Advanced Placement United States History 2015-2016
Teacher – Ms. Heck, Room 208
Contact Information: Heck_Sarah@asdk12.org
(907)742-2100 (leave a message with information so I can return your call)
Textbook: Brinkley, Alan. American History: A Survey. 13th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill,
1995. Print.
Class Website: http://eastnet1.asdk12.org/~Sarah_Heck/
AP Central: https://advancesinap.collegeboard.org/english-history-and-social-science/us-history
Course Description:
Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH) is a rigorous course that is meant to be the
equivalent of a freshman level college U.S. History course. This class requires a level of
participation, diligence, commitment, effort, and autonomy beyond the ordinary high school
level. This course will follow the College Board’s Advanced Placement U.S. History outline.
The course is a two-semester survey of American History from the age of exploration to the
present. In order to succeed in the course it is necessary to have solid reading and writing skills,
as well as the willingness to devote considerable time and energy on homework and studying.
Outside of class reading will be extensive and it is imperative that you complete this work. The
course will prepare you to take the AP United States History exam that will take place in May,
2016, which will be the final for this class. (Don’t worry, the class won’t be over, there will still
be much to do!)
Course Objectives:
Students will:
 Learn and master a large body of historical knowledge
 Use historical data to effectively support an argument
 Use historiography to examine alternative views of past events
 Interpret and apply data from original documents, including cartoons, graphs, letters, etc.
 Effectively use analytical skills of evaluation, cause and effect, and compare and contrast
 Work together with peers to enhance their own educational experience
Course Organization:
The College Board breaks this course into 9 different Historical Periods in which you will be
focusing on 7 different Thematic Learning Objectives. Your textbook, though organized
differently, covers these time periods and learning objectives, but you will be required to look at
outside resources, as well as use higher level thinking skills, to master the skill of Historiography.
 Reading at least one chapter (approx. 30-40 pages) a week from a college-level textbook.
 You will be taking your own notes and outlining chapters from the book.
 Weekly quizzes on the assigned reading and lecture notes. (Understand that some
information on these quizzes will not be covered in class.)
 Individual tests will cover chapters and/or Historical Periods and will be given every 3-4
weeks. (Understand that some of the information on these tests will not be covered in
class.)
 Responsibility for mastering the material rests with you, the student.
Course Expectations (How to be successful!):
 Students need to have a binder with loose leaf paper, pens, and pencils. Colored pencils
may be used in class for maps and graphs, and a limited number will be provided in the
classroom.
 Be prepared every day. This includes being on time, organized, with homework
completed.
 Take responsibility for your behavior and your actions.
 Late work will be deducted 10% each day. If you know you are going to be absent it is
your responsibility to turn any assignments in before you leave, and/or set up a time with
Ms. Heck to make-up quizzes and tests.
 Having access to the internet at home, or having a device will be helpful in this class.
 Students should aim for a 60% or higher on all of the tests. On the actual AP exam, a
60% on multiple choice and a score of 5 out of 9 on all three essays equals an overall
score of 3. Theoretically, students who earn A’s, B’s, and C’s in the class will score 5’s,
4’s, and 3’s respectively.
AP U.S. History is taught at the college level and is difficult and demanding for many high school
students. Please keep this in mind when you establish expectations for yourself and the class.
My primary objective is to improve student information processing skills, with an emphasis on
improving student’s ability to analyze and evaluate the relative significance of historical data, and
foster a corresponding ability to express those ideas through the writing.