Harlem High School AP Computer Science A Syllabus

Course Description

This course conforms to the College Board syllabus for the Advanced Placement Computer Science Examination. It covers programming methodology, features of programming languages, fundamental data structures, algorithms, and computer systems. Students should have prior knowledge in content, practices, thinking and skills central to the discipline of computer science. This course will build upon computational thinking practices: connecting computing, developing computational artifacts, abstracting, analyzing problems and artifacts, communicating, and collaborating. The following topics will be covered: object-oriented program design, program implementation, program analysis, standard data structures, standard operations and algorithms, and computing in context.

Important Items

Grading System

Semester grade (80%) + Final Exam (20%) = Final Average

Semester 1

Summative: Tests/Projects-60%
Formative: Labs/Quizzes/Daily- 40%

Semester 2

Summative: Tests/Projects-60%
Formative: Labs/Quizzes/Daily- 40%

Late Work Policy

Classwork: A 5% penalty will be assessed for each day an assignment is completed late

Student and Teacher Portal

Students will monitor their grades by using Student Portal through the Infinite Campus System. Instructions on how to access this system are located on the HHS homepage.

Google Classroom will also accurately show what assignments are missing or incomplete. Parents/guardians can access their student’s Google Classroom if they provide an email.

Scheduling Makeup Assignments

If students are absent, it is the STUDENTS’ responsibility to obtain missed work from the teacher and schedule time to complete labs, quizzes, or tests. They have 10 days from the point of return to complete before receiving a zero.

All work is posted online so students should be able to access and keep up with work at home.

Tutoring

It is the responsibility of the student to set up a time with their teacher for tutoring after school or during remediation period.

Technology

Cell phones are not allowed to be used in the school building at any time. NO AIRPODS OR HEADPHONES are allowed except for watching instructional videos in ProjectSTEM. These need to be wired headphones that can plug into a laptop using either the 3.5 mm jack or USB.

Tardy Policy

Tardiness will be enforced according to HHS policies.

Recommended Supplies

A personal set of headphones/earbuds that plug into a laptop using either the 3.5 mm jack or USB.
Computer access at home is highly recommended if students need more than class time to complete assignments/need to miss a few days of school (never know what might happen). There are many Chromebook options on Amazon for $300 or less, if you are looking to purchase one for your student I can send some recommendations based on your budget.

Tentative Test Dates - students will take unit tests in ProjectSTEM upon completion of each unit. Some students may work ahead and complete these early, but all test due dates will be posted in Google Classroom well in advance of the due date and be subject to the late work penalty outlined above.

AP Exam Information

AP Exam will take place on May 15th from 12:00 - 3:00 PM (NOTE THAT THIS WILL END AFTER SCHOOL HOURS)
Exam Format

Section I: Multiple Choice

42 Questions | 1 Hour 30 Minutes | 55% of Exam Score
The multiple-choice section includes mostly individual questions, occasionally with 1–2 sets of questions (2 questions per set).
Computational Thinking Practices 1, 2, 4, and 5 are all assessed in the multiple-choice section.

Section II: Free Response

4 Questions | 1 Hour 30 Minutes | 45% of Exam Score
All free-response questions assess Computational Thinking Practice 2: Develop Code, with the following focus:

Question 1: Methods and Control Structures—Students will write 2 methods or 1 constructor and 1 method of a given class based on provided specifications and examples. In Part A the method or constructor will require students to write iterative or conditional statements, or both, as well as statements that call methods in the specified class. In Part B the method or constructor will require calling String methods.
Question 2: Class Design—Students will be instructed to design and implement a class based on provided specifications and examples. A second class might also be included. Students will be provided with a scenario and specifications in the form of a table demonstrating ways to interact with the class and the results. The class must include a class header, instance variables, a constructor, a method, and implementation of the constructor and required method.
Question 3: Data Analysis with ArrayList—Students will be provided with a scenario and its associated class(es). Students will write 1 method of a given class based on provided specifications and examples. The method requires students to use, analyze, and manipulate data in an ArrayList structure.
Question 4: 2D Array—Students will be provided with a scenario and its associated class(es). Students will write 1 method of a given class based on provided specifications and examples. The method requires students to use, analyze, and manipulate data in a 2D array structure.