Syllabus
Table of contents
Introduction
AP Statistics is an introductory course to the traditional concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. In this modern world driven by data, an understanding of data representations and decrypting others’ analyses of data become ever more important.
These concepts and tools can be used to investigate questions such as:
- Does the death penalty prevent murders from occurring?
- How do voters feel about a current ballot issue or presidential candidates?
- How effective is a new treatment for patients with AIDS?
- Do students in smaller classes learn more than those in larger classes?
- To what extent are humans causing global warming?
- Do children who are exposed to lead (in paint, etc.) become more violent?
- Do abstinence education programs cause teens to have sex less frequently?
- Do students who get placed in their program of choice at BHS perform better than those who don’t?
- Does smoking marijuana cause memory loss?
OUTLINE OF COURSE OBJECTIVES AND TOPICS:
Here are the topics you should expect to cover by quarter.
Quarter 1: Chapters 1, 4, 5 (Exploring Data, Designing Studies, and Modeling Distributions of Data) Quarter 2: Chapters 6, 2, and 7 (Probability, Random Variables, Sampling Distributions) Quarter 3: Chapters 8, 9, and 10 (Confidence Intervals, Hypothesis Tests, Inference for Two Populations) Quarter 4: Chapters 11 and 3 (Distributions of Categorical Data, Linear Regression)
MATERIALS NEEDED
- A graphing calculator (TI-83, TI-84, or TI-84 Plus are recommended) will be needed for work throughout the year. a. It’s recommended that you get one for yourself. Second-hand calculators are very easy and cheap to find (Facebook Marketplace, eBay, etc.) b. You can also check out a graphing calculator from the library.
- Textbook: The Practice of Statistics, 5th edition (Starnes, Tabor, Yates, Moore 2014)
- During class, packets will be provided for you to write and take notes on. If you lose a packet, please email me so that I have a copy for you the next day. It is your own responsibility to have it on you at all times during class. If you are not responsible with these materials, you will be at a disadvantage.
RESOURCES
- DO NOT USE GOOGLE FOR EVERYTHING, especially depending on AI. There are many ways to do statistics, and you are learning a specific way to do statistics by being in this class.
- Your textbook is your main resource. Things that you find on the internet, unless specifically geared towards AP Statistics, may not be the correct way to do it. There are many ways to do statistics, and AP Statistics is looking for a specific approach.
- NOTE: Due to changes in the AP curriculum on part of Collegeboard, our textbook does not accurately reflect the type of free response questions that you will be tested on. However, it still reflects the same ways of working through problems.
- I will regularly update [stats-notes.echa.ng] with notes from each topic that we encounter.
- Students in the past have found office hours and Khan Academy really helpful
GRADES
Grades will be assigned on a traditional scale:
A: ≥ 90%
B: ≥ 80%
C: ≥ 70%
D: ≥ 60%
F: < 60%
Components
Homework and Classwork: 15%
Expected homework commitment is 20-40 minutes every two days.
Quizzes and Projects: 20%
At most one quiz a week, based on skills from classwork. The worst quiz will be dropped from your grade per semester.
Tests: 40%
One test per chapter, for a total of twelve tests within nine months.
The single worst test will be replaced by the average of your other tests. You can retake one test up to 80%.
Semester Exam: 25%
A cumulative exam of the material covered over the semester.
Are there “extra” assignments?
No, there will not be any extra assignments because you missed out on an assessment, did not follow along in class, or did not study enough throughout the semester.
If you run into any verifiable sickness or other situation that prevents you from doing your best, then we can talk about other ways for you to catch up.
Keep up in class
The amount of content in this course makes this course as challenging as taking Calculus. You may struggle in Calculus because of your Algebra skills, but that is the main barrier for Calculus. Although AP Statistics is more accessible, it does not mean that it is easier than Calculus. Whether one course is more challenging than the other depends on the person!
Not much prior mathematical knowledge is required for success in this course, but it is a very challenging course that places high emphasis on your ability to think logically and critically, and express that thinking clearly in writing. It is also a course that builds on itself chapter by chapter. For example, Ch 8 requires you to be on top with knowledge and skills from Ch 2, 4, 7. And Ch 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 keep introducing new, different methods to evaluate claims for different types of data. So staying current with your homework, and being consistent with your effort in general, is extremely important. If you don’t keep up in class, you will struggle with future material.
PLEASE advocate for yourself and get as much help as you need ASAP. I am more than happy to help you when you immediately seek help, however if you are behind one to two weeks, it’s frustrating!!!!
Extra credit opportunities
From time to time, there will be challenge problems on tests for extra credit that challenge you to apply your understanding.
ASSESSMENT POLICY
The assessments will hold you up to the expectation of skill mastery that the AP exam also holds you up to.
The AP exam consists of:
- 42 Multiple Choice Questions for 90 minutes (2.15 minutes per question)
- 4 Free Response Questions for 90 minutes (22.5 minutes per question)
- And historically, the passing threshold is getting around 45% of questions correct.
In this class, the multiple choice will be curved to account for the historical 45% passing threshold. However, free response questions will not be curved since they will be extremely similar to the same problems you do for practice.
Missing the period of the test
If you miss the period of the test but are present in school, you may come in during lunch or after school (the day of) to H206 to take the test.
If you miss the entire day, first email me ASAP (otherwise, I will not be expecting you) and you have only until the next school day to take it in H206.
Accommodations:
Extended time: You may continue your test in H206 afterschool (the day of).
No extended time will be given because of unexcused tardiness and these deadlines will be enforced strictly.
Retakes
All retakes will be designated to be taken after school and will occur near the end of each semester.
- You can retake up to 1 test per semester. The score will be limited to up to 80%.
- You must meet Chang in-person to view your original test before taking the retake
- Physical retake requests must be signed by your parent/guardian (regardless of age). If you do not turn in the form by the deadline as indicated, you will not get a retake.
If you miss an opportunity for assessment / reassessment completely, you will keep the current grade that you have on it (including any 0’s because you forgot to take a test or fill out a form)
Quiz Corrections
You may come in to Chang’s office hours (Monday and Wednesday in H206 afterschool) to make corrections to your quizzes for an up to 80% score.
Make sure to have a copy of your quiz (either digital or physical) when you come in.
Chang will not answer questions while you are correcting, but will answer any questions before you correct.
A PARTING THOUGHT
Grades and penalties aren’t the purpose of this course. I really just want you to learn. I want all of you to be successful here.
AP Statistics is a college level course and this long syllabus and its policies are here to make it so that you understand that. If you weren’t ready for these strict rules, you should seek me out for help as soon as you see yourself slipping off.
If you fall behind, you will likely not recover in this class. I promise that if you put the effort and attention into this class during lessons, you will get a grade that you are satisfied with.
The concepts that we encounter will be tough to understand on your own, but by doing the work that I assign, you will understand it so much better than just copying down answers and trying to follow a calculation that I did on the board.
Changes to policies
Depending on circumstances, Chang may make logistical policy changes to facilitate the pacing of the course. Nothing will change with the grading scale.
PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
As a way of establishing communication early in the school year, I’ve required students to go over this syllabus in detail with you and have you contact me to inform me that you have reviewed this information with your student.
Please use the contact information at the top of this syllabus. Having your contact information will allow me to easily get in touch with you if I have any concerns about your student.
For your child to earn full credit, they should ensure that you include their name and period as the subject of the email. Please include the following information:
- Your child’s name and period (as the subject of the email, please)
- Your name (It’s not always clear from an email address!)
- A phone number where you can be reached and the best times to call, and preferred means of contact.
- Any contact information for another parent/guardian.
- Tell me something awesome about your child!
- Any additional information that you feel is relevant or important.
- If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to mention them when you contact me. I’m happy to hear your input or give you feedback at any time.