AP Biology Syllabus – Narragansett High School, 2015-2016
Instructor: Mr. Reis, Room 204
Class Web Page: http://www.narragansett.k12.ri.us/NHS/scienceweb/mrreis/index.htm
Email: areis@narragansett.k12.ri.us or areis@nssk12.org (contact me any time you have questions)
Phone: 401-792-9400 x4204
Objectives of the course:
This course seeks to cover the subject areas in biology determined by the National College Board as
representative of an introductory college biology course. This means you will be learning the same
concepts and principles that college freshmen learn in their first year biology classes. Successful
completion of this class and a passing score on the AP Exam will be rewarded with college credits that
can be used at a college of your choice. It should be clear that this course will not involve the simple
memorization of facts, laws, or theories. Rather this course is meant to deepen your understanding of the
unifying principles of biology using the principles of inquiry to guide you through. A detailed course plan
has been attached to this syllabus to help you track what we have learned, and what we will be studying
next. It is also posted on the class web page with links to several relevant resources. The core areas of
study are: cell signals/communication, gene regulation, evolution, ecology, and homeostasis.
Text:
Biology, Campbell & Reese, 9th ed. (2011) from Benjamin Cummings
-Other readings will be used to enhance learning. These will be provided as they are used.
AP Exam: Monday, May 9, 2016
In order to receive the “AP” moniker on your transcript, you will register and take the AP Biology test. In
order to receive the college credits awarded for the completion of this class each student must pass the
AP Exam with a 3 or 4, depending on if you are a major in biology or not and your school. Colleges offer
up to 8 credits for its completion, or waive the requirement for their introductory biology course. Given its
rigorous nature we will spend much of our energy preparing for this test. We will spend some time during
the course of the year talking about exam strategies, looking at questions from previous tests, and
reviewing important concepts. In addition, the typical format of our unit tests will be much the same as the
AP test. This will allow you some opportunities to practice the types of multiple choice, grid-ins, short and
long free-response questions you will see on the AP Exam. You are expected to purchase an updated
preparation book to practice for the test independently, made for the 2013 test or more recent.
Cliffs is recommended for their sample tests at this point, though others are probably adequate.
AP Biology for Dummies has clear, simple summaries of content.
Expectations for success:
 Come to class everyday and on time. The difficulty and intense nature of this class makes it
incredibly difficult for students to catch up after missing class.
 Always put your best foot forward. This class requires dedication and a commitment to your
academic achievement. You will get out of this class only what you are willing to invest.
 If you are absent the day of the test you will take the test the day you return.
 There are absolutely no lab make-up days. If you miss a lab, or portion of a lab, and the absence or
tardy is not excused you will receive no credit for that lab. If your absence is excused by a doctor’s
note than you may complete a paper/virtual/online version of the lab.
 Late work will not be accepted, per standard collegiate protocol.
Grading and assessment:
Assessments will be timed to reflect the conditions of the AP test. Assignments and assessments will be
worth a given amount of points based on their importance. For example, most homeworks are worth 4
points, quizzes are worth about 20, and major reports are worth up to 50 points. Keep connected to
PowerSchool to know your academic standing.
Labs and experiments:
You will spend a minimum of 25% of instructional time engaged in inquiry-based laboratory work. We will
complete the 12 labs pre-set by the National College Board Advanced Placement Program as well as
additional supportive labs. The 12 labs put forth by the National College board are representative of the
investigative labs completed at the college level. This means that they are difficult in nature and require
not only specific lab skills, but also a fair understanding of the topic of the lab and investigative
confidence. Thus it is of dire importance that you come to the lab prepared in terms of the content, but
also prepared in terms of knowing what the purpose and a general idea of the procedure of the lab.
Coming unprepared will result in a poor performance on your part and will negatively affect other
members in your group. Collectively the lab experiences will provide you opportunity to apply the seven
science practices listed later in this syllabus.
There will be labs that are student-directed, specifically the artificial selection lab and the independent
research project, similar in nature to the one offered in accelerated biology I. You will report your lab
findings in various ways, including through formal reports, presentations with visuals, and group
discussions.
Materials required for class:
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2-inch 3-ring binder
Pencil, ideally mechanical
Good eraser
Calculator
AP Bio prep book
Learning and assessment:
After homework assignments, we will take short quizzes to assess your comprehension.
We will have large unit tests that will resemble and aid in preparation for the AP test. Performance and
analysis in our inquiry-focused labs will account for at least 25% of your grade.
Course Organization
Topics of study
It is the goal of this course to broaden your understanding of biology as it relates to three major areas that
are further broken down into 9 major concepts. The themes and concepts are accompanied by
percentages. These percentages represent how much of the course and AP Exam will be devoted to that
topic. These percentages should help you determine how much time you should spend reviewing these
topics in preparation for the exam.
1. Molecules and Cells………………………………………………………………25%
a. Chemistry of Life………………………………………7%
b. Cells …………………………………………………..10%
c. Cellular Energetics……………………………………8%
2. Heredity and Evolution……………………………………………………………25%
a. Heredity…………………………………….................8%
b. Molecular Genetics…………………………………...9%
c. Evolutionary Biology………………………………….8%
3. Organisms and Populations……………………………………………………...50%
a. Diversity of Organisms……………………………….8%
b. Structure and Function of Plants and Animals……32%
c. Ecology………………………………………………..10%
Our Big Ideas for the year will provide broad contexts of relevance.
Big idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life. (evolution)
Big idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to
reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis. (genetics, homeostasis)
Big idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life
processes. (gene regulation, cell signals/communication)
Big idea 4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess
complex properties. (ecology)
Course outline:
Cellular Processes: Energy and Communication
Time/Date
Topic
Chapters/Content
Summer
1 block
Chemistry &
Biochemistry
1: themes in study of life
2: chemistry of life
3: water
4: carbon molecules
5: biomolecules
1 block
8/31-9/2
Animal Behavior
51: animal behavior
7 blocks
9/2-9/25
Cells
6 blocks
9/25-10/16
Cellular
Energetics
6: tour of the cell
7: cell membrane
11: cell communication
12: cell cycle
13: meiosis and sex cycles
8: metabolism
9: respiration & fermentation
10: photosynthesis
AP Labs
-Enzyme Activity
-Termite and Fruit Fly Behavior
-Diffusion and Osmosis
-Microscopy
-Cellular Respiration
-Photosynthesis
Genetics and Information Transfer
Time/Date
Topic
7 blocks
10/16-11/3
Heredity
8 blocks
11/3-12/20
Molecular
Genetics
Chapters/Content
AP Labs
14: Mendel & genes
15: chromosomal inheritance
16: molecular inheritance
17: protein synthesis
18: gene expression &
regulation
19: viruses
20: biotechnology
21: genomes & evolution
-Cell Division Animation Analysis
-Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis
-Biotechnology: Bacterial
Transformation
-Biotechnology: Restriction
Enzyme Analysis of DNA
Evolution
Time/Date
Topic
7 blocks
1/8-1/28
Evolutionary
Biology
6 blocks
1/29-2/13
Diversity of
Organisms
8 blocks
2/14-3/11
Structure vs.
Function of Plants
Chapters/Content
AP Labs
22: Darwinian evolution
23: population evolution
24: speciation
25: life history on Earth
26: phylogeny, tree of life
27: bacteria, archaea
28: protists
31: fungi
29: plant diversity &
colonization
30: seed plant evolution
35: structure, growth,
development
36: resources in vascular
plants
37: soil & nutrition
38: angiosperm reproduction
& biotech.
39: signal response
-Comparing DNA Sequences with
Bioinformatics
-Artificial Selection: Using Fast
Plants
-Mathematical Modeling: HardyWeinberg
-Transpiration
Interactions
Time/Date
Topic
9 blocks
3/12-4/1
Invertebrates &
Vertebrates
11 blocks
4/1-4/28
Structure vs.
Function of
Animals
3 blocks
5/1 – 5/7
Ecology
Chapters/Content
32: animal diversity
33: invertebrates
34: vertebrate evolution
40: animal form & function
41: animal nutrition
42: circulation & gas exchange
43: immune system
44: osmoregulation & excretion
45: endocrine system
46: animal reproduction
47: animal development
48: neurons, synapses,
signaling
49: nervous system
50: sensory & motor
mechanisms
52: ecology & biosphere
53: population ecology
54: community ecology
55: ecosystems & restoration
56: conservation biology &
global change
AP Labs
-Invertebrate/Vertebrate Anatomy
-Circulation and Respiration
-Energy Dynamics: with
Butterflies
1 block – test prep
AP test – May 9
9 blocks
5/15-summer
Biology & Life
supplemental
-mammal anatomy
-diverse skill assessment
Summer assignment:
You will read chapters 1-5 in our textbook, which cover only 91 pages out of the 1,263 pages that
will be process this year. This unit covers information on the scientific process, the nature of
biology, and the chemistry of life. These topics were covered in our accelerated biology 1 course.
Upon having done this, you will:
1. Outline the five chapters, which will be submitted the first day of school. Be concise
for chapter 1, focusing on vocab and themes only. For 2 through 5, focus on diagrams
and vocab, but always keep information in context. Be selective about which diagrams to
include. Cut and paste diagrams from other online resources if complex. There are
several online resources that will aid in your comprehension, including sites with
animations, videos, and virtual labs. These can be hand-written or typed.
2. Complete 3 of the 4 free-response questions listed below. They are former AP Test
essay questions. You will submit them in one document via Turnitin.com (class ID:
6547183, class password: apbiology). One typically has 25 minutes to complete an
essay on the test, which allows for 2 to 4 paragraphs. Write these responses
accordingly.
*Due dates: Outlines and free-response question August 28h. Bring in the
outlines in person. Contact me via email for help, guidance, and feedback. I
would be willing to meet in school in the end of August to assist in processing the
material. Email to set up an appointment.
3. On the first day of classes you will be given a test on this unit. You are encouraged to
receive support from the AP Bio prep book that you will have purchased for this course.
We can schedule a pre-school year review session if desired by a group.
*Late work will not be accepted for any credit. If you fail to complete these assignments, it will be
extraordinarily difficult to catch up, as the course will be hard enough to keep up as it is.
Free-response questions:
Chapter 2: Chemical bonds are essential to building the molecules for life. In 3 paragraphs,
describe the following bond types and how they are significant to life on earth: ionic, covalent
(polar and nonpolar), hydrogen, and Van der Wahl’s (interactions).
Chapter 3: The unique properties (characteristics) of water make life possible on Earth. In 3
paragraphs, select three properties of water and:
a) for each property, identify and define the property and explain it in terms of the
physical/chemical nature of water.
b) for each property, describe one example of how the property affects the functioning of living
organisms.
Chapter 4: Carbon is a very important element in living systems. Describe the various
characteristics of the carbon atom that makes possible the building of a variety of biological
molecules thus life as we know it.
Chapter 5: How do structures of biologically important molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins,
nucleic acids) account for their functions?