Pre-Ap Biology Syllabus
2013-2014
Instructor: Greg Osborne
Email: osborneg@mustangps.org
Planning Period: 4th hour 12:00-12:55
Textbook: Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections 8e
Website: www.mustangps.org
Room: C207
Course Description:
This course is designed to give the student an overview of many different aspects of the life
sciences. Students will acquire knowledge through hands-on activities, experiments,
research, projects, group work, as well as using text materials.
Topics Covered:
 Intro to Biology – Intro to process
 From Molecules to Organisms: Structure and Processes
 Ecosystems: interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
 Heredity, Inheritance and Variation of Traits
 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
Materials:
Pencils
Red ink pens
Loose-leaf notebook paper
3 Ring Binder with Dividers (strongly recommended)
Lab notebook
Classroom Materials:
These are materials needed for class throughout the year. I am asking each hour to bring a
different item. It is not required to bring these but any student who does will receive a get
out of tardy free pass for the month.
1st hour Kleenex
2nd hour Kleenex
3rd hour Colored pencils
Expectations:
1. Be Polite
2. Be Prepared
3. Be Productive
4. Be Positive
5. Be Prompt
+
5th hour Colored pencils
6th hour Scissors
Tardy Policy:
Students are expected to be in their assigned seats when the bell rings. If they are not they
will be counted tardy. Three tardies will count as one absence, which will go towards the
total number of absences allowed per semester. Students can use a “get out of tardy free”
pass to be excused from a tardy.
Grading Scale:
Daily Work = 25%
Tests = 40%
Labs = 25%
Semester Test = 10%
Late Work:
Any assignment turned in after the deadline will be considered late. Late work will be
accepted for only ONE DAY after the deadline and will receive no higher than a 50%.
After one day late work will NOT be accepted!! Turn late work into the wire late work
basket
Makeup Work:
I have a calendar posted in the classroom with the daily assignments on it. You are
expected to check the calendar. I WILL NOT remind you to get your make up work.
AFTER checking the calendar, you can find the missed assignment in a hanging pocket of
the day in which you missed written on it. Students will have one day per day missed to
make up said assignment. Makeup tests or quizzes need to be made up after or before
school.
Cheating:
Cheating on any assignment will receive an automatic zero. This includes copying
homework or worksheets as well as tests and quizzes. We may grade assignments in class
and not grading your assignments correctly will be counted as cheating and will receive a
zero. This also includes having your pencil out on your desk while grading.
Mobile Devices:
School policy allows the use of Mobile devices; however this will be only when Mr.
Osborne requests the devices be out. Inappropriate use of these devices will result in
detention and/or surrendering the device to the principle. There will be times in class
where use of a mobile device will be appropriate.
Benchmark Tests (Practice EOIs):
Biology students will take practice tests meant to prepare them for the kinds of questions to
expect on the End-Of-Instruction test. The state mandated EOI is given toward the end of
the school year. We will have benchmark tests throughout the year. This is done to help
us see progress in our students and areas where we need to improve before the EOI.