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Visit the "Course Content" link DAILY.
Course Description
AP American History will help students learn areas of history such as social, economic, cultural, urban, racial, and ethnic history, history of the West and South, environmental history, and the history of women and gender. In addition, American history has not evolved in a vacuum, but as part of a larger global world. The eleventh edition of the textbook places American history into that global context, making connections for students who live in an ever-expanding world themselves.
This is a very challenging college course equivalent to a freshman/sophomore-level college course. When utilized appropriately, the text, writing assignments, and format of the course are all intended to assure that students will be prepared to pass the AP U.S. History test which will be given on Friday, May 8, 2009. Passing that test will earn you 8 semester hours of college credit at most colleges (6 at BYU). While no student can be forced to take the AP Test, I anticipate that all students enrolled in the class will take it. Ask yourself a simple question: "How much sense does it make to do all the hard work and then not even give yourself a chance to earn the college credit?" The hope is that everyone will approach the course with the end goal in mind.
One full credit of junior-level United States history is required for graduation. This course fills that requirement. If you are a junior and fail this class, you will have to make arrangements to remediate the lost credit. If you are a senior and fail this class, you may not have the required number of elective or social studies credits to graduate.
Keeping up and passing this class is the student’s responsibility. You can turn in all of your work and still fail the class. You must do the work with scores high enough to warrant passing the class.
The cost of the AP test is $84.00. This can be paid at the CHHS Main Office and is due during late March. Fee reductions and fee waivers are available for those who qualify. This may seem expensive, but 8 semester hours this year at the University of Utah and other state colleges costs more than $1,000; the equivalent at BYU is more than $1,500.
Students who make notations, write in, highlight, mark, and/or damage their textbook, you will be placed on the fine list at the end of the school year and charged a fine per CHHS policy (approximately $50.00). For those who wish to mark and highlight a textbook, I suggest purchasing your own copy through a local bookstore, university/college bookstore, or an online auction site.
Textbook information:
Title: American History, a Survey, 11th edition
Author: Alan Brinkley
Copyright: 2003
ISBN: 0-07-242436-2
Textbook Website (with photo) CLICK HERE
Internet access is NOT required for this course. However, it is VERY helpful. For those who don't have internet access at home, the Media Center is open at 7:00AM before school and until 3:00PM after school every day. There are also numerous computer labs and public libraries which can be utilized.
Access to a printer is NOT required, but is helpful. For those who cannot print 10-15 pages two or three times per week, printed materials will be provided.
Course documents, testing schedule, and much, much more are available at this Internet site. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT STUDENTS CHECK THE 'HOME' PAGE AND 'COURSE CONTENT' PAGES OF THIS WEB SITE EVERY DAY. I have tried to make it as useful as possible for all students.
Keeping up is the most important thing a student can do. The course requires seriously committed students who are willing to dedicate the time, energy, and effort necessary to succeed. Successful students work far above the level required in a traditional high school history class. Experience has taught that more students drop the course as a result of falling behind than any other single reason. Understand that extra curricular activities, jobs, social activities, or other responsibilities are not excuses for failure to complete assignments on time and to the best of a student's ability. While each of the above activities is worthwhile and valuable, a student's enrollment in this course indicates a sense of obligation to fulfill all necessary class requirements. We go through the entire history of the United States, the entire textbook, between September and April. The course can be a rough road and it causes some students to doubt their own abilities at times. In addition, the course can cause considerable stress. If students, or parents, ever have questions regarding individual progress, please contact me.
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