AP-United-States-History.pdf - AP U.S. History Syllabus...

AP U.S. History Syllabus
Course Description:
Advanced Placement United States History is a challenging course that is meant to be the
equivalent of a freshman college course and can earn students college credit. It is a two-
semester survey of American history from the migration of Native Americans across the
Beringia to the present time. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote
considerable time to homework and study, are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on
critical and analytical thinking skills, essay writing, and on interpretation of primary and
secondary sources.
Course Objectives:
Student will:
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Master a broad body of historical knowledge
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Demonstrate an understanding of historical chronology
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Use historical data to support an argument or position
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Interpret and apply data from original documents
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Prepare for and successfully pass the AP Exam
Course Texts and Readings:
Bailey, Thomas A., Cohen, Lizabeth, Kennedy, David M. The American Pageant . 12
th
ed.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002
Bailey, Thomas A., Kennedy, David M. The American Spirit: Since 1865 , Volume II. 10
th
ed.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005
Bailey, Thomas A., Kennedy, David M. The American Spirit: United States History as Seen by
Contemporaries, Volume I: to 1877 . 10
th
ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005
Davidson, James West, Lytle, Mark Hamilton. After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection .
Columbus: MCGraw-Hill, 1992
Dollars, Charles M., Reichard, Gary W. American Issues: A Documentary Reader . Columbus:
McGraw-Hill/Glencoe, 1994
Maddox, Robert James. American History Volume I: Precolonial through Reconstruction . 13 th
ed. University Park: Penn State University, 1995
Other Materials:
Assortment of power point presentations, videos, and handouts.

Grading:
50% Papers and Essays – Papers will be based on the DBQ (Document Based Questions)
format that is used on the AP Exam. Some of the DBQ's will be timed in class assessments and
others will be completed at home. The other writing activities will be based on the free
response essays. They too will be timed and be administered both in class and outside as well.
50% Tests – Chapter and Unit tests will be given. The format will be objective questions –
mainly multiple choice.
Advanced Placement Exam:
The AP Exam is given in May. The exam is three hours and five minutes long.
Exam Format:
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80 Multiple Choice Questions (55 minutes)
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Free Response Essay Section (130 minutes)
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DBQ (60 minutes)
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Read and analyze (15 minutes)
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Write essay (45 minutes)
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Essay Questions – answering 2 of 4 essays (70 minutes)
There is a cost involved with taking the test.
Course Outline – Semester 1 – 18 weeks
12 Themes to be identified, analyzed, critically thought about, written about, and discussed:
American Diversity
The diversity of the American people and the relationships among different groups. The roles
of race, class, ethnicity, and gender in the history of the United States.