Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

• AP English Language

The academic objectives of this course adhere to those outlined by the College Board in preparation for the Advanced Placement Exam in Language and Composition. AP Language and Composition explores the relationship between what authors say and how they are trying to say it. The literary component of the course provides a range of genres, including nonfiction, fiction, drama and poetry, and in the analysis of these works students are exposed to the analysis of both style—the more language-based approach to exploring meaning—and rhetoric-the analysis of author argument and structure. In terms of style, students will explore how elements of language—such as tone, diction, and syntax—influence the overall meaning. In terms of rhetoric, students will examine various appeals, aspects of writer's credibility, irony, and the overall use of logic to explore how effectively an author presents her/his position.

In any aspect of analysis, students are obliged to consider what the author's overall theme is. By understanding the purpose of a piece of writing, we recognize the elements of language as an integral too with which authors develop their work.

Writing assignments cover both the expository and argumentative aspects of writing. In addition to the exploration of American and global themes of literature, students will discern how styles of writers have evolved over the last several centuries.
 

• AP English Literature

This is a college level class that ultimately prepares students for the Advanced Placement exam in May. In addition, it provides students with other skills associated with the most advanced classes in high school English, including research skills. When they have completed the class, students will have acquired the reading and critical thinking skills necessary for understanding challenging new material, analyzing that material to deduce meaning, and applying what they have learned to their world. They will have the composition skills needed to communicate their understanding effectively to a variety of audiences. Students will read and analyze classic works of literature because these works contain literary qualities that merit study and provoke thinking, not because of a requirement to know a
particular work or author. They will also look at modern and contemporary works as they examine all genres: plays, short stories, poetry, essays, and novels.

Students will learn to apply critical literary terms as tools for learning, understanding, and communication. Learning activities include close reading, paraphrasing, discussions, essays, short answer exams, research papers, reflective journals, web quests and others. The unit structure below identifies the main headings of the units only. Most units will include a combination of genres and activities. The structure to the class is not based upon a sequence of chronology, national origin, or genres. It is instead based upon the sequence that best supports the learning needs of the student.
 

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• AP Statistics

AP Statistics data analysis is dependent on the use of technology. Students should have access to computers that include software capable of doing data analysis. Students will be required to interpret output generated by statistical software programs. Students are not expected to learn how to use various statistical programs. In addition one of the following Texas Instruments calculators is required, TI-83, TI-83+, TI-84, TI-84+, or a TI 89. The TI-83+ is the most popular calculator for AP Statistics. In most cases the calculator is sufficient but the fundamental tool of data analysis is the computer.
 

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• AP Calculus - AB

This is a college level course covering derivatives, integrals, limits, approximation, and applications and modeling.
 

• AP Calculus - BC

This is a college level course covering derivatives, integrals, limits, approximation, applications and modeling, and sequences and series.
 

• AP Physics - C

• AP Physics - B

Physics is the science of matter and energy - how the universe is put together. This course is a non-calculus survey course covering five general areas: Newtonian mechanics, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, and atomic and nuclear physics. Students will get an understanding of the core principles involved and learn to apply these principles in the solution of problems. This course is two semesters.
 

• AP Biology

AP Biology is a year long course taught at the same level as a first year college biology class. This course adheres closely to the College Board standards for AP Biology and will prepare you to take the AP Biology Exam. The two main goals of this course are to help you develop a framework for biology and to help you gain an deeper understanding of science as a process. In this course, we will be developing higher level thinking in terms of biology rather than just memorizing terms and facts.

Some major themes that we will study include:
           Science as a Process
           Evolution
           Energy Transfer
           Continuity and Change
 

• AP US Government

This course will survey the complex subjects of U.S. government and politics. We will analyze
in some detail the processes and institutions (both formal and informal) through which the political system functions and policy decisions are made. This analysis will include the Constitutional structure of Government, participatory politics, the formal institutions of power, the extra constitutional influences on those institutions, and public polity and individual
rights and liberties.
 

• AP US History

This course covers all of the material outlined by the College Board as necessary to prepare you to pass the AP U.S. History exam. Students will:

• Demonstrate comprehension of a broad body of historical knowledge.

• Express ideas clearly in writing.

• Work with classmates to research an historical issue.

• Interpret and apply data from original documents.

• Identify underrepresented historical viewpoints.

• Write to persuade with evidence.

• Compare and contrast alternate interpretations of an historical figure, event, or trend.

• Explain how an historical event connects to or causes a larger trend or theme.

• Develop essay responses that include a clear, defensible thesis statement and supporting evidence.
  Effectively argue a position on an historical issue.
  Critique and respond to arguments made by others.

• AP Art History