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Advanced Placement Program

Course Descriptions

Advanced Placement Language and Composition Grade 11

In this course, students will write in narrative, expository, analytical, and argument form about a variety of subjects. They will define their own writing voices as they explore the rhetorical strategies and techniques employed in a diverse selection of prose styles and genres. In addition to formal essay writing that entails a multi-draft process, students will also write in informal contexts such as journal keeping and collaborative writing. Students will provide and accept feedback from peers and their teacher and use this input to revise their writing. Though most of the reading in the class is nonfiction, students may read fiction and poetry to understand how various effects are achieved by the writers’ linguistic and rhetorical choices. Students will also examine graphics and visual images as they relate to written texts and as a form of text themselves. Students will develop, draft, and revise a researched argument paper that includes the analysis and synthesis of ideas from an array of sources (Senior Project Paper). The prerequisite for this course is a final grade of B+ or better in English 10 Honors AND teacher recommendation or A- or better in English 10 CP AND teacher recommendation. Students will be expected to take the AP Language and Composition Exam in the spring.

*You may contact Ms. Grace Maneri at ext. 294 or maneri@tri-county.us for further information.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Grade 12

This advanced course offers interpretation and evaluation of representative examples of poetry, drama, fiction, and expository prose from various cultures and historical periods. Pieces are examined for structure, style and theme, as well as imagery and symbolism and are analyzed and evaluated on their literary and social merit. The class requires students to react and respond to the literary works by means of reflection, argumentation, and expository prose that demonstrate not only advanced skills in the application of standard English conventions, but also elements of stylistic maturity and creativity. Representative examples of the literature include Heart of Darkness, Things Fall Apart, Hamlet, and Oedipus the King. The prerequisite for this course is a final grade of B+ or better in English 11 Honors or AP Language and Composition AND teacher recommendation or A- or better in English 11 CP AND teacher recommendation. Students will be expected to take the AP Literature and Composition Exam in the spring.

*You may contact Ms. Amy DePasquale at ext. 292 or depasquale@tri-county.us for further information.

Advanced Placement Statistics Grade 12

This course will introduce students to the concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Students will be exposed to four themes throughout the year: Exploring data, planning a study, anticipating patterns, and statistical inference. From these four themes students will observe patterns in data, devise a means to analyze data as well as develop models to draw conclusions from the data. It is highly recommended for students to purchase a graphing calculator. The prerequisite for this course is a final grade of B+ or better in Algebra II/Trig Honors or B+ or better in Pre-Calculus Honors AND teacher recommendation. Students will be expected to take the AP Statistics Exam in the spring.

*You may contact Mr. Matt Murphy at ext. 273 or murphy@tri-county.us for further information.

Advanced Placement Physics 1: Algebra-Based Grade 12

This course is intended for a student seeking a rigorous course in physics. It is intended to be a college level course, equivalent to a first-semester college course in algebra-based Physics. This course provides a systematic introduction to several topics in Physics, and emphasizes the development of a deep understanding of key foundational principles. The course covers Newtonian mechanics (including rotational dynamics and angular momentum); work, energy, and power; and mechanical waves and sound. It will also introduce electric circuits. Prior study of high school-level physics is not required. The prerequisite for this course is a final grade of B+ or better in Chemistry Honors AND B+ or better in Algebra II/ Trigonometry Honors AND teacher recommendation. Note: Students who take this course do not take an elective. Students will be expected to take the AP Physics 1: Algebra –Based Exam in the spring.

*You may contact Dr. Anthony Poteete at ext.237 or poteete@tri-county.us for further information.

Advanced Placement Computer Science A Grade 11

This course introduces students to computer science with fundamental topics that include problem solving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data (data structures), approaches to processing data (algorithms), analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing. The course emphasizes both object-oriented and imperative problem solving and design using Java language. These techniques represent proven approaches for developing solutions that can scale up from small, simple problems to large, complex problems. The prerequisite for this course is that the student must be enrolled in the Computer Information Systems Vocational Program. Students will be expected to take the AP Computer Science A Exam in the spring.

*You may contact Ms. Kim Zogalis at ext.231 or zogalis@tri-county.us for further information.

In our efforts to raise standards, Tri-County introduced The College Board Advanced Placement Program. The program is open to any secondary school willing to:

  • Organize one or more college-level course(s) that follow the AP course description.
  • Provide access to AP for all students willing to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum.
  • Administer the AP Exam(s).
  • Foster teacher professional development.

Three-Year Advanced Placement United States History Experience

Year 1: US History I Honors

(Beginnings to 1870)
  • Colonial America and the American Revolution
  • The Formation of Government
  • Early National Period
  • Nationalism to Sectionalism
  • Manifest Destiny
  • The Nation Splits
  • The Civil War

Year 2: United States History II Pre-AP

(1870 – 1945)
  • Reconstruction
  • America Expands
  • The Rise and Reform of the Cities
  • From Isolationism to Imperialism and Beyond
  • From Feast to Famine
  • America in World War II

Year 3: United States History III AP

(1945 – Present)
  • Triumph of the Middle Class
  • Cold War America
  • The Civil Rights Movement
  • Liberal Crisis and Conservative Rebirth
  • Search for Order in an Era of Limits

Year 1: United States History I Honors (Grade 9)

This course is a challenging and in-depth investigation of the issues facing the United States from its inception through the Civil War. It covers the principle events, personalities, movements, and ideas from 1763 to 1865. An emphasis is placed on the development of reading, writing, and interpretive skills and requires extensive assignments in all of these areas.

Year 2: Pre-Advanced Placement United States History II Honors (Grade 10)

This course is designed for any student who successfully completed United States History Honors I. The Pre-AP course is year two of a three-year course that provides an accelerated, in-depth study of the time period after the American Civil War through the United States’ entrance into World War II. The course will focus on the development of historical thinking skills (chronological reasoning, comparing and contextualizing, crafting historical arguments using historical evidence, and interpreting and synthesizing historical narrative), and the development of students’ abilities to think conceptually about the history of the United States. Prerequisite: B+ or better in United States History I Honors AND teacher recommendation or A- or better in United States History I CP AND teacher recommendation.

Year 3: Advanced Placement United States History III Honors (Grade 11)

This course is designed for any student who successfully completed Pre-Advanced Placement United States History Honors II. The Advanced Placement course is the final year of the three-year course that provides an accelerated, in-depth study of the time period World War II to the present day. The course will continue to focus on the development of historical thinking skills (chronological reasoning, comparing and contextualizing, crafting historical arguments using historical evidence, and interpreting and synthesizing historical narrative), and the development of students’ abilities to think conceptually about the history of the United States. Students are expected to take the Advanced Placement United States History Exam in the spring. Prerequisite: B+ or better in United States History II Pre-AP/Honors AND teacher recommendation or A- or better in United States History II CP AND teacher recommendation.

*You may contact Mrs. Sara Martin at ext. 285 or martin@tri-county.us for further information.