AP Biology Syllabus

     Please visit with me if you are having any trouble with the class and we can work together to overcome the problem.  Remember that there are many different topics in biology and not everyone likes all of the topics.  If you have trouble with one, the next may be more to your liking.  I am almost always available after school (unless I have a meeting) so do not hesitate to stay for help.

Instructor:         J. Ross
                 (972) 968-5200 ext. 5399 
                      rossje@cfbisd.edu

Tutorial times:     2:35- 3:45 Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday
before school or other times by appointment only

I. Course Aims and Objectives: 

Aims

This course is designed to prepare you for the AP Biology exam and for university level Biology courses. The course will have a thematic approach using the following eight themes of biology:

1.      Science as a Process

2.      Evolution

3.      Energy Transfer

4.      Continuity and Change

5.      Relationship of Structure to Function

6.      Regulation

7.      Interdependence in Nature

8.      Science, Technology, and Society

Specific Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will:

1.      Have completed and discuss all 12 required lab exercises.

2.      Have an understanding of the eight major themes of biology and be able to describe biological concepts in terms of the themes.

3.      Have improved note-taking abilities

4.      Be able to answer free-response questions within a set time-limit

5.      Have a better understanding of biology and how biology relates to their lives and other courses.

6.      Have prepared for and taken the AP Biology exam. 

7.      Have experienced a rigorous college-level biology course (this course is the equivalent of 2 semesters or 8 credit hours of college level biology)

II. Format and Procedures: 

Students will be expected to behave in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.  School policies and codes will be enforced.  Be mindful of the school attendance policy; missing class is hazardous to your understanding of the materials. 

Students should have a writing implement, paper, and notebook or folder everyday.  It is important that you keep all handouts, notes, and assignments throughout the year.  These materials will help you to review.  Be prepared to take lecture notes in class.  You will keep a lab notebook with all of your completed and graded labs.  You will receive your textbook in class as early as possible.  It is essential that you keep up with the reading assignments.

Because we have only 50 minutes per class, you will have to be prepared in advance of labs.  You must read the labs carefully and ask questions before we begin each lab.  Most labs will take multiple days.  It is important that you carefully take notes and record data during the lab, and properly label all materials, or you may lose important lab time.  Occasionally the lab will require that one or more students take data, or do set-up, before or after school, so choose your partners wisely.

Students who are absent when an assignment is due will be required to turn in the assignment the day they return.  Students will be given the same amount of time to complete an assignment as the people who are present.  I do accept late work, but at a significant point penalty.  If a student misses a test, quiz, or lab, they have one week to make-up that assignment.  Make-up work must be completed outside of class time.

Students will be required to participate in UIL Science, Robotics, Science Fair, Destination Imagination, or write a research paper (topic must be pre-approved).  Participation will earn a test grade of 100%, but failure to participate in one of these activities will earn a 0%.  See the appropriate sponsor to sign up for your preference, or see me for paper guidelines. 

There will be three Saturday review sessions throughout the school year.  One will be in December and will help prepare you for you fall semester final exam.  One will be in March and the last one will be the weekend before the AP exam.  Students are expected to attend all three sessions.  Specific dates and locations will be posted in the classroom as soon as the dates are set.

III. Course Requirements: 

1.  Pre-requisites:

          (a)  Biology I or Pre-AP Biology

          (b)  Chemistry I or concurrent enrollment

2. Course readings: 

(a) Required text: Campbell, Neil A. and Reece, Jane B., Biology, Benjamin Cummins, December, 2001, Edition 6.

(b) You will occasionally receive journal articles, handouts, and diagrams to supplement the text and get more depth on certain topics.

(c)  You may wish to supplement your text with a study guide.  I recommend Cliff’s Guide to AP Biology, or Barron’s Guide, but there are others available through bookstores and on-line.

3.  All students are expected to take the AP Biology Exam.

IV. Grading Procedures:

1. Nine week averages

                   (a)  homework/outlines/class work……………..… 10%

                   (b)  quizzes……………………………………………........ 20%

                   (c)  labs.……………………………………………………. 30%

                             i)  50% lab participation

                             ii) 50% lab write-up

                   (d)  unit tests ………………………………....………..   40%

2. Unit tests:

Unit tests are based on the AP exam, but are designed to be completed within the allotted class time.  The questions are drawn mostly from old AP exams, but text-based and lecture based questions will appear.  Tests are usually, but not always, curved to mimic the AP exam values (where a 5 is an A, 4 is a B, etc.)

(a)  60% multiple choices (35-40 questions – 30 minutes)

                   (b)  40% free-response/essay (1 question – 20 minutes)

3.     Semester average:

(a)         1^st nine weeks average…………………………..40%

(b)        2^nd nine weeks average………………………….40%

(c)         semester final exam………………...……………..20%

V. Academic Integrity

          All work submitted by you must be your own, original work. You may not copy other students, use assignments from previous years, or copy work from the internet or books.  Copying is plagiarism and will result in a grade of 0 on that assignment and a referral.  If you have questions about plagiarism please see me, other teachers, or the librarian for guidelines. Letting another student copy your work is also cheating.  Both students will receive a zero and a referral.  You are not helping someone if they copy you.

          You are encouraged to form study groups.  In your study groups you may discuss concepts and study for the course together.  Different students will have different strengths and you can learn a great deal from each other and by explaining concepts to other people.  You may not use this as an excuse to turn in the same work!  Study groups can be very beneficial, but be careful who you choose to put in your study groups.

          When taking a test, exam, or quiz, you must do your own work and be quiet.  Talking during a quiz or exam (even after you have completed yours) will be considered cheating and will result in the action described above.  Do not discuss a test or quiz with someone who has not taken it.  

VI. Tentative Course Schedule (dates may change based on school events, and unscheduled interruptions)

First Semester

Week                                                        Topic                Readings            Labs & assignments        

Second Semester

Week                                                      Topic                Readings            Labs and assignments  

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