Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies
APES Syllabus 2015-2016
Teacher: K.Coogler
Textbook: Environmental Science for AP – Friedland and Relyea
CONTACT INFORMATON:
Phone:
837-8300
Planning: 3rd Period – 10:40-12:10
Email:
Wiki:
Karen.coogler@gmail.com
http://haynes.jpschools.org/school-wikis/haynes-wiki/mrs-cooglers-wiki/
COURSE DESCRIPTION The AP® Environmental Science course is a full-year
course designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course
in environmental science. Unlike most other introductory-level college science
courses, environmental science is offered from a wide variety of departments,
including geology, biology, environmental science, chemistry, math, and
geography. The AP Environmental Science course has been developed to be like a
rigorous science course that stresses scientific principles and analysis and includes a
laboratory component; as such, it is intended to enable students to undertake, as
first-year college students, a more advanced study of topics in environmental
science or, alternatively, to fulfill a basic requirement for a laboratory science and
thus free time for taking other courses. In both breadth and level of detail, the
content of the course reflects what is found in many introductory college courses in
environmental science.
The goal of the course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts,
and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural
world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and humanmade, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, to examine
alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them, and to develop and focus
their own political perspective.
***Students will be expected to read the textbook and be willing to work both
inside and outside of class on assignments.
COURSE OUTLINE:
(This is tentative and may be modified at any time.)
Unit 1 Introduction to Environmental Science: Chapters 1 & 2
 This unit serves as a review of laboratory safety and procedure. Remediation
and practice in the use of the scientific method. It also includes an
introduction to analytical analysis and orientation to course specific
instrumentation. Local issues of concern to students Biology/Chemistry/Math
review, Study skills/Test taking strategies, Maintaining a Lab/Field Notebook,
Maintaining a class binder.
Unit 2 The Living World: Chapter 3, 4 & 5
 This unit introduces the concepts of food webs, ecosystems, and major
biogeochemical cycles of the world. It will explain global climate patterns and
tours the major terrestrial and aquatic biomes. It will describe the process of
evolution by natural selection and traces the evolution of pesticide and drug
resistance.
Unit 3 Biological and Human Population: Chapters 6 & 7
 This unit explores how populations of species interact with each other in
ecological communities and the factors that determine the growth of
biological and human populations. It specifically addresses how human
population growth is affected by natural factors, as well as by human choices
and behavior.
Unit 4 Earth Systems and Resources: Chapter 8 & 9
 This unit looks at the physical Earth and the various systems and resources
that affect humans including plate tectonics, rock weathering, and the
distribution of Earth’s resources. It also explores water resources and the
processes that influence water distribution and access.
Unit 5 Land Use: Chapters 10 & 11
 This unit Discusses land classifications and the variety of uses for public and
private lands. It will examine agriculture and aquaculture and how they affect
the environment.
Unit 6 Energy Recourses and Consumption: Chapters 12 & 13
 This unit conceders the nonrenewable fossil fuels and radioactive fuels, and
explores the reasons for energy demand as well as the conventional ways that
we supply it. Examines the various renewable energy sources that are
currently or may become part of our energy portfolio. It also analyzes the
impacts of both positive and negative of all energy choices.
Unit 7 Pollution: Chapters 14, 15, 16, 17
 This unit explores how the major pollutions and wastes adversely affect our
water and air. Solid waste generation and the choices for solid wastes
disposal. It also looks at the leading human health risks stemming from
common diseases, newly emerging diseases, and pollution.
Unit 8 Global Change and a Sustainable Future: Chapter 18, 19 & 20
 This unit examines the conservation of biodiversity and builds on the
biological foundations presented in previous units. How human activities have
produced greenhouse gases that have warmed Earth and affected a wide
variety of organisms. The subject of sustainability as it relates to global
change, economics, and equity is also discussed in this unit.
REQUIRED SUPPLIES:
 3 Ring Binder
 Invest in an AP Environmental Exam Review Book
 Package of Dividers
 Writing utensils
 Loose Leaf Paper (Ms. Coogler)
 Box of Kleenex (Ms. Coogler)
 Roll of Paper Towels (Ms. Coogler)
 Index Cards (Ms. Coogler)
 Composition Notebook
 Science Lab Fee - $25 (one Science course; two Sciences $40;
three Sciences $50)
AP EXAM
The exam will consist of 100 multiple-choice questions (60%) and 4 Free-response
questions; 1 document-based, 1 data-based and 2 synthesis questions (40%). 90
minutes is allotted for each section. You are expected to take the exam.
Date of APES Exam: Monday, May 2th, 2016 at 8 am.
ASSESSMENTS: Student grades are determined every nine weeks by the total
number of points earned from the following categories:
 Unit Tests: Students can expect a test approximately every two to three
weeks. Tests will be thorough and if you wait until the end of the unit to
begin studying, you will not accomplish all you are capable of doing. I will
usually give you a week's notice before a test.
 Labs/Field Component: This course as a strong laboratory and field
component. The main objective of this is to allow students to learn through
first hand observation. It is imperative that students be able to integrate the
information that they are learning in class into “real world” applications. At
least one class period a week will be spent doing labs both inside and outside
of the classroom. There will be several labs that run for multiple weeks.
 Lab Reports: Students write one formal report every nine weeks on an
experiment they have designed. These reports include an abstract,
introduction, background, hypothesis, procedure, observations, data tables,
and graphic representation of data, analysis, and conclusions. Other minor lab
write-ups allow students to make critical observations and sharpen their
analytical skills. Criteria to be given next week.
 Quizzes: Quizzes may be from 5 to 50 points and may be announced OR
unannounced.
 Presentations: Occasionally, student working in groups are required to
present a on an assigned topic. Some examples of student presentation include
biomes, endangered animals, hazardous pollutants, and alternative energy.
 Projects: Students will also be responsible for completing multiple project
throughout the course of the year. In some cases, students may work in groups
and at other times they may work independently.
 Lab Data Notebooks/Binders: In this class it is essential to keep track of all
of your lab/field work, data, notes, etc. You will do this by keeping an
organized Lab Data Notebook (a bound notebook, not loose leaf) that is
maintained for all laboratory work. Also, you will need to “keep” a binder.
This binder should include any handouts or materials you get in class, lab
notes, and your daily lecture notes.
 Homework Assignments: Students will be given assignments to complete at
home. This may be something as simple as writing vocabulary cards,
worksheet, reading the current unit content and answering textbook questions,
reviewing lecture notes, readings and case studies, lab write-ups, and essays.
Students will be responsible for completing this.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS:
One of the most essential skills for a student who graduates high school is the
ability to communicate properly through writing. This includes using proper
grammar, spelling, formatting, organization skills, etc. Writing assignments will be
given periodically in addition to the written lab reports. These may include, but will
not be limited to: questions and answers, summaries or reflections on readings,
essay questions, and current event summaries.
FIELD TRIPS: TBA
GRADING POLICY:
Points will be assessed for all student work including labs, practicals, homework
assignments, worksheets, quizzes, chapter exams, class participation and individual
projects, case studies, research, etc. Letter grades will be determined by percentages
of total points per the following school-wide grading scale.
A
93-100
B
85-92
C
75-84
D
67-74
F
66 and Below
ATTENDANCE: There is no substitution for being in class. But in the event you
need to be absent, it is up to you to make up any work you missed. It is the student’s
responsibility to get the missed work. Therefore, you must find out what
assignments you missed immediately upon your return. Make-up work is to be
turned in at the BEGINNING of class on the designated due date. IF YOU ARE
ABSENT FOR A TEST, THE MAKE-UP MAY BE A DIFFERENT
TEST/DIFFERENT FORMAT.
LATE WORK:
All work is expected to be turned in on the due date. I DO NOT TAKE WORK
THAT IS LATE. If you have an extenuating circumstance, please see me.
EXTRA HELP: If you need extra help, please see me to schedule a suitable time.
DO NOT WAIT until the day of or the day before an assignment is due to seek help
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Cheating of ANY form will not be tolerated. Academic honesty is expected in all
classes at Haynes Academy. Cheating will not be tolerated. Violations of academic
honesty include, but are not limited to, copying, allowing someone to copy your
paper, using cheat sheets, using technology to transmit or receive information with
the intent to commit academic dishonesty, plagiarizing, and self plagiarizing.
Just as there is no such thing as just "stealing a little" there is no such thing as
"cheating a little". Cheating is copying one answer or 100 answers or allowing a
friend to copy one answer or all your answers.
Follow these two rules and you will not have problem with cheating in APES:
1. Do your own work in and out of class.
2. Do not give your work to another student for any reason - no matter what they
might promise. If another student is too lazy to do their work why put your grade in
jeopardy by giving it to them. Just Say No!
What is considered cheating:
1. Copying any part of another students work.
2. Showing other students your answers on homework, class work, lab conclusions,
worksheets...
3. Having another student's work in your possession.
3. Copying from encyclopedias, the internet, or other sources of copyrighted work.
4. Plagiarism is the theft of ideas, writings, or words of another person and passing
this information off as one's own.
5. Self plagiarism is completing an original paper for one class assignment, then
turning in that same paper to another teacher for another class assignment without
permission.
Generally speaking cheating is turning in work that is not entirely your own or
giving another student your work.
Violations of academic honesty will be handled according to the Student
Handbook.
The following is a list of expected student behaviors in order to complete this
course successfully:
Read the material assigned! This course will require a moderate to heavy reading
load. You will be required to be able to engage in class conversations about the
material read prior to and outside of class.
Take careful, legible notes during lecture. Sixty percent of test and exam questions
will come from readings and lecture notes.
Study all material covered that day for at least 20-30 minutes each night. Write
down any questions about content you are unsure about or don’t understand. ASK
QUESTIONS!!!!!!!
CLASSROOM POLICIES & PROCEDURES:
 Students are expected to show respect for themselves, the instructor, their
classmates, school property and the property of others.
 Come to class on time and prepared.
 Do not talk when someone else is talking.
 Students are responsible for equipment, software and textbooks they use
during class. Students will be required to pay for school property that is lost
or damaged.
 No writing on or destroying the desks, chairs, tables, textbooks, or anything of
JPPSS (Haynes) property.
 I will sign a student’s agenda upon request to go to the bathroom or to
complete urgent business. Any student who abuses this policy may lose the
privilege.
 Follow all rules laid out in the Haynes Handbook.
 CONSEQUENCES – 1st Offense is a Warning; 2nd Student/Teacher
Conference-Lunch Detention; 3rd Student/Teacher/Parent Conference; 4th
Referral to Discipline Office.
*Please note that this syllabus may be altered at any time during the year as the
need arises.
Syllabus and Course Requirements Acknowledgment Page
2015-2016
Please fill out and return the form below for my records.
STUDENTS:
I have carefully read and understand these course requirements for Ms. Coogler’s
APES class.
________________________
Student Name (please print)
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Student Signature
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Period
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Date
PARENT/GUARDIAN:
I have carefully read and discussed these course requirements with my child.
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Parent/Guardian Name (please print)
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Parent/Guardian Signature
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Date
PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION:
Address: ______________________________________
Home Phone Number:____________________
Cell Phone Number: _____________________
E-mail Address: ________________________
The best way to contact me is: ________________