UPPER SCHOOL COURSE DESCRIPTIONS LANGUAGE ARTS English I The course in English I is designed to engage students in becoming skilled readers in a variety of prose, such as short stories, drama, novels, poetry, and nonfiction. Students will also become more skilled in grammar, usage, and the mechanics of our language. Through this course, students will develop and be exposed to SAT vocabulary, literary elements, paragraph and essay structure, critical reading, higher level questioning, and organizational skills. English II English II is a study of literature, writing and vocabulary. In this class the students will read literary selections, poetry and informational texts, to which they will respond both orally in discussions, and in written form. The focus will be on literary devices used by authors, vocabulary development, and improving writing skills. AP English III The AP course in English Language and Composition engages students in becoming skilled readers of prose in written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts, and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their writing and their reading should make students aware of the interactions among a writer's purposes, audience expectations, and subjects as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to the effectiveness in writing. English IV English IV is a study of World Literature, writing and SAT vocabulary. Students will read, interpret and analyze literature from various cultural backgrounds ranging in time from antiquity through modern times. In addition, students will do a research paper, write various types of compositions, and focus on SAT vocabulary words. AP English IV The AP course in English Literature and Composition engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students consider a work's structure, style, and themes as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone. Speech Speech is a class in public speaking skills. It is designed to prepare students to be not only better speakers, but better listeners as well. It will explore the primary methods and tools that speakers use to be effective, the primary methods or purposes for speech, and ultimately bring those together as the students present various types of speeches.
MATHEMATICS Algebra I The algebra curriculum integrates geometry, probability, and statistics together with algebra. Pure and applied mathematics are also integrated throughout. Geometry, probability, and statistics are employed to extend and enhance important concepts of algebra. Reading and real-world orientation are also a part of the curriculum, as well as the use of up-to-date technology with scientific and graphics calculators, and computers. Four dimensions of understanding are stressed: skill in carrying out various algorithms; developing and using mathematics properties and relationships; applying mathematics in realistic situations; and representing or picturing mathematical concepts. Geometry This course diverges from the order of topics in most geometry texts, and presents coordinates, transformations, measurement formulas, and three-dimensional figures earlier in the year. To teach students how to write proofs and construct other mathematical arguments more effectively, the course lays a foundation of prerequisite understanding step by step. Applications abound throughout. A TI-83 calculator will be an important tool for this course. Pre-requisite: Algebra I Algebra II This course emphasizes facility with algebraic expressions and forms, especially linear and quadratic forms, powers, and roots, and functions based on these concepts. Students study logarithmic, trigonometric, polynomial, and other special functions as tools for modeling real-world situations. The course applies geometrical ideas learned in the previous years, including transformations and measurement formulas. A TI-89 calculator will be an important tool for this course. Pre-requisite: Geometry Pre-Calculus Pre-Calculus blends the concepts and skills that must be mastered before enrollment in a college-level calculus course. The course includes the study of relations and functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometry in triangles, trigonometric functions, trigonometric identities and equations, polar coordinates, vectors, introduction to derivatives and integrals, and data analysis. A TI-89 calculator will be an important tool for this course. Pre-requisite: Algebra II Advanced Placement Calculus AB Calculus AB is an Advanced Placement Calculus course, which follows the syllabus and guidelines of the Advanced Placement program. The course is the equivalent of first semester college calculus. Emphasis is on the basic concepts of differential and integral calculus, as well as problem-solving techniques. The second semester final exam in the course is an AP exam. Those students with high scores on the AP Calculus AB exam can earn credit for one semester of college calculus. Students are expected to do work at a college level. A TI-89 calculator will be an important tool for this course. Pre-requisite: Pre-Calculus Advanced Placement Calculus BC /Advanced Placement Statistics This course is an integrated course of both second semester college calculus and college level statistics. Calculus BC topics include applications of definite integrals, techniques of integration, indeterminate forms, improper integrals, infinite series, conic sections, parametric equations, polar coordinates, and differential equations. The statistics portion of the course exposes students to four broad conceptual themes: exploratory analysis, planning a study, modeling using probability and simulation, and testing hypotheses using statistical inference. The second semester final exam in the course involves two AP exams, AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics. Those students with high scores on the AP Calculus BC exam can earn credit for two semester of college calculus. Those students with high scores on the AP Statistics exam can earn credit for one semester of college statistics. Students are expected to do work at a college level. A TI-89 calculator will be an important tool for this course. Pre-requisite: AP Calculus AB
SCIENCE Biology I – Grade Nine Biology I is an introductory level study of living organisms, metabolic processes, and ecosystems. The course emphasizes the use of higher-level thought processes, reasoning skills, and problem-solving techniques which will be helpful in further study in the sciences. Chemistry I – Grade Ten Chemistry is the study of the structure and properties of matter. It is one of the fundamental sciences, with many applications in technology, industry, and the professions. The principles of chemistry will be developed with attention to the underlying scientific method and the mathematical basis for chemical properties will be explored. Astronomy Astronomy is the oldest of the sciences. It includes study of the solar system, including the sun, the planets, their moons, the asteroids and the comets. It also examines stars, their nature and differences, and their life cycles. Although astronomy is a branch of physics, this course is designed to be a survey course focusing on the wonder of exploration and deemphasizing the mathematical underpinnings (students with an interest in this are recommended to take general physics first). It is hoped that the students in this course will come away from it with a greater appreciation of the massive scope of this science and an enthusiasm for its wonders. AP Biology II Advanced Placement Biology is a college-level study of living organisms, metabolic processes, and ecosystems that has, as one goal, the level of understanding needed to score well enough on the AP Biology exam to merit college-level credit for the student in this course. Accordingly, the course builds upon introductory high school biology to achieve a deeper understanding of the principles that govern life. AP Chemistry The Advanced Placement Chemistry course is a second year high school chemistry course, intended to be equivalent to a first-year college course. In the process of working through the recommended AP Chemistry curriculum, students should learn to self-assess their own mastery of the material which they acquire through their use of a variety of available learning tools. Students explore the fundamentals of inorganic chemistry through lectures, laboratory investigation and group problem solving. They are assessed by AP questions and standards at all phases of the course. Topics such as atomic theory, molecular bonding, kinetic theory of matter, chemical equilibria, reaction kinetics, acid-base chemistry and thermodynamics are presented in depth and at a rapid pace. The course prepares the student for the Advanced Placement exam in May. AP Physics B Physics is the study of the nature of our universe. It is one of the fundamental sciences, with many applications in technology, industry, and the professions. This course is non-calculus based, using algebra and trigonometry. It is designed to prepare students to take the AP Physics B exam. Topics to be addressed include: kinematics, force, work and energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, angular motion, torque, angular momentum, fluid dynamics, heat, thermodynamics, waves, sound, electricity, magnetism, optics, quantum theory, particle physics, and elementary nuclear reactions. The principles of physics will be developed with attention to the underlying scientific method. Physical concepts will be explored using a rigorous mathematical approach. SOCIAL SCIENCES American History – Grade Nine The course reviews the historical significance of the North American continent and begins with the arrival of the Europeans. A thorough study is made of the Thirteen Colonies through the Cold War and the modern era. Attention is focused on the major conflicts involving America with particular emphasis placed on the American Revolution, the Civil War, WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, and the other wars of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Particular attention will be placed on critical thinking, writing, and map skills. Western Civilization – Grade Ten Western Civilization is a broad overview of historical events that have occurred since approximately 1500 as different peoples went from conditions of servitude (feudalism) to representation (parliament) and independence (nationalism). Students complete the year with a better comprehension of “the West” and how the events of history shaped the various countries. Government – Grade Twelve This is an introductory course covering the creation, growth, adaptation and innovation of the American governmental system. Topics range from the basic principles of government to our unique form of democracy. The ideas and function of political parties, election processes, judicial branch, legislative branch, and executive branch are addressed. In addition, discussions regarding our Nation's foreign policy and role as an international peacekeeper are included. Emphasis is placed on the study of the Constitution and its role as a fundamental body of law. Economics – Grade Twelve This course introduces basic economic theory and principles. Students are presented with a study of economics concentrating on the following: supply and demand, the free-enterprise system, competition and markets, banking and the federal reserve, the functions of money, investing, market trading, and personal finances. Students also participate in a stock market trading simulation in cooperation with LeTourneau University . AP European History The purpose of this course is to develop the ability to comprehend European History in an analytical manner and not just a purely factual manner. Learning to analyze and interpret primary sources including documents, maps, pictorial and graphic evidence will be a main goal of this class. The course will begin with a prelude to the modern world and continue through the modern era of European History. AP Psychology The AP Psychology course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice. Comparative Religion – Grade Twelve The course in Comparative Religion is designed to help students focus on the goal of understanding. Understanding begins with a sense of what a particular religion means for the people who practice it and live by it. Historical and cultural developments will be studied in religious traditions. This course creates discussion of historical matters with a thematic approach based on general issues that arise out of human experience—questions about personal identity, human existence and wholeness, and the right way to live. Windows are opened toward an understanding of the meaning and guidance people find in their particular religious traditions. FOREIGN LANGUAGES Spanish I The objectives of this course are to introduce the students to a common vocabulary in meaningful contexts like greetings, questions and answers, members of the family, classroom words, pastimes, clothing numbers, vacations and months of the year. Watching Fotonovela video, the conversations reinforce the vocabulary. It also includes using basic possessive adjectives, the present progressive and direct object pronouns and nouns. With this basic information, we can build the skill for the next step. Spanish II A student must have passed Spanish I to enroll in this course. The objective of this course is to learn more complex grammar concepts, vocabulary and further develop skills in listening comprehension, reading, writing and oral expression. Also included is learning preterit and imperfect tense, double object pronouns, comparison and superlatives, adverbs, familiar and formal commands, and present subjunctive. At the end of the school year, the student is expected to be able to read and understand the main ideas, write paragraphs and engage in basic and simple conversation in Spanish. Since brief reading on culture and costumes are introduced at this level, the students are going to be familiar with some traditions, festival and holidays, historical places, archeology and the economy. Spanish III A student must have passed Spanish II to enroll in this course. The objective of this course is to have a further broadened skill in listening, reading, writing and speaking. We study complex vocabulary, grammar concepts like the present and past subjunctive, past participle, present, past and conditional perfect, the future, nosotros commands and Si clauses. Also, the students are going to have a conversation in Spanish. The students are to be able to comprehend conversations based on familiar situations, stories and articles of increasing length and complexity. They will be able to formulate and respond to questions based on the reading selections and also write essays expressing their own thoughts and ideas. AP Spanish This course is an elective. The objective is to convey the linguistic skills acquired during the three previous years into a coherent and useful means of communication. The students are to be able to read, translate articles (Spanish to English and English to Spanish), speak in Spanish and will have broadened his or her knowledge and appreciation for the culture. VISUAL ARTS Upper School Art Upper School students at Trinity continue to work with the elements of art and become more familiar with the principals of art. They expand their working knowledge of balance, rhythm, unity, pattern, emphasis and above all color movement. Becoming familiar with different styles of art and artist enables them to continue to grow artistically and expands the way they view their world and the world of art. Photography I The Photo I class is designed to teach students the basics of black and white photography. They will learn how the camera works, how to develop film, how to create prints in the darkroom and how to mat their finished pieces. In order to get the students to think about photography as something other than a “snap shot”, they will be assigned various types of projects. Taking landscape photographs, action photographs and portraits, just to name a few, will all help the students develop a photographic eye. At the end of every assignment, each student will present his or her work to the class in a formal critique. This develops the student's ability to defend their work and gain useful information from their peers. Digital Design Digital Design is intended to teach students the fundamentals of digital design and digital editing programs. The students will learn many basic skills such as scanning, photo editing and photo manipulation. They will also work on more advanced projects including digital video and animation. By the end of the year, the students will have working knowledge of several programs including Adobe Photoshop, ImageReady, Premiere Pro and After Effects. They will also develop the ability to present their work in formal critique setting. Yearbook Yearbook is a class devoted entirely to the production of the school annual, The Titan . Each student will take on many responsibilities in order to make the yearbook fun, functional and a successful tribute to the school year. The students will be responsible for selling ads, taking photographs, editing photographs, page layouts, writing articles and meeting deadlines. Because the yearbook is such a big undertaking, everyone is expected to be a team player. The end result is well worth all of the hard work. MUSIC Middle and Upper School Choir This course focuses on the instruction of basic vocal, sight-reading, and music skills. Repertoire from various choral styles is learned and performed. Students are graded on active participation, effort, and continued improvement. Students are also required to perform at the conclusion of each semester. Each performance is a test of the students acquired knowledge in the choral area. Students are also encouraged to perform in the TST Praise Team and attend live performances by way of field trips. The Upper School Choir competes at TAPPS during the Spring semester. OTHER COURSES Journalism This course includes reading and writing proficiency for varied purposes and texts. Students will communicate their thoughts as well as learn effective processes that enable them to generate, organize and connect ideas into a school newspaper. They will use a journalistic style, gathering information through interviews and preparing articles and editorials for newspaper layout. In addition to article/editorial writing, students will write and design headlines and captions, plan and produce photographs, and sell, design and set up ads.
|