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AP
This semester, I have decided to take AP US History. Today was the first day of school. When I got to that class, my teacher started off saying that:
1. homework would take at LEAST 2 hours a night, not including time for studying
2. if we had a hard time reading and comprehending -which I do-, that our grade will suffer greatly
and
3. we are required to read books outside of class that she assigns throughout the semester
When I first heard all of that, I got upset: I knew that I would suffer a lot in this class. I'm a horrible and slow reader, and she said that chapters frequently would have to be read in one night. I'm planning on telling my dad all of this tonight and asking him if I can switch into honors world history instead, but I don't think that he will want me to. How do I convince him that I will fail this class, or possibly get a C or D? By the way, he always tells me stuff like "you're the smartest kid I ever met", meaning that he won't accept me not taking the highest level class.
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Maybe give some free advice about: School?
Teachers tend to make shit up. Some of them - like yours, it would seem - feel the need to play up the academic rigor of their class...as though more work is equal to more education, or some such thing. In reality, their class tends to be much less difficult than they claim.
And, if your teacher is actually being quite honest about her expectations, that doesn't really matter anyway - I didn't do nearly that much work in AP US history, and I got a 5 on the test. All that matters is that you have a strong conceptual understanding of, well, US history; doing an assload of work won't make a difference. And it's the test that counts in the end, because the test is what gets you college credits.
But then, you still may not want to put yourself through that kind of hell, which is perfectly understandable; absurd amounts of stress aren't worth a measely class.
Were I you, I would tell your father that, despite how he feels about my academic capabilities, I am quite well aware of my own limitations, and that I would rather apply my energies where I know they would put to better use.
What I would suggest is, see if you can't switch out the class a week or two into it - you may find that it's not as hard as you think, and if it actually IS that hard, you can switch out knowing for sure that you made the right choice.
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Iam not going to lie the AP US test is pretty hard. I got a 4 on it by I thought I wouldn't get above a 2. The time to study for that test is now, it is way too detailed to wait. The essays were hard I remember and the only thing that saved me was the fact that you don't have to answer every question in the sections. They like to ask questions about women and minorities on the test so study these areas good. The test isnt impossible, its just really hard and if you study now you really shouldnt have trouble getting a 3 or better.
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Ok often times these teachers exagerrate shit like that. This class is more work than when I took History 2057(1865-now) in college and that class was a beast. Made a B though. Anyway, you probably will have to read a lot, but how many times a week are you talking this class? If it's 5, then it's unreasonable to ask you to read a chapter a night. We had to read a chapter for like every three nights. And we just had to have the general idea of what was going on. What I'd do is stick it out and give it a shot. It won't be nearly as much work as she says. It's a fuckin high school class. And I'm the smartest kid in the world to my dad too. I'm not. It'll be a good warm up for college.
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i recommend dropping it.. i cant really help you with what you want but i know people it in now that are like genouses that are failing. im in honors world history and i think its way easier than the class you are in. it truely is exactly what she explained.. i mean its a college course.. tell him what i said. tell him you arent ready for that kind of commitment yet and you have other things in your life and you dont think you are going to succede in the class. i thought when you drop class your dont have to have parental consent?
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Hi there,
That's a tough one!
If you are really sure that you will not be able to cope with this class then you could try talking to the teacher that is teaching the class and get her to maybe write a letter or invite your Dad to the school for a chat - if he wont listen to you.
In the first instance though I would try telling him how you feel and that you want to switch - you never know it may work. If not before you go to your teacher, how about speaking to a realtive or a close friend of your Dads about it, he may be more receptive if it is an adult that tells him.
Whatever happens good luck and I hope you manage to get him to let you switch.
Take care
Mel
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