COURSE EXPECTATIONS and GUIDELINES
REQUIRED SUPPLIES:

Glue stick and tape for putting items in interactive notebook

Index cards to create concept cards

College ruled, loose-leaf paper

Pencils, pens (blue or black ink), highlighters, erasers

Storage pouch for pencils, pens, glue sticks, unused index cards, etc

1.5” binder to hold your interactive notebook

At least 10 dividers/tabs to glue into your biology interactive notebook to separate units

Calendar/Agenda for recording assignments
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES:

Colored pencil set (at least 12 colors)

Several clear page protectors
CLASS EXPECTATIONS:
Students are expected to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Be on time. (Refer to Foothill’s Survival Guide for policies on tardiness and absenteeism)
Be prepared with appropriate materials (interactive notebook, pen, etc.)
Be involved in class discussions.
Be respectful of self, teacher, classmates, guest speakers, and school property.
Be aware of safety protocol in the lab and follow it.
EXPECTED WORKLOAD:





Quizzes and unit tests – every 2-4 weeks
Lab investigations and activities – 1 per week
Homework (including online assessments) – 1 to 3 times a week
Projects – one big project per quarter
Practical lab exams – one per semester
COURSE EXPECTATIONS and GUIDELINES
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UNITS OF STUDY:
Fall Semester
Unit
Spring Semester
Topics
Maintaining an interactive notebook,
understanding and applying the
scientific method and experimental
design, introducing basic lab procedures
and equipment
Unit
Topics
DNA &
Meiosis
Examining forms of sexual reproduction,
distinguishing between mitosis and
meiosis, applying the law of independent
assortment
Understanding the cell theory,
describing the structure and function
within eukaryotic cells and their
organelles, comparing plant and animal
cells, practicing microscopy skills
Proteins &
Biotechnology
Exploring transcription and translation,
tracing proteins through the
endomembrane system, understanding
DNA fingerprinting and genetic
engineering
Membranes
& Transport
Introducing polymers and monomers,
describing the structure of cell
membranes, contrasting active and
passive transport systems.
Endocrinology
& Immune
System
Studying feedback mechanisms, exploring
primary and secondary immune
responses, understanding vaccines and
immune deficiencies
Microbiology
Describing the prokaryotic structure
and function, comparing prokaryotic
and eukaryotic cells, understanding
viruses and bacteriophages, practicing
lab skills (streaking plates, culturing
bacteria).
Genetics &
Evolution
Describing Mendelian genetics,
interpreting pedigrees and karyotypes,
calculating allele frequencies, comparing
micro and macroevolution, understanding
natural selection and biodiversity.
DNA &
Mitosis
Retracing the “DNA race”, exploring
DNA replication and the cell cycle,
identifying chromosome structure,
comparing conjugation in bacteria,
practicing microscopy skills
Ecology
Exploring co-evolution and species
interactions, discriminating between
producers and consumers, summarizing
photosynthesis and cellular respiration,
tracing elements in biogeochemical cycles
Scientific
Method
Cell Biology
GRADING SCALE:
A
B
C
D*
F
90 – 100%
80 – 89%
70 – 79%
60 – 69%
50 – 59%
*Biology is a pre-requisite for Chemistry. You must
earn at least a “C” in both semesters of Biology in order
to go onto Chemistry the following year. All students
with goals of attending a university after high school
must consider taking at least Biology and Chemistry in
order to fulfill university eligibility requirements.
Work not attempted by the deadline date will be recorded as a zero.
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COURSE EXPECTATIONS and GUIDELINES
WEIGHTING OF TASKS and ZANGLE ASSIGNMENT CATEGORIES:
Tests and Quizzes
Projects
Daily Homework
Online Quizzes and Classwork
Semester Final
30%
20%
15%
15%
20%
HOMEWORK:
Homework will be related to the curriculum and will be assigned to strengthen skills, reinforce
concepts, and/or prepare for a lesson, unit, or activity. Students should expect some homework on
a daily basis.
There are two general categories of homework:
1. Peer evaluated: In cooperative groups, students will evaluate work in interactive
notebooks as either following or not following the guidelines.
2. Instructor evaluated: This includes online assessments, projects, concept-mastery
worksheets, and lab conclusions.
LATE WORK AND/OR MISSING WORK:
•
•
•
Each assignment will have a due date. This is the date by which you are expected to submit
the assignment.
Missing work will be recorded in the grade book as a zero.
If a student is absent from class, that student is responsible for making up missed work.
EXTRA CREDIT:
1. Individual Extra Credit: There are select opportunities for a small amount of individual
extra credit to be earned. These will be discussed in class.
2. Group Extra Credit: Large assignments for extra credit will be considered on a class-level
basis, not an individual basis, and will only be offered to students who have all assignments
completed.
RENAISSANCE INCENTIVES:
Tickets: Tickets will be awarded on a merit basis. Outstanding behavior can earn a student
and/or an entire class a ticket. Tickets may also be earned for outstanding work (i.e., quiz and
test scores). Students will drop their tickets in a drawing for various incentives.
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