Courses 2024-2025

Welcome to A.P.R.E.L.! This is an innovative, interdisciplinary, and challenging course that integrates the rigorous analytical framework of AP Research with the eloquent and persuasive elements of AP English Language, designed for intellectually curious students who are eager to delve into complex topics, conduct in-depth research, and hone the art of effective communication. By merging these two distinct yet complementary disciplines, the course provides a holistic educational experience that will prepare you for the multifaceted challenges of higher education and beyond. You will not only develop advanced research skills and enhance your ability to make compelling arguments but also learn to navigate and synthesize information across various fields of study. Through a combination of individual and collaborative tasks, you will engage with diverse perspectives, fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of knowledge.  Over our year together, we will explore the synergies between research and rhetoric, and you will be pushed to achieve academic excellence through this multidisciplinary approach. 
 
Detailed information about this course, including daily agendas and homework,
can be found on our class Schoology page.
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Welcome to your Junior year! Honors American Literature and Composition is a year-long, interdisciplinary exploration of culture and language by asking you to read, listen, and consider multiple perspectives regarding what your 11th grade CPDA Magnet teachers are calling “The Story of America.” Our ultimate goal this year is to awaken an awareness of the complex cultural, historical, social, and political events that have guided the history of the United States and those who have told its story, from the early origins of our democracy to the current political movements spurred by social media. We hope to show you the United States in a broader, global context, examining the ways in which our country has been altered, and how it has transformed other countries through the transcontinental flow of peoples, ideologies, and institutional power across its borders.  
 
This year in Honors American Literature specifically we will focus our attention on the importance of language and rhetoric, United States culture and its relationship to the world beyond its borders, and the complexity of storytelling in all of its various forms. The overarching idea of this course is to examine the simple and complex narratives in our culture that work in concert and in opposition of one another. Diving into these narratives helps us understand the American culture and each other. For example, you know many narratives about your closest friends. These stories, when put together, allow you to create an in-depth understanding of your friends. The same holds true for your understanding of American culture. The more narratives you examine, the more you understand the complexity of American culture. Our journey will allow us to delve into works of non-fiction and fiction alike, and regard each with a critical eye and an open mind. The workload in this course is considerable, but hopefully, through our study we will learn where we came from, where we are now, and where our country – and culture – is heading.
 
Detailed information about this course, including daily agendas and homework,
can be found on our class Schoology page.
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Welcome to AP Seminar, the foundational course in the prestigious two-year AP Capstone Diploma Program! This class is designed to challenge you and aid in your development and practice of skills in research, collaboration, and communication that you’ll need in any academic discipline and future endeavor.  By engaging in cross curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics, you’ll be empowered to ask your own questions and find your own answers through research.  We will explore our topics by reading and analyzing arguments found in articles, scientific studies, and classic works of literature and philosophy; we will view TED Talks and listen to podcasts; and we will experience artistic works and performances from around the globe, each allowing us to look at the topic through a wide range of perspectives and lenses. As you engage in both team and individual research projects, you will learn how to synthesize information from multiple sources, collaborate with peers, and share your own perspective in both written and audiovisual presentations.[1]
 
Detailed information about this course, including daily agendas and homework,
can be found on our class Schoology page.
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[1] Adapted from the AP Seminar Course Description published by the College Board (2020) and the amazing Mr. Cecil