AP Biology Syllabus
Syllabus
2015-2016
Instructor Information:
Teacher:
Room:
Belle Vernon Area High School, Room
Contact:
Phone:
Email:
Website:
http://www.bellevernonarea.net/bvahs
Required Text:
Mader: Biology 11th
Additional Resources:
mheonline.com/maderAP11
Itunes
School wires
724-808-2500; ext. 2306
Rob Reda
Course Description:
Through the study of biology, students will appreciate the complexity of life and will understand that human
survival is dependent upon knowledge of diversity, interactions, and interdependence of living systems.
Emphasis is placed on a process approach which develops critical thinking and promotes scientific inquiry
leading to the development of a scientifically literate student. The course will encourage the use of a variety
of instructional approaches and material to provide students with varying abilities the opportunity for success.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, the successful student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate skills in using various types of biological instruments and scientific methods.
2. Apply biological knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social concerns.
3. Apply biological knowledge to the eight major themes (Science as a process, Evolution, Energy
transfer, Continuity and change, Relationship of structure and function, Regulation,
Interdependence, and Science, technology and nature).
4. Learn how to read and critique papers written by scientists in the field of biology.
5. To pass the AP exam with a 3 or better.
Academic Honesty:
Any work submitted by the student shall be his/her own. Work taken from others shall be
deemed as unacceptable. Any doubts will initiate the completion of an alternative assignment
or a zero on the required effort, depending on the severity of the infraction.
Class Policies and Expectations:
1.
Since preparation enhances performance, it is expected that students will keep a notebook to
organize notes & materials. The notebook will be valuable when studying for tests.
2.
Because so much material is covered in such a short period of time, frequent absences will cause
you to fall behind. 20 in a year will result in credit denial. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
AS A STUDENT TO MAKE UP MISSED WORK WHEN YOU RETURN TO CLASS.
3.
Tests notices are given at least one week’s in advance. Tests will be taken on the assigned test
date. Failure to do so will result in a zero.
4.
Assignments will be collected on the due date at the beginning of class. Failure to do so will result
in a zero for that assignment.
5.
Assignments (INCLUDING TESTS) given before the student’s absence are due on the day the
student returns to class. Failure to do so will result in a zero
6.
If you are absent on the day homework was assigned YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING
THE ASSIGNMENT FROM THE MAKE-UP FOLDER at the beginning or end of class the next
day you are present. You will have the same amount of time as the other students to complete
the assignment (Usually the time period is one night).
7.
If you are absent on the day of a quiz or test YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING
ARRANGEMENTS WITH ME AT THE BEGINNING OR END OF CLASS to take the test. You
will have 5 school days to make up a quiz, and 10 school days to make up a test. Try to be
prepared to make them up the day you return. There will be a list posted as to who has to make
up a test or quiz & the date they need to make them up by.
8.
Failure to make up assignments, tests, and quizzes by the deadline will result in a zero.
9.
CHEATING IS NOT TOLERATED! The first offense will result in a zero for that assignment or
test. The second offense will result in a zero for that assignment and the student will be sent to
administration.
Cell Phone’s, turn them off. I will ask you to put them away the first time I see it. Afterwards I will
take your cell phone off of you and give it to the office.
10.
Disabilities:
If you have a disability that requires special accommodations, you need to notify the teacher no
later than the 2nd week of class.
Course Grading Criteria:
All quizzes, tests, and projects will be graded according to the Belle Vernon Area School District
grading policy. Total points will be accumulated for all evaluated efforts in this class rather than
having letter grades per each effort. The grading scale is as follows:
A
B
C
D
F
-
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
0-59
Assignments per Quarter:
Tests
Each chapter quiz will be composed of true and false, matching, multiple choice, and essays.
There will unit test consisting of three chapters each as well as a nine week exams that covers all
the material during each quarter.
Labs
All formative labs are student directed laboratory investigations used throughout the course
allow students to apply the scientific practices define in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework
and include at least two lab experiences in each of the four big ideas. Several labs will be
conducted for the majority of the units that will require a lab write up. The lab report must be type and
include the following (Objectives, hypothesis, materials, procedure, data table and graphs, source of
error, conclusion, and questions from lab answered. These lab experience provide student opportunities
with each of the four Big ideas listed below in the AP Curriculum Map.
Labs are three forty two minute (126 minutes)periods out of 9 periods (378 minutes) out of a six
day cycle.
AP Lab 1 – Artificial Selection
Genetics of Organisms
AP Lab 2 – Hardy-Weinberg
AP Lab 3 – DNA Sequencing to Understand Evolution
AP Lab 4 – Diffusion and Osmosis
AP Lab 5 – Plant Pigments & Photosynthesis
AP Lab 6 – Cellular Respiration
AP Lab 7 – Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis
AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
AP
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
Lab
8 – Bacterial Transformation
9 – Restriction Enzymes
10 – Energy Dynamics
11 – Transpiration
12 – Fruit Fly Behavior
13 - Enzymes
Other labs:
Dissolved Oxygen and Aquatic Primary Productivity. Physiology of the Circulation System , Population Genetics and
Evolution,
Insects collection, Leaf collection, Caloric lab, Kinetic and potential energy lab, Plant diversity lab, Animal diversity
Lab, Web of Life lab, US Demographics Lab Pre & Post 1950.
Reading Guides:
Weekly reading will be assigned, please check school wires for which on and the due dates of each.
Study Island:
Weekly Study Island will be assigned which covers the current topics of the week. Please log onto the study island
web site to determine which ones are due.
Academic Standards:
Students will be reacquainted with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards that have been
adopted by the Department of Education, along with the Common Core Standards that are in
the process of being implemented nationwide. Students will be made aware of the importance
of the standards and the efforts to meet them.
eSchools:
If
Grades are automatically updated through eSchools.
Schoolwires (Website):
My website will be updated every Friday. Course Topics, Assignments, and Quizzes and Tests
are also posted weekly.
The following signatures state that all parties are aware of the preceding syllabus.
Student Signature____________________Date_______________
Parent Signature_____________________Date_______________
Teacher Signature____________________Date_______________
Course Outline:
1st Quarter
I. View of Life


The Scientific
Method
Laws, Theories
and Principles
2nd Quarter
I. Evolution





Darwin and
Evolution
Population
Evolution
Speciation and
Macroevolution
Origin of Life
Taxonomy
3rd Quarter
I. Plant Evolution




Plant Diversity
Flowering plants:
Structure &
organization
Nutrition and
transport
Control of growth
Reproduction
4th Quarter
I. Comparative
Anatomy









II. The Cell




Basic Chemistry
Biochemistry
Cell Strycture and
Function
Cell Membrane and
function
Metabloism: energy
and enzymes
Photosynthesis

Cellular Respiration


III. Genetics Basis
of Life






Cell Cycle
Meiosis
Mendelian
Genetics
Molecular Biology
Gene Regulation
and Expression
Biotechnology
II. Microbiology and
Evolution



Viruses, Bacteria,
and Archaebacteria
Protista diversity
Fungi Evolution
II. Animal Evolution

Invertebrate
evolution

Vertebrate
Evolution
Human Evolution
Organization and
Homeostasis
Circulation
Lymphatic and
Immunity
Digestive System
Respiratory System
Body Fluid
Regulation
Nervous System
Locomotion and
Support
Hormones
Development and
Aging
II. Behavior &
Ecology





Behavior Ecology
Population Ecology
Community and
Ecosystems
Biosphere
Conservation of
biodiversity
III. Review of AP
Exam