Syllabus

Syllabus

Advanced Placement US History
Syllabus
Schedule
CALENDAR
Terms
Chapter Objectives
Sample Test Questions
Classroom Materials
Other Assignments
Supplemental Materials
AP EXAM REVIEW MATERIALS
Grades
Links

Welcome to AP US History!

Welcome to AP US History! Throughout this course we will be looking at the history of this country from its discovery by European explorers to the end of the twentieth century. This course will also prepare you to take the Advanced Placement Exam in May of 2009. Successfully passing the exam will earn you college credit. Credit will vary from college to college but generally, you can earn credit for one or two lower division courses by passing the exam. The reason colleges give credit for passing the exam is that they are satisfied that the course was equivalent to a college course. Consider this class to be a college course. This class will be difficult, but it will also be "doable." I expect nothing but your best this year and I will give you nothing less than my best in return. Good luck and welcome again!

Materials Needed:

YOU SHOULD HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED THE FOLLOWING TEXT AND BOOKS:

The American Pageant, 12th Edition, this is your textbook and is available from the bookstore. This is the ONLY version that can be used for this course.

Don't know much about History, a supplemental reader presented in a question and answer format. You need to have the hardcover version.

The four novels:

Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara - reading due with Unit 2

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe - reading due with Unit 6

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair - reading due in January (completed by the end of Unit 13)

Hiroshima by John Hersey - reading due in February/March (completed by the end of Unit 16)

A 3-ring binder or large 5-subject notebook - for class notes and class assignments. A 3-ring binder is preferred to the 5-subject notebook because it can be expanded as needed and you can keep additional assignments in a binder without losing them (a 3-hole punch is available in the classroom). In addition, the notebooks tend to start falling apart by the end of November. You will take a LOT of notes in this class.

A very large 3-ring binder - this will be for returned work, tests, terms, and handouts throughout the year. You can start with a smaller binder but you will need at least a 3" binder by May - this can stay at home and its purpose is to organize all of your assignments for AP Exam review. Keep ALL handouts and returned assignments for review purposes. Organization is the key to being successful in this course.

An AP Exam Review Book - available at any bookstore (some libraries have these available) - there are several publishers who release review books - look over the books available (Barons, Princeton Review, etc.) and choose the one that suits your needs best - please purchase no later than March 1, 2009. You may find this very helpful beginning in September as most review books are divided into sections very similar to the class units. Many students have found them to be a useful study tool. I strongly recommend having one as soon as possible. It does not need to be the 2009 version (anything from 2003 on will do). But please get one.

Typical Unit Schedule

An average of 60 to 80 terms per unit (sometimes more, sometimes less) to know. You will need to type/write out definitions or short summaries of the term/concept IN YOUR OWN WORDS to help you study. Many (but not all) can be found in your textbook although you will find an encyclopedia to be immensely helpful. You must know these terms as they will appear on exams and quizzes. These will be checked as "completed/not completed" in class. These will be completed in small groups and is the only regular "group" assignment.

A terms quiz based on the current unit as well as terms from any previous unit.

An essay, short writing, or worksheet. This may include document analysis, paragraphs, a full essay, and more.

Class notes. You will take notes in class nearly every day.

Objective Questions (answer in paragraph form). These are done INDIVIDUALLY & in your own words

Extensive reading from the text and other sources.

A unit exam (generally multiple choice but may include fill-in, short answer and/or essay). The format is usually announced prior to the exam but not always. Be prepared for any format.

Extra Credit Policy

Extra credit assignments are extremely RARE (I average one small assignment per semester). Some tests and quizzes also have a one or two point bonus question. In general, my extra credit policy is: "If you don't have time to do the work, you won't have time for the extra credit."

Grading:

Your overall grade is based on a WEIGHTED PERCENT system. Points are given for each assignment and the average grade for each group of assignments is then multiplied by the percents below. Your weighted category averages are then added together to achieve your final grade. This may seem a little confusing, especially at first when you only have points in a few categories, but overall, I find it to be much more fair, predictable, and generally results in higher grades for most students.

Quizzes - 10%

Tests/Exams - 25%

Reading (aka Chapter) Objectives - 20%

Classwork - 7%

Homework/Terms - 10%

Projects - 10%

Final Exam - 18%

Grades will be available every 2 -3 weeks (posted in the classroom by your student ID number). Grades are also available via the internet at www.mygradebook.com

Note: Assignments begun in class but finished at home are considered "Classwork" for grading purposes.

Mygradebook.com

Student grades are made available to both parents and students through the use of an online grade book. The address of the website is www.mygradebook.com and is available any time of day. All students will be issued the "classword" and a "password" to log into the site. Enter your "classword" as your user name and your "password" that was given out in class to see your grades. Grades will be updated every 2-3 weeks or after a major project.

Make-Up Policy

It is your responsibility to turn in all assignments on time. If you are absent the day an assignment is due, you must turn it the day you return. It is the responsibility of the student, not the teacher, to inquire about class work, homework, and/or tests missed in a student's absence. If you miss a test, you will take it your first day back. Lunchtime or after-school make-ups may occasionally be available but are not guaranteed. You are responsible for any work/notes while you are making up an exam. Missing a review day is no excuse for not taking an exam. If you miss class due to sports or other extracurricular activities, it is to your advantage to turn in assignments before you leave. It is also your responsibility to ask about and make up any missed work and/or quizzes. There is a large "Homework/Assignment" board in the classroom where assignments are written. It is your responsibility to check this board daily as assignments are occasionally posted, but not announced "out loud" in class (such as a textbook reading assignment). Due dates are always included. Remember, some assignments (such as pop quizzes) will not be on the board. Failure to make up an assignment will result in a "0" (zero) grade.

Late Assignments

You are advanced students fully capable of being responsible for your own time and actions. Since you are still in high school however, I am willing to accept late assignments. However, because of the extensive time that is allowed between when an assignment is given and when it is collected, a substantial penalty will be deducted for assignments turned in after the due date. There is a 50% penalty for late assignments; if the work is turned in more than a week.after the assignment is due, it will no longer be accepted for points. For example, if an assignment is due on a Monday, the last day it could be turned in for partial credit is the following Monday. The late homework policy is there to use in extraordinary circumstances only and should not become a regular occurrence. Students who turn in an assignment late due to an excused absence will not be penalized the day they return. Students with extended absences due to an extended illness or other excused situation can have special arrangements made in conjunction with the Dean's Office and Guidance.

General Class Rules and Information

1. Remember to treat others as you would wish to be treated. Any disrespect shown to faculty, staff or other students will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action.

2. You must be in your assigned seat and prepared for class when the bell rings - have your notebook, textbook and other materials out and ready to go. Failure to come to class prepared (with notebook, pens, etc.) may result in a violation.

3. Students are to be in complete uniform at all times. This includes having your shirt tucked in, proper uniform items (belt, shirts, etc), pants/shorts properly pulled up, etc.

4. All homework is due at the beginning of class or it is considered late.

5. Cheating will result in an automatic zero and time serving detention. This includes cheating on tests, quizzes, homework, and classwork assignments. At the teacher's discretion, cheating on homework or classwork will result in a 'zero' score on the assignment and either a violation or a referral. Copying homework answers or working together when assignment directions state "work independently" will be considered cheating. Cheating on tests or quizzes will always result in an automatic 'zero' score and a referral. Actions that appear to be cheating may be construed as cheating. See the Parent-Student Handbook for further information.

6. Students are not to complete work for another class during History. If you are caught doing so, the assignment will be confiscated and turned over to the teacher of the subject in question and a detention will be issued. Copying another student's work is cheating and will result in disciplinary action - both students are considered to be cheating. Homework is to be done at home and should not be worked on during class.

7. No passes to leave the classroom will be issued except in the event of an emergency. Forgetting your homework, book, notebook, etc. is not considered an emergency. Trips to the bookstore, restroom, locker, etc. should be taken care of before class or during break - not during class. Tissues may be present in the classroom (not guaranteed) and if available, may be used by students at any time. However, passes to leave the classroom to get tissue (if the classroom is out) will not be issued. Be prepared by carrying a small pack of tissues with you.

8. All assignments must be completed on loose-leaf paper and in DARK INK. Assignments done in pencil or torn out of a notebook will not be accepted. All assignments may be typed; however, make sure you have enough ink and that your printer works - no extensions are given for these types of problems.

9. Grade checks are available at any time by request of a student, parent or guidance counselor. Please allow up to 24-48 hours to be completed.

10. No food is allowed in the classroom. Re-sealable drinks are allowed but you must clean up any spills IMMEDIATELY. Also please make sure to wipe up any "moisture rings" that may be present on desks. I recommend that you keep tissue or napkins with you to take care of this before you leave the classroom. If there are persistent problems with "spills," drinks may be banned from the classroom.

11. Additional rules may be added (by the teacher or the students) as needed during the school year. These will be posted in the classroom.

AP US History Web Page

To help students with their organization and study of US History (and parents to see what is going on in the classroom), I have constructed a web page that includes this syllabus, and well as numerous other special features. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you bookmark this website and check it often.

The planning calendar - so you can see tentative dates for upcoming tests

Chapter objectives and terms - you can work ahead if you like

Class assignments and project directions if they can be placed online

Study Guides for the final exams (and some unit tests too)

Review Questions and additional (or sample) assignments

Supplemental materials - such as how to work with documents, essay writing samples and suggestions, etc.

Grades - access to grades with students listed by ID number

Links to useful or interesting sites plus things to see and do in the Los Angeles area that are of a historical nature (museums and attractions)

To access the web pages, go to www.freehomepages.com/cdelay or www.geocities.com/cdelay_bmhs, and choose "AP US History classes." You may wish to bookmark this page and check it often. I have put a large amount of useful information and links on the site and I try to update it weekly. These web pages are also available on the BMHS server with the other faculty web pages (although depending on how busy the computer department is, they may not be as up to date as the sites I maintain off the BMHS system).

So what is REALLY Expected of Me?

As you may have already figured out from the summer assignment, there is a lot to do in this class. We must cover approximately 500 years of history, learn how to analyze and interpret primary sources, learn how to take notes from both printed materials and lectures, and write analytical essays - and do it all before Spring Break. This sounds like a lot but the various assignments you will complete throughout the semester do all of the above to prepare you for the AP Exam in May. In-class lecture and lecture notes give you an overview of what happened and why it is important. Reading each chapter and completing the Chapter Objective questions continues this process and covers additional items. The Objective questions are also a way for you to check your understanding of the material. Can you answer the question easily and explain your answer in your own words or do you need to search through the text looking for the answer to copy it? If you spend a lot of time searching around for the answer, perhaps you need to spend more time reading first. Take notes as you read and use them!

Reading the supplementary materials that are handed out in class will expose you to primary sources and document analysis worksheets and class discussions will help you to interpret them. This is also why you should keep Reading Notes on each document you are given. You jot down a brief summary, your interpretations and can add to them as they are being discussed. These notes are for you to review as the AP Exam approaches. This way you can recall what the documents were all about without having to re-read them or try and remember why you highlighted a particular passage. (You don't really want to re-read all of the supplementary material, do you?)

Chapter Terms are also an important part of your AP Exam preparation. We will try and focus more on the "how" and "why" of an event but you still need to know the "what" and "when" in order to explain it thoroughly. Memorizing the "what" and "when" is your responsibility. We will focus on the "how" and "why" in class. Therefore, the terms give you the basic information and class discussion rounds out that knowledge. Many of the terms are covered/explained in you text but many are not. You will need access to a good encyclopedia or historical dictionary - there are several in the BMHS library specifically for this purpose.

Your homework is given at the beginning of each unit and is not due until the end or on the day of the quiz. It may be tempting to not do anything until the last day or two but then both you and your parents will be complaining about the tremendous workload. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! If you do, you will likely rush through the assignments and miss information that could be vital on the exam. Take your time and do a little of the work each night to keep everything manageable. I would recommend reading the chapters associated with each unit first (there could be pop quizzes taken directly from the reading at any point during the unit), studying the terms next (or a few each day), then completing the chapter objective questions last. You have a week or (usually) more to do those three assignments. Supplemental reading is handed out throughout the semester and you may have only one night to read a particular primary source. You also have worksheets that are associated with a particular reading, chapter or unit that are given for homework during the course of a unit. This is why TIME MANAGEMENT is so important. (Remember the summer paperwork?) Time Management, TIME MANAGEMENT, TIME MANAGEMENT! You can get an A in this class and a 5 on the exam but you need to work hard and be very organized.

A Note on AP Exam Review

Beginning in late March or early April, I will begin holding Exam Reviews after school (roughly weekly). The review sessions include additional writing, quizzes, practice exam questions, additional work interpreting documents, lecture review, etc (and some fun stuff too). These are optional and can help you to recall older material or practice skills. A schedule will be posted in the classroom as the review season approaches.

A Note to Parents

I encourage parent participation in a student's education and am happy to discuss your child's progress with you. If you need to contact me, please phone the school and leave a message and I will contact you as soon as possible. Please include a phone number where you can be reached and the best time to call. You may also email me at [email protected] but please be aware that my email gets checked several times a week (but not necessarily daily) so I could be a bit longer getting back to you. Please also make sure you include both the first and last name of your child - many students have similar names and I'd like to be prepared with all of your student's information before I return your call or email.

Date Last Modified: 8/29/04

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		Syllabus

Advanced Placement US History Syllabus Schedule CALENDAR Terms Chapter Objectives Sample Test Questions Classroom Materials Other Assignments Supplemental Materials AP EXAM REVIEW MATERIALS Grades Links	Welcome to AP US History! Welcome to AP US History! Throughout this course we will be looking at the history of this country from its discovery by European explorers to the end of the twentieth century. This course will also prepare you to take the Advanced Placement Exam in May of 2009. Successfully passing the exam will earn you college credit. Credit will vary from college to college but generally, you can earn credit for one or two lower division courses by passing the exam. The reason colleges give credit for passing the exam is that they are satisfied that the course was equivalent to a college course. Consider this class to be a college course. This class will be difficult, but it will also be "doable." I expect nothing but your best this year and I will give you nothing less than my best in return. Good luck and welcome again! Materials Needed: YOU SHOULD HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED THE FOLLOWING TEXT AND BOOKS: The American Pageant, 12th Edition, this is your textbook and is available from the bookstore. This is the ONLY version that can be used for this course. Don't know much about History, a supplemental reader presented in a question and answer format. You need to have the hardcover version. The four novels: Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara - reading due with Unit 2 Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe - reading due with Unit 6 The Jungle by Upton Sinclair - reading due in January (completed by the end of Unit 13) Hiroshima by John Hersey - reading due in February/March (completed by the end of Unit 16) A 3-ring binder or large 5-subject notebook - for class notes and class assignments. A 3-ring binder is preferred to the 5-subject notebook because it can be expanded as needed and you can keep additional assignments in a binder without losing them (a 3-hole punch is available in the classroom). In addition, the notebooks tend to start falling apart by the end of November. You will take a LOT of notes in this class. A very large 3-ring binder - this will be for returned work, tests, terms, and handouts throughout the year. You can start with a smaller binder but you will need at least a 3" binder by May - this can stay at home and its purpose is to organize all of your assignments for AP Exam review. Keep ALL handouts and returned assignments for review purposes. Organization is the key to being successful in this course. An AP Exam Review Book - available at any bookstore (some libraries have these available) - there are several publishers who release review books - look over the books available (Barons, Princeton Review, etc.) and choose the one that suits your needs best - please purchase no later than March 1, 2009. You may find this very helpful beginning in September as most review books are divided into sections very similar to the class units. Many students have found them to be a useful study tool. I strongly recommend having one as soon as possible. It does not need to be the 2009 version (anything from 2003 on will do). But please get one. Typical Unit Schedule An average of 60 to 80 terms per unit (sometimes more, sometimes less) to know. You will need to type/write out definitions or short summaries of the term/concept IN YOUR OWN WORDS to help you study. Many (but not all) can be found in your textbook although you will find an encyclopedia to be immensely helpful. You must know these terms as they will appear on exams and quizzes. These will be checked as "completed/not completed" in class. These will be completed in small groups and is the only regular "group" assignment. A terms quiz based on the current unit as well as terms from any previous unit. An essay, short writing, or worksheet. This may include document analysis, paragraphs, a full essay, and more. Class notes. You will take notes in class nearly every day. Objective Questions (answer in paragraph form). These are done INDIVIDUALLY & in your own words Extensive reading from the text and other sources. A unit exam (generally multiple choice but may include fill-in, short answer and/or essay). The format is usually announced prior to the exam but not always. Be prepared for any format. Extra Credit Policy Extra credit assignments are extremely RARE (I average one small assignment per semester). Some tests and quizzes also have a one or two point bonus question. In general, my extra credit policy is: "If you don't have time to do the work, you won't have time for the extra credit." Grading: Your overall grade is based on a WEIGHTED PERCENT system. Points are given for each assignment and the average grade for each group of assignments is then multiplied by the percents below. Your weighted category averages are then added together to achieve your final grade. This may seem a little confusing, especially at first when you only have points in a few categories, but overall, I find it to be much more fair, predictable, and generally results in higher grades for most students. Quizzes - 10% Tests/Exams - 25% Reading (aka Chapter) Objectives - 20% Classwork - 7% Homework/Terms - 10% Projects - 10% Final Exam - 18% Grades will be available every 2 -3 weeks (posted in the classroom by your student ID number). Grades are also available via the internet at www.mygradebook.com Note: Assignments begun in class but finished at home are considered "Classwork" for grading purposes. Mygradebook.com Student grades are made available to both parents and students through the use of an online grade book. The address of the website is www.mygradebook.com and is available any time of day. All students will be issued the "classword" and a "password" to log into the site. Enter your "classword" as your user name and your "password" that was given out in class to see your grades. Grades will be updated every 2-3 weeks or after a major project. Make-Up Policy It is your responsibility to turn in all assignments on time. If you are absent the day an assignment is due, you must turn it the day you return. It is the responsibility of the student, not the teacher, to inquire about class work, homework, and/or tests missed in a student's absence. If you miss a test, you will take it your first day back. Lunchtime or after-school make-ups may occasionally be available but are not guaranteed. You are responsible for any work/notes while you are making up an exam. Missing a review day is no excuse for not taking an exam. If you miss class due to sports or other extracurricular activities, it is to your advantage to turn in assignments before you leave. It is also your responsibility to ask about and make up any missed work and/or quizzes. There is a large "Homework/Assignment" board in the classroom where assignments are written. It is your responsibility to check this board daily as assignments are occasionally posted, but not announced "out loud" in class (such as a textbook reading assignment). Due dates are always included. Remember, some assignments (such as pop quizzes) will not be on the board. Failure to make up an assignment will result in a "0" (zero) grade. Late Assignments You are advanced students fully capable of being responsible for your own time and actions. Since you are still in high school however, I am willing to accept late assignments. However, because of the extensive time that is allowed between when an assignment is given and when it is collected, a substantial penalty will be deducted for assignments turned in after the due date. There is a 50% penalty for late assignments; if the work is turned in more than a week.after the assignment is due, it will no longer be accepted for points. For example, if an assignment is due on a Monday, the last day it could be turned in for partial credit is the following Monday. The late homework policy is there to use in extraordinary circumstances only and should not become a regular occurrence. Students who turn in an assignment late due to an excused absence will not be penalized the day they return. Students with extended absences due to an extended illness or other excused situation can have special arrangements made in conjunction with the Dean's Office and Guidance. General Class Rules and Information 1. Remember to treat others as you would wish to be treated. Any disrespect shown to faculty, staff or other students will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action. 2. You must be in your assigned seat and prepared for class when the bell rings - have your notebook, textbook and other materials out and ready to go. Failure to come to class prepared (with notebook, pens, etc.) may result in a violation. 3. Students are to be in complete uniform at all times. This includes having your shirt tucked in, proper uniform items (belt, shirts, etc), pants/shorts properly pulled up, etc. 4. All homework is due at the beginning of class or it is considered late. 5. Cheating will result in an automatic zero and time serving detention. This includes cheating on tests, quizzes, homework, and classwork assignments. At the teacher's discretion, cheating on homework or classwork will result in a 'zero' score on the assignment and either a violation or a referral. Copying homework answers or working together when assignment directions state "work independently" will be considered cheating. Cheating on tests or quizzes will always result in an automatic 'zero' score and a referral. Actions that appear to be cheating may be construed as cheating. See the Parent-Student Handbook for further information. 6. Students are not to complete work for another class during History. If you are caught doing so, the assignment will be confiscated and turned over to the teacher of the subject in question and a detention will be issued. Copying another student's work is cheating and will result in disciplinary action - both students are considered to be cheating. Homework is to be done at home and should not be worked on during class. 7. No passes to leave the classroom will be issued except in the event of an emergency. Forgetting your homework, book, notebook, etc. is not considered an emergency. Trips to the bookstore, restroom, locker, etc. should be taken care of before class or during break - not during class. Tissues may be present in the classroom (not guaranteed) and if available, may be used by students at any time. However, passes to leave the classroom to get tissue (if the classroom is out) will not be issued. Be prepared by carrying a small pack of tissues with you. 8. All assignments must be completed on loose-leaf paper and in DARK INK. Assignments done in pencil or torn out of a notebook will not be accepted. All assignments may be typed; however, make sure you have enough ink and that your printer works - no extensions are given for these types of problems. 9. Grade checks are available at any time by request of a student, parent or guidance counselor. Please allow up to 24-48 hours to be completed. 10. No food is allowed in the classroom. Re-sealable drinks are allowed but you must clean up any spills IMMEDIATELY. Also please make sure to wipe up any "moisture rings" that may be present on desks. I recommend that you keep tissue or napkins with you to take care of this before you leave the classroom. If there are persistent problems with "spills," drinks may be banned from the classroom. 11. Additional rules may be added (by the teacher or the students) as needed during the school year. These will be posted in the classroom. AP US History Web Page To help students with their organization and study of US History (and parents to see what is going on in the classroom), I have constructed a web page that includes this syllabus, and well as numerous other special features. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you bookmark this website and check it often. The planning calendar - so you can see tentative dates for upcoming tests Chapter objectives and terms - you can work ahead if you like Class assignments and project directions if they can be placed online Study Guides for the final exams (and some unit tests too) Review Questions and additional (or sample) assignments Supplemental materials - such as how to work with documents, essay writing samples and suggestions, etc. Grades - access to grades with students listed by ID number Links to useful or interesting sites plus things to see and do in the Los Angeles area that are of a historical nature (museums and attractions) To access the web pages, go to www.freehomepages.com/cdelay or www.geocities.com/cdelay_bmhs, and choose "AP US History classes." You may wish to bookmark this page and check it often. I have put a large amount of useful information and links on the site and I try to update it weekly. These web pages are also available on the BMHS server with the other faculty web pages (although depending on how busy the computer department is, they may not be as up to date as the sites I maintain off the BMHS system). So what is REALLY Expected of Me? As you may have already figured out from the summer assignment, there is a lot to do in this class. We must cover approximately 500 years of history, learn how to analyze and interpret primary sources, learn how to take notes from both printed materials and lectures, and write analytical essays - and do it all before Spring Break. This sounds like a lot but the various assignments you will complete throughout the semester do all of the above to prepare you for the AP Exam in May. In-class lecture and lecture notes give you an overview of what happened and why it is important. Reading each chapter and completing the Chapter Objective questions continues this process and covers additional items. The Objective questions are also a way for you to check your understanding of the material. Can you answer the question easily and explain your answer in your own words or do you need to search through the text looking for the answer to copy it? If you spend a lot of time searching around for the answer, perhaps you need to spend more time reading first. Take notes as you read and use them! Reading the supplementary materials that are handed out in class will expose you to primary sources and document analysis worksheets and class discussions will help you to interpret them. This is also why you should keep Reading Notes on each document you are given. You jot down a brief summary, your interpretations and can add to them as they are being discussed. These notes are for you to review as the AP Exam approaches. This way you can recall what the documents were all about without having to re-read them or try and remember why you highlighted a particular passage. (You don't really want to re-read all of the supplementary material, do you?) Chapter Terms are also an important part of your AP Exam preparation. We will try and focus more on the "how" and "why" of an event but you still need to know the "what" and "when" in order to explain it thoroughly. Memorizing the "what" and "when" is your responsibility. We will focus on the "how" and "why" in class. Therefore, the terms give you the basic information and class discussion rounds out that knowledge. Many of the terms are covered/explained in you text but many are not. You will need access to a good encyclopedia or historical dictionary - there are several in the BMHS library specifically for this purpose. Your homework is given at the beginning of each unit and is not due until the end or on the day of the quiz. It may be tempting to not do anything until the last day or two but then both you and your parents will be complaining about the tremendous workload. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! If you do, you will likely rush through the assignments and miss information that could be vital on the exam. Take your time and do a little of the work each night to keep everything manageable. I would recommend reading the chapters associated with each unit first (there could be pop quizzes taken directly from the reading at any point during the unit), studying the terms next (or a few each day), then completing the chapter objective questions last. You have a week or (usually) more to do those three assignments. Supplemental reading is handed out throughout the semester and you may have only one night to read a particular primary source. You also have worksheets that are associated with a particular reading, chapter or unit that are given for homework during the course of a unit. This is why TIME MANAGEMENT is so important. (Remember the summer paperwork?) Time Management, TIME MANAGEMENT, TIME MANAGEMENT! You can get an A in this class and a 5 on the exam but you need to work hard and be very organized. A Note on AP Exam Review Beginning in late March or early April, I will begin holding Exam Reviews after school (roughly weekly). The review sessions include additional writing, quizzes, practice exam questions, additional work interpreting documents, lecture review, etc (and some fun stuff too). These are optional and can help you to recall older material or practice skills. A schedule will be posted in the classroom as the review season approaches. A Note to Parents I encourage parent participation in a student's education and am happy to discuss your child's progress with you. If you need to contact me, please phone the school and leave a message and I will contact you as soon as possible. Please include a phone number where you can be reached and the best time to call. You may also email me at [email protected] but please be aware that my email gets checked several times a week (but not necessarily daily) so I could be a bit longer getting back to you. Please also make sure you include both the first and last name of your child - many students have similar names and I'd like to be prepared with all of your student's information before I return your call or email.