About American Experience
Today, we live in an increasingly diverse society and face a multitude of issues and challenges. American Experience is an integrated, project-based class that combines American history, American literature, and persuasive writing in order to interpret the cultural values and personal implications of the world around us.
According to former Secretary of Education Richard Riley, the top ten jobs that will be in demand in 2010 didn’t exist in 2004. You are currently preparing yourselves for jobs that don’t exist yet, using technologies that haven’t been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t know are problems.
In a 2011 survey from the College Board, forty four percent of students wished they had taken more writing intensive courses in high school. Half wished they had worked harder in high school to prepare for college. Meanwhile, a study done by the Ethnographic Research in Illinois Academic Library project reports that the ease of a simple Google search is limiting students’ college and academic library-based research skills.
In American Experience, we teach you skills to be adaptable, to analyze, evaluate, focus, and succeed, including writing and research.
According to former Secretary of Education Richard Riley, the top ten jobs that will be in demand in 2010 didn’t exist in 2004. You are currently preparing yourselves for jobs that don’t exist yet, using technologies that haven’t been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t know are problems.
In a 2011 survey from the College Board, forty four percent of students wished they had taken more writing intensive courses in high school. Half wished they had worked harder in high school to prepare for college. Meanwhile, a study done by the Ethnographic Research in Illinois Academic Library project reports that the ease of a simple Google search is limiting students’ college and academic library-based research skills.
In American Experience, we teach you skills to be adaptable, to analyze, evaluate, focus, and succeed, including writing and research.
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English Language Arts Standards:
Write for various audiences and purposes Read, interpret, and critically analyze text Conduct research and inquiry Social Studies Standards: Evaluate social and cultural changes Evaluate the validity of sources and viewpoints Activism or Political Powers? Expectations: 1. Do your best. 2. Help others learn. 3. Be an effective student. You’ll need: Or, please bring to class everyday: --A folder or binder with all your notes and materials. --Your notebook or looseleaf paper --A writing utensil --Whatever novel you’re reading at the time --Whatever homework is due that day Homework: You will have homework. Plan on it. You will always know your due dates ahead of time. Check the calendar. See Mr. Palmer and Ms. Ringelspaugh's homework philosophy. Peer Assessment: You’ll review your peer’s work, as they will review yours, in each unit. Learn to rely on each other for multiple revision, tweaks, and questions. All good writers, speakers, and historians show their work to multiple people multiple times before print or publication. Self-Assessment: You’ll self assess for each unit, too, looking at the goals, the activities, the struggles and the successes along the way. Really take time and be thoughtful with this, as it will drive what you do later in the semester. Teacher Assessment: You’ll conference with your teachers for many of the major assessments, getting specific feedback and tips. If you want feedback on a paper before the due date, your teachers will read one idea or one page for you. It’s your job to find the patterns in their feedback and carry them through the rest of the essay. Grading: Content: All grades will be determined based on the rubrics that correspond with the learning goal. See the American Experience Grade Contract |
Computer Access:
Throughout the year, you’ll need to be on the computers multiple times and for multiple reasons: research, essays, and presentations. Get a Google Docs Account so you can access your work from anywhere —school, home, your best friends house, the public library. It’s free and easy to use. ELT and After-School ELT: ELT is always available. Please come in. After-school ELT for English runs every Tuesday. Please come in. After-school ELT for Math runs every Thursday, but you could grab a computer. Please come in. Often, teachers stay after school just for funsies. Please stay, too. Your Notebook or Binder: We expect you to record your thinking, reflections, notes, and analyses in your notebook or binder. Please bring this to class every day and follow the prescribed format. Frequently, we’ll ask you to look back and find evidence of your growth. In addition, we’ll come back to particular topics in a revolving pattern; we want you to be able to find and build on your earlier thinking. And, we want a formal place for all the work that you do. It’s important. Make-Up Work because of Absences: YOU are responsible for finding out what you missed, getting notes or completing formative activities, and arranging times with your teachers to make-up quizzes and project presentations. Check the American Experience procedures for more details. You know all your deadlines ahead of time, therefore you can meet those deadlines whether you were absent or not. If we have a guest teacher: YOU are responsible for getting your work done, following the lesson plan and focusing the whole period. Your teachers will leave the directions on the board and on paper. The guest teacher will leave notes, but it is not their responsibility to teach you. It is yours to do your work. Notes: --Put your cell phone away during class. No, really. I don't want to see it or hear it. Ever. --Please do not listen to your personal listening device (I-PoD, MP3 or your cell phone as a music player) during class lecture, discussion or activities. Please take your earbuds out of your ears and put them in your pocket. During sustained individual work time, you may listen. Please ask your teachers first. --No put downs. Not to anyone. Not at anytime. --Please put things back where and how you find them. No, really. Exactly how you found them. --Complaining does not work. If you have a concern, come talk to us individually. We're happy to address your concerns individually and politely. But complaining loudly and rudely in front of the whole class will not make us change anything. See the Frequently Asked Questions about American Experience |
About the AP American History Test
The Advanced Placement American History Exam assesses your knowledge of American History, your analytical skills, your assessment of historical materials and their relevance, and your historical interpretation. You will practice making conclusions based on informed judgment with clear evidence and attempt to persuade others of your conclusions.
The exam includes multiple choice questions and thee timed essay questions.
The exam is voluntary; it is not required. Your results on the exam do not affect your grade in class at all.
The test does cost around $80.
We prepare for this exam through our course work and weekly ELT meetings. We will read, study, and take practice tests on historical background information relevant to topics seen on the AP exam and the course.
The AP American History Exam will be given on a day to be determined in May at our administration office. You can earn yourself some college credit before getting to college.
Let Mr. Palmer know if you want to take the test!
The exam includes multiple choice questions and thee timed essay questions.
The exam is voluntary; it is not required. Your results on the exam do not affect your grade in class at all.
The test does cost around $80.
We prepare for this exam through our course work and weekly ELT meetings. We will read, study, and take practice tests on historical background information relevant to topics seen on the AP exam and the course.
The AP American History Exam will be given on a day to be determined in May at our administration office. You can earn yourself some college credit before getting to college.
Let Mr. Palmer know if you want to take the test!
See the American Experience Frequently Asked Questions.
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See Former Student Testimony about American Experience.
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See the American Experience Grade Contract.
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See the American Experience Homework Philosophy.
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