A.P. U.S. History Syllabus
Mr. Carrasco
Course Description
A.P. U.S. History is meant to be a college-level course taught in high school. In fact, it is harder than the
average college history course since the textbook and all materials must be completed by late April
(requiring a pace of 1½ chapters per week) and since it culminates with a rigorous, comprehensive,
nationally administered exam. Most of the responsibility to pass the A.P. exam lies with the individual
student. Only bright, motivated, disciplined students who enjoy history can expect to succeed in this
course and on the exam. Students accustomed to getting A’s for simply showing up and doing all their
homework may be in for a rude awakening. While good attendance and completing homework are
essential to success, they are not enough. Content must be mastered and learning demonstrated on
exams and essays. This will require a level of hard work and study that is foreign to many students.
Most students struggle the first semester, particularly the first six weeks, as they attempt to adapt to
college-level work. However, students who persevere usually learn a great deal about U.S. history and
the skills they will need to succeed in college. On the other hand, those taking this course for the wrong
reasons (parental or peer pressure or to boost their G.P.A.) are likely to struggle and be disappointed with
their choice. Those students involved in extracurricular activities, other A.P. classes, or who are
employed should carefully weigh the demands of this course against their other commitments.
The A.P. U.S. History Exam
The Advanced Placement (A.P.) program is an opportunity for students to earn college credit while still
in high school. To do so a student must take and pass the A.P. U.S. History exam. This nationally
administered exam is 3 hours and 5 minutes in length. Half of the exam is a 55 minute, 80 question
multiple choice section. One-sixth of the multiple choice questions are drawn from the years up to 1789,
one-half of the multiple choice questions cover the years 1790-1914, and the remaining one-third of the
multiple choice questions are taken from the 1915 and beyond.
The other half of the exam is a 130 minute essay section. The first essay is a document based question
(DBQ) and requires students to incorporate both their knowledge of the time period and their skill in
analyzing primary source documents. All students are required to answer this question. The remaining
four essay questions are free response questions (FRQs) divided into two sets: one set is from the first
half of American history while the other set is drawn from the second half of American history. Students
are to respond to one essay from each set. The College Board suggests students typically spend 60 total
minutes on the DBQ (15 minutes preparing and 45 minutes writing it) and 35 minutes on each FRQ
(5 minutes preparing and 30 minutes writing).
The A.P. U.S. History exam is graded on a five point scale. Generally, most public universities award
credit 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, students are advised to check the policies of
institutions they are interested in attending.
All students enrolled in this class second semester are required to take the A.P. U.S. History exam.
The A.P. U.S. History exam is administered each year in early May. The approximate cost of each
A.P. exam is $80. Any student who chooses not to take the A.P. U.S. History exam will be required to
take a similar exam on the same day that will comprise 20% of that student’s second semester grade.
Academic Objectives
Students will be prepared for the Advanced Placement United States History Exam.
Students will study selected historical themes and the context and significance of major interpretive
questions.
Students will be trained to analyze and interpret primary sources, including documentary material, maps,
statistical tables, and pictorial and graphic evidence of historical events.
Students will learn how to approach history critically and be able to analyze and evaluate competing
sources of historical information.
Students will be able to express themselves with clarity and precision and know how to cite sources and
credit the phrases and ideas of others.
Students will learn test-taking skills, including how to successfully take timed exams.
Students will learn to take notes from both printed materials and lectures.
Student Behavior
Punctuality and excellent attendance are required and necessary to succeed in this class. Therefore,
Ayala’s attendance policy will be strictly enforced. Specifically, students are allowed only the number
of days they were absent (truancies not included) to make-up any work missed.
All students are expected to behave in a manner appropriate to a college setting. Those who do not can
expect fair, consistent, and natural disciplinary consequences for their inappropriate actions or attitudes.
Typical consequences include but are not limited to warnings, time-outs, detentions, referrals, parent
phone calls, parent conferences, behavior contracts, and even expulsion from the class. Students will
need to come to class everyday with all the materials they need to succeed: their notebook, textbook,
pen/pencil, assignments, other materials, and a positive attitude.
AP US History will be staying one hour after school every Thursday. This is considered a class period
and you must attend. There will be no make ups for any assignments missed during this date unless
teacher allows
Cheating
While students are encouraged to help each other and work together, cheating will not be tolerated. Cheating
occurs whenever a student attempts to take credit for someone else’s effort. Cheating can take place in or
out of the classroom on anything that has a point value attached to it. Any student found cheating will be
given a negative 100% (which will not be dropped in the case of an exam) on whatever was cheated on.
He/she may also be suspended from class pending a parent conference. A second offense will result in
another parent conference and a negative 200% on whatever was cheated on. Any further offenses will
result in even more serious negative consequences which may include but are not limited to additional grade
reductions and even expulsion from the class with a transfer grade of “F.”
Grading
Because A.P. U.S. History is a college-level class grade inflation will not be present. Therefore, grades
will reflect the measurable achievement of each student. Few students will earn an A. Most will earn
B’s or C’s. Some may even earn D’s, or F’s. After the third week of class grades will regularly be
posted.
There are several major categories for grades given in this class. Grades are calculated by the relative
weight given to each category, not simply by adding up one’s points for the class and dividing by the
number possible. The scale and semester categories are as follows:
1st Semester Categories
Tests
20%
Essays
25%
Homework
45%
DBQ Project
5%
Participation
5%
Grading Scale
90%–100% A
80%–89%
B
70%–79%
C
60%–69%
D
0%–59%
F
Tests—Tests will be given every few chapters. Tests will usually consist of multiple choice questions.
Each test will cover all readings, lectures, discussions, etc. since the last test. Students who know they
will be absent on the day of a test must inform the instructor several days prior to arrange an alternate
time. Otherwise, they will receive a make-up test which will be more difficult than the original, missed
test. Second semester tests will be “A.P. style.” Those tests will be 50-80 questions in 55 minutes with
¼ point off for wrong answers. They will also have five possible answers instead of four. Excused
absences and field trips are not acceptable reasons to miss a test without informing the teacher several
days prior. Only students in extreme situations, as defined by the teacher, will be allowed to make-up
the original test.
Essays—The largest part of the Advanced Placement exam is the essay portion. Therefore, considerable
time will be spend learning and practicing how to write effectively. Specific essay guidelines and
expectations will be handed out at a later date. Those essay guidelines must be carefully followed.
(Students also enrolled in A.P. English must take care to follow the A.P. history guidelines and not the
A.P. English guidelines when writing A.P. U.S. History exams.) Students will usually be required to
write essays every other week. It is anticipated that all essays will be in class “timed writes.” These
essays will be similar to the type given on the A.P. U.S. History exam and will be graded on the same
nine point scale. Students who need to make-up an essay due to an absence can expect a different,
perhaps more difficult prompt. The following chart shows how the rubric’s point values will be
converted into a score.
9=100%
8=95%
7=90%
6=85%
5=80%
4=70%
3=60%
2=40%
1=20%
Chapter Questions—Students will be expected to a packet of historical identifications and application
questions for each chapter in the textbook. No late work will be accepted.
Assignments—Students will receive various other assignments, such as secondary readings, maps,
primary source materials, etc. All in class assignments are due at the end of the class period and all take
home assignments are due at the beginning of the next class unless otherwise stated. No late assignments
will be accepted, except as allowed under the school’s attendance policy.
DBQ Project—Students will work in groups (outside of class) to create a document based question,
essay, and poster board. This project will require significant research and teamwork outside of class.
Groups will be assigned potential DBQ topics. Rubrics and detailed instructions will be forthcoming.
Final Project—After the A.P. exam, students will work in groups to create a lesson on a post
World War II topic that was not adequately covered in class. Each group will be responsible for teaching
that material to the rest of the class. Topics, rubrics, and detailed instructions will be forthcoming.
Notebook—Each student is required to have a large three ring binder dedicated solely to A.P. History.
Everything related to and a part of A.P. U.S. History should be kept in this notebook, for the whole year
not just each semester. Everything in the notebook must be dated, properly located, and in chronological
order. Each notebook must have six dividers: Lecture Notes, Essays, Chapter Questions, Assignments,
Other. Notebooks must be kept clean and free from all unrelated material. Students who lose their
notebook will be penalized and may be required to create a new one by copying all of the materials from
another student. Notebooks will be periodically checked throughout the school year. A final notebook
check will be conducted approximately one week after the A.P. exam.
Disclaimer—The instructor reserves the sole and complete right to modify this syllabus at any time and
in anyway he sees fit.
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I have read, understood, and will abide by the provisions of the A.P. U.S. History syllabus.
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(student name)
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(student signature)
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(parent signature)