The AP Biology Summer Assignment
& Study Guide
Name:_______________________
This summer you will delve into the world of biology like you never thought you would in
those hot months! We will explore many topics to whet your appetite for the coming year
of hard work.
This summer assignment has been designed for five purposes:
 to get you to think during those summer months and to keep your mind sharp, because
I will expect a lot out of it come August!
 to expand your vocabulary by familiarizing you with terms that we will be using in class.
 to have you earn strong grades to help you begin the first quarter with confidence.
 to decrease the amount of material that you will have to learn during the next school
year.
Assignment
#1 Letter of Introduction
#2 Book Shopping/Reading
Due Date
Before June 14th, 2013 if you
are a current ASD student!
ASAP if you are new to ASD.
Class Discussion:
2nd day of class
# 3 Review Reading, Guided
Notes, & Vocabulary
1st day of class
1st Test Date
To be announced, but about 1
week after school starts
If you have any concerns about the summer project, please see
me as soon as possible! We can try to figure out a solution.
jpuckett@asd.edu.qa
ASSIGNMENT #1
LETTER OF INTRODUCTION and FACEBOOK Group Member Invitation
Welcome to AP Biology!
We are going to spend a lot of time together next year, so it’s best if I get a head start on
learning a bit about you (even if I have had you in class already)! Also we will use the
Internet and the Web a lot next year for this course, so let’s get you used to
communicating with me via e-mail, NVS, and the Google doc group.
Your first digital assignment is to successfully send me an e-mail.
Due date: June 30, 2013
1. Draft an e-mail to me following these rules:
a. Use clearly written, full sentences. Do not abbreviate words like you are on AIM with
a friend. Use spell check! This is a professional communication like you would have
with a college professor, so let’s practice for your rapidly nearing future!
b. Address it to me at: jpuckett@asd.edu.qa
c. Make the Subject: “AP Bio: Introduction to <Insert Your Name Here>”
(Do not include the quote marks or the brackets, just the words)
d. Begin the e-mail with a formal salutation, like “Mrs. Puckett,” or “Dear Mrs. Puckett,”
e. Now introduce yourself (your name) and tell me a little bit about yourself, like:
 What do you like to do (hobbies, sports, music, interests, etc.)?
 Tell me a little bit about your family (Mom? Dad? Guardian? Siblings? Pets?) What do
your parents do for a living?
 Was there anything that you liked about your earlier biology class? What was the
topic(s) that you found easiest? Most difficult?
 What was the last book you read for fun?
 What are you looking forward to the most in AP Biology?
 What are you most anxious about in AP Biology?
f. End the e-mail with a formal closing: “Cordially”, “Sincerely”, “Warm regards”, etc.
and add your name as if you signed a letter.
2. You will be requested to add in information on a google doc soon.
ASSIGNMENT #2
BOOK SHOPPING & SUMMER READING
Part I: Book Shopping
You need to buy some books. Plan ahead and do your best to get these books. If you
are having any trouble contact me early so that I can help.
1. An AP Biology Exam Review Book you would like to use…but I’m suggesting
Barron’s 2013. Make sure it is the newest version you can get your hands on!
2. Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin
3. Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams
The review book will be used throughout the year and will be VERY helpful to have. You
will need it on the first day of class and will be part of your summer assignment. There
are other books and resources available. Feel free to collect others that you think you
will use and find useful.
Part II: SUMMER READING… Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams
This is not a textbook reading! Your summer reading is Last Chance to See by Douglas
Adams. It’s a “popular science” writing to introduce you to another way of looking at
science.
Yes, there are people who love science so much that they spend their
time researching and writing books about it and there are people who
love science even more that they spend their time reading these
science books. You too may become one of these people!
We will be discussing this book throughout the year so be prepared to
talk about it!
When you are finished reading the book you need to be prepared to
shared something you learned and found entertaining. You will have a
free response question on your first test that is related to this book.
Class discussion date: 2nd day of class
NOTE: Bring the AP BIO Review book to your first AP Bio class!
ASSIGNMENT #3
Read Chapters that cover content you would have studied in Honors Biology.
For this part of your summer assignment, you will be familiarizing / reviewing material
covered in Honors Biology. There may be some new information for you in these
chapters. Make notes of these topics for review later.
You need to spend some time organizing your previous biology class notes. Print out
onenote and have them bound? Store these files in a safe place! This will be an
excellent resource as you work on your summer assignment and review topics in AP
Biology.
Complete the Guided Notes & vocab for these review units. You will not have access to
this book, but can use your review book and the internet to help you find the answers.
These will be posted on NVS or you can take a hard copy to complete over the summer.
There will be a test given on this material after about 1 week of school.
Collected for a grade:
Vocabulary Definitions
Basic Biology Knowledge and Skills Questions 1-15
Resources to help you review for the 1st Test:
Chapter 2 & 3: Chemical Context of Life & Water
Chapter 4: Carbon & The Molecular Diversity of Life
Chapter 5A & 5B: Macromolecules
Chapter 6: Metabolism & Enzymes
Chapter 7: The Cell & Cell Organelles
Chapter 8: Membranes
Chapter 9: Cellular Respiration
Chapter 10: Photosynthesis
Chapter 12: Cell Cycle
Chapter 13: Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles
Chapter 14: Mendel & The Gene Idea
Basic Biology Knowledge and Skills Questions 1-15 & Vocab
Due date: 1st day of class
Test Date: To be announced

AP Biology Vocabulary to KNOW!
AKA: What’s on the first test in AP from Honors Biology
General Vocabulary: Define the following that could be found on a FRQ style
question.
Summarize
Communicate
Predict
Infer
Conclude
Construct
Evaluate
Formulate
Explain
Apply
Identify
Compare
Contrast
Interpret
Justify
Differentiate
Recognize
Refine
Biology Vocabulary: Define the following
Cell
Cell Membrane
Cell Wall
Unicellular
Multicellular
Light Microscope
Mitosis
Meiosis
Cell Cycle
Enzyme
Cell Respiration
Energy
Heat
Diffusion
Osmosis
Microbial
Diversity
Genome
Genetics
Transcription
Translation
Transport Protein
Transport Vesicle
Transmission
Translocation (in plants,
on a chromosome, and
by a ribosome)
Transpiration
Chlorophyll
Chloroplast
Mesophyll
Hydrophilic
Hydrophobic
Hydrolysis
Hydrocarbon
Plasmolysis
Glycolysis
Photosynthesis
Chemiosmosis
Phagocytosis
Pinocytosis
Glycolipid
Glycoprotein
Glycogen
Glycerol
Glucose
Peptidoglycan
Isotonic
Hypertonic
Hypotonic
Homologous
Homozygote
Heterozygote
Chromatin
Eukaryote
Epidermis
Cytoplasm
Cytokinesis
Cytochrome
Cytoskeleton
Cytotoxic T cell
Cytosol
Cohesion
Coenzyme
Cotransport
Codominance
Cooperativity
Deletion
Inversion
Addition
Substitution
Fermentation
Fertilization
Oxidative
phosphorylation
Photophosphorylation
Substrate-level
phosphorylation
ATP
GTP
cAMP
Na+
ClK+
Ca2+
RuBP
G3P
NADH
FADH2
NADPH
AP Biology Curriculum Review Points to KNOW!
AKA: What’s on the first test in AP from Honors Biology
I gave all Honors Biology students from 2012-2013 the AP Biology Course and Exam
Description Effective 2012. If you need a copy you can find it online at the CollegeBoard
AP Central website below. Use this document as a checklist of curriculum you need to
know.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/2117.html
EU 2.A
EK 2.A.1-3 Free Energy & Pathways, Photosynthesis, & Cellular Respiration
EU 2.B
EK 2.B.1-3 Biomolecules, Water, Surface Area/Volume Ratio, Cell Membrane and Wall
Structure & Function, Transport of molecules, Endomembrane system
EU 2.D
EK 2.D.4.b.1-6 Immune Response in Animals
EU 3.A
EK 3.A.1.a.1-5, b. 1-3 Genetic material history, structure, replication
EK 3.A.2.a-c Cell Cycle and regulation, Mitosis, Meiosis
EK 3.A.3.a-d Inheritance
EU 3.C
EK 3.C.1.a-c Mutations and errors in cell division
EU 3.D
EK 3.D.3.a-b Cell communication
EK 3.D.4.a Signal transduction problems
EU 3.E
EK 3.E.2.a-c Neurotransmission
EU 4.A
EK 4.A.1.a-b Molecular structure of biochemical molecules
EK 4.A.2.a-g Cellular structure
EU 4.B
EK 4.B.1.a-d Enzymes
EU 4.C
EK 4.C.1.a Molecule variations
Basic Biology Knowledge and Skills you should have entering AP Biology.
1)
Draw a sketch of the scale of the microbial world.
2)
Show a model of how life is classified.
3)
Highlight 3 major differences between unicellular and multicellular organisms.
4)
State 4 distinct differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
5)
Give a model of general cell structure including major organelles.
6)
List the major functions of the following:
a. Cell membrane
b. Cell wall
7)
Summarize the following:
a. Cell cycle
b. DNA replication
c. Mitosis
d. Meiosis
8)
Label the main parts of a light microscope.
9)
Explain how cellular respiration works as a system of chemical reactions catalyzed
by enzymes. Illustrate a model to highlight these processes.
10)
Describe the processes involved in photosynthesis. Illustrate a model to highlight
these processes.
11)
List energy conversions seen in biological processes.
12)
Explain the role of the X and Y chromosomes in sex determination of animals.
13)
Describe Mendel’s experiments and what they helped him learn about inheritance.
14)
Graph the following data using Excel.
15)
Temperature (C)
Average respiration (mL oxygen/g/min)
10
0.05
15
0.075
25
0.09
50
0.065
Create a histogram of the following data of test score ranges in AP using Excel.
Test Score
Range
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85-89
90-94
95-100
# of
individuals
5
7
9
7
11
4
3
1