Advanced Placement United States History (APUSH)

Mr. Matthew T. Trokan

Vernon Township High School
www.thetrokanwebsite.weebly.com
mtrokan@vtsd.com
School Year: 2!"#2!$
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The %dvanced &lacement 'nited States History c(rric(l(m is intensive and rigoro(s. )t
goes witho(t saying that this co(rse is heavy in terms o* reading+ writing+ and research. )t is o*
co(rse not witho(t its rewards+ and yo(r completion o* the co(rse will make yo( a better person
with a greater breadth o* knowledge and more ,nely t(ned+ research+ writing+ and critical
thinking skills. -(rthermore+ satis*actory res(lts on the %dvanced &lacement ./amination at the
end o* the year will allow yo( to be eligible *or college credit at virt(ally any rep(table instit(tion
o* higher learning in the nation. )n order to best prepare yo( *or s(ccess on the %dvanced
&lacement ./am+ it is necessary that we begin the school year with a review o* some o* the
themes and concepts that yo( st(died in 'nited States History ).

RADIN PO!IC": .ach component will comprise the st(dent0s grade *or each marking
period:
#$ Tests 1234: %t least two to three tests will be given every marking period. )n
addition+ doc(ment#based 5(estions 1678s4 will be reg(larly assigned+ which
contrib(te to this category.
%$ Researc& Pa'er 1234: 9ne research paper will be assigned each marking period
1details to *ollow4.
($ )*i++es 1234: :eekly 5(i;;es will be given. )n addition+ (nanno(nced 5(i;;es may
be randomly given to ens(re st(dents are keeping (p with the material and assigned
readings.
,$ Class Partici'ation-Home.or/ 1234: % weekly class participation grade will be
given based on daily <6o =ow0 activities+ cond(ct+ and contrib(tions in the classroom.
)n addition+ as this is an %dvanced &lacement class+ *re5(ent and 5(ality participation
is a m(st to receive *(ll credit. -or homework+ see section (nder >other policies?
below.
OTHER 0E1IENT2 PO!ICIES:
I$ Homework &hilosophy
a. The p(rpose o* a homework assignment is to either prepare *or class the ne/t
day+ or to rein*orce+ or deepen in#class learning.
i$ Homework is not piecework. Yo( will not be awarded simple points *or
doing a homework assignment.
ii$ Homework is not b(sy work. Yo( m(st tr(st that ) will not assign
homework that is not necessary. )n ret(rn+ yo( m(st complete all
assignments
b. =ot all assignments will be collected or graded. @eview the p(rpose o*
homework as stated above.
i$ ./pect three or *o(r random assignments to be collected and graded in a
marking period. These assignments will be graded *or acc(racy and
correctness+ not completeness. They will comprise o* !3 o* the marking
period.
ii$ 9nly one day will be provided *or late work. )n addition+ a minim(m o*
$3 will be ded(cted. %*ter two days+ it becomes a ;ero.
II$ Make#'p :ork
a. %ll make#(p assignments m(st be completed within two days o* the e/c(sed
absence+ otherwise no credit will be given. St(dents are e/pected to check the
teacher0s website 1www.thetrokanwebsite.weebly.com4 especially when absent
*or missing classwork and homework.
b. 'ne/c(sed absences precl(de yo( *rom completing missed work.
III$ Making (p missed 5(i;;esAtests
a. Yo( hold the responsibility o* making (p missed 5(i;;esAtests.
i$ Yo( m(st sched(le a time be*ore school+ a*ter school+ or d(ring yo(r l(nch
period.
ii$ -ail(re to make (p a 5(i;Atest within a week o* yo(r absence will res(lt in
a ;ero.
I3$ %cademic Honesty: Simply p(t+ do not cheat or plagiari;e. St(dents are e/pected to
s(bmit work that is yo(r own. Bheating and plagiarism o* any kind will res(lt an
a(tomatic ;ero and will be reported as per the policies o* Vernon Township High
School. &lease cons(lt with the teacher i* yo( are ever (ns(re abo(t anything
concerning plagiarism.
3$ St(dents with special needs sho(ld noti*y and disc(ss with the teacher %S%&.
3I$ 'se o* Technology in Blass
a. Bomp(ters:
i$ :e have access to comp(ters C these m(st be (sed in accordance with
the Vernon Township High School technology (se policy. Mis(se will res(lt
in a ;ero *or class participation and a re*erral.
b. Bell &hones:
i$ At no time are cell '&ones to 4e *sed5 seen5 or to*c&ed d*rin6
class *nless e7'ress 'ermission &as 4een 6ranted$ A 6rade o8
+ero 8or class 'artici'ation .ill 4e 6iven 8or t&e .ee/$
3II$ Miscellaneo(s
a. Attendance: The more o*ten yo( are in class+ the higher yo(r grade will be. Yo(
are !3 responsible *or checking the website *or all class notes+ activities+ and
homework as well as making (p all work by the ne/t day 1(nless it is an e/c(sed
absence4. =o e/tensions will be provided *or class trips or (ne/c(sed absences
as indicated on &owerSchool. )n addition+ c&ec/ t&e .e4site 8or A!! .or/
t&at yo* missed$ Please do not as/ t&e teac&er 8or missed .or/ as it is
already on t&e .e4site$
b. *idance: Yo( will not be allowed to report to g(idance (nless a speci,c note
*rom yo(r g(idance co(nselor is received.
c. !ateness: :hen the bell rings+ yo( are e/pected to be in yo(r seat and ready to
learn. Three (ne/c(sed tardies will res(lt in a mandatory re*erral.
d. Printin6: %t no time will the teacher e/c(se st(dents to print homework+
research papers+ or proDects *rom this or other classes d(ring class time. )n the
event that yo(r printer does not work and all other options have been
e/ha(sted+ please e#mail the teacher at mtrokan@vtsd.com.
e. A4sences: &lease make every eEort to come to school every day. Since this is
an honors class+ we move at a 5(icker pace than a college#prep class.
@emember+ st(dents who have higher attendance rates are m(ch more likely to
academically s(cceed compared to those with e/cessive absences.
3III$ %vailabilityABontact )n*ormationA:ebsite
a. &lease note that ) am available in the high school each day *rom F:%M (ntil
F:!$%M. ) am also available a*ter school by appointment only which sho(ld be
made with advance notice.
b. &lease *eel *ree to contact me via e#mail at any time at mtrokan@vtsd.com.
c. Mr. Trokan0s website 1www.thetrokanwebsite.weebly.com4 is (pdated *re5(ently
and is complete with all assignments+ classwork+ instr(ctional materials+
worksheets and homework. St(dents are e/pected to check the website daily.
Dear Parents:
Yo( are (ndo(btedly an active stakeholder in yo(r child0s s(ccess both in school and o(t. ) ask
that yo( be involved in their learning whether it is simply checking the class website
1www.thetrokanwebsite.weebly.com4 asking what yo(r child learned in class today+ or helping
yo(r child st(dy *or an (pcoming assessment.
) also re5(est that i* yo( ever have any 5(estions or concerns abo(t anything to please contact
me at yo(r earliest convenience. The 5(ickest method to contact me is via e#mail at
mtrokan@vtsd.com
Gastly+ by signing this syllab(s+ ) acknowledge that ) s(pport the co(rse o* st(dy+ policies+ and
materials re5(ired *or the %dvanced &lacement 'nited States History co(rse.
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