AP United States History

Dr. Ketchell
aaron.ketchell@barstowschool.org

Course Description
In AP U.S. History, students investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes in nine
historical periods from approximately 1491 to the present. Students develop and use the same skills and
methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments;
making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change.
The course also provides eight themes that students explore throughout the course in order to make connections
among historical developments in different times and places: American and national identity; work, exchange,
and technology; geography and the environment; migration and settlement; politics and power; America in the
world; American and regional culture; and social structures.

Textbook
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History, Seagull Third Ed. (WW Norton & Co., 2011)
-ISBN#978-0-393-91189-3

*I will frequently distribute primary source materials and scholarly essays pertinent to the chapters. These
supplemental materials are also required reading.

Course Requirements
Exams (~50% of grade)
We will typically spend about five to six class periods on a chapter before an exam. Occasionally tests will be
multiple choice only. But most will include multiple choice and free response sections (short answer or long
essay question). Multiple choice questions will be designed to mirror the rigor and format of the AP exam.
Many short answers and all LEQs will be derived from prior AP tests and may require students to draw upon
material learned in earlier chapters. Definitely read with an eye for detail and be prepared for questions about
material that has not been covered in class!

Homework (~25% of grade)

Homework assignments will include but are not limited to: review questions from the textbook, summary and
analysis of primary sources, engagement with scholarly essays, or web-based exercises. Typically, there will be
one homework assignment per chapter in addition to the required reading.

At least once per quarter students will complete a document-based question (DBQ). These exercises will
function as preparation for part of the free-response section of the AP exam, with questions taken directly from
past tests. After the completion of these questions, we will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of individual
responses and future strategies for success.

Group Project/Presentation (~15% of grade)

Every student, as part of a small group selected at random, will present to the class once per quarter. Groups
will be given three or four options based on topics that pertain to the chapter at hand. We will also alter the
format of these presentations each quarter.
Participation (~10% of grade)
I expect each student to arrive prepared to engage lecture materials and participate in discussions. Individuals
who are consistently distracted by things such as their peers or electronic devices will see a substantial
reduction in this participation grade. Those who appear obviously disinterested in the material will also incur
such deductions. I will not be keeping a tally of who speaks in class. However, I’m sure we will have a
comfortable, welcoming environment and thus all individuals should be at ease when asking and answering
questions. Also see the sections below about punctuality, classroom etiquette, and technology as they pertain to
this participation score.

Course Policies
Late Work
Work is due at the beginning of your hour on the day it is assigned. If a student is ill or away for an
extracurricular activity, he or she should talk to me ASAP. Beyond these conditions, all late work will be
assessed a 10% per day penalty. Additionally, if a student fails to submit homework or misses an exam due to
an unexcused absence, he or she will receive no credit for this missed work.

If an individual needs to take a make-up exam after an excused absence, this should be done as soon as possible
upon returning to school. All make-up exams must be taken within three days after a student is back. A make-
up test may be a different version than was given to the rest of the class.

Punctuality
Classes start when indicated on your daily schedule. Frequent tardiness means you had less instructional time
and will therefore lower your participation score.

Technology
Students may take notes on their laptops. However, if it appears that laptops are being used for other (non-
class) purposes then we will move to a closed computer policy for specific individuals or even the entire class.
There is no need to have cell phones out during class. They can certainly be on and silenced, but not so handy
as to succumb to digital temptation (thus, never sitting on the table).

The “A+”
A grade of “A+” will only be awarded if a student’s cumulative score is 100% or higher. Some exams may be
curved. I curve an exam if the class average falls below 80%. Therefore, it may be possible to score above
perfect on these tests. In addition, a minimal amount of extra credit may be available any given quarter.

The AP Exam
All juniors enrolled in AP US History are required to take the exam. Although we will gradually prepare for
this test throughout the year, success also requires a great degree of personal initiative. Due to the vast amount
of material that we must cover in nine short months, there will not be much time left for comprehensive review
at the end of the second semester. Therefore, I strongly encourage students to begin individual preparations
early. In the fall I will highlight the perks of scoring well on this exam (credit/placement plus saving money)
and what various colleges and universities offer to those with high marks.