Course Syllabus for AP Biology 2013-2014 Teacher: Mrs. Johnson School e-mail: diana.johnson@ocps.

net Tutoring: Thursday and Friday 2:00-2:40 pm

I. Course Overview

Textbook: 9th Edition Biology by Raven and Johnson Laboratory Manual: AP Biology Lab Manual for Students Study Guide: Recommended Cliffs AP Biology (search online websites for cheapest prices) This AP course is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course. This course will differ significantly from the regular high school biology course with respect to the kind of textbook used, the range and depth of concepts covered, the type of laboratory work done by students, and the time and effort required by students on their own time. This year we are lucky to be a pilot school for the county digital curriculum initiative. What this means is that your learning experience will be almost entirely virtual this year! All assignments will be submitted via virtual applications and all lessons will be accessed virtually. Each AP course has a corresponding exam that participating schools worldwide administer in May. This exam is the culminating assessment of this course and is thus an integral part of this class. Major topics covered in this course:

Science as a Process Evolution Energy Transfer Continuity and Change Relationship of Structure to Function Regulation Interdependence in Nature Science, Technology, and Society

II. The Laboratory Laboratory work will be an integral part of this AP course. Once students have obtained knowledge through lectures and reading, it is important that they have the opportunity to apply or use that knowledge. We will complete the 12 required labs in the AP Lab Manual plus additional labs and activities. Each year some questions on the objective portion of the AP Biology Exam and/or one or more of the four mandatory essay questions reflect the topics/objectives that are associated with these 12 major labs. It is important for students to understand the link between accurate data collection/record keeping and scientific integrity. Even if students do not get the desired results in the lab, they need to know how to explain their results and what went wrong. Students will be given lab quizzed and tested on labs after we have completed and review the lab in class.

III. Order of Instruction - Tentative ----------- 1st Semester ----------Unit 1 Chemistry of Life Ch. 1- 3 (3 Weeks) The Science of Biology (Ch.1) The Nature of Molecules and the Properties of Water (Ch.2) The Chemical Building Blocks of Life (Ch.3) Lab: Brine Shrimp Lab: Building Macromolecules Unit 2 The Cell Ch. 4-5 (3 Weeks) Cell Structure (Ch. 4) Membranes (Ch.5) Lab: Diffusion and Osmosis Unit 3 Cellular Energetics Ch. 6-8 (4 Weeks) Energy and Metabolism (Ch. 6) How Cells Harvest Energy (Ch.7) Photosynthesis (Ch.8) Lab: Enzymes Lab: Photosynthesis Lab: Cell Respiration Unit 4 Heredity Chapter 9-14 (4 Weeks) Cell Communication (Ch.9) How Cells Divide (Ch.10) Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis (Ch.11) Patterns of Inheritance (Ch.12) Chromosomes, Mapping, and the Meiosis-Inheritance Connection (Ch.13) DNA: The Genetic Material (Ch.13) Lab: Mitosis and Meiosis Unit 5 Molecular Genetics Chapter 15-17, 19, 27, 28 (4 Weeks) Genes and How They Work (Ch. 15) Control of Gene Expression (Ch.16) Biotechnology (Ch.17) Cellular Mechanisms of Development (Ch.19) Viruses (Ch. 27 pp.530-531) Prokaryotic Genetics (Ch. 28 pp. 554-558) Lab: Bacterial Transformation Lab: Restriction Enzyme Analysis of DNA ----------- 2nd Semester ----------Unit 6 Evolutionary Biology Ch. 1, 20-24, 26 (5 Weeks) The Science of Biology (Ch.1) Genes Within Populations (Ch.20) The Evidence for Evolution (Ch.21) The Origin of Species (Ch.22) Systematics and the Phylogenetic Revolution (Ch. 23) Genome Evolution (Ch. 24) The Tree of Life (Ch.26)

Lab: Hardy-Weinberg

Unit 7 Structure and Function of Plants Ch. 36, 38-40 (3 Weeks) Plant Form (Ch. 36) Transport in Plants (Ch.38) Plant Nutrition and Soils (Ch.39) Plant Defense Responses (Ch.40) Lab: Transpiration Unit 8 Structure and Function of Animals Ch. 43-46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 54 and 55 (4 Weeks) An Introduction to Animal Diversity Animal Development Invertebrates/Vertebrates Animal Form and Function: Immune System, Endocrine, Nervous, and Sensory/Motor Mechanism, Urinary, Circulatory, Respiratory, Reproductive and Digestive System Unit 9 Ecology Ch. 56-60 (2-3 Weeks) An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere Behavioral/Population/Community Ecology Ecosystems Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology Lab 12: Fruit Fly Behavior Lab 11: Transpiration Review for AP Exam (Last year we had 6 Saturday Review classes) IV. Student Evaluations Student grades will be based solely assessment based and will be comprised of the following categories: Unit Tests (Summative): 60% Daily Quizzes (Formative): 15% Labs (Formative): 10% Lab Quizzes/Reports (Summative): 15% Students will have multiple opportunities to show mastery on skills. Students will have the opportunity to take an alternative version of an exam provided that they have completed all assignments for that unit. Retake exams will be made up on the students own time and must be completed prior to the Friday before grades are due at the end of the semester. Late Work will be accepted for up to 2 class periods after the date for a percentage of the grade. Penalties are as follows: 1 period late = -10% More than 1 period late = - 50% After the test = 0%

V. Make-Up Policy

It is the students responsibility to find out what work they have missed when they are absent. The student will have the number of days they were absent plus one to turn in make-up assignments and take any tests or quizzes. Unit Tests: If a student is absent on the day of the test only, the student will be expected to take the test the day they return. If a student is absent the day before a test, they are still expected to take the test on the day it is scheduled. Labs: LABS MAY NOT BE MADE UP!!! Due to constraints on time and materials, if a student misses the lab, they will not have an opportunity to make that lab up. The student will be provided with the data and will still be required to complete the remainder of the lab as the other students do. Online resources are available to supplement in class labs but to not replace the lab experience. Students should do everything they can to avoid unnecessary absences. There is no replacement for face to face instruction and discussion that takes place during class. I will work with students the best I can to provide them what they need to be successful in class.

VI. Tests and Quizzes Unit tests will be structured to prepare the students for the AP exam in the Spring. Each test will be made up of MC choice questions worth 1 point each and 2 essay questions worth 20 points each. Essay questions will not be given before hand, but students will be given a list of specific topics to concentrate on for the essays. Quizzes may be given at any time and will often be unannounced.
VII. Homework

Student homework will be to ensure that they are prepared for class each day. This will usually include studying and completing assigned readings. Labs completed in class will have follow up questions that will usually need to be completed at home. While homework is not always assigned, students should plan on spending 5-10 hours per week outside of class on reading and studying in order to be successful in this course. Students not putting in the expected amount of time should expect to have their parents contacted.

We have read, understand, and agree to follow the guidelines set forth in the attached syllabus and lab safety contract on the back of this sheet. Please print information neatly: Student Name: ____________________________________ ____________________________ Student E-mail: ___________________________________ ____________________________ Signature: Contact #:

Parent(s) Name(s): ________________________________ ____________________________ Parent E-mail: ____________________________________ ____________________________

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