Ms. Valenteen’s AP US History Class Room H-5
Email: patricia.valenteen@ouhsd.K12.ca.us
Website: http://patriciavalenteen.wixsite.com/valenteenachs
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Remind Code: To join:
Text this message: @g2298d2
to this number: 81010
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Google Classroom Code: 44lcoyn
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Course Introduction
This course is designed to be a college level survey class in United States History. Students will be expected to learn the chronology and content of U.S. History through the reading of a college level textbook and to develop skills in areas that address historical scholarship and thinking skills:
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Chronological reasoning
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Historical causation
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Patterns of continuity and change over time
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Periodization
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Comparison and contextualization of historical events
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Comparison
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Contextualization
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Critical reading and analysis of primary source documents
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Crafting historical arguments from historical evidence
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Historical argumentation
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Appropriate use of relevant historical evidence
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Determining point of view or bias in primary source documents
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Essay writing and critiquing
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Analyzing cause and effect throughout United States history
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Comparative analysis
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Historical interpretation and synthesis
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Interpretation
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Synthesis
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Analyzing works of art and literature for historical significance
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Course Objective
Students will be examining seven major historical themes, as learning objectives, throughout U.S. history:
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Identity
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Work, exchange, and technology
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Peopling
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Politics and power
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America in the world
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Environment and geography- physical and human
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Ideas, beliefs, culture
All AP Test questions will measure the student’s mastery of these historical themes. In addition students will be learning how to write short answer questions, as well as document based, and free response essays. These components are taught to prepare students for the AP U.S. history Exam, which will determine if the student receives college credit for the class. Beyond earning college credit, the objective of this class is to give students the skills necessary to excel in college and to be critical thinking adults.
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Materials
Needed for this class DAILY.
1) A notebook. You will need a 1” binder with a pocket for loose papers. Please bring your own paper, so you don’t have to keep asking your table mates to give you their supplies.
2) The textbook (encased lovingly in a book cover FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.)
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PHONES WILL BE PLACED IN THE BOXES ON THE SIDE SHELF, UNLESS WE ARE USING THEM FOR A CLASS ASSIGNMENT. If I have to speak to you about being on your phone more than once, you'll need to put it in the box on my desk and pick it up at the end of the period.
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Tardiness/Truancies
You must be in your seat at the bell. Being late or absent without a valid excuse demonstrates a lack of regard for the class, and may result in detention or loss of points. Remember, according to school policy, you are considered tardy if you are less than 10 minutes late. After 10 minutes, you are considered to be absent. If you are tardy, I may have you stay after class. Per the ACHS policy, 10 unexcused tardies or 8 unexcused absences will result in an “F” in the class.
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Classroom Atmosphere
I expect that we will all show respect for each other and contribute positively to the classroom environment. In order to do this, here are the governing principles for the class:
- Cell phones will be placed in the small box with your table number on the side shelf at the beginning of class. They are to be left there for the duration of the class period, unless I indicate otherwise.
-Do not talk or interrupt when I or others are speaking. Raise your hand.
- No backpacks on desks.
-No food or gum in class. You may have a bottle of water.
-No foul language. Keep it clean.
- Don’t litter. There are trash cans in the room. Please use them.
- Save your grooming routine until the end of class
-Bring all supplies needed
-Do not do work from other classes in this class.
-Sit in your assigned seats. I will change the seating every 2-3 weeks.
-Electronic recording of any kind may not take place during class without my expressed written consent.
-Do not leave the classroom until I dismiss you.
-Do not cheat. It shows a lack of honor and intellect and will result in a zero, and disciplinary action. I uphold all ACHS policies, including the plagiarism policy:
“Adolfo Camarillo High School Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Position Statement
Academic Integrity: The ACHS community values work that reflects actual learning with honest effort, personal accountability, and respect for the work, property, and rights of others. Academic Integrity is not reflected in acts of plagiarism.
Plagiarism Defined: ‘In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source.’ (Council of Writing Program Administrators, “Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices”). “Some [actions] include buying, stealing, or borrowing a paper (including, of course, copying an entire paper or article from the Web); hiring someone to write your paper for you; and copying ... sections of text from a source without quotation marks or proper citation.” (Purdue Owl, Online Writing Lab, “Is it Plagiarism Yet?”)”. ACHS Student Handbook.
Please consult your Student Handbook or the school website for more information about the ACHS plagiarism policy.
Assignments
Obviously, assignments are due on time. If the work is one day late, it drops to half credit. After one day, I will not accept it.
Turn in assignments through Google Classroom, unless otherwise instructed.
Printed Hard Copy -- On each paper, put your first and last name, my name, class period and date of assignment. Please make all assignments legible. If I cannot read it, I cannot grade it. All written work done outside of class needs to be typed. Please keep a copy on your hard drive or on a disk until the end of the semester. The format must be MLA standard: 12 font, black ink, in a readable font.
Make-Up Work
If you have an EXCUSED absence, you will have one week to make up any classwork that you missed. Work will not be accepted after one week. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO APPROACH ME ABOUT MAKE-UP WORK. I’M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REMINDING YOU. If you need to make up a test or quiz, it must be at lunch or after school, at my discretion. If there is an assignment due the day you are absent, have a friend bring it in for you, or send it to me through email.
Work missed during an unexcused absence will be a zero.
Looking forward to a great year! Welcome to the class!
Ms. Valenteen