ADVANCED PLACEMENT BIOLOGY
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES
MRS. CLARK
2011-2012
Goals of
1.
2.
3.
4.
the Course:
Present to you an exciting college-level course in Biology.
Further your interest in Biology.
Make you aware of the world of Biological Research.
Prepare you for success on the AP Exam.
Course Materials:
Text: Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life, 10th edition, Starr & Taggart
(accompanying CD Rom and workbook also used)
Lab Manual: AP Biology Lab Manual for Students (revised 2001), The College Board
You should also have: 3-ring binder with dividers, calculator, and a home set of colored
pencils
Other materials you may want – Cliff notes for the AP Biology Exam
Expectations:
1. Expect homework every night. Make a commitment early to meet the demands of
this course.
2. Each unit will require reading, student discussions, study guides/worksheets,
written work, one or more labs, activities, pop quizzes, and exams.
3. Exams are in AP testing format, with multiple choice questions and essay questions.
To insure students have maximum exposure to AP-style questions, the essay
question is always taken directly from a previous College Board AP exam.
4. Each marking period you will have several formal writing assignments to prepare you
for the AP exam. In addition you will be expected to do journal reviews and write
formal lab reports.
5. Expect at least one project per marking period.
6. An up-to-date and organized notebook is mandatory. There will be notebook checks
each marking period.
7. Laboratory work is an important part of this course. Every effort should be made to
be present and prepared for lab. All labs will have pre-lab work that must be
completed before you are allowed to begin a lab.
8. The final exam for this course is cumulative.
Absences:
Getting assignments from home – I encourage you to check my webpage often. Not only
can you find assignments you missed, but all notes are posted before we discuss them in
class. You may also get missing assignments by calling the Homework Hotline at 717-5411662 x 1237 or e-mailing me at aclark@cdschools.org.
Laboratory – due to supply constraints, it is often difficult to make up a lab missed. Make
every effort to be in class on lab day. If you miss a lab, you may be required to write a
paper based on the topic covered instead of making up the lab.
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Classwork/homework – All work is due on time. Late work is not accepted, except from
those following the school’s policy for handing in late work when absent.
Tests – You are only exempt from a test if you missed a significant amount of classtime for
that topic. If you are absent on test day, you are expected to make up the test the first day
you return to school. You are not exempt from a test if you missed a review day.
AP Exam:
Students are strongly encouraged to take the AP Exam offered May 14th. All
attempts will be made to cover the topics found on the exam. However, due to time
constraints, students taking the exam may have to study topics not covered by the May
exam date. The AP exam will not affect a student’s GPA. That exam score is not included
in your grade. Students may opt to take the AP exam in place of the final exam for the
course.
We will begin study sessions and reviews for the AP exam in March.
Contact information:
E-mail – aclark@cdschools.org
Phone – 541-1662 x 237
Homework x 1237
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Topic:
I.
Chapter(s):
Ecology (summer assignment)
10%
1. Population dynamics
2. Communities & ecosystems
3. Human Impact
Lab 12. Dissolved Oxygen and Primary Productivity
Lab 11. Animal Behavior
II.
45
47, 48, 49
50
Chemistry of Life
7%
1. Review of Basic Inorganic/Organic
Chemistry
2. Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and
Nucleic Acids – The Macromolecules
Lab 2. Enzyme Catalysis
III.
2
3, 6
Cells – Part 1
A. Cell Structure & Function
5%
1. Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes / Plant vs. Animal
2. Basic Structure of Cells
3. Organelles, Cytoskeleton, Components of Motility
4. Structure & Function of Cell Membranes
Lab 1. Diffusion and Osmosis
IV.
4
4
4
5
Diversity of Organisms
8%
1. Evolutionary Patterns
2. Principles of Taxonomy & Systematics
3. Classification: Eubacteria, Archaebacteria,
Protista, Fungi, Plantae, & Animalia
V.
Amt. of Time*:
21
21
22 – 27
Structure & Function of Plants and Animals
A. Comparing Animals & Plants
28
B. Plants
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
15%
ATP, Energy Transfer, Chemiosmosis
Photosynthesis (C3 & C4 Pathways)
Structure/Growth / Development
Transport in Vascular Plants
Hormonal Regulation / Nutrition / Reproduction
Lab 4. Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis
Lab 9. Transpiration
3
6
7
29, 32
30
31, 32
C.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Animals
Tissues, Organs, Systems
Support & Movement
Neural Controls
Circulation & Gas Exchange
Digestion & Nutrition
Thermoregulation, Osmoregulation, and
Excretion
7. Reproduction & Development
8. Defense & Immunity
9. Hormones & the Endocrine System
10. Behavior
Lab 10. Physiology of the Circulatory System
21%
33
37
34, 35
38
41
42
43, 44
39
36
46
VI. Cells – Part 2
A. Cell Structure & Function
5%
1. Cell Cycles (Mitosis & Meiosis)
Lab 3. Mitosis and Meiosis
9, 10
B. Cellular Energetics
4%
1. Cellular Respiration: Glycolysis, Aerobic Resp.,
Anaerobic Respiration
Lab 5. Cell Respiration
VII.
8
Heredity & Evolution
A. Molecular Genetics/Biotechnology
9%
1.
2.
3.
4.
DNA: Structure & Replication
RNA: Transcription, mRNA Editing, Translation
Gene Regulation
Mutations, Recombinant DNA Technology,
Cloning, Hybridization, Sequencing, PCR
Lab 6. Molecular Biology
13
14
15
16
B. Heredity
8%
1. Meiosis (Revisited), Gametogenesis
2. Mendel’s Laws: Inheritance Patterns, Genes,
Eukaryotic Chromosomes, Interactions
Lab 7. Genetics of Organisms
10
11, 12
C. Evolution
8%
1. Origin of Life
2. Hardy-Weinberg Principles (Population Genetics)
3. Speciation, Patterns of Evolution
Lab 8. Population Genetics and Evolution
17
17
18, 19
* Approximate portion of total class as outlined in The College Board’s Advanced Placement
Program.
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Please return this page, signed, to Mrs. Clark TOMORROW
The Syllabus is to be kept in the student’s Science notebook.
_________________________________________
Student’s Name PRINTED
________________________________________ , I have read and understood the course syllabus.
Student’s Signature
_________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name PRINTED
________________________________________ , I have read and understood the course syllabus.
Parent/Guardian Signature
Parents & Guardians, please take the time to write any comments or information regarding
your student that you feel I should know. Also, if you would like to contact me via e-mail
regarding your student, please do so at aclark@cdschools.org. I look forward to working with
you and your student this school year.
Comments for Mrs. Clark:
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