Advanced Placement United States History Syllabus



United States History Syllabus

2019-20

Dr. Michael Krop Senior High

Mr. Hafter

United States History is a challenging course that is meant to prepare high school juniors for the rigors of college academics. It is a two-semester survey of American history from the Civil War to the present. Solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote reasonable time to homework and study, are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, essay writing, interpretation of original documents, and historiography.

In our survey of the American past, we will confront a range of emotions---rage and awe, joy and dismay---during the year. Your task is to put those emotions aside and analyze history dispassionately with intelligence, logic, and persuasion. So long as you do your part, this course won't be boring.

THE CLASSROOM: RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT, MATURITY

Having asserted that we won’t be bored, herewith my usual (boring?) sermon to students: I hope this will be a lively course in which discussion is regularly and vigorously practiced. If you can't find something interesting in most of the readings and class sessions, then either (a) American history is boring (you must be kidding), or (b) the books are boring (a thought too painful to contemplate), or (c) your classmates are boring (equally painful, dismiss the thought entirely), or (d) I’m boring (a distinct possibility, especially given the way my acquaintances look at me these days), or (e) you’re not trying because–fair’s fair–you are boring. But of course you're not at all boring, individually or collectively, so there's good news all 'round. We're in for a delightful school year, with perhaps just the odd rough spot or two (reading books, writing papers, making presentations).

One of the basic premises of the course is that ideas count, yours as well as mine, and that an exchange of ideas will be intellectually and, otherwise, stimulating for most of us most of the time. Please think of class sessions as a time for thinking out loud. I mean it. Don't be (too) shy; we may not be the very best of friends just yet, but we'll all be civil to each other. Meaningful discussion, not to mention pleasant conversation, is likely to be enhanced by a friendly spirit that minimizes personal animosity while accommodating and even encouraging disagreement. (Can we disagree without being disagreeable? Yes. And both things are essential: we must occasionally disagree, doing so with a civil tongue. Mature people do such things. This means you. And lighten up a little; after all, it’s only history.)

ATTENDANCE POLICIES:

If you don’t attend class, you will not pass! This is the most important factor. Failure and poor grades are directly related to attendance!

1-5 absences: parent note accepted

6-10 absences: must have a doctor’s note/official documentation!

10+ absences: absence will not be excused except in extreme situations.

15+ absences: is considered truancy.

*Ten or more absences (excused or unexcused) and the student is ineligible for sports and extracurricular activities

All absences affect the participation (F) and conduct (F) grade of the student

Students are required to bring in an absence note to the attendance office within 48 hours of the return to school or the absence may be unexcused. No makeup work can be issued or accepted until the absence is excused.

*Signing out of School - Signing out is NOT automatically excused! It is the teachers right to ask for the same documentation as an absence if a student is chronically absent (4+ times per year) due to signing out of school. Doctors’ appointments, as per county rules, should not be made during school hours. You will be sent to an administrator for excessive sign outs! No make-up will be accepted.

It is important that students contact (e-mail) me whenever they are absent in order to obtain information on assignments or to make arrangements for make-up work (only on unit tests). Students are allowed to opt out of one quiz per quarter if they are absent or to drop the lowest quiz grade at the end of the quarter (there are no make-up for quizzes). In the event that you have to make up a quiz after missing one, you will not be allowed to participate in the next or maintain credit for a previous” TEST REPAIR”, BINDER GRADE. If a student is absent the day of a unit test, the student will not be able to complete “TEST REPAIR”/BINDER GRADE unless the absence(s) is school related and student communicates with teacher ahead of time.

Some of the learning in your absence is virtually impossible to make up, but you can minimize the problem by acquiring notes and such from other class members. Study groups will be formed.

It is the student’s responsibility to request make up work when returning from an absence. Credit for missed work (unit tests) will be given only if the absence is excused. *When a student is absent on the day an assignment is due, the work must be turned in on the day the student returns to school in order to receive any credit (pending excused admit).

If a student is absent on the day a Unit test is given, the student has 48 hours (upon returning to school) to take the make-up exam. If a student does not begin to make up assignments within 48 hours upon returning to school, credit for make-up work will be withheld. *Make-up tests are given after school in order to ensure that students will not fall further behind.

When a student completes a make-up exam, extra points/LGU and test repair will NOT be assessed on assessment unless the absence is school related.

School-wide attendance, tardy and academic honor code policies will be strictly enforced. Be sure you adhere to these at all times.

If you have an unexcused tardy, you will not be permitted to make up a quiz or test already in progress. Tardy pass must read EXCUSED in order to make up missed work.

SIGN OUTS— If you sign out early for personal reasons on the day

• A test/quiz is scheduled you may not make up the test or quiz. Please make an effort to contact me prior to leaving early.

• If an assignment is due, you must turn in the assignment before leaving in order to receive credit.

• If you sign out early, you are still considered absent from class and all terms applying to a regular absence still apply.

• If you have 2 or more sign-outs within a 9 week grading period, you forfeit the opportunity to opt out or drop lowest grade.

ONLY 5 BATHROOM PASSES PER MARKING PERIOD 5 minutes per pass, exceeding either the number of passes or the time allotted will lower class participation grade.

Tardiness will negatively impact your grade. Also, it is important that students behave in a mature and serious minded manner. Class rules and consequences for breaking these rules are based on the district's Code of Student Conduct. If students do not follow the rules, or are failing the class, I will make every effort to contact and inform you of the situation. I can be reached at the school at 305 652-6808.1 am willing to meet you before or after the school day, or at a mutually convenient time if the need arises.

Grading Scale (as per Miami-Dade County School Board requirements)

Score recorded as points per grade end of term average

90-100 A 4 3.50 to 4.00

80-89 B 3 2.50 to 3.50

70-79 C 2 1.50 to 2.50

60-69 D 1 1.00 to 1.50

0-59 F 0 Master a broad body of historical knowledge.

>Demonstrate an understanding of historical chronology.

>Use historical data to support an argument or position.

>Differentiate between historiographical schools of thought.

>Write effectively and persuasively.

>Interpret and apply data from original documents, including cartoons, graphs, letters, etc.

>Effectively use analytical skills of evaluation, cause and effect, compare and contrast.

>Work effectively with others to produce products and solve problems.

Course Texts

United States History Florida

The Americans

Organization

It must be understood at the outset, that there is homework, and that it must be completed in advance of the material being covered in class. Students are expected to have a reasonable understanding of all topics treated in the text, readers, and the classroom.

Examinations will test for understanding of both the readings and classroom discussion. Understanding of all the issues covered in the readings cannot be covered in class. In fact, class discussions are intended to embellish the readings, not repeat the material. The readings, lectures, and class discussions are all a means of carrying on an inquiry into the topic at hand and are meant to supplement rather than duplicate each other---although some repetition and reinforcement is intended and desirable. Homework for the class will consist mainly of assigned readings along with written assignments; it is designed to familiarize students with specific factual information (SFI) so class time will emphasize how to utilize that information to construct effective, persuasive essays. Textbook/reader assignments will be issued regularly as preparation for quizzes and tests.

Daily reading assignments and "Discussion Questions" for outlining will be included. You will be able to e-mail me your homework assignments through the website using the link provided. If you have questions, ask them. I will provide assistance to you through e-mail. I look forward to working with you.

Quizzes and tests will be given as needed. Students are responsible for keeping up with reading assignments and being aware of, and ready for, quizzes and tests. Class will be a combination of lecture, group work, projects, in-class essays, coverage of discussion questions, vocabulary, and answering student questions. Periodically, student essays, reports and presentations will be required.

Grading

As we are all upstanding democratic republicans here, and good academicians to boot, we must at times pay attention to GRADES. Now, I prefer to believe that my pedagogical approach attempts, at least at the margins, to deëmphasize grades. Most assuredly this does not mean that I intend to shirk my responsibility to evaluate your effort and performance, your strengths and weaknesses. (I trust that you won't shirk yours when it comes time to evaluate mine. This seems a fair bargain.) Nor am I unmindful that most of you must be concerned about your grades, so here are a few things you need to know. I will grade you every day on attendance, preparation, and class participation. Believe it. If you do not consistently show up for class, on time, and exhibit a responsible level of preparation and a willingness to chat informally about what you've read, you will not receive a high mark in this area. If you slouch into the classroom with a sullen countenance, are frequently unprepared, or participate only irregularly and lackadaisically, you will receive a very low mark. Does this seem unduly harsh or petty? Dear me, I hope not. These few rules are in our communal best interest, and, not incidentally, your intellectual and educational, not to mention grubbier, self-interest. (Have you forgotten the subject of this interminable harrangue? It's GRADES, so wake up.) You may break these rules at the margins, if you do so playfully, with a twinkle in your eye, perhaps even mischievously. But if you behave like a boor, a churl, a lout--I hope these are gender-neutral terms--it's curtains for you.

Grading Scale (as per Miami-Dade County School Board requirements):

Score recorded as points per grade end of term average

90 – 100 A 4 3.50 to 4.00+

80 – 89 B 3 2.50 to ................
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