Welcome to Advanced Placement United States
History!
[email protected]
Summer assignment/Reading Requirements- Are you ready for some HISTORY?
Welcome to AP US History with Mrs. Wooton and Mrs. Ellis! The 2014-2015 school year will be a very busy one as we prepare ourselves for a rigorous Advanced Placement examination in May. APUSH is a college-level course that will require you to have extensive background knowledge in US History. Congratulations on making th ecommitment!
We will be focusing on specific skills, which will not only help you on the AP Exam, but also in other courses, college, and jobs. One specific skill we must focus on is writing, writing, and more writing! On the new AP Exam you will be required to write one document based essay (DBQ), 1 long essay question, and 4 short essay questions in addition to the multiplechoice questions. Readers from all over the nation will judge these essays, so
you must be prepared with the skills necessary to write well-structured, specific answers.
It is imperative that we get off the ground running in August. In order to make sure we fully address the lengthy curriculum, every APUSH student will be required to complete the following summer activities by the first day of school, August 11, 2014.
1) Go to www.wootonushistory.weebly.com and www.ellishistorynerd.weebly.com at least once over the summer to see news items, resources, etc. Become familiar with the websites as you will get much information from them!
2) Read the first THREE chapters (1-3) of the assigned textbook, The American Pageant. The book is available in the bookstore for checkout the last week of school. On the AP Resources page of my website are numerous links to help you get the information online. Your notes are due August 11, 2014. You can access the book online at http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/SColl/resources.cfm?subpage=1604124 it is an older version, but will work. Here is another source http://www.scuc.txed.net/webpages/cbaker/ap_us_history.cfm?subpage=40296
You will need to complete handwritten notes outlining these chapters (no typed, ONLY handwritten). It is essential that college-bound students learn to interact with text in a positive and productive manner. Learning to identify key information in a text is a skill that will serve any student of the social studies for years to come. Over the course of this year you will become an expert at reading many pages of text and organizing key
information into an outline format of your choosing. The AP US History exam is incredibly thorough, and students are often tested on both popular and obscure knowledge of U.S. History. It is essential that we get this head start and be very thorough in the readings.
Your outlines must be handwritten. We recommend using a pen with black ink. While we recommend using either a Harvard Outline or Cornell Notes, you are encouraged to find your own style for note taking. Whatever works best for you is the best choice.
Don’t try to write down every detail, think of the big ideas then flesh them out so that you understand them.
Be careful about writing in pencil- it fades!
Use symbols, highlight, arrows, to help you make connections and draw your attention!
DO- summarize your notes at the end of every section!
You should have NO MORE than 2-3 pages per chapter! You can use handwritten notes on most reading quizzes.
3) Summer Book Assignment: Select ONE of the approved books listed to read. Then prepare the following:
1. In essay form discuss the political, social, economical, and cultural aspects discussed in the book of your choice. This is how the APUSH essay is
structured, so becoming familiar with the format early is beneficial, and will help you build a well-structured essay. Include the following information at the top of your first page: Your name, Author, Title of Book, place of publication, publisher, date of publication.
Include in your essay answers to the following: Why did the author write the book? (what is the author expressing concern for, deepening your
understanding of, or sharing new evidence about- what is the message) ; What did you learn about the time period? How does this event/era connect with today? Did you have any disagreements with the author’s evaluation or analysis?
Attached are instructions for essay writing, and the AP US History free response essay rubric. Use these as guidelines. A sample list is below, go to
the Summer Assignment page at www.wootonushistory.weebly.com for a complete listing.
Go to www.turnitin.com and enroll into the summer assignment class-
Class ID- 7992960
Enrollment Password- wootonapush
You will submit your essay to here before August 8, 2014. Submissions before July 28, 2014 will receive feedback and you will have time to revise before the essay due date. IF YOU TURNED IN YOUR ESSAY FOR FEEDBACK YOU WILL HAVE REVISION TIME IF NEEDED.
Sample list of books:
David McCullough. 1776. Simon & Schuster, 2006.
Joseph Ellis. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation. Vintage, 2002.
Frederick Douglass. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. Signet Classics, 2005.
Walter Borneman. 1812: The War that Forged a Nation. Harper Perennial, 2005.
Kevin Boyle. Arc of Justice- a Sage of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age. Henry Holt and Company, 2004
See the Book List page of www.wootonushistory.weebly.com or www.ellishistorynerd.weebly.com for the complete lists and details on the assignment.
TOP TEN THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
1. Enjoyyour summer. Reading a book, writing an essay, three chapters of outlining, and a trip to Office Max should not consume
your free time. Go climb a tree, take a swim, or stroll the mall with friends. You will wish for that free time during the year!
2. Explore history. If you take a vacation, see if you can stop at a historical marker along the way. Or, do a little research about the place you are visiting. Take the time to start thinking historically. History is all around you, if you can see it! If you are not traveling physically, you can always do so virtually! Many museums and historical places are online!
3. Read. Try to read several books over the course of your summer. You will do a ton of reading in this class this year and if you are not in the habit of turning pages it will be much more difficult to adjust. Read fiction, if that is your choice, but try picking up a historical book as well. There are some really wonderful page-turners about American history.
4. Write. Keep a journal for the summer, or try writing a short story. The more you write the easier it is to write well. You will do a lot of writing in this class. The more comfortable you are with writing the more successful you will be.
5. Become an informed Junior Citizen! Read the newspaper (and not just the sports section!). Watch CSPAN. Try to keep updated on the world’s events. Develop an opinion about the government’s successes and failure. Most of what we learn in this class will directly relate to what is happening the world today.
6. Learn your geography. Geography is going to play an important part of this course. Do you know all 50 states? Learn them. Can you find the major mountain ranges of the U.S. on a map? What about rivers, oceans and lakes? Memorize them! The more you know about our geography the farther ahead you will be.
7. Watchhistory movies! Do you really need to watch Spiderman 2 again? Of course not! If you have a free evening and would like to watch a movie try something historical. Visit http://www.historyplace.com/films/index.html for suggestions, or type “good history movie” into Google and see what comes up!
8. Memorize the Presidents. You will need to do this anyway before May so you might as well get a jumpstart on it. Try to do them in blocks of three: Washington, Adams, Jefferson (pause) Madison, Monroe, Adams …
9. Explore your family history. Stuck for a conversation starter at dinner? Ask your parent or guardian what it was like when they were growing up. Or ask a grandparent or older friend about the Vietnam Era, or World War II. You’ll be surprised how interesting people’s lives really are.
10. Think Like a Pirate! When looking at history, always keep in mind the Political, Intellectual, Religious, Artistic, Technological, Economic, and Social aspects of events.
And be prepared to be immersed in history! Yourteacher is a true history nerd and loves the excitement of US History. Lets make this an amazing year! I expect you to put forth your best effort, as I will do. We will learn a lot, and hopefully have fun learning about our amazing history!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may want to consider purchasing the Princeton Review AP Test Preparation Book(or Barrons, or McGraw Hill). It helps you to prepare for the AP test, and it also has bolded terms (unlike our textbook), which helps when you are looking for a quick reference. We will be doing an AP Study Guide during the second semester and this book really helps.
History!
[email protected]
Summer assignment/Reading Requirements- Are you ready for some HISTORY?
Welcome to AP US History with Mrs. Wooton and Mrs. Ellis! The 2014-2015 school year will be a very busy one as we prepare ourselves for a rigorous Advanced Placement examination in May. APUSH is a college-level course that will require you to have extensive background knowledge in US History. Congratulations on making th ecommitment!
We will be focusing on specific skills, which will not only help you on the AP Exam, but also in other courses, college, and jobs. One specific skill we must focus on is writing, writing, and more writing! On the new AP Exam you will be required to write one document based essay (DBQ), 1 long essay question, and 4 short essay questions in addition to the multiplechoice questions. Readers from all over the nation will judge these essays, so
you must be prepared with the skills necessary to write well-structured, specific answers.
It is imperative that we get off the ground running in August. In order to make sure we fully address the lengthy curriculum, every APUSH student will be required to complete the following summer activities by the first day of school, August 11, 2014.
1) Go to www.wootonushistory.weebly.com and www.ellishistorynerd.weebly.com at least once over the summer to see news items, resources, etc. Become familiar with the websites as you will get much information from them!
2) Read the first THREE chapters (1-3) of the assigned textbook, The American Pageant. The book is available in the bookstore for checkout the last week of school. On the AP Resources page of my website are numerous links to help you get the information online. Your notes are due August 11, 2014. You can access the book online at http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/SColl/resources.cfm?subpage=1604124 it is an older version, but will work. Here is another source http://www.scuc.txed.net/webpages/cbaker/ap_us_history.cfm?subpage=40296
You will need to complete handwritten notes outlining these chapters (no typed, ONLY handwritten). It is essential that college-bound students learn to interact with text in a positive and productive manner. Learning to identify key information in a text is a skill that will serve any student of the social studies for years to come. Over the course of this year you will become an expert at reading many pages of text and organizing key
information into an outline format of your choosing. The AP US History exam is incredibly thorough, and students are often tested on both popular and obscure knowledge of U.S. History. It is essential that we get this head start and be very thorough in the readings.
Your outlines must be handwritten. We recommend using a pen with black ink. While we recommend using either a Harvard Outline or Cornell Notes, you are encouraged to find your own style for note taking. Whatever works best for you is the best choice.
Don’t try to write down every detail, think of the big ideas then flesh them out so that you understand them.
Be careful about writing in pencil- it fades!
Use symbols, highlight, arrows, to help you make connections and draw your attention!
DO- summarize your notes at the end of every section!
You should have NO MORE than 2-3 pages per chapter! You can use handwritten notes on most reading quizzes.
3) Summer Book Assignment: Select ONE of the approved books listed to read. Then prepare the following:
1. In essay form discuss the political, social, economical, and cultural aspects discussed in the book of your choice. This is how the APUSH essay is
structured, so becoming familiar with the format early is beneficial, and will help you build a well-structured essay. Include the following information at the top of your first page: Your name, Author, Title of Book, place of publication, publisher, date of publication.
Include in your essay answers to the following: Why did the author write the book? (what is the author expressing concern for, deepening your
understanding of, or sharing new evidence about- what is the message) ; What did you learn about the time period? How does this event/era connect with today? Did you have any disagreements with the author’s evaluation or analysis?
Attached are instructions for essay writing, and the AP US History free response essay rubric. Use these as guidelines. A sample list is below, go to
the Summer Assignment page at www.wootonushistory.weebly.com for a complete listing.
Go to www.turnitin.com and enroll into the summer assignment class-
Class ID- 7992960
Enrollment Password- wootonapush
You will submit your essay to here before August 8, 2014. Submissions before July 28, 2014 will receive feedback and you will have time to revise before the essay due date. IF YOU TURNED IN YOUR ESSAY FOR FEEDBACK YOU WILL HAVE REVISION TIME IF NEEDED.
Sample list of books:
David McCullough. 1776. Simon & Schuster, 2006.
Joseph Ellis. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation. Vintage, 2002.
Frederick Douglass. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. Signet Classics, 2005.
Walter Borneman. 1812: The War that Forged a Nation. Harper Perennial, 2005.
Kevin Boyle. Arc of Justice- a Sage of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age. Henry Holt and Company, 2004
See the Book List page of www.wootonushistory.weebly.com or www.ellishistorynerd.weebly.com for the complete lists and details on the assignment.
TOP TEN THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
1. Enjoyyour summer. Reading a book, writing an essay, three chapters of outlining, and a trip to Office Max should not consume
your free time. Go climb a tree, take a swim, or stroll the mall with friends. You will wish for that free time during the year!
2. Explore history. If you take a vacation, see if you can stop at a historical marker along the way. Or, do a little research about the place you are visiting. Take the time to start thinking historically. History is all around you, if you can see it! If you are not traveling physically, you can always do so virtually! Many museums and historical places are online!
3. Read. Try to read several books over the course of your summer. You will do a ton of reading in this class this year and if you are not in the habit of turning pages it will be much more difficult to adjust. Read fiction, if that is your choice, but try picking up a historical book as well. There are some really wonderful page-turners about American history.
4. Write. Keep a journal for the summer, or try writing a short story. The more you write the easier it is to write well. You will do a lot of writing in this class. The more comfortable you are with writing the more successful you will be.
5. Become an informed Junior Citizen! Read the newspaper (and not just the sports section!). Watch CSPAN. Try to keep updated on the world’s events. Develop an opinion about the government’s successes and failure. Most of what we learn in this class will directly relate to what is happening the world today.
6. Learn your geography. Geography is going to play an important part of this course. Do you know all 50 states? Learn them. Can you find the major mountain ranges of the U.S. on a map? What about rivers, oceans and lakes? Memorize them! The more you know about our geography the farther ahead you will be.
7. Watchhistory movies! Do you really need to watch Spiderman 2 again? Of course not! If you have a free evening and would like to watch a movie try something historical. Visit http://www.historyplace.com/films/index.html for suggestions, or type “good history movie” into Google and see what comes up!
8. Memorize the Presidents. You will need to do this anyway before May so you might as well get a jumpstart on it. Try to do them in blocks of three: Washington, Adams, Jefferson (pause) Madison, Monroe, Adams …
9. Explore your family history. Stuck for a conversation starter at dinner? Ask your parent or guardian what it was like when they were growing up. Or ask a grandparent or older friend about the Vietnam Era, or World War II. You’ll be surprised how interesting people’s lives really are.
10. Think Like a Pirate! When looking at history, always keep in mind the Political, Intellectual, Religious, Artistic, Technological, Economic, and Social aspects of events.
And be prepared to be immersed in history! Yourteacher is a true history nerd and loves the excitement of US History. Lets make this an amazing year! I expect you to put forth your best effort, as I will do. We will learn a lot, and hopefully have fun learning about our amazing history!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may want to consider purchasing the Princeton Review AP Test Preparation Book(or Barrons, or McGraw Hill). It helps you to prepare for the AP test, and it also has bolded terms (unlike our textbook), which helps when you are looking for a quick reference. We will be doing an AP Study Guide during the second semester and this book really helps.