Syllabus+09-10

**AP US History**  **Syllabus '09-'10**  **Advanced Placement United States History** **Mr. Max - D445**

**Textbook**:  American History: A Survey by Alan Brinkley

 During each chapter, students will be responsible for creating and completing identifications of key terms and people. As you read, identify the important terms and people, then describe both what/who it is and why it is important to the history being studied (all in your own words). Also, you will compile ongoing lists at the beginning of your notebooks, with dates and brief descriptions, of domestic and international conflicts, legislation, Supreme Court cases, and political parties. For each chapter in the text, students will also be responsible for completing chapter questions. The textbook will be supplemented with primary source documents, map activities, videos, internet activities, and other prepared readings.

**Materials**  1) Each student must have a 3-ring binder with lined paper and dividers. Your binder must have 3 general sections: 1. year-long information such as this syllabus and the protocols you will receive for different activities, 2. the ongoing lists that we will create, and 3. chapter work - within this chapter work section, you will keep each chapter separated by a divider.  2) A highlighter and pens of multiple colors (at least two colors each day).

**The Course: Unit Plans**  The following is a very general outline and will undoubtedly be changed as the year progresses:

 Unit I: Chapters 1-5 Topics 1-4  September 3 – October 5

 Unit II: Chapters 6-10 Topics 5-7  October 5 – October 23

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Unit III: Chapters 11-15 Topics 8-13 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> October 23 – November 20

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Unit IV: Chapters 16-20 Topics 14-17 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> November 20 – December 21 (includes Thanksgiving Break)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Unit V: Chapters 21-23 Topics 18-19 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> December 21 – January 15 (includes Winter Break and midterm review)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Midterms January 19-21 (Period 6 midterm is January 19)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Unit VI: Chapters 24-26 Topics 19-20 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> January 22 – February 11

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Unit VII: Chapters 27-29 Topics 21-24 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> February 12 – March 11 (includes February Break)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Unit VIII: Chapters 30-34 Topics 25-28 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> March 11 – April 13

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Unit IX: REVIEW: April 13-May 6. The plan is to be finished with all 34 chapters of the book and 28 topics of the AP outline on April 13, which is the Tuesday before April Vacation. This will give us 23 days, including two class meetings, April Vacation, then 8 more class meetings to review for the 2010 US History AP Exam: Friday, May 7 at 8 AM.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Class Structure** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Most of your textbook reading will take place outside of class. In class, we will spend much of our time organizing and processing information from the readings, analyzing primary source documents, discussing and debating, and developing writing and test-taking skills. You will be graded on your tests, essays, and your home and class work, as well as your contributions to class discussions, debates, and presentations. It is your responsibility to make class a challenging academic environment. You will also be expected to get to know everyone else in the class and to work with different partners and groups on a regular basis. You will also be graded on your notebook. Your notebook will be an invaluable resource as you progress through the year. Success on tests, essays, and presentations will largely depend on how well you complete your classwork and homework, and how well you manage your notebook. More details on the notebook to come…

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Grading Percentages:Tests & Essays: 50% <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Classwork / Notebooks / Class Participation: 25% <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Homework: 25%