About APUSH
Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH) is a college level survey course over United States history offered at the high school level. As much as is possible, this course will mimic the experience students could expect to encounter when taking the two introductory United States history courses offered at most colleges and universities. This means the expectations for students taking this course are quite high. We will be covering two college semesters worth of content and skills in the space of one semester. As with any college level course, students will be expected to do a significant amount of reading and preparation outside of class time. This includes reading and annotating the entire course textbook and engaging with numerous primary sources and academic readings. Students who successfully complete the course and score at least a "3" on the AP exam in May have the opportunity to substitute their work in this course for the equivalent college courses once they enroll at a college or university. Please consult the admissions department of the colleges and universities you are interested in attending to determine their specific policies regarding AP credit.
Meet the Teachers:
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Mr. Hutchison
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Mr. Richardson
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Note on Course Content:
Studying history necessitates engagement with controversial topics and potentially disturbing historical events. At times in this class you will encounter material that may spur an emotional response. If at any time you feel the need to step outside of class during one of these discussions, you may always do so without fear of academic penalty. Please feel free to discuss any such situations with me at any time. You will be responsible for all from required readings. If you do leave the room for a significant amount of time, please visit with me or another student to get notes on what you have missed.
Additionally, this class deals in varying points of view and historical opinion. During this semester you should expect to encounter multiple points of view. The point of these reading selections, class activities, and class debates is not to indoctrinate, but to aid the development of the critical analysis of arguments necessary for good citizenship in 21st century America.
Additionally, this class deals in varying points of view and historical opinion. During this semester you should expect to encounter multiple points of view. The point of these reading selections, class activities, and class debates is not to indoctrinate, but to aid the development of the critical analysis of arguments necessary for good citizenship in 21st century America.
APUSH Course and Exam Description:
| ap-united-states-history-course-overview.pdf |
Types of Questions
Students will answer questions in formats consistent with the AP Exam. Below, see descriptions of Multiple Choice, Short Answer, and Essays (DBQ and LEQ).
NB: practice questions are linked at the end of each section.
Section I: Part A Multiple Choice—55 Questions | 55 Minutes | 40% of Exam Score
NB: practice questions are linked at the end of each section.
Section I: Part A Multiple Choice—55 Questions | 55 Minutes | 40% of Exam Score
- Questions appear in sets of 2 to 5.
- Students analyze historical texts, interpretations, and evidence.
- Primary and secondary sources, images, graphs, and maps are included.
- For examples, see pages 8-28 of this practice exam.
- Analyze historians' interpretations, historical sources, and propositions about history.
- Questions provide opportunities for students to demonstrate what they know best.
- Some questions include texts, images, graphs, or maps.
- Students choose between two options for the final required short-answer question, each one focusing on a different time period.
- Question 1 (required): periods 3-8
- Question 2 (required): periods 3-8
- Students choose between Question 3, periods 1-5, and Question 4, periods 6-9
- For examples, see pages 29-31 of this practice exam.
- Assess written, quantitative, or visual materials as historical evidence.
- Develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.
- The document-based question focuses on topics from periods 3 to 8.
- For examples, see pages 32-35 of this practice exam.
- Explain and analyze significant issues in U.S. history.
- Develop an argument supported by an analysis of historical evidence.
- The question choices focus on the same theme and skill, but students choose from three options, each focusing on a different range of time periods:
- Option 1: periods 1-3
- Option 2: periods 4-6
- Option 3: periods 7-9
- For examples, see pages 37 of this practice exam.