Course Description:
This course is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in US History. The AP US History program prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands equivalent to those made by introductory college courses. The students should learn to assess historical materials - their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance - and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship. The AP US History course should thus develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions based on an informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format.
Prerequisite:
Teacher recommendation from a World History or Literature teacher is recommended.
In order for a student to be successful in this class, he/she should possess these specific skills: ability to read college level texts independently; ability to critically analyze written materials; ability to take notes and move rapidly through material; ability to work independently outside of class with disciplined work habits; ability to recognize new ideas and perspectives, with a willingness to learn about and respect differences of opinion. Outside commitments: reading and completing study guide materials 4-5 nights a week. Additional performance tasks will require reading and research.
Relevant Careers:
Relevant careers include:
- High school history teacher.
- College or university history professor.
- Government historian.
- Historical consultant.
- Political advisor.
- Museum curator.
- Archivist.
- Lawyer.