(Advanced Placement) Biology 2010-11
Instructor - Anthony Mires
Contact Information
Email:
Ph. 270.651.6315
Twitter: bchsapbiology
Hours – Fall and Spring Semester 1:30 to 3:00
Barren County High School
Course Description - Advanced Placement Biology is a class designed to reinforce a student’s understanding of the scientific investigation of living organisms. To navigate the modern world and make the most basic informed decisions requires one to understand a great deal of biology. Bioliteracy is no longer an option but a necessity, and for anyone intent on actively participation in this world means that they must possess a working vocabulary of the science of life. Further, advanced placement means that this understanding must go beyond the minimum levels of bioliteracy and therefore our efforts shift towards fluency. AP students must be able to not just participate in discussions of science but lead them.
The class is a college level course that will consist of the study of life through close observation of Ecology, Animal and Plant Structure, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Evolution, and Taxonomy. The class requires academic dedication and out of class preparation. In addition, about 30% of classroom time will be laboratory based.
Materials
Composition Notebook
3-ring binder
Recommended
Set of coloring pencils
Flash drive
Attendance Policy - Students have up to five school days to make up assignments and/ or tests due to an excused absence. Work may be made up before or after school and must be scheduled with the course instructor.
Grading Procedures - Grades will be determined using a weighted system. The individual student’s average will be determined using the scale below:
Exams – 40% (TIMED unit exams)
Quizzes – 30% (TIMED announced and un-announced, current and past material)
Labs/Presentations – 20% (formal and informal reports)
Class Assignments – 10% (homework, classwork)
Semester Exam - Students with any unexcused absences in a course or have been assigned to ASP are required to take the semester exam which counts as part of the semester grade.
Classroom Rules - The Success of this class depends on respect.
1. Respect Me. Stay on task.
2. Respect your classmates. Keep it Courteous.
3. Respect the Room. Keep it Clean.
4. Respect Yourself. Dedicate yourself to your work.
Outside of Class - Learning everything about life is a difficult task. It is essential that time is spent studying outside of class. Students in AP Biology should spend at least 5 hours a week in individual study time outside of class. In addition, we will have three after school study sessions throughout the semester that will be a required part of the class. I will be available to help students with questions/problems and for make-up work on most afternoons from 3:00 – 4:00. Please let me know a day ahead of time if you are going to stay after school.
Internet Component - There will be periodic coursework to be completed online outside of scheduled class time. These are required assignments, if you do not have internet access at home arrangements will need to be made to use computers after school (library, science department) or the public library. It is also strongly recommended that you follow me on twitter for important class announcements.
Student Work - Full credit is awarded only for work that is submitted on-time. Work will be accepted up to ONE DAY LATE with a 50% penalty.
Objective Based Grading – The quizzes in this class will all be correlated to learning objectives. When you view your grades rather than seeing a quiz grade you will see a grade for each objective. This will help you better identify what you need to review.
Repeated Assessments and Assignments
Flip Folders – Prior to each unit exam, you will be required to submit a review of the unit we have just finished. This review will be in the form of a flip folder. This is a handy way for you to organize the bulk of information and will be an invaluable tool later as you prepare for the AP biology exam.
Online Activity and Chapter Quizzes – If you work hard to understand the material in the class, most of your work will be online. Used correctly, these are a great resource to help you prepare for quizzes and exams. They are due PRIOR to chapter quizzes.
Free Response Items – Half of the AP biology exam is written. To prepare for this part of the test, we will have regular free response questions to hone our writing skills. The only way to do these well is to do them often.
Optional
If you score lower than you would like on a particular quiz, you have the opportunity to retake these in a different format. However, prior to the retake, I will require you to show me a complete Chapter Reading Guide. They can be found on the Campbell textbook site.
Units of Study
The units of study in AP biology will follow the recommended time frame outlined by the college board that approves the AP curriculum. For a more detailed view of what we will study this semester see the detailed course description.
Units days Class %
Diversity of Organisms 5 days 3%
Ecology 7 days 10%
Animal Structure and Function 30 days 20%
Plant Structure and Function 12 days 8%
Biochemistry 12 days 6%
Cells 15 days 10%
Cellular Energetics 20 days 13%
Heredity 17 days 10%
Molecular Genetics 17 days 10%
Evolutionary Biology 17 days 10%
Total 152 days 100%
Plagiarism / Academic Dishonesty Policy
Plagiarism and academic dishonesty are serious offenses. The academic work of a student is expected to be his/her own effort. Students must give the author(s) credit for any source material used. To represent ideas or interpretations taken from a source without giving credit is a flagrant act. To present a borrowed passage after having changed a few words, even if the source is cited, is also plagiarism. Students who commit any act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade in that portion of the course work. Acts of academic dishonesty will be reported to the administration.
The teacher reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time during the course.
Printed Student Name ______
Acknowledgement of Information presented in the Syllabus
Please return this portion, signed, to your instructor.
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