(Advanced Placement) Biology 2012-13
Instructor – Robert Bauer
Contact Information
Email: robert.bauer@barren.kyschools.us
Ph. 270.651.6315
Twitter: barrenapbiology
Hours – Fall and Spring Semester 1:30 to 3:00
Barren County High School
Course Description
Advanced Placement Biology is a class designed to reinforce a student’s understanding of the scientific
investigation of living organisms. To navigate the modern world and make the most basic informed
decisions requires one to understand a great deal of biology. Bioliteracy is no longer an option but a
necessity, and for anyone intent on actively participation in this world means that they must possess a
working vocabulary of the science of life. Further, advanced placement means that this understanding
must go beyond the minimum levels of bioliteracy and therefore our efforts shift towards fluency. AP
students must be able to not just participate in discussions of science but lead them. The class is a college
level course that will consist of the study of life through close observation of Ecology, Animal and Plant
Structure, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Evolution, and Taxonomy. The class requires academic
dedication and out of class preparation. In addition, about 30% of classroom time will be laboratory
based.
Materials
Composition Notebook
3-ring binder
Recommended
Set of coloring pencils
Flash drive
Attendance Policy
Students will have one school day for each day missed to make up assignments and/ or tests due to an
excused absence. This policy also applies to any class time missed for field trips or extra curricular events. If
an exam or quiz is scheduled for the day in which the student returns from an absence, the student will be
expected to be prepared for an take the exam. Work may be made up before or after school and must be
scheduled with the course instructor.
Grading Procedures
Grades will be determined using a weighted system. The individual student’s average will be determined
using the scale below:
Exams – 60% (TIMED unit exams)
Quizzes – 30% (TIMED announced and un-announced, current and past material)
Labs/Presentations – 10% (formal and informal reports)
Tests or quizzes should not be started if a student will be leaving in the middle of class. If the exam or quiz is
started and the student leaves for a planned appointment they will not be able to continue at a later date.
***Any student with a D average or below will not receive permission to miss class for any club meeting or
field trip.
Student Work - Full credit is awarded only for work that is submitted on-time. Work will be accepted up to
ONE DAY LATE with a 50% penalty only for major assignments.
Objective Based Grading – The quizzes in this class will all be correlated to learning objectives. When you
view your grades rather than seeing a quiz grade you will see a grade for each objective. This will help you
better identify what you need to review.
Semester Exam
All students will be required to take an end of course assessment that will serve as their grade for the
semester exam. This test will be given within the last two weeks of school.
Classroom Rules - The Success of this class depends on respect.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Respect Me. Stay on task, be on time, be prepared.
Respect your classmates. Keep it courteous.
Respect the Room. Keep it clean – no food or drinks (H20 only).
Respect Yourself. Dedicate yourself to your work.
Outside of Class
Learning everything about life is a difficult task. It is essential that time is spent studying outside of class. .
Time management and dividing lengthy assignments into manageable sections over multiple days will be
your best choice; procrastination will be your worst enemy in this class. Students in AP Biology should
spend at least 5 hours a week in individual study time outside of class. In addition, we will have three after
school study sessions throughout the semester that will be a required part of the class. I will be available to
help students with questions/problems and for make-up work on most afternoons from 3:00 – 4:00. Please
let me know a day ahead of time if you are going to stay after school.
Prep Sessions
Students are encouraged to participate in the three Saturday Prep Sessions. Dates TBA.
Incentives
Most colleges award three credit hours for a qualifying score of 3 on the AP exam. The qualifying score
varies by college so check with the university you plan to attend. Scores are reported in early July.
WKU Biology – Score of 3 = 3 Hours Credit; Score of 4 = 4 Hours Credit; Score of 5 = 8 Hours Credit
Internet Component
There will be periodic coursework to be completed online outside of scheduled class time. These are
required assignments, if you do not have internet access at home arrangements will need to be made to
use computers after school (library, science department) or the public library. It is also strongly
recommended that you follow me on twitter for important class announcements.
Repeated Assessments and Assignments
Flip Folders – Prior to each unit exam, you will be required to submit a review of the unit we have just
finished. This review will be in the form of a flip folder. This is a handy way for you to organize the bulk of
information and will be an invaluable tool later as you prepare for the AP biology exam.
Online Activity and Chapter Quizzes – If you work hard to understand the material in the class, most of
your work will be online. Used correctly, these are a great resource to help you prepare for quizzes and
exams. They are due PRIOR to chapter quizzes.
Free Response Items – Half of the AP biology exam is written. To prepare for this part of the test, we will
have regular free response questions to hone our writing skills. The only way to do these well is to do them
often.
Units of Study
The units of study in AP biology will follow the recommended time frame outlined by the college board that
approves the AP curriculum.
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, to reproduce, and to maintain dynamic
homeostasis.
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.
Units
Unit 1: The Chemistry of Life
Unit 2: The Cell
Unit 3: Cell Processes: Energy and Communication
Unit 4: From Gene to Protein
Unit 5: Evolution
Unit 6: Biodiversity and Ecology
Plagiarism / Academic Dishonesty Policy
Plagiarism and academic dishonesty are serious offenses. The academic work of a student is expected to be
his/her own effort. Students must give the author(s) credit for any source material used. To represent ideas
or interpretations taken from a source without giving credit is a flagrant act. To present a borrowed passage
after having changed a few words, even if the source is cited, is also plagiarism. Students who commit any
act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade in that portion of the course work. Acts of academic
dishonesty will be reported to the administration.
AP Exam Preparation
All students are required to take the Advanced Placement test given in May; therefore, throughout the
course students will use past AP Biology essay questions to improve their skills in writing answers to
scientific free-response questions. Also, all major exams will follow the AP testing format of 50% multiple
choice and 50% essay questions. It is strongly recommended that students use an AP Biology Test Prep
book.
AP Biology Exam Format
Section I
Question Type
Number of Questions
Timing
Part A: Multiple Choice
63
90 minutes
Part B: Grid-In
6
Section II
Long Free Response
2
Short Free Response
6
80 minutes + 10-minute
reading period
The teacher reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time during the course.
Printed Student Name _________________________________________
Acknowledgement of Information presented in the Syllabus
Please return this portion, signed, to your instructor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have read the course syllabus for AP Biology and I understand the expectations
and requirements for this course.
_____ I have internet access at home.
_____ I do not have internet access at home.
* This does not exempt you from the assigned work which will require internet access outside of class.
I own the following devices which can be used for my educational enhancement.
________ Smart Phone
________Laptop
________iPad
________Tablet (Nook, Kindle, ect.)
________iPod Touch
________Other ________________________
Parent Signature: _____________________________
Student Signature: _____________________________
Date ______________________