Biology I Course Syllabus
Spearfish High School
Rebecca Studt
rstudt@spearfish.k12.sd.us
(605) 717-1212 (W)
Course Description
Biology I is a full-year laboratory science at the sophomore level. This required course meets 90
minutes every other day on the Block Schedule and is a prerequisite for Biology II and Chemistry.
Materials/Textbook Information
Biology, by Stephen Nowicki,
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Required materials:
 1 ½”-2” ring binder
 Loose-leaf paper, pencils, pens (black and blue only)
 colored pencils
 calculator
 laptop computer
Course Objectives
Biology I is designed to give general overview of the main concepts found in the biological sciences.
These topics will include, but are not limited to, the areas of cellular biology, genetics, plants, ecology,
evolution, and animals.
Student Performance Objectives
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Students are expected to complete assignments on time and participate in all class activities.
Required (graded) notebook in 3-ring binder: The notebook will be a resource to be used in class
and for studying.
Labs are an important (and fun) part of Biology I. All lab safety rules will be observed and
appropriate safety equipment used for each lab. Inappropriate behavior can cause a loss of lab
privileges and a zero grade. Detailed procedures will be covered in class.
Frequent quizzes (announced and unannounced) will be given. For each quarter, the points for
quizzes will total at least ONE major test.
An ecology project will require a presentation and the construction of a project board. Detailed
instructions will be provided.
Class Procedures and Rules
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Be on time and prepared. Bring all necessary materials.
Courteous behavior is expected.
Rules for attendance and behavior will follow the rules in the student handbook.
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Academic honesty is required. The school policy will be strictly enforced. Student handbook
pp. 12-13.
Rules specific to the classroom and laboratory will be covered in class.
No eating or drinking with the exception of water in a clear, plastic container.
No hats!
No cell phones, Ipods, Mp3 players, CD players, etc.
As per handbook, student ID is required. You will NOT be allowed to leave the room without it.
Permission and passes are required to be out of the classroom. No one will use the restroom
for the first 20 minutes or the last 20 minutes of class. Again, you must have your ID.
Laptop and Internet Procedures
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The school laptop policy is followed in this class.
Permission is required: computers are not on unless you are instructed to turn them on or
you ASK and are given permission.
When your computers are on you must be connect to SynchronEyes immediately.
Sound must be muted unless otherwise instructed.
No email, chat, or Internet unless permission is given.
No game playing.
Stay within the instructed “destinations” given in class..
Failure to cooperate can result in loss of computer for the class, which can result in a grade of
zero for class activities requiring computer use.
Serious or repeated infractions will result in being referred to Mr. Seyer or Mr. Morford.
Homework
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Homework provides exposure and practice to help reach mastery of the subject.
All class work is listed on the board daily and tentative lesson plans are posted on MOODLE.
Many (but not al)l documents and handouts will be available through Moodle. If you are absent
or lose a required document or worksheet you may be able to retrieve it from Moodle or you
may have to get it from the classroom file.
Late work. If assignment is class corrected on the due date and the assignment is
incomplete, it will be graded “as is” as long as you hand it in when it is due. If assignment is not
class corrected on due date, 50% credit can be received if the work is handed in by 8:15 the
following day (projects excepted). Talk to me if there are extenuating circumstances.
Any assignment may be checked for completeness or correctness.
Print due assignments BEFORE you come to class; class will NOT be delayed while they are
printed. These may be considered missing or late.
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Make-Up Work
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Any student who will miss class for vacation time must have the Office or a parent/guardian notify
me in. Email is good. Work and due dates will be negotiated. Do NOT wait until you return. You
MUST inform me in advance.
Students who will miss class due to a scheduled event must also complete the work in advance,
This includes tests and projects. See me on an individual basis.
Students are responsible to get their make-up assignments which are easily obtained on Moodle or
in the classroom.
Timelines for make-up work follow the student handbook: two (2) calendar days for every day of
excused absence. IF YOU NEED AN EXTENSION YOU MUST EMAIL ME BEFORE TIME RUNS
OUT!
Activity absences are excused but students are expected to get their work in advance.
Students who know in advance that they will be gone for personal reasons must make
arrangements before they leave.
Late make-up work earns a zero unless arrangements have been made with me. See above.
Extended absences or extenuating circumstances will be handled on an individual basis.
Grading
Per cent
96-100
92-95
89-91
86-88
83-85
79-82
Letter grades for the course are determined
using the Spearfish High School grading scale:
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
Activity
Activities are weighted in this manner:
Grade Rounding Policy: Quarter
grades, midterms, and semester
grades only will be rounded up
when the percentage decimal is
0.50 or greater.
Per cent
76-78
73-75
69-72
65-68
60-64
<64
Grade
C
CD+
D
DF
Weight
Daily work & notebook
Tests
Labs
30%
40%
30%
Quarter grades
Semester test
45%
10%
General Information
EXTRA HELP. If you need help, come see me!! The sooner the better. Do not wait until the day of
the test or quiz to tell me you don’t understand something. See me before school, after school, and
during Spartan Time.
EXTRA CREDIT opportunities may be given from time to time. I do not give bailout extra credit. No
one has ever flunked my class if they do the assignments and come see me if they need help.
GRADE RECOVERY. Available each quarter to REPLACE one 50% or lower grade in a lab or daily
Work. See instructions on my website or Moodle. Entirely the student’s responsibility.
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