Advanced Placement United States History Syllabus
McEachern High School
Mrs. Hicks, Macland Room 111
Fall 2015-Spring 2016
Eve Hicks - Instructor
Email: eve.hicks@cobbk12.org
Blog: http://www.mceachernhigh.org
AM Tutorials/Make-up Tests/Test Corrections: even day mornings ONLY 7:30-8:15
PM Tutorials/Make-up Tests/Test Corrections:–Mon/Tues ONLY 3:30-4:30
Course Description
The Advanced Placement program in American History is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual
knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in American history. The program prepares students for
intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by full-year introductory
college courses. Students should learn to assess historical materials--their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their
reliability, and their importance--and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. An Advanced
Placement American History course should thus develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed
judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format (Advanced Placement Course
Description, The College Board, 2008).
This is a two semester course designed to cover American History from the Colonial Era through 2000. The basic approaches to
this study will include lecture-discussions on assigned readings, formal lectures, seminars on historical themes, individual and
group projects, short 2-3 page position papers, quizzes, and examinations. Students should be prepared to learn to budget time
and work hard with the ultimate goal being a successful AP examination May 14, 2014. Please remember that committing to this
class means committing to taking the AP Exam. Throughout the course students will have access to the school library, computer
labs, laptops, website resources, etc. to help them supplement coursework.
Texts
 Tindall and Shi, America: A Narrative History, Seventh Edition
Supplemental Texts
 Philbrick, The Last Stand
 Shaara, The Killer Angels
Policies and Procedures
 Bathroom privileges – Only 1 student is allowed out of the class at a time. There are appropriate times to ask to use the
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restroom as well as inappropriate times. Do not ask to use the restroom during lecture, class discussions, or student
presentations. These people deserve your full attention. Times that are appropriate to ask – individual student activities,
during reading time, after an exam once all students are finished, etc. When granted permission to use the restroom, you
must have a signed pass in your agenda.
Testing – during testing, students are not allowed to have anything at their desks except their writing utensils and an
eraser. This is to cut down on distracters and cheating. Bags will be placed at the front of the classroom. If any electronic
device is present during an exam, the exam will not be scored and the student will receive a zero. Consider this a
warning!!
Attendance – aim for perfect attendance. Being tardy to class or missing a class can be very detrimental to the success of
the student. Try to plan doctor’s appointments, college visits, etc. around this class. This class needs your full attention!
Reading and Writing Assignments
 Textbook: readings should be completed prior to class meetings. Make sure to keep up with the reading, there is too
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much information to procrastinate. The Tindall and Shi should be the principal reading and reference source for each
student. Students should be prepared for many different assessments each class a chapter is due to be discussed.
All assignments done outside of class will be graded on content, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
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 Throughout the course, students will be expected to complete Document Based Questions (DBQs) and Long Essays. Most
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of this work will be done in class but expect some to be done outside of class. All of these assignments will be graded
using College Board generated rubrics.
Quizzes – given on readings and lectures. These can be announced or unannounced. If students keep up with reading
assignments, these should be no big deal!
Major Tests – Given at the end of each unit (9 total for the year). Tests will be a combination of multiple choice questions
and writing sections– very similar to the AP Exam.
AP Exam – all students are expected to take the AP Exam on Friday, May 6th at 8:00 am
Class Expectations
 Students are expected to keep up with the outside reading
 Students are expected to take responsibilities for their actions or inactions
 Students are expected to be respectful of their peers and teachers at all times
 Students are expected to turn in authentic work – placing your name on an item of work that is not your own is
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plagiarism. It does not matter if it is a notecard, a homework assignment, a paper, or a test. Plagiarism automatically
earns you a zero with no opportunity to make up the assignment.
Students are expected to ask questions and voice opinions (as long as they are thoughtful)
Grading and Topics of Study
Grading in this class will be centered on a standards based grade book, using summative grades (75%) and formative grades
(25%). For each unit: Formative Assessments will equal 25% of each unit grade. These will include vocabulary quizzes, reading
quizzes, classroom assignments, and homework assignments. Summative assessments will equal 55% of each unit grade. This
will include a 60-80 question multiple choice exam and a writing section. Test corrections are to be completed before or after
school ONLY. For the exam grades, the EOC must count for 20% of your overall grade.
AP Exam Review
After our final test, the remainder of the class will be spent reviewing for the AP US History Exam. During review, students will
practice FREs and DBQs and well as reviewing all material from the class.
AP Exam Format:
The exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes in length and consists of four sections: Section I is a 55-minute multiple-choice section
containing 55 multiple choice questions, Section II is and a 45-minute free-response short answer section. Section III is the DBQ.
Section IV is the 35 minute free-response section begins with a mandatory 15-minute reading period. Students are advised to
spend most of the 15 minutes analyzing the documents and planning their answer to the document-based essay question (DBQ)
in Part A. Suggested writing time for the DBQ is 45 minutes.
Parts B and C each include one standard essay question that, with the DBQ, cover the period from the first European
explorations of the Americas to the present. Students are required to answer one essay question in each part in a total of 70
minutes. For each of the essay questions students choose to answer in Parts B and C, it is suggested they spend 5 minutes
planning and 30 minutes writing.
Both the multiple-choice and the free-response sections cover the period from the first European explorations of the Americas to
the present, although a majority of questions are on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries (Advanced Placement Course
Description, The College Board, 2008).
Strategies for Success in APUSH
1. Read EVERY night. Don’t put it off because it adds up very quickly. When you read, use the key terms I give for each
chapter to focus on important concepts, people, and events. As you read the chapters, do something active with the material
(take notes, make flashcards, charts, etc.). These will not only help you on quizzes but will also help you with unit tests,
EOC, and the AP Exam.
2. Take advantage of all the opportunities provided to you (test corrections, web sites, review, and tutoring). You can work on
these any morning from 7:30-8:15 or Monday/Tuesday 3:30-4:30.
3. Form a study group. Students in the past have skyped before tests to help them study. Others have formed groups in my room
before or after school or met at another location.
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4. Don’t cut corners. For every action, there is a consequence. These can be negative or positive. If you cut corners and don’t
complete the work in the right way (i.e., copying your friend’s paper) do not be surprised if your AP Exam grade is not as
high as you would like it to be. On the other hand, do things the right way and be rewarded in the end with a passing
APUSH exam grade.
Reading Schedule and Important Dates
A reading schedule has been provided for you and is posted on my blog. Please make sure to adhere to this schedule which also
includes all test dates
1st Semester
Pre – Columbian to 1800’s
Period 1 (1491-1607): Pre-Columbian America (ch. 1)
Period 2 (1607-1754): Colonial and Native Societies: (ch. 2-4)
Period 3 (1754-1800): Building a Nation: (ch 5-8)
1790-1900
Period 4 (1800-1848): Growth of Nationalism & Democracy: (ch. 9-14)
2nd Semester
Period 5 (1844-1877) A House Divided and Rebuilt (ch. 15-18)
Period 6 (1865-1898) Growth of Industry & Empire (ch. 19-23)
1900- Present
Period 7 (1890-1945) Progressives/America in a Time of War: (ch. 24-30)
Period 8 (1945-1980) The American Age: (ch. 31-35)
Period 9 (1980-Present) Modern America (ch. 36-37)
EOC (cumulative state exam)
Formative
6%
Summative
11%
11%
24%
8%
20%
20%
Test Prep Resources:
There are a variety of test prep books available to help students prepare for the AP exam. These include 5 Steps to
a 5, Barron’s, REA, Kaplan, Princeton Review and more. Each subject has some that are better suited to the course than
others.
It is highly recommended that you purchase a copy of one of these test prep books for your personal use and
practice throughout the course. For this course, the recommended test prep book is 5 Steps to a 5 in US History. Other
useful resources include the 5 Steps to a 5 Flash Card set or Barron’s AP United States History. Please make sure that all
review materials have been updated for the 2015 AP Exam. The McEachern AP Program will be organizing a bulk order of
these class resources and information will be provided to students in the first 10 days of school.
AP Parent Meeting
McEachern’s AP teaching staff will be hosting an AP Parent Night on Thursday, September 10th in the PAC
with dinner to follow. It is expected that AP students and at least one parent/guardian attend this informative session on
what to expect in AP this year. We will be discussing expectations, study strategies, resources, Saturday sessions, the AP
Exam, payment options, college credit policies and more. We will also be recognizing our students who took an AP exam
in 2013 and our College Board AP Scholars (based on exam scores).
The AP Exams at MHS
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McEachern AP students are expected to take the exam for every AP course in which they are enrolled. AP Exam
dates are set by College Board and begin/end outside of normal school hours. Students taking the exams must
arrange their own transportation on exam day.
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Each student must pay a CCSD $20 administration fee to cover testing expenses at McEachern due September
18th, 2015 (substitutes for test administrators, custodial services, etc). For students taking the AP Exam, this $20
will be credited toward their CCSD mandated administrative fee.
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The College Board charges $92 per exam ($55 for students on free/reduced lunch). Registration and payments for
the AP Exams must be made by December 4th for any student in a blocked AP course fall semester.
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Payments for the AP exams must be made by JANUARY 29, 2016 at www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/112435.
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Students on free or reduced lunch must submit a “Parent/Guardian Waiver for Sharing Information with Other
Programs” form to grant permission for the cafeteria manager to verify free/reduced lunch status with the AP
coordinator. If taking the SAT/ACT or applying to colleges, check the box on the form for the counselor sharing
too so you will not have to fill out the form again. You must complete sections titled Child’s Name, School,
Signature, Printed Name and Address. Return these to Mrs. Beyke in Macland 114 by September 18th.
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All students taking the AP Exam must attend a MANDATORY paperwork session on Wednesday, April 27th at
either 7:30am or 3:40pm. Please keep your calendar open for this session and prepare transportation.
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Students taking the AP Exam for the AP course will be exempted from their final exam in that AP course (Final
exams are administered in May for most courses.) Failure to follow through with exemption requirements will
result being required to the final exam for the course.
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Most colleges and universities award college credit for successful scores on the AP Exam. Trevor Packer,
Executive Director of the College Board, reported in August that 65% of college credit policies award credit for 3s,
33% require a 4, and 2% require a 5. www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy
Reassessment Policy: Students have the opportunity to retake any multiple choice summative assessment to
try and earn a higher grade. Students will be required to complete test corrections either before or after school (dates and
time are on the first page) in order to practice the questions they missed on the initial summative assessment. Once
corrections have been completed, students have the opportunity to study and when they are ready, they must schedule a
time to take the reassessment. The reassessment grade will only be entered into Synergy if it is higher than the initial
summative assessment grade. In the event that the reassessment grade is lower than the initial assessment, the highesr
grade will remain in Synergy.
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A.P. Testing
Fees 2016
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CCSD $20 AP Admin Fee Deadline:
www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/112435
September 18th
Fall Course Test Payment Deadline:
The College Board Fee for each AP Exam is $92.
4th fee for student taking
CCSD has instructed each school to chargeDecember
a $20 administration
the exam to cover supplemental
materials &Course
testing expenses.
Yearlong
Test Payment
If the state of Georgia approves in legislature, it will cover the cost of
th the first exam
Deadline:
January
29
ONLY for students who are approved for Free/Reduced Lunch. Free/ reduced students
will still pay for the $20 administration fee. Each additional exam will be at the
free/reduced lunch cost of $54.
 All test payments will be taken online or through the mail with Total Registration.
2016 Regular Fees (not
including $20 AP Fee)
1 test = $92
2 tests = $184
3 tests = $276
4 tests = $368
5 tests = $460
6 tests = $552
7 tests = $644
2016 Free/Reduced Fees
(if State Assistance Grant approved)
Must submit copy of F/R notice or sign access waiver
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
test =
tests =
tests =
tests =
tests =
tests =
tests =
$0 GA pays
$54
$108
$162
$216
$270
$324
(Must pay $20 AP Fee)
2015 AP Exam Schedule
(These are national dates set by the College Board)
Date
Monday, May 2nd
Tuesday, May 3rd
Wednesday, May 4th
Thursday, May 5th
Sign up for AP
reminders by
texting
@apexams
to 81010
Friday, May 6th
Monday, May 9th
Tuesday, May 10th
Wednesday, May 11th
Thursday, May 12th
Friday, May 13th
Morning Test
(begins at 8am)
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Computer Science
Spanish Language
English Literature
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
US History
Biology
Music Theory
US Gov’t & Politics
English Language
World History
Microeconomics
Human Geography
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Afternoon Test
(begins at noon)
Psychology
Physics 1
Studio Art Portfolio
French Language
Macroeconomics
Statistics
McEachern High School
Advanced Placement Program
________________________________________
(Student Name – please print)
____________________________________
(Advanced Placement Course – please print)
Advanced Placement courses offer students intense, high-quality instruction that prepares them to meet standards for
college-level learning. AP course completion and exam results provide students a significant advantage in the college
admissions process by indicating a student’s ability to succeed in a rigorous curriculum.
Success in an Advanced Placement course can be directly linked to the student’s willingness to
 Maintain good attendance in the AP course
 Assume personal responsibility for learning
 Prepare for class daily (this means using tools and resources provided by the teacher and seeking out support
resources when you are having difficulty)
 Participate fully in instructional activities both in class and at home
 Make-up missed assignments and tests promptly
 Seek all available tutorial help when necessary
 Make academics a priority (in busy schedules that include extracurricular, athletic, social and employment
activities)
 Take the AP Exam in May
Advanced Placement teachers will support student learning through
 High instructional standards
 Student-focused instruction
 Regular review of work and assignments
 Learner support beyond regular class meetings
The Advanced Placement courses are developed by the College Board in partnership with colleges and universities;
therefore, course content cannot be modified. While the above conditions create a favorable environment for student
success in an AP course, they do not provide a guarantee of any particular grade.
I, the undersigned, have read and understand both the course and testing expectations
outlined in the attached AP course syllabus.
_________________________________________
Student Signature
________________
(Date)
_________________________
Contact Phone Number
_________________________________________
Parent Signature
________________
(Date)
_________________________
Contact Phone Number
**Please sign, detach and return this page to AP teacher by August 20th or 21st, 2015**
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APUSH To Do List
Student:
1. ______Get the textbook – you will use this at home. I will tell you when you need this in class.
2. ______Purchase supplies for the course (notebook, paper, pens/pencils/highlighters, index cards)
3. ______Sign up for class Remind (Odd Day Text @apodd to 81010; Even Day Text @apeven to 81010)
4. ______Sign up for AP Remind (@apexams to 81010)
5. ______Turn in AP Contract
6. ______Pay $20 AP Fee
7. ______Submit F/R Waiver of Information form (if you are eligible THIS school year)
8. ______Have access to Synergy...there’s an app for that (StudentVue) https://parentvue.cobbk12.org/
9. ______Be sure you can access Blackboard http://cobbk12.blackboard.com/ (mce.firstname.lastname;
password = student)
Parent/Guardian:
1.
_____Review entire AP Syllabus and Sign Contract
2.
_____Get access to Synergy (https://parentvue.cobbk12.org/). Update contacts under “My Account” tab.
3.
_____Subscribe to the class blog on the McEachern website
http://www.mceachernhigh.org/page/blogs/?member_id=bba16797&class=AP-Government
4.
_____Put the following dates on your calendar:
August 20th – Open House
September 10th – AP Parent Night @ 6:30pm in PAC
RSVP by September 3rd for meal
September 18th - $20 AP Fee Due; Free/Reduced Waiver Request Form Due
November 20th – Deadline to apply for financial assistance (students w/multiple exams, siblings taking exams, etc.)
December 4th – Order & Payment deadline for AP Human Geography (Fall) & Music Theory
January 29th – Order & Payment deadline (without late fee)
April 27th – MANDATORY paperwork session for AP Exams (7:30am or 3:40pm)
May 6th – APUSH Exam @ 8am
5.
_____Submit contact information (you can email this to eve.hicks@cobbk12.org)
Email Address: ___________________________________________________________
Best Phone Number for Contact 8am – 4pm _____________________________________
6.
_____Complete Office 365 Parental Consent (see email sent from CCSD) or contact Russell Hall
7.
_____Grant permission for BYOD use at http://goo.gl/forms/c8AkDLQnHm (need device Serial #)
8.
_____Bookmark/subscribe to https://mhsap.wordpress.com for updates and files related to AP
Parent Signature: _____________________________________________________________________
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