Infamous for bringing tears, all-nighters, and stress breakouts to students, AP US History is a revered class at Highland Park High School and around the world. With a stacked staff of Mr. Sweeney and Mr. Garza, you are more than equipped for the year to come, but it’s always helpful to have a few tricks up your sleeve:
Video Sources
The internet is your friend. Within a world of highly digitized content, you will have no problem finding a plethora of AP resources, including videos, practice tests, presentations, and SparkNotes. However, it can be difficult to navigate which resources are actually useful. Fortunately, I am here to help narrow down a pile of daunting information to something more manageable. First, there is YouTuber Adam Norris. Throughout the year, the bulk of your learning will come from the APUSH textbook “Give Me Liberty!” by Eric Foner. Norris, unlike many other teaching resources, zeroes in directly on Foner’s textbook, often referencing things that align directly with what you learned in class. Secondly, and more popularly known, is Steve Heimler. An equally knowledgeable YouTuber, Heimler, provides a much more comprehensive perspective of US History. Unlike Norris, his videos summarize the bigger picture, connecting back to that idea of “contextualization” that you will hear referenced throughout the year. Don’t forget to get those brain cows milking!
Talk to yourself like a crazy person
As crazy as it sounds, standing in your kitchen, waltzing around your table will SAVE you before your next test. Oftentimes, the content of APUSH can feel intimidating and indigestible, but what I’ve discovered is that if you break the information down while speaking, it feels all the more relatable. From dumbing down Hamilton and Jefferson’s feud down into a spat between best friends to simplifying the Bay of Pigs into a flop – describing the people, places, and events, in your own words, helps you grasp the content. If you can, find a friend to waltz around your kitchen with. Grab some Loves, hunker down for the night, and bounce ideas off each other. Some may argue this is distracting, but to me, this allows for the creation of funny stories and inside jokes, which turn into ways to remember information during your exam.
Reference class notes and textbook
Surprise! Most of the questions from your test have already been answered in your notes packet. This may seem like common sense to some people, but often flipping back through the notes guides and presentations your teachers have shared will save you. Mr. Sweeney, for example, likes to post his filled-in notes on Schoology from the day before. Whether you missed class or find your own handwriting illegible, these daily publications are important in better understanding more nuanced material. On that note, be diligent in class – take thorough notes and write down things that may not even fill in the blanks.
The APUSH workload is undoubtedly heavy, and it is, obviously, a time-consuming class. However, that does not mean APUSH is not “passable”. With a dedicated reading routine, some in-class engagement, and a little extra resource usage, APUSH can become your best friend. As Mr. Sweeney says, “ the history of America is an interesting story.” If you commit yourself to the story and listen to some of the greatest storytellers (Mr. Garza and Mr. Sweeney), APUSH will not only become less intimidating but also one of the most rewarding and interesting classes.
Continue to work your hardest, contextualize the information, and use your resources. Your teachers and peers, as usual, are here to help you succeed. And, don’t forget, at the end of the day, it is just a grade.