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Dear A.P. Biology Students:
Congratulations on choosing and meeting the requirements to take A.P. Biology next year. I am so excited about
the opportunity to teach you. Biology is a great way to appreciate the complexity and unity of God’s creation.
As you know, A.P. Biology is a challenging college level course. It will require extensive reading as well as
writing essays and lab reports for homework. It may also require the sacrifice of lunch times for labs, makeup,
and review. Moreover, due to the incredible amount of information in this course there will be summer
homework as outlined below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Read and make an outline of notes for the first four chapters of Campbell’s Biology 10 th edition,
ISBN13: 978-0321775658 (1-The Chemical Context of Life, 2-Water and Life, 3-Carbon and the
Molecular Diversity of Life, and 4-The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules). The first
two chapters are a very basic review of the themes in biology and chemistry concepts as well as the
importance of water for living organisms. The third and fourth chapters require a more careful study
of the organic compounds found in organisms. You must be able to identify these molecules by their
structural formulas.
a. Outlines need only contain major points and vocabulary definitions
Review the handout “AP Biology Vocabulary List” and make vocabulary note cards of the first two
sections: Scientific Process and Biochemistry. You may use your book or the internet for your
definitions but be sure that they are accurate.
Prepare to take a test covering the first three chapters on Tuesday of the second week of school. Bring
any questions you have to discuss prior to the test.
Type your answer to the essay question on the next page in paragraph form. You
may use any scholarly sources (Wikipedia can be a great starting point but it is not a source). Please
email me your completed essay by August 15.
If you have any questions, please email me at sgreen@covenantschool.org. I will be checking this email account
periodically but please allow a few days for a response. Have a wonderful summer and I look forward to teaching
you next year.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Green
A.P. Biology Summer Homework Essay
Carbon is a very important element in living systems.
a.
Describe the various characteristics of the carbon atom that ma ke possible the building of a variety
of biological molecules.
b.
Explain how reactions involving carbon-containing compounds can contribute to the greenhouse
effect.
c.
The following structures are exa mples of two different categories of biological compounds. Describe
how each category of compounds is important to the structure and function of living systems.
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