AP US HISTORY

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 

Mr. David Fakkema

Room 135

Phone #:  332-2071

Dfakkema@blaine.k12.wa.us

 

            Because of the special nature of the Advanced Placement course, students need to make a commitment to strive for excellence, while fulfilling demanding requirements.

 

COURSE CONTENT: Advanced Placement United States History surveys the time frame from 1492 - 1974.  The course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of American history, while giving the students the opportunity to develop analytical skills and to critically assess our nation's past.  In order to effectively achieve this goal, students need to build a solid base of important factual knowledge

 

THE AP EXAM: A major goal of this class is to prepare students to take the national college level Advanced Placement Examination in May.  Students successfully completing this exam with a score of 3 or higher, on a scale of 1-5, will receive college credit at the vast majority of colleges and universities.

 

HOMEWORK: This demanding class requires daily homework.  Students planning to earn a grade of A or B will discover that 6-8 hours per week is minimal.  In addition to textbook reading, assignments are given from mandatory supplementary readings.  Students are required to do research and writing assignments.  Late work will not be accepted unless prior approval has been granted by the teacher.

 

GRADES: All assignments are graded on a point system and placed in the following categories.

 

                GRADE CATEGORIES                                         GRADING SCALE

 

            TESTS                                    50%                             A         90-100%

                        MC - 40%                                                       A-        87-89%

                        TIMELINE - 10%                                           B+       82-86%

            ESSAYS/DBQs                      20%                             B         77-81%

            READING JOURNAL           10%                             B-        72-76%

            READING QUIZZES            10%                             C+       67-71%

            INCLASS WORK                  10%                             C         62-66%

                                                                                                C-        60-61%

                                                                                                F          BELOW 60%

 

Students should keep all tests and assignments throughout the year to use in preparation for the AP exam.

 

MAKE-UP WORK: After an excused absence, it is the student's responsibility to find out what has been missed.  Failure to make up work will result in no credit.  If an absence occurs on a day when a class assignment is due, it will be turned in the day the student returns to class.  TESTS AND EXAMS WILL BE MADE UP ON THE DAY THE STUDENT RETURNS TO CLASS.  BEING ABSENT ON THE DAY BEFORE A TEST OR EXAM DOES NOT EXCUSE ONE FROM TAKING IT WHEN SCHEDULED.

 

JUNIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT: you will be required to perform a minimum of 6 hours of community service during your junior year.  This is a non-graded requirement.  You must submit a letter of intent to me before you can begin your hours and before the end of 1st semester to earn a passing grade.  All hours need to be completed before the end of 2nd semester to earn a passing grade.  To get credit for you project, you must have an approved letter of intent, a signed ÒParent verificationÓ form and physical evidence of completion.  This will be discussed more in class.