Biology
Miss Piggott
Classroom: X234
Office: X127
Email: kpiggott@dist113.org
Voicemail: (224) 632-3270
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/dist113.org/piggott/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/105498223099500288854?cfem=1
Welcome to Biology! This course is designed to provide you with experiences in which we explore
the major themes of biology and the nature or the scientific enterprise, allowing you to thrive in an
increasingly complicated and scientifically sophisticated world. My goal is to provide each of you
with the opportunity to...
 Explore the basic concepts of biology,
 Develop the skills needed to design and perform experiments, analyze and evaluate scientific
information, communicate effectively with your peers, and
 Think critically about science and learn how to better appreciate and understand the important
role biology plays in our everyday lives.
This means that we will always be doing science in this course. And, as you are a biological being,
everything we will be learning in this course is actually centered on and around YOU!
Outline of Topics
Semester 1
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Semester 2
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Becoming a Biologist: characteristics of living things, lab safety, process of science
Ecology: human impact on ecosystems, food webs, population dynamics, nutrient cycles
Biochemistry: basic structure of atoms, biomolecules (carbs, proteins, lipids), enzymes/catalysts
Energy Transformations: photosynthesis and cellular respiration, leaf structure
Cellular Structure and Function: organelles, molecule transport, cell cycle, cancer
Molecular Genetics: structure of DNA, process of DNA replication and protein synthesis
Patterns of Inheritance: process of meiosis, Mendelian genetics, complex patterns of inheritance
Genetic Technology: genetic recombination and transformation, ethics of biotechnology use
Evolution: evolution of Earth, geologic time, natural selection, evidences of evolution
*Classification: Linnaean classification, cladistics, bacteria/viruses/disease, animal kingdom
*Anatomy and Physiology: form and function of Mammalian systems
*NOTE: The starred Topics involve dissection
Course Materials
Please have the following materials with you daily:
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Your Chromebook (labeled with your name)
Biology eTextbook, Miller & Levine (Prentice Hall) (login code from bookstore)
Chambers/Piggott/Newman 2014-2015 lab course pack (from bookstore)
100-page carbonless copy lab notebook (from bookstore)
3-ring binder (minimum 1½” – of good quality) with five tabbed dividers
Loose leaf paper (college or standard rule)
Colored pencils (12 pack minimum)
GRADING
Your grade for this course should reflect your achievement and mastery of the Biology Learning
Targets, which are distributed at the beginning of each content unit. The grade you earn in this course
is based on the following “categories” (with percentage approximations included):
Components Assessed:
 Homework (~10% of grade): Homework is intended to be an opportunity to monitor your
learning of the Biology Targets for each unit. Assignments are always due at the beginning of
a period and may checked for completion and/or be collected to check for correctness at the
teacher’s discretion.
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Labs & Activities (~25% of grade): Many of our labs and activities will require you to
complete analysis questions or to write a full lab report, and will be graded for points. While
lab groups work cooperatively to perform an experiment and collect data, you are expected to
answer the analysis questions and/or write the report individually and in your own words,
unless otherwise noted.
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Quizzes & Exams (~60% of grade): There will be a summative exam at the end of each
content unit which will measure your achievement and mastery of the Biology Learning
Targets. Many units will also have short quizzes to help you prepare for the unit exam.
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Organization (~5% of grade): You are expected to keep your course binder and lab notebook
organized as outlined by the teacher to increase efficiency in locating course materials.
Organized class materials will also make studying for exams easier.
Grading Scale:
Student grades are based on a straight points scale, however percentages 0.5% and higher will round to
the higher letter grade if it is on the “borderline”. For example, a percentage of 89.5% or higher will
earn the higher letter grade (A-). This rounding practice applies to all assignments/assessments,
quarter grades, and semester grades. All grades are available to view online through the IC portal.
B+ (89-87%)
C+ (79-77%)
D+ (69-67%)
A (100-93%)
B (86-83%)
C (76-73%)
D (66-63%)
E (below 60%)
ABCD-
(92-90%)
(82-80%)
(72-70%)
(62-60%)
Cheating of any kind will automatically result in a zero.
Infinite Campus Portal:
I encourage you and your parent(s)/guardian(s) to check the Infinite Campus (IC) portal every 1-2
weeks to track your progress in the course. While IC is not updated daily, most assignments, on
average, will be graded, entered in IC, and returned within one to two weeks of the due date. If there
is a discrepancy between the grade marked on the assignment and the grade entered in IC, please notify
your teacher.
If an assignment appears in the portal but does not have a “score” value, this means the assignment has
been entered into the system, but has not yet been graded. When assignments have been graded, point
values will appear in the “score” column. Comments (missing, late, incomplete, etc.) may also be
marked for certain assignments. If you have any questions regarding your score value or the comment
marked for an assignment, please contact your teacher. Any parent phone call or email regarding
student performance will typically be returned within 24 hours (with the exception of weekends or
holidays).
COURSE POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS
Chromebooks
You are expected to bring your Chromebook with you to class each day; it should be charged and
ready for use. The Chromebook will be an excellent resource many days in class and in the lab, but the
device will not necessarily be used every day. You should use your Chromebook as directed by your
teacher. When not in use, your Chromebook should be turned off and carefully put away.
Other Electronic Devices
Cell phones and other devices (tablets, etc.) must be turned OFF and put away upon entering the
classroom. If you fail to do so, consequences (as outlined in the district handbook) will follow. iPods
and other music playing devices (excluding cell phones) may be used when appropriate, at the
teacher’s discretion.
Please note your teacher is NOT responsible for your electronic device(s) so exercise caution when
bringing such a device into the classroom.
Attendance & Make-Ups
Regular, punctual attendance is vital to success in the course; due to the nature of our labs, experiences
can be difficult to replicate or make up. You should rely on your lab partners and the weekly calendar
to help identify what was missed following an absence. Whenever you are absent, it is always your
responsibility to find out what material was covered and obtain the necessary handouts or notes before
setting up a time to review what you missed with me.
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Authorized absences: (field trips/sporting events, vacations, sick day, etc.):You are
expected to turn in assignments the day you return. Anything turned in after this time will be
considered late work. If you miss a quiz or exam you will have two school days to make it up
in the Testing Center.
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Unauthorized absences: Unexcused absences will result in a zero for all assignments and/or
labs that were due or done in class that day, at the teacher’s discretion.
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Tardies: If you are tardy, you will be given one warning. All subsequent tardies will earn a
detention. Repeated tardies or absences could lead to other consequences, such as an
attendance contract or even a drop from the course.
Late or Missing Work
Classwork and homework can be collected or checked for completion, at the teacher’s discretion. In
order to receive full credit for any assignment, it must be finished completely and turned in on time (at
the beginning of the period, unless otherwise noted). When homework is not turned in on time, it is
considered late and will be worth half-credit. I will accept missing work for late credit until the end of
that curricular unit. Once the unit test has been given, missing work can no longer be submitted.
Communication
I encourage you to check your school-issued email address daily as it is often the most convenient way
to communicate important information. You can also contact me at my district email address
(kpiggott@dist113.org) or on my district voicemail (224-632-3270) with any questions or concerns.
Email is my preferred method of communication as it often leads to the quickest responses, but on
average I will respond to your inquiries within 24 hours (with the exception of weekends or holidays).
I am excited to have each of you in my class.
Let’s have a great year of learning, fun, & success together! 
Miss Piggott