1. Advanced Placement United States History
Lakeside High School

2. Why Take AP US History?
Some students seek the opportunity to be challenged academically while in high school.
Others appreciate the chance to be exempt from the introductory level of a course in college.

3. Course Description
The AP U.S. History course is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in U.S. History. The program prepares students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands upon them equivalent to those made by full-year introductory college courses. Students should learn to assess historical materials- their relevance to a given interpretations presented in historical scholarship. An AP U.S. History course should develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format.

4. Themes in AP U.S. History The course will trace the following themes throughout the school year, emphasizing the ways in which they are interconnected and examining the ways in which each helps to shape the changes over time, the importance to studying the history of the United States.
American Diversity
American Identity
Culture
Demographic Changes
Economic Transformations
Environment
Globalization
Politics and Citizenship
Reform
Religion
Slavery and it’s Legacies in North America
War and Diplomacy

5. Units of Study Colonization The American Revolutionary Era
The Early Republic
Antebellum America
The Union in Crisis & American Civil War
Reconstruction & The Development of the West
Industrial America & The Progressive Era
The Emergence of America in the 20th Century
The Great Depression & World War II
Modern America

6. What makes AP US History Different?
Expectations
Time Commitment
Time Management
Reading Load
Writing Skills
Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills
AP Exam

7. The AP US History Exam Multiple-Choice (Section I)
80 Questions ……………. 55 minutes
Free-Response (Section II)
Part A: DBQ……………… 15 minutes +
45 minutes
Part B and C …………….. 70 minutes

8. What the students say!
“I have always thought that History was terribly boring – until now. AP US History is one of the most interesting classes I have ever taken. I encourage all to take this course.”
“As hard as it is, you’ll learn more than you have thus far. It will really change your outlook on history.”

9. What the students say!
“This course requires an open mind and responsibility. Just read, read and read some more, take notes and practice your writing skills.”
“I wish someone would have told me that just because so many people take the course, it does not mean I have to. Also, consider how difficult the junior year is before taking on a more advance course.”