A.P.%20United%20States%20History%20Towson%20High%20School

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A.P. United States HistoryTowson High School

• Welcome Parents!
• Write down this link
• http//apusths.pbworks.com

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Course Description

• AP U.S. History is a chronological study of
  American History from 1491 to the present.
  Students will develop a variety of historical
  thinking skills and make historical connections
  to Historical Themes in order to prepare for the
  Advanced Placement Exam.

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Historical Thinking Skills
Chronological Reasoning 1. Historical Causation 2. Patterns of Continuity Change over Time 3. Periodization
Comparison Contrast 4. Comparison 5. Contextualization
Crafting Historical Arguments from Historical Evidence 6. Appropriate Use of 7. Relevant Historical Evidence
Historical Interpretation Synthesis 8. Interpretation 9. Synthesis

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Historical Themes
Belief Systems Ideologies, Religion, Art/ Literature, Cultural Values, Ideals, Morality, Popular Culture, Science Philosophy
America in the World (Foreign) Competition for Resources, Foreign Policy Diplomacy, Expansion, Wars, Global Connections
Geography Environment Climate, Interaction w/ Environment, Natural Resources, Exchanges (Plants, Disease, Animals, Technologies)
Peopling Migration Trends, Nativism, Deomographics, European relations w/ Native Americans
Identity Gender Roles, Class, Racial Ethnic Identities, Nationalism, Assimilation
Politics Power Constitution, Political Process, Political Parties, Federalism, Democracy, Citizenship, Power
Economy Agriculture, Commerce/ Trade, Labor Systems, Innovation, Transportation, Industrialization, Regulation, Jobs
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Texts Resources

• The American Pageant (Their textbook!)
• AP US History Crash Course (reading available on
  the Website
• Supplementary AP Study Resource
• Suggest Princeton Review or Barons of the
  NEWEST EDITION (2016)
• Nothing before 2015!

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The Test!!!!!
50
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The Class

• Classwork 50
• Homework 15
• Assessments
• 35

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Homework 15

• Emphasis on Content Application of Historical
  Thinking Skills for developing Essays
• Weekly Chapter Assignments
• 1 to 2 Chapters are expected to be read and
  Chapter Assignment completed on a weekly basis
• Emphasis on Historical Content vital to APUSH
• Weekly Writing Assignments (Kidblog)
• Students respond to a prompt by 750 am on
  Wednesday critique other students responses by
  1159 pm
• Practicing writing application of the
  Historical Thinking Skills
• Other (Ex Readings, Research)
• These assignments are necessary for what we have
  planned for a future class.
• No Late Policy

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Classwork 50

• Emphasis on the Application of Historical
  Thinking Skills to understanding Content
• Very little Content Overview (Chapter Readings
  emphasize the Content!)
• Majority of Activities are Collaborative among
  Assigned Groups
• Types of Classwork Activities
• Primary Secondary Sources Analysis
• Synthesis of Content
• Research Presentations
• Class Discussions
• Ranking Justification
• Thesis Essay Development (w/ Peer Evaluations)
• Content-rich Scenarios (to help better understand
  the Bigger Picture)
• No Late Policy

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Assessments (35)

• Beginning of the Quarter Quiz
• Purpose is to preview and assess basic concepts
  for the entire quarter
• Fill in the Blank Style
• Two Unit Assessments
• Content (Style Multiple Choice, Matching, etc.)
• Stimuli-based Multiple Choice (AP Style)
• One Cumulative Assessment at the end of the
  Quarter
• ALL Stimuli-based Multiple Choice (AP Style)
• Randomly Graded Kidblog Essay and/or Short Answer
  Response

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The Website

• http//apusths.pbworks.com
• Absent No Late Policy

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What can you do as a Parent?

• -Invest in a supplementary resource for your
  child.
• -Be supportive and motivate your child.
• -Be understanding and supportive if your child
  struggles.

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Questions?