AP US History

Course Syllabus

Damien McDonald
Portable P-4
mcdonaldd2@duvalschools.org

http://www.duvalschools.org/mhs
OnCourse Teacher Website

Course Objectives:
Advanced Placement United States History is a survey of the history of the United States from its colonial origins to the present. This
course is designed for college credit in addition to college preparation, and will help students prepare for the Advanced Placement
examination on _______________.

Teaching Goals:

To share my passion for American history, and possibly inspire a few of students to seek a deeper appreciation of
American/U.S. History.
To serve as a resource for students to pass the APUSH exam May.
To help students prepare for college coursework.

The APUSH Exam

Section 1 (60% of score): Part A: 55 multiple choice questions in 55 minutes (40%)

Part B: 4 short-answer questions in 45 minutes (20%)
Section 2 (40% of score): 2 essays in 95 minutes
o Document-based question (25% of overall score)
o 1 free-response questions (15% of overall score)

Materials:
Photocopied, printed, or downloaded readings/primary sources will be added, but the base readings for this class include:
The American Pageant 12th ed. David M. Kennedy et al. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company
AP United States History: An Essential Coursebook. Ethel Wood:Woodyard Publications
Required Supplemental:
Additional Resources / Handouts
The Founding Brothers, Revolutionary Generation. Joseph Ellis: Vintage
I Wish Id Been There. Byron Hollinshead, ed.:Anchor

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An APUSH Only Binder and Folder with College Rule Loose Leaf Paper
Blue and Black Ink Pens for Quizzes, Tests, In-Class Essays, Turned in Assignments
#2 Pencils with erasers for SCANTRON Testing
Highlighters and sticky notes are strongly suggested for use in note taking
Internet Access: If you dont have access at home, make sure that you are able to use the library/classroom computers and
have access to the public library
Teacher OnCourse Website: Numerous links to resources, as well as information about the class.

Rules about Assignments and Assessments

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Write your name, the class period, and the date in the upper right corner of all work unless I specify otherwise. Papers that
fail to do so will be subject to a one point penalty.
Handwrite all work neatly and legibly in dark ink or pencil unless I specify otherwise. Failure to do so will result in loss of
points. To clarify: if I cant read it, its a zero.

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Class notes and reading notes will be taken using the school wide Cornell Notes policy. Note books are subject to collection
and review at any time.
Any form of cheating on any assignment or assessment will result in a zero for all parties involved and will be further dealt
with according to school policy.
Any assignment turned in late will suffer a 50% penalty. No work may be turned in more than one class period after the
original due date.

AP US History
Course Syllabus
Grades, Assignments, and Assessments
Unit Tests (~100 points, at the end of each unit)
o ~40- 60 multiple-choice questions. These are the only assessments or assignments that can receive a curve.
Makeup tests may be of a different format.
AP-style Free Response Questions (50-100 points) and Document-Based Questions (50 - 100 points).
Quarter, Semester, and Course Final Exams
Quizzes will vary in frequency, format, and value.
I may decide to collect class work or Cornell Notes
I may create other assignments (notebook checks, video projects, essays, timelines, etc.) worth varying point values
Homework policies are subject to change with notice.
An assignment that is missed for any reason will initially be recorded in FOCUS as a zero. If it is made up on time and
earns credit, I will change the grade.
I expect students to keep track of their grades in FOCUS.

CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE POLICY

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If you miss more than half of a class period, you are considered absent for the purposes of this course. It is your
responsibility to find out what notes, assignments, or assessments you missed. You have one class period per class period
missed to make up missed assignments from any absence.
Make up missed tests and quizzes within one week of your return.
In accordance with the Duval County Public Schools Student Progression Plan (SPP): If you are absent more than
four times during a nine-week grading period (or more than eight times if you're taking a "skinny" class, 45 minutes every
day) and you fail the comprehensive quarter exam, then you will automatically receive an F for that quarter.
The SPP makes exceptions for reasons related to pregnancy and neonatal care. The school makes an exception for ISSP,
assuming that the student works on class work during ISSP. The SPP and school policy do not make any other exceptions
(other school-related absences, excused absences, field trips, sports, family vacations, etc.).
If you are absent due to school-related standardized testing (AP, IB, FCAT, etc.), I will not count that absence towards
the four absences.

AP Advice for Students

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Your textbook and binder should never spend the night in your locker.
Study at least one hour per hour spent in class.
Do not miss class. The more class you miss, the more likely you will fail the course.
Study on the bus or in the car. Study on weekends. Study on vacation. Never go
consecutive days without studying.
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Take notes incessantly. Never wait for the teacher to say, Write this down.
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If your notes are illegible, re-write them.
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When asked a question, make an effort at an answer.
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When you come across words you don't know, context clues are useful. Dictionaries are
even more useful.
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If you don't know it, look it up. That's what historical study is about.
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Most important: If you need help, ask for help!

APUSH Course Outline

1st NINE WEEKS:

3rd NINE WEEKS:

Unit 1: Colonization, Pageant CH 1-5; Wood CH 1-3: Exam:

Unit 10: Populists and Progressives, Pageant Chapters 26, 29,

Sept. 9, 10

30a* ; Wood CH15B

Unit 2: Revolution, Pageant CH 6-8; Wood CH 4: Exam:

Unit 11: America Abroad, Pageant Chapters 27, 28, 30b*, 31 ;

Sept. 23, 24

Wood CH16

Unit 3: Young Republic, Pageant CH9-10; Wood CH 5-6;

Unit 12: Boom and Bust, Pageant Chapters 32-34; Wood

Ellis Founding Brothers: Exam: Oct. 3, 4

CH17

Unit 4: Age of Jefferson, Pageant CH11-12; Wood CH6;

Unit 13: World War II, Pageant Chapters 35, 36; Wood CH18

Exam: Oct. 15, 16;

Unit 14: The Cold War Begins, Pageant Chapters 37, 38;

Assignments: I Wish Id Been There; Wood Unit 1 Questions

Wood CH19

END OF 1st NINE WEEKS: OCTOBER 24

Assignments: I Wish Id Been There; Wood Unit 3 Questions

END OF 3rd NINE WEEKS: APRIL 2

nd

NINE WEEKS:

Unit 5: Age of Jackson, Pageant CH 13 and 17; Wood, CH8

4th NINE WEEKS:

Unit 6: Antebellum America, Pageant CH14-16 ; Wood CH7

Unit 15: Kennedy through Carter, Pageant Chapters 39, 40;

Unit 7: Sectionalism, Pageant CH 18, 19 ; Wood CH 9-10

Wood CH20

DBQ Common Assessment

Unit 16: Reagan through the Present, Pageant Chapters 41,

Unit 8: Civil War and Reconstruction, Pageant CH20-22 ;

42; Wood CH21

Wood CH11-12

Assignments: I Wish Id Been There; Wood Unit 4 Questions

Unit 9: Gilded Age, Pageant Chapters 23-25 ; Wood 13-14,

Practice AP DBQ

15A

Practice AP Multiple Choice

Assignments: I Wish Id Been There; Wood, Unit 2 Questions

AP Exam: May 14, 2014

END OF 2nd NINE WEEKS: JANUARY 16

Research Project/Assignment
Final Exam: 1st Week of June