AP Biology Course Information Sheet
Teacher: Mrs. Renee Smith
Email: rsmith@clintonpublicschools.com
Course Description: Given the speed with which scientific discoveries and research
continuously expand scientific knowledge, many educators are faced with the challenge
of balancing breadth of content coverage with depth of understanding.
The revised AP® Biology course addresses this challenge by shifting from a traditional
“content coverage” model of instruction to one that focuses on enduring, conceptual
understandings and the content that supports them. This approach will enable students to
spend less time on factual recall and more time on inquiry-based learning of essential
concepts, and will help them develop the reasoning skills necessary to engage in the
science practices used throughout their study of AP Biology.
To foster this deeper level of learning, the breadth of content coverage
in AP Biology is
defined in a way that distinguishes content essential
to support the enduring
understandings from the many examples or applications that can overburden the course.
Illustrative examples are provided that offer teachers a variety of optional instructional
contexts to help their students achieve deeper understanding. Additionally, content that is
outside the scope of the course and exam is also identified.
Students who take an AP Biology course designed using this curriculum framework as its
foundation will also develop advanced inquiry and reasoning skills, such as designing a
plan for collecting data, analyzing data, applying mathematical routines, and connecting
concepts in and across domains. The result will be readiness for the study of advanced
topics in subsequent college courses — a goal of every AP course.
The revised AP Biology course is equivalent to a two-semester college introductory
biology course and has been endorsed enthusiastically by higher education officials.
(From the College Board website, 2013)
Course Materials:
Campbell, Neil A., J. Reece. Biology, Eighth Edition (AP Edition)
5 Steps to a 5 AP Biology review book newest edition (optional)
Class binder (may be shared with other classes)
Lab binder (1 inch binder)
Calculator
Class Expectations: This is a college level course; therefore, the expectations
are that of a college student
1. Complete and turn in all assignment on time
2. Participate in all class/lab activities
3. Come to class prepared- have written and reading assignments completed
4. Show respect to teacher, classmates, and equipment
* If a student fails to meet any of the expectations, the student will be asked to stay
after class to meet with the teacher. On the second offense, the student’s parent will
be notified.
Big Ideas
Big Idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.Evolution is
a change in the genetic makeup of a population over time, with natural selection its major
driving mechanism. Darwin’s theory, which is supported by evidence from many
scientific disciplines, states that inheritable variations occur in individuals in a
population. Due to competition for limited resources, individuals with more favorable
variations or phenotypes are more likely to survive and produce more offspring, thus
passing traits to future generations.
Big Idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to
grow, to reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.Living systems require free
energy and matter to maintain order, grow and reproduce. Organisms employ various
strategies to capture, use and store free energy and other vital resources. Energy
deficiencies are not only detrimental to individual organisms; they also can cause
disruptions at the population and ecosystem levels.
Big Idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information
essential to life processes.
Genetic information provides for continuity of life and, in most cases, this information is
passed from parent to offspring via DNA. The double- stranded structure of DNA
provides a simple and elegant solution for the transmission of heritable information to the
next generation; by using each strand as a template, existing information can be preserved
and duplicated with high fidelity within the replication process. However, the process of
replication is imperfect, and errors occur through chemical instability and environmental
impacts. Random changes in DNA nucleotide sequences lead to heritable mutations if
they are not repaired. To protect against changes in the original sequence, cells have
multiple mechanisms to correct errors. Despite the action of repair enzymes, some
mutations are not corrected and are passed to subsequent generations. Changes in a
nucleotide sequence, if present in a protein-coding region, can change the amino acid
sequence of the polypeptide. In other cases, mutations can alter levels of gene expression
or simply be silent. In order for information in DNA to direct cellular processes,
information must be transcribed (DNA→RNA) and, in many cases, translated (RNA→
protein). The products of transcription and translation play an important role
in
determining metabolism, i.e., cellular activities and phenotypes. Biotechnology makes it
possible to directly engineer heritable changes in cells to yield novel protein products.
Big Idea 4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions
possess complex properties.
All biological systems are composed of parts that interact with each other. These
interactions result in characteristics not found in the individual parts alone. In other
words, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” All biological systems from the
molecular level to the ecosystem level exhibit properties of biocomplexity and diversity.
Together, these two properties provide robustness to biological systems, enabling greater
resiliency and flexibility to tolerate and respond to changes
in the environment.
Biological systems with greater complexity and diversity often exhibit an increased
capacity to respond to changes in the environment.
Grading:
Tests (37.5%) – Every test will cover multiple chapters. Tests will have multiple choice
items including comprehension and application level questions and one free response
item. Items are designed to test understanding, not strictly memorization.
Daily (37.5%) – Labs: Lab packets will include post lab questions and graphing items.
Classwork/homework assignments: Assignments are designed to provide reinforcement
opportunities. Quizzes: Vocabulary and reading quizzes
Exam (25%) – Exams are comprehensive.
Helpful Hints to succeed in AP Biology
1. Attend all classes, read ahead of time, and take good notes. It is important to
read ahead of time and have a basic understanding of the topics. Class time is
used to clarify concepts and reinforce ideas.
2. Work on assignments daily. Students should spend an average of one hour
each night on AP Biology. This could include reading or writing assignments.
3. Attend review sessions and review on your own. These sessions provide an
opportunity to collaborate with other students and to ask specific question in
a one-on-one setting.
Missed work: It is the student’s responsibility to get and complete make-up work. If
a student is absent the day of a quiz or test, he/she is expected to make it up the nex
day.
AP Exam: The AP Biology exam is given on the second Monday in May each year.
The entire week before the exam will be spent in review. Students will take a
practice AP exam that will count one test grade. Students will need to complete most
of their review outside of class.
Labs: A complete list of labs will be given at the beginning of the school year.
I am looking forward to a great year of learning about LIFE!