Hialeah Gardens Senior High School

Syllabus
Course: Advanced Placement Biology
Instructor: Ms. Donohue

Course Overview

I. Science as a process
II. Evolution
III. Energy Transfer
IV. Continuity and Change
V. Relationship of Structure and Function
VI. Regulation
VII. Interdependence in Nature
VIII. Science, Technology, and Society

This course emphasizes three major themes of Biology, from the microscopic level to the
macroscopic level: Molecules and Cells, Heredity and Evolution, and Organisms and Populations. The
understanding of key concepts pertaining to the three major topics is obtained through learning and
memorization of facts.
The three major themes can be broken down into eight major concepts. The eight main concepts
will be taught in such a way as to understand the interconnected nature of biology, from the microscopic
to the macroscopic levels. For example, evolution will be a unifying theme throughout the course.
Evolution will be the foundation when studying the origin of cell respiration and photosynthesis as
biological pathways (energy transfer and relationship of structure and function). The study of animal
and plant diversity, populations, and genetics will also be connected through the reoccurring theme of
evolution (continuity and change). The students will also be required to participate in a semester long
research project (science as a process) dealing with environmental issues such as global warming, energy
conservation, and the production of genetically modified foods (science, technology, and society). The
research project will emphasize the view of science as an active process, and will highlight how
organisms depend on each other and their environment for survival (interdependence in nature).

Textbooks/Resources

Biology, 7th edition, Neil A. Campbell, University of California, Riverside;

Jane B. Reece, Palo Alto, California

Biology Concepts and Connections, 3rd edition Neil A. Campbell, University of California, Riverside; Jane B. Reece, Palo
Alto, California

Scientific American (selected articles)

Instructor will provide all other supplementary material, including but not limited to: scientific magazines,
journals, laboratory manuals, on-line journals, etc.
.

Laboratory

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 The students will spend 25% of instructional time engaged in the twelve laboratory activities
recommended by the College Board as part of the AP course. The activities will all be hands-on, and the
students will compose lab reports based on the data they collect during their investigations. Throughout
the course, the labs will be utilized in sync with class discussions and lectures pertaining to each topic.
Lab activities will compose a quarter of the class time.

Grading Policy
All work, labs, quizzes, tests, papers, etc., will receive a letter grade that coincides with the
following percent scale:

90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
0-59 = F
Grade Distribution
Tests : 40% Labs : 10%
Quizzes : 10% Essays/Free response : 10%
Outlines/Packets : 20% Participation : 10%

I. All exams are timed and students will be given a week’s notice to prepare. Each exam will consist of
40 to 50 AP style multiple choice questions. All exams are timed.
II. Quizzes will given throughout the year, both announced and unannounced and will consist of 10-15
questions.
III. Number and types of Chapter outlines/Packets will vary depending on the material being covered.
IV. Labs will be performed as time permits.
V. Essays will be given as both homework as well as class work assignments. In class, they will be
timed.
VI. Review sessions for the AP exam will held after school (Place and time TBA). Attendance is strongly
recommended.

Academic Honesty
It is expected that students will use genuine, sincere, and fair means for the accomplishment of
the tests, tasks, or projects from which evaluations of progress shall be determined. Students
found plagiarizing, copying or cheating in any way will receive automatic zeros and have phone
calls made to their parents. In addition, a write-up of the incident will be given to the student's
counselor. Flagrant or repeated offenses will result in a failing grade for the quarter or
semester depending on the nature of the incident.

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AP Biology Syllabus
2010-2011
Donohue

 
 Topic(s)  Chapter(s) Tests Activity  Essays/Practice
Weeks (Date)
Tests

AP Lab 11- Animal 2005 B #1

Ecology behavior/Pill Bug Lab 2006 A #2
*Biomes Unit Test
50-55  AP Lab 12- Dissolved
Aug 23 - 30 *Ecological succession Ch 50-55
*Global Issues Oxygen & Primary
Productivity Lab

MOLECULES AND
CELLS
Aug 31–
Chemistry of Life  Test
Sep10 2009 B #3
*Classification of molecules 2 - 5 Ch 2-5
*Properties of water Sep10/11

Cell Structure – Cell AP LAB 1-Diffusion 2006 B #2

Communication Test & Osmosis  2002 A #4
*Cell membrane structure and
Sep 13 – 24 function
6-7,11  Ch 6,7,11 AP Lab 2-Enzyme
*Organelles Sep 24/25 Catalysis and
*Cell transport Reaction rates

Sep 27 - Oct Metabolism and Cell 2005 B #4

8 Respiration – AP LAB 5 - Cell 2005 A #1
Fermentation Quiz Ch 8
8-9  Respiration 
*Glycolysis Quiz Ch 9
*Kreb’s cycle (Respirometers)
*Yeast fermentation lab

Photosynthesis Test AP LAB 4-Plant

Oct 11 - 20 *C3, C4, CAM plants 10  Ch 8-10 Pigment & 2004 A #3
Oct 15/16 Physiology 

HEREDITY AND
EVOLUTION

Test
Mitosis – Meiosis Ch 12-13 AP LAB 3- Mitosis - 2003 A #4
 Oct. 21-29 12-13 
*Stages of Mitosis and Meiosis Oct. Meiosis 
27/28

AP Lab 6A-
 DNA Test
Nov 1 – 12 Transformation 2003 B #1
*DNA and RNA structure 16-19 Ch 16-19
*Experimental evidence AP LAB 6B- 2005 B #3
Nov 12/13
Electrophoresis 

Nov 15 – 26 Mendelian Genetics 14-15 Test AP LAB 7-

*Monohybrid and dihybrid
crosses Ch 14-15 Drosophila  2008 B #3

3
 *Probabilities
*Crossing over Nov 25/26

Test
Nov 29- Dec Molecular Genetics
18-21 Ch 18-21 2007 B #3
17 *lac operon expression
Dec 17/18

Take-
 Evolution
Dec 20 – Jan *Darwin’s voyage Home AP LAB 8-Population 2008 B #4
20-25
3 *Evidence for evolution: fossil Test Genetics 
record
Ch 20-25

ORGANISMS
Midterm
Origin of Life Exam
Jan 4 - 14 *Chemical evolution 24-28 Jan 14/15 2005 B #2
*Prokaryotes Ch 1 – 25,
50-55

Plants Test
*Plant structures AP LAB 9-
Jan 17- 28 29-35  Plants 2005 A #3
*Gymnosperm and Transpiration 
Angiosperm reproduction Jan 28/29 2009 B #2

Animal Structure
and Function-
Digestion Test
* Digestive system structure
Feb 1 – 7 and function 40-41 Ch 40-41
Feb 8/9

Respiration, Circulation, AP Lab 10- Blood

Body Defense  Test
Pressure and
Feb 8 – 14 *Structures and functions of 42-43 Ch 42-43
the heart and lungs Circulation 2006 A #4
Feb 16/17
*Immunology *Shark Dissection
Endocrine System and
Hormones  Quiz Ch
2005 A #4
Feb 15 - 21 *Homeostasis 45 45
*Endocrine glands and their
Feb 22/23
functions
Osmoregulation and Test
Excretion
Feb 22 - 25 *Kidney structure and
44 Ch 44 Pig Dissection
function Feb 26

Animal Reproduction Essay

Feb 28- Human Autopsy
*Male and female 46 Ovarian /
March 4 reproductive systems Videos
uterine cycles

Ch 46-47
Animal Development
March 7 - 11 *Embryology 47 March 2006 B #1
11/12
Sensory Motor &
March 21 – Nervous System
2001 #1
*Neuron structure 48-49
April 1 *Action potential
*Muscle structure and function

4
 REVIEW - Molecules and 2009 A #1
April 4 - 8 Jeopardy
Cells

REVIEW – Heredity and 2004 B #2

April 11 - 15 Jeopardy
Evolution

REVIEW – Organisms and

April 18- 22 Jeopardy
Populations 2002 B #2

Final
April 25/26 Practice AP Tests
Exam

Practice AP Tests
May 2-6

AP EXAM
May 9