Manchester High School
Mr. Brandon Scholz
Zoology
Introduction
Zoology is an intensive class. In order to succeed in this class, it will be necessary to donate time each
night to review what was covered that day. Zoology deals with the classification, evolution, and biology
of animals. This course will have dissections to help study the various phyla as well, so speak to me as
soon as possible if you expect to have trouble being able to accomplish the dissections. This course is
serious business!
Course Goals
The course will investigate a total of five standards over the entire school year:
1. Students will derive the phylogeny of animal taxa (monophyletic clades in a cladogram) using
informative characteristics.
2. Students will explain the evolutionary history of animals over the geological history of Earth.
3. Students will compare form and function relationships within animal groups (clades) and across
key taxa.
4. Students will assess how animals interact with their environment including key adaptations
found within animal taxa.
5. Students will evaluate the relationships between humans and other animals.
Grading Policy
Classwork/ homework:
30%
Major grades (tests/projects)
50%
9 weeks test:
20%
Materials
All students will need to have a 3-ringed binder, pencils, and paper. I suggest you buy your 3-ringed
binder ASAP and fill it with paper immediately so you do not need to worry about it the rest of the year.
Colored pencils are optional but your own set may save you time and frustration. I tend to make very
detailed notes and have high expectations in my classroom, expect to bring a lot of paper and have
pencils/pens always ready!
Attendance
Meriwether County has a 5/day-semester attendance policy. Students should not expect to be
successful if they miss more than 10 days of class. Do not be tardy, because 3 tardies equal 1 absence.
You are expected to make up any missed work IMMEDIATELY upon your return. It is YOUR
responsibility to get any missed assignments. You must also keep up with all graded work; those grades
are just like receipts you get from banks and businesses. They serve as proof of your scores, in case I
make a mistake.
Classroom Rules
I maintain 3 simple classroom rules in all my classes. As the teacher, it is my classroom and I’ll decide
what takes place there. However, as a human being, the students and I are totally equal. If they ever
think that I am treating them unfairly then they may always come talk to me and I will never hold it
against them. That being said, these are the classroom rules:
1. Respect between student and teacher.
2. Respect between students
3. Respect for property.
Expected Lab Behavior
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Follow all directions from the teacher and the lab manual.
Do not begin until the teacher has given you permission to start.
Proper behavior is required; safety procedures, participation, and clean-up are always expected.
Clean up your entire lab area before leaving the class.
No horseplay!
Contact Information
If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I check my
e-mail several times a day (once a day on weekends) and I will respond to you as soon as possible. I am
here to teach and provide the best educational experience possible.
E-mail: brandon.scholz@mcssga.org
Student Signature:______________________________________________ Date:___________________
Parent Signature:_______________________________________________ Date:___________________