AP Statistics - Course Audit
Course Description:
AP Statistics is designed for students who wish to complete studies equivalent to a one
semester, introductory, non-calculus based, college course in statistics. The course will
introduce students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing and drawing
conclusions from data. The student selecting AP Statistics will have a strong math
background, and will have successfully completed Algebra 2. AP Statistics may be taken
concurrently with any math elective.
To model the AP exam, each chapter test is composed of a multiple choice and a free
response written portion. Additionally, each chapter students are exposed to several
released AP free response questions to work on during class and sometimes as
homework. These questions are timed, 15-18 minutes during semester one and 12-15
minutes during semester two. The investigative task questions are given during the
second semester are also timed at 25 minutes. These are assessed in a variety of ways,
all using the AP rubric given; they are teacher-graded, self-graded and at other times
graded by another student. These written exercises help students deal with pacing
themselves during the free response portion of the AP exam as well as help students work
on communication of statistical concepts.
Primary Textbook:
YMM - Yates, Daniel S., More, David S., and McCabe, George P. The Practice of
Statistics. First Edition. New York, NY: W. H. Freeman and Company, 1999.
References and Resource Materials:
Rossman, Allan J. Workshop Statistics: Discovery with Data. First Edition. New York,
NY: Springer-Verlag, 1996.
FR – Selected released AP Statistics free response questions, 1997-2006.
Technology:
All students have a TI-83/83+, TI-84/84+ or better graphing calculator. Students who do
not own one, sign one out for the year with the Math Department Liaison. Students use
the graphing calculator throughout the entire course.
There are four computers in the Statistics classroom installed with MINITAB statistical
software. Students are also exposed to computer output from MINITAB, JMP, and Fathom
when applicable.
Various applets on the internet.
Course Outline: (organized by the chapters in their primary textbook): Graphical displays
include but are not limited to using dot plots, stem plots, split stem plots, back-to-back
stem plots, bar charts, histograms, frequency plots, box plots and side-by-side box plots.
*denotes that graphing calculators/computers and/or computer output is emphasized.
Chapter 1: Exploring Data
Day Topic
1
Introduction
2
Categorical and quantitative variables, bar chart
Interpreting distributions: dot plots, histograms, stem and leaf
Workshop Statistics 2-2
3
4*
5
6*
7*
8
9*
10*
11
12
13
Time plots, histograms on a TI-83, Mean and median
Review Chapter 1.1
5 number summary, box plots
Standard deviation and variance
Frequency and cumulative distributions and tables
MINITAB introduction
MINITAB introduction - continued
AP exam details and grading
FR 2001 #1
Review Chapter 1
Chapter 1 Test
Special Problem 1A
Chapter 2: Normality
Day Topic
1
Density curves
2*
Normal distribution; ball drop applet
3
Standard normal, z - score
4
Z - table
5*
Assessing normality: workshop statistics 14.5 and 14.6
6*
Calculator Usage
7
Review chapter 2
8
9
FR 2003 #3ab
Chapter 2 Test
Chapter 3: Examining Relationships
Day Topic
1
2*
Introduction to examining relationships
Activity: Find a friend
Scatterplots activity: The Challenger Disaster
YMM Assignment
Workshop Statistics Unit 1
preliminaries
1.2, 1.3 and Workshop Statistics
1-1 and 1-7
1.1, 1.6, 1.9, 1.10
1.13 (use TI-83), 1.26, 1.27, 1.29,
1.30
WS
1.31, 1.32, 1.33, 1.34
1.35, 1.39, 1.40, 1.41
WS
Packet
Packet
none
1.43, 1.45-47, 1.49, 1.50, 1.56 and
YMM online chapter 1 quiz
Resource Binder
YMM Assignment
2.2-2.5
2.6-2.9
2.12, 2.13, 2.20
2.22-2.25
2.26-2.30
2.31-2.33
2.38, 2.40, 2.41, 2.43, 2.45, 2.46
FR 2004 #3ab and YMM online
chapter 2 quiz
YMM Assignment
3.1-3.3, 3.5
3.10-12
3*
4*
5*
6*
7*
8*
9
Facts about correlation, correlation game applet
Review scatterplots and correlation, correlation applet
Least squared regression
Facts about least squared regression, r squared
r squared applet
residuals, influential points
Minitab printout
Review chapter 3
10
11
FR 1999 #1
Chapter 3 Test
Chapter 4: More on Two Variable Data
Day Topic
1
Logarithm review
2
The classic m&m spill experiment - non-linear data activity
3*
Power and exponential transformations
4*
More power and exponential transformations
5*
More power and exponential transformations - continued
6*
Even more transformations and quiz
7*
Interpreting correlation and regression
8
Relations in categorical data, two way tables, Simpson's paradox
Review Chapter 4
9
FR 1997 #6
10
Chapter 4 Test
Chapter 5: Producing Data
Day Topic
1
Designing samples
Cautions about sample surveys, inference about the population
Ann Landers ‘If you had to do it over again, would you have kids’
2
article and activity
3
Designing experiments
4
More designing experiments
5
Class designed experiment
6
Random design
Simulations
7*
Birthday problem simulation
More simulations
8*
Special project: Spread of a Rumor
9
Review Chapter 5
10
11
12
FR 2002 #2 and 2005 #1bc
Chapter 5 Test
Class bias project presentations
Chapter 6:Probability
3.18, 3.20-3.24
WS
3.31, 3.33, 3.34
3.36-38
3.39, 3.41, 3.46, 3.48
WS
3.50, 3.51, 3.52, 3.58
FR 2003B #1 and YMM online
chapter 3 quiz
YMM Assignment
WS
WS
4.2, 4.4
WS - group work
WS - group work
4.5, 4.6
4.19-4.24
4.31, 4.33, 4.39, 4.40
4.43, 4.45, 4.50, 4.59 and YMM
online chapter 4 quiz
YMM Assignment
5.1-5.8
5.10-12, 5.15, 5.21
5.26-5.29, 5.30, 5.32
5.35-5.37
WS
5.40, 5.42-44
5.54-5.56
5.60-5.63
WS and FR 2004 #2
FR 2003 #4 and YMM online
chapter 5 quiz
Day Topic
Introduction to probability, randomness, sample space
1
Probability activity
2
Probability rules, complement, event
3
Union, intersection, Venn diagram
YMM Assignment
4
5
6
6.2 Review probability models
Conditional Probability
Review Chapter 6
7
8
FR 1999 #5 and 2004 #3bc
Chapter 6 Test
6.24, 6.25, 6.27, 6.31, 6.33, 6.39
6.44, 6.45, 6.47, 6.53-55
WS and FR 2002B #2
FR 2003B #2 and YMM online
chapter 6 quiz
Chapter 7: Random Variables
Day Topic
1
2
3
4
5
6
Introduction to random variables,
The game of craps activity
Discrete random variables
Continuous random variables
Mean of random variable
Mean and variance of random variable
Review Chapter 7
7
8
FR 1999 #5 and 2004 #4bc
Chapter 7 Test
Chapter 8: Binomial, Geometric, Poisson Distributions
Day Topic
Binomial distribution,
1*
Activity: A gaggle of girls
2*
Finding binomial probabilities
Binomial mean and standard deviation
3*
Binomial Distribution power point
4*
Geometric distribution
5*
More geometric distribution
Review for Chapter 8
6
FR 1998 #6bcde
7
Chapter 8 Test
8
Review for final
9
Review for final - continued
6.8, 6.9, 6.13, 6.15
6.19, 6.23
6.37, 6.39
YMM Assignment
WS
7.1-7.3
7.4, 7.5, 7.7, 7.9
7.17-19
7.24-7.27
WS and FR 2001 #2 and 2005B #2
FR 2002 #3 and 2002B #2 and
YMM online chapter 7 quiz
YMM Assignment
8.1-8.4
8.5-7
8.8-10, 8.14-18
8.24-8.26
8.27-29
WS, FR 2001 #3 and YMM online
chapter 8 quiz
FALL SEMESTER EXAM – 90 minutes
Chapter 9: Sampling Distributions
Day Topic
Introduction to sampling distributions
1*
Activity: The distribution of height
2*
Sampling Distributions
YMM Assignment
9.1-9.4, 9.6-9.7
9.8-9.14
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Introduction to sampling proportions
More sampling proportions
Penny activity/Central limit theorem
Sample means
More sample means
Review Chapter 9
FR 1998 #1
Chapter 9 Test
Chapter 10: Introduction to Inference
Day Topic
Introduction to confidence intervals
1
Activity: Pick a card
2
Confidence intervals
3
More confidence intervals
4
Intro tests of significance
5
Hypothesis tests
6
Statistical Significance
7
Review tests of significance
8
Review tests of significance - continued
9*
Calculator usage
Error types (and alpha and beta)
10
Investigative activity
11
Intervals and hypothesis testing review (with proportions)
12
Calculating beta
13
Power
14
15
Review for chapter 10
Chapter 10 Test
Chapter 11: Inference for Distributions
Day Topic
1
Introduction to t-procedures
2*
t-procedures
3*
Matched t tests
4
Robustness, power
5
Two sample procedures
6*
Robustness, pooling
7
Review
8*
Significance tests
9
Review for chapter 11
10
11
FR 2000 #4 and 2004 #6
Chapter 11 Test
Chapter 12: Inference for Proportions
WS
9.15-9.18
9.22, 9.23, 9.25
WS
9.26, 9.27, 9.30, 9.31, 9.33
WS, FR 2004B #3cd and YMM
online chapter 9 quiz
YMM Assignment
10.1-10.4
10.5-10.7
10.9, 10.14-10.18
10.19-10.20
10.27-10.29
10.34, 10.35, 10.37, 10.38
10.41, 10.43-45
10.49, 10.55, 10.56
10.59, 10.60, 10.63-65
WS
WS
10.66-68
10.69-71
10.77, 10.80, 10.84-86 and YMM
online chapter 10 quiz
YMM Assignment
11.3-7
11.8-11
11.12-14
11.15-17, 11.19
11.32-11.35
11.37-11.39, 43, 46
WS
WS
11.49, 11.50, 11.56, 11.60 and FR
2002 #5
FR 2004B #4 and YMM online
chapter 11 quiz
Day Topic
Introduction to proportions
1
Activity: Is one side of a coin heavier?
Single Sample problems
2
Activity: Coin flipping
3*
Single Sample problems - continued
4
Comparing 2 proportions
5*
Comparing 2 proportions - continued
6
Review for chapter 12
7
8
FR 2002B #4
Chapter 12 Test
Chapter 13: Chi Squared Test
Day Topic
Chi squared – goodness of fit
1*
Activity: m&m’s ‘I didn’t get enough blues!’
2*
Chi squared - goodness of fit
3*
Follow Up Analysis
4*
Inference on a two way table, chi squared test
5*
Uses of chi squared
Review for test
6
FR 1999 #2
7
Chapter 13 Test
Chapter 14: Inference for Regression
Day Topic
1*
Inference for regression
2*
Confidence intervals
3*
Inference about prediction
4
Checking regression assumptions
5
FR 2001 #6b 2005B #5c
YMM Assignment
12.1, 12.2, 12.4, 12.5
12.7, 12.8
12.10, 12.15-17
12.21-25
WS
WS and FR 2003#2
FR 2005 #4 and YMM online
chapter 12 quiz
YMM Assignment
WS
13.1, 13.3, 13.4
13.6, 13.9, 13.10, 13.12
13.15, 13.17
13.19, 13.26, 13.27
WS, FR 2003 #5 and YMM online
chapter 13 quiz
FR 2002 #6
YMM Assignment
14.1, 14.3
14.5, 14.7, 14.9
14.10, 14.11
14.13, 14.14
YMM online chapter 14 quiz
Review for the AP exam (with remaining time):





Practice AP exam - the complete 2002 AP exam.
Work on the College Board (acorn book) multiple choice questions from the course
description book.
Work on the remaining free response questions.
Guest speaker, our former (retired) AP statistics teacher, comes in to answer questions.
Go over tips for students on grading and strategies for success.
Post AP exam (with remaining time):




Students will finish their End of the year statistics project.
Cover topics in chapter 15: Analysis of Variance.
Watch various episodes of NUMB3RS that feature statistics.
Watch Against all Odds videos.
End of the year statistics project:
Purpose: To investigate a question that you can answer using the statistical methods you have learned this
year.
All reports should:
 be typed, Arial size 12 font and double spaced
 include question of investigation and all group members names
Report Proposal:
due date:______________
Should include and be clearly labeled:



The question of investigation
A definition of the population
A brief description of when, where and how you are going to collect your data
Data Report:
due date:______________
Should include and be clearly labeled:




How you collected your data:
 The type of sampling procedure you used
 Precise description of your randomization
 When, where and how you administered and collected your data
Biases avoided and not avoided
A copy of any survey
Your data in a table/matrix summary. Your data should be broken up by any category you want to
compare.
Displaying the Data Report:
due date:______________
Should include and be clearly labeled:



Graphs of your data
Statistics from your data
Descriptions of the graphs and statistics. Write the descriptions on a separate page from the
graphs and statistics.
Analyzing the Data Report:
due date:______________
Analyze your data using whatever method(s) is appropriate for your data. Your conclusion should be written
using all appropriate statistical support. Your report should include and be clearly labeled:
 Hypothesis Test (with conditions checked) and/or
 Confidence Intervals (with conditions checked) and/or
 Regression
 Conclusions
Presentation:
date:___________
 Clearly communicate your question and how you collected your data.
 Limit your presentation to 10 minutes.
 Visually display graphs of your data— poster, overhead transparencies, PowerPoint, and/or video.
Make a visual aid that shows the class how your data came out. There should be only minimal
text on your visual aid—titles and big numbers—no explanations.
 All members of the group need to participate equally.
 Clearly communicate your conclusion.
 Do not read off your visual aid—use note cards. Be careful how you communicate numbers to the
class—too many numbers at once is confusing, as is too many decimal places.