AP Biology
Course Syllabus: 2016-2017 School Year
Welcome to Advanced Placement (AP) Biology course at Apollo High School
Instructor: Karen Ramseth, M.S. Biological Sciences,
Class meetings: M-F
Office Hours: Period 7 Phone: 320-253-1600, ext. 2710
E-mail: [email protected]
Classroom: Apollo H.S., Room 710
Course Information:
Course Name: Advanced Placement Biology
Textbook: Biology - Neil A. Campbell, Jane B Reese, Benjamin Cummings; 8th Edition This should be checked out through the library and left at home for nightly use.
Each student will check out a copy of the textbook to keep at home for study and homework purposes. There will also be a set of the textbooks in the classroom for use during school.
Course Description:
What is AP Biology?
AP Biology is designed to be equivalent of a two-semester college biology course. AP Biology covers topics in greater depth and at a much faster pace than the General Biology course. The textbook used is a college biology text. The laboratories are equivalent to those done by college students. At the completion of this course, students are expected to take the College Board’s schedule for AP Biology exam in May. To assist students in their preparation for this test, the format of the assessment used throughout this course are similar to the AP Biology exam assessments.
This course is fast-paced and requires a great deal of self-discipline to be successful. There is a heavy emphasis on science as inquiry and discovery; thus, a great deal of time is spent designing and performing laboratory investigations.
This course is heavily regulated by the College Board. The College Board has redesigned the AP Biology curriculum. You should familiarize yourself with the website: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing.ap/sub_bio.html
Course Objectives:
The AP Biology course and the AP Biology exam will cover four “Big Ideas,” Enduring Understandings (EU) within each of these concepts, and Essential Knowledge (EK) within the understandings.
Big Idea 1: Evolution The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.
Big Idea 2: Cellular Processes: Energy and Communication Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.
Big Idea 3: Genetics and Information Transfer Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes.
Big Idea 4: Interactions Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.
The Investigative Laboratory Component
AP Biology is structured around inquiry in the lab and the use of seven science practices throughout the course. Students are given the opportunity to engage in student-directed laboratory investigations throughout the course for a minimum of 25% of instructional time. Students will conduct a minimum of eight inquiry-based investigations (two per Big Idea). Additional labs will be conducted to deepen student’s conceptual understanding and to reinforce the application of science practices. While all labs will be performed in a group, only the data collection portion of the lab is group work; analysis questions and conclusions MUST be done individually. Laboratory topics are: diffusion and osmosis, enzyme catalysis, mitosis and meiosis, plant pigments and photosynthesis, cell respiration, molecular biology, genetics, population genetics and evolution, transpiration, physiology and the circulatory system, animal behavior, and dissolved oxygen and aquatic primary productivity. Additional labs will include microscopy and dissection.
Seven practice skills will be used by students on a regular basis in formal labs as well as activities outside of the lab experience. The course will provide opportunities for students to develop, record, and communicate the results of their laboratory investigations. Each year, some of the questions on the objective portion of the AP Biology Exam and/or one or more of the four essay questions may reflect the topics and objectives associated with the AP Biology labs.
Science Practice 1: You will use representations and models to communicate scientific phenomena and solve scientific problems.
Science Practice 2: You will use mathematics appropriately.
Science Practice 3: You will engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or to guide investigations within the context of our course.
Science Practice 4: You will plan and implement data collection strategies appropriate to a particular scientific question.
Science Practice 5: You will perform data analysis and evaluate evidence.
Science Practice 6: You will work with scientific explanations and theories.
Science Practice 7: You will connect and relate knowledge across various scales, concepts, and representations in and across domains.
Thirteen inquiry-based, hands-on laboratories will be conducted in order to develop higher-order thinking and laboratory skills and will make up at least 25% of instructional time. The labs are from Advanced Placement Biology: Investigative Labs: An Inquiry-Based Approach. During labs, analysis, reports, and discussion of the process of science is emphasized.
For more information see http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html . For sample questions and a detailed course description see the College Board’s AP Biology website at: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_bio.html?biology
The course outline below includes a listing of topics, chapters and labs/activities that will be conducted in AP Biology. The letters EK represent the Essential Knowledge for each unit, and SP stands for Science Practices (see Investigative Laboratory Component section below). Note: the course outline does not include time set aside for practice tests and reviews. Unit lengths are approximate.
Web Page: Our course web page will be a Schoology website. The link to my website will be on the Apollo website. Go to Student Resources and click on “Schoology”.
Grading: Tests – 45%, Laboratory activities – 25%, Classwork and quizzes – 10%, Final Exam – 20%
The Ap Exam
It is the expectation of the course that all students will take the AP exam in May. The AP Biology exam is three hours in length and is designed to measure a student’s knowledge and understanding of modern biology. These exams are administered during the month of May. The exam consists of two sections.
Section 1: Multiple Choice (90- minutes)
Part A consists of 63 multiple-choice questions that represent the knowledge and science practices that you should understand and be able to apply. Part B includes 6 grid-in questions that require the integration of science and mathematical skills. For the grid-in questions, you will need to calculate the correct answer for each question and enter it in a grid on that section of the answer sheet. (50% of exam grade).
Section 2: Free-Response (90-minutes)
You should use the mandatory reading period to read and review the questions and begin planning your responses. This section contains two types of free-response questions (6 short and 2 long). The free response questions include two long free response essays and six short free response essays. These generally connect to lab experiences. (50% of exam grade).
Attendance and Makeup Work
Absences and tardies will be dealt with as per school policy. Daily, punctual attendance is extremely important to your success in this course. Lab work must be made up within a day or two upon returning to school. Some lab materials will not keep beyond the day of the laboratory. Some labs require extensive teacher preparation. Therefore, not all labs can be made up. DO NOT MISS LAB DAYS. Laboratory work will be tested on the AP Exam.
Classroom Procedures
Every day will begin with a short warm-up assignment. You should quietly enter the room and begin working on the warm-up. After the warm-up, I will check homework or start an activity or interactive lecture. Most days will involve classroom discussions in which students are expected to respectfully participate. All work done for class should be kept in a biology notebook/binder. Assignments should be completed neatly and thoughtfully by the due date. Electronic devises (e.g., cell phones, iPods) must be put away before entering the classroom.
Electronic Device Policy
Some personal electronic devices (such as cell phones) will occasionally be incorporated into classroom use. However, students are NOT permitted to use such devices unless instructed to do so. Texting during class is unacceptable. Devices of any type being used without permission will be confiscated for the remainder of the class period on the first offense. Thereafter, devices will be taken to the office.
Expectations:
You will be expected to:
- Come prepared to class.
- Be in class regularly and ON TIME, as we will begin class promptly.
- < > carefully and follow instructions . Your participation in class discussion and personal study time will be essential to your success in this class.It is expected that you will respect yourself and others.No bullying or disrespectful behavior will be tolerated.
- You will engage in discussion and lab groups with classmates in a manner that that will encourage learning and discovery for all involved.
- Work hard. Your success will depend largely on the amount of time you devote to your studies and the manner in which you test your own preparedness for exams.
- Ask questions often.If you come to class prepared, then you will have questions that you will need clarification on.
Materials:
- A single notebook dedicated to AP Biology (not a 3 or 5 subject notebook shared with other classes.
- A two pocket folder is essential to being well-organized in this course, and is required.
- Writing utensils, including #2 pencils, a pen, a highlighter and colored pencils.
- An agenda or daily planner is highly recommended.
- Four function calculator
- School issued Mac Book Computer
- Earbuds or headphones
- A 3’ 3-ringed binder in order to keep papers organized is highly recommended.
- A review book is recommended but not required.
Course Requirements:
Lab Activities –
Assignments-
You will be given assignments regularly; to complement what we have discussed in class. Your success will depend largely on the amount of time AND effort you devote to your studies.
Quizzes:
Quizzes will be given on a regular basis, to help keep you on task.
Tests –
You will be given a variety of assessments for this class, including vocabulary tests, lab practical tests, and unit tests. Chapter tests will be in the range of 50 – 60 points. The test will include a variety of methods including True/False, Matching, Multiple Choice, Short Answer and mathematical problems if appropriate. All will be used to allow you to demonstrate your understanding of the subject material.
Course Schedule:
Please refer to course calendar at the end of this document. The dates are approximate and subject to change according to our pace. The students will always be notified well in advance of adjustments in the schedule.
Course Policies:
Assignment Policies
- Assignments are expected to be completed by the due date. They may not always be collected for points, however the information from the assignments will be included in tests or quizzes. The homework is your responsibility!
Two days late = 30% of possible points are deducted.
Three days late= 0 point (will be corrected).
- If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the materials and assignments that were discussed during your absent.
If you miss a test, you will be given 3 days to make it up, and may be given an alternate test. After the 3 day grace period, you will get a zero!!
Honesty Policy : Academic Integrity Statement
High integrity and academic honesty is expected. Students should not do anything that would bring their integrity into question. All assessments (homework, labs, quizzes, exams, projects, etc) are expected to be completed only by the student. Collaboration and teamwork is allowed on most labs, but individual work should ALWAYS be distinctly original from the lab partner’s work or only partial credit will be earned. Always properly cite and credit sources that are not your own (text, data, pictures, etc). Students copying and students allowing others to copy their work are both academically dishonest. Copying work, full or in part, is in violation of Apollo High School’s academic honesty policy and students sharing test information between classes are also in violation of the academic honesty policy. Acquiring a few extra points dishonestly on a test or quiz, just isn’t worth it! If you spend as much time studying as you would figuring out how to cheat, your efforts would result in brilliance!!! Dishonesty is not tolerated and will always result in a “0” on that test or assignment, an office referral, and possible removal from the National Honor Society and other such organizations. DON’T DO IT!
Unexcused Absence Policy-
10 points will be deducted from your grade for each “unexcused absence”. You are responsible for assignments, labs, test, and lecture that were missed during any absence. Upon your return to Apollo following any absence, it is your responsibility to ask me for the assignments, activities that you missed.
Personal Electronic Device Policy – Cell phones are not allowed to be used in the classroom unless you receive permission from the instructor. All cell phones will be required to be on your desktop, face down during a quiz or exam.
Grading Policy-
94 - 100+% - A 83 - 87.9% - B 73 - 77.9% - C 63 - 67.9% - D
90 - 93.9% - A- 80 - 82.9% - B- 70 - 72.9% - C- 58 - 62.9%- D-
88 - 89.9% - B+ 78 - 79.9% - C+ 68 - 69.9% - D+ Below 58% - F
Study Tips
Individual learning styles can vary greatly, however the following suggestions may prove useful to all.
- Study Actively. This can take a variety of forms. Do review questions at the back of each chapter. Draw a detailed pictures and label the parts. Work with a fellow student and quiz each other. Understand the difficulty of the material you are studying….study the material you are least familiar with, to round out your comprehension.
- Study frequently. Repetition is the “key to learning”. Repetition is the “key to learning”. Repetition is the “key to learning”!! Come in to class in your open time. Find a quiet place to intentionally study. Use resources on the class website (Schoology). Your textbook has excellent diagrams and the textbook website is also an outstanding study tool!
- Enjoy studying. Take time to figure out what works for you personally. Maybe you learn best when working with someone else whose work ethic is much like yours. Maybe you learn best by making vocabulary cards. Perhaps it is in coloring the diagrams that we label. Maybe you learn best from the computer resources or using Google images.
- Discover your study style. Do NOT use the same study model that your friend uses, as they may learn in a completely different way than you do! Challenge yourself to excel in everything that you do! You may surprise even yourself, when you realize that great effort brings great results!
WELCOME TO AP Biology!!
Parents,
Please review the attached syllabus, safety contract, and academic integrity statement with your student. They contain information regarding their success in AP Biology for the upcoming year. Students should keep these for future reference. Once you have reviewed the attached syllabus, safety contract, and academic integrity statement, please sign and fill in the contact information below. Your student should only return this page to me.
The best way to contact me is via email. My email address is listed on the front page of the syllabus at the top. Please use it to keep in touch with how your student is doing. If email isn’t an option, you may contact me by phone through the school’s main office at 320-253-1600.
Thank you, Karen Ramseth
I, (print student’s name)____________________________________________, have read and understand the 2016-2017 AP Biology syllabus, safety contract, and academic integrity statement. I understand their contents and agree to follow the rules outlined in them. I understand that failure to follow these or other verbal or written instructions may result in removal from the classroom or lab, detention, failure, and/or dismissal from the class.
Student’s Signature ________________________________________ Date: _______________
I understand that my child is expected to follow the rules outlined in the syllabus, safety contract, and academic integrity statement. I also understand the consequences of my child’s failure to abide by these guidelines.
Parent’s Signature: __________________________________________ Date: _______________
Parent’s email address: ____________________________________________________
Does your son/daughter have any allergies or medical conditions that could be problematic in a science laboratory? _____________________ If yes, please explain.