This course offers a rigorous preparation for college level writing and emulates a first-year college composition class by preparing students to “write effectively and confidently in their college courses across the curriculum and in their professional and personal lives” (College Board). Students will read and analyze a wide range of non-fiction texts—from newspaper editorials, to travel writing, to literary non-fiction, to biography, to sermons. Although most of the texts for the course are non-fiction, some works of fiction will be studied. In terms of reading, students will learn how to analyze and critique a wide range of non-fiction texts. Students will become familiar with the rhetorical strategies that make for effective, persuasive writing. Specific attention will be paid to the development and analysis of a written argument. Students will learn how to identify the elements of a strong argument and will grow to improve their own written arguments. Furthermore, in terms of writing, students will improve their mastery of standard written English and will grow in their ability to produce “analytic and argumentative compositions that introduce a complex idea and develop it” through the use of evidence. Students will continue to develop their ability to revise their own writing—improving upon its strengths and removing its weaknesses.

Over the course of the weeks we will fully review the AP English Language and Composition curriculum and exam. Students will review and practice skills of argumentation and rhetorical analysis and share best practices.

2019 TEST DATE, WEDNESDAY (AM), MAY 15, 2019

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AP United States Government and Politics is a college level course offered to students who wish to be academically challenged and plan to take the AP exam in the spring. It is a survey course that provides an introduction into the operation of American national government. As such, we will examine:

1. The American system of government and its origins
2. Political opinions, interests, and behaviors
3. Political organizations, to include parties, interest groups and mass media
4. The institutions of government and their role in making and enforcing public policy
5. Civil liberties and civil rights
6. Primary source materials and contemporary news analyses

In exposing you to these areas, it is our goal to foster the development of the analytical perspectives for interpreting, understanding, and explaining the political processes and events in this country.

AP United States Government and Politics is an exciting course for both teachers and students. This summer institute course is designed to give new teachers a place to start and to help experienced teachers expand, refine and improve their current courses. We will analyze each unit, discuss the important information and concepts, and consider how to best approach the textbook and cover recent developments. Students will review textbooks and selection criteria (this will include free preview textbooks and other materials) and other resources, including internet sites, supplemental readers, and review guides. In addition, we will review the course curriculum and examine how the AP exam is scored. We will learn tips for improving student performance on multiple-choice questions and practice scoring the 2014 free response questions. Teachers will be provided with teaching materials, including lectures, discussions, simulations, student research projects and current events projects.

2019 TEST DATE, MONDAY (AM), MAY 6, 2019

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AP World History focuses on developing students’ abilities to think conceptually about world history from approximately 8000 BCE to the present and apply historical thinking skills as they learn about the past. Five themes of equal importance — focusing on the environment, cultures, state-building, economic systems, and social structures — provide areas of historical inquiry for investigation throughout the course. AP World History encompasses the history of the five major geographical regions of the globe: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, with special focus on historical developments and processes that cross multiple regions.

The institute will provide students with an overview of the course including content, skills, and AP strategies. We will review the new course changes, as well as work to develop materials on teaching the historical thinking skills. Both instructors believe that AP world history is best taught through interactive strategies so students will be actively engaged in doing world history during the institute through discussions, simulations and group activities, similar to what you might choose to do in your classroom. They will share world history content and resources, as well as model lesson plans. Working with AP sample essays, the session will discuss effective teaching techniques for AP essay writing and for AP test-taking. In addition, they will provide tips on how to add new case studies that address less well known topics and challenging subject matter from the required curriculum frameworks to your courses in time efficient ways.

2019 TEST DATE, THURSDAY (AM), MAY 16, 2019

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