Advanced Placement American History

Mr. Jason Sebern
Overview

Advanced Placement U.S. History is offered to high school juniors. The purpose of the course is twofold: (1) to give high school students the opportunity to participate in a college-level history course, (2) to prepare students to take the AP U.S. History Exam in May. Students are encouraged to take the AP test, but it is not required.

Students can expect that every evening they will have some form of homework. This homework will consist of textbook readings, document readings (primary and secondary sources), and essays. Keeping up with the workload is vital for success in AP U.S. History.

Course Objectives

Students will:

1.      develop an appreciation for the study of U.S. history.

2.      master a broad body of historical knowledge.

3.      gain an understanding of the significant people, issues, ideas and events of U.S. history.

4.      demonstrate an understanding of historical chronology.

5.      improve reading, writing, and research skills.

6.      improve critical thinking skills, which are essential to success in AP history.

7.     analyze, interpret, evaluate and apply data from original documents, including cartoons, graphs, letters, diaries, pictures, etc.

Class Expectations

 

Students are expected to:

1.       respect the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of others.

2.       take an active role in class discussion.

3.       maintain a positive attitude.

                4.       be prepared for class. (pen, paper, folder, books, assignment(s) completed)

Makeup Policy

If a student is absent from class (excused absence), he or she must contact Mr. Sebern the next time class meets. If makeup work is not completed in the time allowed, it will be entered as a zero in the grade book.

Office Hours

By appointment.

School Phone #696-4206. Please leave a message and I will return your call.

Textbooks and Resources

Bailey, Thomas A., Cohen, Lizabeth and Kennedy, David. The American Pageant, 11th ed.

Bailey, Thomas A. and Kennedy, David. The American Spirit Volume I and II.

Assessment

A student’s grade will be based on quizzes, tests,  document-based essays, research essays and class discussion.

The grading scale is:

A+   98-100 A    95-97 A-   92-94 B+   89-91 B     86-88
B-    83-85 C+   80-82 C    77-79 C-   74-76 D+   71-73
D     68-70 D-   65-67 F     <65

Course Outline

1.                    New World Beginnings, 33,000 BC – AD 1769

2.                    The Planting of English America, 1500-1733

3.                    Settling the Northern Colonies, 1619-1700

4.                    American Life in the 17th Century, 1607-1692

5.                    Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution, 1700-1775

6.                    The Duel for North America, 1608-1763

7.                    The Road to Revolution, 1763-1775

8.                    America Secedes from the Empire, 1775-1783

9.                    The Confederation and the Constitution, 1776-1790

10.                 Launching the New Ship of State, 1789-1800

11.                 The Triumphs and Travails of Jeffersonian Democracy, 1800-1812

12.                 The Second War for Independence and the Upsurge of Nationalism, 1812-1824

13.                 The Rise of Jacksonian Democracy, 1824-1830

14.                 Jacksonian Democracy at Flood Tide, 1830-1840

15.                 Forging the National Economy, 1790-1860

16.                 The Ferment of Reform and Culture, 1790-1860

17.                 The South and the Slavery Controversy, 1793-1860

18.                 Manifest Destiny and Its Legacy, 1841-1848

19.                 Renewing the Sectional Struggle, 1848-1854

20.                 Drifting Toward Disunion, 1854-1861

21.                 Girding for War: The North and the South, 1861-1865

22.                 The Furnace of Civil War, 1861-1865

23.                 The Ordeal of Reconstruction, 1865-1877

24.                 Politics in the Gilded Age, 1869-1889

25.                 Industry Comes of Age, 1865-1900

26.                 America Moves to the City, 1865-1900

27.                 The Great West and the Agricultural Revolution, 1865-1890

28.                 The Revolt of the Debtor, 1889-1900

29.                 The Path of Empire, 1890-1899

30.                 America on the World Stage, 1899-1909

31.                 Progressivism and the Republican Roosevelt, 1901-1912

32.                 Wilsonian Progressivism at Home and Abroad, 1912-1916

33.                 The War to End War, 1917-1918

34.                 American Life in the “Roaring Twenties,” 1919-1929

35.                 The Politics of Boom and Bust, 1920-1932

36.                 The Great Depression and the New Deal, 1933-1938

37.                 Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Shadow of War, 1933-1941

38.                 America in World War II, 1941-1945

39.                 The Cold War Begins, 1945-1952

40.                 The Eisenhower Era, 1952-1960

41.                 The Stormy Sixties, 1960-1968

42.                 The Stalemated Seventies, 1968-1980

43.                 The Resurgence of Conservatism, 1980-1996

44.                 The American People Face a New Century

 

2003 Advanced Placement Exam

Registration: March, 2003

 

Test Date: May 9, 2003 at Brookings High School (8:20 AM)

 

Length: 3 hours & 5 minutes

 

Structure: 2 Parts

                Part 1: 80 item multiple choice (55 minutes)

                Part 2: Essay

                                Document Based Question: Read (15 minutes), Write (45 minutes)

                                Free Response Essay: Read (5 minutes), Write (30 minutes)

                                Free Response Essay: Read (5 minutes), Write (30 minutes)

Grading Scale:

5                     Extremely Well Qualified

4                     Well Qualified

3                     Qualified

2                     Possibly Qualified

1                     No Recommendation