AP US History Reviews

APUSH Review

Mrs. Hawkins gives you all the materials and helps you develop the skills you need to succeed not only on the APUSH exam but in future social studies courses as well. I generally put in around 1-2 hours of work per day for this class and probably spent most time reading the assigned material each week. Some weeks, the amount of reading and assignments did feel a bit overwhelming, but nothing was assigned without a purpose. This class helped me focus on the different aspects of U.S. history through both a narrower and wider lens, in a way that gave me a deeper understanding of the material. More than particular assignments that stood out to me, Mrs. Hawkins's feedback on our practice DBQs and LEQs was especially helpful and helped me pinpoint the weak points in my writing so that I could improve on them the next time. Any student who is willing to work hard would absolutely succeed in this class, and it is totally worth it! Thank you Mrs. Hawkins!

APUSH Class Review

This was by far one, if not the most, challenging class I’ve taken. Regardless, none of the work felt like it was ever a waste of time, and I always looked forward to it, even if I knew I’d have to invest a lot of my time in it. I typically spent about 2-3 hours a day working on material, but most of that time was spent analyzing outside material to better understand points of view. I feel like all the work was more than preparatory enough for the APUSH May exam, and that because of it, the exam felt relatively easy compared to the class. In addition to feeling prepared for the exam, this class is my favorite of all my high school courses because I feel like I actually learned history and did not just memorize facts. I adored all the assignments, but the content banks were the most difficult for me because I had to look things from a very big lens. The class assignments helped me be a better writer and be better at analyzing, all which was reflected in my other classes as well. I think that my enjoyment in the class, as rigorous as it was, can be traced back to my fondness of history, my willingness to learn even if it means having to deal with grades I’m not used to (being an A student and making occasional Cs), as well as Mrs. Hawkins’s devotion to history and her students. It also helped that anytime I had a question, I reached out to Mrs. Hawkins, and she was always ready with satisfying answers. Mrs. Hawkins provides amazing feedback and is always pushing her students to improve and move out of their comfort zones in writing. 

Challenging but Worth It

If you're looking to learn history in a deeper and more thought provoking way and not just simply regurgitating facts and dates, this is the course for you. You will understand US History in ways you never imagined. The homework assignments with Mrs. Hawkins' detailed feedback is one of the best ways to adequately prepare you for the free response questions on the exam. As long as you put in the work, you will feel prepared for the exam. 

Lisa Hawkins's AP US History Course is incredible!

Hello Parents who are considering registering their student for Mrs. Hawkins AP US History course,

I cannot recommend Lisa Hawkins course enough! Three of my children have been her students. One received a 4 and the other two both got 5's on the AP US History Exam. They were so well prepared! She does such a fantastic job of relating all the information and preparing them for the exam. She is very caring and creates a positive learning environment. She welcomes questions! My oldest son had some heart issues during the year he was taking the course and she was very understanding when he needed a little extra time to catch up after a heart procedure. I also love that my kids remember so much from her class, even though it has been some years from when my older ones took the course. Yes, it is a lot of reading and writing, but that was what I wanted, because besides learning about American History I also was hoping the course would help to prepare them for college and it did. My two sons have both graduated from college now with double majors and minor degrees. My younger daughter is about to take her 1st concurrent enrollment college courses next year as a junior. I am just so thankful to Lisa for all she taught them! We love her and consider her a wonderful teacher and a dear friend!

Sincerely, Nannette Reyes

Great course for dedicated students!

Mrs. Hawkins is an amazing teacher who really pushes you to do your best. She is really understanding too. :D This class totally prepared me for the APUSH exam- I got a 5! It ate up a lot of my school time during the week, but it was worth it. I've never known much about history, but now I not only appreciate history, but understand it better too. The student discussions are great! I enjoyed them a lot. If you're considering this class, be prepared to learn all about US history and get more experience in time management! Thank you Mrs. Hawkins! You're the best!!

One of the best classes I've ever taken!!

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

Definitely! It would probably be better if I said I felt over prepared for the test (in a good way). Even without the rigorous CTAP assignments she normally assigns each year, the assignments in this class were far more complicated, engaging, and rigorous than the AP style essay questions that most APUSH classes practice with. When AP season was a month away, Mrs. Hawkins had us switch gears to focus solely on AP style questions. Given that most APUSH classes had been doing DBQ prep for months, I initially worried that it would be difficult to properly learn the DBQ format this close to the exam. I soon realized, however, that Mrs. Hawkins had been preparing us for the DBQs all year long, through far more complicated assignments that required much deeper analysis. Mrs. Hawkins gave us plenty of information about how to strategically approach the DBQ and how the DBQs are graded (since she's an official grader). She even gave us extended video feedback on our DBQs, where she would spend about 15-20 minutes on each DBQ explaining how she would grade this and giving us personalized tips on what to improve on. In retrospect, I realized that this class had been subtly preparing us for the APUSH test since day 1 in a much more interactive and challenging way. I walked away feeling more confident about the APUSH test than I have for any other AP test I have taken (eight total). 

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

I usually spent 1-2 hours per day on work for this class. While the workload is intense, it never got too overwhelming. Sticking to the suggesting calendar/pacing guide Mrs. Hawkins gives you is recommended. 

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

While I enjoyed all of the assignments we had in this class, my two favorites were the Primary Document Analysis assignments and the unit projects. The PDAs consisted of several primary documents which we would read and analyze. We would then explain the main points, paraphrase certain passages, identify out the purpose/audience/point of view, and write a mini essay answering a prompt. This assignment was a great way to practice historical thinking skills and primary source analysis, something which became crucial for the APUSH DBQs and SAQs. Like with most assignments in this class, the primary docs here were more difficult than the ones on the actual APUSH test, and the mini essay in each PDA allowed us to apply multiple historical thinking skills at once. The unit projects, on the other hand, differed significantly in format for each unit, which I personally liked. For example, the unit 1 project was an essay in which we analyzed a very long primary source. The unit 3 project was a mix between a modified PDA assignment and AP style SAQ. The unit 6 project an essay in which we chose and compared three government actions (one per branch) regarding a particular field/issue. I found the different project types to be fitting for the content we were learning, what skills we were focusing on during that unit, and where in the academic timeline we were at that moment. 

Side note: While I don't think this would count as an "assignment," I think it's worth noting that Mrs. Hawkins' lectures are fantastic! She takes the time to create tons of video lectures for not only the content but also various AP test taking skills and assignment instructions. She even made a few lectures addressing specific assignments based on the performance of our overall class. They're all very clear, engaging, and easy to follow. And because of the asynchronous instruction, I felt that these lectures allowed us to get to know her a little better and get to feel as if we were in a physical classroom with her. It's also worth mentioning that the textbook she chose for this class was also great. I'm normally not a huge fan of textbooks - especially history books - but this was highly engaging and narrative-like. It's probably the only textbook I've had that I would read for strictly for entertainment. 

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Definitely! In fact, I would go as far to say that this course solidified my interest in pursuing the social sciences in college. I've always loved history, geography, economics, and government and have enjoyed all of the social studies classes I have taken. However, this class absolutely blows all of the other classes out of the water. I found myself applying what we learned in everyday conversation, other classes I was taking, and even in my extracurriculars. I gained a huge appreciation for the history that led to the formation of the country we live in today and a passionate interest in understanding the roots of the social and economic problems that continue to plague our nation through 2021. This class has given me a strong foundation in US history which I'll be able to build on top of with history, government, and economics classes in college. 

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

Definitely. The weekly discussion boards were always super engaging and eye opening since we had such a diverse group of students. Given the turbulent times our country has gone through during 2020 and the direct impact of history on current events, having this discussion board where we could share our opinions and hear other people's insights was extremely valuable. 

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!)?

Truly Amazing APUSH Course!

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

Definitely. Not only did I learn a TON of US History, but I vastly improved my personal writing abilities, as well as my recall of facts for practice multiple choice (which, as it turned out, was not needed for the exam this year, but was still valuable). Especially after the AP Exams moved online this year for COVID-19, and the entire exam format was changed, Mrs. Hawkins revamped her entire prep Unit, and I went from having no idea how to write the DBQ (document based question), to feeling like I had truly mastered the essay format.

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

The average time per week would definitely have been around 10 hours, but there was a general trend in my time each week as the year progressed. At the beginning of the year, I was spending MUCH more time than later in the year on my homework assignments, mostly as I was simply trying to figure out how to do the assignments. During the first month or 2, I was spending around 12-15 hours a week, but this rapidly fell to a nice 8-11 hours by the end of the first semester. Yet, once AP review rolled around, the time ramped up again (mostly because we just had to go back over so much material over the year), and I went back to over 10 hours a week. Overall, this was definitely a very time consuming course, but not overwhelming (I never submitted an assignment late, or had to ask for an extension).

Breaking the course down to a day-by-day basis, the daily schedule which Mrs. Hawkins supplies is truly invaluable, and provides an excellent schedule to remain on time. Here is an example of the first week of class: 

This schedule continues on through all of the main units, until the final review unit, when the general schedule changes from the more repetitive nature of the earlier units to a new style designed to help facilitate a more effective review approach.

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

The CTAP (constructing the American past) essays each unit, which are essentially mini history essays focusing on primary document analysis, I found extremely helpful, both in understanding the historical information, as well as fine-tuning my essay writing skills, both for general essay writing (ie. topic sentences and conclusions), as well as specific aspects of historical essays (ie. document analysis and outside sourcing). In addition to these assignments, I really appreciated the weekly discussion boards, which rotated through a four-week cycle regarding their subjects. These allowed for the always-valuable human interaction so often lacking in online classes, and fostered an excellent space for positive feedback, as well as friendly debates over different analyses of certain topics. 

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

Definitely. Before this class, I always loved history, and I have always loved reading history books–both for children when I was younger, as well as more advanced/academic works in my middle/high school years–and this class truly enhanced my love for history. This class dove both deeper and more broadly into aspects of American history I had known about for years, and I gained a truly inspiring appreciation for America's past.

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

As previously states, yes. The weekly discussion boards were always a highlight during my week, and I loved being able to discuss these fascinating topics and ideas with my fellow classmates from across the country.

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 suggest this course to anyone who is willing to work hard, struggle early on, but push through to learn amazing things about American history, and fine-tune their writing skills to become a historical writing master (so to speak). Though I would suggest only taking this class if you already have experience in some form of high school academic writing (research papers would be ideal, but really high school level essays would suffice, but make it a more challenging experience) as well as having a good handle on tackling large reading assignments. But, as long as you have taken challenging reading/writing courses, are willing to work hard and struggle, and want to gain knowledge from one of the best sources I know of for American History, this is definitely the class for you!

Mrs. Hawkins APUSH Review

Mrs. Hawkins' AP U.S. History class was such a great experience for me as I learned the history of our country in depth. Not only does she make the class enjoyable but she also prepares you really well for the AP test. Students who are willing to work hard and put in the time and effort would do well in this class as it really does pay off in the end. In addition, Mrs. Hawkins provides a recommended schedule for all the assignments which helps students with time management and is quick to respond to any questions or concerns students may have. I would recommend this course to any students willing to work hard and want to delve deeper in American history!

A Great Way to Learn U.S History

This course does more than adequately prepare you for the exam, as I believe it works to have the material - even if not all of it - stick for a longer time. The reading and workload is quite large, admittedly, however with proper planning and efficient use of your time, it shall become less stressful as the year goes on. In addition, assignments such as the Rank the Blanks and Follow-Up Questions - encouraging discussion regarding the material submitted - I was particularly fond of as it helped to reinforce the information and engage with fellow classmates. Mrs. Hawkins, as well, is a wonderful instructor, and her grades and comments will help you realize any faults you might have that you could improve on. I would recommend this course to any hard-working student, who either has a passion for U.S History or simply wishes to pass the test. Either way, I feel they will be walking away with a lot more. 

The work so pays off!

Mrs. Hawkins' class was extremely instructive. The first thing I will say is that it is a very time/effort consuming class. Mrs. Hawkins structures each unit in the same way, with four weeks per unit, and the amount of time required to complete each week's assignment's definitely differs. However, because everything was already up and open, it was very easy to schedule my time and assignments. For example, during CTAP* weeks, there would be a day or two where I might put in around four or even occasionally five hours. However, on week D, I typically didn't spend more than an hour a day, so by the end of the year I had figured out how to schedule my time so I worked a little ahead during the light weeks and had more done by the time I got to the more demanding weeks. I probably spent an average of around 2-3 hours a day on this class, avoiding working a full load on weekends. Things do slow down some at the end of the year. 

Also, it is not difficult to achieve a good grade in the class itself. Though there are several assignments which Mrs. Hawkins grades pretty severely, she always works int assignments where you are almost guaranteed full credit if you just put in the work of completing it, and there are abundant extra-credit opportunities for every unit.

That said, the assignments are varied enough that you are not working on one single thing each day for too terribly long, and Mrs. Hawkins really prioritizes teaching not only the material, but a skilled historical thinking mindset, and she gives detailed direction in refining that mindset. My first CTAP of the year, I scored a 4 out of 10, but by the end of the year, Mrs. Hawkin's feedback had helped me achieve nines (Perhaps one of the very few constructive criticisms I would have for the class is that I would have appreciated some more specific positive as well as negative feedback. I sometimes found myself floundering wondering what I did right last time and should repeat. But her criticisms were always super helpful and clear). 

The year I took APUSH was the year of the big COVID-19 outbreak, so about two months before the test, schools shut down. The College Board, after a few weeks of uncertainty, switched the exam to online and shortened it to a single essay (the DBQ). Mrs. Hawkins did a fantastic job of redesigning our last few weeks of class on short-notice to prepare us for the new exam. I will admit that I was terrified going into the exam (DBQs are not my strongest point). However, once the exam began, I realized that all the work done throughout the year made it natural and second-nature, and I felt very confident throughout the exam and once I finished it. Mrs. Hawkins beyond prepared us.

I would certainly recommend this class, however, do realize it is very time-consuming. I wouldn't recommend it if you are already taking several other more intensive classes, and I also would not at all recommend it for freshmen. However, for those who do take it, this is a extremely rewarding class, and Mrs. Hawkins is a great teacher who seriously knows her stuff.

*CTAPs are essentially an extended DBQ, with many primary documents which we analyzed and wrote a well-developed essay on in response to a prompt. While these were the most stressful assignments we would receive (in my opinion), I also found these to be the most interesting and rewarding.

Intensive, and incredibly beneficial

I went into this course unsure of how it would go, due the emphasis on writing, but it ended up being my favorite (though definitely hardest) class. Mrs. Hawkins provided helpful, specific feedback on my writing and I am confident that my writing has improved in effectiveness thanks to her. There was a lot of textbook reading, which is what took the most time for me, but it felt very thorough and I am happy to announce that I have a deep understanding of U.S. history, which was my primary goal through this class! Now I will be able to relate new knowledge (both present and historical) to the events that shaped our country for the past 4 centuries. All of the discussion questions, essays, and exams helped reinforce information in my head, though I would recommend reviewing throughout the year to make sure you don't end up cramming during the review unit right before the exam. That was one thing I specifically appreciated about the setup of this class: Mrs. Hawkins condensed learning the material into 7 units, then unit 8 was spent on the specifics of the exam and reviewing. I found that this format worked well for me, as I wasn't trying to double up on learning new material while practicing the exam essays. The class was very well organized, and once I got the hang of the schedule, it was easy to follow. Plan to invest at least a solid 12 hours a week in this class, with more time per week as you approach the exam; if you feel that you can invest this time, I would highly recommend this class!

One of My Favorite Classes

This class was amazing! I took APUSH during my sophomore year in high school, and it was definitely my most challenging course. But that is what made it the most rewarding! 

Mrs. Hawkins did a fantastic at making sure the workload of the class would prepare us enough for the exam. The work was rigorous sometimes, but that just helped me grow and made me more prepared for the equally as rigourous exam! I got a 5 on my APUSH exam, so I would like to say this class prepared me extensively for it. :) 

Being my most challenging class this past school year, I did spend most of my time on this class. A large chunk of my day was dedicated to APUSH, but that is not a con--it is a pro. You need to spend an adequate amount of time on this subject in order to understand all of the complexities of it. The CTAPs especially require a good amount of time to work on, but that is all for the betterment of the student's ability to write APUSH exam essays!

I have always had a fondness for the histories and humanities, but this class enhanced my love of history tenfold. The different resources (videos, essays) available to students, and the various discussions really allow the student to learn under many different perspectives. I loved the communication aspect of the class. This class is not just turning an assignment in to the teacher, but it is interacting with your fellow classmates to achieve a deeper understanding of the subject. The discussion questions and student forums really enhanced my learning experience.

Any student who is willing to go the extra mile and put their best work forward will excel in this class. Hard work is the key, and the more effort you put into this class, the more value you get out. I recommend this class 100%! It was one of my favorite classes this year and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to take it. Take this class!!! :)))

Amazing Class!

First of all: this is definitely one of the best classes I have ever taken. I highly reccomend it to everybody--I have never been much interested in US History and never realized how much I was missing out on. I now feel enormously informed and understanding about our country, its history, and why it is where it is now compared to a year ago, and feel a much better, more engaged, citizen of the world. It also inspired me more about taking action in our country to work for improvement in ways I had never thought of before. Thank you Mrs. Hawkins! I feel that I have received an essential, wonderful, and inspiring part of my education I never realized I was missing before.

Now to answer the questions:

Did you feel this course prepared you for the AP exam? Absolutely. I got a 5--you have to work hard, but Mrs. Hawkins sets you up wonderfully.

How many hours of work per day/week did you generally put in? You know I don't really know, but I can tell you it was the most time-consuming of all my classes last year. There were assignements every day, lots of reading and writing every week, many lectures, etc. The workload, while manageable, is not trivial. I felt that doing it every day was essential to it being manageable for me.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? Every week you had to post on a discussion board, and on the second week of every month (rank the blank) you had the option to do this as a specific historical character. So fun! I giggled maniacally while I penned these--they didn't feel like an assignment at all. Especially fun was responding in character to other people's :)

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? Absolutely. Now, being armed with more knowledge, I am always interested in American History stuff because I know the background and I'm into it now--like my mom wanted to take a field trip to Greensboro to see the Civil Rights museum there, and before I would've gone because it sounded cool and interesting, but now I was super excited and nerding out because I'd learned about it, knew its history and importance in the Civil Rights Movement, etc.

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? Yes. This was secondary for me, as academically I am more a lone wolf and just like interacting with the teacher, but, especially on many of the more complicated topics she asked us to take a stand on, discuss, etc. on the discussion boards, it was really interesting to, after having grappled with it myself, see how other people had thought about it.

What sort of student would do well in this course? Would you recommend this course to ther students (if they are willing to work hard!)? A student who is commited to getting up every day and doing the work again, to managing their time and being disciplined, would do well in this course. It has a lot to offer but only if you have the self-discipline to get it done, even though sometimes the reading is boring and long, or you think if you do another academic writing assignment you'll die. But it's definitely worth it. I would certainly recommend this course to other students (I am trying to get my little brother to take it in a couple of years).

APUSH Review

I really enjoyed Mrs. Hawkins class. Of course, the material was a challenge but she does I nice job of guiding you through the reading and will always provide a video lecture on the most important topics. One of the best things about the class for me was how helpful and collaborative Mrs. Hawkins was when I was going to miss a deadline due to dance or other conflicts. The work load is significant and will require your time AND attention, but it is by no means unmanagable. I took the APUSH exam this past Friday and felt pretty good! I knew the stucture of the essays and was able to remember some of the class tips. One thing I would change about the class is the format of the test. As of right now, they are all MCQ's. I think I could have done better if I could gain a couple points from a short answer question at the end of the test (maybe even just as extra credit!) That being said, the dreaded MCQ tests helped prepare me for the 55 MCQ's on the exam... Overall, I learned a lot from APUSH and would recommend any hard-working student or history enthusiast to take this class. 

APUSH Class Review

This class thoroughly prepareed me for the AP exam. The teacher herself is an actual AP grader and she assigned us various projects and assignments that helped us develop historial thinking skills and analytical insights, which not only prepared us for the exam, but also become better thinkers and writers. On average, I put about 7-10 hours per week on this course, and my favorite assignment was CTAP essays. Though it required a lot of thinking, effort and time, I was able to really grow in my historical thinking skills through this, and the feedback the teacher gave was very helpful. The course definitely enhanced my interest in the subject; in the beginning, I was not really interested in learning U.S. History at all, but as she explained many dynamics, controversies and patterns in the U.S. history, I became more interested in the subject. I also found my communications with other students very valuable; we had weekly discussions and we were required to provide feedback to at least two other students' posts, and it was really interesting and enlightening to see other classmates' perspectives on a particular historical issue. I believe that any student who is ready to work hard and challenge himself/herself to go deeper in learning the subject (not merely preparing for the exam) would do perfectly well in this class, and I would strongly recommend this class to anyone who is planning on taking the AP U.S. course.

AP US History with Lisa Hawkins

Excellent teacher feedback and engaging course materials. The teacher works for the college board and  is a grader for the APUSH exam, so her feecdback was extremely valued. Plenty of time to prepare for APUSH exam, and test prep is an integral part of the course. 

Parent Review

This was an excellent course. My daughter who has just graduated with a bachelors in History was intrigued and somewhat envious of her brother's AP course. My son is a athlete who travels frequently. He has dyslexia and related issues, and from Ms Hawkins' first reply to my tentative email asking if he might succeed on her course, she was very supportive, and offered a lot of helpful information and advice.

The material and assignments are interesting. Since reading and writing aren't the easiest thing for my son, a course has to hold his attention for him to feel it is worth the struggle, and he really did enjoy this one. Ms Hawkins helped us make it work for him, with insight and suggestions. Somehow she could tell the difference between when he knew his material and was struggling with the writing, and when he hadn't grasped the concepts. I was surprised when his first graded essay was extensively marked up with comments, and Ms Hawkins continued to give substantial feedback on many assignments throughout the course. My son received far more guidance than when he was in a standard high school. We really are grateful to Ms Hawkins for a very successful education in history.

This could have been the least flexible of my son's online APs as it had the most fixed due dates, but we made it work. He was able to work ahead to accommodate his travel and Ms Hawkins put up some assignments early so that he could get everything done ahead of his longer trips. Discussion posts needed to be done in real time. The students seemed to really enjoy the discussions, and when time was at a premium for us, writing his posts was an engaging enough activity for my son to get it done on a long journey or during hours spent on the team bus at venues. The units are 4 weeks long and follow a regular pattern, so you know what kinds of activities will be in each of the 4 weeks. That means we knew for each coming week approximately what the workload would be, which we found very helpful.

The tests at the end of each unit are multiple choice. My son studied for them by using a combination of the chapter summaries and the online outline of the text book. It was an effective combination for him. We used printed versions on the outline as a framework for note taking.  

We would definitely recommend this course

Challenging course

This course thoroughly prepared me for the AP US History Exam.  It also was one of the hardest courses I have ever taken.  I spent about 8-10 hours a week on homework.  Be mentally prepared for a lot of work!  I wrote copious amounts of essays and discussions for this course, and my writing and analytical skills have improved because of all of the writing assignments.  Mrs. Hawkins gave helpful feedback.  Students should be self driven if they want to excel in this course.  It was stressful, but I am glad I took the class. 

Great Class, Great Teacher

Personally, I've always loved history and, prior to taking this class, I had already taken AP European history, but this class has definitely reached the top of my list of classes as one of the most informative, engaging, and helpful classes I have ever taken. 

From the outset, I was impressed by how well-designed the course was in and of itself. Each unit was designed in the same way, allowing for me to schedule and plan accordingly ahead of time for each week (especially because the workload varies week to week). The textbook in this class reads like a book and is thus very interesting to go through and easy to learn from. All of the lectures (both from Mrs.Hawkins and from the Teaching Company or the Annenberg Lectures) are extremely informative and to-the-point, cutting out the unnecessary fluff and delving into the meat of history that is going to be tested on the exam. The discussions were thought-provoking and eye-opening as I interacted with my diverse set of classmates, who each contributed their own worldview and opinion in a respectful, interesting manner on the forums. 

When I think of the assignments which defined my APUSH experience, I think of the CTAPs and the Projects. The CTAPs contributed the most to the AP prep part of the course (in my opinion), because they forced me to learn to analyze tons of historical primary sources and docs and incorporate the knowledge from the docs into a cohesive historical argument. Seriously, the hard work and time you put into the CTAPs definitely pays off. After writing so many CTAPs (not to mention the end of the yeat DBQs and LEQs meant to prep specifically for the test), I felt very confident going into the free response portion of the test. This class definitely helped me refine and polish my historical writing skills, as Mrs. Hawkins' feedback smoothed out the rough spots in my writing style/argument development. Also, the Projects throughout the year left a lasting impression of how interesting and relevant history can be. I loved the variety of assigments which appeared throughout the year on the Projects, whether it be in watching lectures on the Gilder Lehrman website or researching concrete examples which examined the relationship between the three branches of government. Overall, the assignments were just the right mix of interesting, engaging, yet stimulating and work-requiring (basically, you have to put the time and work to keep up with the class, but the process is interesting and the end result is very rewarding!).

This class has greatly enhanced my interest in history and has given me a firm foundation from which I can confidently tackle other AP history classes in the future. The class did a great job of preparing me for the AP test, I did not have to do too much outside prep for the AP test and I felt very composed and prepared as I was taking the test (everything in the class works to prepare you for the test! All of the assignments, essays, even discussions contributed to improving some historical skill that was tested on the exam.

Anyone who is interested in history, is willing to put in the time and effort into keeping up with the assignments and reading, and desires to improve their historical writing skills will do well in this course! I highly recommmend this course to anyone who fits the description above! Mrs. Hawkins is a great teacher (and she KNOWS what she is doing) and I'm so thankful that I was able to form a relationship with my teacher even without having live classes!

One of the best classes I've ever taken

APUSH with Mrs. Hawkins has been one of the most enjoyable and informative classes I've taken, period. I have learned so much about American history, but I was most impressed with how much my writing and thinking skills improved.

This is a time consuming class, there's no doubt about it. It's really important to pace yourself, because the reading will add up very quickly if you don't do a bit every weekday. What's more, there is always a substantial weekly assignment: practice AP multiple choice questions, essays, presentations, and the chapter tests are all examples. Luckily, Mrs. Hawkins provides a detailed daily schedule to help make sure it's easy to manage your APUSH time. I ended up spending about 2 hours a day on weekdays, with about an hour (or sometimes a lot more if I didn't have time to do an essay during the week) a day on the weekends.

To summarize, you will work hard in Mrs. Hawkins APUSH, but there's no busy work. It's all good material, and she presents it effectively. I'm very grateful for all the feedback I received on my writing, which I think has made me much more prepared for college. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who has a passion for learning both history and how to think better.

Possibly the Hardest (but Also Possibly the Best) APUSH Class Online

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

Most certainly.  I've heard APUSH is one of the hardest AP exams, but after taking this class I had plenty of practice and felt I had a good grasp of the information.  Anyone who survives this course should be one of the best prepared students in all of the world. :)     

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

I would say about one to two hours a day.  It's a time consuming class, and any students considering it should make sure they have enough time in their schedule.

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

Analyzing primary documents can be long and hard, but it really helped me prepare for the exam and gave me new insights in the study of history.  One of my favorite parts of this course was learning how to approach a document and analyze how the author's biases and motives affected him/her.   

• Did the course enhance your interest in the subject?

I've always liked history, but I never knew very much about US history prior to taking this course.  My appreciation for US history has definitely grown.  I don't plan on becoming a history major at this point, but this class has helped me look forward to college level history classes I will take in the future.

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

Yes.  The students were very insightful and brought thought provoking questions and comments to the class discussions.  Of course not everyone had the same opinions, but everyone's ideas were treated with respect.  It was an honor to interact with such intellegent students, and they encouraged me to push myself to new levels.

• 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!)?

When I first read reviews about this class, I had trouble believing it was really as hard as everyone said.  Well, it actually is.  Mrs. Hawkins is not kidding when she calls this a college level class.  If you don't enjoy reading or writing, then this probably isn't a good class for you, as this course is very heavy in those areas.

However, APUSH is well worth the work.  Mrs. Hawkins is an excellent teacher and she helped me grow in my analytical, historical, and writing skills.  Out of all the high school classes I've taken so far, I feel that this one prepared me the most for college.  This course is probably a lot harder than your average APUSH course, but I wouldn't trade this class for any other.  If you want a challenge and are willing to work hard, then I would reccomend this for you.

I thoroughly enjoyed having Mrs. Hawkins as my teacher for APUSH. The class prepared me well for the exam, although there was some modern information we did not cover as thoroughly as the rest of the material.

I loved having the discussion forums, to engage thoughtfully, with peers. Such conversation is very stimulating, although it does not come up in my day to day conversations all the time, so it was nice to relay on some good thinking time, a few times a week. The CTAPS were also great, because it brought more depth to certain topics, such that I remembered them better.

I created a study group with 2 classmates, and I found that very helpful. First, because it was nice to engage with other classmates live, in an otherwise online setting, and second, because we learned from each other about APUSH and about life.

The course definitely enhanced my interest in history and my understanding of American history and culture. I gained a lot of perspective and insight about current issues, through learning historical issues.

I would 1000% recommend this course to other students.

Looking for a great APUSH course?.....Look no further!

I hope you choose to take this course. If you are willing to work hard, it may be one of the most memorable AP classes you'll ever take!

APUSH with Lisa Hawkins

I would like to reccommend Ms. Hawkins for the APUSH course because I felt very well prepared for the AP Exam this past May.  The course schedule was easy to follow and consistent on the amount of homework assigned each day.  Although some aspects of the course were difficult at the start, i.e. ctap essays and module exams, Ms. Hawkins was always there to help and provide useful tips on how to significantly improve.  She uploaded specific instructions on each assignment which were helpful when I needed guidance.  The assignments per unit are spaced out well with respect the amount of time required everyday.  Generally, I spent 1-2 hours on the homework and an extra hour or so of daily study prep for the module tests.  I found that the writing assignments were challanging, but without them, I might not have been as well-prepared for the APUSH exam.  This was a comprehensive course on United States History and I felt the curriculum and presentations were interesting.  Nevertheless, this course was challanging and pushed me to do my best.  Sometimes I had to work extremely hard.  Ms. Hawkins provided a well-structured course and because of that, I was able to succeeed.  

Review of Mrs. Hawkins' AP US History course

This class was both challenging and rewarding.  Not only did I feel well prepared for the APUSH exam, but also I gained an increased understanding of how to think about history.  The multitudes of writing assignments continually required me to consider events from a historian's perspective, examining motives and actions for new and more insightful interpretations.  Mrs. Hawkins provided us with a variety of sources and lectures from acclaimed professors which gave us increased understanding of the subjects at hand.  I did spend a significant amount of time completing this class's large workload.  I worked harder for the grade I received than I have in any other class, and I spent an average of 12-15 hours a week on the material, though this amount tended to vary from one week to another.  I would certainly recommend this course to any student who wishes to enhance his or her understanding of history and who is willing to put in the required work. 

U.S. History plus so much more!

We were looking for a class that would prepare our daughter for the AP US History exam as well as prepare her for what college classes would be like.  This class was a perfect fit for us.  

Understanding the Narrative of American History

I. loved. this. class.

I have loved History for as long as I could remember, however, I have a strong distaste for the Ancient and Medieval eras. Therefore, I opted for US History instead of World, and I am SO thankful that I did. I am also so thankful that God directed me to Mrs. Hawkins. She was an absolutely amazing teacher and somehow she was able to make me laugh while handing me the long list full of the Unit's assignments. She understands us High Schoolers and how we think, she is prompt to respond to questions, and she is eager to help whenever an SOS is thrown her way.

I would highly recommend this class to someone and as a matter of fact I already have!! While this class is not for the faint of heart, anyone who is willing to work hard is sure to exceed. There is so much room for extra credit learning and "fun" assignments. You do have to eat the dreaded broccoli (in this case, CTAP assignments), but the dessert (the fun unit projects like movie reviews, evaluations, and documentary assignments) were always there too. The work load was heavy, but I did not find it unreasonable. The AP prep unit (boot camp) was also very helpful! I would highly suggest that all students take advantage of the extra credit work as it helped me feel so much more prepared for the exam.

Another thing to note is the great deal of writing required. In fact, there was more writing in APUSH than English Lang. and Comp., so being at least semi-confident in writing is a great thing. However, either way this course will help stimulate growth in that area.

My father is in the military so my family and I are stationed overseas in the Former Soviet Union. This was actually great in many ways (like living in a live museum), but there were also some hard things about it. The time zone was definitely one of them, but Mrs. Hawkins was understanding. So, military kids in the US and overseas who can't seem to stay put very long, this course could definitely work for you! The same applies for other foreign students wishing to take AP exams. You may have to fly to another country to take the test (ugmm, yes I did have to do that…), but the knowledge and (Lord willing) the college credit obtained along the way are well worth it!

Out of the three exams that I took, I felt the most confident about the APUSH. In fact, the MC section seemed even easier than the ones we practiced on!  Furthermore, the class taught me great study habits and tips that will be priceless for my college years.

Thank you Mrs. Hawkins for everything!!!! I wish I could stay in school and take another course of yours!

Amazing Class' You Will Not Regret It!!!

Did you feel the course prepared you for the AP exam? Absolutely. I walked into that testing room in May feeling like I had done everything I could to prepare for the exam. I felt confident that my score was going to reflect all of the hard work I did over the year, and on the actual exam there were only a few questions that I even had to stop and think about. The essays, which were the most intimidating part of the APUSH exam, came naturally after all of the hours of practice we put in throughout the year.

How many hours of work per day or per week did you generally put into the course? It totally depended on the time of week. The course was organized into a 4-week cycle, with the tests at the end of the 4th week, so I generally spent a lot more time on APUSH at the end of the month as opposed to the beginning, as I had to study for the test. However, in general, I would say I spent 10-12 hours a week working on required materials and another couple of hours on extra credit. This is definitely not the class to take if you are not confident in your ability to stay on top of assignments; if you get behind in this class, it will be hard to catch up due to the sheer workload.

Are there any particularly favorite assignments that you found especially valuable? I thought that each assignment had a clear purpose in terms of either preparing us for the exam in May, or expanding our general understanding of history and the historical process, so to speak. I thought Mrs. Hawkins' Unit Projects were really interesting and fun (for example, we got to make our own mini-lectures and review historical movies) and they definitely increased the depth of my knowledge in specific areas. I also very much enjoyed her audiovisual lectures; they were accessible and made it easy to take great notes!

Did the course enhance your interest in the subject? Without a doubt. I went into this without any background in history, hoping I didn't get left behind and swamped in new information. While the latter sometimes felt true, I came out of this class with a new appreciation for American history and politics, and taking this class even inspired me to sign up for AP Euro next year!

Did you find your communications with other students to be interesting or valuable? Yes. The class discussion boards were always full of fascinating discussions, debates, and disagreements. It was incredibly cool to interact with all sorts of different people from around the country and read their points of view on all types of historical and political questions. I also participated in a separate video "study group" with two other classmates, and while these meetings were admittedly 75% social, we did discuss assignments, approaches to studying, and the course in general in a way that I felt to be very valuable.

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 ABSOLUTELY recommend this course!!! This class is very challenging, however, and I think you do need certain qualities to succeed. It really helps to be a quick reader with good comprehension (think 1000-page textbook in 7-8 months). Writing skills are a definite prerequisite, although you don't need to be a master of grammar or anything like that. You just need to be able to efficiently express your ideas in a written format. You also need to be willing to work very hard to understand concepts, learn methods, and memorize information as it is thrown at you. I would really recommend learning to take notes in a way that helps you synthesize massive quantities of information before you take this class, because this class places great emphasis on learning content. If you have a decent grasp of these three skills–reading, writing, and studying–you will do well in this class, as long as you budget your time right and apply yourself. I cannot recommend this class (and this teacher!) highly enough. Mrs. Hawkins is extremely knowledgeable about the exam, and she will guide you both to a great score on the test and to a greater love for the history of our country! :)

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

We highly recommend Mrs. Hawkins for the AP U.S. History class.  As one can glean from her bio, she majored in history, teaches at the college level, and is actually one of the essay/dbq scorers for the AP exam.  She clearly knows her stuff when it comes to history!  AP US History is a challenging course that demands much of the students, which all pays off in the end.  Our twin daughters who took this course have most certainly grown in their understanding and appreciation of US History in terms of knowing "the facts" and understanding how to analyze and, like detectives, make sense of history through primary documents. 

If you ever have a question or concern, just email Mrs. Hawkins.  She has always been great about responding fairly quickly, and truly takes the time to respond to questions or concerns in full.  She has never been dismissive or short in her ways of communicating.  This is so important with an on-line class where it can be difficult to feel a sense of connection with the teacher. 

Mrs. Hawkins thoroughly prepared our girls for the AP exam.  While throughout the year they felt rather challenged and worried about whether or not they would be able to handle the AP test, when the day finally arrived they walked in feeling confident and came out feeling certain they got at least a 4 and possibly a 5 on the exam!  I can attest to Mrs. Hawkins being an excellent, though demanding, teacher for APUSH.  In this class, the harder you work, the more prepared you will be for the exam.  I highly recommend this class for those who are willing to put in the time (lots and lots of reading, writing, lecture watching, etc.) and effort to truly take advantage of all her course has to offer.

Mrs. Hawkins' APUSH class

My son had his first experience with an AP class this year while taking Mrs. Hawkins' APUSH class.  At first, the class seemed overwhelming, but soon my son was able to figure out a routine for completing the work and things became much easier to manage.  While he struggled the first month or so, Mrs. Hawkins was encouraging and never gave up on him.  He ended up with a B+ in the class.  We're still waiting on the results of his AP exam but he felt pretty good about it.

I believe Mrs. Hawkins' class really prepared students for the AP exam.  The writing assignments she gave and the multiple choice test questions were very similar to the questions on the AP exam.  He knew exactly what to expect when he went into the exam. 

Even if my son does not earn college credits from the AP exam, I believe he gained so many skills that will prepare him for college.  He had to learn HOW to study and analyze, manage time, and predict the kinds of material that may be covered on test.  The class also demanded a large amount of information in a short amount of time in order to complete the material before the AP exam.  This is a great skill for college because college classes are done by semesters which many high school students haven't experienced.

In summary, I would say if you're thinking about taking APUSH, you should have great writing skills, 12-15 hrs. per week to dedicate to this class, a desire to learn and grow, and a willingness to ask for help when you need it.  Mrs. Hawkins is happy to help you and goes out of her way to give you opportunities to earn extra credit points which help not only your grade, but your understanding of the subject and prep for the APUSH exam.

The Most Inclusive and Educational Class I have ever taken

Mrs. Hawkins' 2013-2014 AP United States History class was the first AP class I have ever taken.  As such, I went in with quite some apprehensions: would it be too hard?  Would I learn enough to adequately prepare for the AP exam? Was I capable of completing college-level work in addition to all my other subjects?  Nonetheless, I decided to apply and join the class. I have never regretted it since.

First off, it was A LOT of work.  No point in trying to sidestep that.  However, in the context of preparing for the APUSH exam, every single ounce of stress ended up being beneficial in the end.  When I first received my textbook, I was seriously freaked out by its size (I didn't think I would have to memorize the dictionary!!), but when I actually started reading it, I was hit by a realization.  For the first time in my life, I was enjoying school! Each chapter was not filled with hundreds of names and dates that I was expected to memorize (like my past history textbooks), but it told a story.  A very important story at that! The weekly chapters were long, but it never felt like a chore to read them.  Neither did the essays or monthly projects.  While I spent on average about 2 or 3 hours a day on the subject (I preferred not to work on the weekends), honestly, it was the REST of the schoolday that I dreaded. 

The course consists of lots of reading, usually an essay a week, and various presentations and documents that only serve to increase one's understanding of the time period covered in that month.  However, what I enjoyed the most--and what I am forver grateful to Mrs. Hawkins for--was the weekly discussions among classmates about a particular subject.  Learning to effectively communicate with people my age proved invaluable to my speech and debate career as well.  Essentially, all of the work that I did for this class helped me not only to prepare for the exam (which I'll get to next), but it served to allow me to communicate with others more effectively and defend my beliefs using facts and past events, which I believe has proved truly invaluable.

The AP Exam was tough, not going to lie, but had I not been exposed to the level of in-depth work that Mrs. Hawkins required, I would have simply died on that exam.  I felt confident answering every single question, and although I don't have my score back yet, I know from past experience that as soon as doubt enters your mind on a test, it is hard to complete it.  That was not the case here.  Mrs. Hawkins' class completely prepared me to handle the rigors of intensive studying and impromptu essays throughout the year, and even if I didn't get a 5 on the exam, without this class, I probably would have gotten a 1.

In conclusion, Mrs. Hawkins' class was the best class I have ever taken.  I learned more about our nations' history than in all my past year's combined.  I learned to write informative essays about all manners of things such as civil rights, the Civil War, the Great Depression, and so on.  In addition, I learned that hard work pays off, and believe me this class is a lot of work, but as long as you give 100%, it will be the most rewarding class you will ever take.  Mrs. Hawkins was a very understanding--and INCREDIBLY nice--teacher, which only helped make the class that much better.  Do not hesitate to apply for her class in upcoming years, it will be worth every penny and every second on that long APUSH exam.

Learned how to write!!

I am able to write full essays in a short amount of time! Developing a thesis and defending it is really second nature after APUSH with Mrs. Hawkins.  The homework was 5 days of 2.5 hours.  Usually, I took Friday off and worked Saturday. The assignments were well explained and presented in an organized manner. I feel confident about tackling other courses with a heavy load because of the time management skills I applied to staying on task for this course. 

Next year, I will be entering a history course that will focus on 2 self directed research paper. I enjoy reading and I think that was a plus for this course given the required reading. 

My favorite part of the course was watching historical documentarles and taking notes, as well as identifyjng historical inaccuracies in contemporary films. I woud encourage those thinking if taking APUSH choose  this course. 

Deepened Understanding of American History

My daughter, Josephine, just completed Mrs. Hawkins' AP US History course and it was a fantastic experience for her.  It is among the best educational experiences she has ever had.  There is a comprehensiveness, and creativity, in Mrs. Hawkins approach that allowed Josephine to get into very specific details while also maintaining an overview of the broad strokes in history.  She especially loved reading original documents which conveys things never available in a paraphrased version found in a textbook.

I especially enjoyed when Josephine did her homework for this class shortly before dinner, as our whole family got to learn from her; she always knew things none of us had learned before.

Mrs. Hawkins APUSH Class Review

Hello everyone,

I was a part of Mrs. Hawkins 2012-2013 APUSH History Class. I must say, this was one of the best classes I have taken in high school! The lectures are informative, and the assignments are creative and involve significant evaluation. There was never a time that I thought a project was "busy work" or that I was wasting time with taking the class. Every assignment and topic not only prepared me for the AP US History Exam, but they also helped prepare me for future college classes.

As many of you have probably already seen from the previous reviews, Mrs. Hawkins' class demands a lot of time and effort. I worked many hours a week (around 10-15) to get every assignment completed on time. However, I always felt that this time was well spent and definitely worthwhile. In addition, practically all of the homework was fun in its own way. A particular favorite of mine were the presentations. I was able to create a presentation that was reviewed by my fellow classmates, while I got to review theirs. It was a really fun project to do.

As I stated before, Mrs. Hawkins' class also prepared me for my college classes. Presently I am a concurrently-enrolled student at my community college. This past school year I have taken English Comp 1 and 2, and US Government. I have to say that my experience with Mrs. Hawkins' class greatly prepared me for each of these classes. Her emphasis on detail and evaluation were of great benefit to me in my English classes, and helped me to excel in both of them. Additionally, thanks to her class I already knew a lot of the history that surrounded the US Government course. I completed each of these classes with an A, and even received an Honors Award from the college president. I believe that it was Mrs. Hawkins' class that helped me to succeed in these classes.

Overall, I would highly recommend Mrs. Hawkins' APUSH Class. It is an exceptional course that will prepare you for your AP exam, and provide a wealth of knowledge and skills that is invaluable. The more effort and time you put into Mrs. Hawkins' class, the more benefits you will reap. Do not get scared away from the course work, this class is wonderful and definitely worth your time.

So happy and thankful my son took Lisa Hawkins's AP US History Course

Hello all,

I just wanted to write a quick review for the parents out there who are considering registering their child for Lisa Hawkin's AP US History Course. I want to let them know that she is just incredible and the course is more than worth the money-much more. My son learned US History so thoroughly and not just for the test. Besides that, he learned accountability, writing skills, communication with others, how to study, do presentations, etc. He was able to interact with the other students on writing assignments. Mrs. Hawkins was very understanding and any time he had a question, she would get back to him as soon as possible. Sometimes, even I had questions and she would get back to me in a timely fashion as well. 

The course is challenging which is what we expected it to be and wanted for our son. However, at one point, we were concerned that the course was just too much for him. He had some health issues and this was also his first AP course. However, Mrs. Hawkins was very understanding and helpful to him and kept on encouraging to him to keep trying. He did and we are very excited to share that he received a 4 on the AP US History exam!!! But besides that, we feel good because our son really knows US History now and shares what he has learned with us whenever we go to museums or a topic comes up about American History as it relates to events in our country and the world.

I would also like to encourage parents to listen to the lectures with your child. Sometimes we would listen to them in the car.  I learned so much that I was never taught in public school. It also gives you a chance to discuss the events that happened and share your perspectives with your child.

Well, I hope I have helped any parents out there who are on the fence about registering or not for Lisa Hawkin's AP US History Course.  As long as your child tries, he/she will learn so many skills that they will be able to take with them when they go to college. Mrs. Hawkin's has high expectations for her students and the willingness to help them reach their goals. She is very understanding and has a kind heart. When my son had to have a heart procedure done, she gave him an extension on several assisgnments while he recovered. Even more than that, she prayed for him and that meant so much to us. We will always be so grateful to Mrs. Hawkin's for all that she taught our son and her kindness. Thanks and Blessings, Nannette Reyes

An All-Around Great Course

Mrs. Hawkins' 2011-2012 APUSH class was excellent.  It involved plenty of hard work (between 10 and 15 hours/week for me), but all the reading and writing I did really helped me feel confident on exams, including the AP U.S. History Exam.  There was an interesting variety of assignments, which helped me see history from a number of different perspectives; the assignments also greatly improved my writing skills. But it wasn't just the assignments that made the course enjoyable; Mrs. Hawkins' knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject, along with her teaching style, made learning history fun.  Whenever I had questions or technical difficulties, Mrs. Hawkins was prompt and helpful in delivering feedback.  I felt that Mrs. Hawkins taught beyond what the AP Exam required; while I was thoroughly prepared for the exam, the unit projects and other assignments taught me to think like a historian and love the subject.  You don't need to be extensively knowledgeable about U.S. History beforehand to succeed in this class, but you need to be prepared to read a lot, write a lot, and keep in regular contact with the class.  I would definitely recommend this excellent course.

Hard, But Rewarding!

Mrs. Hawkins's APUSH was one of the best classes I've every taken. It was very challenging and time-consuming, but also very interesting. Although the textbook wasn't really my favorite, it was supplemented with many enjoyable activities, where we might learn about an interesting viewpoint on a particular event or analyze historical documents to come to our own conclusions about the events. I also really enjoyed the projects we had each unit, which aimed at improving both our skills and our knowledge. All in all, I felt that everything we did increased my historical knowledge, and helped me prepare for the AP exam. Although I was very nervous about the exam, and kept second-guessing my abilities to do well on the test, I was very pleasantly surprised when I found out that everything we had done in class filled me with the knowledge and skills I needed. I would highly recommend this class to anyone with a love for history and a motivation to spend lots of time on homework (for me, 10+ hours a week).

Great Teacher and Class