AP+Bio+syllabus

** Instructor: Miss Kate Lyon ** Email: klyon@jfksberlin.org Office room W204 Campbell Biology, 9e AP® Student Edition isbn10: 0131375040 isbn13: 9780131375048
 * AP Biology Syllabus **
 * Textbook: **

[|College Board]


 * Course Overview: ** The Advanced Placement Biology curriculum is equivalent to a college course usually taken by biology majors during their first year of college. The course differs significantly from a first year high school Biology course with respect to the kind of textbook used, the range and depth of topics covered, the kind of laboratory work done by students, and the time and effort required by the students. The primary emphasis of the course is on developing an understanding of concepts; a grasp of science as a process rather than as an accumulation of facts; personal experience in scientific inquiry; recognition of unifying themes that integrate the major topics of biology; and the application of biological knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social concerns.

What you get out of this class will be based on what you are willing to put into the class. The students who have performed the most successfully on the AP exam are those students who are willing to work steadily throughout the summer and school year and who are willing to work independently. There isn’t time to thoroughly cover all necessary topics in class alone so outside work is a necessity.

Topics covered in the course include chemistry of life, cells and cell energetics, heredity, molecular genetics, evolution, diversity of organisms, structure and function of both plants and animals, and ecology. The course is broken down into four big ideas: 1. Evolution 2. Energy transfer 3. Life processes and 4. Interactions. In addition, students will conduct at least eight out of thirteen Collegeboard AP Biology laboratories.

--> Many of your assignments will be posted on the Web. Check the monthly syllabus //__**everyday**__//; be reminded that a change in class supersedes what is online. The website will contain all presentations, notes, labs and suggested links to help you that may not be presented in class. If something is posted online, you are expected to read/watch it.
 * Expectations: **

-->You are expected to read the text, learn the vocabulary and understand the concepts. This will not happen if your only study tool is showing up for class. You will "decide" if you have homework or not. The overall workload, while difficult, is manageable. If you do not understand a concept you need to come and see me before or after school to get the reinforcement you need.

-->All work for the chapter is due ON THE DAY OF THE QUIZ. However, credit will be awarded up until the day of the following quiz. It is important to stay motivated all year and try to stay ahead. If you have an issue, please discuss the issue with me prior to the due date, not two weeks afterwards. Assignments (most of the time) will be given a week due date. If you have a problem you should either see me or email me __before__ the assignment is due. There will be no extra credit.

-->A code of honor will be signed for the year. It is expected that you uphold this honor code throughout the year. Sharing your work, or "copying", is considered cheating. Both you and the other person will receive no credit for that assignment- do your own work- period.! If you have any questions or concerns please come and see me before the issue becomes a major problem for you.

1. To familiarize students with the terminology and concepts of Biology using a theme-oriented approach that emphasizes concepts and science as a process over knowledge of facts. 2. To enhance problem-solving skills of students using hands-on labs, readings, collections, independent projects, and class discussions. 3. To strengthen students’ communication skills with the use of written assignments, essays, abstracts, and lab reports. 4. To prepare students for further study in the Biological Sciences.
 * Goals: **


 * Textbook & Study Resources: **
 * Campbell Biology In Focus AP® Edition 1e 2014 with Mastering Biology
 * o isbn10: 0133102173/ isbn13: 9780133102178


 * Required Materials: **
 * 3” 2-ring binder with pocketed dividers
 * Colored pencils
 * Standard size, loose leaf notebook paper
 * Access to the internet
 * BOUND lab notebook with graph paper
 * Word processor and printer
 * Pens
 * Calculator


 * Grading: **
 * % ||  100-95  || 94-90 || 89-85 || 84-80 || 79-75 || 74-70 || 69-65 || 64-60 || 59-55 || 54-50 || 49-45 || 44-36 || 35-27 || 26-18 || 17-9 || 8-0 ||
 * # ||  15  ||  14  ||  13  ||  12  ||  11  ||  10  ||  9  ||  8  ||  7  ||  6  ||  5  ||  4  ||  3  ||  2  ||  1  ||  0  ||
 * # ||  1+  ||  1  ||  1-  ||  2+  ||  2  ||  2-  ||  3+  ||  3  ||  3-  ||  4+  ||  4  ||  4-  ||  5+  ||  5  ||  5-  ||  6  ||

Your grades will come from exams, quizzes, essays, labs and in class activities, reading guides or chapter review drawings. They will be an accumulation of all assignments. Quizzes will be usually in class either individually or with “families” and notes; you have the right to take a quiz on your own at any time or question a family member’s contribution towards a group quiz. Keeping up with all assignments is required due to the rapid pace of this course. __You__ are to see me to plan when your make up quiz will be taken. If the quiz is not taken, it will be entered as a zero. To prepare for the AP exam, you will have to complete a multiple choice section, short answer and essay sections and the quizzes will reflect this throughout the year.

All multiple choice test and quiz questions come from the released AP test books and the online sample questions. All Free Response questions come from the AP Website [|www.apcentral.collegeboard.com]. Test and quizzes will be announced in advance.
 * Test/Quiz Questions: **


 * Attendance: ** Attendance in Biology is extremely important. Most labs cannot be made up outside of the normal day, so your understanding of the material through experiential learning will be lost.

All labs are important! Students are required to complete at least eight out of thirteen labs set forth by The College Board Advanced Placement Program. Each lab will be recorded in the lab notebook according to the rubric. Students are expected to read each lab carefully before coming to the laboratory and are responsible for following all correct laboratory and safety procedures. Students should also use the lab aid, [|**LabBench**], to make sure they understand all lab procedures before beginning a lab exercise. Due to the large amount of time required for laboratory set-up and time sensitive materials, it is essential that you are always present on lab days. Making up the Lab will most likely not be possible, but you will still be responsible for the work - details explained in class. Some labs will use Lab Quest sensors and probes to obtain quantitative data. Additional labs to the thirteen will be included.
 * Labs: **

**Labs will always be recorded in your gridded, BOUND lab notebook with EACH PAGE NUMBERED, SIGNED and DATED.** A table of contents will be recorded on the first page. Within one week of completing the lab, students will turn in lab reports in the format provided by the instructor. Students may be quizzed and tested on lab procedures and data. A formal lab report will be written for AP labs. Due dates will be announced.

[|LabBench] [[http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/labbench/| __ __]] [|Lab Report Format] [|LabWrite]

All students should prepare to take the Advanced Placement test given in May; therefore, throughout the course students will use past AP Biology essay questions to improve their skills in writing answers to scientific, free-response questions. Also, all major exams will follow the AP testing format of multiple choice questions. Essays will be assigned throughout the year to allow students to practice scientific writing. If you would like, there are a number of AP Biology test prep books. There are many other varieties of AP Biology study guides, and they all can be found at a local bookstore. Take the practice tests in these books so that you can become familiar with what to expect. When trying to find an AP Biology test prep book, choose one that also lets you see sample essays. Some books just focus on the multiple choice, and you need to be exposed to both parts of the exam. DISCLAIMER: Since the entire structure of the course has been changed this year, the questions and essays may not directly reflect the questions on the AP exam in May.
 * AP Exam Preparation: **

**When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.** -Peter Marshall Have a great year!


 * Learner Objectives:  **

To understand the unique chemical and physical properties of water and to know how these properties make life on earth possible To explain the role of carbon in the molecular diversity of life To explain how cells synthesize and break down macromolecules To explain the structure of biologically important molecules To explain how enzymes regulate chemical reactions To explain the similarities, differences and evolutionary relationships between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells To understand the current model of membrane structure and to explain how different molecules pass across the membrane To show how cells use compartmentalization to organize the various cellular function To understand which factors limit cell size and to explain how and why cells divide To demonstrate the role of ATP and the chemiosmotic theory in cellular energetics To show how organic molecules are catalyzed To explain the photosynthetic process and to show how it compares and contrasts with cellular respiration To explain which features of meiosis are most important to sexual reproduction To follow the paths of chromosomes and individual genes through gametogenesis To explain how genetic information is organized To demonstrate and understanding of the importance of Mendel’s Laws of inheritance To know the major types of nucleic acids and explain how their structure is related to their function To understand the various mechanisms of gene expression To show the forms of gene mutation To explain viral structure and replication To understand modern biotechnological advances and how they may impact human lives To show and understanding of the current models for the origin of biological macromolecules To explain the evidence of evolution To demonstrate an understanding of the mechanics of evolution at work Diversity of Organisms To explain the main body plans of plants and animals To identify a representative organism for the major taxa To explain the major characteristics in each primary taxon To show evolutionary similarities among related groups Structure and Function of Plants and Animals To show what patterns of reproduction are found in plants and animals and to show how they are regulated To understand physiological organization among living things To explain how organisms respond to their environment To show how models can be used to demonstrate population growth To show how energy flows through ecosystems To explain how humans may impact the ecosystem around them
 * __ Chemistry of Life __**
 * __ Cells __**
 * __ Cellular Energetics __**
 * __ Heredity __**
 * __ Molecular Genetics __**
 * __ Evolutionary Biology __**
 * __ Ecology __**