Summer Assignment
Honors Biology
Monkemeier
2014 - 2015
Name _____________________________ Date ________________________
Honors Biology Summer Assignment 2014 - 2015
Welcome to Honors Biology! This summer assignment is designed to introduce
you to the essential skills and techniques necessary to succeed in this course. It is also
designed to review concepts learned in physics and chemistry while familiarizing you
with topics from biology. Enjoy and embrace the experience of performing the
activities outlined below. We will have an exciting year and you will continue to grow
as a student!
Part 1: Communication – Must be performed before August 1, 2014 (or ASAP upon
joining the class over the summer)
 Our class will have a group email. Your first assignment is to email me (Mrs.
Monkemeier) from an email address that you will be checking over the summer
and throughout the 2014 - 2015 school year.
 When you email – Put your name and Honors Biology in the Subject area and
include the following:
o Your first and last name.
o Sports and/or activities that you will be participating in during the first
semester. (These can include potential activities and sports)
o A word or phrase that describes you.
o A word or phrase that comes to mind when you think about taking Honors
Biology next year (be honest – negative or positive are acceptable)
Part 2: Read and Outline – Go to the Monkemeier Teacher Web Page and click on the
tab entitled Honors Biology Summer Assignment 2014 – 2015 . (The outlines DO NOT
NEED TO BE TYPED; however, please write legibly. Due the first day of class.
 Visit the three links on the webpage and carefully read through each link.
 Focus on the Cornell Note-Taking System Link.
 Using the Cornell Note-Taking System (and the advice from the other two links)
READ and OUTLINE the first three chapters in your text book. In the Biology 8th
edition book, these chapters are entitled: The Science of Biology, The Nature of
Molecules, The Chemical Building Blocks of Life. In the Campbell Reece Biology
7th edition book these chapters are entitled: Exploring Life, The Chemical Context
of Life, Water and the Fitness of the Environment, Carbon and the Molecular
Diversity of Life.
 A Template for note – taking is available on the Webpage below the link OR you
can Xerox copies of the template attached. FEEL FREE to modify the template to
your style so long as it includes the components on the template.
 Your outlines of the three chapters will be checked within the first week of
school. These outlines will be part of your Summer Assignment Grade.
 You will be required to use the Cornell Note-Taking System throughout the
course as we explore new chapters. Don’t worry – this system will become
second nature to you and you will wonder how you survived without it.
 During the year – we will have notebook checks and you will be given credit for
you reading notes.
Part 3: Review and Comprehension – Due the first day of class.
 After completing Part 2, answer the following questions below using complete
sentences. (Typed on a separate sheet of paper)
1. Why does life defy simple definition? What characteristics describe life and/or
organisms?
2. Describe the way that living systems are organized.
3. Compare and contrast inductive reasoning with deductive reasoning and provide
examples of each type of reasoning.
4. Compare and contrast geometric progression with arithmetic progression. What
is the effect of reducing the constant factor by which the geometric progression
increases? Might this effect be achieved with humans? How?
5. List and describe the Unifying Themes in Biology.
6. Explain how atomic structure is related to the following terms: isotopes and
ions.
7. Explain why isotopes are important in the study of biology by providing
examples of their relevance and use.
8. Which elements from the Periodic Table are found in living systems in more than
trace amounts? Of those elements just listed, which elements are considered to
be part of the basic building blocks of life?
9. Energy flows through living systems in a series of oxidations and reductions.
WHY is this the most advantageous way for living systems to transfer energy?
What role to chemical bonds and electrons play in these Redox reactions?
10. The Redox reactions are controlled by organic catalysts known as enzymes.
What is the role of a catalyst? WHY is it important that a catalyst is recycled and
not altered by performing its role? How can the availability of a catalyst be used
to control chemical reaction pathways?
11.Completely explain the structure of a water molecule and how it relates to the
polar nature of water.
12.Explain the following properties of water contribute to the well-being of
organisms: high specific heat, high heat of vaporization, the ability to form ions.
13.How does water organize nonpolar molecules and why is this important to
organisms. Give a specific example of how water contributes to the organization
of living systems.
14.WHY is pH important to living systems and specifically, how does pH affect the
rate of chemical reactions?
15.Biological molecules can be built or broken down using two essential chemical
reactions. List and describe these two chemical reactions.
16.WHY is carbon the essential element for building carbohydrates, lipids, proteins
and nucleic acids?
17.Functional groups provide a hydrocarbon with “personality”. What does this
mean? What is a functional group and how are they recognized?
18.Why are isomers important to the study of Biological molecules? Which
categories of biological molecules contain isomers that are well-known? Provide
specific examples.
19.Hydrogen bonds play an important role in stabilizing and organizing biological
molecules. Consider the four macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins
and nucleic acids), describe three examples where hydrogen bond formation
affects the form or function of the macromolecule.
20.How do the four biological macromolecules differ from one another? Refer to
the diagram of monomer structure n figure 3.3 and summarize what “clues” you
use to distinguish between these macromolecules.
Part 4: Comprehension Due the first day of class.
 Perform the Self Test - Multiple Choice Questions at the end of each of the
chapters listed for your particular text book.
Notes:
 We will be having a Unit 1 Test (First three chapters) within the first three cycles
of school.
 Safety and Lab Safety will be discussed within the first double lab period and a
all students will be required to pass a Lab Safety and Lab Technique Test prior to
performing the first official lab in Honors Biology. See the Lab Safety Tabs on
Monkemeier Web Page as well as the Flinn Lab Safety Contract Tab.
Parts 2 – 4 of the Summer Assignment are due on the first day of school. See Grading
Rubric Below.
Grading Rubric For Honors Biology Summer Assignment
Part 1:
Communication
5 Points
3 Points
1 Point
0 Points
Email received
prior to 8/1 with
all directions
followed.
Email received
prior to 8/1 but
some
information
missing
Email received
after 8/1 with
some
information
missing.
Email not
received.
Cornell- Note
Taking System
Followed and All
Three Chapters
outlined
completely
according to
System.
All 20 questions
answered in
complete
sentences and
typed. Answers
to Questions
demonstrate
effort and
comprehension
of concepts.
Cornell- Note
Taking System
Followed but
information from
chapters missing.
5% of grade
Part 2: Read
and Outline
Part 3: Review
and
Comprehension
Part 4:
Comprehension
Timing
All 44 multiple
choice questions
answered and
directions
followed. More
than 80% of
answers correct.
All Parts 2 – 4
turned in on the
first day of
school – on time
Chapters
Outlines of all
outlined but
three chapters
either Cornell
not
System not
completed
followed and/or
information from
chapters missing.
Some questions
All 20 questions
missing/ not
answered but
answered in
/not in complete
complete
sentences and
sentences/
/or not typed./or
answers do not
Answers
demonstrate
demonstrate
effort, attention to
some effort but
detail or
not complete
comprehension
comprehension
of concepts.
All 44 multiple
All 44 multiple
choice questions choice questions
answered and all answered and all
directions
directions
followed. 70% of followed. 50% of
answers correct. answers correct.
All Parts 2-4
turned in after
first day but
within the first
week of school.
All Parts 2-4
turned in after
first day but within
the second week
of school
Directions not
followed and/or
more than 5
questions
unanswered.
44 multiple
choice
questions not
turned in.
All Parts 2-4
turned in after
first day and
after third week
of school
Honors Biology Cornell Note-Taking Template
Chapter _____________________
Name: _______________________________________________________
Section Title: _________________
Pages _______________________
In this left column:
Turn the Headings of each section
into questions.
Summary
Date:
________________________________________________________
In this right column
Remember - Vocabulary with definitions that relate to question
Cite Evidence or ideas to answer the question.