WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL
Honors Course Expectations
In order to be successful, students will need to budget their time taking in account the following:
•
These are Honors level courses
•
These courses should require more time and effort than non-Honors classes
•
Students need to factor in time needed for after school activities
H onors Course
H onors English 9
H onors English 10
# of pages to read each
week
The actual page number
varies depending on the
novel. Students are
required to read at least
thirty minutes a night.
50-75 pages per week
Tests, Essays/timed writings,
Papers etc.
Major Projects
Each quarter, most teachers:
-Give at least one timed essay.
-Assign at least one full-length literary
analysis.
-Assign various shorter writing
assignments
Most teachers:
-Assign at least one major project per
quarter
-Assign projects that involve group
collaboration
1 major writing assignment per
quarter
2-3 per quarter, depending on major
writing assessment
Summer Assignments
Students are encouraged to read at least
one novel in any genre.
Read a book from world literature reading
list
When reading a novel,
students will be assigned to
read 20 pages/night or 100
pages/week
2-3 major timed writing assignments
per quarter
1-2 major projects per quarter
20-30 pages per class
2-3 major tests or papers per quarter
1 major project per quarter
Dual Enrollment
English
Varies, but should plan for
approximately 100 pages
per week.
2 formal essays per quarter
1 major research paper per quarter
1-2 per quarter
H onors Algebra I
Varies
2 or 3 quizzes per unit/ 1 assessment
per unit
None
Packet of pre-requisite skills and problems
H onors Geometry
5-15 pages per week
2 quizzes and/or tests per unit
None
Packet of pre-requisite skills and problems
H onors Algebra 2
5-15 pages per week
2-3 quizzes and 1 test per unit
End of Year Portfolio Project
Packet of pre-requisite skills and problems
H onors English 11
H onors English 12
Students will be expected to complete the
WPHS Summer Reading Assignment.
Students will be expected to complete the
WPHS Summer Reading Assignment.
West Potomac High School ~ AP and Honors Course Expectations
1
H onors Course
# of pages to read each
week
H onors Pre-Calculus
Varies
STEM Eng ineering
Varies
STEM Advanced
Electronics &
Robotics
Varies
STEM Advanced
Engineering &
Emerging
Technolog ies
H onors Biology
H onors Chemistry
H onors Physics
H onors Geosystems
H onors World
H istory I
Tests, Essays/timed writings,
Papers etc.
Major Projects
Summer Assignments
1-2 quizzes and 1 test per unit. No
calculator is allowed to be used on
the tests or quizzes.
Projects given on an occasional basis
None
One exam per quarter.
One technical paper per quarter.
Minimum of three oral presentations.
One major project per quarter for each
engineering studied.
Optional
One quiz per month
One technical paper per quarter.
Minimum of three oral presentations.
Minimum of two teaching sessions.
Bioengineering R&D
Engineering Cybernetics
Microcontroller Programming
Optional
One quiz per month
Minimum of three full research &
development projects.
Biomimicry R&D
Engineering Design
Cardboard Board Design
Optional
The actual page number
varies depending on the
unit of study. Students are
expected to review notes
and materials from class
and integrate ideas in
preparation for quizzes and
tests.
2-3 unit tests per quarter
Independent Research Project
Tests include multiple choice, essay,
and short answer format questions.
Independent research component due
each quarter
Varies. The sources will be
text and internet.
1 test per unit
Quizzes
HW given each class period
1 test/lab report per chapter
Varies
10-20 Pages per week.
1-2 unit –specific projects per quarter
Varies
15-20 pages per week
None
Essays:1-2 per quarter
2-3 tests per quarter
Independent Research Project through
end of second quarter
None.
Independent Research Project
None
Independent Research Project
None
One per quarter
Several minor ones
None
West Potomac High School ~ AP and Honors Course Expectations
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H onors Course
H onors World
H istory II
H onors US H istory
H onors US and VA
Government
# of pages to read each
week
15-20 pages per week
15-20 pages per week
Varies, expect to use an
online textbook for
reading, notes, reference –
up to 15 pages per week
Tests, Essays/timed writings,
Papers, etc.
Major Projects
Summer Assignments
Essays: 1-2 per quarter (DBQ Essays)
2-3 tests per quarter (Multiple Choice
and Written Response)
Independent Research Project
Several minor projects throughout the
year
None
2-3 tests per quarter
All tests have a writing component –
short answer, identification,
document based response or short
essay
2-3 Unit tests per quarter,
2-3 Quizzes pre quarter, one research
paper in the 2nd quarter
One per quarter
Several minor ones
None
Senior Project with Presentation, in
which students will compete 30 hours
of community service, write a research
paper related to their community
service and present to the class about
their community service.
None
West Potomac High School ~ AP and Honors Course Expectations
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WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL
AP Course Expectations
In order to be successful in the AP program, students will need to budget their time taking in account the following:
•
These are COLLEGE LEVEL courses
•
These courses should require more time than non-AP classes
•
Students need to factor in time needed for after school activities
•
On occasion the courses require work over breaks.
•
Students must remain in the AP course at least through the first quarter. Cases requesting to drop the course will be addressed on an individual basis. Changes can only be made if there is
space available in other affected courses and if the student has shown a substantive effort at mastering the course material. Examples of having shown a substantive effort include (but are not
limited to): staying after school a minimum of 5 times with the teacher, working with a tutor on a regular basis, joining a study group, etc.
Please see the AP Program webpage at http://www.fcps.edu/WestPotomacHS/academics/advacademics.html for more information about the AP Program here at West Potomac
High School. Contact Sara Veinbergs (Advanced Academics Coordinator) at [email protected] with questions or concerns.
AP Course
AP Studio Art
Artwork can fall under the
following 3 categories:
2D Design
3D Design
Drawing
AP Art 2-D Design
Computer Graphics
(CG 3 or 4)
or
Photography
(Photo 3 or 4)
AP Music Theory
# of pages to read
each week
n/a
*estimated supplies and
material costs: Student is
responsible for buying
supplies/materials for their
individual concentration
pieces. In addition there is
the usual $60 art fee for the
class.
n/a
*estimated supplies and
material costs: Student is
responsible for buying
supplies/materials for their
individual concentration
pieces. In addition there is
the usual $60 art fee for the
class.
New topic every two
weeks
Tests, Essays/timed writings, Papers
etc.
Major Projects
Summer Assignments
-Maintain a sketchbook of artist research,
brainstorming & idea development
-Artist statements
-Participation in written and oral critiques
-Approx. 4 major artworks per
quarter in class (Breadth Section)
-Approx. 4 major artworks per
quarter to be worked on at home
(Concentration Section)
-Submitting a Scholastics Art
Portfolio
-5 pieces or artwork – Observational
drawings (2-6 hours each piece)
-Complete a sketchbook of concentration
ideas or mini studies
-Museum visits along photos and written
statement
-Maintain a sketchbook of artist research,
brainstorming & idea development
-Artist statements
-Participation in written and oral critiques
-Submitting a Scholastics Art
Portfolio
-Approximately 8 major artworks
per quarter
-Concentration portfolio will take
approximately half of the year. Quality and Breadth portfolios will
be worked on the remainder of the
year.
-Exploring a variety of ideas for
concentration through a variety of
mediums – film – digital- experimental –
computer graphics. Students are required
to develop a mini-concentration over the
summer as a practice in abstract /
conceptual thinking. (30 hours)
-Research 1 artist with a series of work you
find of interest (contemporary). (5 hours)
-Complete basic theory work book
-Daily quizzes,
2 tests per quarter
West Potomac High School ~ AP and Honors Course Expectations
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AP Course
# of pages to read
each week
Tests, Essays/timed writings, Papers
etc.
Major Projects
Summer Assignments and amount of
time assignment should take
Read 20-30 pages per
class period. 1-3
major literary works
per quarter; a
substantial amount of
nonfiction reading
-2-4 timed writings
-1- 2 major papers per quarter,
-Biweekly vocabulary quizzes,
-AP practice tests,
-Test on each major literary work
-Summer reading project;
documented essay at least two
quarters
-reading logs for supplemental
literary works
-grammar notebook; independent
reading
None
100 pages per week
-2-3 major process papers/quarter.
-Timed writings
-Reading log/journal.
-Research/critical analysis paper.
-Various projects tied to reading
assignments.
Summer reading is an expectation. A list of
suggested books will be provided in the
spring of students’ 11th grade year. Students
should be reading “AP-caliber” fiction
(novels, plays, or short story collections).
Approx. 5-10 pages
per story, or 2-3 per
article. Also, 10-15
pages in college level
grammar textbook.
-Weekly vocabulary and grammar quizzes
-Weekly reading comprehension check
-Weekly lab practice
-2 timed writings per quarter
-Midterm and Final
-Tertulias
-Proyecto de Bellas Artes
-Telerevista
-Write an essay in Spanish introducing
themselves
-Read and summarize a story to discuss the
first week of school
-Prepare to present a significant
photograph orally the first week of school
AP Latin
45 lines of translation
per class period
-1 essay on Latin literature each 4th class
-weekly quizzes reviewing Latin grammar,
figures of speech and scansion
-2 major literary analysis projects
during the year
-Approximately 40 pages of reading
in English per month
-Read all of Caesar’s “Gallic Wars”
in English in the fall and the first six
books of Vergil’s Aeneid in English
in the Winter
None
AP French
5-10 pages (French)
per week; approx. 3045 minutes per class
-Weekly quizzes: vocabulary, reading,
listening, etc.
-Two tests per quarter (PALS or similar)
-Major project (novel reading or
writing) each year
-One or two medium projects per
quarter
-OPTIONAL: Do a combination of
reading, writing, speaking and listening
activities.
AP Language
(11TH grade)
AP Literature
(12th grade)
AP Spanish
AP Course
# of pages to read
each week
5-7 pages per class
Tests, Essays/timed writings, Papers
etc.
-Approximately 2 per month
Major Projects
-Volume Project in Unit 6
Summer Assignments
-8-page assignment on prerequisite skills
West Potomac High School ~ AP and Honors Course Expectations
5
AP Calculus AB
-Post AP Project
-Assessment given during the first 2 weeks
of school
AP Calculus BC
5-15 pages per class
-Approximately 2 tests and homework
quizzes per month
-Final Exam
-Differentiation and Integration
Summary Assignments
-Volume Project
-Post AP Projects/Presentations
Multivariable
Calculus/
Matrix Algebra
15-20 problems per
HW assignment, 1-2
sections per class =
5-15 pages
15-20 pages a week.
Chapter tests and Cumulative Final Exam
-Quarterly Outlines
-Suggested assignment: 7 page packet plus
reading and problems from Appendices AD and Chapter 1 of Calculus Textbook
-Take Home Test (online) during first week
of school to assess proficiency in PreCalculus concepts
None
-1 Test per 2 weeks,
-1 Quiz per 2 weeks,
-3 Programs per 2 weeks.
- No major projects
None
Approx. 20 pages
3-4 Tests per quarter
1 – 2 Quizzes per chapter
Mock Aps (2 or 3) throughout the year)
Final exam
-2-3 multiple choice tests per quarter
covering multiple chapters
-2 timed writings per month
-5 topic researches over the year
1 final project after AP exam (most
is completed in class)
-None
-Science Fair Project (optional)
Purchase an AP review book
AP Computer
Science
AP Statistics
AP Biology
20 pages/week or 2
chapters
AP Chemistry
30-50 pages per week
in a college level text
book
-Daily homework,
2 to 3 lab reports per unit
-1Test per unit
-2-3 units per quarter
Project after AP test in May
-Purchase a Princeton AP review book
-optional intro guide/review of chemistry I
to complete over the summer.
AP Environmental
Science
50-100 pages/week in
college level text
-2-3 AP format tests per quarter covering
multiple chapters
-2 timed writing quizzes per quarter
-2 multiple choice quizzes per quarter
-1 Field Study
Purchase an AP review book
1 chapter every 4-6
classes (chapters are
30 – 45 pages long)
-Chapter tests
-Timed Tests
-Practice AP timed tests every several classes
-Science Fair or other independent
research project
Purchase an AP review book
# of pages to read
each week
Tests, Essays/timed writings, Papers
etc.
AP Physics C
Mechanics
AP Course
Major Projects
Summer Assignments
West Potomac High School ~ AP and Honors Course Expectations
6
AP Government
30-50 pages per week
AP Comparative
Government
50+ pages per week,
from a combination
of textbook,
supplemental
readings and current
events with analysis.
AP Psychology
30-50 pages per week
in college level
textbook
25-30 pages per week
in college level
textbook
AP U.S. H istory
AP World H istory
30-50 pages/week in
college level textbook
AP Micro/Macro
Economics
25-50 pages per week
AP European
H istory
75 pages per week in
college level textbook
AP H uman
Geography
20-40 pages per week
-Weekly critical analysis of current events
-2-3 tests per quarter
-5-6 quizzes per quarter
-1-2 timed essays per quarter
1-3 unit tests per quarter. Quizzes based on
“smaller” topics or specific unit topics that
students did not test well on.
(Remediation/re-take quizzes)
Free-response questions on every test.
-Election project
-Simulations
-Research paper
-Community Service Activity
Community service activity
Public Policy Research paper
Current Events research and
presentations (year-long)
Country specific evaluation and
presentations
None
-Daily/weekly quizzes and/or note checks
-4-5 tests with timed essays per quarter
- Approximately one project per
quarter
None
-Up to 3 Projects or out-of-class
assignments per quarter
-Multiple Document Based Questions and
Free Response essay questions throughout
the quarter.
-Practice & graded multiple choice
assessments
-Several essays per quarter
-Students have opportunities to rewrite
essays & improve multiple choice scores
-3 Unit Tests per quarter
-Quiz every chapter; 32 quizzes for the
entire year
-Each Unit will have either a timed writing
or an at-home writing (minimum of 3 per
quarter).
-2 to 4 tests per quarter
-Multiple Document Based Questions and
Free Response essay questions throughout
the quarter.
-2-3 tests per quarter
-Multiple free response questions per
quarter
-chapter quizzes with corrections allowed
-One project per quarter plus a
culminating project after the exam
None
None
None
-2 Major research papers in the year.
None
One project per quarter plus a
culminating project after the exam
None
Projects throughout the year
None
None
West Potomac High School ~ AP and Honors Course Expectations
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