<p>I'm a rising homeschooled Junior and I'd like to hear your input on the best textbooks for the courses I'm taking. I put down the textbooks I was thinking of using. I would really appreciate your feedback. Thanks!
[ul]
[<em>]AP Calculus BC (Calculus by David Patrick. Published by the Art of Problem Solving.)
[</em>]AP Physics C: E/M and Mechanics (University Physics by Hugh D. Young)
[<em>]AP Computer Science (Computer Science: An Overview by J. Glenn Brookshear)
[</em>]AP English Language (Style: A Lesson in Clarity and Grace by Joseph M. Williams) I would also appreciate any additional books for this course.
[<em>]AP US History (America: Past and Present by H. W. Brands accompanied by AMSCO)
[</em>]AP Latin Virgil
[list]
[li]Aeneid published by Loeb Classical Library.[/li][li]Caesar: The Gallic War published by Loeb Classical Library.[/li][li]Latin for a New Millenium: Volume 2 by Terence Tunberg[/li][/ul]
[/list]</p>
<p>If your sole intention is to pass the AP Lang exam, you don’t need any textbook. On the other hand, if you wish to explore literature in-depth, I’m not exactly sure if a textbook is needed - most pieces of good literature can be found online for free, and can be read online, as is the case with poetry. Compilations, I find, too often excise material from longer works such as plays, and by doing so, make the work less interesting. Best off just to purchase an unabridged copy of The Brothers Karamazov, or Atlas Shrugged, etc. as the need arises. </p>
<p>Oh, oops, it seems as if the book you are eyeing is a book on how to write rather than the study of literature. I never found any use of a book instructing me how to write; my style is just a reflection of the many things I have read. </p>
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<p>AMSCO can stand by itself. AMSCO is saliently written, engaging, and comprehensive. A textbook and a pseudo-textbook is unnecessary. I am also unfamiliar with America: Past and Present but it looks to be a well-written textbook judging from the reviews on Amazon. Nevertheless, you may want to consider The American Pageant which I found to be an interesting and engaging read. I can’t say which textbook is better, but I can say that Pageant has a unique tone that pervades the text, and that this tone is simultaneously flippant and sardonic, both of which make Pageant a very engaging read.</p>
<p>Regarding the AP US History exam: thoroughly reviewing old FRQs is recommended. About the multiple-choice: the questions are not random; the questions are predictable. The questions are also non-trivial. I recommend going to the bookstore and perusing through AP US History: Crash Course or even better, The Insider’s Complete Guide to AP US History: The Essential Content sometime before the AP. These two book completely nail what you have to know for the multiple-choice. There is no extraneous information in either book; both cut to the chase and give you the key pieces of information you need to unlock the multiple-choice section of the APUSH exam. Given a thorough understanding of US History, most of the information that either book presents may be redundant to you, but if so, that just let’s you know that you’re well-prepared for the multiple-choice section of the exam.</p>
<p>You have a very rigorous regimen of study! Have fun, study hard, and good luck learning the information and good luck on all your AP exams!</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions, especially yours, IceQube. Does anybody have any information regarding the sciences or Latin? I would really appreciate anything.</p>