Luella High School
AP UNITED STATES HISTORY
Locust Grove, Georgia
Mr. James E. Roberts
Email: james.roberts@henry.k12.ga.us
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” ~President John F. Kennedy
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”-George Santayana
Advanced Placement United States History
Course Syllabus 2013-2014
Course Description
This course is designed to provide a college-level experience and preparation for the Advanced Placement (AP)
Examination in May 2014. An emphasis is placed on interpreting documents, mastering a significant body of factual
information and writing critical essays. Students will learn to assess historical materials and weigh evidence and
interpretations presented in historical scholarship. You will develop 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. This
course explores the topics of discovery and settlement, colonial society, the American Revolution, Constitution and
the New Republic, Age of Jackson, nationalism, sectionalism, Manifest Destiny, Civil War, Reconstruction,
industrialization, Progressive Era, World War I, Depression, New Deal, and World War II through the present.
Course Text and Readings
Issued: Alan Brinkley. American History: A Survey. (New York: McGraw Hill, 2007).
(If you are interested in purchasing a condensed paperback version of this textbook that will allow you to
write in it and highlight at will, I recommend The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American
People, 5th edition. The ISBN number is 0073513237/9780073513232. You should be able to locate used copies
online for a reasonable price. The chapters in the 5th edition align to the chapters in your textbook.)
Class set: Thomas A. Bailey and David M. Kennedy. The American Spirit, Volumes 1 and 2
(Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006)
Various documents, articles, handouts, and excerpts
Course Objectives
Students will:
 Develop an appreciation for the study of history and the process of historical inquiry
 Develop a better understanding of the history of the United States in political, economic, social, and cultural
terms
 Develop a better understanding of issues that are at the heart of American history
 Improve writing and critical reading skills
 Improve thinking skills--specifically to develop the ability to analyze historical arguments, especially those of
professional historians (historiography)
 Develop study skills critical to success at the college level
 Prepare for and pass the AP U.S. History exam in May
Course Expectations
ANGEL Learning: ANGEL is an online service available to enhance your classroom experience. Once I have
everyone enrolled in ANGEL, you will be assigned a username and password and you will be able to see your AP
units with all reading assignments, homework assignments, unit quizzes, and extra information to help you through
each unit. Some of your assignments can be submitted online; some will have to be printed, completed by hand, and
turned in at class time. Most of your handouts, Power Points, worksheets, etc. will be available through ANGEL so
we won’t have to use so much paper! It’s our contribution to “Going Green” and dealing with the current economic
crisis. However, if you do not have Internet access at home, don’t worry. You will have the opportunity to access
ANGEL at school or I will provide a paper copy of anything you cannot complete online.
Luella High School
AP UNITED STATES HISTORY
Locust Grove, Georgia
Mr. James E. Roberts
Email: james.roberts@henry.k12.ga.us
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” ~President John F. Kennedy
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”-George Santayana
Readings: Students should be prepared for a heavy reading load. The key to success in this course is keeping up
with your assigned readings and developing analytical skills based on those readings. Various types of reading
guides will be provided to help you understand the important information. There is a reading quiz on ANGEL for
every unit.
Staying Organized: I recommend that you purchase an expandable file folder case instead of a notebook. You will
need 17 manila folders (one for each unit, plus one for standardized testing information .) You only need to bring
one file folder to class per unit with some paper for note taking. On the day of each unit test, you will turn in the
folder for that unit. I will check for all required unit work. If you do not have all the assignments, all the notes, etc.
you will not be able to retake a test. Once the unit folder is returned to you, place it in the expandable file. You
should keep up with everything throughout the year so you will have it for the AP test review!
Discussion: Students should be prepared to discuss readings, lecture materials, and other assignments every day.
Time management: This is a college-level course. Every night you should do any reading that has been
assigned, complete any assignments that have been given, review any notes given in class
that day, and/or go over any assignment that has been returned.
Tests: Students should expect a minimum of three assessments each nine weeks. Assessments will most often be
college-level multiple choice tests, Free Response Essays (FREs), or Document Based Questions (DBQs). We will
spend a lot of time perfecting your essay-writing skills. Your best practice for the multiple choice tests is the unit
quizzes on Angel.
Standardized tests: This is an EOCT course. All students must take the End of Course Test that is
administered during second semester. Per state law, the EOCT must count 15% of the
final grade as the second semester final exam. The first semester final exam will be
developed by the instructor and will also count as 15% of your grade.
You will also take the GHSGT (Georgia High School Graduation Test) in March.
We will review for the GHSGT in social studies in this class and in after-school review sessions.
Essays: All Document-Based Questions (DBQs) and Free Response Essays (FREs)
must always be written in black or blue ink. Essays will vary in length depending
on the topic and are graded on content, use of documentary and outside supporting evidence,
grammar, spelling, and evidence of critical thinking. Rubrics will be provided.
Grades: The Henry County Board of Education mandates that we divide grades into Practice and
Assessment Grades. The following formula will be used for recording grades on Infinite Campus:


Practice Grades (35% of the overall average)
o Homework
o Individual class work
o Reading Quizzes on Angel
o Group class work
Assessments (65% of the overall average)
o In-class quizzes
Multiplier X 1
o Tests
Multiplier X 2
o Projects
Multiplier X 3 or 4 (depending on the size of the project)
Luella High School
AP UNITED STATES HISTORY
Locust Grove, Georgia
Mr. James E. Roberts
Email: james.roberts@henry.k12.ga.us
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” ~President John F. Kennedy
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”-George Santayana
Make sure you have access to Infinite Campus so that you and your parents can keep track of your current
grade. As soon as grades are entered into Infinite Campus, you can view your current average. Also keep in
mind that if your assignment is not turned in and graded with the rest of the class, a grade of 0 will be entered
until the assignment is graded. That way, there are no surprises at the end of the grading period when zeroes
have to be entered for missing grades! Please understand that grades for assignments turned in late will
automatically be reduced (15% per day). Attempts to turn in assignments several days after the due date will
not be accepted! Requests for making up work at the end of a grading period will not be granted.
AP students have a 10 point curve added to their averages. That is automatic when grades are entered, so the
average you view on Infinite Campus is the weighted average. You should be concerned with your
unweighted average since that is the grade considered for HOPE scholarships and the grade colleges will
consider.
Parents, the best way to contact me is via e-mail. My e-mail address is james.roberts@henry.k12.ga.us. It is
imperative that you provide me with an e-mail address and daytime phone number so I can contact you in a
timely manner when it is necessary.
Luella High School
AP UNITED STATES HISTORY
Locust Grove, Georgia
Mr. James E. Roberts
Email: james.roberts@henry.k12.ga.us
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” ~President John F. Kennedy
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”-George Santayana
Parent Information Sheet for AP U.S. History
(Please print all information)
Student’s Name: __________________________________________________________Class Period ________
Mother’s Name: ______________________________________________________________________________
Mother’s e-mail address: ______________________________________________________________________
Mother’s daytime phone number:_______________________________________________________________
Father’s Name: ______________________________________________________________________________
Father’s e-mail address:_______________________________________________________________________
Father’s daytime phone number: _______________________________________________________________
Which parent should I attempt to contact first? ___________________________________________________
Is there any other family member I can contact and discuss issues about your child if I cannot contact either parent? If so,
please provide name and contact information below:
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Does your child have Internet access? Yes _______ No________
Will your child be able to work on the computer at night in order to complete assignments on ANGEL?
Yes _____ No _______
Will your child be able to print assignments from ANGEL? Yes_______ No ________
Will your child be able to stay after school for review sessions, to use the Internet, and get help with AP assignments when
necessary? Yes _____ No _______
Will your child be able to come to school early for review sessions, to use the Internet, and get help with AP assignments
when necessary? Yes _____ No ______
Please read the following expectations I have for your child and sign that you have read and agree to those expectations.
AP students are expected to:

Spend time every night preparing for class

Come to class prepared (book, paper, pen/pencil, assignments, and knowledge of reading assignments)

Electronic technology is encouraged for class use ONLY. If a student appears to be using his/her own technology
for classwork, but isn’t passing the class, their privilege of using that technology will be revoked.

Pay attention in class: no sleeping, texting, working on other assignments, reading for pleasure – anything that
distracts your attention away from class

Stay in class. (Do not ask to leave class. This includes the restroom. Go before class begins!)
(Habitual violations of the above expectations will result in an office referral!)

Ask for help when they do not understand something or realize they are having difficulties in class

Turn in assignments on time

Provide all notes and assignments from each unit before test retakes are given (Retakes will not be allowed if
students do not do all of the work expected of them throughout the unit.)
Luella High School
AP UNITED STATES HISTORY
Locust Grove, Georgia
Mr. James E. Roberts
Email: james.roberts@henry.k12.ga.us
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” ~President John F. Kennedy
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”-George Santayana
I will contact parents any time there are problems with any issues listed above or for any reason I feel parents should be
notified. I will notate all problems and log all parent contact on the back of this sheet. I also expect to hear from parents
when you have a concern about your child. E-mail is the best way to contact me. I can respond to an e-mail much quicker
than a phone call.
James Roberts
We have read and understand your expectations.
____________________________________________________
(Parent Signature)
____________________________________________________
(Student Signature)
Luella High School
AP UNITED STATES HISTORY
Locust Grove, Georgia
Mr. James E. Roberts
Email: james.roberts@henry.k12.ga.us
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” ~President John F. Kennedy
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”-George Santayana
Date
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