Zinn AP Computer Science Syllabus
Zinn AP Computer Science Syllabus
Zinn AP Computer Science Syllabus
4160012) Syllabus
2009 - 2010
Room: 1.267
Mr. J. P. Zinn
[email protected]
Department: Technical Education
Program Concentration: Business and Computer Science
(770) 554 -1098
Course Design:
This syllabus is for a two-semester course, assuming 30 weeks are available prior to the AP exam.
The course meets for five 55-minute class periods per week. The course includes several individual
programming projects assigned for one or two weeks each. The time after the AP CS Exam is
devoted to a team project and enrichment activities. The course includes an optional enrichment unit
on files, graphics, and GUI, which is not required for the AP exam.
Prerequisite:
Introduction to Programming or Teacher Recommendation.
Course Objectives:
Each section will have tests covering knowledge of the material (Multiple Choice Test) and ability to
put the material to use (Practical/Performance test where code will have to be written demonstrating
ability to use decision structures, looping structures, variables, appropriate algorithms, etc.).
Brown, Beth. A Guide to Programming in Java. Pennington, NJ: Lawrenceville Press, Inc., 2005
Litvin, Maria, and Gary Litvin. Java Methods A&AB: Object-Oriented Programming and Data
Structures, AP Edition, Andover, Mass.: Skylight Publishing, 2006.
Litvin, Maria, and Roger Frank, Judy Hromcik, Gary Litvin, Dave Wittry. Be Prepared for the AP
Computer Science Exam in Java, 2nd Edition, Andover, Mass.: Skylight Publishing, 2006.
Litvin, Maria, and Roger Frank, Judy Hromcik, Gary Litvin, Dave Wittry. Be Prepared for the AP
Computer Science Exam in Java, 3rd Edition, Andover, Mass.: Skylight Publishing, 2007.
Litvin, Maria, and Gary Litvin. 175 Multiple-Choice Questions in Java. Andover, Mass.:
Skylight Publishing, 2003.
Schram, Leon. Multiple-Choice & Free-Response Questions in Preparation for the AP Computer
Science (‘A’ & ‘AB’) Examination, 6th Edition, Brooklyn, NY: D & S Marketing Systems, Inc.
Schram, Leon. Multiple-Choice & Free-Response Questions in Preparation for the AP Computer
Science (‘A’ & ‘AB’) Examination, 6th Edition, Student’s Solutions Manual, Brooklyn, NY: D
& S Marketing Systems, Inc.
Ancillary materials: Java Methods Student Disk, Teacher Disk, PowerPoint slides, Test Package,
additional resources at http://www.skylit.com/javamethods and
http://www.skylit.com/oop.
Course Outline:0
Chapter numbers for readings and exercises refer to Java Methods A&AB, AP Edition. The labs, case
studies, and projects proposed below come from Java Methods and serve only as examples of possible
assignments; the teacher’s favorites may be used instead. GridWorld refers to the College Board’s
GridWorld case study narrative.
1. Computer Components (Hardware and Software); Review of Java syntax and style (Weeks
1-2; duration 2 weeks)
Syllabus: AP Computer Science A 3
Import statements and library classes. Comments. Indentation and braces. Primitive data types.
Declaring fields and local variables. Arithmetic operators. Boolean expressions, relational and
logical operators. enum data types.
Classes and objects. Fields, constructors and methods. An introduction to inheritance. First Steps
case study review.
Experimenting with the GridWorld GUI. An overview of the classes and objects involved. Role-play
exercise.
5. Details of defining classes and using objects (Weeks 6-7; duration 2 weeks)
Public and private fields and methods. Constructors and the new operator. References to objects.
Calling methods and accessing fields. Passing parameters to constructors and methods. return
statement. Overloaded methods. Static fields and methods. GridWorld continued.
String objects. Literal strings. Immutability. String methods. Converting strings into numbers
and numbers into strings. The Character class and its methods.
7. Class hierarchies, abstract classes, and interfaces (Weeks 9-11; duration 3 weeks)
Syllabus: AP Computer Science A 4
Class hierarchies. Polymorphism. Abstract classes. Invoking superclass’s constructors and calling
superclass’s methods. Case Study: Dance Studio. Interfaces.
List interface. ArrayList’s constructors and methods. Traversals and the “for each” loop.
Finding the largest and the smallest element. Inserting and removing elements. ArrayLists in
GridWorld.
Declaring 2-D arrays. Indices. Accessing the number of rows and columns. Traversals.
Comparing objects. The equals method and the Comparable interface. Sequential and Binary
Search. Selection Sort, Insertion Sort, and Mergesort. The java.util.Random class.
Text and binary files. Streams vs. random-access files. Java I/O package. The Scanner class.
Checked exceptions.
Computer graphics concepts. The Java Graphics class. GUI components and their events.
Layouts. Handling mouse and keyboard events.
15. Review and Practice for the Exam (Weeks 28-30; duration 3 weeks)
Reading: Be Prepared Chapters 1-5; Be Prepared Chapter 8 (past free-response questions and
solutions), Be Prepared practice exams, 175 Multiple-Choice Questions in Java.
Suggested activities: a team project to implement a game (for example, the Game of SET,
http://www.skylit.com/oop or Battleship); a potentially useful project for the school;
database driven application – CD library.
Required activity: student presentations or papers on ethical and social issues related to the use of
computers (Appendix F). May include a movie about computer hackers and a reaction paper to the
movie.
Syllabus: AP Computer Science A 6
Classroom/Lab Contract/Agreement
I have read and understand the course syllabus including classroom/lab rules and regulations.
I have also read and understand the Grayson High School Student Handbook. I have also read
and understand the ‘Computer Network User Guidelines and Responsibilities’ and
‘Acceptable Use Policy’ on pages 14 – 17 of the Student Agenda Book. I understand I will be
using school equipment and I will take care of it in a proper manner. I understand that any
misuse of or damage to equipment on my part will result in my paying for repair costs.
________________________________________________
Internet Usage
Internet usage by students will be restricted. Students may use the Internet only after receiving
permission from the teacher. Students that violate this rule will lose computer privileges.
Acceptable Use Policy Summary (See Agenda Book, pages 14 -17 for full policy)
All students must agree to the acceptable use policy before using computer technology at Grayson
High School. The “Acceptable Use Policy” states, “The Internet is intended for education purposes
only. It is against school policy to submit, publish, or display any defamatory, inaccurate, abusive,
obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, or illegal material.” Students
may not access e-mail, chat session, or computer hacking web sites of any kind. Students may not
upload or download any software, etc., or make changes to any part of this computer which
includes but is not limited to the hard drive. By logging into this computer, YOU ARE
ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY of what Internet sites are viewed and any other inappropriate
activities that may occur. All violations of the county and school ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
will result in a disciplinary referral to the Administration of Grayson High School.