AP Biology
Mr. Wallis
Welcome to Advanced Placement Biology! You have much to learn this year, and I think you will find this
class to be both interesting and challenging. Before we get started, you will need to be aware of how this
class will operate:
I.
Classroom Rules. My rules for this class are very simple:
1.
Exercise Respect. This means respect for your teacher, your classmates, yourself, and your
classroom.
2. Conduct yourself as a student who is here to learn. This means being in your seat and ready
to work when the bell rings, having the necessary materials ready, etc. Any behavior that is
detrimental to the learning environment is unacceptable.
Course Description:
The AP Biology course is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course
usually taken by biology majors during their first year. You can expect to be challenged by the material and in
turn will be expected to keep pace with a demanding schedule of reading assignments and out-of-class
assignments. The two main goals of AP biology are to develop a conceptual framework for modern biology
and to gain experience and appreciation of science as a process. Throughout the content framework, the
following eight AP Biology themes will be emphasized:
 science as a process
 energy transfer
 relationship of structure to function
 regulation
 evolution
 continuity & change
 science, technology & society  interdependence in nature
Your primary emphasis in this course should be on developing an understanding of concepts rather than on
memorizing terms and technical details. Essential to this conceptual understanding are the following: a grasp
of science as a process rather than simply an accumulation of facts; personal experience in scientific inquiry;
recognition of unifying themes that integrate the major topics of biology; and application of biological
knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social concerns. Students will take the AP exam at the
conclusion of this course.
Required Textbooks:
 Campbell, N. Biology, 5th Edition (1998), Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company
 Pack, E. AP Biology, 2nd Edition (2001), Cliff’s AP Publishing
Required Materials:
 Lecture & Lab Notebook
 Pens: 4 colors for notetaking
 Reading Guides, Lectures Notes, and Animations of selected concepts can be downloaded from
the website
Classroom Rules:
Food, gum, drinks (except water), electronics (cell phones, radios, etc.), magazines, photographs, cosmetics,
playing cards, and other distractions will not be tolerated in the classroom. All such items will be confiscated
and given to administrative staff members.
Cheating and Plagiarism:
Pursuant to Hawthorne High School’s academic honesty policy, students engaged in any form of cheating,
whether or\n tests, quizzes, homework, or any other assignment, will receive a zero on that assignment and, in
addition, may fail the course.
Makeup Work:
Students have the number of days they are absent to make up work ONLY if they bring an EXCUSED readmit to
class. When returning from an absence, students are responsible for inquiring about missed assignments.
Late Work:
Late work will not be accepted. Students who fail to turn in an assignment or provide an EXCUSED readmit will
not receive credit for missed assignments.
Grading Scale:
Students are graded based on the percentage of points they earn throughout the semester.
A (90-100%)
B (80-89%)
C (60-79%)
D (50-59% )
F (49% and below)
Assessment:
The approximate components of the final grade are shown below:
- Tests and quizzes
40%
(There will be 1-2 quizzes and 1 test for each unit)
- Labs and Projects
30%
(includes both participation and lab writeup)
- Classwork and Homework
20%
- Final Exam
10%
- Tutuoring:
Tutoring is available every day during lunch in room or after school by appointment.
Because Hawthorne High School is on a “block” schedule most days, all tests and lab activities will occur in
block (90-min) periods.
We have read the AP Biology schedule, expectations, rules, and consequences. We understand and agree to
comply with these policies and those of Hawthorne High School.
________________________________________________________________________
Print Student Name
Class Period
________________________________________________________________________
Student Signature
Date
________________________________________________________________________
Print Parent/Guardian Name
________________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
________________________________________________________________________
Home Phone Number
Work Phone Number
Best time to contact parents: ________________________________________________
Who speaks English in your home? __________________________________________
(If no one speaks English the teacher will use a translator when calling)
Optional: Student email: __________________________
Parent/Guardian email: __________________________
Is there anything else you can tell me that will help me as the instructor meet your needs? Please write below.
SCHEDULE FOR LECTURE AND LABORATORY TOPICS IN AP BIOLOGY
SEMESTER 1:
Summer work: Ecology (review weeks 0 and 1 of school year) Campbell chapters 50-54
i. Population dynamics, biotic potential, limiting factors
ii. Ecosystems and community dynamics
iii. Biogeochemical cycles
II.
Molecules and Cells
a. Biological chemistry: 2 weeks Campbell chapters 2-6
i. Review of atoms, molecules, bonding, pH, water
ii. Carbon, functional groups
iii. Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
iv. Chemical reactions, free-energy changes, equilibrium
v. Enzymes, coenzymes, cofactors, rates of activity, regulation
AP Biology Lab #1: Diffusion & Osmosis (1/2 week)
b. Cells: 2 weeks
Campbell chapters 7,8,12
i. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
ii. Plant and animal cells
iii. Structure and function of cell membranes
iv. Structure and function of organelles, mobility components, cytoskeleton
v. Cell cycle, mitosis, cytokinesis
c. Energy transformations: 3 weeks
Campbell chapters 6,9,10
i. ATP, energy transfer, coupled reactions, chemiosmosis
ii. C3 and C4 photosynthesis
iii. Glycolysis, fermentation, aerobic respiration
AP Biology Lab #2: Enzyme Catalysis (1/2 week)
AP Biology Lab #4: Plant Pigments & Photosynthesis (1/2 week)
AP Biology Lab #5: Cell Respiration (1/2 week)
III.
Genetics and Evolution
a. Molecular genetics: 3 weeks Campbell chapters 16-21
i. DNA, structure and replication
ii. Eukaryotic chromosomal structure, nucleosome, transposable elements
iii. RNA: transcriptions, mRNA editing, translation
iv. Regulation of gene expression
v. Mutations
vi. Recombinant DNA, DNA cloning, hybridization, DNA sequencing
vii. DNA and RNA viruses
AP Biology Lab #6: Molecular Biology (1/2 week)
AP Biology Lab #7 (virtual lab) : Genetics of Organisms (1/2 week)
b. Heredity: 2 weeks
Campbell chapters 12-15
i. Mendel’s Laws, probability
ii. Inheritance patterns: chromosomes, genes, alleles, interactions
AP Biology Lab #3: Mitosis & Meiosis (1/2 week)
c. Evolution: 2 weeks
Campbell chapters 22-25
i. Origins of life
ii. Evidence for evolution
iii. Natural selection
iv. Hardy-Weinberg principle, factors influencing allelic frequencies
v. Speciation, isolating mechanisms, allopatry, sympatry, adaptive radiation
vi. Patterns of evolution, gradualism, punctuated equilibrium
AP Biology Lab #8 (virtual lab) : Population Genetics (1/2 week)
SEMESTER 2:
IV.
Organisms and Populations
Campbell chapters 40-49
a. Principles of taxonomy and systematics, five and six kingdom systems, domains: 1 week
b. Survey of Monera, Protista, and Fungi: 1 week
c. Animals: 4 weeks
i. Diversity, classification, phylogeny, survey of aceolomate, pseudocoelomate,
protosome, and deuterostome phyla
ii. Structure and function of vertebrate tissues, organs, and systems; homeostasis
iii. Gametogenesis, fertilization, embryogeny, development
iv. Behavior
AP Biology Lab #9: Transpiration (1/2 week)
AP Biology Lab #11: Animal Behavior (1/2 week)
d. Plants: 3 weeks
Campbell chapters 50-54
i. Diversity, classification, phylogeny, adaptation to land, alternation of generations
ii. Structure and physiology of vascular plants
iii. Seed formation, germination, growth in seed plants
iv. Hormonal regulation of plant growth
v. Plant response to stimuli: tropisms, photo-periodicity
AP Biology Lab #10: Circulatory Physiology (1/2 week)
AP Biology Lab #12 (virtual lab): Dissolved Oxygen (1/2 week)
V. AP EXAM REVIEW: final week before the exam!!
V.
Biology in Society (after the AP exam)
Societal, Political & Environmental Issues:
 climate change
 air pollution
 water pollution
 human populations
 emerging genetic technologies & capabilities
Notes on AP Labs:: All labs are “hands-on” unless otherwise noted.
Virtual Labs use NeoSci® AP Biology Lab CD-ROMs on school laptop computers.
For each AP Biology lab, each student is expected to complete a brief lab summary writeup consisting of a
title, introduction/background paragraph, description of experiment controls and variables, results, conclusion,
and applications.