AP US History Student Testimonials by Matthew Loban

fefuller28 — 2024-12-03 19:25:11 UTC

I found AP US history to be worthwhile and overall has helped me become a better student and writer. This course overall has a lot of writing and reading, especially when it comes to note taking for homework. I personally don’t have any troubles with the pacing without getting overwhelmed by all the homework, but that not might always be the case for everyone, especially if they participate in any activities after or outside of school. If a student is overwhelmed, all they have to do is communicate that with Mr. Loban, but if they do not then they could be potentially end up behind the rest of the class. The writing prompts can be challenging at times, but I feel that it made me a stronger writer alongside Mr. Loban’s feedback and recommendations. APUSH is also a class you definitely have to apply yourself in, especially when there’s in class debates and discussions. The multiple choice questions tests at the end of each unit are also different from the usual tests, they include analyzing documents and having to use the knowledge you learned to determine the right answer. These tests are also timed, meaning you would have to evenly split your time each question so you can complete it before the timer runs out. Luckily, if a student does poorly on these tests (same goes for writings), they have the option to do test corrections to boost their score a few points. So, if you have a interest or passion for history and writing while willing to put in the work and communicate, this is definitely the class for you.

jtwelch28 — 2024-12-03 21:27:53 UTC

As a student who was once in the same position as you, APUSH is worth it if you are looking for a class that goes over the history of the United States in a more in-depth way than in 8th grade. APUSH is also a good idea for kids who want to “be ahead” in school or want to get better at effective note-taking, writing, and reading comprehension skills. There are two things you should consider though before you decide if it is right for you. Firstly, are you ready for the workload? This class has homework almost every night. The homework consists of reading a text and writing in your structured notes packet. There is a lot of content to go over so the workload will be bigger than it is in middle school. As someone who has a lot of extracurriculars, you can manage but you must put in the work. Second, can you understand and comprehend the material? This is a college-level class, though most of the time it does not feel nor look like it, the reading and writing portions could be difficult for someone not as well versed in the subject. There is a lot of writing that must make sense and sound like you know what you are talking about. So even though you will be learning as you go you must have a basic understanding of writing, note-taking, and reading large bodies of text. You will pick up a few “tricks” as you learn throughout this course so you do not have to be a genius but you should know at least a bit. If you think this class is for you, go for it! Do not be worried about the title of an “AP” class; you can do it! In my experience it is not as difficult as you think it may be and the only thing that trips me up and remember that this is an AP class is some of the wording on the tests. Good luck to all of you who decide to take this class and hopefully you will have a wonderful time next year!

2024-12-04 13:50:57 UTC

APUSH is not an easy class, you will have nightly homework and readings, and the work in class will require you to pay close attention to understand everything being talked about. But, the people you meet and engage with will make the class fun and hep you get through the year. Yeah, it’s hard and there is a lot of information so the rate you learn is going to be fast and not so specific on one topic. The writing is a learning process and one and a half quarters in my writing has already become better. The teacher Mr. Loban is great, he does his best to give you the information and make class fun. He’s great at mixing things up so it’s not always time to buckle down and listen to a lecture. He has activities for everything you learn, so if you’re a more interactive learner then this will definitely be a fun class. You will have to do some speaking out loud and argue with those in the class but don’t worry. As long as you put effort into this class it will show and make you better as a person and student in the long run.

2024-12-04 14:58:30 UTC

AP U.S. history is a good course that can be challenging, however, is definitely worth it. It causes students to better rounded as students and significantly improve their writing and test-taking skills. The test were initially challenging, but once a person is able to adapt to the new system, they can and will thrive. I would highly recommend that any 8th grader take this course. The nightly readings are never a problem for me and I play 4 sports and do other extra-circular activities. The course in the long run will help more than it can ever hurt. Mr. Loban offers opportunities like corrections to help improve students’ grades in that class and help them on the road to graduation or college. This class requires work outside of school and a certain willingness to adapt to the Mr. Loban method. Mr. Loban is a great teacher who cares and wants the best for his students as I had stated earlier. He always provides feedback that helps me more and more develop into a strong writer. Also, APUSH does not just help with writing and test-taking skills, but can also improve things like debate skills. I put lots of effort into this class and the results are great. APUSH provides a way that students can separate themselves from others in going into high school. This course is more than the college credit. It is a college level class that builds students up to whole new levels. This class can and will build anyone who joins into a formidable student. If you want to challenge, improve, and set yourself up for future success, then join the class.

cjtackett27 — 2024-12-04 18:06:18 UTC

APUSH is a difficult course that is worth the work and effort. The course overall wasn’t as difficult as I expected it to be, especially with the organization of it. The units are very clearly laid out and it is easy to understand where each topic is going. At first, the questions that will be asked seem difficult, but with some studying and practice tests, they make a lot more sense and are easier to answer. The course also helped me with my writing abilities and improved my skills at creating and defending a strong argument. The final test in May seems a lot scarier before you do it, but you quickly get into a flow as you answer the questions. I was able to get a 4 on the test, which most colleges would give you a credit for.

2024-12-04 18:09:05 UTC

APUSH is a very fun and good class to take if you are interested in our country’s history. You will be able to refine your skills of writing and pacing on tests, which will help you in many other classes. This is one of his main focuses in the class. It will be fast paced, but he keeps a steady calendar of what he goes over and different resources to look at when you are at home. He will also work with you to make sure you are the best you can be.

bmprince27 — 2024-12-04 18:10:25 UTC

APUSH was honestly one of the best decisions I ever made. Up until early freshman year I never really learned how to take proper notes by myself, but APUSH was kind of a baptism by fire moment where I was forced to take detailed, well organized notes that I could genuinely study with, or else I just wouldn't be able to keep information for more than a couple days. If you believe you can understand the themes and concepts within APUSH without much note taking, go for it, plenty of other kids in my class were able to get by with that, but if you actually want to keep that info facts, you WILL need to take notes. The freedom this class allows you lets you have these moments where you can trial and error through anything to obtain whatever suits you best.

2024-12-04 19:22:44 UTC

APUSH is one of the hardest classes I have ever had taken. The nightly readings can be demanding, but they have gotten me into better habits, and it forces me to get my work done in a timely manner. I would say don’t feel pressured to sign up the class just because it has AP in the name, but also AP isn’t as scary as it seems and just because it has AP in it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t sign up because you don’t think you will be able to keep up, AP is a learning opportunity, and can help improve your writing skills. When I first heard about AP I knew it was something I was interested in, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it, and as more and more of my friends kept saying they weren’t signing up for AP, I thought I might not sign up, but signing was honestly the best thing I could’ve done, it has made me push myself to learn more and grow as a student. I would also recommend signing up for a study hall, having a study hall in my schedule has made the work load on AP and my other classes a lot less stressful, and I also get to come home to less work. I think deciding if you should take APUSH it comes done to if you are able to set aside 20 minutes a day for homework and studying for a hour or so getting ready for the unit test. I would also say Mr. Loban is a great teacher, so if you didn’t want to sign up for AP because of the teacher, I can say Mr. Loban is down to earth, gives feedback to see you improve, and only wishes the best for you. I wish you the best in your decision, and hope you make the best decision that works for you.

2024-12-05 12:48:09 UTC

There’s two things that I know I wished I knew going into APUSH…

1) This class isn’t about recalling facts and dates it’s about analyzing history. When your going into the year and especially when your doing work think the importance being more so on understanding and analyzing history not spitting out facts and dates.

2) Notes Notes Notes! For a lot of you you’ve never had to take notes but this class makes note taking especially important. I made this mistake last year and when it came time for the test I was less prepared then I would like to have been. This class is more than a grade and while the test doesn’t effect your grade colleges will look at your course work and this test and so you’ll wanna score as high as possible. This means doing the homework and taking notes, please get into that habit early and keep it. It makes a world of difference in all of your classes.

You guys got this class easy just take it seriously

2024-12-05 21:32:04 UTC

When you first hear about the opportunity to sign up for AP U.S. History, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure if the class is for you. This is a challenging course for people who are willing to go the extra mile and put in lots of work and studying outside of class. The class requires you to practice lots of writing skills, and there are nightly readings that involve extensive note taking. However, the rewards of the class will be worth it. Your writing and comprehension skills will greatly improve, you will have opportunities to become more comfortable outside your comfort zone, and you will learn time management skills. This class gives you opportunities and can set you up for future success. When I first heard about this class, I knew it would be a great opportunity, but was hesitant to take it because I didn’t know anyone else who was taking it and was worried it would be something I couldn’t handle. Deciding to take the course was one of the best decisions I could have made. I have seen so much improvement within my writing skills and I have learned to work efficiently. If you are ready for a challenge, while diving into the history of our nation, this is the class for you.