Mrs. Ruland's Advanced Placement United States History Class
Grading Policy and Course Philosophy
Welcome to A.P. United States History (otherwise known as APUS). APUS is an opportunity to develop the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in U.S. History. Students learn to assess historical materials in terms of their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance. Students will also learn to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. The APUS course will help students develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgement and to present reasons and evidence clearly land persuasively in essay format.
The AP US History course offers motivated students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the study of US history while exploring some of the specialized historical fields such as economic history, cultural and intellectual history, and social history, in addition to political-constitutional and diplomatic history. This course is taught at a college level, and will require a great deal more homework than the average high school course, perhaps 30-50 pages of reading per week as well as extensive writing assignments. All students are encouraged to take the AP test in May, and those who score well can receive college credit. Although one purpose of the course is to provide students with the skills required to do well on the AP test, the larger purpose is to develop a variety of analytical skills and to "do history" rather than just reading about it. This requires a great deal of critical thinking, interpretation of written material, logical argumentation and analysis.
Because of the pace of this class, which is much faster than the average high school course, it is absolutely vital that students have good attendance and complete all assignments or readings in a timely manner. Students who fall behind might have serious problems catching up. Please contact me in person or via email if you are having difficulties.
APUS Themes
- American Diversity
- American Identity
- Culture
- Demographic Changes
- Economic Transformations
- Environment
- Globalization
- Politics and Citizenship
- Reform
- Religion
- Slavery and Its Legacies in North America
- War and Diplomacy
These themes serve throughout the course as unifying threads, helping to put what is particular about each period or society into a larger framework. The themes also provide ways to make comparisons over time.
Chronology
The course explores US History from the pre-Columbian period through the present and represents a 2 semester college course. The AP Exam is May 7, 2010.
Tests are comprehensive. All tests will cover the material from the first day of school on. Emphasis will be given to the current unit however. The AP exam will include multiple choice, Document-Based Questions (DBQs), and Free Response essays. You will be given many opportunities to practice these skills during this course.
Required Materials
You will need the following in class every day: a STURDY 1½ inch or larger 3-ring binder just for this class, filler paper, notebook dividers, a blue or black pen, a pencil, and a highlighter. You may need more than one binder as the year goes by. You will be assigned a textbook, but it should be left at home except when indicated, since we will have additional college books to use in class. You should have colored pencils at home for maps. It is recommended that students have either Internet access or a good quality World Atlas at home as well.
Rules and Expectations
ALL school rules WILL be enforced consistently in this classroom. Additionally, the following items describe what I expect from the class EVERY DAY, so that everyone has an opportunity to learn to the best of his or her ability:
1. Everyone will be respectful toward others in the classroom.
This includes not talking while I am or anyone else is talking. This also means respecting the property, personal space and ideas of others. Absolutely no insulting, hurtful or provocative comments will be tolerated. Basically follow the "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" rule.
2. Everyone will be present and on time.
Attendance in this class is SO important! If you are absent, you miss a LOT! It is important that you be here everyday. If you must be absent, you should get your make-up work immediately and stay caught up. Please see ABSENCES below for more information. Additionally the school tardy policy will be in effect. The late bell will be the final authority.
3. Everyone will be prepared for class.
You must bring all your required materials each day. Even more important is your daily preparation for class. You will, almost always, have a reading assignment and notes should ALWAYS be taken on the reading. These won't always be collected, (see Random Grading section), but it is absolutely VITAL that you stay caught up on doing these every day. You might have other homework as well. Homework assignments should always be completed on time. If you get behind, it is extremely hard to catch up.
4. We will work every day.
Time in this class should be spent wisely. That means being ready to work when class starts, paying attention, following directions, staying awake, keeping your head up, and doing what you are supposed to be doing at the time. We will work right up to the end of the class, so you need to stay in your seat until dismissed. No lining up at the door or putting on your backpack!
5. We will eliminate distractions.
Our time in this class is for class work and activities. You will be expected to participate and pay attention at all times. You will also be expected to work quietly, without distracting others. I will confiscate any object that is causing a distraction to you or to others (this also includes work for other classes). This also means that if someone is distracting you when they shouldn't be, you will need to take it upon yourself to "eliminate the distraction" in some way (talk to me about it if necessary). You can always move to a new seat.
6. We will all take responsibility for our own actions.
This means controlling yourself, keeping yourself on task, and following through on your good intentions. This also means accepting the consequences of misbehavior without arguing or taking back. Excuses or blaming others is NOT ACCEPTABLE. Only you can control your own behavior. Any problems will be discussed privately, AFTER CLASS. During class, we will continue with our work. If there is a problem, it is between the two of us, and must be discussed privately.
Technology
I have used technology in the classroom for many years. This year I have expanded into some new areas. One of the latest trends in education is the use of podcasts. Podcasts are an audio or video broadcast in a format that can be loaded onto an iPod or MP3 player; students can subscribe to them through iTunes and other services. I will be using podcasts to provide information for my students. Some of the topics will be common how-to topics that students may want to rehear; I will also post some of the lectures. Podcasts allow students to hear the information when it is convenient for them and as many times as they wish. Podcasts can be very useful when reviewing for the AP exam.
I am also exploring some of the virtual classroom technology. Much of this interactive technology has great potential for education. Collaborative projects can be wonderful if they are organized so that a few students are not carrying the burden; we can learn so much from each other. The AP students are encouraged to form study groups to share some of the work as well as share some of the ideas. The new technologies, such as wikis, allow for even more effective collaborative work. Over the course of the year, the AP students will produce their own AP Exam review book. We will now have the ability to do that interactively on-line. The virtual classroom is password protected and only open to my students.
Assessment and Grading
Quarter grades are calculated by dividing the number of points attained by the total number of points available. The number of points available is reflective of the number of times students will be asked to demonstrate competency. The total will vary according to class need. Opportunities for the attainment of points will include: classroom drills and projects, homework assignments, presentations, seminars, essays, reports, quizzes, and tests. Participation in seminar discussions is vital and will be graded; however, preparation for seminars is equally as vital. In order to receive a grade for seminar participation, students must be able to show me their notes on the seminar topic. Participation in special projects and simulations may also be graded. I will be using TeacherEase, so you will be able to check your grades on-line; grades will be posted weekly, usually on Sundays. The grading scale is as follows:
A - 89.5% & above B - 79.5%-89.4% C - 69.5%-79.4% D - 59.5%-69.4% E - Below 59.5%
READING ASSIGNMENTS: Notes should be taken on all reading assignments. I have provided students with appropriate study questions to guide your note taking. Homework notes should be placed in your binder. Notes may be collected, without notice, at any time.
When daily or homework assignments are due, I may STAMP them to indicate that they were completed on time. You must do the entire assignment to receive the stamp. The work should IMMEDIATELY be placed in your binder, in order by date, for later evaluation based on accuracy and quality. Some assignments will be assessed on a more holistic level. I will collect the binders at random and without any advance notice, so they must be organized and ready at all times. Failure to do so could adversely affect the notebook grade. Notebooks should contain ONLY work from this class. Every page should be dated and arranged chronologically. Occasionally I will take up individual assignments, but they should be dated and placed in the binder immediately upon return. All handouts, notes and papers are to be kept in the binder for the entire year. The binder is your record of all work, stamps and grades for the entire class. It is your responsibility to have it complete and to keep up with it at all times. Any assignments that are lost before the binder is turned in and graded are recorded as missing. DO NOT LOSE YOUR BINDER!
CURRENT EVENTS: Social Studies students should have knowledge of our world and basic understanding of the events and trends that shape our world. Students must bring at least three news articles to class each quarter. The articles must be concerning current events and must pertain to the subject being studied; a short (3-5 sentence) description must point out the connection with the current topics of study. Fifteen (15) points will be assessed each quarter to students who have met this requirement. All articles must be submitted at least one week before the end of the quarter!
GRADING STANDARDS: Advanced Placement students should be able to meet certain standards of writing. All written work will be assessed for technical standards in addition to content. The mechanics to be assessed will include legibility, spelling, and grammar. Students are encouraged to use dictionaries in class (except when taking tests) and any resource available at home. Please remember that Spell Check will not correct words spelled correctly but used incorrectly (to rather than too). There is no substitute for proofreading. All assignments must be either typed or neatly written in black or blue ink only. All papers, essays, and projects completed outside the class must be typed and submitted to Turnitin.com.
Students will be given a grading rubric for all major assignments when the other assignment instructions are distributed. The rubric will state all grading categories that will be assessed, the criteria, and the respective point values for each. A general rubric for each of the three different types of essays will be provided at the beginning of school and will be used whenever a specific rubric is not provided.
PLAGIARISM: Students are reminded that plagiarism is not permitted. Plagiarism is the attempt to pass someone else's work as your own. Do not, ever, give another student your papers! Do not "loan" another student your paper! If the assignment is to be done cooperatively, it will be very clear! Both students involved in copied work will be given a 0 on the assignment. ANY student involved in plagiarism will receive a 0 on the assignment and will not be allowed to make up the assignment.
LATE WORK: All assignments must be handed in on time. No Late Work Will Be Accepted. With some exceptions, all assignments will be listed on the Unit Syllabus which will be posted online at the beginning of the unit. Students should use the syllabus to properly schedule their study time.
ABSENCES: Students absent for legitimate reasons will be given an opportunity to make up any missed work; the time given will not be longer than the time the student was absent. It is the student's responsibility to bring a note to the next class. Only excused absences/tardies may be made up. A student with an unexcused absence will receive a 0 for any work due the day of the absence. Failure to make up work in a timely fashion will result in a grade of 0. It is the student's responsibility to make any necessary arrangements. Assignments due the day a student was absent must be submitted the first class the student returns to school. Seminar grades may be made up by submitting the answers to seminar questions or your seminar preparation notes. These would have to be more formal than what you might use for your own seminar notes; I have to be able to understand your meaning and what you might have been able to contribute..
Since the vast majority of assignments and all long-term projects will be clearly indicated with their due dates on the course syllabi, students are expected to keep up with their assignments. Failure to due so in a course of this magnitude could result in a student falling hopelessly behind. For this reason, additional time will not be granted to students absent in the midst of a long-term project unless the student makes specific arrangements with the instructor. Students who are absent for class, but who are at school at any time during the day an assignment is due, must submit that project on the due date.
BONUS OPPORTUNITIES: There will be limited opportunities for students to earn bonus points. Students may report on a recent visit to a museum or historical place or on the accuracy of a historically based film. Students may also submit contemporary political cartoons for bonus credit. The political cartoon must relate to the current topic of study, and the student must accurately discuss the cartoon's meaning and significance and the connection to the topic being studied. (2-4 sentences). Students may also submit a movie critique that analyzes the history contained in the movie.
During the course of this year, questions will be asked that are not easily and readily answered. These questions provide an opportunity for "bonus challenges". These challenges are not designed to be easy, but students may earn additional credit for researching the question. Challenges will be announced and responses must include information about the research process.
However, bonus opportunities are not a substitute for regular assignments; therefore, bonus points may only be earned if all assignments have been submitted. In each quarter, a student may only use the number of bonus points equal to 5% of the number of points the student earned during the quarter. ALL BONUS MATERIAL MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE THE END OF THE QUARTER!
A Word about "Random Grading"
Due to the huge amount of written work required by this class, some assignments will be graded "at random." That means several things: First, students don't know ahead of time when their binders will be collected, so they must ALWAYS be ready. Second, although some assignments will NOT be graded, students don't know which one these are and so they must do all the assignments. This policy allows me to assign the more involved essays, which helps the students learn the necessary skills, but still manage to keep up with the grading. The principle is the same as real life traffic laws: Police can't watch all drivers all the time, but the laws are still in force. Each day, a portion of the drivers are observed to see if they are behaving according to the laws at that time and are rewarded or punished accordingly. Likewise, it is up to students to be responsible "when the police aren't looking" but there will be consequences if they are caught being irresponsible with their work. Those who are not being responsible will receive their appropriate "ticket" in the form of "fines" to their grades. Those who ARE being responsible, will be rewarded with good grades and a better chance on the AP exam.
A Word about Computer Compatibility
Howard County Public School System has not embraced Windows Vista. In fact, the teacher computers as well as the Media Center computers are operating on Windows 2000 and Windows XP. There will be assignments that students will do electronically and will want or will be required to submit electronically. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that it is submitted in a form that can be accessed by Windows 2000 or Windows XP. If the file is simply saved when using a Windows Vista computer, I will not be able to open the file on my Windows XP machine, and I cannot grade it. If this is a Power Point for a presentation, then the presentation will have to be done without the Power Point. Please remember that if a student is going to work on a file at home and in the Media Center, the file MUST be saved in a Windows 2000/XP format.
Snow Days and Other Emergencies
Unfortunately, the AP exam date will not change just because Howard County has a snow day. Because of this, students should continue to do assignments in the event of a snow day or other emergency. The class calendar will not change. Students should print a copy of the Unit Calendar on the web page and check for any additional information.
Dear Parent or Guardian,
You have read the information which outlines the general nature of my expectations for
student success in my social studies class. Additionally, you are encouraged to read the Student
Handbook which contains important information about the Howard County policies that are
enforced in my classes.
Please return this letter with your signature where indicated. Also, please indicate your authorization for your student's computer use with either yes or no in each of the areas. Since this is one of the first homework assignments, it is due next class, September 1, 2009
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at school at 410-313-5528. I can also be reached by e-mail at mruland@comcast.net.
Marcella L. Ruland
I have read and understand the requirements for success in my son's/daughter's social studies
class. I understand this slip is due in the classroom on September 1, 2009.
Student's Name ______________________________________________Date_________________
I authorize the following use of technology with my son/daughter.
Student picture (involved in classroom activity such as debates or simulations) can be posted in student gallery with only first name used. ____yes ____no
Student work can be posted in student gallery with only 1st name used ____yes ____no
Student may participate in independent Internet activities developed/assigned by Mrs. Ruland
____yes ____no
Student may participate in password protected virtual classroom only accessible to Mrs. Ruland's students ____yes ____no
Parent's/Guardian's Signature ________________________________________________________
Home Phone ________________________________ Work Phone __________________________
Parent's/Guardian's Signature ________________________________________________________
Home Phone ________________________________ Work Phone __________________________
Last updated August 13, 2009
© Marcella Ruland 1998-2009, All rights reserved
