Dr. Suzanne Fenstemaker
Room 40
Email: sfenstemaker@whrhs.org
Voice mail: (908) 647-4800, ext. 2705
Welcome to AP Biology!
Use my AP Bio web page and Google Classroom! Always check these BEFORE emailing me.
Textbook: Principles of Life, by Hillis, Sadava, Heller and Price. This is an ebook and you will have access to it companion
Bioportal with supporting material. Become one with this book, as it forms the basis for what we will cover and I will
generally NOT be lecturing on the material assigned. The Bioportal provides self-quizzes for you to use; these will help you
diagnose areas that need more attention. Prep-U adaptive quizzes will often be assigned as review activities before tests.
Course Format:
AP Biology is inquiry based. That means you will be exploring course content by asking and answering questions. You must
become familiar with the practices of science in order to do this successfully. The content is organized around four “Big
Ideas” as follow:

Big Idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.

Big Idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce and to maintain
dynamic homeostasis.

Big Idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes.

Big Idea 4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.
A number of “enduring understandings” relate these big ideas to the various topics we will cover and provide the
framework for exploring these topics.
How the class will run:
1.
You will have reading and video assignments to complete at home and you will be expected to outline or take notes
on these. These outlines or notes must be handwritten on paper. Printed copies of the ebook do not constitute notes.
You will generally be allowed to use your reading notes when completing assignments in class other than tests and
quizzes.
2.
You will have the opportunity to ask questions about reading, but don’t expect lectures to teach everything. Do
expect quizzes and group activities in class to reinforce concepts. If you have not completed a reading or other
assignment and a group activity requiring the material is planned for class, you will not be allowed to work with a
group.
3.
Lots of class time will be devoted to labs. You will be designing the labs so you will need to understand the topics to
be investigated and the techniques to be used; class discussion of topics will help you with this. You will often do a
baseline condition experiment so that all groups have the same starting data, and then go on from there with your own
design so that each group investigates a different question. Expect prelab quizzes on the assigned background
material.
4.
Most lab assessments will be done in class. Some will be individually completed answers to questions based on the
lab, while other labs will be group posters or “slide talks” as are typically used when scientists present their work to
colleagues. These group presentations will be critiqued by your classmates. There will be at least one formal lab
report.
5.
Quizzes will be given periodically to check your understanding, and a test will be given on each unit.
6.
Little to no graded work will be done outside of the classroom. That does not mean you have nothing to do!
7.
Grading will be based on the following weighted categories:




Tests - 40%
Prelab/Lab design/analysis - 30%
Quizzes - 15%
Classwork/reading quizzes - 15%
The AP Test:
-
The AP Biology test is optional for those students who wish to take it. The AP test has NO BEARING on your
class grade. It does not exempt you from anything nor grant you any special privileges.
Generally students who maintain a C+ or higher average in class score a 4 or 5 on the AP test.
The new AP Exam is formatted as follows:
Section 1 (50%) around 65 multiple choice; around 6 quantitative fill in questions (yes… math!)
Section 2 (50%) free response – 2 long and at least 4 shorter questions
- Simple 4 function calculators allowed; formula sheet provided
After the AP test:
- This class does not end after the AP test. Labs and a comprehensive final project will occupy each class period.
Expectations and Rules of the Classroom
1.
Be on time to class. Unless you have spoken to me about a long walk, I expect everyone in the room by the
time the bell rings. Bring lunch on lab days as you will not be allowed to leave to buy food.
2.
No food or drink in the class except water. A clean eating area will be provided on lab days.
3.
No cell phones or other electronic devices are allowed, unless for legitimate educational purposes as
explicitly permitted by Dr. Fenstemaker. During tests/quizzes, no electronic devices will be allowed and it
will be assumed you were using them to cheat.
4.
Absences from this class should be strictly avoided. There are no “days off.” If you are absent, check in with
a classmate and check the website for assignments. Email/see me the day you return to make arrangements to
make up what you missed.
5.
If you are absent for a test, quiz or lab, expect to make it up the next day REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
OR NOT CLASS MEETS. All missed tests/quizzes/labs must be made up within one week for credit. After
1 week the grade becomes a zero. At the discretion of the teacher missed labs will be made up by writing a
paper on the topic of the lab and the procedures used or by completing the lab, if it can reasonably be
done. Dr. Fenstemaker will determine which.
6.
Tests and Quizzes will be based on reading and topics explored in class. If it was assigned as reading, a
video, or webquest it is fair game. Quizzes cover less material, but go into as much depth as a test. Note:
This course will require you to go beyond memorizing the information and move into analysis, analysis, and
synthesis. On a test or quiz, you may be presented with new situations that you didn’t read about and you
will be asked to use what you know to solve the problem. The same skills will be asked of you on the AP
test at the end of the year.
7.
Cheating: The WHRHS Academic Integrity policy as found in the Student Handbook will be followed.
Unacceptable practices include, but are not limited to copying (any assignment), plagiarizing (including
cutting and pasting from websites), looking at another student’s quiz or test and ALLOWING someone to
copy your assignment. Having any electronic device available during a test or quiz will be considered
cheating whether or not it is obvious that it is being used.
I hope that you will find this course interesting and worth the effort. I put a great deal of energy into it and if you
do as well, it should be a rewarding experience.
Dr. Fenstemaker
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