AP US HISTORY SYLLABUS
2014-2015
CHERYL BUTTERFIELD
SENECA HIGH SCHOOL
I look forward to teaching and learning with you this year. Closely read through this paper
and hang on to your copy as a reference; it contains valuable information to help you succeed
in this course. This syllabus is for informational purposes and is not intended to be allinclusive; this means it may be amended, when necessary, at the teachers discretion.
*What is AP US History?
The Advanced Placement Program (AP) offers a course and exam in AP United States
History to qualified students who wish to complete studies equivalent to an introductory
college course in US History.
The national exam will be offered on Friday, May 8, 2015 and could result in the student
gaining college credit (6 hours depending on your score and the college you attend).
*What is the purpose of AP US History?
The AP US History course is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual
knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in US History. The
program makes demands on students, equivalent to those made by full-year introductory
college courses. Students should learn to assess historical materials their relevance to a
given interpretive problem, reliability, and importance. An AP student will therefore develop
skills to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format.
*What themes will be covered in this course?
This course will cover 1492 to 2004. It will look at American history through several broad
themes all of which will be broken down to Political, Economic, Religious, Social,
Intellectual, and Art & Architectural history (PERSIA).
American Diversity/Identity
Culture
Demographic Changes
Economic Transformations
Environmental Influences/Transformations
Globalization
Politics and Citizenship
Reform Movements
Religion and the Impact on Society
Slavery & Its Legacies in North America
War & Diplomacy
*What will you learn in this course?
The following is the BROAD Curriculum Outline. This should serve as a guide only.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Pre-Columbian Societies and Colonial Beginnings, 1492-1690
Colonial North America, 1690-1754
The American Revolutionary Era, 1754-1789
The Early Republic, 1789-1815
The Transformation of Economy, Politics, & Society in Antebellum America &
Religion, Reform and Renaissance in Antebellum America
6. Territorial Expansion and Manifest Destiny
7. The Crisis of the Union The Civil War
8. Reconstruction & The Origins of the New South
9. Development of the West in the Late 19th Century
10. Industrial America & Urban Society in the Late 19th Century; Populism
11. The Emergence of America as a World Power Imperialism & WWI
12. Turn of the Century Progressivism
13. The New Era: 1920s
14. The Great Depression and the New Deal
15. The Second World War at Home
16. The United States and the Early Cold War
17. The Conformity of the 1950s
18. The Turbulent 1960s
19. Politics and Economics at the End of the 20th Century &
Society and Culture at the End of the 20th Century
20. The United States in the Post Cold War World
*What do I expect from you in this classroom?
Classroom Rules of Conduct:
RESPECT, RESPONSIBILBITY, and EFFORT. These are the critical three. Class
Conduct includes participation, attendance, tardiness, following instructions,
behavior, and having supplies. As this is a college level course I EXPECT you to
behave like adults!
In addition, please keep the following in mind:
*Use of electronic devices only with permission from instructor
*Food and drinks should be consumed BEFORE coming to class
*Treat everyone in the classroom with respect
Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism and cheating demonstrates a lack of integrity
and character that is inconsistent with the goals and values of this class. Excellent
written expression of well-formulated ideas is a fundamental skill for academic and
career success.
Plagiarism includes:
* taking someone elses assignment and submitting it as one's own
*submitting material written by someone else or rephrasing the ideas of another
without giving the authors name or source
*presenting the work of tutors, parents, siblings, or friends as one's own
*submitting purchased papers as one's own
*submitting papers from the Internet written by someone else as one's own
*supporting plagiarism by providing work to others, whether you think it will be
copied or not
Cheating includes:
*copying, faxing, emailing, or in any way duplicating assignments that are turned in
*exchanging assignments with other students, either handwritten or computer
generated
*using any form of aid during tests/quizzes without the permission of the instructor
*giving or receiving answers during tests or quizzes
*accessing a test or quiz for the purpose of determining the questions in advance
Consequences of Plagiarism and/or cheating:
*1st offense student will be allowed to retake an alternate test/or re-do assignment
for half credit; discipline form will be submitted to the principals office; and
parents will be notified
*2nd and subsequent offense student will received a grade of 0; discipline form
will be submitted to the principals office; and parents will be notified
Supplies:
You should come to class EVERYDAY with the following:
1. Pencil or pen (black or blue ONLY)
2. Notebook paper
3. 3 ring Notebook this should contain EVERYTHING you receive in this
class. It is important that you do not throw anything
away. Since the ultimate outcome is a successful score
on the national exam you will want to have as much
information to help you review. You will also receive a
notebook grade each quarter.
4. Tab Dividers to keep papers organized in 3 ring notebook
5. Textbook
6. Index Cards for Presidential flashcards (I will let you know when)
Grading Plan:
Course work will be weighted as follows:
Unit Tests/Exams = 50%
Projects/Research = 25%
Reading Quizzes = 15%
Daily Work = 10%
Total = 100%
*This will be slightly different 2nd semester because you will be required to take the
Missouri State End of Course Exam in American History. This will count as 10% of
your second semester grade.
Quizzes, Tests, Projects, & Readings:
Each quarter you will have approximately 3 tests. You should also expect to
have nightly and weekly reading assignments that will vary from 10 pages to
20 pages. You will have quizzes over the reading assignments (10 15
questions) that will typically be in MC format. You will take the quizzes
online via Edmodo. Please make sure you have access to the Internet either at
home, before school, after school, or during advisory.
Essay grading in this course will be a little different from what you are
accustomed to. Essays will be graded according to AP STANDARDS on a 9point scale. The average grade on an AP essay is a 3.5. Therefore
3 = 70%
4 = 80%
5 = 85%
6 = 90%
7 = 95%
8 = 100%
9 = 105%
The MC exams, daily quizzes, assignments, and projects will be graded based
on the usual grading scale (points made/points possible = %) like most of you
are use to.
All assignments Due on DUE DATE! Late assignments will receive
deductions!
When absent check for missing assignments in the BLACK BINS! It is your
responsibility to get missing work! You have the amount of days you were
absent to make up the missed work (ex: 2 days absent 2 days to make up
work). If it is a school activity it is not considered an absence, therefore I
expect the assignment to be turned in on time or it WILL receive late
deductions.
In addition, because this is a college level course and because the goal is to
improve your skills and not to punish your GPA, this is a weighted class.
There are also some curves built in for you over the course of the year. We
will discuss those as they arise. HOWEVER, I have the right and the
discretion at all times to amend this policy if you are not putting forth the
effort in this course (i.e. late assignments, 0, discipline problems, etc.)
Notices/Communication:
This class will utilize Remind101 for text or email reminders about
assignments and tests. If you (or your parents) are interested in receiving
these notifications, please be sure and sign up for our class using the code in
the handout. If you did not get it please ask. This is a safe platform for
texting. Because the class has a code, I will not have your cell number. I am
looking forward to this helping with our communication.
This class will also utilize a website http://shsbutterfield.weebly.com for
additional information and assignments. You need to check this site
frequently. If you lose an important document check the website for a new
copy before you request one from me. In addition, your vocabulary will be
found on this site as well as assignments and extra credit.
All other rules as outlined in the Student Handbook will apply in my classroom. If you have
any questions, please feel free to ask or visit with me after class. If you need to contact me
after school hours feel free to email me [email protected].
*Part of the information above was taken from College Board Advanced Placement Program
Materials
AP US HISTORY SYLLABUS
2014-2015
CHERYL BUTTERFIELD, INSTRUCTOR
SENECA HIGH SCHOOL
I have received the AP US History Syllabus. I have read and I understand the information
and requirements contained in the syllabus. I will put forth my best effort to ensure success
on the National Exam, May 8, 2015. I understand the exam fee is approximately $85.00.
I understand our class will be utilizing Remind101 this year. I understand this is a text or
email service that I can join and Mrs. Butterfield will send out reminders regarding tests,
assignments, and due dates. Any costs associated with texts are my responsibility.
I understand I need to access the class website on a regular basis to keep updated on
vocabulary, links, instructions, etc. http://shsbutterfield.weebly.com
I understand that this class will take online reading quizzes and that I will need reliable
access to the Internet.
I understand Plagiarism and Cheating will NOT be tolerated and can result in discipline
action.
I understand this is my 1st assignment. I have signed below indicating I have read and
understand the syllabus. Signed Syllabus is DUE on Tuesday, August 19, 2014.
________________________________
Student Signature & Date
________________________________
Parent Signature & Date
