondary sources,
students will not only acquire a basic understanding of the factual material, but will develop the analytical and
interpretive skills necessary to examine the subject in greater depth. Students will take the AP Examination in
U.S. History given by the College Board in May.
Major Themes of the Course: The content learning objectives for the AP U.S. History course are organized
under seven themes, which are topics of historical inquiry to explore throughout the AP U.S. History course:
 Identity
 Work, exchange, and technology
 Peopling
 Ideas, beliefs, and culture
 America in the world
 Environment and geography- physical and human
 Politics and power
Historical Thinking Skills: In preparation for the exam, the current course makes explicit that students be able
to demonstrate the following skills:
 Historical causation
 Continuity and change over time
 Periodization
 Comparison
 Contextualization
 Historical argumentation
 Appropriate use of relevant historical evidence
 Interpretation
 Synthesis
The Examination:
*Part 1 (100 minutes):
 55 Multiple Choice Questions- 55 minutes; 40%
 4 Short-Answer Questions- 45 minutes; 20%
*Part 2 (95 minutes):
 1 DBQ- 60 minutes; 25%
 1 Long Essay- 35 minutes; 15%
Required Materials:
 Notebook (for this class only) filled with 9 dividers and college-ruled paper
 Black and/or blue pens
 A few highlighters
 Commitment
 Optional: Test prep book for the revised AP US Exam





Course outline: Numbers denote chapters in Brinkley.
Units will be further broken down into modules. You should expect to read about a chapter per week.
Unit 1: Exploration (1491-1607)
1
Unit 2: Colonization (1607-1754)
2-3
Unit 3: Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1800)
4-6
Unit 4: Nationalism and Reform (1800-1848)
7-12
Unit 5: Expansion to Reconstruction (1844-1877)
13-15
Unit 6: The Gilded Age and Industry (1865-1898)
16-19
Unit 7: America Enters the Modern Era (1890-1945)
20-28
Unit 8: America in the Cold War (1945-1980)
29-32
Unit 9: Into the
21st
Century (1980 – Present)
33-34
*AP TEST- MAY 8*
Grading Policy and Course Requirements:
*Homework/In-Class Assignments (20%):
Assignments are varied in nature. Homework will mostly consist of chapter outlines as well as
identifications of essential people/places/events. You will be expected to complete thematic questions for
each unit. Reading assignments will be from the textbook, as well as from selected sources, including
documents and supplements. Proper note-taking is of tremendous importance in a class of this nature.
Notes are due at the beginning of the period. I will provide you with unit review sheets in advance, so do not
procrastinate on the reading!
*Exams/ quizzes (65% total):
-Chapter reading quizzes (possible any day an assignment is due)
-Unit exams will be given for each of the periods of US History covered. Some unit tests may be broken
down into smaller portions by module. Each exam will last 1-2 days and will consist of:
-Multiple choice and/or short answer questions
-DBQ and/or long essay
-Semester finals
*Projects (10%): A project will be assigned each semester. Specifics will be given later.
*Participation (5%): Students will be required to participate in class and small group discussions daily.
Standard grading percentages apply: 90%-100% = A
80%-89% = B *I will only round up 89.5 and above
70%-79% = C *I will only round up 79.5 and above
Classroom Guidelines:
 Respect: oneself, peers, teacher, and anyone who enters the room.
 Responsibility: be prepared to learn, arrive on time, complete required work, and stay on task.
 Rules: electronic devices must be silenced and kept in backpack (this is your official first warning), no
derogatory language, late work without an excused absence will not be accepted, and you will be responsible
for all work missed while absent (THHS policy upholds). Remember, it is easier to keep-up than catch-up.
Looking forward to a great year! Please feel free to contact me at _________________________________. -Ms. C 
Student Signature:___________________________
Parent Signature: ___________________________