AP Statistics

Syllabus

AP Statistics Course Syllabus
2010-2011

Chris Thiel, OFMCap, MDiv, MS
cthiel@sfhs.net - (818) 790-0325 x638
website: www.mathorama.com

Grading

NON-TESTING 20% (Department requires 15-20%)
Classroom Work 10% Based upon the completion of worksheets, calculator, computer lab and classroom activities
Homework 10% Grading is based upon doing work in a timely fashion, and may include projects or WebWork online homework problems
TESTING 65% (Department Requires 60-70%)
Homework Quizzes 10% 10 minute quizzes from past and present textbook problems on days without tests or weekly quizzes
Weekly Quizzes 20% 30 minutes quizzes, based on combining ideas from the homework
Chapter Tests 35% 60 minutes, integrating chapter topics into your problem solving skills
FINAL 15% (Department requires 15-20%)
Quarter Exam 15% 90 minutes, comprehensive
The three-hour AP Statistics Exam covers a one-semester introductory college course. The exam contains 1 hour and 30 minutes of multiple-choice questions and 1 hour and 30 minutes of free-response questions. The free-response section requires students to answer five open-ended questions and complete an investigative task involving more extended reasoning. Students are expected to bring a graphing calculator with statistical capabilities to the exam, and to be familiar with its use. Graphing calculators may be used for both sections of the exam. Here is a link to the current list of AP-approved graphing calculators on collegeboard.com. Permitted calculators are the same as for the AP Calculus Exam. This college level introductory course in Statistics is designed to prepare you for the AP Statistics Exam. Some activities are designed for developing concepts and understanding, while others focus on improving the way in which you communicate your statistical knowledge. I have chapter study guides that include the important terms (and where to find them in the book) as well as the homework assignment for the chapter. They are all available at the web site if you wish to work ahead.

Usually at the conclusion of a chapter, I will grade homework from that chapter as you take the chapter exam. Every week that does not have a chapter test has a quiz. You are expected to prepare for these examinations by taking the online quizzes and making sure you understand the assigned exercises. Online quizzes are from the textbook company and occasionally have "bogus" questions that have no answer or multiple answer. You may therefore submit the quiz 3 times, and you will get the highest of the three scores.

  • The textbook Web site is http://bcs.whfreeman.com/tps3e/ When you take a chapter quiz online, you must specify an "instructor's email address" twice which is frchris@mathorama.com. To receive credit, you must type this correctly.

    Quizzes are always open book, open notes, but taken individually by the student. If someone is suspected of taking an online quiz on behalf of another student, oral quizzes will take the place of online quizzes.

  • The TI-83, TI-83 Plus, TI-83 Plus Silver Edition are ideal for use on the AP Statistics Exam (and is the reason that one of them is required for the course). The TI-84 series is also well suited for this exam, but cost a little more. The text also provides you with TI-89 tips. The TI-89 is very very cumbersome. It is able (by downloading certain "APPS") to do all the data analysis as the 83 or 84, but usually with twice as many keys typed. Top scores have been achieved by students who wrote their own programs on TI-86's and HP-48's, but I would only recommend this for those who enjoy programming. Precious time is wasted if you don't know how to use your tools, so decide early which calculator you will use during the AP exam, and use it throughout the year. The instructor will only demonstrate TI-84 Plus (SE) techniques in class, so if you hate reading calculator manuals, I recommend getting a TI-83 Plus or an TI-84 series calculator so you can simply mimic the techniques demonstrated in class. If you are desperate to use software, the text likes MiniTAB, and I prefer Fathom. Many free software solutions are available as well, including OpenOffice

    Your Quarterly Grade will be based on your performance after dropping your low homework score and your low quiz score. All must take the AP examination on May 11 at 12 noon (The AP English Language and Composition Test is the same day at 8 am).

    Extra Credit

    The grade for this AP course is based upon mastery of the curriculum, so there are no extra credit assignments.