AP US History Reviews for Class Taught by Susan Richman

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That Little Number 5 posted by Kyle Thompson on July 06 2008 at 16:24:47

�I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.� Obviously Churchill wasn�t speaking about Mrs. Richman�s class, but there is some truth in this quote with regard to it. APUSH with Mrs. Richman is probably one of the greatest classes you�ll ever take. Whether you�re creating a website on a biography of George Washington, or examining FDR�s New Deal solutions to the Great Depression, everything you do will stretch the limits of your mind to learn more than you ever have before about US history.

The first thing I must confer upon you rising stars is that you can expect nothing less than a large amount of writing. Each week in a month is given a particular letter (A, B, C, and D) to classify it. Starting each week brings a new, recurring assignment: week �A� means writing a practice free-response essay, week �B� includes responding to news with historical content, week �C� is comprised of writing a Document Based Response (DBQ) essay, and week �D� involves a DBQ follow-up and either a response to a political cartoon or posting an interview you�ve conducted with someone who has something to share about history. While all of this seemed totally daunting to me (I mean who wants to write something every week?), by the end of the first month it was quite easy to slip into an effortless routine for managing it. Of course there always were those weeks when I forgot that I would be out of town, or when I ran into the unexpected troubles of life. The few times I fretted about not being able to turn everything in, Mrs. Richman was more than gracious to grant me an extension to finish my work. These writing assignments make up the backbone of the APUSH course, but they are by no means everything that is required.

The second thing that will take up residence in your routine is reading. Probably the most wonderful thing about this course is that there is no single, confining textbook to read day after day. The basic text, America and It�s People (AAIP)� is supplemented by primary source documents (documents written about an era first-hand, known as PSDs), research into the topics of your essays, political cartoons, present-day history-related news articles, and articles from the NY Times -- not to mention all the additional browsing of information you will find yourself doing after you find so much information available to you. On a weekly basis, a minimum of 9 PSDs and 1 NY Times article must be read, in addition to the AAIP text, which averages about 30 pages a week. Finally, by the end of the school year, the majority of your reading shifts to review of the AAIP and finding information on eras still slightly sketchy in your mind, so that you can nail a 5 on the APUSH exam. With all this reading and writing, you�re probably asking yourself �can anything more be fit into this class?� Oh, yes there�s more.

The third and last part of your life in Mrs. Richman�s APUSH class is the most fun, and most addictive: parties, movies, quizzes, Bio Essays, and the WWW Board. Now don�t think that the whole class flies across the country to have parties and watch movies, only some of us can make it to Mrs. Richman�s farm for the end-of-the-year party. In addition to this party, there are three parties on the website in which you choose a person coeval to the time period to impersonate and start rather fiery discussions with the other party-goers. As for movies, an episode of one of two series, A Biography of America and Primary Sources: Workshops in American History, will keep you glued to the screen each week. Once the week draws to a close, there�s always a quiz waiting to confirm you�ve learned everything, but the quizzes do plenty more than evaluate you, they help confirm your strengths and weaknesses so that when the APUSH exam approaches, you know exactly what you should be reviewing. By the end of the year, two famous Americans will have become your specialty, as you are required to complete two biographies. These �Bio Essays� take two forms, an extended essay and a website -- and are totally fun, creative, and efficient at turning you into an obsessive person who spends most of his or her free time in front of a computer screen. Finally, any nagging question can be resolved on the WWW Board, a message board where everyone can post messages, get to know each other, and play a friendly game of �Who Am I?� All these things put the real fun into Mrs. Richman�s class (just don�t party too long).

It�s easy to see why Mrs. Richman�s class can be considered the greatest class ever. While the writing, reading, and research do consume a large percent of your brain power, there are plenty of parties, movies, and games to balance it out, along with the competition that comes from getting points for doing all assignments. Everything about this class is outstanding, sometimes outstandingly hard due to the endless reading, essays, PSDs, political cartoons, and interviews, but nevertheless outstanding because of that little number 5 you�ll very likely earn on the APUSH exam!

Henry Clay speaks: posted by Andrew Evans on June 14 2008 at 16:50:47

Howdy! Henry Clay here. It has been my duty and privilege to be the guardian angel for Andrew Evans this past year. Under my careful tutelage, the brilliant support of his APUSH class, and the matchless Mrs. Richman�s guidance, Andrew�s once small supply of American history has been changed to a bustin� barnful of brilliance faster �n corn turns to moonshine. Not that, uh, I�d know anything about that� I swore off my rougher youth quite some time ago, and of course drinkin� is prohibited up here *wink*

But back to the business of the brilliant brain of Andrew. Lemme� tell y�all a few things about him �afore we get to the matter of APUSH (er, that�s pronounced AY-PUSH). First off, Andrew likes history. Specifically (and God bless �im), military history. As such, the matters of that bloodthirsty European continent had tickled �im a might more�n our�s. The trivial scuffle termed �World War Two� entranced Andrew more�n the noble struggle of 1812! Imagine. But ah well, past ignorance has long since been forgiven. The second thing about Andrew you�d do well to know �bout would be his love for laughin�. Now, I know what yur thinkin� �But honorable and worshipful Mr. Clay! What does that have to do with history?� And I know ya� didn�t mean no disrespect to my perfect personage with that thought, and it�s sorta an obtuse description (ya learn the most amazin� words up here!). Anyway, back in my day I was something of a virtuoso dancer, partyer, and whoopin�-it-upper, so I can respect a feller who can find the gumption to rear his head back and holler at durn near anythin��including himself. The point I�d like to make is this: my charge Andrew�s love for laughin� reflects his love for interaction (I think that�s what y�all call it). And interaction aplenty he was to get.

AP US History is a right honorable subject, for in it, the student gets to take time off of milkin� cows or such and gets to spend time readin� about his glorious country. Seems these days most folk don�t rightly appreciate the blessing of America that they soak up near each and every day. My pal Andrew weren�t really of this sort, but he�s told me on many occasion how much of a deeper lovin� fer his country he�s gained by studyin�, learnin�, and laughin� with all them folks in APUSH. Not just a love for his country, though, but a deeper appreciation for studyin� the past in general. Funny how since I�ve been floatin� above the earth I once so dearly loved, I get to see how much people ignore the past and make the same ol� dumb mistakes agin and agin.

Well, it wouldn�t be fair of me to focus on the fluff and to forget the fight it took to follow-up and finish this class. My dear friend Andrew proberbly spent �bout 12-14 hours a day in rapturous devotion to his beloved American history course. Ok ok, maybe not rapturous (Andrew don�t appreciate my stretchin� of the truth), but the point is, APUSH took some time for �im. For any who�d be thinkin� of joinin� the hallowed halls of history lovin� APUSHers, be prepared to spend some serious spells astudyin�. Y�all�ll have to write a paper a week, read a huge textbook in a year, do four relatively large projects, find countless primary source documents, spend time discoursing with classmates, and�finally�y�all�ll have to attend the annual Richman hoedown in May.

These assignments are more than just rigorous, though. Andrew enjoyed many of them. Harkin� back to his love fer laughin�, APUSHers are encouraged to spend serious time talkin� with �Study Buddies� about history�whether over the newfangled �telly-phone� or over somethin� I still don�t understand called �Aim� (I cin never remember if I need to capitalize more letters�), or in person. Andrew enjoyed ever� minite of his study buddy times, and he was able to digest his information better by discussin� it with someone a might more intelligent than me.

By far and away Andrew�s favorite project durin the year would be his website that he made all about me. I was so flattered when he told me he was gonna do a project all about me��course, it was a cinch for him. I sat back and watched all Andrew�s classmates read about me and gain an appreciation for this humble Kayn-tuckian. *sniff*

Well, I s�pose I�ve done told you most there is to know about Andrew and APUSH. My time as Andrew�s guardian angel is over as soon as I finish this little message. I�d just like to encourage y�all who�re thinkin� of takin� the lovely and talented Mrs. Richman�s class to do more�n think and actually sign up. I speak for Andrew when I say that he started excited, worked hard throughout, and left pleased. He felt extremely confidant takin� the APUSH test in May, and told me to tell you that so long as you�re ready and rarin� to roll up yur sleeves and git to work, AP US History will burn a fire of enthusiasm in you that reinforces a love for history and catapults you straight to a beautiful and majestic five on the exam. God bless y�all.

Signed, Henry Clay

Class Review posted by Paul Miller on May 31 2008 at 11:29:36

I certainly believe that APUSH prepared me for the AP History exam. APUSH gives a good understanding of U.S. History, and of course that's what the test is about. I think this course gave me more information than what was needed to pass the test, which, I think, is the right way to study for a subject. I was nervous before the test because I didn't feel like I knew enough of the history and dates. But, when I took the test, I was pleasantly surprised at how "easy" it was! So, in retrospect, I can say without a doubt that this course prepared me for the APUSH exam.

I generally spent 10 hours a week on history. It may seem like a lot, but if you space that over 5 days, it's only 2 hours a day. Some weeks required more time. I think the most hours I put in one week were 30. But average was about 10. I do think I should have put in about 5 more hours a week to do extra credit work, read more widely on the subject, and review.

I particularly enjoyed the history interviews. I went to the veterans' tent at our county fair and got the names and numbers of a few men and women there. I was able to interview one of these men for my history interview. It was great fun, I learned a lot, and I made a new friend! My other history interview was from a gentleman that I met at the Alamo. Just bumped into him, but he really knew his history well. In fact, I didn't have the history interview in mind at the time. I asked Mrs. Richman, and she said I could use my conversation as the interview. I *LOVED* this assignment. I really like talking to people, and being able to ask questions is great. It really helps to make history come alive.

I think the essays were very valuable. It forces you to write knowledgeable and place the information you know into coherent arguments. It's one thing to know the information, it's another to be able to explain it. The essays make sure that you truly understand the information. Often after writing an essay, I realized that I didn't know enough about the topic, and had to go back and study it again.

This course greatly enhanced my interest in American History. Going into it, I hardly knew anything about American history. I didn't even know who won the civil war! I was very glad to take this course, and it really peaked my interest in U.S. History. Now I stop at every historical marker and love to go to museums!

Communications with other students were interesting and valuable. Unfortunately, I didn't spend enough time interacting with the other students. I suggest that other students schedule in about 30 min to an hour to just go over people's WWW Board posts, and follow up on responses to BIO essays and such. This increased communication, I think, would be very helpful. I spent a lot of time talking to my grandpa about history, but not so much to the other classmates. The talking I did do was very helpful, though.

I think any student who wants to take this course will do well in this course. It really depends on your attitude. I know the course format is a little confusing at first, but after a month you'll get the hang of it. Just be sure to give yourself enough time for it. You'll be glad you did. ;)

TERRIFIC 9/9 posted by Tim Martin on May 30 2008 at 14:32:17

Future APUSHer,

Well I am fresh off taking the AP US History (or APUSH) exam and I must say this has to be one of the best classes I have ever taken. This class was challenging, time consuming, and definitely worth it. I put in, on average, about 10 hours a week and towards the end I was easily doing 20 hours a week. That�s essentially the first thing to remember before taking this class, it�s a lot of work. Like I said before though it�s definitely worth it. I�ll give you a basic rundown of the class.

Teacher: Mrs. Richman is an amazing teacher. She can relate almost anything to US History. She is extremely knowledgeable on this topic. When she grades your essays she always manages to tell you what you did wrong and what you did right. Although it may take time to get used to her grading scale (she claims to grade on a scale from 1-9) of using specific words to grade your essays (For example a bold capitalized �[b]TERRIFIC[/b]� essay means it really was exceptional while a �fine� essay simply means average.) you�ll get used to it. Once again Mrs. Richman is a �[b]TERRIFIC[/b]� 9/9 teacher.

Effort: It takes a lot of it. You do have to be somewhat motivated in order to get the assignments done on time. I worked on average 8-10 hours a week. Towards the end I was approaching 15-18 hours a week. This is not something you can halfway commit to; you have to be willing to go all the way.

Writing: Once again there is a lot of it. You are expected to write one essay a week. Also there are two �super essays� that you have to write over the year. While they technically only have to be 750 words I think everyone goes over. One of mine essays was 40 pages long but in reality that can only mean one thing, everybody loved doing it.

Students: These kids are the cream of the crop. These are definitely some of the brightest people I have ever met and they actually care about what they are doing. If you have an idea you want to run off of somebody, you definitely know that there will be competent enough people to discuss your idea with here.

Thinking: If you are not capable of independent thought do not join this class. The test itself is heavily dependent on thinking. You cannot hope to just spit out information straight from the textbook and get a good score on the essay section. The class itself is even more dependent. Whether you�re writing an essay about the true reasons and effects of dropping the Nuclear bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki or discussing on the board whether or not the Revolutionary War was justified from the colonists standpoint, you�ll be required to think independently and defend your arguments.

In conclusion if you are willing to put a lot of effort into this class, think independently, and have some interest in US history than I would definitely recommend this class for you. It may be hard but it is fun and fascinating. And you will actually be learning something useful.

A *wonderful* class posted by Kelsey Ireland on May 28 2008 at 22:14:00

I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who has an interest in history. You learn so much more then just what is offered to you in the textbook. The unique assignments keep it varied and interesting, and the social interaction on the wwwboard is a lot of fun. One of my favorite assignments was the History in the News essay. It made me look through my local newspaper for stories that had historical tie-ins. Many of the articles my classmates and I found were very interesting and sometimes told a story from a perspective that you don't always hear about. And it makes you realize how much history surrounds you every day in your hometown!

This course is a lot of work, and you have to be careful it doesn't take over your other school subjects. I spent at minimum, an average of 5 hours a week on the course, but I could have easily spent more. As a Sophomore, this was my first AP course, and I found the workload difficult at times. However, it was also rewarding, and it did prepare me for the exam.

This course would be good for anyone who is self-motivated and enjoys history. You have to learn how to schedule your time, so you don�t find yourself on Wednesday night (assignment turn-in night) and you have to read 20 pages of text. However, if you manage your time well, you should have no problem getting your assignments turned in on time.

Mrs. Richman is an absolutely fantastic teacher. She could make the history of the paperclip interesting. She always keeps things fun with optional bonus assignments and interesting facts. And she is always very understanding if you ever need to �flip� assignment weeks because something came up, and you just can�t get in that Bio essay, but you can write the short 250 word History in the News essay instead. And thanks to her, I�ll never forget what the Missouri Compromise was about. ;-)

Even though the work for this class is demanding, it is worth it, and definitely a course to consider for anyone interested in United States History.

Good luck!

Kelsey Ireland

AP US History posted by Jessina Leonard on May 27 2008 at 18:02:47

Dear Future APUSHer's,

I just recently came back from the end-of-the-year APUSH party at the Richman's house. And while there, as I looked back over the year and this course, I think I realized for the first time how MUCH I really appreciated the class. I learned a ton and enjoyed it immensely. If you are considering to take this class, do take it because it's well worth it! And if you're already accepted and buying your books for the fall, here's some things you can look forward to.

AP tests are certainly challenging and for me, at least, cause a lot of stress beforehand. But this class prepares you really well for entering the school on exam day. Yes, I still had lots of butterflies in my stomach and was praying the whole way through, but when I actually sat down and opened the text booklet, I was surprised at how easy many of the questions were. I can attest that Mrs. Richman consistently teaches and prepares you for the exam.

But doing this does take a good deal of work throughout the year. It's hard to give a specific amount of hours per week as it varied so much, but I would say I spent about an hour per day on history and probably two hours on it the days I wrote essays (which is about once a week). And of course in the weeks before the exam in May I spent a LOT more time then usual, ranging between three and six hours each day. It is a lot of work, but as one of my other classmates mentioned, you usually don't do ALL the work at the same time in one day, so it doesn't seem quite so long either. For example, I might do 40 minutes of work in the morning and 20 in the afternoon. Breaking up the work some makes it feel less overwhelming.

Now what exactly is the work you are doing for this class? Every week you are required to read 9 primary source documents, do three short online quizzes, and do the required reading in the textbook and (sometimes) test guide. Along with this, Mrs. Richman breaks up each month into four periods (weeks) and each week there are different assignments.

(1) Assignment A Week: These weeks we would have to write one essay, make an outline for one essay, watch a 1/2 video online, and do a multiple choice quiz in the test guide.

(2) Assignment B Week: These weeks we would have to peer review other students' essays from the previous week and write up a summary to an article in the news related to history.

(3) Assignment C Week: These weeks we would generally have to write a document based essay and watch an hour video online.

(4) Assignment D Week: These weeks we would have to peer review other students' essays from the previous week and either write a cartoon analysis or do a history interview. We sometimes would also have to watch an online video these weeks.

Of course you can add lots of extra credit work into this and every week is not always exactly according to this (i.e., we had to do biography essays twice and we did a history movie review during Christmas break, online "dinner parties" throughout the year, etc.), but that's the general guideline.

Another fun aspect of this class is the WWW board where you get to chat with other classmates and Mrs. Richman. I really enjoyed getting to know many of my classmates (and getting to meet them this past weekend at the APUSH party).

This is a professional, organized, challenging, and fun class. And Mrs. Richman pretty much defines an amazing teacher. She encourages her students constantly and is always available to answer any questions or give you an extra interesting tid-bit to add to your knowledge. So if you are interested in this subject and are looking for a way to be challenged and learn more, then I whole-heartedly recommend this course to you!

Blessings,

Jessina L.

Great history class posted by Erin Mundahl on May 23 2008 at 17:02:57

I started homeschooling six years ago and always did history at home. I loved being able to go in depth on things that interested me. Thus I was a bit aprehensive about starting this class. After the first few weeks' assignments though, I had no regrets. Mrs Richman does a wonderful job of filling her class with interesting assignments and fun "bonuses". The syllabus is slightly hard to read through the first time, but that is only because there is a lot in it! One thing that I found useful was that some weeks are a bit lighter in work load than others, giving time for a breather if things become too crazy.

Personally, I did not find that this class took very much time. When I planned out my schedule, I was generally able to finish all of my APUSH work in three days, working about 2-3 hours a day. It is necessary to really keep track of some of the long term projects though or they will sneak up on you. (One of my Biography Projects did this.) Overall though, Mrs Richman is very flexible and very willing to help work around trips or illness.

APUSH was a wonderful class which forced me to explore new portions of history in the form of primary source documents and interviews. I'm rather shy when it comes to talking on the phone, so it really took a lot to try interviewing someone. I learned so much though that I am glad I did. This APUSH class fostered some intense discussions and covered an amazing span of history both in depth and in an interesting fashion. By the time the test rolled around, I felt that I was very well prepared. My last words of recomendation would be to strongly advocate for purchasing the Patriot's History text, I really liked having a different perspective on events. (The section on the Great Depression is great.)

Wishing the best to this new class. I'm sure that you will have as informing a year as I did.

There's nothing like plunging in head-first posted by Andrew Kuiper on May 22 2008 at 16:02:12

This class gave me my first experience with an AP course. Obviously, the sheer amount of work was not something I was used to, but Mrs. Richman's syllabus and weekly updates(not to mention my Mother's watchful eye) kept me on track.

Mrs. Richman was an integral part of my motivation for this class. Besides being a naturally vivacious person, she truly loves history at a deep level. She was always helping us understand things or pointing us towards more resources. I was always very pleased when she would notice some aspect of my assignment. She finds time to comment on every student's assignment in a way that actually helps them to improve and encourages him. Because she was such a likable person and knows so much, it feels really good to hear her recognize your work specially.

I think the two most terrifying assignments by far were the Biography Essays. These are lengthy reports on a historical figure that must be done in a creative way. Two are required in the course. Mine were on Herman Melville and Oliver North. I learned so much doing research on these figures (mostly on Oliver North since I didn't research very much on Melville). It was an enjoyable assignment (in a frenzied deadline sort of way :P).

Not surprisingly, I learned a lot of US History while taking this course. I have a much better mental picture of the life of our nation. Part of our weekly homework was reading original source documents from different time periods, that and several online videos we watched helped me understand how we find history. It makes sense that we glean it from first-hand evidence, but I had never really thought about it much.

I absolutely adore history, but I will admit that American history did not draw my attention like Ancient or European history. This course has been the most jam-packed rigorous history study I have done and it really made me interested in America. I've always known that we were special among nations and a great experiment, but I now realize that this makes our history, though shorter than other nations, one of the uniquest. Some, like the Frenchman, Toqueville, came to study us even when we were young. Why? Because America is fascinating! I don't want to be living in a country that has an incredible history and wait for foreigners to tell me. :P

This class will give you knowledge of history and that in its turn will give you perspective. These are things worth having.

APUSH at its best! posted by Jillian Strayhorn on May 20 2008 at 13:09:29

Dear future APUSHers ~

First, I just have to say that Mrs. Richman is absolutely wonderful! She is friendly and cheerful throughout the entire year and she gives very valuable attention to each individual student, from her in-depth suggestions on essays to book recommendations. Furthermore, she really, really knows her stuff! She can answer any question and shares fascinating tid-bits throughout the year. I guarantee that you�ll be amazed! She adds so much to the experience and devotes an incredible amount of time to her students.

Next, the course provides a fun way to socialize and study with the other students. Something is always happening on the message board, from discussions to... well... you�ll see :). I really enjoyed studying and socializing regularly with classmates (I highly recommend that you find a study buddy).

The amount of time that you spend in this class depends on how dedicated you want to be to the course or the subject. Mrs. Richman offers tons of bonus activities of all sizes and I would argue that the most rewarding experience in this class comes to those who take advantage of what she offers. I spent a lot of time in this class, but that is partly because I often studied with classmates for many hours (Jackson, anyone?) and also because I tend to go a little overboard on review ;). This course consists of a lot of work for any student, but exactly how many hours you spend is up to you!

One of my favorite assignments was the monthly DBQ follow-up; for this you research documents of that month�s DBQ. I really enjoyed finding bits of �behind-the-scenes� information that weren�t revealed in the snippets that the DBQ provides.

I think that I would join that sad group of those who weren�t too terribly thrilled with history before this course. Now however, I really value all of the information that I learned in APUSH! I have noticed references to many aspects of US history everywhere, and, even when I don�t, it�s fun to be an expert ;). Basically, you learn a LOT of history in this course. I felt very prepared for the AP exam and was a little miffed at the test-makers at all that they failed to ask about.

So please, take this course! (And do join the Mrs. Richman fan club!)

Good luck!

Jillian Strayhorn

Excellent Class posted by Todd Culbreth on May 20 2008 at 13:01:34

Mrs. Richman's APUSH class was great! When I signed up, I didn't know how well this class would increase my knowledge of US History. I am so glad I was able to experience Mrs. Richman's guidance throughout the class. Hard work is required for the class, but the outcome is well worth it. I usually spent about 1 & 1/2 to 2 hours a day doing the coursework. One essay a week is required along with reading the text. The special assignments were some of my favorite aspects of the course. I especially enjoyed the Veteran Interview.

Days before the APUSH exam I began second guessing myself and questioned if I really had a grasp on US history. I worried about it until the exam day came. While taking the exam I realized the class work throughout the year greatly helped me in analyzing the questions and gave me an overall understanding of history. Mrs. Richman's methods of teaching inspire confidence in learning history and give a great overall understanding of the history of America.

Great Class! posted by Alec Miller on May 19 2008 at 18:58:51

Mrs. Richman�s U.S. History class was an amazing experience, and I would highly recommend it to any student. Throughout the year, I learned a ton about the history of the United States, and I felt well prepared for the AP exam this month.

Any student interested in taking the class must be willing to put in a lot of work, and I mean a LOT. An average week will include reading a chapter from the textbook, bonus activities, and writing some kind of essay. Also, because of the vast amount of material being learned throughout the year, frequent review is also a good idea. That way, it won�t be necessary to �relearn� everything before the AP exam. On average, I probably spent at LEAST an hour a day doing APUSH work. However, there were many days when I spent a lot more time doing work. While a faster student will probably be able to finish the weekly assignments relatively quickly, it�s always a good idea to put in extra time doing review. You�ll be VERY thankful for that extra review when preparing for the AP exam.

Although the assignments can sometimes be frustrating, they are ultimately very rewarding. They�re not just geared towards preparing you for the AP exam, but actually helping you learn a lot about the subject. For example, one of the monthly assignments was writing a History in the News essay. For this assignment, you had to find a recent news article that was related to US History. You then had to write an essay about the article, and what you learned from reading it. This was a great assignment because it helped me to connect current events to other events in history.

Definitely one of the best parts of the class is being able to communicate with Mrs. Richman and the other students. There were MANY lively discussions on the class website that encourage you to think critically of historical events, and formulate your own opinions. Mrs. Richman is an amazing teacher, and she alone is one of the best reasons for taking this class! For the essays, she always provides good feedback and suggestions on how to make improvements. Her comments were especially helpful during the second semester, when most of the essays I did were timed and handwritten. Her comments helped me to learn how to write a good timed essay, and I felt well prepared for that portion of the exam. She also posts MANY bonuses on the class website. These bonuses were often links to articles on US History, which you could then read and discuss. Students interested in taking the class should definitely be willing to participate in these bonus activities. They make the class a lot of fun, because they help you to learn more about a particular aspect of US History, and you get points for doing them! The students also helped make the class enjoyable. I had a lot of fun reading the other students� essays, reading their thoughts on particular topics, and talking to them outside the class setting.

Before taking this class, I was not particularly interested in history. However, this class has helped me enjoy it a lot more, and I�ve learned many things I didn�t know before. Overall, I would highly recommend this class to any motivated student! While the workload is heavy and occasionally overwhelming, it is extremely rewarding. It helps you learn a lot about US History, and it prepares you well for the AP exam.

APUSH 2008 posted by Lydia Murdy on May 19 2008 at 18:21:24

Mrs. Susan Richman�s APUSH is an extensive course that is made for a dedicated student who wants a deeper view of American history. This course covers all the material in the American History textbook a month before the APUSH exam in May, giving you plenty of time to review. There is also a great variety of assignments throughout the year to help reinforce the material. This not only includes practice DBQ and essay questions, but also Cartoon Analysis, responses to news articles, and interviews. I found the interviews particularly enjoyable. This year I talked with a veteran of World War II and a Vietnam veteran, and they were experiences well worth having. I was very nervous beforehand, but both interviews were wonderful and greatly affected my view of history. All of these assignments seem overwhelming when looked at all together, but they are spread out over the year into a manageable load.

I felt very prepared for the test, and my nervousness only came from the fact that this was my first AP exam. I worked 2 � 3 hours five days a week on average. Some weeks the homework was lighter and some weeks it was heavier, just like any course. If you take this course, you must be a hard worker and must be willing to push ahead even when you feel like giving up. Mrs. Richman is a great teacher and her comments on all of my work were always very helpful. She is extremely kind, but also has high standards which encourage you to reach for a high goal. This course was challenging, but I greatly value the new perspective and the store of knowledge I have gained in American History. I am sure it will be immensely useful in the future.

Be warned! posted by Caiti Perdue on May 16 2008 at 13:26:21

Dear future student -

As a senior soon to be graduated, I feel it is my duty to warn you about this class. If you are intensely interested in science or math, then this class will sorely disappoint you. There is only one time where you can earn bonus points for doing math, and I don't remember ever needing to use science to figure out the answer to a question. That being said, if you enjoying digging deep into questions, writing different styles of essays, research, reading, and taking the initiative to learn on your own, then this is the class for you. Even if you don't plan on taking the AP exam, this class will prepare you to do anything related to history. If you do plan on taking the exam, this class will give you a great foundation for a solid test score. To prepare you for what is to come, here is a list of skills either required or gained from this class:

- Reading. There is a lot of reading required for this class. You will be reading in "America and its Peoples" (affectionately know as AAIP,), the Barrons Guide (BG), and Tackling the Document Based Question (DBQ). While skimming this material is optional, the deeper you can go into what you're learning about, the better. All this reading will help you learn to use your time efficiently and to maximize your study time. You have a lot to cover!

- Writing. You will be writing at least one essay every week. Some of these essays will be longer (around 500 words) and some will be shorter (around 300 words). In addition to writing your own essays, you will also be writing short responses to your classmate's essays. You'll dig through archived newspaper cartoons for a cartoon analysis, more recent newspapers for "History in the News" short essays, and will learn how to find historical documents and people for your DBQ follow-up. And of course I shouldn't neglect the bio essays and interviews you'll also be writing. Don't start panicking yet!

- Thinking. Yes, it is required for this class. If you are not in the habit of searching through your memory to answer questions, or to eliminate possible answers, then this class will teach you how to think critically. For the optional "Very Hard Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)" you will need to not only come up with the answer you think is correct, but also why you think so. This is great practice for the exam, and I would highly recommend these excerises for your mental state.

So now that your heart rate is a little up after reading about all you will be doing, I'd like to share the assignments I found most helpful. While the BG essays and the DBQs definately prepare you for the exam, I enjoyed the cartoon analyses and the DBQ follow-ups. These really helped me learn to navigate research on the internet. My other favorite assignment was the bio essay. While I didn't enjoy the problems I encountered when making my website (one of the required ways to do your essay) I appreciated the fact that this would force me to learn more about how I can use my computer. As a slightly technologically challenged person, this was a little stretch, better I greatly benefitted from it. These much longer essays allowed you to really investigate a time, place, and event (or series of events). After readng through classmates' essays you will begin to have a firmer grasp of different aspects of history you might not find in your textbook. Who knows? Maybe the work put into your essay will help you answer more questions on the exam!

This is not the class for someone who deosn't want to work hard. To do well you need to be willing to put a lot of effort into learning on your own and keeping yourself on track. For those that love history, enjoy a challenge, and are hard workers, this is your class. You have been warned. Take the plunge!

APUSH review posted by Chris Perdue on May 15 2008 at 16:15:54

This course was great! I felt quite well prepared for the exam. Up till the last week, I spent 5-6 hours a week on this class. For me, the most valuable assignments for me would be the Bio of America videos and the quikie outlines. The videos gave me a short, broad view of American history while the outlines helped me to create outlines before I wrote an essay which increased my essay grades. Throughout the class I gained an enhanced interest history. Prior to this class, the only period of history I liked was the medeival period but know I like almost all of American history just as much. Another great part of the class was the other students. I had some very knowledgable and intersting classmates and I learned quite a bit from them. The best students in this class were the ones who were very dedicated to their work and spent a fair bit of time on it. It takes a determined person to do it, but I would highly reccomend it.

I cannot tell a lie... posted by Andrew Min on May 15 2008 at 11:54:23

Yeah, that wasn't really a quote from George Washington, but it's true for me. So when it comes to AP US History from Mrs. Richman... I have to say that if you even have the slightest love for history, take this class. APUSH was my first AP class (and therefore the first one I took from PA Homeschoolers), but as the country song goes, "it couldn't get better than this". If there's a class out there with a more dedicated history teacher, a history teacher who knows as much about this subject as Mrs. Richman does, a course that prepares you more for an AP exam, or an all-around more fun course, tell me about it. With God, all things are possible, but unless that teacher had divine intervention, I doubt it's better than APUSH.

I will admit: it's time consuming. On average, you'll spend about 10 hours a week, with a lot more in April and May (right before the exam, when you're cramming studying extra hard). And don't expect that to be all easy either. But you can expect one thing: that you'll enjoy it. You won't enjoy every second of it (remember, I cannot tell a lie), especially when you have to write an essay about some Market Revolution you've never heard of or when you're struggling to fill in all 250 words in the HITN, but you'll enjoy 99% of it. You'll love the social board (I can't imagine taking an online class without one), the Dinner Parties (more fun that you can imagine and will actually help on on the exam!), the bio essays (time consuming, sure, but if you're creative... tons of fun), and the historical interviews (when I interviewed my grandfather, I learned things no one in our family knew about). The social board is especially great, for anything from bonus assignments from Mrs. R. (quick! What contributed to the growth of the free African American population in the United States in the early 19th century?) to class-created assignments (like the wonderful Who Am I game started by Peter Cahill) to the plain old horsing around (Andrew Evans' Magical Hat comes to mind).

Mrs. Richman is also one of the greatest teachers in history (get it! History! Ha ha! OK, you can stop muttering to your parent looking over your shoulder, "Boy am I glad that that kid is graduating before I get into APUSH"). She's never ever ever been the slightest bit negative, and has always been extremely encouraging throughout the course. Of course, being encouraging only makes up half of the teacher. You need to know about the material as well. But Mrs. Richman has the other half as well. She knows more than you or I could even hope to know about American History, is always posting fun bonus assignments, and loves her class. Like I said, I find it hard to believe that there could be a better history teacher out there than Mrs. Richman.

Finally, APUSH definitely prepares you for the exam. It's not a silver bullet (in other words, you actually have to *gasp* work hard) but if you work hard, you'll do well. You'll know obscure facts like what "returning to normalcy" is, why the Depression happened, what a DBQ essay is, and how much you'll hate enjoy James Kirby Martin (author of the AAIP textbook we use).

In conclusion, would I recommend this class? If you are willing to work hard and are even the least bit interested about learning about American history, I would definitely take this. The teacher, the environment, and the course itself all combine to make the best class that I could ever imagine. Heck, I've already been recommending this class to different friends I know, and it isn't even over!

One of the Best Classes I have Ever Taken! posted by Amanda Bilko on May 14 2008 at 17:56:38

My Fellow Students,

Either you’ve just made – or about to make – a momentous decision: to take PA Homsechoolers AP US History (henceforth to be known as APUSH) or not. So, I assume now you want to know what you’re up against (otherwise, you wouldn’t be here, would you? )

Now for the first (and most pressing) question: Is it a ton of work?! Now, while the workload won’t turn you into one of the living-dead, it’s definitely enough to keep you on your toes. In general, I probably put in around 10 hours a week – it was before the big projects that this number spiked higher (mid-teens, maybe) but that was only because I have the nasty habit of spending a mandatory 3 hours agonizing over any important project I have. For those who have really tight schedules, I will say that it is perfectly possible to complete all the APUSH homework in less than 7 days (I did it over an average of 4) and not be brain-dead after the end of an intense APUSH-study session. The only place where this is not the case is with the reading – Mrs. Richman provides you with a possible reading-plan at the beginning of the year, and I HIGHLY recommend you use it. It makes the reading manageable, and has in built in catch-up sessions, when, (if you *do* follow the plan) you won’t have to do any reading at all! So, the most important thing to say about the workload is that it is reasonable. You know that by definition any AP course is going to be more work, but it isn’t absurdly so.

I really don’t think that any course could prepare you better for the APUSH exam. Everything is designed with that one goal in mind; so by May you can churn out a decent essay in 30 minutes, you know enough facts to conquer even the toughest multiple choice questions, and you learn how to think logically on the MCQs section, so that even when you don’t know the answer, you can still make an educated guess. One of the best projects that you’ll have to do is a bio of a historical figure. I, for example, did a bio on William Jennings Bryan, and was really, really thankful when the exam came around, because many of the little facts I learned while researching him actually came up on the exam (Side Note: if there’s one thing you should study for the exam it’s the Populists people, the Populists!) I also really loved doing these assignments, anyway, because we were allowed to do them as creative writing – and when is creative writing ever not fun?

Of course, one of the reasons this course is so great is because the other people are great too. They’re pretty much just like you – serious students who enjoy learning and having fun – and Mrs. Richman is always brimming with positive energy, so you can’t help but enjoy yourself and get energized too! So, I would recommend this course to almost anyone: even if you hate history with a passion, I think that by the end you’ll have at least developed an appreciation for the subject. In fact, I don’t think that anyone could ever regret taking this class. It is, without a doubt, one of the best classes I’ve ever taken.

Three Thumbs Up posted by Adrien Downey on May 14 2008 at 13:08:25

Dear prospective APUSHers,

If you are a homeschooler searching for an AP US History class, look no further. I guarantee that you will be more than prepared for the exam in May if you put in the hard work. People from other testimonials are not lying when they say it's a lot of work (this seems to be par for the course, as most other students tend to report times in this range): I usually put in 8-10 hours a week on this course, with a couple assignments and pre-exam freakouts sometimes pushing that number into the high teens. That said, it is not particularly oppressive, and I believe you would soon fall in love with the class and (gasp) look forward to the next essay (I know, I didn't believe it either at first). The atmosphere is great, and you get to participate with a few dozen other smart, talented students--like yourselves, of course--who are all very passionate about history. And if YOU aren't at the beginning of this class, and just exaggerated your interest to get in (as I did, gulp!) , trust me, you WILL be by the end of it. I can say that this was easily the best course I have ever taken; Mrs. Richman has a wonderfully structured outline of the course--just look at the syllabus!--and you will learn so much more than what you need to succeed on the exam. It definitely looks imposing in the beginning, but once you get rolling you'll hardly think about the class as "difficult," even though it certainly is. Soon, even those of you who lack the zealous drive to do their best, like me, will find yourselves eagerly awaiting the next assignment by the end of the course--the bio essays are particularly fun to pour your hard work into (I literally worked night and day for a while to finish my second bio essay, on Douglas MacArthur, which ended up being over twice as long as my first one on Daniel Webster). To make a long story short; is it difficult? Yes. Will you care? No. The one thing I would caution students about is the reading load. It begins deceptively lightly, and remains very manageable throughout the first semester. Then, it skyrockets early in the second semester, so be ready, or you'll find yourselves in the deep hole I found myself in if you continue to read at the pace you did earlier. This can be particularly difficult to get out of if you are taking one or more APs, like me as well as most of my classmates, and so I'm guessing you as well. Without giving you a walk through, let me just say that if you grit your teeth through the tough times and keep your heads above the water, you will be richly rewarded. This class is SO much more than any other you have ever taken, I guarantee you.

AMAZING class!! posted by Becca Woodbury on May 13 2008 at 01:34:16

Hi all :D

Mrs. Richman's APUSH class was by far the most challenging and the most rewarding history class I have ever had the pleasure of learning in. She is a wonderful teacher, to begin with, embodying discipline and flexibility along with a wonderfully clear passion for American History and an evident concern for her students. Years of past experience have given her a perspective on the class, the students, and the test that is invaluable, and allows everything on the website and offline to run smoothly and appropriately.

The course itself is demanding, and requires self-discipline. Set up in such a way as to give the student vast control over what he learns, this course leaves the apathetic student trailing in the dust but rewards the diligent student with many, many wonderful opportunities to truly learn the material in new and various ways, for both the test and in a way that will assist him throughout the remainder of his life.

When I stepped into my local public high school's auditorium to take the AP Exam, I was nervous, but I kept reminding myself that what I had learned over the course of the year far outweighed any AP Exam result. My mind and perspective were broadened, as well as my understanding of life, government, and culture, both in the past and in the present. But when I opened the cover of the exam booklet, I breathed a sigh of relief. This was exactly what I had studied for! Of course that makes sense, I realize, that an "AP History" class would prepare you precisely for the "AP History" exam, but the MCQs were just like the many sets I had practiced with all year, and the essay topics were incredibly similar to the essays I had written at home, with the comfort of my favorite chair and comfy pencil. This of course is not to say that the test wasn't difficult - it most certainly was! - but that I knew what I was facing and I knew how to attack every question and every essay in a way that I knew had been successful for me before.

So yes - if you are considering enrolling in this class, I most certainly recommend it. Be prepared to work hard, but be prepared to reap many benefits. History truly springs forth in fresh, frothy wonders with Mrs. Richman's course, through lectures and primary sources and interaction and even playing pretend. I feel like every hour I spent studying for this test (and there were many hours) through this course was a piece of time well spent. I will never forget the lessons about life and about people that I learned, and I will always remember this course as a high point in my highschool career.

An incredible class! posted by Megan Dutill on May 12 2008 at 13:17:42

Dear Baby APUSH'ers,

If you are where I was at this time last year, you are thumbing through the AP classes pages and wondering which class to take. And if you read this history page, you might realize that although everyone says this is an amazing class, it's also a lot of work and you are a little worried about that. Or, at least I was. Somehow I got the impression that all anyone had time for was history. So, I want to clarify a few things.

First, yes, you do work hard on this class and may spend more time than you usually do on a subject, but it's no different than any other AP course. You spend this amount of time, or more, on nearly every one. Secondly, it doesn't feel like you've spent hours on one class because in that time frame you may be doing four or five different activities, which really makes the time much better. For me personally, the time I spent varied greatly depending on what assignments were due. Sometimes I only spent ten or fifteen minutes reading the textbook. Other times I spent four hours because I had a bio essay due, plus all the required quizzes and primary source documents that had accumulated throughout the week and now I actually had to do. So in short, it varies. Also, you can really put in as much time as you want in this class, because there are always tons and tons of bonus assignments. So sometimes when people say they religiously spent three hours a day, it's because they were always doing a million bonus assignments. ;)

In terms of preparing you for the AP exam, this course does an excellent job. I have always been much, much better at essays than multiple choice questions, but I walked out feeling very confident about the mcq's, and the test in general.

A unique feature of this course is the level of interaction among all the students. I had amazing classmates this year, and I really love all of them. It's been so fun to have random discussions on the www board, and study buddy IM chats - which, incidentally, were also one of the most helpful things in preparing me for the test, because my two friends kept pushing me to explain, define, and think. Mrs. Richman herself is an amazing teacher; her love for history makes her share her knowledge very enthusiastically, and that enthusiasm is contagious. We all loved the course, and loved Mrs. Richman! In practical terms, she always grades assignments very fast, helps point out factual errors, and then always provides a link to somewhere on the web to increase your knowledge about something.

So, I hope I've made this class sound a little less formidable to you, and I hope you realize what a fun class this really is (and that is coming from someone who usually reserves the word "fun" for theatre, not academics). If you take this class, you'll never regret it!

Here's to another great year of APUSH, Megan Dutill

History is no longer history... posted by Luke Wall on May 11 2008 at 21:13:22

Once you have taken this course...Mrs. Richman transforms the way you think of history. Sure, I enjoyed history before I took this class, but now it is my favorite subject! I had so much fun, while learning and working hard. I typically worked 1 1/2-2 hours a day on the necessary work, and then spent some extra time to get alot of "bonus points". I felt really prepared for everything. Truth be told, if you are willing to work hard and do what you are supposed to (and more), you will be beyond prepared.

Although I enjoyed many things, including doing cartoon reviews and especially the Bio Essays, Interviews, and film review, beyond anything, I really enjoyed each Historiography discussion (Maybe a few more even would have been great!). I really liked how the teams and points made everyone work hard and have a sort of friendly competetion. I loved each and every student in the class and you really get to know everyones personalities. Any hard working and diligent student will do exceptionally well in the class and I would recomend it to any student. (I look forward to meeting all of you future APUSHer's, as I hopefully will be able to guide you through the class as the TA :-))

Your US History lover~

Luke Wall

When Tommy Paine wrote Common Sense... posted by Peter Cahill on May 09 2008 at 16:22:51

Dear future APUSHer,

I simply must say that you will have an excellent time studying APUSH with Mrs. Richman! She is a very dedicated teacher and really prepares one exceedingly well for the AP exam. When I took the exam earlier today, I definitely felt prepared and am extremely confident of my scores on both the MCQ and FRQ sections of the exam.

Mrs. Richman's course does take up a substantial ammount of time and I would not reccomend taking too heavy a load in addition to this course. The time spent per week was always rather variable, but it was always a lot! I believe the week that I forgot about my Bio Essay until right before it was due, that I spent 21 hours. However, Mrs. Richman is also flexible, aptly demostrated by the fact that I completed the first half of this course running wild in Argentina. Mrs. Richman's assigments also give one both variety and structure, with a rather neat rotating schedule. My favorite assignments were the History in the News projects where we would try to actually learn from history and apply it. I was able to find many particularly interesting articles about U.S. involvement in Cuba, which I would reccommend.

I very much appreciated the new familiarity with U.S. history, though, as a wannabe world historian, I was always trying to put things in the bigger picture, which Mrs. Richman allowed me to do in a research paper into the international forces at work in the Falkland Islands Conflict of 1982.

There were some really amazing classmates this year, and I hope you will have the same luck. Whether "blink�ding (you'll find out what that means... eventually)" during a study buddy session, staring in another student's bio essay, or arguing the value of the Scopes Monkey Trial, I had an amazing set of classmates, many of whom I will be blessed to work with again next year.

The ideal student for APUSH is a dedicated worker with good time management skills and a desire to know who we are and how we got to where we are. While not everyone (actually, perhaps only one) is planning on being a history major, APUSH gives a very good perspective to the present, and in this course one leans to see the "tree behind the leaf (Goethe???)." You should definitely take this course!

Sincerely,

Peter Cahill

Take this class!! posted by Hannah Lugg on May 09 2008 at 15:08:03

For those of you considering this class I would definetly recommend this it!! I had a lot of fun getting to know classmates and had a great time learning. I did about 2 hours of a day but on some days I did up to 3 or 4. The bio essay website that I had to do was helpful in that I learned how to set up a website something i have never tried nor ever would have tried without this class. I felt this class fully prepared me for the exam and I definetly recommend it.

In all honesty... posted by Sarabeth Taber-Miller on June 24 2007 at 08:52:29

I�m going to be entirely honest. This course is a lot of work. There were nights that I read until I fell asleep on the text, and days when that DBQ response just didn�t want to go down nicely on paper. But before I started this course, I wasn�t really into history. Sure, I found it kind of interesting but never worth more than a passing glance. Now, whenever I happen to stumble across some history page on the internet, or a long forgotten book in the library, I simply loe to look at, peruse it, analyze it and fit it in with my new-found knowledge. It is due to this course, and the excellent tutelage of Mrs. Richman, that I have come to enjoy a previously tedious subject. To me it was worth the 9 or more hours a week in exchange for an interest that will last the rest of my life. In addition, the work was well worth it. When it came time for the exam, I felt quite confident walking into the test center, secure in the fact that I was well prepared.

In essence, this course holds a unique opportunity to gain insight and engage in the history of our country. If you are willing to put in some hard work, the reward is more than worth it.

Good luck in your coming year,

Sarabeth

Terrible... posted by Joseph Marlin on June 03 2007 at 23:52:01

JUST AWFUL!!!! THE WORST EVER!!!! I mean come on! The guy had no character flaws whatsoever! Superman was definitely one of the worse movies that have come out in the history of the� eh? Oh. My mistake� wrong assignment�

APUSH, now, that�s another story altogether! "Absolutely stunning" would be a more accurate way to describe the AP US History class taught by Mrs. Richman.

The course was� rigorous� but it did its job. I think it did a very good job of preparing me for the AP exam, which is, believe it or not, a rather big motivation for many people to take this AP class.

And by rigorous, I mean an hour a day at least. Most days I did more than this. Now I hear you saying to yourself, "more than an hour a day?!?!? I can�t do that!" But it is important to note that those hours are not completely monopolized by painstakingly researching the sociological effect of the Thirteenth Amendment in preparation for that fifteen-page research report due tomorrow or memorizing just what the 148th Amendment to Rather Important Law #532546 of Volume 32 of the Complete History of the United States did. Some of it is actually quite interesting. Throughout the course of the year you will be interviewing veterans, analyzing cartoons, and best of all� WRITING ESSAYS! But not TOO many essays. Don�t worry.

You will find that even if you don�t particularly care just who Malcom X is at first, gradually, you will slowly find yourself beginning to� well� not mind learning about him so much. In fact, eventually you won�t mind learning about history at all! It�s the magic of APUSH.

Over the course of the year you will be engaging in spirited debates over a virtual dinner, and participating in intriguing discussions on the class message board. You will be meeting all sorts of people who live all over the United States. You will be having all sorts of fun!

If you love history, then this class is for you. If you don�t, then this class is for you. Take it.

Joseph

PS- Superman really was a lousy movie though, wasn�t it?

APUSH posted by Adam Smelser on June 02 2007 at 21:13:52

If you want to learn a lot about US history, and you're ready to work hard, then you should take this course.
Our assignments were varied- sometimes we did essay questions from the Barron's Guide, sometimes we did document based questions, and sometimes we interviewed people or analyzed historical cartoons. We also watched video lectures and had role playing activities.
The course involves lots of reading- not only is there a textbook, but also the Barron's Guide and primary source documents.
This course prepared me for the AP exam, and increased my knowledge of history. If you like history and can study hard, I would recommend this course to you.

Completely Worth It posted by Laura McMillion on May 31 2007 at 22:40:43

Dear future APUSHer,

When I closed my test booklet after the AP US History exam in early May, I felt a gigantic wave of relief. All the pre-test worries about preparation and hand cramps were gone, replaced with the great feeling of knowing that I had been prepared for the test. So many assignments I completed during my year in Mrs. Richman�s APUSH class came back to my mind to help me answer the questions. It definitely was a challenging class, and it took at least five hours of my time each week, but the result, or at least the result I�m expecting, was completely worth my time and effort. Mrs. Richman has come up with a great variety of assignments so that you don�t lapse into boredom from monotonous repetition, and the assignments go so much beyond simple textbook reading that you come away feeling like you could actually remember what you just learned. My particular favorite assignments were the cartoon analyses, where we picked a historical cartoon and analyzed its symbols and messages. Yes, even looking at cartoons turned out to benefit my US history knowledge on exam day. I can also say that I came away with a greater desire to continue analytically studying history of all kinds, and this did not come from just reading the textbook. The lively discussions and debates on the wwwboard and the Dinner Party discussions forced me (or allowed me) to look at American history from a many different perspectives, including those I don�t necessarily hold. Taking this class certainly requires a great deal of motivation, but it is also very rewarding, and I think that anyone willing to put enough effort into this class will find it completely worth the efforts. If you cannot write well, this class will change that. If you already know how to write well, you will be able to put that skill to use. When you take this class, you won�t come away disappointed. Next year in early May, when you close your exam booklet and breath that sigh of relief, you will see how truly worth it the class was.

-Laura

You Must Take This Class!!!!! posted by Rachel Crone on May 24 2007 at 18:10:21

Dear Future APUSHer, You must take this class!!!!! I had a blast learning from Mrs. Richman and getting to know my other classmates. I have learned so much more about history and have come to love it more through this course. But history isn�t the only thing you learn in this class. Your writing skills are sharpened; you are expected to defend your ideas and opinions; time management skills are tested; and much, much more.

I was really nervous about taking this course in the beginning because I wasn�t sure if I could keep up with the pace of the class. Then my nervousness was intensified when I read the introduction essays of my classmates and realized that they were all geniuses! But as the class began, Mrs. Richman really helped us get accustomed to the requirements. Before I knew it, the schedule just became a part of my life. It wasn�t at all easy though. There is a lot of reading and writing in this class, and if you find history beyond boring this class is not for you unless you enjoy a challenge. I struggled at times to keep up, and I know that if I didn�t love the class and subject so much it would be very easy to quit. I spent a lot of time working on my assignments, and I remember many a time that I spent all day and late into the night working to get assignments in on time. It would be safe to say that I spent at least 1 hour on history each day, but I�m very sure that it was more than that.

All the interaction with my classmates and Mrs. Richman was invaluable. I learned so much from them whether it was in a discussion or their critiques on my essays. I really liked the assignments and bonuses, though both were at times hard to keep up with. My favorite assignment had to be the two biographical essays that we had to do. I got so wrapped up in my subjects that I didn�t want to stop researching them(and so far I haven�t stopped), and I loved the fact that they had to be in a creative format (something I absolutely love to do). As the end of the year came around the corner I started stressing that I didn�t know enough to take the test. I was sure that I hadn�t read enough books or participated in enough bonuses. Most of all I was afraid that I hadn�t reviewed consistently enough throughout the year (that�s one thing I would totally stress�REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!! Even if it�s just 5 minutes a day!). But when I opened my test booklet on the day of the test, I realized that I really was well prepared, and I ended up recognizing a lot of the questions from assignments or discussions we had had during the year.

Right now I am finding myself very jealous of you, future APUSH student. I would take this class again in a heartbeat and would HIGHLY (above highly if there is such a thing) recommend it to anyone who at least likes history and is not afraid to work hard.

Good luck to you all!

---Rachel Crone

Regarding the teaching of history posted by Jesse Gunsch on May 24 2007 at 14:29:11

was really a great history class... I don't recommend it if you're not willing to put a lot of time and effort into succeeding, but if you are you really can go far and learn a lot through it. Mrs. Richman really puts together a solid combination of different types of work that, if you do it all, you'll really begin to feel comfortable with the history of the US.

I was really nervous going into the exam, but as soon as they gave the exam out, it was very relieving to see I'd done all of it before. The essays were nothing new, the MCQs were simple enough, and by the end of it I was feeling great. This class really prepared me.

Like I said before, it takes a lot of time and effort to get through this class... I usually spent from 7 to 10 hours a week studying for this class just to meet the basic requirements, but any extra work was always worthwhile. Having the online interaction with other students was also helpful, as being able to see essays from others and Mrs. Richman's thoughts was enlightening.

Mrs. Richman is a very knowledgeable, very encouraging teacher, and extremely easy to work with. I'm very glad to have taken her class this year, and am now just hoping for a decent grade from the exam.

Mrs. Richman's Class is the best ! posted by Sarah S. on May 22 2007 at 20:43:08

Mrs. Richman's class definitely prepared me for the AP test. However, it was no easy class. There is a lot of work involved, I was spending about two hours a day, seven days a week on this class. Mrs. Richman's Bio essays and DBQs which she made us write were very helpful, as well as the Dinner Party. The communication with other students was also very helpful. A hard working student, or a student who loves to write would thrive in this class. I would definitely recommend this class to other students.

apush posted by Benjamin Cahill on May 21 2007 at 13:11:23

This is a really great class for anyone looking for an unbiased study of American History. While the goal of the class is to prepare you for the AP exam, which it does well, Mrs. Richman�s inclusion of assignments such as veterans� interviews give added flavor to the class. I had already enjoyed the study of history before entering this class so enjoying it wasn�t hard for me, but I think anyone who puts in the time and effort will enjoy the class. The assignments for the class are challenging, but won�t overload your schedule. I found that about an hour a day, sometimes more sometimes less, was about what was necessary to participate fully in the class. Any self-motivated students with a strong writing background will excel in this course and have a great time while doing it.

Fun, interesting assignments, and hard work posted by Lilla Grisham on May 21 2007 at 10:50:56

Mrs. Richman is a very fun and dedicated teacher, who made learning U.S. History a very interesting, challenging, and fun experience. She was always prepared to offer help, read and graded assignments quickly, and offered thoughtful comments on them. There were many different assignments, cartoon analysis, essay writing, dinner party chats, reading primary source documents, bio essays, history in the news articles, and history interviews, as well as the text book readings, which all helped me feel prepared for the AP test. It was a lot of work; I spent about 10-15 hours a week on class work. By the end of the class I felt that I had learned more then just historical facts, but also how those facts are connected through history. For example, basic civil rights has been a large issue in America starting with the first colonist who came to America, continuing through the civil war, the civil rights movements in the 1960s-70s, and today with immigration issues. I would recommend that you review throughout the year, there is a lot to remember, and steady review will help you stay on top of all of the information. I would definitely recommend this class, just as I said be ready for a lot of work.

APUSH posted by Elizabeth Wingfield on May 21 2007 at 10:29:13

This course is excellent preparation for the AP US History exam. This course involves roughly ten hours a week of assignments, readings, quizzes, and review. I would recommend that prospective students schedule a lighter course load the year they plan on taking this course as the more time you put into it, the more you can get out of it. I took this course my junior year and had multiple standardized tests to study for as well as five other demanding courses to worry about. I wish I had more time to take advantage of the numerous bonus assignments and discussions that this class offers. If I had had the time to take advantage of these I would have had even more confidence going into the exam. That being said, even doing the minimum amount of work this course requires will well prepare anyone for this exam.

Prior to taking this course, I had very little interest in American history. Through fun assignments such as the History in the News assignment (HITN,) where students relate modern news stories to past events in American history, my interest for the subject was sparked

My knowledge of US history gained from this class has served me well in other courses, too. On standardized tests that involve essays and in my other courses I frequently use examples from US history that I learned from this course to back up my argument.

Discussions with other students in the class also help in remembering facts about US history. On the test I know I answered multiple questions correctly because I remembered debating the subject with a classmate.

I would highly recommend this course to hard-working, enthusiastic students who are willing to put a lot of time and energy into this course. Trust me, if you put the time into this course you will reap the awards.

Variety in assignments and dedicated teacher - great class posted by Robert Peele on May 16 2007 at 14:01:44

Throughout the school year we were challenged with a variety of assignments such as cartoon analyses and practice essays, in addition to reading Primary Source Documents, doing practice quizzes, and making our way through the text. Interviews and bio essays added to the course, and regular email updates from Mrs. Richmann made it easy to plan ahead.

Definitely reccomended.

A Great Class!! by Jacob Pritt posted by Jacob Pritt on May 16 2007 at 13:42:02

This class is definitely a great preparation for the AP test. Mrs. Richman is a great and enthusiastic teacher, and the dinner parties, history interviews, bio essays and other creative assignments are all invaluable in preparing for the AP.

I'm not saying this class is easy - it's very challenging and requires lots of work, but is definitely worth it. The course helped me to improve not only my knowledge of history, but my critical reading, writing and analyzing skills as well. Any students that are willing to put time and effort into this course will find themselves well prepared for the AP test.

This is a must-take class! posted by Stefan Jentoft on May 15 2007 at 17:55:15

Mrs. Richman is a great teacher, and the discussions on the WWW Board and Dinner Parties make a big difference. Although many of the classmates don't get to meet in person, I felt that I knew most of my classmates to some extent by the end of the year. The variety of assignments Mrs. Richman includes in this course

Although I felt very prepared for the exam, this is a strenuous course. It is not easy. I spent roughly fifteen to eighteen hours a week on this class. Mind you, I tried to keep active in the WWW Board, Dinner Party, and other events during the course and did considerable study beyond what Mrs. Richman required.

You have to do a lot of essays for the course, but they really do help you on the exam. They give you a feel for the real essays on the test, and give you practice writing. Furthermore, the practice DBQ's helped me get a feel for how to write that form of an essay, and gave me hope on the exam. Mrs. Richman gives encouraging and thoughtful responses to your essays that show you what you can do to improve your own writing.

posted by Anna R. on May 15 2007 at 17:28:21

Dear Future APUSHer,

I am delighted that you are considering Mrs. Richman�s AP U.S. History course! If you enjoy history and are willing to work hard, you will learn a great deal from the class and be well prepared for the AP test.

When I first read Mrs. Richman�s extensive syllabus for the course, I wondered what I had gotten into. How was I supposed to read twenty to thirty pages of a textbook, ten primary source documents, a minimum number of student essays, watch bi-weekly history videos, do three quizzes, write a history assignment and take care of the rest of my school? Thankfully, I learned that I could do all that work if I managed my time well. On average, I spent about 8-12 hours a week on the course.

The course revolves around a pattern of four writing assignments, each of which teaches skills that are useful on the test. Even though I enjoyed all of the assignments, my favorite was the History Interviews. Mrs. Richman requires you to interview at least two people who have witnessed historical events or changes. I interviewed a World War II nurse and a gentlemen who had lived in my hometown all of his life. The interviews really brought my textbook to life. It is so easy to reduce history to the level of Algebra: dry facts that must be memorized to gain college credit. However, the interviews really brought home the fact that the events and changes that I studied happened to real people.

One of my favorite parts of the course was getting to know my classmates. Via the course website, I made friends with history-loving teenagers from across the country. My favorite memory of the course was when my dad, who is a Licensed Battlefield Guide, gave a tour of the Gettysburg battlefield to about ten classmates and their families. Afterwards, the APUSHers came over to our farm for a picnic and impromptu square dance led by Mr. and Mrs. Richman.

About a week before the test, I went into high gear worry-wort mode. Was I prepared for whatever might appear on the test booklet? Would I be able to write three coherent history essays in a row? It was a temptation to try to cram a year�s worth of work into a week of study. Thankfully, I did not. By the three-quarter mark of the school year, Mrs. Richman required us do a certain amount of weekly review so that we would not forget what we had learned over the year. It was yet more work, but I think that it really paid off on test day. On the morning of D-Day, May 11, I felt confident and well prepared for whatever challenges might be waiting in the innocent-looking test packet. Do you feel a little intimidated by the course? Do not worry, so did I. If you choose to join the 2007-2008 AP U.S. History class, you will work harder than you knew you could. However, you will walk away with a sense of accomplishment and a deeper understanding of our country�s past.

Yours,

Anna R.

Lots of history! posted by Mitchell Thorson on May 15 2007 at 16:40:10

This class has been a wonderful and challenging experience. But at the end, I felt that it was worthwhile. The course managed to prepare me for the AP US HIstory exam very well. In a normal week, I would spend between 5 and 7 hours on course work, but much of this was very interesting, including fun assignments such as creating a "Bio Website" and conducting very interesting interviews. In the end, I think I began to enjoy history more than ever. Learning from other students in the class was also very valuable as much communication occured on the class site and via other means.

I think any student with an interest in history, a strong work ethic, and a desire to push themselves would do very well in this course. I would whole-heartedly reccomend it to anyone looking for a challenge.

APUSH class review posted by Daniel Wingert on May 14 2007 at 17:02:13

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Going into the exam, I felt that I absolutely couldn�t have been better prepared. Although time consuming and difficult for me, particularly at the beginning of the year, the weekly writing assignments, especially the exam-situation essays at the end, were some of the most helpful assignments throughout the course. Prior to taking this course, I was a bit weak on writing essays to time, but by the end of the year, I was ready to take on the exam.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

Probably a minimum of 8-10 hours per week. In addition, for weeks with a big project due, I spent much more time. Yes, this course is rather time-consuming. However, I felt that it prepared me for the exam extremely well, so in the end, I think it was worth it. Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I will have to say that some of my favorite assignments were the bio essays and the history interviews. Both gave me the opportunity to examine a historical figure or time period in depth. Another valuable group of assignments, even if I didn�t enjoy them terribly much, were the Dinner Parties. I�m usually not the dramatic, role-playing type, and I wondered how portraying a historical character would help me on the exam. Well, I know that I got at least two or three multiple choice questions correct on the exam that I wouldn�t have gotten had I not participated in the dinner parties. I also routinely did Questions of the Day and many multiple choice practice tests as the exam neared, and they focused my review and boosted my confidence for test day. I even found some of the assignments not specifically geared for the exam, like History in the News summaries, to be invaluable. For one HITN assignment, I wrote a summary of a Time magazine article on Teddy Roosevelt, and he ended up being the subject of an essay question on the exam. Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Definitely. Although I am ready for the course and the workload to be over, I definitely am more interested in American history. Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes, I did. As I said before, the Dinner Parties were EXTREMELY helpful in hindsight. In addition, if I was ever confused about something, I could post my question on the website and someone would help me out. I must say that the level of scholarship and commitment many students brought to the course was a bit intimidating to me at first, especially since I was a freshman and this was my first AP course. But their commitment challenged me to rise to their level, and everyone was very encouraging. What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

To succeed in this course, you definitely have to be willing to work hard. In addition, the ability to pace yourself for some of the bigger assignments is important (you can�t write a good bio essay the night before it�s due). I would suggest that prospective students, especially those that have not taken an AP course before or who have time-consuming extra-curricular activities, make this their �priority� class. I play several sports, and I would not have been able to get the most out of this class if I had had other equally challenging and demanding outside classes.

I would definitely recommend this course to other students. First, as advertised, you will be extremely well-qualified to take the AP exam. Second, you will have the opportunity to be mentored by an outstanding teacher. Mrs. Richman certainly has developed an ambitious and challenging syllabus, but she brings such passion and enthusiasm to APUSH that the work does not seem like drudgery. She is very supportive and encouraging. She purposely sets the bar high, but you feel great satisfaction when you reach it. Finally, you will definitely know and enjoy more about American history, and you will see connections between that history and current events in a way you have not before.

Thoughts on APUSH posted by Julie Inglis on May 14 2007 at 15:09:00

I really enjoyed this class!! It is a great opportunity for a student who wants a challange. There are many fun and interesting bonus assignments that can really help you learn a lot and you can get a lot of writing practice that I particularly found really helpful.

The student who would do best in this class is the student that is willing to work hard. It's not an easy course, but all the work you have to do is completely worthy it. On average, I worked at least 6 hours per week and at most 10-12 hours.

My favorite part of this course was probably the essays. I absolutely love to write and I was thrilled to get to write two essays in a creative style about two historical figures of my choice. In simply the research for these essays I learned so much, and some of that information really served me when exam time rolled around.

At the beginning of the year, I felt like my grasp on U.S. history was really shaky. But through this class, I have delved more deeply into our nation's history than I ever had before and I loved every minute of it.

Review of Mrs. Richmans (amazing, excellent!) AP US History 2007 class posted by Hannah Moses on May 14 2007 at 13:33:07

Hey future APUSHers!

Yes, I believe the course prepared me very well for the AP exam. Of course a lot of the work is self study, so you have to dedicated to working on your own and keep yourself motivated (unless maybe you live near other students, but I didn�t). I don�t know my score on the AP exam yet, but I know if it is lower than I expected, than it was my own fault for not studying aspects of history that I deemed less important or not as fun. Study all aspects! Like I love the imperialist foreign policy (1890s) and early presidencies/Constitution era, not one essay question asked about either of those topics! Instead one of them was about economics/agriculture which I thought was not as important. So, study all aspects, even the boring parts!

I�m not sure exactly how many hours I worked per day or per week. I know its quite a lot but its definitely worth it if you can get out of college hours for work in highschool. It is time consuming, but if you limit yourself to a certain amount of time to work and study hard during that allotted time, you will not become a slave to APUSH! There are so many bonus assignments and fun things to do with APUSH that you can literally spend all your time with it and racking up team points. I needed to learn to limit myself to what assignments I knew would really benefit me over just being fun. It takes a lot of time, more than many other classes, but definitely worth it in the end.

Hmm, favorite assignments. Bio essays! Yes they are foreboding, especially the website ones. I am illiterate in the areas of computer, and I actually cried when I first tried to figure out how to put webpages together. But I had a wonderful sister who is a computer whiz and she helped me out a lot. I learned so much about an obscure person in history (John Jacob Astor) who did so much, and learning about him helped me remember other parts of history much better because I knew how they affected him personally. Bio essays are definitely worth all the work, and the Dinner Parties are fun too. I was able to answer several questions on the AP exam based on people I had �met� at the Dinner Parties.

Yes, the course definitely enhanced my interest in history. I�m looking into maybe majoring in U.S. history in college and possibly a career that involves history in some way. I�ve always enjoyed history but using different media and different projects to learn about history made it much more exciting.

Yes, it was great having student interaction and getting to know fellow classmates even though I�ve yet to meet any of them personally. Getting varied responses from essays was helpful, as different people would notice or critique different aspects of my writing.

I definitely recommend this course. You learn a ton and Mrs. Richman always gives helpful criticism, honest responses, fun assignments, and is pretty quick at replying to any questions or assignments. My biggest warning to future students is to keep track of assignments due every week. When I first began flipping through the syllabus I got so confused, trying to figure out exactly what was due each week, what was due once in a while, and what was optional. And how many points to get for it was a little confusing but quick email to Mrs. Richman cleared it up. I only kept from being overwhelmed by making a list of everything that was mandatory per week and everything that was optional. Then I printed it out and filled it in each week (on paper) and that made filling out the assignment log online a quick thing to do. You have to work hard and be willing to learn a lot but I think it�s definitely worth it in the end.

I experienced some difficult times (my mother passed away) and Mrs. Richman gave me all the time I needed, sent me encouraging emails, and did not pressure me in any way to keep on schedule with assignments. I received cards and emails from students and knew that my classmates cared. Overall the class was a great experience with wonderful people and an amazing teacher. I hope you take it!

Mrs. Richman's AP US History Class, 2007 posted by Haley Combs on May 13 2007 at 19:36:53

1. Yes, I think the course does prepare you very well for the exam, with year-long practice with the essay questions and multiple choice questions.

2. It's hard to say since I didn't keep close track, but ALOT. Basically, I didn't do much besides this course, since it was incredibly time consuming. I did this class, music, and a few other things, and I had my hands very full.

3. I didn't really have any favorite assignments, although I personally felt that all the writing was the most helpful thing for the exam, since I would review my topic and can easily remember anything I have written about.

4. I didn't really communicate with other students, since I lived far away from them and am used to working on my own.

Mrs. Richman was an excellent teacher, very helpful and positive - someone who understands how to correct you and help you improve without being very critical or disaproving. If you're going to take an AP History course, take this one.

Excellent, excellent! posted by Jenny Russell on May 11 2007 at 21:41:49

1. This course was an EXCELLENT preparation for the AP exam. It's tailor-made to address all the topics and types of questions that one could ever find on an AP exam, but still does not skimp on a good, solid history education.

2. I usually put in 8-10 hours, and actually a little less the week of the exam. I basically just flipped through a box of flashcards to make sure I was fresh on all the topics of the past year -- the course is that thorough and had me, Ms. Exam Freak-Outer, relaxed and confident going in. I think my family thought I was on a sedative.

3. This seems like a minor thing, but those dozen-a-day quiz questions were great and quite valuable. They didn't take long, they were randomly scattered throughout US History, and they gave me pointers on where my memory was lax. I also liked the summer book review project, both writing my own and reading others' reviews. Some of those titles showed up on the AP exam!

4. This course truly enhanced my interest in this subject. I find that the more I know about something, the more I want to know!

5. Student communication was invaluable. I had a semi-weekly study group with Adam Littlestone-Luria. We typically covered the questions at the end of the AAIP chapter -- thought-provoking and thorough and good oral practice for essays.

6. Any student with basic writing skills who is willing to work hard will do well! I highly recommend it. Mrs. Richman is thorough and prompt in her critiques, and has great suggestions on how to improve (she also makes sure to note what you did RIGHT!) It helps if you can take critiques and learn from them. And you have to be tough with yourself -- if you fall behind, it's tough to catch back up! Being a fast reader helps, but it's even better if you're slow but thorough. I also had a "normal" history course before this one, so I had an easy time grasping the big picture as we worked through the year. This certainly helps, but neither is it necessary.

7. A bit of an addendum -- but if you happen to be taking a concurrent American Literature course, so much the better. It makes for great primary source document reading in many cases and provides a valuable commentary on styles and social values of the time periods.

This is an awesome class! posted by Debbie Beihl on June 29 2006 at 11:55:01

This class is excellent! I felt like it prepared me for the AP exam. I think I put in about 1-3 hours each day. I found study buddy review over the telephone to be especially helpful. Mrs. Richman's class really increased my interest in US History. I learned so much in this class. I would highly recommend this class to any student who is eager to learn about the interesting history of our nation. Students looking at this class should have ready access to the internet and email and should be willing to work hard.

APUSH: a great class! posted by Samuel Branchaw on June 24 2006 at 14:45:46

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP Exam?

Undoubtedly. With the combination of biweekly essays on multitudes of subjects and monthly multiple-choice question sets that go over the different formats of questions (not to mention the encouraging, helpful comments/criticism from Mrs. Richman), I walked out of the test feeling that I had been prepared very well (of course, a little bit of practice on writing politically correct essays would have been nice, since that was what I encountered on the test itself).

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I found the dinner parties to be very helpful in giving me a feel for the times and the issues, as well as introducing me to several characters that I probably wouldn't have noticed otherwise. The World War I debate between our class and Mr. Burns' class was actually probably my favorite thing I did all year, and I learned so much about the causes of WWI that I didn't know before.

The regular essay assignments, although nothing special, were probably the biggest factor in preparing me for the test, because they forced me to improve my writing and critical thinking skills. I know I improved in my writing skills dramatically over the course of the year (with Mrs. Richman's help), and I feel very prepared for college essays now.

Another fun assignment was when we had to compile the 25 most important dates in American history. Seeing the very different lists that different groups compiled was a lot of fun (as was the process of putting it together).

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I was already very interested in American history coming into this class, but Mrs. Richman made it so much fun. She has a passion for the subject that is evident in everything she does; anytime someone wrote an essay, she had an interesting article or tidbit of information to share with us. She made American history even more exciting than it already was for me.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

I made some very good friends over the last year, and the dialogue on the webboard was engaging and exciting, especially when there was some debate going on (i.e. the atomic bomb debate at the beginning of the year or the FDR debate around Christmas). The interactions were always fun, and I learned a lot about many different issues that I didn't know before.

What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)

The kind of student who would do well in this course is the following: diligent, hard-working, studious, willing to participate on the website, and fun-loving. I would recommend this course without a second thought to all my friends (and already have, actually). I benefitted from it greatly and I think it would benefit anyone willing to do the work and try to learn as much as they can.

Terrific Class! posted by Javier Jaramillo on June 18 2006 at 15:49:33

This is an excellent, and challenging, history course, so, if you are dedicated throughout the year, you will likely perform well on the exam. Mrs. Richman�s exemplary teaching and well-constructed course really prepared me for the topics covered on the exam and, at the same time, greatly expanded my knowledge of our country�s history. In fact, after studying American history throughout the school year, many of the students in my class also decided to take the U. S. History SAT II, which was easy in comparison because the course was so rigorous and thorough. Currently, I am still waiting until mid-July for the release of my exam results, but I am sure a high percentage of my classmates will receive top scores. ; )

Since AP courses generally require more effort than regular high school classes and this particular one is no exception, you should expect to devote extra time to this class -- it is definitely worth the effort! It is hard to estimate exactly how much time I spent each week, but an hour every weekday was probably the absolute minimum and I certainly used the weekend as an opportunity for �catch up� or review. In addition to the major weekly assignments, which include writing regular essays, reviewing recent news articles related to American history, writing essays built around primary source documents, analyzing historical cartoons, and interviewing several people, Mrs. Richman periodically offers special bonuses that allow her students to gain points for learning more about a particular event or person. At first the workload may seem overwhelming (especially for the first several weeks), but it should become a normal routine once you are more familiar with the assignments and requirements.

Together, the regular assignments and the bonuses really combined to prepare me for the exam. The exam itself is divided into two sections, an eighty-question multiple choice section and a three-essay free response portion. For me at least, the essay section seemed very daunting at the beginning of the year -- mostly because, while I could write moderately well, the prospect of timed essays was far more intimidating. Fortunately, however, this course has its participants writing extensively from the very beginning, and Mrs. Richman very obligingly allows her students to gradually reduce the amount of time spent on their essays. So if you are worried about the time factor, as I was, there is reason for hope. ; ) Overall, my favorite project was probably creating my own website about a historical figure (mine was General William T. Sherman); and, by the way, learning computer programming is completely unnecessary for that assignment � some websites actually offer preexisting templates that can easily be modified. That being said, I myself would still rate the old-fashioned essay as the most useful and practical device for preparation.

Since Mrs. Richman personally grades the weekly writing assignments and provides detailed responses (no small feat considering the class size), you are always receiving constructive feedback for your work. I highly recommend this course for any disciplined or interested student. Not only did this class greatly enhance my understanding of important events and people in United States history, but it also improved my writing skills.

APUSH: An excellent course!!! posted by Molly Stewart on June 10 2006 at 01:00:41

�Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

Yes, I feel that this AP course definitely prepared me for the exam. Everything, from the HITN to the creative biography essays to the DBQ�s helped me gain information and got me ready for the exam.

�How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I usually would work 10-12 hours a week, but more in April.

�Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I found everything very valuable, but really enjoyed writing my biographical essays on Martha Washington and Eleanor Roosevelt. I love writing and these essays really helped me to learn more about these two wonderful women in a fun way. The interviews were also an important assignment. I feel that learning how to interview will help a great deal throughout the future.

�Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I have always loved learning about history and my interest in U.S. history was expanded in this course. I now know so much more about our great country.

�Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? Definitely!! Communication is so important in anything that we do in life and talking through things helps me to learn better. All of the discussions and �dinner parties� were interesting, yet fun. I have enjoyed �meeting� other people who also share my passion for history.

�What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

A student who will do well in this course needs to be one that studies hard and will work diligently. This course is very involved and requires dedication. However, it is very rewarding! I would definitely recommend this course to anyone. Mrs. Richman is an excellent and dedicated teacher. She takes a real interest in the progress of each student and how they are learning. This is the course for anyone who wants to learn about American history!

~Molly~

APUSH: An Amazing History Course posted by Sam Griffith on June 07 2006 at 17:18:30

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

This course definitely prepared me for the AP exam. We worked in the textbook, used primary source documents, had helpful study-chats, awesome bonus assignments from Mrs. Richman, and completed a wealth of writing assignments and essays. By May, I remember feeling confident and excited about the exam. Mrs. Richman's course really prepared me to do well on the exam, and I can't wait to receive my score.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course?

I would say that I spend spent over 10 or 11 hours per week, and throughout April, even more.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I enjoyed all of my assignments, including the BG and DBQ essays. Especially, however, I enjoyed writing the biography essay on John Marshall, the head Supreme Court Justice of the early 19th century. The assignment had to be creative, which was what made it so enjoyable. I also loved the history interviews--I learned so much about historical experiences in the lives of other people. The interviews will really help me in later life, I think, because not only must you form questions, but you must present them neatly for the entire class.

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I've always loved United States history, but my interest in the subject was very much enhanced by this class. I enjoyed reading the primary source documents, because they presented such a clear view of what happened. I discovered how important economics were to history, and learned about and was extremely interested in the Gilded Age, something that I always thought was not as exciting, which I was wrong about. Every aspect of American history has interesting twists and turns.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable?

Yes! My classmates were wonderful! We had great debates, 'dinner parties,' and discussions about historical, and non-historical, subjects. I've made wonderful friends, whom I hope to keep in touch with out of this class. Also, whenever we didn't understand something, we would always help each other out. The comments that we made on each other's work were helpful and encouraging, and the class was really talkative and upbeat.

What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

A student that is willing to work hard in order to learn history would do very well in this course. The course is challenging, but is completely worth it. I would absolutely recommend this course to others. Mrs. Richman is a wonderful, dedicated teacher. I learned so much, and had such an amazing time learning. This course is a must for anyone who really wants to learn about American history.

~Sam Sharon

APUSH: Not for the faint of heart! May 09 2004 at 24:16:56

After taking this course, I feel that I was entirely prepared for the APUSH exam. I don't feel like I could have done much better on the exam itself; but I do kinda feel that I could have put more effort into the overall course. It was one of the best courses I've taken; I really, thoroughly enjoyed it.

The APUSH class can expand to fill your the available time; while it requires a significant (3-4 hrs/week) minimum time to complete core assignments, there are unlimited possibilities for bonus assignments. Want to spend an extra hour this week? You can read more primary source documents, read some old archived New York Times articles, read old interviews, write reviews of history books and videos, and complete frequently-offered bonus assignments, which mostly consist of reading additional material or doing research. You can do as well as you like on this course; with the points system and the availability of bonus assigments, the sky's the limit!

Basically, I would strongly recommend this course to anyone who loves to read (a MUST), has some experience with writing structured essays (very useful), and loves history (also a MUST). The communication offered by the class WWWBoard is invaluable; at almost any time, you can find interesting discussions going on. Experience with computers is also good; but even someone with no prior experience will learn a lot about computers, internet research, and webpage design through this course. "Webpage design?", I hear you ask. "How did webpage design get into it?" Well, the hardest (and most rewarding) assignment of the year, second to the exam itself of course, is to write two Biographical Essays. One of them must be a website. I really enjoyed making mine.

If I had one piece of advice to give to people coming *into* the APUSH class, it would be to make *absolutely* sure to keep up with your weekly assignments, monthly assignments, and so on. The weekly assignments are pretty easy, but it's even easier to put them off -- don't do it! They pile up very quickly, and you may find that suddenly, you have a few *DOZEN* documents you need to read. A very useful tool (which I wish I had used more myself) is to make separate lists of all the weekly assignments, monthly assignments, and incidental assignments (like Bio Essays and Interviews), and then MAKE A SCHEDULE for completing each long-range assignment by the due date. Then, EVERY WEEK, make a list of all the things you need to do: weekly assignments, monthly, and steps towards completing your long-range assignments. I really messed up on this; I had a nice plan all written up for getting my interviews done on time, but I put it off and put it off until suddenly, the interview was due in a week and I hadn't even scheduled a meeting with the interviewee. I also put off researching and writing one Bio Essay until the *very last day*. Imagine spending one day skimming several 400-page books on your bio-essay person and writing a whole 2000 word essay. Not good. In fact, bad. Very, very, bad. Therefore, I stand here at that crossroads, with a big can of florescent-orange spraypaint, warning you new students which road not to take :-D.

Overall, I would say that APUSH is an absolutely fabulous first AP course to take; it will stretch your abilities and memory, teach you many skills you will need for college, and give you a very firm grasp upon the history of our country. Mrs. Richman is a fabulous teacher for the course; she is patient, kind, helpful, informative, and very, very, fun to work with. If you work hard, you will come away from this course with a great sense of accomplishment.

Ian Sanders May 10 2004 at 10:07:23

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam?

This course was more than adequate in preparing me for the AP Exam. The combination of textbook study and Barron's Guide Review was extremely helpful.

What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to other students (if they are willing to work hard!)?

I would definitely recommend this course to any (hard-working!) students. For me, AP US History sparked a renewed interest in our nation's history. I think that APUSH would be an ideal match for any student who enjoys a diverse challenge.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable?

I though the Barron's Guide essays were excellent. Since there are so many other smart students also writing, rereading these essays is excellent exam preparation.

Josiah Glick May 10 2004 at 22:11:07

1. I felt the course prepared me well for the exam, especially for the essays. When I started this course, I spent all day preparing for and writing the essays assigned, by the end of the course, my fastest time was in 35min totally from memory, and for the actual test I think my fastest was in 20min. However, tons and tons of review is required if you want to get a good score, going through everything once just doesn't cut it.

2. Most of the year I averaged about 2-3 hours a day I think. The last week, like 6-8.

3. The most valuable assignment was the essay practice. Bonus assignments helped to connect everything that you were learning, the same for extra readings, visiting historical sites, and watching history video's.

4. I think it enhanced my intrest a little, but not much because I was already so interested in it.

5. Communication with other students for the most part just helped make the course more fun, but the study buddy days were extremally valuable.

6. I think as long as you're and willing to study, anyone could do well on this course. I would definitely recommend this course to EVERYONE, especially for people who have never taken an AP course before.

Learning to Teach Yourself May 11 2004 at 21:12:23

One of the greatest things these AP online classes have given me is the ability to teach myself. During this AP history class, I never had a teacher at the head of a classroom expounding on US history and explaining the assignments. Instead, I had to get online and find out what was due each week and then be disciplined enough to get it all done. Not only that, I had to teach myself how to learn from a textbook and other documents without depending on a teacher to tell me everything. I could always e-mail Mrs. Richman if I had any questions but, I read the textbook and other materials each week, interpreted them myself, then wrote about them in my essays. This class helped me develop better studying techniques as well as better writing skills. It was one of the hardest courses I have ever taken, but also one of the best. I would definitely recommend this class, but only to people who could be disciplined enough to do all the work.

One of the greatest assignments that Mrs. Richman had us do this year were the interviews. We were required to do three interviews over the period of the course, including one with a veteran. There is no better way to learn about history than from the people who actually lived it. The stories I heard were fascinating and I gained a greater appreciation for history by hearing people tell about their personal experiences with the events I had studied.

Mrs. Richman did a wonderful job of teaching this course and the things she included in the assignments (extra credit, historical cartoon analysis, history article analysis, interviews, ect) combined to give me a great understanding of US history. Her enthusiasm and love for history help her students love history as well. Many times, I found myself doing further research on a topic simply because I was interested and wanted to learn more.

Brooke Hoffman

Swannanoa, NC

A Five-Star History Course May 12 2004 at 11:12:52

When I first started this course, I was intimidated by all of the different types of assignments, the high expectations, and the computer work involved. However, as I got further into the work, I really began to enjoy pushing myself towards higher standards and delving deeper into history rather than trying to get away with doing as little work as possible.

The assignments for the class may seem challenging to a beginning writer (like I was), but in the end I personally was very glad to have gotten all of the experience. I can't imagine what it would have been like to go into the AP US History test without all of the practice essays and DBQs. By the end of the course, I felt like I was well prepared to take the AP exam. Of course I had to put quite a bit of effort into reviewing, as Mrs. Richman emphasized in the weeks leading up to the exam, but this confidence was also due in large part to the careful planning set out in the course syllabus. By using this tool every week, I could determine exactly what I needed to get done, which helped me stay on track and finish the necessary course work before the exam. While Mrs. Richman did not actually give lectures during the week, she did give us good feedback on our essays with specific pointers for how to improve our writing skills and how to present history to our readers in a meaningful way. She also helped guide our study with a detailed reading schedule that would allow us to finish the textbook before the exam.

My favorite assignment was probably writing the biographical essays. They were certainly tough, but since we were allowed (no, urged) to present them in a creative way, they were a good chance to learn more about a certain character in US history without feeling like you were writing another text book. Mrs. Richman required us to set up a website for one of the essays, which gave me valuable computer experience.

One feature of the course that I found helpful was being able to post my essays on the website and receive feedback from classmates. I found that having my work up where everyone could see it motivated me to do my best. Sharing ideas for discussion on the WWWboard also provided structured interaction for us as students. Mrs. Richman also gave us opportunities to complete extra credit work, which was a nice diversion from the regular work. During the year, we had the chance to do activities such as compiling a list of the 25 most important dates from US history, reading neat articles about the Cold War, and grading student essays from actual APUSH exams. It was fun to see how bad an essay with a score of 2 really is. :^)

This course was definitely one of the most challenging courses I have taken in high school: in fact, I often spent over 10 hours a week on history. However, it was also one of the most rewarding. Putting that extra time into the class brought about very satisfactory results. I would definitely recommend Mrs. Richman's AP US history course to a student who is willing to take initiative, work diligently, and go that extra mile--it's worth it! I also want to thank Mrs. Richman: I couldn't have made it without her encouragement. She definitely helped me gain a better knowledge and a greater appreciation of the history of the United States.


~Annie Hof

Warrenton, Virginia

Preparation is Not for Wimps! May 14 2004 at 13:16:51

Months of seemingly endless work � dozens of extra-credit assignments, hundreds of pages of reading, reading hundreds of primary source documents, dozens of essays, discussions online � and through all this work, I lived, and loved history. What can I say? I really can't say anything except that I would highly recommend this course. That doesn't say it all, though. Take this course if you can at all � it's worth every second of time you spend in it.

I used to always hate history � I just couldn't "get it" nor did I understand why my friends all loved it as they did. I came into this course deciding that I was going to enjoy history and through this class and Mrs. Richman, I've been able to understand why history is so important and why I can love it as I do now. One of the neatest assignments that helped me grasp the importance of history was the monthly "History in the News" essay we had to do � where we find an article that analyzes a current event in relationship to past events. This really helped me learn that to understand the present, you have to understand the past � this particular assignment was always fun to do, and it really helped me "get" and love history.

This class didn't just make me love history, but it forced me to become a better writer. Each week, an essay has to be submitted. I had never been a bad writer, but since I didn't write very often, I was rather rusty when I did write. Weekly essays forced me to write, forcing me to become better, and Mrs. Richman's critiques and my other student's suggestions were invaluable in becoming a better writer.

The other students in the class also really helped me throughout the year. The online forum provides a channel to debate philosophy (Were the Transcendentalists correct?), politics (If you were alive in 1783, would you be a Federalist or an Anti-Federalist? Should "under God" be left in the pledge of allegiance?), and many other questions (Was the American Revolution morally justified? Is slavery inherently evil? Who was right in the Civil War?). It also is a neat way to be able to learn and interact with my classmates, keep everyone updated, and share interesting information (even if it *is* about guacamole� :-)).

There were many avenues of learning in this class. Our textbook addressed most of the issues that came up on the AP Exam in May. While the textbook was, in my humble opinion, fairly liberal, it did address the main issues of history (though, in addressing them, sometimes a "slant" was put on the issues). If there were any one thing I didn't like about this class, it was the textbook I used � but at the same time, the "slant" forced me to turn to other sources (primary sources, other textbooks, and internet sources) to learn of "other" interpretations. This was a great benefit, getting varied interpretations and multiple points of view � but I likely would not have researched things more in depth had there not been that "slant" to begin with.

The class as a whole, though, is excellent. Mrs. Richman has a wealth of knowledge about history and frequently provides "bonuses" related to forum conversations, or points we make in our essays. These optional bonuses proved to be one of the most beneficial things to me, and there were several questions on the exam that I knew *simply* because of a bonus I had taken part in. All parts of the class fit together very well to give me a great knowledge of US History and prepared me very well for the exam. There were very few questions I was unable to answer, and I had been prepared very well to write the essays, timed, with pen, and under pressure.

If you are not willing to work or it is difficult to be self-motivated, then this course may not be for you, as it is very demanding. (Though, naturally, this course may teach you to be diligent and self-motivated). If, however, you are willing to work hard (I spent 2-3 hours a day on APUSH, though much of that was extra work � 1 � would have been enough to get the "core" assignments done), and willing to be diligent in your work (not getting behind!), then I can highly recommend this course to you.

Mark Miller Ohio

Anne Koller May 18 2004 at 13:24:34

I feel like this course did a great job preparing me for the AP exam. Reading the textbook six days a week, practicing numerous essays, and doing extra credit work really helped cement things for me. Not only did I learn and grow in my knowledge of US history, but Mrs. Richman gave us plenty of opportunities to do practice exams, questions, and essays. She also gave us some great review tips that I think really helped. I really enjoyed the opportunities for extra-credit work, because it allowed me to go into certain areas, or dive into a certain era more in-depth. For example, the civil rights movement really caught my attention, so I was able to watch videos and do some assignments on that topic. As far as a favorite assignment, I really enjoyed the History in the News write-ups we had to do. They were really interesting and fun because I could see connections between America�s past and its effect on the present. I also loved doing the history interviews (!); I learned so much and really got a feel for how it was like to fight in World War II, or simply to live in the Cold War era. What I got from the interviews and the people I interviewed was very valuable- I will always remember them. This course definitely got me more interested in US History. I have always loved history, so this course created an excitement about American history as well. And even though I took the exam and I�m done with this course, I will always look for opportunities to learn more about our history through books, videos, articles, classes, touring historic sites, etc. As far as who would do well in this course, I believe someone who is willing to spend the time and work hard would do great. I would definitely recommend it to other students because as a high school student, I think it�s important to have a good background in American history. This course also taught me to manage my time (a great tool for college, I�ve heard J) because I had my other school work to do, sports, and speech club in addition. To sum it all up, it was a lot of hard work, and I can�t say I exactly enjoyed every minute of it, but I am so glad I did it. Mrs. Richman (she�s a wonderful teacher!) really did instill a deeper love of history in me and this course, overall, has been "fabulous" :)

Review of APUSH May 24 2004 at 12:25:36

I had a lot of fun taking part in the course this year. It was pretty time consuming and at times it was a lot of work, but I made it through and learned a ton about history. It was about 15 hours worth of work per week, so not too bad.

One thing this course did very well was enhance my interest in all of history. I've always been interested in World War history, but never in U.S. This course really opened me up to all the different aspects of everything and I learned a lot. I'd definitely suggest this class to anyone who is interested in history.

This course also brought my level of writing way up. I've always been just an ok writer, but this class boosted me to new levels. I feel very confident in my writing abilities now and I'm not at all worried about any essay assignments in college.

All around, this is a great class, Mrs. Richman is a fantastic teacher, and I'd recommend it to anybody and everybody.

Hope Parsons May 30 2004 at 20:39:45

Thank you, Mrs. Richman, for a wonderful class! I felt very well prepared for the exam, although the essays were a little bit more difficult. More importantly, I feel that I have a better knowledge of US History.

My favorite assignments were the History interviews and the HITN articles. I felt that the essay assignments (BG's, and DBQ's) helped me improve my writing skills over the school year. It was very helpful to recieve feedback, both from Mrs. R., and from the other students. I think one of greatest things about the class was how each student viewed and approached issues in a different way. While we all answered the same essay questions, each one was different, and in each I saw a different way to look at the topic.

I would recommend this course to any student who is really willing to push themselves. I spent about 2-4 hours per day on the class, and I think a student would have to be willing to do that in order to make it through the class. I think the class also requires an ability to read and retain large amounts of material. Prospective studenst also should be willing to offer constructive criticism to their fellow students, and be willing to recieve feedback from others as well.

Thanks to all my classmates for making this a wonderful class! I enjoyed getting to know you all better throughout the year. Good luck with all your plans for the future!

Wonderful course!!! by Clint Gilliam, May 14 2005 at 08:28:14

I highly recommend this course for anyone looking at taking an AP test. While it was a lot of work, it was also a ton of fun! I had some of the best classmates I have ever had and the WWW board was always very busy. We often played such games as "Who am I?" and "What event am I?" which not only were a ton of fun but were useful in studying for the exam.

While I think anyone would enjoy this course I think that to do well it is helpful to have a background in history. I wouldn't recommend taking this class unless you have had some pervious interest in history. I usually spent about 4-5 hours on this class though this vari