Advanced Placement United States History
Course Syllabus 2012-2013
Instructor and Course Information
Mr. Tony Allen
South Elgin High School
847-289-3760 X.3320
Email: tonyallen@u-46.org
Course Description
The AP U.S. History course is designed to provide students with the analytic skills factual knowledge
necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in U.S. history. AP U.S. History is a rigorous,
fast paced and challenging course designed to be the equivalent of a college freshman U.S. history survey
course. Students should possess strong reading and writing skills and be willing to devote substantial time to
study the material provided. The course is designed to increase the student’s understanding of United States
history from its beginning to the present.
Course Objectives
Students will:
 master a broad body of historical knowledge.
 demonstrate an understanding of historical chronology and relationship.
 use historical data to support an argument or position.
 interpret and apply data from original documents; including cartoons, graphs, charts, tables,
photographs, letters, journals, and others.
 effectively manage their time, study and use analytical skills.
 prepare to take the College Board AP U.S. History Examination and possibly earn college credit.
Grading
Quarter and Semester grades will be determined as follows:
Unit Tests - 50%
*Each unit test will contain multiple choice questions and an essay (FRQ). The multiple choice
segment will include current and past unit material to promote retaining of information.
Quizzes – 20%
*Reading quizzes (every chapter in textbook – multiple choice or short answer format)
*Announced or unannounced “pop” quizzes on daily assignments to assess understanding
*DBQs will be counted as quiz grades and modeled after the AP exam
Daily Assignments – 20%
*Read all assigned chapters and outside readings when they are due. Your ability to keep up with the
material and readings will help facilitate class discussions and learning.
*Variety of written, oral, group and individual assignments will be given.
Article Reviews (1 per quarter) – 10%
*Selected historically based articles featuring material the class is covering during a given grading
period. A well-written review is expected by each student (summary, author’s view, opinion, etc.)
Daily Assignments Expectations
All assigned work should be turned in on the due date. Late work will be accepted for the grading quarter
with the first day late at 80% of its original grade and every remaining day at 50%. For each day of excused
absence you will be given an extra full day to complete any assignment, quiz or test.
Grading Scale
A
100-90%
B
89-80%
C
79-70%
D
69-60%
E
59-0%
Text
We will be using Faragher, et.al., Out of Many: A History of the American People, 5th Edition. We will also
be using a wide variety of outside primary and secondary sources.
APUSH Exam
By taking Advanced Placement United States History you also have the option of taking the APUSH Exam. I
highly encourage EVERYONE who takes this course to plan on taking the APUSH exam on May 15th.
The AP exam offers you the opportunity to earn college credit by passing this test. I will be offering you
sample test questions, DBQs (document based questions) and FRQs (free response questions) throughout the
year. You will ALSO learn other valuable skills to improve your writing skills, analytical skills, and study
skills. All of which are crucial to be a successful student in high school and beyond.
I must stress, however, that taking this course alone is not adequate preparation for the APUSH Exam. I
cannot guarantee a passing score on your APUSH Exam by simply taking this course. It is your
responsibility to be active participant in this very rigorous learning process.
Most of the questions on the unit test will come from past AP exams which means they are not your typical
high school multiple choice type questions. By using these types of questions throughout the course, you
will be more prepared for the AP exam. Here is an example question:
Which of the following was not part of George Washington's administration?
A. Henry Knox--Secretary of War
B. Thomas Jefferson--Secretary of State
C. John Marshall--Supreme Court Chief Justice
D. John Adams--Vice-President
E. Alexander Hamilton--Secretary of the Treasury
If you answered “C,” good for you.
Class Expectations
1. Being Prepared to be a Student and a Learner:
In order to learn, you must be prepared. Make sure you are to class on time, that you bring the
required elements to class each day, that you participate in all activities in class, and you maintain
your grade throughout the semester.
2. Ask if You Don’t Understand:
Do not hesitate to raise your hand to ask a question regarding something you need clarified.
Plagiarism
Recently, there has been a growing trend with students copying other’s homework and plagiarizing written
essays, DBQs and daily assignments. In other words, former students thought AP stood for Advanced
Plagiarism. Cheating or stealing other’s work will NOT be tolerated. Students caught copying or
plagiarizing will receive a zero on that assignment. Excessive cheating/copying or outright stealing of
another’s written words will be brought to the attention of the Administration and may result in the failure of
this course.
Unit Tests
Another growing trend with students is skipping school or feigning illness on the days of unit tests in order
to find out the content from other students. If you are truant on a test day, you will not be eligible for test
make-up. If you have an excused absence, you will be given proper time to complete the test which must be
done outside of class time. It is in your best interest to make it to school on test days!! You will need to
make the necessary arrangements for making up the test with me during your free time; either study hall or
before/after school.
Illinois State Curriculum Goals
State Goal 14: Understand the political systems of the world, with an emphasis on the United States.
State Goal 15: Understand economic systems of the world, with an emphasis on the United States.
State Goal 16: Understand events, trends, individuals, and movements shaping the history of Illinois,
the United States, and other nations of the world.
State Goal 17: Understand world geography and the effects of geography on society and the nations of
the world, with an emphasis on the United States.
State Goal 18: Understand social systems of the world, with an emphasis on the United States.
AP Unit Outline
Summer
Homework:
Introduction
Howard Zinn Book: Chapter 1 (P. 1-22)
-Essay: Was Christopher Columbus a hero, a villain, or a victim of his times?
Out of Many Textbook: Chapters 2, 3, 4
-Notes and completion of AP test prep quizzes for each chapter
Unit One:
Exploration and Colonization
Chapter 2:
When Worlds Collide (1492-1590)
Chapter 3:
Planting Colonies in North America (1588-1701)
Chapter 4:
Slavery and Empire (1441-1770)
Chapter 5:
Cultures of Colonial North America (1700-1780)
Unit Two:
Revolution and the New Nation
Chapter 6:
Empire to Independence (1750-1776)
Chapter 7:
American Revolution (1776-1786)
Chapter 8:
New Nation (1786-1800)
Unit Three:
The Rise of American Democracy
Chapter 9:
Agrarian Republic (1790-1824)
Chapter 11: Growth of Democracy (1824-1840)
Unit Four:
The Age of Reform and Expansion
Chapter 12: Industry and the North (1790s-1840s)
Chapter 13: Coming to Terms with the New Age (1820s-1850s)
Chapter 14: Territorial Expansion of the U.S. (1830s-1850s)
Unit Five:
A Divided Nation
Chapter 10: South and Slavery (1790s-1850s)
Chapter 15: Coming Crisis (1850s)
Chapter 16: The Civil War (1861-1865)
Unit Six:
Recovery of the Union: Reconstruction
Chapter 17: Reconstruction (1863-1877)
Unit Seven:
The West and Industrial Revolution
Chapter 18: Conquest and Survival: Trans-Mississippi West (1860-1900)
Chapter 19: Incorporation of America (1865-1900)
Unit Eight:
Imperialism, Progressivism and the Great War
Chapter 20: Commonwealth and Empire (1870-1900)
Chapter 21: Urban America and the Progressive Era (1900-1917)
Chapter 22: World War I (1914-1920)
Unit Nine:
Interwar Period and World War II
Chapter 23: The Twenties (1920-1929)
Chapter 24: Great Depression and New Deal (1929-1940)
Chapter 25: World War II (1941-1945)
Unit Ten:
Cold War Beginnings and Vietnam
Chapter 26: The Cold War (1945-1952)
Chapter 27: America at Midcentury (1952-1963)
Chapter 29: War Abroad, War at Home (1965-1974)
Unit Eleven: Societal Changes and the Loss of American Influence
Chapter 28: Civil Rights Movement (1945-1966)
Chapter 30: Conservative Ascendancy (1974-1987)
Chapter 31: Toward a Transnational America (1988-Present)