AP Environmental Science 2013-2014
Instructor: Melissa Shandroff
478 – 6237 (science office)
295 – 3045 (my direct line where you can leave a voice mail)
shandroffm@hohschools.org
Text: Environmental Science for AP, by Andrew Friedland, Rick Reylea and David Courard-Hauri
Textbook Resources: http://bcs.whfreeman.com/friedlandapes/#t_668210
Mrs. Shandroff’s APES Website: http://hastings.schoolwires.net//Domain/384
Students are expected to check this site daily for updates. Assignments will be posted on both
my main page and the calendar page under the AP Environmental Science tab. If you are absent,
you are still expected to check for homework.
Course Materials:
 3-ring binder with loose leaf or notebook paper
Introduction:
AP Environmental Science is a course that enhances student awareness of the living and
physical environments. The material covered is the equivalent of an introductory environmental
course taken in college. Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field of study that
incorporates what you know about biology, chemistry, geology, math, economics, history, and
sociology to come to an understanding of the natural world and the forces that affect it. The
course will address environmental issues and allow students to formulate opinions and ideas
concerning the causes, prevention and remediation of these issues. Independent work is an
expectation of this course and you will be required to master some content material on
your own. Approximately one class per week will be spent on laboratory work.
Outline of Topics: Number in parenthesis indicates the percentage of the topic on the AP exam.
.
I.
Earth’s Systems and Resources (10 – 15%)
A.
Earth Science Concepts
B.
The Atmosphere
C.
Global Water Resources and Use
D.
Soil and Soil Dynamics
II.
The Living World (10 – 15%)
A.
Ecosystem Structure
B.
Energy Flow
C.
Ecosystem Diversity
D.
Natural Ecosystem Change
E.
Natural Biogeochemical Cycles
III.
Population (10 – 15%)
A.
Population Biology Concepts
B.
Human Population
IV.
Land and Water Use (10 – 15%)
A.
Agriculture
B.
Forestry
C.
Rangelands
D.
Other Land Use
E.
Mining
F.
Fishing
G.
Global Economics
V.
Energy Resources and Consumption (10 – 15%)
A.
Energy Concepts
VI.
VII.
B.
Energy Consumption
C.
Fossil Fuel Resources and Use
D.
Nuclear Energy
E.
Hydroelectric Power
F.
Energy Conservation
G.
Renewable energy
Pollution: (25 – 30%)
A.
Pollution Types (air, water, noise, solid waste)
B.
Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
C. Economic Impacts
Global Change (10 – 15%)
A. Stratospheric Ozone
B. Global Warming
C. Loss of Biodiversity
Conferences and Help
Please do not hesitate to come in for extra help! Contact me to arrange a time for us to meet.
Grading and Evaluation:
Grading is done on a point system where the total number of points you earn in each quarter is
added up and divided by the number of possible points to get a percentage, which will be your
grade.
The following are the types of assessment you will see.
A. Tests: Model the AP format with multiple choice and free response questions; generally
covering one to two chapters. There will be a midterm and a final exam in this class.
If you missed a scheduled quiz or test, then you must make up that quiz or test as soon
as possible. Students are responsible for contacting me as soon as they miss a test so
that an appropriate make-up time can be determined. Tests must be made up before or
after school, and/or during lunch periods. Tests may be made up during study hall, but
ONLY if it coincides with one of my free periods.
B. Quizzes: Range from 10 to 20 points, depending on the difficulty.
C. Labs: Format and point values will be given when a lab is assigned. If you miss a lab,
you are responsible for making up the lab, if possible, or knowing the procedure, results,
and conclusions of that experiment.
D. Homework: Reading of the chapters in the book will always be expected. Most homework
will be submitted via e-mail. HOMEWORK IS DUE AT 8:15AM ON THE DUE DATE. The
time your email was sent will be noted. If homework is not in by 8:15AM, only half credit
will be given. If you need extra time to complete an assignment, you must contact
me BEFORE the due date so that together we can reschedule when the assignment
will be due. You can make up homework at any time in the quarter for half credit
E. Projects: Projects will vary in scope. The value of each project will be set according to the
difficulty of the task and the time involved.
F. Papers: You will be assigned 1 - 2 papers over the course of the year on different topics.
Please see your student handbook for information regarding plagiarism.
G. Field Trips: All students will be expected to attend “A Day in the Life of the Hudson River”
on Thursday, October 10th, 2013. We will be collecting data from the Hudson River at
Kinnally Cove. Other potential field trips include a visit to a sewage treatment plant, a
water treatment plant, and/or the materials recovery facility.
H. Community Service:
 All students will be expected to participate in two vine clean-ups scheduled with
either Groundwork Hudson Valley or the Hastings Vine Squad. These are scheduled
at various times on weekends. I will post opportunities on my website as they come
up.
AP Exam Information
The AP Environmental Science Exam is three hours long and divided into two sections: 100
multiple-choice questions (90 minutes) and four free-response questions (90 minutes = 22
minutes per question). The four FRQ’s include 1 data analysis, 1 document based question,
and 2 synthesis/evaluation questions.
The exam will be on Monday, May 5, 2014 at 8:00AM. The cost for the exam is
approximately $90. If you are unable to afford this, the guidance department will assist you.
ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE AP EXAM.