INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Mr. Crispin Zanca, AP Biology Instructor
Room: Biology Lab
Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays: 3:00-3:30 p.m., or by appointment
U.S phone: 757-229-6026 e-mail: czanca@walsingham.org
COURSE OVERVIEW
Advanced Placement Biology is a rigorous College-level course and students are expected to come to class prepared by having read the chapters in advance of lecture, having prepared questions for clarification as needed, as not all the material in the text can be covered in class time allotted. Lectures will consist mostly of power points, which will include graphics from our textbook, so students can follow along with their text, and will cover only a portion of the material the students are expected to learn. There are occasional animations and video clips inserted into the power points, such as “The Secret of Photo 51” and “the 1918 Flu Pandemic” from Nova. com. Assessments will include
Unit Tests, Quizzes, Lab Reports, Article Reviews from scientific periodicals and newspapers, Research Topics, Group Projects, Nutritional Analysis, Debates and
Completed Chapter Study Guides. Most exams will consist of a multiple-choice section followed by a Free Response section (the free response section will typically be assigned on a Friday to be completed over the weekend).
All students are required to take the A.P.
Biology Exam in May.
The four Big Ideas of AP Biology: Evolution, Cellular Processes: Energy and
Communication, Genetics and Information Transfer and Interactions are interwoven throughout the course as part of our discussions and writing assignments. In Advanced
Placement Biology I feel that it is especially important for the student to understand the processes as well as how organisms function as units and that they are members of larger and even global communities. I believe it is important to make connections between biological processes and organisms relative to medicine, ecology as well as industry. Throughout the course, students are assigned to read and report on topics that demonstrate these relationships.
Students are given the opportunity to engage in student-directed laboratory investigations throughout the course for a minimum of 25% of instructional time. In addition to the eight suggested A.P labs, we also have labs designed to further reinforce the concepts introduced in the course. These include labs on comparison of protist diversity & plant diversity, cellular structure, and plant tissues and structure. For all of the labs, formal lab reports are required and include lab objectives and purpose, hypothesis, procedures and materials, data, and conclusions, and analysis of error. This follows the protocol suggested in AP Biology Investigative Lab: An Inquiry Based Approach.
The textbook: for this course is : Campbell Biology in Focus, Copyright 2014.
The following supplemental books and web sites are used throughout the course by me and students: http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/labbench/
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www.nabt.org
www.unc.edu
www.ncsu.edu
, www.zoho.com http://www.biology.arizona.edu
Biozone AP Biology I & II
Course Syllabus
UNIT I: Chemistry and Cells
UNIT II: Genetics
UNIT III: Evolution
UNIT IV: The Evolutionary History of Life
UNIT V: Plant Form and Function
UNIT VI: Animal Form and Function
UNIT VII Ecology
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
CONTENT:
1.
To assimilate scientific facts, principles, and terms related to the living world.
2.
To better understand and appreciate the interrelatedness of all living things.
3.
To relate physiological complexity to anatomical complexity.
4.
To apply the concepts learned in the classroom to the real world around us.
SKILLS:
1.
Develop critical thinking skills.
2.
To refine laboratory skills so as to enable future application to problem-solving situations.
3.
To be able to analyze scientific data, explain results and make inferences.
4.
To enhance study skills and organization.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
1. Lecture with a variety of modalities including iPad, PowerPoint, computer, and reflections on readings focusing on conceptual relationships.
2. Class discussions: large group as well as small group discussion to facilitate analysis of data and problem solving.
3. Laboratory activities to reinforce concepts taught in lecture.
4. Peer teaching through group work and collaborative projects.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
In order to successfully complete this class, students must demonstrate proficiency on exams, including the 1 st
Semester Exam, 2 nd
Semester exam and unit tests; quizzes; writing and research assignments, class work and discussions, and projects. Students will be given clear instructions and grading rubrics to follow for major projects, lab reports and research assignments.
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GENERAL POLICIES:
* Students are expected to be in their seats by the second bell, backpacks stowed, homework on desk ready to be collected.
If you arrive late for class, you must have a note from a staff member for explanation.
*. Textbooks, iPads and binders are required for all classes-have them at your desk, ready to use!
*Students are expected to complete assigned readings, take notes on the readings, prepare questions for items that are not well understood, and to be prepared for discussion when called upon.
*Students are highly encouraged to form a study team/group for regular review of material.
*Students are encouraged to read the newspapers and science magazines or Internet science articles and to bring these in for discussion.
CLASSROOM CONDUCT :
Respect your fellow students, teacher, and your classroom! No food or gum at all. Any gum chewing or defacing of classroom will be dealt with swiftly. Refrain from talking during class, unless called upon by the teacher. Raise your hand when you have a question. Disruptions interfere with the right of your classmates to learn and will result in new seat assignment, loss of discussion privileges, communication with parent, or detention with Mr. Zanca after school.
Students must remain seated during class. Come to class prepared!
LABS : Zero tolerance on horseplay and nonparticipation.
All students will be asked to sign a Lab Safety Contract. If a student fails to adhere to the safety rules during a lab activity, they will not be permitted to participate in this or possibly future labs, will receive a grade of “0” on the lab, and parents will be notified.
LABORATOIRES CANNOT BE MADE UP. Labs are time consuming to set up and most involve perishable materials . In case of an absence, students will be required to research the topic and write a report related to the lab objective, and in some cases, do a virtual lab on line.
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ASSIGNMENTS DEADLINE POLICIES :
Due when the class period begin s or it is counted late (minus 20%), none accepted more than 2 days late (unless extenuating circumstances supported in writing by a parent upon turning the assignment in).
Assignments are posted on Blackbaud and it is the student’s responsibility to check this site.
Assignments will also be announced and explained before class ends
ABSENCE: Students are to check with the teacher upon return for missed work.
They may get notes from another student or see me at the end of the day, or may e-mail me. It is your responsibility to make sure you catch up and get missed work AND schedule missed quizzes or tests.
For each day you are absent, you will have one extra day to turn in any short-term assignments, or to make up quizzes or tests For example: if you are absent for a test on Tuesday, you will be expected to take this on Thursday during class time (unless you schedule another time in advance).
All make-up quizzes and tests will be MOSTLY ESSAY.
Extended absences will be handled on a case-by-case basis—but you must make appropriate arrangements with me.
Any long-term (7 + days) project that is late, will receive a maximum of 60%.
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ASSIGNMENT COMPLETION : All work turned in by a student is to be their own work. Many projects, labs, textbook summaries will be done as a member of a group, but each student is to turn complete their portion in their own words. Often, following group work, or as component of a group project, oral presentations will be required to demonstrate understanding of the concept presented. Any plagiarism or copying of another student’s work will result in a zero score for both students, and a referral to the honor council.
:
Quarter grades are averaged using the point system, as described below. Points per item will be assigned values approximating the following:
Tests and Major Projects(~100 points)
Quizzes labs, and larger assignments (~40 points)
Homework and small class work assignments (~10-20 points)
Class Participation and Biology Binders ( ~5 points)
Grade determination is as follows:
1 st
semester: 1 st
term 40%, 2 nd
term 40%, Examination 20%
2 nd
semester: 3 rd
term 40%, 4 th
term 40%, Final examination 20%
Final grade: First Semester and Second Semester grades are averages together
th
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