Mr. Rust's Classroom Website

Welcome!

In Room 521, we learn about AP Economics and AP Government.  These are rigorous, senior-level courses that allow students to test for college credit in May.  By scoring a 3 or higher (out of 5) on an AP test, you receive 3 credit-hours at any public college or university in Texas.  This is the equivalent to $1,500 in tuition, fees, and transportation...not including textbooks!

Classroom Guidelines, Rules, and Expectations (for both AP Economics and AP Government):

Student Evaluation:

  • Daily Grades = 40%
    • Daily grades primarily consist of Bellringer assignments done during class.  Bellringers are turned in on the last day of every week (usually Friday) unless there are extenuating circumstances.
    • Students who are absent do not have to make up the Bellringers for those days.
      • However, you can get a bad grade if you were only present for one or two Bellringers during a week and you did poorly on them, so you may complete the Bellringers for the day(s) you were absent to help pad your grade.
      • If you are absent for a Bellringer, write that you were absent for that Bellringer at the top of your Bellringer page before you turn it in on the last day of the week.
    • Two days after Bellringers are turned in a substitute assignment will have to be done for credit.  This is to prevent cheating.
  • Major Grades = 60%
    • The tests consist of a multiple choice section (75%) and a math/graphing/free response section (25%).
    • Multiple choice questions will come directly from the notes, AP practice questions, and final exam questions. 
    • Students will receive AP practice questions before the test.  Some of them will be on the test.  Some will not.
    • Toward the end of each six weeks there will be a Notes Grade that counts as a test grade.  We take Cornell notes in AP Government.  No exceptions.  For 100% on your Notes Grade, you must have Cornell note format and key points and summaries.
  • Retakes, when offered, can earn up to 70% credit.  This 70% is achieved by multiplying retake raw grade by .7
    • Retakes will occur during lunch only.  There is not enough time to take a test between 8:00 AM and 8:25 AM.
      • Only in the most extenuating of circumstances will any exception to this rule be considered.
      • No tutorials will be held on Wednesdays at lunch.  This is the Senior Social Studies PLC meeting time.
  • All students will be assumed to be taking the AP Government exam in May 2017.  All AP test prep assigned in class will be for a grade for all students.

Rules and Expectations:

 

1.) All students should respect classmates, teachers, and guests to the classroom at all times.

2.) Students should not cheat, ever. Honesty counts.

3.) All school rules regarding cell phones, dress code, food and drink, and personal behavior are always in effect.

4.) Do your own work when you’re supposed to do it. Late work will lose credit fast.

5.) Treat others as you would like to be treated.

 

Tutorial Times:

 

Tutorials are held in Room 521 before school, from 8:00 to 8:25 AM, and over lunch, except on Wednesday.  For other times, please contact Mr. Rust to schedule a meeting.  As Department Chair, Mr. Rust may be called into meetings, so do not delay on retakes and tutorials.  He may be in meetings during the last week of the six weeks!

 

 

AP Economics Information:

AP Economics is split into two semesters, with Microeconomics occurring in the fall and Macroeconomics occurring in the spring.  To receive credit and graduate (yes, Economics is a required credit in Texas), students must pass each semester separately.  On the plus side, there are separate Microeconomics and Macroeconomics AP exams in May, meaning the chance to earn 6 hours of college credit!

Textbook:

Bade, R. & Parkin, M. (2015). Foundations of Economics – Seventh Edition. Boston: Pearson.

  • There is a class set of textbooks, with each student per period being assigned a certain textbook.
  • No books will be checked out.  All students will have online access to textbook materials.

Additional resources:

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/Controller.jpf

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-microeconomics

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-microeconomics/exam-practice   

The exam is Friday, May 18, 2018 at 8:00 AM.  Be there.

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-microeconomics/exam-tips

http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.html

We are an AVID campus and take Cornell notes.  All the time.  For a grade.  Accept it.

 

AP Government Information:

AP Government is a one-semester course.  Government is a required credit in Texas.

Textbook:

Edwards & Wattenberg (2016). Government in America- 2014 Elections and Updates Edition (16th edition). Boston: Pearson.

  • There is a class set of textbooks, with each student per period being assigned a certain textbook.
  • No books will be checked out.  All students will have online access to textbook materials.

Additional resources:

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/Controller.jpf

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-united-states-government-and-politics

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-united-states-government-and-politics/exam-tips

The exam is Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 8:00 AM.  Be there.

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-united-states-government-and-politics/course-details

http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.html

We are an AVID campus and take Cornell notes.  All the time.  For a grade.  Accept it.