Advanced Placement Biology
Ms. DeMaria
Course Description:
AP Biology provides an opportunity for high school students to pursue and receive credit for
college level course work completed at the secondary level. Students are challenged with concepts and
laboratory experiences they would meet in a freshmen college level biology.
AP students are expected to be independent and motivated learners. The amount of material to be
covered in a high school year is comparable to the amount of material covered in a two semester college
course. Allowances should be made for substantial study time. Students contemplating a major in a science
related field or students who truly love biology and want to learn more are needed in order to keep up with
the rigor.
Unit
1 The Chemistry of Life
2 The Cell
3 Energy
4 Genetics
5 DNA
6 DNA Technology, Bacteria and Viruses
7 Evolution
8 Biological Diversity Prokaryotes and Protists
9 Biological Diversity Plants and Fungi
10 Biological Diversity Animals
11 Plants
12 Animals
13 Animals
14 Animals
15 Animals
16 Ecology
Text Chapters
2, 3, 4, 5
6, 7, 11, 12
8, 9, 10
13, 14, 15
16, 17, 19, 21
18, 20
22, 23, 24, 25
26, 27, 28
29, 30, 31
32, 33, 34
35, 36, 37, 38, 39
40, 41, 42
43, 44
45, 46, 47
48, 49
50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55
AP Test:
The AP test will be administered on Monday, May 14, 2011 at 8:00 am. The College Board
charges $87.00 for EACH AP exam. Make checks payable to Rocklin High School and turn in to the
Storm Cellar no later than December 1st. Any payments received after the due date will be charged a
$25.00 late fee.
Students who receive a score of 3, 4, or 5 pass the AP Exam and earn college credit. Each
college/university awards AP credit differently. How to the study for the exam, write essay questions, test
expectations, and grading will be covered during plus period.
Expectations:
I expect your personal best, nothing less. You are expected to read the textbook. You are
expected to study and do homework outside of class (minimum 30 minutes) daily. You are expected to
come to each class prepared and on time. Cooperation among students is strongly encouraged and fostered.
However copying and cheating will not be tolerated. By signing this document you are also agreeing
that you understand the RHS integrity policy.
All students need to maintain an orderly notebook (please obtain a large 3-ring binder). The
notebook should be organized by chapter. Lecture notes, vocabulary and homework assignments should be
included.
Attendance:
Coming to school is critical to the students’ success in AP Biology. It is the student’s
responsibility to find out what was missed due to an absence. If the student is absent the day of a test the
student will take a different version of the exam. Due to the complexity of the AP labs there will not be
the opportunity for a student to make up a lab due to absence and the student’s grade will be
affected.
Dropping the class:
The RHS policy on dropping AP courses will be followed. Students will have 3 weeks to decide
to drop an AP class. After this 3 week time period, the student must remain in the class until the end of the
semester and receive the grade earned. Students may be held accountable for the work that they miss in the
course that they transfer in to.
Evaluation:
Your understanding of the material will be evaluated on quizzes, exams, homework and labs.
90% or greater = A, 80-89%=B, 70-79%=C, less than 70% =No Credit. The students grade is weighted
60% tests and quizzes and 40% all other assignments. Each unit will have a set of essential skills. You
must pass the essential skills for each unit as well as earn a passing percentage to pass AP Biology.
NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Unit tests can be retaken by students who would like an opportunity to improve their grade. Retake tests
are offered before school at 6:30 am. The retake test date will be posted in advance. If a student misses
the retake test, they have missed the opportunity to improve that grade.
Office Hours:
I encourage all students who are having difficulty or who need extra help to come and see me. I
am available at lunch or after school. Just let me know when you are coming. I am always willing to help
you with your assignments and to answer questions. Please ask for help!!
How to study for AP Bio
Every Night
If “preview” work has been assigned, complete it.
Read 30 minutes
Identify what section or section of the book you will read
Before reading look at the title of the section and figure out how it fits into
the chapter. What is the big picture?
When reading, do NOT write anything down.
If they refer to a figure or diagram, look at it, read the caption.
Do not get hung up on the details, just keep going
You can read it again once you see where the “story” ends.
Look at Lecture Notes for that section
What did the teacher highlight?
Do you understand it?
Is there vocabulary you should memorize?
Write on vocabulary sheet.
Read the Concept Check questions at the end of the section.
Try to answer them to yourself.
Write an outline.
Read the answer in the back of the book.
These are good summaries; they pick the main point out of the section.
Did you get it right? Good move on.
Did you miss something? Do you understand it now?
Should you relook at a picture?
Should you reread the section?
When finished with the Chapter
Do Homework
Take the self quiz in the back of the chapter
Look at the answers did you get them right?
If not, should you reread? Ask teacher?
Studying for a Test
Make sure you have read the chapters.
Look at lecture notes, review homework
Memorize vocabulary.
You should be able to tell me the main point of each section of the chapter.
Why did the author put it there?
What were you suppose to learn?
Memorize specifics.
AP Test Topic Breakdown and Correlation to AP Biology Book
Molecules and Cells (25%)
Chemistry of Life (7%)
Water
Organic molecules in organisms
Free energy changes
Enzymes
Cells (10%)
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Membranes
Subcellular Organization
Cell cycle and it regulation
Cellular Energetics (8%)
Coupled reactions
Fermentation and cellular respiration
Photosynthesis
Heredity and Evolution (25%)
Heredity (8%)
Meiosis and gametogenesis
Eukaryotic chromosomes
Inheritance patterns
Molecular Genetics (9%)
RNA and DNA structure and function
Gene regulation
Mutation
Viral structure and replication
Nucleic acid technology and applications
Evolutionary Biology (8%)
Early evolution of life
Evidence for evolution
Mechanisms of evolution
Organisms and Populations (50%)
Diversity of Organisms (8%)
Evolutionary patterns
Survey of the diversity of life
Phylogenetic classification
Evolutionary relationships
Structure and Function of Plants and Animals (32%)
Reproduction, growth and development plants
Reproduction, growth and development animals
Structural, physiological and behavioral
adaptations plants
Structural, physiological and behavioral
adaptations animals
Response to the environment plants
Response to the environment animals
Ecology (10%)
Population dynamics
Communities and ecosystems
Global issues
Chapters 3,5,8
Concepts 3.2-3.3
Concepts 5.1-5.5
Concepts 8.1-8.3
Concepts 8.4-8.5
Chapters 6,7,11,12
Concepts 6.1-6.3
Concepts 6.4,7.1-7.5,11.1-11.4
Concepts 6.3-6.7
Concepts 12.1-12.3
Chapters 8,9,10
Concepts 8.3,9.1-9.4
Concepts 9.1-9.6
Concepts 10.1-10.4
Chapters 13-15
Concepts 13.1-13.4
Concepts 15.1-15.3
Concepts 14.1-14.4, 15.3-15.5
Chapters 15-20
Concepts 16.1,16.2, 17.1-17.6,18.3
Concepts 18.4, 19.1-19.3
Concepts 15.4,17.7,19.3,19.5
Concepts 18.1,18.2
Concepts 20.1-20.5
Chapters 22-26
Concepts 26.1-26.5
Concepts 22.2,22.3, 25.1-25.5
Concepts 22.1-22.3, 23.1-23.4, 24.1-24.3
Chapters 25-34
Concepts 29.1, 29.2, 32.1, 32.3
Concepts 26.3-26.6, 27.1, 27.3, 28.1-28.8, 29.1- 29.4,
30.2-30.4, 31.4, 31.5, 32.1, 32.2, 33.3-33.8, 34.1-34.8
Concepts 25.2, 26.3-26.6, 27.1, 27.3, 28.1-28.8, 29.129.4, 30.2-30.4, 31.4, 31.5, 32.1, 32.2, 33.1-33.8, 34.1-34.8
Concepts 25.1-25.5
Chapters 29,30, 35-39, 40-49, 51
Concepts 29.2-29.4, 30.1-30.3, 35.1-35.5, 38.1
Concepts 21.1-21.4, 46.1-46.5, 47.1-47.3
Concepts 35.1, 35.2, 36.1-36.5, 38.1-38.3, 39.1-39.5
Concepts 40.1-40.5, 41.1-41.5, 42.1, 42.2, 42.5,
44.2-44.6, 48.1-48.5, 51.3, 51.5
Concepts 37.1, 37.4, 39.1-39.5
Concepts 40.4, 40.5, 41.5, 43.1-43.5, 44.1, 44.2, 44.5,
44.6, 45.1-45.5, 49.1-49.7, 51.3
Chapters 50, 52-55
Concepts 50.2, 50.3, 52.1-52.6
Concepts 53.1-53.5, 54.1-54.5
Concepts 50.1, 50.2, 54.5, 55.1-55.4
I have read and understand the policies and expectations of AP
Biology.
Student Name _________________________________________________________
Student Signature ______________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature_______________________________________________
I have read and understand the policies and expectations of AP
Biology.
Student Name _________________________________________________________
Student Signature ______________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature_______________________________________________
I have read and understand the policies and expectations of AP
Biology.
Student Name _________________________________________________________
Student Signature ______________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature_______________________________________________
I have read and understand the policies and expectations of AP
Biology.
Student Name _________________________________________________________
Student Signature ______________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature_______________________________________________