An Introduction to the
Advanced Placement Program®
South Hagerstown High School
Welcome
South Hagerstown High School is committed to every student’s success.
We believe access to rigorous course work such as Advanced Placement® (AP®)
plays an important role in that success.
AP Literature
•
AP Literature is a college-level class
devoted to the study of novels, plays, short
fiction, poetry and some nonfiction.
•
Students should expect to read at home on
a regular basis and be able to analyze
passages of text under timed writing
conditions. In other words, students need to
have a strong work ethic.
Preparation for AP Literature
•
While it is not mandatory, students
entering AP Literature should probably have a
background in Honors 9 and Honors 10
English.
•
Grades in those classes should have been in
the A and B range.
•
Regular school attendance is key.
AP Test
•
Students can possibly earn college credit if
they can earn a three or higher on the
national exam given in May. Students will be
expected to answer about 55 multiple choice
questions and write three essays in three
hours.
AP Language and
Composition
An introduction
Prerequisites and Course Description
Prerequisites: English 9 and English 10
Course Description: “The AP English Language and Composition course
aligns to an introductory college-level rhetoric and writing curriculum,
which requires students to develop evidence-based analytic and
argumentative essays that proceed through several stages or drafts.
Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their
arguments. Throughout the course, students develop a personal style by
making appropriate grammatical choices. Additionally, students read and
analyze the rhetorical elements and their effects in non-fiction texts,
including graphic images as forms of text, from many disciplines and
historical periods.”- College Board Website
Basic Course Elements
Analyzing rhetorical elements in nonfiction
texts
Composing a variety of essays, especially
arguments
Using a variety of rhetorical strategies to
affect an audience
Reading a variety of nonfiction novels, essays,
letters, and speeches
Difference Between AP Lit and AP Lang
AP Lit focuses primarily on fiction texts
including novels, poetry, and drama.
AP Lit is primarily concerned with the
analysis of fiction literature.
AP Language is primarily concerned with
using masterful non-fiction essays to develop
the student’s ability to write well.
The Exam
Section 1: Multiple Choice
52-55 questions
Several nonfiction texts followed by multiple choice
questions
Section 2: Essays
Rhetorical Analysis
Argument
Synthesis
AP Government &
Politics
•
COURSE EXPLORES THE POLITICAL THEORY AND
EVERYDAY PRACTICES OF OUR GOVERNMENT AND
THE THEORIES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT SHAPE
OUR PUBLIC POLICIES
•
COURSE IS TAUGHT ON A COLLEGE LEVEL AND
REQUIRES A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF READING
AND PREPARATION FOR EVERY CLASS
•
COURSE OUTLINE:
•
Constitutional Underpinnings
•
Political Beliefs and Behaviors
•
Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media
•
Institutions: Congress, Presidency, Bureaucracy, Courts
•
Public Policy
•
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
AP Government & Politics
Exam
2 sections
Section A: 60 multiple choice questions →45 minutes
Section B: 4 free response questions→100 minutes
To do well on the exam:
Time management skills
Organizational skills
Critical thinking skills
Know the vocabulary
It is a year round course, reading, writing, and studying
all year long!
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
UNITED STATES HISTORY
Mr. Kamler
Room 2113
KAMLEJAS@WCPS.K12.MD.US
What’s it all about?
• Applying historical themes to past and present occurrences.
–Scope: Pre-Exploration - Present Day
• Learning to think, read, and write at a college level.
–AP Exam: 55 Multiple Choice, 4 Short Answer, 1 Long Essay, & 1
Document-Based Question Essay
• Achieving a ‘3’ or higher on the AP U.S. History Exam.
• SHHS pass rate (2011-2014) = 64.5%
• National average pass rate (2011-2014) = 53.25%
• Improving presentation & research methods and skills.
–National History Day
AP World History
A Journey From Man’s Beginnings
WITH
Mrs. Poling
Topics Covered in Class
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
History and Approaches
Research Methods
Biological Bases of Behavior
Sensation and Perception
States of Consciousness
Learning
Cognition
Motivation and Emotion
Developmental Psychological
Personality
Testing and Individual Differences
Abnormal Psychology
Treatment of Psychological
Disorders
14. Social Psychological
AP EUROPEAN HISTORY
• THE AP EUROPEAN HISTORY HAS JUST
RECENTLY BEEN REDESIGNED AND WILL
BE ROLLED OUT FOR THE UPCOMING
2015-16 ACADEMIC YEAR.
• COURSE COVERS TIME PERIOD FROM
1450 TO THE PRESENT, BROKEN OVER
FIVE COURSE THEMES.
• 19 KEY CONCEPTS COVERED OVER FOUR
CHRONOLOGICAL PERIODS.
• PERIOD 1: 1450 TO 1648
• PERIOD 2: 1648 TO 1815
• PERIOD 3: 1815 TO 1914
• PERIOD 4: 1914 TO THE PRESENT
• STUDENTS WILL SPEND MORE TIME
LEARNING ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS.
• DEVELOP THE HISTORICAL THINKING SKILLS
NECESSARY TO EXPLORE EUROPEAN
HISTORY.
• CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
• HISTORICAL THINKING SKILLS
• THEMATIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• THE CONCEPT OUTLINE
• AP EURO HISTORY EXAM
TOPICS COVERED
• PERIOD 1: 1450-1648
• ITALIAN RENAISSANCE
• DECLINE OF HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
• ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
• PROTESTANT/CATHOLIC
REFORMATIONS
• PERIOD 2: 1648-1815
• ABSOLUTE/ENLIGHTENED MONARCHS
• FRENCH REVOLUTION
• NAPOLEONIC ERA
• TRIANGLE TRADE/MIDDLE PASSAGE
• SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
• ENLIGHTENMENT
• PERIOD 3: 1815-1914
• INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION/SECOND
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
• INDUSTRIALIZATION/SOCIALIZATION
OF EUROPE
• REVOLUTIONARY UPHEAVAL
• CONCERT OF EUROPE
• NEW IMPERIALISM
• PERIOD 4: 1914-PRESENT
• WORLD WAR I-WORLD WAR II
• RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
• GREAT DEPRESSION
• COLD WAR
• ORGANIZED RELIGION MOVEMENTS
• 20TH CENTURY
MOVEMENTS/WARFARE/GENOCIDE
AP Human Geography Course
"Geography is
Everything and
Overview
•
Everything is
The course introduces students to the
systematic
Geography"
study of patterns and processes that have -shaped
Paul Gray
human understanding, use, and alteration of
Earth’s surface.
• Students employ spatial concepts and landscape
analysis to examine socioeconomic organization
and its environmental consequences.
• They also learn about the methods and tools
geographers use in their research and
AP Human
Geography
applications.
The curriculum
reflects the goals of
the National Geography Standards (2012)
ABOUT THE COURSE
The AP Statistics course is equivalent to a one-semester,
introductory, non-calculus-based college course in
statistics.
The course introduces students to the major concepts and
tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions
from data.
There are four themes in the AP Statistics course: exploring
data, sampling and experimentation, anticipating
patterns, and statistical inference.
Students use technology, investigations, problem solving,
and writing as they build conceptual understanding.
About the Test
•3 hours
•90-minutes
•40 multiple-choice (≈2 minutes and 15 seconds per question)
•90-minutes
•5 free-response (≈12 minutes per question)
•1 investigative task (≈30 minutes)
•In the determination of the score for the exam,
the two sections will be given equal weight.
•Students are encouraged to use a calculator on
the entire test.
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ABOUT THE COURSE
Calculus AB can be offered as an AP course by
any school that can organize a curriculum for
students with mathematical ability. Calculus
AB is designed to be taught over a full high
school academic year. It is possible to spend
some time on elementary functions, but the
majority of the course is on differential and
integral calculus. These topics are the focus
of the AP Exam questions.
AP Calculus AB Test
The exam is approximately three hours and 15 minutes long and
has two sections — multiple choice and free response. Each
section is worth 50% of the final exam grade.
Section I: Multiple Choice — 45 questions; 1 hour and 45
minutes
● Part A — 28 questions; 55 minutes (no calculator)
● Part B — 17 questions; 50 minutes (graphing calculator
permitted)
Section II: Free Response — 6 questions; 1 hour and 30
minutes
● Part A — 2 problems; 30 minutes (graphing calculator
permitted)
● Part B — 4 problems; 1 hour (no calculator)
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AP Chemistry
Prerequisites
• Algebra
• Honors Chemistry
• Currently enrolled Algebra II
• Calculator and Lab Book
Facts
• Equivalent of taking 103 and 104 Chemistry in
College
• Can earn up to 8 college credits
• Helps directly in 48 college majors and 84
career areas
AP Environmental Science (APES)
Course Description- Students will understand the
interrelationships of the natural world, analyze
environmental problems, and examine alternative
solutions for solving and preventing these problems
Prerequisites- Biology and passing the Biology HSA,
Chemistry, and at least Algebra I. There is math in the
class, so you need problem solving skills.
AP Test- consists of two parts. Part 1 is 100 multiple
choice and worth 60% of the grade. Part 2 is 4 free
response questions and worth 40% of the grade.
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Additional APES Information
• The best way to learn about the environment is to work
in the environment, therefore the course involves
outside labs and fieldwork
• There are several field trips taken during the course
which cover and enhance content. Only one of the trips
is mandatory, but it is highly recommended that all are
attended.
• Course Outline
–
–
–
–
–
–
Water use and pollution
Land use and problems
Atmosphere and air pollution
Energy and energy problems
Living world
Human population and global change
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AP Biology at SHHS
OUR GOAL IS TO LEARN TO THINK CRITICALLY.
COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA.
PREPARE WELL FOR CHALLENGING SCIENCE COURSES
IN COLLEGE.
Science Practices
● 1. The student can use representations and models to communicate scientific
phenomena and solve scientific problems.
● 2. The student can use mathematics appropriately.
● 3. The student can engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or to guide
investigations within the context of the AP course.
● 4. The student can plan and implement data collection strategies appropriate to a
particular scientific question.
● 5. The student can perform data analysis and evaluation of evidence.
● 6. The student can work with scientific explanations and theories.
● 7. The student is able to connect and relate knowledge across various scales,
concepts and representations in and across domains.
Prerequisites
HONORS BIOLOGY
HONORS CHEMISTRY
AP Physics 1
Mr. Custer
Rm. 3114
AP Physics 1
Pre-requisites
◦ Algebra
◦ Honors Physics
◦ Currently enrolled in
Algebra 11 or higher
AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based,
introductory college-level physics
course. Students cultivate their
understanding of Physics through
inquiry-based investigations as
they explore topics such as
Newtonian mechanics (including
rotational motion); work, energy,
and power; mechanical waves and
sound; and introductory, simple
circuits.
AP Physics 1 Exam – 3 hours
Taken in two 90 min sessions
Format of Assessment
◦ Section I: Multiple Choice: 50 Questions | 90 Minutes | 50% of
Exam Score
⚫ Discrete items
⚫ Items in sets
⚫ Multi-select items (two options are correct)
◦ Section II: Free Response: 5 Questions | 90 Minutes | 50% of Exam
Score
⚫ Experimental Design (1 question)
⚫ Quantitative /Qualitative Translation (1 question)
⚫ Short Answer (3 questions, one requiring a paragraph-length response)