AP/IB UNITED STATES HISTORY GUIDELINES

1. An AP course in U.S. history provides you with a learning experience equivalent to that obtained in most college introductory U.S. history courses.  It is designed to help you acquire the analytical skills and factual knowledge you need to deal critically with a wide variety of historical problems.  You will also learn to assess historical materials – their relevance to a given issue, their reliability and their importance – and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship.  The course will help you develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in your essays.

1. Criteria for success:

The student needs:

1. to understand that the course work is freshman and sophomore college curriculum.  It will be more difficult than honor classes.
2. to evaluate the time constraints from work and extracurricular

activities.

1. to plan to schedule AT LEAST ONE HOUR each night for reading and studying.  The student should have very good reading comprehension skills.  The student will read 60 to 90 pages for each unit of study.   The students are expected to use the reading as the basis of their learning.  The teacher reinforces with additional handouts, some notes, and class discussion. 
2. experience in honors level English and social studies classes during

the 9th and 10th grade.
                                    E.   TO READ THE BOOK!!!!!!

1. Textbook:  The American Pageant, 12th edition.  We encourage you to purchase your own copy.

1. AP Test United States History Review Books - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:

Crum’s AP United States History
Soifer/Hoffman’s Advanced Placement United States History Preparation
    Guide
                        Barron’s AP United States History
                        College Board and ETS CD-ROM – Advanced Placement U.S. History
                        Princeton Review – Cracking the AP U.S. History
                        Research and Education Association – AP United States History

1. Tutoring:  Each teacher is available by appointment.  Students need to bring specific

                         questions to be discussed and explained.

1. Makeup Tests – Each teacher is available by appointment.  Students must makeup tests within two weeks after his/her return to school.  The student will receive a zero on the test if they do not complete the makeup within the two-week period. 

VIII.    Supplies:         2” Three-ring Notebook – ONLY FOR THIS CLASS
Notebook Paper
Yellow pad 8 1/2 by 11
Highlighters (4)
Dark Blue/Black pen – all work must be in ink

     XI.     Honor Code:

1. Follow the school honor code.
2. All study guides must be the original work of the student.  No part of an assignment may represent the work of another student.
3. All take-home assignments must be original work of the student.  No part of an assignment may represent the work of another student.
4. Any assignment that reflects a violation of the honor code will result in a severe grade adjustment.

1. The AP U.S. history test that is administered by the college board in the May is comprised of:
1. 80 question multiple-choice test be completed in 55 minutes.
2. 3 essays that must be completed in a little over 2 hours.
3. A document based essay that requires analyzing primary sources.

REVIEW SESSIONS -  Review sessions begin early in April.  Sessions will be held on Tuesday and Thursday before and after school.  There is a direct correlation between students attending review sessions and success on the AP test. 

TEST DATE – The College Board Advanced Placement United States History test is given during the first week in May.

1. Electronic (E-mail) Transmittal of Student Record Information.

Student Record Information release for information to be transmitted by Plano ISD electronically to the parent by request.

Parent/Guardian email address _____________________________________

____ Yes, I agree to release student information electronically by request to the above email
          address.
____ No, I do not agree to release student information electronically.

            I have read the guidelines for AP/IB United States History including the honor code.

Parent Signature____________________________________ Date_______________

Student Name (please print)_____________________________________ 

Student Signature ___________________________________Date _______________

PARENTS:
** If you would like a copy of our guidelines to keep at home, please check out the website
     ecc.pisd.edu for AP US History.  We will have copies of our unit calendars, study guides
     and worksheets that you may download at home.
** Also, please sign up to access your student’s attendance and grades for all classes at
     parentviewer.pisd.edu.