Advanced Placement US History (APUSH) 2015-2016
Welcome to APUSH! Advance Placement U.S. History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a
freshman college course. It is a two-semester survey of American history from the age of exploration and discovery to the
present.
Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study, are
necessary to succeed. The ability to adhere to reading schedules and effective note taking are critical to your success.
This course is designed to help students prepare for the College Board Advanced Placement Exam in U.S. History; which,
is scheduled for Friday May 6 from 8 am to noon. All students taking the course should prepare themselves to take the
exam. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay writing components, interpretation of original
documents, and historiography. Please understand that the assigned book readings are your responsibility. I will cover
many of the concepts in class but there is not enough time for everything. Please take a realistic look at your schedule,
time management skills, extracurricular activities, etc. to determine if you can successfully, defined only by you, complete
the course.
A.P. U.S. History is an assessment based course where the grade is determined by performance on summative
assessments. Therefore, assigned homework will be in preparation for exams and not given for points.
Materials needed for course:
Five subject notebook
Five highlighters: blue, yellow, pink, orange and green.
Flash drive for projects
Unit topics will cover but will not be limited to: Colonial America, A New Nation, Slavery, Westward
Expansion, Technology, Immigration, The Civil War, Industrial Revolution, Urbanization, The U.S and War,
The Great Depression, The Civil Rights Movement, The Rise of Conservatism, Todays Issues. The focus of
these topics will deal with the political, economic, and social impact on America.
Grading scale for exams:
A; district scale = 4 mastery
B; district scale =3 proficient
C; district scale = 2 basic
D; district scale =1 below basic
E; district scale = 0 no evidence
Exams:
If you are absent on exam/quiz day, it is your responsibility to reschedule with me. Make-up exams will not be
taken during class time. Furthermore, the absent day must be marked as excused.
Finals:
Students who do not take the final exam in a course will receive an “I” (incomplete) as a grade for that course.
The student then has 10 school days to complete the final exam or the incomplete grade converts to a failing
grade.
Furthermore, students must complete prerequisites to qualify to take the final exam in the course. Students will
be required to complete at least 60% of formative assessments and must complete 100% of summative
assessments to qualify to take the course final semester exams.
Cheating:
Zero tolerance. If you are caught cheating, by any means, you will earn a zero on that exam/quiz and a parent
will be notified as well as your guidance counselor. If you are a National Honor Society member, you will be
brought before the NHS faculty committee on grounds of academic dishonesty and membership privileges may
be revoked.
Electronics and food:
If either becomes a problematic; inappropriate use of phones during class; classroom left in a mess because of
eating, they will not be allowed.
Although this will be a trying school year for all of us, I believe if we build strong networks within our
classroom and with our classmates, a great support system can develop so you can complete the school year
successfully. Furthermore, a wikispace will be provided for students so they can have access to all unit
schedules. The schedules will have the nightly reading assignments as well as exams dates so students can
manage their time accordingly. Please note: http://aphasan.wikispaces.com/ All students have access and
membership is not required. I will also send out messages via Remind101.
I look forward to working with all of you as well as your parents.
Mrs. Hasan
Travel Club and NHS Sponsor
anahasan@u-46.org
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