WELCOME TO AP U.S. HISTORY!

Mrs. L Kearney Academy of the Holy Names Office Room Number: S401 Class Phone: 813-831-5371 (Ext. 368) Email: LKearney@holynamestpa.org (best way to get in touch with me)

Course Information:

This course is designed to increase the student’s understanding of United States History from its beginning to the present, its development and institutions. The goals of the class are to develop (1.) an understanding of some of the principle themes in early and modern U.S. History, (2.) an ability to analyze historical evidence, and (3.) an ability to analyze and to express historical understanding in writing and other forms of communication.

AP U.S. History is a rigorous, fast paced and challenging course designed to be the equivalent of a college freshman U.S. History survey course. Students should possess strong reading and writing skills and be willing to devote substantial time to study and the completion of class reading assignments. Emphasis is placed on class discussion, the use of primary and secondary sources, critical reading, and analytical writing. This course prepares students to take the College Board Advanced Placement United States History examination and possibly earning college credit.

Mastery of content and grades are important, but of equal value is:

v study and analytical skills v critical reading of primary and secondary sources v understanding and developing the historical thinking skills (e.g., Causation, Periodization, Change Over

Time, and Comparison) v using the historical themes to connect to broader contexts v constructing and evaluating historical interpretations v using historical knowledge as a guide to present understanding and action v empathizing with the past

Any AP class requires hard work and a commitment to intellectual growth. All students are strongly encouraged to dedicate themselves to the goals of AP U.S. History. Reminder that any student not holding a grade of 75 at mid-year will be removed from the course no exceptions

Accountability and Independent Learning:

You are responsible for reading and studying the textbook as well as ALL other readings. There will be a schedule located on Haiku at the beginning of each semester. While most of the textbook and course readings will be discussed in detail through our class discussions and seminars some of it will be covered through independent learning. You are responsible for ALL MATERIAL ASSIGNED, whether we discussed it in class

Skills for AP Level Courses in Social Studies 1. Should be prepared daily to actively engage in classroom discussions with a significant understanding of the depth of the material (i.e. after looking at FDR’s policies surrounding WWII - do you see an influence in regards to Woodrow Wilson’s policies of WWI - how are they connected- explain) through previously assigned reading. 2. Should have the ability to grasp new concepts (through reading and class discussions) at a rigorous (fast) pace without teacher intervention. 3. Should be able to answer open ended questions (Free Response Questions) and provide a depth of understanding and specific reasoning skills needed for the AP Examination. These answers should show a knowledge of

- Accurate historical context. - Similarities and/or differences between different historical developments. - Causes or effects of a specific historical development. - Patterns of continuity and/or change over time.

4. Should be able to analyze primary source/secondary source materials as well as charts, graphs & tables in the following ways

- Describe historically relevant information and/or arguments within a source. - Explain how a source provides information about the broader historical setting within which it was created. - Explain how a source's point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience might affect a source's meaning. - Explain the relative historical significance of a source's point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience. - Evaluate a source's credibility.

5. Should be able to produce writing that

- responds to a prompt with a historically defensible thesis (argument) that establishes a line of reasoning - describes a broader historical context relevant to the prompt - can support their thesis/argument in response to the prompt using primary source material AND explains how or why the document’s point of view, purpose, historical situation, and/or audience is relevant to the argument. - creates and supports a counter argument to the thesis/argument

6. Should be personally responsible for obtaining class information

- able to take self-directed notes during class discussion. - Responsible for getting notes and assignments when absent from class. - Consults outside sources for gathering additional information and preparing for assessments

7. Should complete multiple weekly homework assignments independently and thoroughly. 8. Should be able to complete tests and alternate assessments

- within rigorous time constraints - modeled after the APUSH examination

o multiple choice questions linked to a stimulus (primary or secondary sources) - require above analyzation skills o free response (open ended) questions often linked to a stimulus (primary or secondary source)

- See the skills described above in number 4 o document based questions

- See the skills described above in number 5

Book:

United States History Preparing for the AP Examination 2018 Edition Amsco Publication - no other edition will be accepted

Summer Assignments All summer assignments:

1) Please use your book (United States History Preparing for the AP Examination 2018 Edition Amsco Publication) to complete the assignment

2) Are due the first day of class. No late submissions are accepted under any circumstances 3) Will be graded. 4) Must be hand written. 5) Must be in your own words - copying from a web site is a form of plagiarism and will be dealt with

accordingly 6) Must be labeled with your name, set and date 7) WILL ACT AS NOTES FOR YOUR FIRST ASSESSMENT. YOUR FIRST ASSESSMENT WILL BE WITHIN THE

FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL Period One: 1491-1607 The Age of Exploration Directions: Outline the European treatment of the Native Americans in North America

Spanish Policy English Policy French Policy Native American Reaction

Period Two: 1607-1754 13 Colonies Directions: Please make a comprehensive/ SPECIFIC outline for each of the 13 colonies. Please note that you will have to read the whole chapter to complete this assignment - the chapter does not move in a lineal way. For each colony you must include:

v Geography and climate v Important people/founders v Settlements that lead to the evolution of the colony v Type of colony (royal, proprietary, cooperate) Does it change? v Reason for the formation colony v Dominate religion v Economy v Government/laws/acts v Social policy

Chesapeake Colonies:

v Maryland v Virginia

New England Colonies:

v Rhode Island v Connecticut v New Hampshire v Massachusetts

Restoration Colonies:

v Carolinas (North & South) v New York v New Jersey v Pennsylvania v Delaware v Georgia