Westhill High School values learning because it promotes academic excellence, civic responsibility and
personal growth. Our community provides all students with the opportunities to acquire, analyze, and apply
knowledge.
AP® Biology Course Syllabus 2011-2012
Mrs. Spata
Class web-page: http://emfspata.squarespace.com
On this page you will be able to find an updated class calendar, activities, and files relevant
to the course. Not all files will be available indefinitely. Timelines TBA.
Textbook:
Campbell, N.A. & Reece, J.B. (2008). Biology. (8h ed.) San Francisco, CA:
Benjamin Cummings. (ISBN: 0-8053-6624-5)
Main Lab Manual: AP® Biology Laboratory Manual for Students
Course Goals:
Welcome to AP® Biology! The purpose and goals of this course are to:
1) Present an in depth, college level study of the biological sciences,
2) Help students develop college level critical thinking skills and study habits, and
3) Prepare for the comprehensive AP® Biology examination from ETS.
This course is designed to take the place of freshman level biology at a college of superior
quality and will involve detailed investigations of all the major areas of modern biology.
Course Overview:
AP® Biology meets for a double period daily for a total of 96 teaching minutes. In general, I
will spend 5 of the 10 periods lecturing and/or engaging the class in discussion. The other 5
periods will be spent doing labs and other activities. The 12 AP® Biology laboratory
investigations, additional labs, animal dissections, scientific journal readings, research
problems in biology, and various class presentations will be included in the required course
work. Approximately 25-30% of the class time will be used for hands on, practical laboratory
experience.
Course Themes:
AP® Biology is thematic in nature. All course topics will be taught within the following
themes as presented by The College Board with a specific emphasis on evolution as the
foundation for modern biological models. In addition to lessons taught within the thematic
framework, there will be a minimum of two essays per quarter in which students will be
asked to write about one of the themes as it pertains to a particular topic. The themes are
listed below.
I. Science as a Process
II. Evolution
III. Energy Transfer
IV. Continuity and Change
V. Relationship of Structure to Function
VI. Regulation
VII. Interdependence in Nature
VIII. Science, Technology, and Society
Topic Outline: (Percentage of total course)
The following is a general guideline of our AP® Biology course and is offered to help you to
focus on key concepts (or key ideas) throughout the course and the approximate amount of
class time we will spend on each topic. “Topics” as defined by The College Board are subject
areas in biology. “Concepts are key ideas, restricted in scope to a particular topic. Themes cut
across topics.” (ETS) We will spend a good portion of our time together discussing topics as
they relate to the AP® Biology themes. The three overarching topics are Molecules & Cells,
Heredity & Evolution, and Organisms & Populations. Percentages of these topics and their
sub-topics covered on the AP® Biology exam are below.
I.
II.
III.
Molecules and Cells 25%
A. Chemistry of Life 7%
Water
Organic Molecules in organisms including enzymes
Free energy changes
B. Cells 10%
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Membranes
Sub-cellular organization
Cell cycle and its regulation
C. Cellular Energetics 8%
Coupled reactions
Fermentation and cellular respiration
Photosynthesis
Heredity and Evolution 25%
A. Heredity 8%
Meiosis and gametogenesis
Eukaryotic chromosomes
Inheritance patterns
B. Molecular Genetics 9%
RNA and DNA structure and function
Gene regulation
Mutation
Viral structure and replication
Nucleic acid technology and applications
C. Evolutionary Biology 8%
Early evolution of life
Evidence for evolution
Mechanisms of evolution
Organisms and Populations 50%
A. Diversity of Organisms 8%
Evolutionary patterns
Survey of the diversity of life
Phylogenetic classification
Evolutionary relationships
B. Structure and Function of Plants and Animals 32%
Reproduction, growth, and development
Structural, physiological and behavioral adaptations
Response to the environment
IV.
C. Ecology 10%
Population dynamics
Communities and ecosystems
Global issues
AP® EXAM Monday May 14, 2012 8 am
Course Requirements:
AP® Biology is challenging and quickly paced. The course will be taught conceptually, with
a substantial amount of individual, hands-on, and group learning activities. Since there is so
much to cover, students will be responsible for mastering a significant amount of material on
their own, especially the small factual details. Small student study groups and/or studybuddies are both recommended and encouraged; they make both the studying and class work
load much easier.
You must bring the following items to class everyday:
• 3-ring binder designated only for AP® Biology with loose-leaf paper
• Pen or Pencil
• Your textbook
• A sense of humor and readiness to work!
Course Grading:
Class grades will be based on a weighted percentage point system. Grade components will
be weighted approximately as follows:
Exams: 50%
Laboratory work 20%
Quizzes 10%
Mastering Biology Homework Assignments 10%
Projects and other assignments: 10%
*Grade weights may change, with notice to student.
Course Assignments:
There are many in-class and extra-curricular activities that students taking AP® Biology will
be required to do; this is a work intensive class. It is your responsibility to have all
assignments when they are due. For full credit, assignments must be neat, complete, and
submitted on time. Assignments will not be accepted after the due date except in the case of
an illness or emergency. Additional time will be given at the teacher’s discretion. Below is an
overview of the some of the types of assignments you will be responsible for in addition to
exams, quizzes, and labs. Not all types of assignments are given every quarter; others may be
added at the instructor’s discretion
Quest Quizzes: Given for each topic, students are required to log-in and complete
quizzes online. Registration information will follow.
Chapter Questions: Students are responsible for answering the Evolution Connection,
Scientific Inquiry, and Science, Technology, and Society questions at the end of SOME
chapters in the textbook. Due dates will be assigned.
Practicing Biology: Students will do selected activities adapted from Jean Heitz’s
book Practicing Biology: A Student Workbook for Biology 8th ed.
Reading Assignments and Reading Guides: It is recommended that students read
assigned chapters BEFORE the class lecture to enhance class discussion and participation.
Students are expected to complete the reading guides as they read the chapters. Reading
Guides are REQUIRED for each chapter. Outside, relevant reading assignments will be given
at the teacher’s discretion.
Mastering Biology Homework: Utilizes the companion website to your textbook.
Online assignments will be due 2-3 times weekly.
Class Exams and Labs:
Labs: Most labs will require data collection (some over long periods of time) and
students will need to draw logical conclusions based on evidence. We will discuss all lab
results and students will analyze both individual and class sets of data for to verify its
significance. Try to avoid missing labs at all costs! Due to their complex nature and
perishable materials, they are impossible to make up. Students will complete 1-2 formal lab
reports per quarter.
Exams: Class exams will be modeled after the AP® Biology exam in type and style
of questions. Since the AP® Biology exam is cumulative in nature, students can expect
exams to have questions on ANY material previously covered in class and labs. I expect
students to take all exams on the day they are scheduled. In the event of an unforeseen illness
or extenuating circumstance, the student is required to send me an email no later than the
close of school the day of the test announcing their absence. A parent note is required the
following day to make up the exam. IF NO PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN
MADE, THE MISSED EXAM WILL BE MADE UP IN CLASS THE DAY OF THE
STUDENT’S RETURN TO CLASS, NO EXCEPTIONS. ALL MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL
BE IN AN ALTERNATE FORM. Students may miss no more than one test per quarter. The
second exam missed will result in a mark of “0” for that test. If there are extenuating
circumstances please let me know.
*Exams missed due to a “cut” may NOT be made up and will result in a score of ‘0’.
Project Opening Doors:
Westhill High School is a recipient of a grant, Project Opening Doors, which aims to
increase participation in and scores of students in math, English, and science classes. There
are some AMAZING resources for students that are provided because of this grant. Below
are the two that I STRONGLY encourage you participate in:
After school tutoring- 1 hour weekly- we will review, go over practice questions, or
background information as necessary. Students are REQUIRED to attend TWO hourly
sessions per quarter and attendance will count as a quiz grade. You will earn 0.2% extra
toward your quarter grade for each EXTRA hour you attend. Dates and topics will be
announced approximately one month in advance.
Saturday Prep Sesions-3 Saturdays, to be announced- dynamic AP teachers from
across the country, AP readers, and question leaders present. Your lowest test grade, in the
quarter you attend, will be dropped for each session you attend.
Teacher Expectations:
Welcome to “college”! As your instructor, I plan to run my classroom as close to a
college class as possible and I am going to trust that you meet your obligation to me,
yourself, and your peers: this requires a high level of maturity, from you, the student.
In order to be successful in AP® Biology, you have many responsibilities:
It is your responsibility to be on time and in your seat when the bell rings; class starts
at the bell. Except in an emergency, once class starts no one will be permitted to leave the
room.
Students are expected to come prepared and ready to learn. Students are responsible
for keeping their own chapter notes, all class materials and handouts, and completing all
assignments on time. It is your responsibility to keep up with all readings, assignments, and
come prepared with your textbook, notebook binders, calculator, and writing instruments to
every class. Please check the classroom calendar frequently.
It is your responsibility to come to all scheduled exams, quizzes, and labs. It is your
responsibility to come to class ready to work, learn, and have fun.
What the Student Can Expect:
You, the AP® Biology student, can expect to work harder than you have in any other high
school class. If you make the time and commitment to study regularly, do all assignments,
listen in class, and perform reasonably well on exams, you can and will be successful in this
class. Always try your best; I know you can do it! If you should EVER encounter any
difficulty in this class, let me know immediately. There is an open door policy in this class,
and if you ever have a question or concern, see me; I am always here to help – ALWAYS!
Never leave class confused; there is never a “dumb” question and if YOU are confused,
somebody else probably is too.
Honesty in Learning Policy:
Students are expected to do and submit their own work and act in an academically honest and
responsible manner. Acts of cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated. These can
include, but are not limited to, copying and/or submitting work done by someone else, not
giving proper credit or citation when using an outside source of information, giving/receiving
information about exams & quizzes, having/using unauthorized study aids during exams and
quizzes, or changing/modifying answers during a post-exam review. All suspected cases of
academic dishonesty will be brought to the attention of the school administration, parents will
be notified, and the assignment(s) in question will receive a 0%, no exceptions.
Classroom Courtesy:
You are now adults and are expected to behave and act responsibly. I will treat you as adults
as long as you act like adults. Good listening and working habits in class always pay off
when you take an exam or quiz. Please show courtesy by not talking in class when the
instructor, or a fellow student, is speaking. Because we are going to be working as a team, I
expect everyone in the class to treat each other with consideration and respect. I will respect
you; you are expected to do the same.