AP U.S. History Seminar - Mr. Woods

Homework

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Course Description

Advanced placement United States History seminar is a 9-week survey of U.S. history covering the colonial period to the present.  The course will be offered to juniors and seniors for the first time in the spring of 2006.  Students wishing to take this course must have a minimum 85 average in their present U.S. history course and the recommendation of their teacher.

The course is designed to prepare students to successfully complete the advanced placement examination in U.S. history offered in May.  In addition to providing the basic narrative of the political, cultural and economic events in U.S. history, A/P U.S. history will focus on the refining of skills used to analyze historical evidence.  Students will also practice writing persuasive essays and will be exposed to the dominant themes present in American history.

Evaluation 

1. Tests (20%) - Announced and usually a chapter in length, or a test on major readings.

2. Quizzes (20%) - Announced and unannounced, based on reading assignments, material presented in class or information discussed the previous class.

3. Homework (20%) - daily assignments, vocabulary, ID's, hand-outs, and work sheets, graded 1­4 with 4 being the highest. Homework is expected to be complete on date that it is assigned to be completed. Student can expect homework daily during the week as well as weekends for continuity and reinforcement of conceptual thoughts processes.

4. Written Assignments (20%) - projects, legal briefs, position papers, short essays, short graded papers (usually 3 pages or less) graded by rubric.

5. Research (20%) - Paper that reports on a specific topic, debates, group projects, oral presentations and class reports. This also includes research papers done during each of the four semesters.

6. Class Participation - Positive involvement in class discussion and the ability to answer questions posed in class will be graded or value will be weighed in final grade for each quarter.

Rules and Expectations

1. Homework - In general, students are expected to spend about 50 to 60 minutes a night on homework in this course. Any more than that means that they don't do their homework carefully for my class, that they don't do their homework for other classes, or that virtually all they do outside of school is homework. None of these alternatives seems to me to be appropriate or ultimately beneficial for 16-year-olds. Students always have at least two nights without any other homework to prepare for either tests or essays, though most of them seem to spend more than an hour each night. We have two 9 week terms, and in most terms students have four major essays and multiple tests. The test is usually mostly multiple-choice, with some definitions, or an essay test. I give the students four old free-response essay questions to prepare on the period, then I choose one for them to write about when they take the test.

2. Promptness to class and attendance - You must arrive to class on time and be prepared to work. If you are late, you must have a pass. If you do not have a pass you will be subject to both teacher and administrative detention. If you are absent you should contact a member of the class or the office for the day's assignments. You are responsible for all work missed during an absence. 

3. Bring appropriate materials to class - This includes your textbook, a 3-ring binder, writing utensils, paper and all homework that is due.

4. Submit all work on time - If your work is late you will lose one letter grade per day until the work is no longer accepted (4 days).

5. Respect - The classroom, teachers and fellow students. This is a mandatory obligation in my classroom. Anything less will result in dismissal from class.

6. Cover textbooks - Keep them covered throughout the semester.

7. ALL formal papers must be typed - Double-spaced and in manuscript form.

General Class Requirements and Miscellaneous

• A 3-ring binder is required for the course. It may be of any size but since you will be asked to keep all of your work, tests, handouts, etc. it might be wise to have a large size. This notebook must be for Honors U.S. History only.
   

• Your notebook must be divided into five sections:
  
  Tests / Quizzes
  Class Notes
  Hand-outs worksheets / daily homework
  Text / Reading Notes
  Research Materials

Please make certain that these sections are well defined. Use either tabs, or some sort of hard dividers. I should be able to clearly see the divisions. You are encouraged to use wide-margined summary paper. This is the best type of paper for taking notes. If you do not wish to use this, or you have paper of your own, feel free to use it.

• If you do not have a good, comprehensive dictionary in your home you are encouraged to get one. You are responsible for understanding all that you read and this will entail finding definitions of words, so a dictionary is a very handy thing to have. Also, it would be to your advantage to have a good pocket dictionary to bring to class with you. Often we will be reading documents in class and you will need to look up a word. Developing good dictionary habits will pay dividends in all of your classes.
   

• Since you will be required to keep in your notebook all of the handouts you receive, the tests you take, etc. it would be beneficial for you to have a hole puncher. It doesn't have to be large and elaborate. You can get a small, cheap three-hole punch so you can put the material in your notebook efficiently.

Syllabus