AP/IB Summer Assignment 2014/2015 School Year
Welcome to AP/IB Biology. Our goal this year is to prepare you for successful completion of the AP course exam in
May of 2015.
This year is going to be challenging because of the overwhelming amount of information you are expected to
master in the limited time we have to do it. I will assist you in this challenge but for you to have any chance of
success you must rely on yourself to acquire the majority of the information. You will be expected to read, outline,
and assimilate the knowledge in each section of the book as we progress through the course in the following 11
months.
Science can seem like an accumulation of innumerable facts, so as a student of science, it is important that you pay
attention for themes or BIG IDEAS that run through this course of study.
The IB program recognizes four themes and they are:
Structure and function: This relationship is probably one of the most important in a study of biology and operates
at all levels of complexity. Students should appreciate that structure permits some function while, at the same
time, limiting others.
Universality versus diversity: At the factual level, it soon becomes obvious to students that some molecules (for
example, enzymes, amino acids, nucleic acids, and ATP) are ubiquitous, and so are processes and structures.
However, these universal features exist in a biological world of enormous diversity; Species exist in a range of
habitats and show adaptations that relate structure to function. At another level, students can grasp the idea of a
living world in which universality means that a diverse range of organisms (including ourselves) are connected and
interdependent.
Equilibrium within systems: Checks and balances exist both exist both within living organisms and within
ecosystems. The state of dynamic equilibrium is essential for the continuity of life.
Evolution: The concept of evolution draws together the other themes. It can be regarded as a change leading to
diversity within constraints, and this leads to adaptations of structure and function.
The AP program is also based on these 4 Big Ideas:
#1 The process of evolution drives the diversity of life
#2 Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce and to maintain
dynamic homeostasis
#3 Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes
#4 Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties
We will post these “4 Big Ideas” along with their associated “Enduring Understandings” on the walls of the
classroom at the beginning of next school year and we will reference them during both lab and lecture and utilize
them as a framework for accomplishing the curriculum by the end of April!
Summer Assignment
This will be one of the most challenging and time consuming courses that you will take in either high
school or college. Both the AP curriculum and the IB curriculum are broad and deep. You will be required
to understand the great diversity of life at a very detailed level. The primary text will be Biology by Sylvia
S. Mader. Due to the breadth of the AP curriculum we will be required to cover many of the chapters in
the textbook. You will be required to read and outline sections of the textbook prior to lecture. You
will either receive points for your outlines of the text or you may need to prove your understanding by
performing adequately well on a pre-test for each section of the book or an equivalent quick write. The
majority of your grade will be determined by how well you perform on quizzes, tests, and exams.
1. Purchase a large, solidly constructed, notebook with permanently bound paper for taking notes.
2. Read and outline chapters 46.1-46.5, 47, 48, and 50.1-50.3 in Biology by Sylvia S. Mader. It is
important that you do not try to complete this assignment in just a few days, but instead, pace
yourself to complete this assignment over a period of several weeks. I would recommend doing
the “Testing Yourself” multiple choice questions at the back of each chapter. Answers to these
questions can be found in Appendix A beginning on page 946. You may also register for on-line
help with this text as well. Go to www.mhhe.com/maderbiology9 for text outlines, PowerPoints,
animations, flashcards, and quizzes.
3. Be prepared for a 30 minute “Open-Note” multiple choice test on the material from chapters
46.1-46.5, 47, 48, and 50.1-50.3.
4. Purchase and read “Your Inner Fish” by Neil Shubin. We will conduct a structured small group
discussion within the first few days of class followed by an open note quiz covering main ideas
from the eleven chapters. You may purchase this book from your local bookstore or there are
used versions on-line at such vendors as Amazon.com.
5. I strongly suggest that everybody purchase a “New” Cliffs AP Biology 4th Edition course
companion. I also suggest that the IB students purchase the IB Course Companion which will be
used both this year and next.
6. I also suggest supplementing your reading with Paul Anderson’s “Bozeman Biology” YouTube
videos found at http://www.youtube.com/user/bozemanbiology#g/c/FCE4D99C4124A27A
7. E-mail me at ttisor1@yahoo.com if you have any concerns over the summer… I will try to
respond ASAP but response may be delayed due to vacation plans.