Gwinnett School of Math, Science & Technology

HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE TITLE….AP Computer Science A TERM……..Fall 2020/Spring 2021

TEACHER...............Mr. Kevin Hare ROOM #.......................5.034

Email Address Kevin.hare@gcpsk12.org

Check eClass and our Class Google Calendar DAILY!
Teacher Web Page Parents: Email me to obtain class calendar link!
Office Hours:
Tuesday: 7:30–8:00am, Mr. Hare’s Room 5.034
Tuesday: 3:15-4:15 pm, Ms. Gray’s Room: 5.342
Teacher Support
Wednesday: 7:30–8:00am, Mr. Hare’s Room 5.034
(Help sessions etc.) Friday: 3:15-4:15 pm, Ms. Gray’s Room: 5.342

Office hours scheduled by appointment must be sent via email and approved by teacher.

EVALUATION AND GRADING

GRADE WEIGHTS GRADING SCALE
Homework - 5% A: 90 and above
Daily Work – 10% B: 80 – 89
Quizzes/Labs – 20% C: 74 – 79
Mid-Term – 5% D: 70 – 73
Summative – 40% F: 69 or below
Performance Final – 10%
*Students are awarded +10% on final report cards for AP Courses
Final Exam – 10%

COURSE CURRICULUM CONTENT

The entire list of Academic, Knowledge and Skills for each of the following curriculum strands in this course can be accessed
through the district web address at www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us
COLLEGE BOARD PERFORMANCE STANDARDS COURSE DESCRIPTION/TOPICS
 CR 1: The course includes all of the topics listed in the "Computer Science
AP Computer Science A is an
A" column of the Topic Outline in the College Board AP Computer Science
introductory college-level computer
A Course Description.
science course. Students cultivate
 CR 2: The course teaches students to design and implement computer-based their understanding of coding
solutions to problems in a variety of application areas through analyzing, writing, and
 CR 3: The course teaches students to use and implement commonly used testing code as they explore concepts
algorithms and data structures. like modularity, variables, and
 CR 4: The course teaches students to develop and select appropriate control structures.
algorithms and data structures to solve problems.
 CR 5: The course teaches students to code fluently in an object-oriented  Intro to Computer
paradigm using the programming language Java. Science/Programming
 CR 6: The course teaches students to use standard Java library classes from  Data and Expressions
the AP Java subset delineated in Appendixes A and B of the AP Computer  Classes and Objects
Science Course Description.  Conditional Statements and
 CR 7: The course teaches students to read and understand a large program Loops
consisting of several classes and interacting objects, and enables students to  Object-Oriented Design
read and understand the current AP Computer Science Case Study posted on
 Arrays
AP Central.
 Inheritance, Polymorphism,
 CR 8: The course teaches students to recognize the ethical and social
and Recursion
implications of computer use.
OTHER INFORMATION
EXPECTATIONS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
 Come to class prepared. Bring required materials to
class each day
 Ask questions/take notes.
 Participate constructively as a team member
 Work on problem sets and turn in your own work.
If you work together on assignments, you MUST gain
approval in advance from your instructor.
 Review multiple sources of information
 Challenge yourself to continuously improve
 Find a study buddy to help with rigor of class.
 Come for help sessions.
PROJECTS
 A major project will be assigned each semester
 Students are required to do their own work
 Milestones will be announced and the due dates
scheduled in class as well as in eClass
 10 points will be taken off for each day late
 No credit will be given after a solution has been
given
QUIZZES
 Announced and unannounced quizzes will be
given throughout the semester
 These will test your comprehension of the
previous night’s homework/reading, as well as
previous skills learned in class
MAKE-UP POLICY
 Class attendance is mandatory
 If you are excused for any reason, it is your
responsibility to get any assignments, homework,
and notes from a classmate or the teacher
 Make-up quizzes and tests must be completed
within five school days of the original date of the
assessment
 Homework is expected to be handed in the day
you return
 Any extended absences due to illness or planned
absence will be dealt with on an individual basis
QUIZZES
 Announced and unannounced quizzes will be
given throughout the semester
 These will test your comprehension of the
previous night’s homework/reading, as well as
previous skills learned in class
IMPORTANT NOTES
Cheating/Plagiarism/Copying other’s work will not be
accepted and will result in a 0% grade for all associated
students. If you work on an assignment as a group, you must
obtain approval from instructor in advance. Copying
homework is NOT group work.
Progress Reports: Provided to students/parents after 6/12/18
week term dates.
AP EXAM: Friday May 8th, 12:00 PM
*Same day as APUSH
HOMEWORK
 Homework will include reading material for the next
class, small projects, question sets, and working on
projects
 The homework might take several hours if projects
are not consistently worked on throughout their
duration
 A 50% penalty will be applied for each day late.
PARTICIPATION
 Every student is expected to take an active role in the
class
 This includes taking notes, answering and asking
relevant questions, and volunteering information to
class discussions without taking away from the
learning experience of fellow students
AP EXAM
 The 2019 APCS-Principles test will take place
Thursday, May 6, 2020 at 12:00pm
 The test is broken down as follows:
o 50% - 40 Multiple Choice Questions (MC)
o 50% - 4 Free Response Questions (FRQ)
 More information can be found on eClass and on the
College Board website
 Students are not required to take the exam, but are
strongly encouraged
PARTICIPATION
 Every student is expected to take an active role in the
class
 This includes taking notes, answering and asking
relevant questions, and volunteering information to
class discussions without taking away from the
learning experience of fellow students
HONOR AGREEMENT
I hereby decree that as a student of The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology and a student in
AP Computer Science, I pledge to follow the Honor Code by refraining from lying, stealing, or cheating.
Furthermore, I pledge that I will not receive any unauthorized help on any assignment or assessment. Computer
science, and especially programming, are difficult topics with a steep learning curve. It is okay for me to seek help
from my classmates understanding general concepts, but I will not look at their code or share mine unless explicitly
told that this is a collaborative programming assignment. If I am unsure of whether something falls into the
category of collaboration or cheating, I will ask my instructor first.

SIGNATURE

I hereby acknowledge that I have read this course syllabus in its entirety and will uphold the honor agreement above.

Signature Name (Print) Date

***The AP CS A Instructional Team has the right to change any of the above policies during
the semester. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email.