AP® Environmental Science Course Syllabus
Course:
AP Environmental Science
Instructor:
Mrs. O’Connor
Room #:
C120
Voicemail:
314- 953-5203 ext 33790
Direct Extension: 653-3790 (before/ after school)
Email:
joconnor@hazelwoodschools.org
Help Session: varies each week. Speak with teacher to set up.
Class website: http://hchsapes.wikispaces.com. Visit our website regularly, especially if you are absent and
want to stay on track. You will find a page dedicated to each unit, as well as links to notes, activities and
assignments that we have covered in class. There is also an AP test Review Page that contains
information which will help you to prepare you for the AP test in May.
Text
Environmental Science-A Global Concern by William P. Cunningham & Mary
Ann Cunningham, 10th edition, 2008. McGraw-Hill Publishing.
You can access your book online as well. Visit the class website for more information (homepage). The
section enrollment code ________________________________________________
Other Resources
Additional information will be drawn from supplemental environmental science
textbooks, lab manuals, periodicals, readings, and the Internet.
Course Introduction
Welcome to APES!  This class will prepare you for the AP test and also change your view of the world
(CAUTION: It could change your whole life!!) We will learn how the global climate is already changing as
well as understanding the need for commitment to preserving this beautiful planet for future generations.
Deforestation, endangered species, alternative energies, genetically modified crops are just a sampling of
the interesting topics you will study this year.
Course Description
This AP® Environmental Science Course adheres to the objectives set forth in the Course Description for
AP® Environmental Science: “it is a full-year course designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester,
introductory college course in environmental science” that includes a laboratory and field investigation
component. Emphasis is placed on “the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to
understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems both
natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine
alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them.
Environmental Science is interdisciplinary, including geology, biology, environmental studies, chemistry, and
geography, with unifying themes that provide a foundation for the structure of the course:
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Science is a process
Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
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Materials
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The Earth is one interconnected system.
Humans alter natural systems.
Environmental problems have a cultural & social context.
Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
3 ring binder ( at least 1.5” )
Dividers for binder ( 5 )
Composition notebook
Pens/ pencils
Notebook paper
Box of Kleenex/ tissue
** Please have supplies by the next time we meet.
Supplies to bring to class everyday
Text book
Writing utensil
Binder
Calculator
Environmental Science: A Global Concern
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APES Course Outline
Unit 1 Introduction to Environmental Science
Text: Chapter 1
Understanding Our Environment
Section 2.4
Discuss Environmental Ethics & Worldviews
Time: 5 class periods
Unit 2 Biosphere, the Living World
Text: Chapter 3
Matter, Energy and Life
Time: 7 class periods
TEST DATE __________
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions
Biomes: Global Patterns of Life
TEST DATE __________
Unit 3 Populations
Text: Chapter 6
Chapter 7
TEST DATE __________
Time: 7 class periods
Population Biology
Human Populations
People in the Environment
Unit 4 Environmental Health
Text: Chapter 8 Environmental Health and Toxicology
Time: 5 class periods
TEST DATE __________
Unit 5 Food & Agriculture
Text: Chapter 9
Food and Agriculture
Chapter 10
Pest Control
Time: 7 class periods
TEST DATE __________
Understanding & Managing Living Systems
UNIT 6 Biodiversity
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
TEST DATE __________
Time: 7 class periods
Biodiversity; Preserving Species
Biodiversity: Preserving Landscapes
Restoration Ecology
Physical Resources & Environmental Systems
Unit 7 The Solid Earth
Text: Chapter 14
Geology and Earth Resources
TEST DATE __________
END OF FIRST SEMESTER
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Time: 5 class periods
Second Semester
Unit 8 Air
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Unit 9 Water
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Time: 8 class periods
Air, Weather, and Climate
Air Pollution
Water Use & Management
Water Pollution
Time: 8 class periods
TEST DATE: __________
Issues and Policy
Unit 10 Energy
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Time: 7 class periods
Conventional Energy
Sustainable Energy
TEST DATE: __________
Unit 11 Waste Disposal
Chapter 21
Time: 5 class periods
Solid, Toxic and Hazardous Waste
TEST DATE: __________
Unit 12 Urbanization & Sustainable Cities
Chapter 22
Time: 5 class periods
Urbanization and Sustainable Cities
Review for AP Environmental Science exam (AP test is Monday May 4th )
Time: 4 class periods
Note: Dimensional analysis, scientific notation, and graphing skills are assumed by the time your take AP
Environmental Science. There are no calculators allowed on the APES test so make sure you are up to
speed on these skills along with long-division, multiplication, fractions and calculating percents.
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Hazelwood Central Classroom Expectations
1. Be in your assigned seat/area ready to work when the tardy bell rings
2. Have paper, pencils, books and all needed supplies everyday
3. Keep your hands, feet, books and objects to yourself
4. No profanity, rude gestures, teasing, or put downs
5. Follow directions of school personnel
6. Wear ID properly at all times
Mrs. O’Connor ‘s additional classroom expectations
Your full effort is expected everyday.
Stay seated unless permission is given to do otherwise.
No personal grooming during class
Raise your hand if you wish to speak
Mutual respect! Common courtesy is expected.
Remain in your seat until the bell rings and I dismiss you from class.
Push your chair in when you leave.
Keep our classroom neat!
Policies
a. Take care of personal needs during passing periods.
 You will be allowed TWO emergency passes to the washroom per 9-week term. Take care of
personal needs before class… and use your bathroom passes wisely.
b. No food or candy is allowed in class (or outside of the cafeteria for that matter).
The only drink allowed in my classroom is WATER.
c. No electronic devices of ANY kind (cell phone, iPod, etc) are to be out unless directed to do so.
How to set up your science binder
All homework, handouts, lab reports, and notes must be kept in a 1- 2” 3-ring binder, with divisions for each
of the following (Label your dividers as indicated below)
** Your syllabus and topic outline should be the FIRST thing your binder, followed by 5 dividers labeled as:
 Notes
 Homework (this section will include both homework and classwork)
 Labs
 Exams (Quizzes/study guides/ extra credit reports/grade sheets, exam answer sheets will be kept
in this section.)
 AP Test Prep
** Loose-leaf paper should be kept at the very back of the binder.**
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Homework
Homework may include, but not be limited to:
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Textbook readings & questions
Review of lecture notes
Supplemental readings & case studies
Lab write-ups
Essays
Projects
Per district mandate, you are permitted to turn in 3 assignments no more than 5 calendar days late
(excluding weekends) with a maximum deduction of 30%. Beyond that, no late assignments will be
collected.
Homework is due at the start of class. You are to make sure that your work makes it into the
appropriate basket before it is collected.
If any classes are missed, it is your responsibility to get your absent work from the appropriate folder on
the bulletin board near the door.
You have the number of days that were missed to make up work that was missed due to an excused
absence. If you do not make the effort to find out what assignments were missed, you do not receive
credit.
** Unexcused absences/truancy: You will loose credit for anything due or assigned that day (including
exams!). Make sure that all absences are reported to the attendance office by your parent or guardian.
Labs
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Students must pass a safety test before participating in labs.
Safety is to be practiced by all, at all times according to the safety contract.
On average, a minimum of one class period per week is spent in lab &/or field work.
If you are absent the day of a lab, it must be made up. Lab make-up must occur within a week of
the day missed.
Due to the lengthy set-up for some labs, make up will not be possible. An alternative assignment
will be assigned in these instances.
There will be at least one formal lab report each unit and it will count as an exam grade.
Exams
One exam will be given each unit and will be composed of multiple-choice and essay questions. The
questions will come from lecture notes, text questions, and any additional activities completed during the
unit. Possible essay topics will be given prior to the test to allow you to outline your answers.
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Quizzes
In the event of a missed examination, it is your responsibility to be prepared to take it the next ‘B’
day you are back to school during AML hour 6. See me before school for an AML pass.
Daily-weekly quizzes may be given to ensure homework completion. Vocabulary quizzes may be given
after weekly chapter reading assignments have been assigned. .
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Student Evaluation
Exams and research projects compose 70% of the overall grade, with the remainder (30%) coming from lab
reports, homework, activities, and participation. This is in accordance with the district mandated grading
policy. The grading scale that is used is also in accordance with the district policy:
A = 90% - 100%
B = 80% - 91%
C = 70% - 81%
D = 60% - 71%
F = below 60%
Mid-term exams may occur at the end of 1st & 3rd quarters and are comprehensive. The Semester 1 final
exam and the Semester 2 final exams are also comprehensive. All mid-terms and final exams will be
multiple-choice.
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Environmental Science in the News (Extra Credit) article summary
and evaluation
You may do one extra credit assignment per unit exam. The extra-credit paper is due at the start of class
on the day of each scheduled exam and can add up to 10 percentage points to your exam grade.
Chose an article to read from a recent (last 12 months) newspaper, magazine, scientific journal that is
directly related to the topic that we are currently discussing in class. If you choose to use the Internet as a
source, be sure to print out the article and be sure that the site is a legitimate one. Ask me to preview your
article if you are unsure.
Good website suggestions enn.com (environmental news network), nationalgeographic.com
For full credit, your paper must be
 TYPED, using 10 – 12 font, double-spaced.
 The length requirement is 1 page typed or 2 pages handwritten.
 Source must be included. I will not accept a paper without a source.
Points to be covered in your report
Summary (First paragraph)
Summarize the article in your own words. Read the article, and restate the main points and or ideas. Some
questions to get you on the right track would be: What was the article about? Where did the research/
situation take place? Who conducted the research/study? What conclusions if any were reached?
Be sure to include all main components of the article. It should be a condensed version of the topic covered
in the article.
Evaluation (Second paragraph)
This section of the write-up is your chance to relate what you have read and summarized to what we study
in class. Also, be sure to explain your views on the topic. Be creative, but do cover (at a minimum) the
points listed here as well. Do not say, “I don’t have any opinion on the subject”.
Some questions to get you started on the evaluation paragraph:
How does this article relate to class? Does this topic affect your life in any way? How did the article make
you feel? If controversial, do you feel strongly about the article one way or the other? Do you think that the
topic covered is important to society? To the scientific community? Do you think that the research was
complete? Does it need to be examined more?
Extra-Credit Rubric
Summary: ___/ 3.5 pts.
Evaluation: ___/ 3.5 pts.
Spelling/Grammar: ____/1
Typed:
____/2
** 2 points will be deducted if the minimum length requirements are not met **
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