2013-14 Guide for Academics and Student Life - Tampa Preparatory ...

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS - MATHEMATICSset of fault lines that center around the concepts of race, class,culture, development, and social justice. Course objectivesinclude an understanding of the causes behind thesestruggles and how they have shaped modern Latin America.By studying Latin America’s history, students will frequentlydraw parallels to the present in order to understand how aparticular issue continues to find relevance in contemporarytimes. This course will be taught in English for one semester,and in Spanish (as Estudios Latinoamericanos) for onesemester. Prerequisite for Estudios Latinoamericanos:Advanced Spanish 3, Spanish 4 or AP Spanish and instructor’sapprovalFrancophone Studies (10-12)This semester course will provide students the opportunityto explore and research French-speaking countries. Studentswill study the history of Francophone countries in order tounderstand current event topics that relate to these countries.Students will participate in and lead group discussions,present research topics that apply to current trends andissues in the French-speaking world, and explore the culturalimportance of French in a global society. This course affordsstudents a half-credit in history.Psychology (11,12)Students in this semester course will be presented withan introduction to psychology. The course is designed toexplore the systematic and scientific study of the behaviorand mental processes of human beings and other animals.Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles,and phenomena associated with each of the major sub fieldswithin psychology. The course will also address the ethicsand methods psychologists use in their science and practice.Class will consist of lectures, discussion, readings, videos,guest speakers, writing, and research and group projects.Critical thinking skills are enhanced as students analyzepersonal and social implications of psychological findings.American Government and Law for Young Adults (11-12)This one-semester course is designed to allow students toacquire a greater understanding of the American federalgovernment, the Bill of Rights, and a host of other legal topicsand issues that may be of particular interest to young adults.Students will learn the curriculum primarily through anexamination of legal opinions (or other primary sources) ina discussion-based classroom environment. Students willlearn how to read a legal opinion, properly "brief" a legalcase, and how to research legal issues. Students should leavethis course as more knowledgeable citizens who possessa practical understanding of their rights, liberties, andresponsibilities under the law.United States Politics: Presidential Elections (11,12)Offered every four yearsThis one-semester course will consider various aspects of theAmerican electoral system with emphasis on the candidatesand issues of the United States presidential elections. Inaddition, students will learn about American governmentand political culture more broadly. Political institutions andthe election process will be studied from a political scienceperspective. This course will be conducted as a HarknessSeminar and students will be expected to produce severalshort position papers on the dominant issues as well asone final research paper (in lieu of an exam) that analyzesthe outcomes of the election. It is an upper level course andrecommended for juniors and seniors only. Prerequisite:World History 2 or AP World HistoryWorld Religions (11,12)This semester course is designed to give students anunderstanding of the history, doctrines, meanings, ritualsand possible future developments of the world’s majorreligions. Daily discussions and reflective writings aresupplemented with guest lecturers, oral presentations, andfield trips to local religious centers. It is an upper level courseand recommended for juniors and seniors only. MATHEMATICS CRITERIA TO ADVANCE IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLA student who would like to be considered for advancement must:achieve an ERB Percentile of 90% in Quantitative Reasoning andMathematics 1 & 2 using the Independent Norms; maintain amathematics average of A+ during the current year; receive therecommendation of all current teachers; maintain exemplarygrades in all classes; complete the appropriate Placement Testwith a score no lower than a B+; meet with a Middle Schoolmember of the Mathematics Department to discuss long rangegoals in mathematics; and gain approval of Middle SchoolDirector and Mathematics Department Chair.DOUBLED MATHEMATICS COURSESStudents with an A- average in Algebra 1 may enroll inGeometry and Advanced Algebra 2 concurrently if they receivethe approval of the Algebra 1 instructor and the MathematicsDepartment Chair. If either course’s average drops below a Bby the end of the semester, the student must withdraw fromAdvanced Algebra 2.Upon completion of Geometry, other mathematics courses maybe taken concurrently (for instance, Algebra 2 and Probability;PreCalculus and Probability; Calculus and AP Statistics).Approval of the instructor and Mathematics Department Chairare required.ADDITIONAL MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENTSMiddle School students must have a B average for the secondsemester in Algebra 1 in order to advance to Geometry. Inaddition, any Algebra 1 student who intends to accelerate his/her mathematics during the summer must have a B average forthe second semester.GUIDE FOR ACADEMICS AND STUDENT LIFE | 57