Offered for over thirty years, the Advanced Placement United States History course is like no other course your student has proably taken.  Advanced Placement (AP) courses offer students the opportunity to participate in a college style-learning environment, surpassing what is traditionally offered in an honors course.  It should be understood that AP courses are challenging.  They are intended to be the equivalent to first-year college courses.  Therefore, students who have traditionally participated in honors courses may find the course to be challenging at first.  However, the nearly fifty-year existence of the AP U.S. History program attests that students can rise to this challenge.  Most students will find this course to be an engaging educational experience that, in many cases, may fill a void that has been lacking in their previous educational pursuits.  I am confident that students will find AP to be an extremely rewarding experience. The skills that students gain from taking AP will better prepare them college, regardless if they pass the exam.

Contact: Information: Please feel free to contact me at any time.  It is best to reach me through the email at lmaneevone@guhsd.net, but you can also call 619-660-3688. 

Grades: Keep in mind that this course is on the A/B schedule, so grades during the first 2 progress reports may not be indicative of a final semester grade, since there will be very few assignments in the gradebook at that time.  Grades posted in January and June are the only ones that will go on the transcript.  Grades are posted on the Grades/Calendar page.  Just go to your student's block and enter their ID number.  I also note when I update grades so you will know how recent they are. I attempt to upload them once a week, usually Thursday or Friday.

Tutorial:  If students need help, they just need to make arrangements with me.  I am always available Thursdays at lunch and my prep is 4th. 

While at first there may be crying (mostly the girls) and whining (mostly the boys), this time will pass and it will get easier, until late April when the stress level will again skyrocket.  Be patient and understanding, force them to go to bed at 11:00 (as long as they haven't been watching TV until 10:30)  and make them see a movie every once in a while.  This, of course, refers only to those working endless hours that cannot seem to do anything but study.  If your student is coming home with "no homework" every night, there is most likely a problem.   Time management is the biggest obstacle most of your students will face in the coming year.  If they let you :), help them plan when they will complete their work and hold them accountable to that plan.  Check the assignments and calendar page; help them look at their reading assignments and plan a reading schedule.  I am looking forward to this year and working with your student in this new and challenging endeavor they have decided to undertake. 

Q. Why was the Advanced Placement program started?

A. In the eyes of college admissions boards and scholarship committees, honors can mean different things depending on the location of the school, the philosophy of the district or department, and even the teacher. AP courses are designed by experts in the field to be as representative of first year college courses as is possible. While the curriculum is not mandated, it is strongly guided in the same direction as college courses. AP courses provide an assurance that similar standards are being upheld across the country, even worldwide.

Q. What is the difference between honors classes and the AP class?

A. AP courses are taught college style. A comparison chart may be helpful to explain the differences:

Q. So, are AP courses harder than honors courses?

A. The short answer to this question is: yes.  However, "hard" and "difficult" are relative terms.  It is likely that students will initially find this course to be more challenging and demanding than past courses. If your student lacks motivation and does not study, then yes; this course will be extremely difficult. The main distinction to remember is that while honors courses generally have higher standards than regular courses, AP courses go beyond this. The courses are designed to be representative of what students would expect in a university style course; thus, the course is taught in such a manner that places full responsibility on students for their learning. The expectations are likely to be higher than those of the traditional honors courses are.

Q. Why should my student take AP United States History?

A. There are many reasons why a student should take this course. First, many students often find they are not intellectually engaged by their courses. AP courses tend to provide the challenge they feel they need. Second, most students find that having AP courses on their transcripts provides them with a competitive edge in the college admissions or in the scholarship application process. Indeed, many colleges expect a student to have one or more of these courses on their transcript. In addition, the possibility of earning college credit-and eliminating the tuition cost of a one-year college course-is appealing to most students. Finally, most educators feel that completion of Advanced Placement courses leave students better prepared for the demands of college.

Q. Is there an emphasis on writing in this course?

A. Yes. This course is quite writing intensive. A significant portion of the AP exam consists of essay questions. A major aim of the AP class is to prepare students for this challenging exam. Therefore, students are expected to write frequently.

Q. What if my student has trouble with writing?

A. Students that have traditionally found writing to be challenging may experience some difficulty with the course, at least initially. However, students experiencing challenges with the writing assignments are encouraged to meet one-on-one with me so that we may attack problem areas directly. Furthermore, the evaluation of writing assignments will provide students with feedback regarding how they may improve. Students are concurrently enrolled in AP Language and Composition which works specifically with improving writing skills this has been highly beneficial to students in the past.

It is important to note that writing-as well as all learning-is a process. Mastery may not come immediately. Therefore, it would not be abnormal for a student to encounter an adjustment period while getting used to the new course. Guidance, feedback, and persistence will lead to improvement. I emphasize that students and families be patient with this process.

If in the past your student has had difficulty obtaining a “4” in World History on a consistent basis, you should discuss the option of Honors or AP with your student’s 10^th grade Humanities teacher.  Receiving a “3” does not mean you will fail at AP, it just means you will probably need to work a little harder and come for help with the writing aspect of the course.

Q. Is there a lot of reading and homework involved in this course?

A. There is a good amount of reading and homework involved with this course. Students will be assigned approximately 1 chapter (@30-40 pages) a week of reading from a college level textbook. In addition, periodic supplemental reading is also assigned, depending on the unit. Generally, students can expect approximately 4-5 hours of reading each week.  This may be reduced as students become used to this level of reading.

Students are advised from the beginning of the course to manage their reading load by allocating a certain number of pages to be read each day from the beginning of the unit. This will allow students to not find themselves up the entire night before the exam trying to finish all of the reading.

Q. Are the grades for AP courses weighted?

A. Yes.  An "A" receives a 5.0, a "B" receives  a 4.0, a  "C"  receives  a 3.0.  Note: a "D" is NOT weighted and receives a 1.0. 

Q. Can a student drop an AP course after school has started?

A. No.  Students are told in the spring when they sign up that they cannot drop once they are enrolled.  If you have questions about whether your student should sign up for the class, and need advice, I would recommend speaking with their 10^th grade Humanities teachers.  Exceptions  for extenuating circumstances must be made through the AP's  office.

Q. If my student receives a passing grade in the course, does that mean that they will pass the AP Exam?

A. Not necessarily. While one of the primary goals of the AP course is to prepare students to take the AP exam in May, the AP exam is a "secret exam." It has been developed by the College Board and is not available for preview before the exam. The aim of the course is to expose students to the content and the skills necessary for doing well on the exam; however, being that it is not seen, it is difficult to determine if a student will pass the exam. In essence, we "fly blind" into the exam. It is possible that students may do quite well in class, but for a variety of reasons, a student may not do well on the exam.

Q. How much does it cost to take the exam?

A. The exam's cost is approximately $80.00. When compared to the cost of a college course, the cost of the exam is both minimal and attractive.  All students signed up for the AP course must take the exam to receive AP credit.  Financial hardship forms can be obtained through the VP and may reduce the cost of the test.

Q. What about extracurricular activities and employment?

A. This will depend upon the ability of the student, as well as their ability to handle stress and time management skills. In addition, the number of AP or honors classes a student is taking should also be considered. This must be balanced carefully, as students may quickly find themselves overwhelmed if they have too many outside activities to organize.  While at times stressful, these activities tend to bring  balance and  perspective as well. 

Q. What should my student expect if they are enrolled in other AP courses?

A. In all actuality, they should expect to spend a good amount of time doing homework. AP courses, regardless of the subject, are very intensive. This can be highly challenging and perhaps overwhelming for a high school student encountering AP for the first time. Students may wish to assess taking AP courses with consideration of their interests or future career plans. If multiple AP classes are taken, students and families must be patient during the initial adjustment period and should seriously weigh the costs and benefits of participating in multiple extracurricular activities or outside employment.

Word document of above information  ParentInfoAPUS.doc