Advanced Placement: US History

ADVANCED PLACEMENT
U.S. HISTORY
SYLLABUS

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MR. WEATHERFORD

PATRIOT HIGH SCHOOL

Mr. Weatherford
Classroom Phone: [phone], ext. 2064
Email: [e-mail]

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Letter of Introduction

August 9, 2011.

It is a pleasure to welcome you to my class in Advanced Placement U.S. History.

This course is offered with the intent of equipping you, the student, for success not just in this subject area, but in life “outside of Patriot High.” Hopefully this course will challenge you to “step outside of yourself” and expand your worldview. In this course, you will be introduced to the people, ideas and events that have combined to shape American life and culture. Through our studies together, I hope to
develop in you a deeper appreciation for the world we live in and the increasingly vital role the United States has come to assume in world affairs.

Global events (September 11th, crisis in Darfur, worldwide terrorism, Hurricane Katrina, the war in Iraq, etc.) have made it increasingly clear to us how important it is to have an informed understanding of the immense global power we wield as a nation and how we are perceived by the nations of the world, for good or ill. While simple understanding may not resolve many of the critical issues that currently confront our global community, it will hopefully promote in each of us a profound sense of our personal responsibility to be aware and responsive in our role as “global citizens.”

Success in this course is totally based on the exercise of your own individual free will. While I will make it my priority to be professionally prepared, accessible and supportive - it is YOUR responsibility to CHOOSE to set aside daily times for study, review and completion of all assigned work. I will be committed to helping you better strengthen and develop your writing, reading and critical thinking skills. It is YOUR responsibility to attend regularly, ask questions and participate in class discussions to the best of your ability.

More than anything else, it is the regular and consistent effort you make with respect to improve your writing ability that will largely determine success on the AP U.S. History exam at the end of this course.

I genuinely enjoy teaching, relating to and interacting with high school students. This represents my twenty-third consecutive year of teaching, and I continue to eagerly anticipate what this new academic year holds for both of us. It is my desire to see every student succeed and excel in my class – but only YOU can make that happen!

Good luck and best wishes for a great year,

Daniel D. Weatherford

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Course Description

The AP program in United States History is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in United States 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 AP United States 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.

GRADING

Category: Grade Weight:

Tests 40%
Quizzes 10% ** These grade weights may be changed based upon
Homework/Classwork 20% instructor discretion. Students will ALWAYS be
Projects 15% informed of any such changes.
Class Participation 15%

GRADING SCALE

96.5 – 100 = A+ 86.5 – 89 = B+ 76.5 – 79 = C+ 66.5 – 69 = D+
92.5 – 96 = A 82,5 – 86 = B 72.5 – 76 = C 62.5 – 66 = D
89.5 – 92 = A- 79.5 – 82 = B- 69.5 – 72 = C- 59.5 – 62 = D-

• Anyone scoring lower than 59.5 will NOT earn credit for or pass this course !
• Only grades of “A”, “B”, or “C” qualify for the additional gradepoint available to students in AP courses.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

To be successful in this course, students must be in class on time, attend regularly, come prepared to do work and learn, and clearly demonstrate a cooperative attitude. Attitude is the primary determinant in assessing the “class participation” grade weight – therefore one’s words and actions are regularly factored into one’s overall grade (10%).

In the event that a student speaks or acts in a manner that offends, disrupts or negatively impacts the learning environment (i.e. defiance, rudeness, refusal to do work) - I reserve the right to act immediately and directly, up to and including the possible immediate removal from class. In such an instance, the student will NOT be allowed to re-enter until I have met with or contacted a parent or guardian.

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ABSENCES / LATE WORK / HOMEWORK

First and foremost, each student must seek my assistance whenever an assignment, grade, or activity is not understood or when the student receives a grade lower than
expected.

All assigned work is due on the date designated by the instructor AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD.

Only work missed on the basis of an excused absence or WITH PRIOR DISCUSSION WITH THE INSTRUCTOR can be submitted for full credit.

All late work will receive half-credit.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE!

Some in-class assignments CANNOT BE MADE UP and, if missed, will result in a loss of credit, whether the absence is excused or not. This is due to the fact that some in-class work is based primarily on in-class discussions that cannot be repeated.

PARENTS: I personally request that you make every effort to schedule all appointments ( doctor, dentist, DMV) outside the instructional day. Please do not schedule family vacations during instructional days. In the event that a student requests any kind of “independent study” assignments, I will request that they drop the course. The rigor of this course demands commitment to in-class work and discussions throughout the year.

Please honor this request – it is in the best interests of your child’s successful performance in my class.

CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR
If you, the student, should encounter problems with any assigned work or projects or should you enter circumstances beyond your control that prevent the successful completion of assigned work - I fully expect you to call me at [phone], ext. 2064 or email me: [e-mail] BEFORE THE ASSIGNED WORK IS DUE!!

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PARENT / STUDENT PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT:

This Advanced Placement U.S. History course requires a commitment of both time and effort over the course of the year (including weekends and holidays) on the part of each student.

PARENT

Your signature below as the parent or guardian is evidence that you have carefully reviewed this syllabus with your child and that you agree to support the instructor in fulfilling each aspect of it

• Regularly review the work your child is doing in this course (test grades, handouts, documents) • On occasion discussing with your child some of the topics or readings used in the course • Supervise and monitor your child’s study time and organization of materials for the class • Call the instructor when you become concerned about your child’s performance in this course

“I have read the information in this syllabus and am committed to ‘partnering’ with my child in helping him/her succeed in this course.”

PARENT signature:

Please PRINT name:

Home phone: Work phone: Email:

Comments:

STUDENT

Your signature below as the student is evidence that you are willing to practice the following:

• Regularly show your parents your work in this course • Participate in classroom discussions and regularly ask questions • Maintain a daily record of your on-going grade / performance in class • Attend class regularly and be on time

STUDENT signature:

Email:

Please PRINT name: