AP Biology Summer 2013 Assignment 1.
Read this article: “The Generality of Hypothetico-­Deductive Reasoning: Making Scientific Thinking Explicit” by AE Lawson, found on the web at (if this link does not work, google-­‐
search the title, it is available from several links): http://mres.gmu.edu/pmwiki/uploads/Main/Lawson2000.pdf Write a summary of the material presented. Include the main thesis and evidence in support. Be prepared to answer questions about the topic 2. Read this article: “ The Principle Elements of the Nature of Science: Dispelling the Myths” by McComas found on the web at (same as above, google): http://coehp.uark.edu/pase/TheMythsOfScience.pdf Write a summary of the material presented. Be prepared to answer questions. 3. Answer the following questions, use internet or other resources: 1. What is science?
2. What are natural laws?
3. Be able to list the assumptions of science. Know what they mean.
4. What’s the difference between basic and applied research.
5. What’s the difference between a fact, a hypothesis, a law, and a theory?
6. What are data, observations, and measurements. How are they alike, how do they differ from
each other?
7. What are the values and weaknesses of quantitative and qualitative data? When is it
appropriate to use each? How would any data from each be represented graphically?
8. Explain inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning. Be able to recognize examples of them.
9. Explain what hypothetico-deductive reasoning is and how it is used in science.
10. What was Karl Popper’s contribution to the Philosophy of science?
11. What is parsimony and how do we apply it to the study of evolution?
12. After completing all of the above reading and research, Explain why there is no single
“scientific method”? 4. Read The Panda’s Thumb: More Reflections in Natural History by Stephen Jay Gould, WW Norton and Co, 1980, ISBN 978-­‐0-­‐393-­‐30819-­‐8 Answer the following: A. Using this book and the articles it contains, describe Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Cite supporting passages by page number(s). example: (45) or (123-­‐
124) B. Citing passages from the book in support, compare Darwin’s concept of natural selection and evolutionary change to at least 2 other scientists mentioned. How were they alike and how different? What led to Darwin’s apparent predominance in evolutionary biology? C. Discuss at least 5 ways the author describes the application of evolutionary theory to Homo sapiens evolution (humans). Again, cite specific passages in support of your discussion. 5. Be prepared to take a test on the material covered in this summer assignment on the first day of school. This includes #1-­3 above covering the philosophy of science and # 4 covering some background on evolution. 6. You will need a lab notebook for all lab work next year. The notebook should have carbonless duplicate pages, one page will stay in the notebook and the duplicate will be turned in for grade. Amazon.com has a number of different brands with varying prices. An example is the BookFactory Carbonless Student Notebook. It can be purchased for as little as $7.99 with 25 pages and has larger page numbers up to 100 pages for $14.99. There are other brands but be sure to get one with carbonless duplicate pages. 7. Summer contact info: contact me by email at pleonard@pasco.k12.fl.us. I should be able to answer any questions this way, last year I was out of the US and was still able to find wi-­‐fi to check email periodically.