Waynesville High School
2015-2016
Course Syllabus: General Biology
I.
Course Title: General Biology
Department: Science
Designated Grade Level: 10
Duration: 2 semesters
Prerequisite: Science 9
Credit: 1 full unit
Instructor: Mrs. Keeling
Email address: jkeeling@waynesville.k12.mo.us
II.
Required books and class material:
There will be a classroom set of textbooks for students to use during class. Students with
internet access may request an online textbook username and password to access the
online text at http://my.hrw.com/. If you don’t have internet access, a textbook may be
checked out for the year.
III.
Student supply requirement:
Students will need paper, pencils or pens and a composition notebook.
IV.
Course Rationale:
Biology is a yearlong course designed to prepare students for advanced courses in
the biological areas at high school and college levels.
V.
Course Description:
Biology introduces students to the vocabulary, literature, and laboratory
procedures necessary to learn about living things.
V.
Course Objectives:
Unit 1: Scientific inquiry includes the ability of students to formulate a testable question
and explanation, and to select appropriate investigative methods in order to obtain
evidence relevant to the explanation.
-Scientific inquiry includes evaluation of explanations in light of evidence and scientific
principles
Unit 2: Cells carry out chemical transformations that use energy for the synthesis or
breakdown of organic compounds
-Explain how water is important to living things based on its properties
Unit 3: Describe the structure of cell parts found in different types of cells and the
functions they perform that are necessary to the survival of the cell and organism.Explain physical and chemical interactions that occur between organelles as they carry
out life processes.
Unit 4: Cellular activities and responses can maintain stability internally while external
conditions are changing
Unit 5: All living organisms have genetic material that carries hereditary information
-Identify possible external causes and effects of DNA mutations which may affect
chemical reactions and structural development.
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Unit 6: Recognize the chromosomes of daughter cells, formed through the processes of
asexual reproduction and mitosis, the formation of somatic cells in multicellular
organisms, are identical to the chromosomes of the parent cell
-Chromosomes are components of cells that occur in pairs and carry hereditary
information from one cell to daughter cells and from parent to offspring during
reproduction.
-Organisms progress through life cycles unique to different types of organisms.
Unit 7: Explain how genotypes contribute to phenotype variation within a species
Unit 8: Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are complementary processes necessary
to the survival of most organisms on Earth.
Unit 9: All populations living together within a community interact with one another and
with their environment in order to survive and maintain a balanced ecosystem.
-Identify and explain the limiting factors that may affect the carrying capacity of a
population within an ecosystem.
-Predict the impact a natural or human caused environmental event may have on the
diversity of different species in an ecosystem.
-Predict how the use and flow of energy will be altered due to changes in a food web
Unit 10: Explain the importance of reproduction to the survival of a species
-Natural selection is the process of sorting individuals based on their ability to survive
and reproduce within their ecosystem
VI.
Evaluation --Biology grades will be weighted according to the following scale:
1st Semester:
2nd Semester:
70% Common Assessments
60% Common Assessments
30% Practice
30% Practice
10% End of Course Exam
*Powerschool will be updated on a weekly basis.
Late submission of work will be handled as according to the student handbook:
-Late submission of assessment evidence may lead to an invitation or the requirement to
attend a academic support session after school .
-Students turning in work any time after the original due date will be eligible for 75% of
the original points assigned. Late assignments must also be turned in during the six-week
grading period that they are assigned.
VII. Classroom Expectations:
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