AP Biology
Course Syllabus
2015-2016
Course Title: AP Biology
Instructor’s Name: Mr. N Holton
Contact Numbers: 303- 340-1600 ext. 64458
School e-mail address: nwholton@aps.k12.co.us
Website address: www.edmodo.com
To register go to website click “I’m a student” enter the group code ___________and complete the registration.
Teacher availability: 730 am – 330 pm, or by appointment.
Quarterly Summary:
Quarter: Evolution:
Essential Questions:
Ø What role does evolution play in the organization of living things?
Ø What evidence supports our current models of the origin of life?
Ø How does the process of evolution drive diversity and the unity of life?
Ø How does life evolve in changing environments?
Quarter: Cellular Processes: Energy and Communication:
Essential Questions:
Ø How is the cell the basic unit of life?
Ø How do materials enter and leave the cell?
Ø What role does the cell membrane play in cellular homeostasis?
Ø What are the relationships between structure and function of cell organelles?
Ø How are the characteristics of life manifested by the cell?
Ø How is free energy used in biological systems to facilitate growth, reproduction, and homeostasis
sustainability?
Ø How is energy stored in biological systems?
Ø How are external signals converted into cellular responses?
Quarter: Genetics and Information Transfer:
Essential Questions:
Ø How are traits passed from one generation to the next?
Ø How do eukaryotic cells store, retrieve, and transmit genetic information? - How does genotype affect
phenotype?
Ø How are genotype and human disorder related?
Ø How does gene expression control the cell and determine its metabolism?
Ø What are the current trends in genetic engineering techniques that guide manipulation of genetic
information?
Ø What social and ethical issues are raised by advances in genetic engineering?
Quarter: Interactions:
Essential Questions:
Ø How do interactions between and within populations influence patterns of species distribution and
abundance?
Ø How do living things use energy and matter to survive in an ecosystem?
Ø How do humans impact the biodiversity of ecosystems?
Ø What role does the environment play in sustaining homeostasis in biological systems?
IV. Grading Policies and Procedures
A. ASSESSMENT: A variety of assessments will be used in this course, but the majority of your grade will be determined by quizzes
and tests (to prepare you for the AP exam.) Periodic formative quizzes (vocabulary or reading/content-based) will be given to
ascertain student understanding. A unit test will be given upon completion of each unit of study. Unit tests may cover one or
several chapters in the book and will require considerable time. Questions on quizzes and tests will include material covered
during class, in assigned readings and from laboratories. Projects may also be given for various units of study. Projects will
require students to do the bulk of work outside of class. Additionally, since lab is a major part of the AP Biology course, lab
knowledge and procedures will be assessed.
B. EVALUATION: Evaluation criteria include participating in and completing classroom activities, working cooperatively in group
assignments, correctly answering questions on quizzes/tests, completion of assigned projects, communication of laboratory data in
a correct and complete manner, and demonstrating proper lab techniques and safety.
C. GRADING SYSTEM: Grading is based upon a total points system whereby each assignment is given a number of possible points.
Grades are calculated by dividing your total score by the total points possible, which gives a percentage.
D. LATE WORK: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TURNING IN ALL ASSIGNMENTS ON TIME. Late work will only be
accepted up to two days after the due date. For each day that the work is late, there will be a 20% automatic grade deduction. For
example, if you turn in a 100-point project one day late, 20 points will be automatically deducted from your points possible. Thus,
you then start out with an 80/100 rather than a 100/100.
E. MAKE UP WORK: According to district policy, students must have the ability to make up any missed work. If you miss a quiz
or test, you will be given a different quiz/test than the class. Labs are particularly difficult to make up so, make every effort to
attend all classes where we will be conducting a lab.
F. HOMEWORK: Homework consists of a variety of things including introduction to new material, practice opportunities,
intervention, and remediation. Like an athlete who must condition, practice, and refine their skills to improve their performance,
students must also practice and refine their skills through homework to improve their learning. Teachers are expected to assign
homework and students are expected to do it! Homework is essential and provides information to students, parents, and teachers about
the student’s progress.
G. CLASSROOM CULTURE & NORMS: Honesty, cooperation, respect and appropriate behavior is important to the
educational environment and are qualities each individual is responsible for monitoring.
H. CLASSROOM POLICIES: Building policies are found in the student/parent handbook and can be found on the website. The
following additional classroom policies are enforced:
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All classroom assessments are due on the date and time assigned by the instructor. Students who are absent have 2 class
days to make up an assessment.
Missed formative assessments and labs may be given an alternative written assignment and a similar amount of time to
complete.
All summative assessments must be completed in order to be eligible to receive science credit.
Lab safety will be strictly enforced. Students who refuse to follow lab safety rules will be found insubordinate and
removed from the lab activity and receive a zero.
If a student has completed all assignments he or she may choose to re-take unit exams.
District policy will be followed on all electronic devices.
Passes will be given at the discretion of the teacher. A valid student ID must be worn at all times.