Please sign and return this top sheet by Tuesday, September 8, 2015
We have read and understand Dr. Thomases’ 2015-2016 AP Biology Syllabus.
Please return this sheet and the Renton School District Safety Contract to class by Tuesday 9/8.
__________________________
Student's name (printed)
_______
Class period
____________________________
Student’s signature
______________________________
Parent/guardian signature
*Homework: Returning the Safety Contract and Syllabus forms on time is a homework
assignment. Students who do not return the form on time will not receive credit, however, both
of these forms must be returned before a student will be permitted to participate in laboratory
activities.
Don’t forget to submit your lab fee of $30.00 to Mrs.
Molnar. Thank you!
Advanced Placement Biology
Course Outline
Instructor:
Deborah Thomases
Deborah.thomases@rentonschools.us (email is fastest).
Phone: (425)204-4327
I. Course Description
AP Biology is a college level class designed for students who are contemplating a major in a science
related field or planning to attend a 4 year college. It is possible to earn college credit for the class by
passing the AP Biology exam given on in May of 2016. If you are a sophomore, you will still be
required to take the Washington State End of Course Exam in Biology in June.
Students are expected to come to class every day, prepared and on time. A significant portion of the
content of this course will be covered independently by each student so success in this program
depends in large part, on each student meeting his or her individual responsibilities. The majority of
class time is spent in lecture and class discussion or in lab activities. Course content is supported by
the text, the internet, and video. Course material can also be supported and assessed with practice
multiple‐choice questions from AP Central, the Released Exams, and test preparation books to help
students focus on what is important in the chapter sections assigned.
The content of the course falls under four big ideas in biology:
Big idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.
Big idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to
grow, to reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.
Big idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information
essential to life processes.
Big idea 4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions
possess complex properties.
II. Laboratory
AP labs are more rigorous, complicated and consume more materials than those conducted in first
year biology. All lab preparation, data collection, graphing, analysis and reflections pertaining to labs
will be recorded in a composition notebook. All writing must be done in dark blue or black INK and no
pages are to be torn out. Because labs use highly perishable materials/organisms and include special
instructions, it is not possible to make up a missed lab.
A Lab Materials fee of $30 is necessary to support these higher level laboratories required by the
AP Institute. Please bring a check for $30 payable to “Hazen High School” to Mrs. Mahler in the main
office and bring the receipt to me. If you are unable to provide the $30 lab fee please see me to make
alternate arrangements.
III. AP Exam
My expectation is that ALL students in AP Biology WILL take the AP exam. The College Board
Advanced Placement Biology exam will take place in early May, 2016. The exam is composed of 60
multiple choice questions, 6 short writing response questions and 2 long writing response (essay)
questions. Your overall score on the exam is rated on a scale of 1 to 5. Scores of 3, 4 or 5 can earn
college credits provided your college accepts it. (Please check with the school you plan to attend.)
The cost to take the exam is $91, (subject to change). If you earn the college credits, this
is a super deal. Even if you don’t earn the credits, preparing for and taking this exam is a great
experience for sharpening your academic skill and preparing yourself for the rigor of college
IV. Class Materials
Pens, pencils, simple calculator, composition book with a stitched binding, small 3-ring binder or a
section in a larger one.
Your text book will be provided, but I recommend you purchase Cliffs AP Biology, 4th Edition by
Phillip E Pack, Ph.D. or other similar study guide. This book is not required, but I believe it would
be a helpful reference for this class. (Do not buy older versions because The A.P. exam content
was changed as of 2012.)
V. Assignments, Exams, and Grading
 Grades are earned according to the following format:
100%-93% = A, 92%-90% = A-, 89% -88% = B +, 87%-83% = B, 82%-80% = B-,
79%-78% = C+, 77%-73% = C, 72%-70% = C-,
69%-68% = D+, 67%-60% = D,
below 60% F.
 Your grade will be weighted 75% assessments (tests, quizzes, lab reports, projects) and 25%
assignments (study guides, worksheets, lab notebook). Semester and quarter grades will not be
rounded up so please don’t ask.
 Exams will be written in AP exam format.
 Assignments and labs are due at the beginning of class on the assigned due date. Because
this is a college level class,
 All of your work is expected to show college quality.
 late work will NOT be accepted. No partial credit.
 Work turned in without both first name and last name will be thrown in the trash.
 If you miss school, you will not be able to make up labs.
 Make up work will be accepted for excused absences only. Due dates for makeup work will be
extended by an amount equal to the number of days missed.
 It is the responsibility of the student to determine what was missed during an absence by
checking the website, talking to Dr. Thomases, or checking with other students.
There is no secret to success. It is the result of preparation,
hard work, and learning from failure.
-Colin Powell
A.P. Biology a fascinating but very challenging course that will require a lot of you this year. With
greater challenge will come greater rewards in the form of a deeper understanding of Biology and
achievement of a new level of excellence as a student that will serve you beyond this class.