AP® Biology
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Ms. P. Ward
Health Sciences Pathway
Room 182
Math & Science Annex
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"What is there that confers the noblest delight?
What is that which swells a man's breast with pride
above that which any other experience can bring to
him? Discovery! To know that you are walking
where none others have walked…"
— Mark Twain
Welcome to AP® Biology
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Two semesters
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Zoology for AP Biology (1/2 credit)
Botany (1/2 credit)
AP Biology (1 credit)
Rationale:
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Think logically
Develop models
Develop research skills
Apply mathematics
College course
The Course
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Course Goals
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AP Biology Content
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Conceptual framework for modern biology
Successfully take AP Exam (Score 3 or higher)
Big Idea 1: Evolution – the process of evolution drives the
diversity and unity of life
Big Idea 2: Cellular Processes (Energy and Communication) –
Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building
blocks to grow
Big Idea 3: Genetics and Information Transfer – living systems
store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential
to life processes
Big Idea 4: Interactions – Biological systems interact and these
systems and their interactions possess complex properties.
AP Biology Exam
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2 parts: MC & Free Response
180 minutes
May 14, 2014
The Course
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This course is a college level introductory lab
course.
This course will be fast paced! Students are
expected and required to complete all assignments,
in class and out of class, in a timely manner.
This course has an important laboratory component.
All students are expected and required to work
together for completion of activities, labs, and other
assignments.
The lab includes structured, guided, and open
inquiry during which students apply scientific
problem solving skills.
Students are expected to be responsible for their own
learning.
Students are expected to be prepared for tests,
quizzes, and performance assessments as assigned.
Students are expected to study at least 270 minutes
per week.
Format and Procedures
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The course involves a writing component to
prepare for the essay portion of the AP®
Biology Exam. The course will have multiple
formats including lecture, lab, discussion [in all
formats], cooperative learning, etc.
Format and Procedures
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All work must be on loose-leaf paper [no micro
tear-outs].
Assignments should be in pencil or standard
blue or black ink.
Papers should be headed with your name, date,
class, assignment title, and learning objective.
Students will have on-line assignments.
Students will complete weekly discussion
questions (online).
Assignments
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Do not turn on computers without teacher
approval.
Students are not to download any content to
the computers unless directed to do so.
Computers are for use for academic content
only; do not access music sites, Facebook™, or
other banned sites.
If you are caught doing so you will be subject
to disciplinary action. Students are not to alter
the settings on the computers.
Computer Stations
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Students will be held responsible for their own behavior.
In addition to district, and school policies, class rules
include:
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Be in class on time and working [Do Now]
when tardy bells rings.
Bring all materials [text, notebook, writing
utensil] to class daily.
Raise hand and wait to be recognized before
speaking or moving around the room.
Follow directions the FIRST time they are
given.
Keep hands, feet, and other parts to yourself.
Class Rules
Consequences for violation of rules/policies include:
 First violation: warning
 Second violation: Written notice/phone call to parent
 Third violation: After school detention [1 hour
minimum]
 Fourth and subsequent violations: Office referral with
mandatory Behavioral Contract
You will be immediately referred to the office for fighting,
harassing other students, and disruptions that prevent the
learning process.
Rewards for good behavior include:
 Homework passes (grade will be NM)
 Music time (your choice, must be clean)
 Field Trips
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Class Rules
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Students will be expected to [these are to be done daily!]:
Sharpen pencils before the bell rings;
 Throw paper away before or after class;
 Use the restroom before or after class*;
 Enter class quietly and begin Do Now assignment;
 Remain on task and seated [unless otherwise directed]
throughout the class period.
 Head should not be on desk at any time! (12-inch rule).
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*For emergency situations only – students will be issued 3 emergency
rest room passes.
Class Procedures
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This course will be hands-on and will utilize
cooperative learning.
All students are expected and required to work
together
Students are to communicate with students in
their group only!
Cooperative Learning
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I am not inclined to accept late work. If there are
extenuating circumstances, late work may be accepted
for partial credit.
Make-up work not completed within the provided
timeline will result in grade of zero [0].
I expect you to turn in your own work, when it is
due.
If you are going on a field trip, or will be out of
class for an activity, the day that an assignment is
due, please drop it off in my classroom that
morning or send it by another student.
If you are absent the day an assignment is due, I
expect it to be turned in as soon as you return to
class. Your absence must be excused!
Missed tests/quizzes must be made up during
FAP, after school, or during Saturday school (you
must make arrangements beforehand).
Missing Work/Make Up
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Class attendance and participation policy:
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Students are expected to be in class daily.
Students may not miss more than 5 [excused]
class meetings to receive a passing grade for this
course.
Course Requirements
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Course readings:
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Required text: Campbell AP Biology
Assigned on-line articles/web pages
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot
“Next” by Michael Crichton
Required Materials:
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Two 1”– 3 ring binder –with Supply of loose leaf paper & Tab
dividers [@ least 5]
Composition notebook – preferably with grid
Highlighter –
Pencils/Pens [blue or black ink only] –
Colored pencils or crayons –
Metric Ruler –
4 function calculator (non-programmable)
USB flashdrive/jumpdrive
Course Requirements
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Grades will be determined as follows:
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Daily Grades count as 25% of your grade and includes:
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Test[s] count as 50% of your grade and includes:
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Quizzes; Essays; Unit Exams (post-tests); Lab Summaries;
Benchmark Assessments
Homework counts as 25% of your grade and includes:
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Do Now Activities; Class Activities; Notebook ; Student
Portfolio
Homework (includes weekly discussion questions); Online
Assignments; Article Portfolio
Quarter Exam counts as 25% of Term Grade
Pretests do not count as grades
Grading
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Any work submitted by a student in this course for academic
credit will be the student's own work.
You can give "consulting" help to or receive "consulting" help
from such students.
You should never involve one student having possession of a
copy of all or part of work done by someone else.
Should copying occur, both the student who copied work from
another student and the student who gave material to be
copied will both automatically receive a zero for the
assignment.
During quizzes/tests/performance assessments talking or
discussion is not permitted nor may you compare papers,
copy from others, or collaborate in any way. Any such
behavior during the examinations will result in failure of the
exam.
Academic Integrity
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to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of
another) as one's own
to use (another's production) without crediting
the source
to commit literary theft
to present as new and original an idea or
product derived from an existing source.
(Source: plagarism.org)
Plagiarism
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Any research done in this class must be
properly documented.
Summarize information … Do not copy word
for word unless you use quotation marks.
Any work directly copied and pasted from the
internet will result in a grade of zero for the
assignment.
Academic Integrity
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Multiple Choice
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Part A:
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63 questions
Part B:
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6 grid-in questions
AP Exam
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Free Response
2 essay questions
(long)
 6 short response
questions
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AP® Score
Raw Score*
5
78
4
64
3
45
2
26
1
<25
ᴥ Each part of the exam counts as 50%
ᴥ The raw score is the percentage of
questions correct.
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There are certain additional procedures to be
followed each day:
 The Daily Agenda is listed on the board on
the right side of the room everyday.
 Enter the class quietly, note the Daily
Agenda items for the day.
 In your notebooks, record the standard for
the day and begin the Do Now
assignment.
Daily Procedures
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There are two procedures to focus class
attention:
1. When I raise my right hand, all students
are to cease talking and focus their attention
on me.
2. When I say the word “Class”, all students
are to respond “Yes”.
Attention Signals
{ Zero Talk Time
During Do Now
 While teacher is
speaking
 While other student is
speaking
 During tests/quizzes
 During Independent
Work
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Talk Time
{Quiet Talk Time
During cooperative
learning
 During lab activities
 During guided
practice
 Must be on-task
discussions
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This year each class will incorporate reading and writing as
an important component of your classes.
You will practice and apply your reading and writing skills
through your Article Portfolios.
You will be provided 4 science articles each quarter. You are
to read the articles and summarize the content using the five
paragraph essay process.
Portfolio due dates are as follow:
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September 18th
October 23rd
November 27th
Article Portfolio
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Contact information:
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Email: pward@gville.k12.ms.us
Email: pdward82@gmail.com
Website: www.schoolrack.com/pdward82
Phone: 662-334-7062 ext 3780
Text messaging: Text @apzo to (601)778-4442
Resources