Southside High School

ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES

Advanced Placement I & II U.S. History
Taught by Mrs. Jimmye Bain

These courses are a study of American history from exploration to present which is done over two semesters. The concepts and content as prescribed by the College Board and the Alabama State Course of Study will be covered. There are two main goals for this class. One is to prepare students for the AP exam in U.S. History, which may be taken in May upon completion of both classes and to prepare students for the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. The second and most important goal is to make the students more perceptive and informed. Students will not have to know simply what happened, but why, how, and why it was significant.
   By the end of the term, students should be able to analyze actions of historical figures and how these actions affected different groups in the United States. Students will also learn how subjective history is: that different people see the same event in different ways, and that these varying versions dramatically affect the way people learn history.

Advanced Placement English
Taught by Mr. Kenny Clevenger
Taught by Mrs. J. Davis

AP English is basically an extension of a fundamental English class. It is for students who are already proficient at reading and writing and enjoy the two. It is not focused so much on grammar, as it is not generally an area of difficulty for AP students. Students in this class read three books during the summer before they take the class in the fall, and over the semester read seven more. Most of the class time is spent in the analysis of the material they are reading. The students discuss everything about the work, from the author's tone to the point of view in which the story is told. Students write a research paper every term and other papers as time permits.
   This is a college level class designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam.

Advanced Placement Biology
Taught by Dee Ayers

The AP Biology course is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their freshman year. This course will include those topics regularly covered in a college biology course. The college course in biology differs significantly from the usual high school course with respect to the kind of textbook used, the range and depth of topics covered, the kind of laboratory work done by students and the time and effort required of students. The textbook used in this course is written and intended for college students.

   The goals for this course are to provide students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing field of science; promote an understanding of how biology applies to students' real, every day world; promote scientific literacy for students; develop appreciation for science; and develop individuals who will become life-long learners.

Advanced Placement Calculus
Taught by Tammy Williams

This class is an extension and a more thorough study of Calculus. It is also a college-level class. Students who take this course, take the AP Calculus exam, and pass with a score of 3 or higher can omit the class from college their freshman year in most colleges. Some require a score of 4 or higher.