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AP Biology Canton Area High School Syllabus 2016-2017
Mrs. Swartz
E-mail: Cswartz@canton.k12.pa.us
Phone: (570) 673-5143
Website: SwartzBiology.
AP Biology is a year-long course that is designed to be taken by students after the successful completion of both high school biology and chemistry.
CHS Prerequisites: Students must achieve 94% or higher in Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry I, permission of the instructor, and score advanced on the Biology Keystone Exam.
AP Biology includes those topics traditionally covered in a college introductory biology course and differs significantly from the high school biology course with respect to the kind of textbook used, the range and depth of topics covered, the kind of laboratory work performed by students and the time and effort required of the students. At the conclusion of this course, students will be prepared to begin second year college level biology work. The textbook used by AP Biology is also used by college biology majors and the labs done by AP students are equivalent to those done by today’s college student. It is expected that students taking this course will be taking the AP Biology Exam in early May 2015. In addition, CHS students have the opportunity to earn 4 college credits by enrolling to take this course as part of the Dual Enrollment program through Keystone College at a discounted credit rate.
Keystone College is accepting this AP Biology Course as:
BIOL 113 General Biology I: Introduces science majors to topics such as the nature of science, basic chemistry, the origin of life, cell structure and function, reproduction, genetics, population, evolution, energy relationships, and the diversity of animals. Dissection required.
Fall, Spring, and Summer, $100 fee, 3 hours lecture and discussion, 3-hour laboratory, 4 credits.
This course is divided into 11 units of study which are presented with an inquiry-based approach. Lectures and vocabulary quizzes are given throughout each unit to ensure students are gaining content knowledge. Discussions will be based on content learned, lab results, scientific findings of the past and present, journal articles, current events, and political issues related to biology. Knowledge acquired will then be assessed through a variety of culminating laboratory exercises and unit exams.
Textbook:
Campbell, Neil A. AP Edition Biology. 7th ed. San Francisco: Pearson Education, 2005. Print.
The 11 Units of Study are as follows:
1. Chemistry of Life/Biochemistry
2. Cells
3. Cell Energetics
4. Cell Cycle, Communication, and Cancer
5. Heredity
6. Molecular Genetics
7. Evolutionary Biology
8. Diversity of Organisms
9. Structure and Function of Plants and Animals
10. Animal Behavior
11. Ecology
Grading:
Your grade will be based on the following items:
Unit Exams & Free Responses, 50%
Vocabulary & Lab Quizzes 10%
Labs & Lab Reports: 35%
Homework: 5%
Unit Exams:
At the conclusion of each unit, you will have a unit exam. It will cover the chapters and lab work that have been discussed prior to the conclusion of the unit. This exam will be very similar the format of the AP Exam. It will consist of approx. 60-110 multiple-choice questions as well as diagrams to label, problems to solve and short answer questions. Free Response Questions may be included as well.
Free Response Questions:
Free response prompts will be completed using the blog created on Weebly or in class depending on assignment. They will be worth 20 points per free response question. For the questions completed on the blog, you will be expected to provide an answer to the FRQ by Thursday at midnight the week the question is assigned. You will then have until Sunday midnight to respond to at least two (2) classmates. The FRQ’s are used to facilitate student mastery of major components of the AP Biology course. By reading and responding to other classmates’ postings it is my hope that you will gain a deeper understanding of the question and thus increase your understanding of the topic. Your individual response is worth 20 points and responses to classmates is worth 5 pts.
Lab Quizzes:
To ensure that you are adequately preparing for the lab, pre-lab quizzes may be used throughout the year. They will focus on general lab procedures as well as background knowledge required to complete the lab. The lab packets you are given for the pre-lab assignment will be the focus of the pre-lab quiz. Post-lab quizzes may be given at the conclusion of the laboratory exercise.
Chapter Quizzes:
Content knowledge is essential to understanding Biology. Students may have 1-2 quizzes each to enforce the content learned throughout the week.
Labs & Laboratory Reports:
Students are provided the opportunity to engage in investigative laboratory work integrated throughout the course for a minimum of 25 percent of instructional time. For each of the labs, an assignment sheet will be given. You will be expected to answer a set of analysis questions as well as complete a portion of a lab report. A grading rubric will accompany each assignment to assist you in satisfactorily completing the lab report. Groups will turn in labs, but everyone will need a copy for their notebooks. You will be working in pairs to complete the graded laboratory assignment. You are expected to maintain a level of academic integrity while completing the assignment. Both members of the team are required to be active participants in completing the lab. If we find that partners are not sharing the responsibilities of completing the lab, individual lab reports may be assigned. Labs will be scheduled at least a week in advance. Due to the nature of the course, lab preparation, and completion of the lab – it is extremely critical that you are in class the day of scheduled labs.
Homework:
Your homework will consist of focus questions for each chapter, tutorial worksheets and pre-lab questions for each lab activity. The homework will be checked for completeness. You may receive a check, check minus (50% or less completed), or a zero. Late homework will NOT be accepted.
2016-2017 AP Biology Course Outline
Week 1
Focusing on familiarizing students with the 8 major AP Biology themes: science as a process, structure and function, regulation, evolution, energy transfer, continuity and change, interdependence in nature, and science, technology, and society. Each of these themes will be revisited repeatedly throughout the course and will help facilitate student understanding of the 11 units of study. Students will also familiarize themselves with Weebly, a website created in which some assignments will be submitted. In addition, students will have access to all lecture notes and resources through Weebly.
Unit 1: Chemistry of Life/Biochemistry – 4 weeks
Lecture Topics:
Behavior of Essential Elements
Properties of Water
Organic Biology
Labs, Projects, and Activities:
Build an Organic Molecule: Project
Research Project – (choose one) Alternate Fuels, Hydrogenated Fats, Protein Deficiencies, Vitamin Deficiencies or topic of choice (instructor approval)
Assigned Reading:
Chapters 1-5, and related materials
Unit 2: Molecules and Cells – 2 weeks
Lecture Topics:
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (Endosymbiotic Theory and Evolution)
Cell Structure and Function (Organelles)
Cell Function is a Tiny Picture of Bigger Things
The Cell Membrane
Labs, Projects, and Activities:
AP Lab 4 - Diffusion and Osmosis: 2-days, Hands-on
Diversity of Cells (slide analysis): 2-days observation (Hands-on)
Assigned Reading:
Chapters 6 & 7, and related materials.
Unit 3: Cellular Energetics – 3 weeks
Lecture Topics:
Enzymes
Free Energy
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
Photosynthesis
Labs, Projects, and Activities:
AP Lab 13-Enzyme Catalysis: 3 days, Hands-on
AP Lab 5-Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis: 3 days, Hands-on
AP Lab 6-Cellular Respiration: 2 days, Hands-on
Assigned Reading: Chapters 8-10 and related materials
Unit 4: Cell Cycle, Communication, and Cancer – 3 weeks
Lecture Topics:
The Cell Cycle
Mitosis
Regulation of the Cell Cycle
How Cells Communicate
Stem Cell Research and Cloning
Cancer and Mitosis
Labs, Projects, and Activities:
AP Lab 7-Mitosis and Meiosis: 3 days, Hands-on
Stem Cell Research and Cloning Project
Assigned Reading:
Chapters 11 &12, and related materials
Unit 5: Heredity – 4 weeks
Lecture Topics:
Meiosis
Oogenesis and Spermatogenesis
Modes of Inheritance
Labs, Projects, and Activities:
Karyotyping: Activity
Presentations on Genetics Disorders: Projects
AP Lab 1 – Artificial Selection
Chi-Squared Analysis (M&M Lab): 1-day, Hands-on
Assigned Reading:
Chapters 13, 14, 15 and related materials
Unit 6: Molecular Genetics - 4 weeks
Lecture Topics:
Significant Scientists in Molecular Biology
DNA and RNA Structure
Protein Synthesis
Mutations
Chromosomes
Regulation of Gene Expression
Viruses
Biotechnology Today
Labs, Projects, and Activities:
AP Lab 8- Biotechnology Bacterial Transformation: 3 days, Hands-on
AP Lab 9 – Biotechnology - Restriction Enzyme Analysis of DNA: 2 days, Hands-on
DNA Isolation: 1 day, Hands-on
Plasmid Mapping: Activity
Assigned Reading:
Chapters 16-21, and related materials
Unit 7: Evolutionary Biology - 4 weeks
Lecture Topics:
Understanding HIV
Evidence for Evolution
Mechanisms of Evolution
Evolution of Populations
Speciation and Adaptation
Ongoing Research and New Ideas in the Study of Evolution
Labs, Projects, and Activities:
AP Lab 2-Mathematical Modeling Hardy-Weinberg: 2 days, Hands-on
Relating Amino Acid Sequences to Evolutionary Relationships (Modern Biology)
AP Lab 3 – Comparing DNA Sequences to Understand Evolutionary Relationships Using BLAST – 2 days
Assigned Reading:
Chapters 22, 23,24,25,26, related materials
Unit 8: Diversity of Organisms – 2 weeks
Lecture Topics:
Survey of the Diversity of Life
Evolutionary Patterns and Relationships
Phylogenies
Labs, Projects, and Activities
Construct a Phylogeny: Activity
Analysis of a Cladogram: Activity
Cladogram Construction
Assigned Reading:
Chapters 27-34 and related materials
Unit 9 & 10: Structure & Function of Plants and Animals – 4 weeks
Lecture Topics:
Evolution of Structures: Form and Function
Classification
Reproduction
Growth and Development
Human Systems (and animal)
Plant Systems
Environmental Responses
Labs, Projects, and Activities:
AP Lab 11-Transpiration: 2 days, Hands-on
AP lab 10-Physiology of the Circulatory System: 3 days, Hands-on
Create a Plant Journal: Project
Plant Dissections (structure and reproduction): Two dissections lasting 1 day each, totaling 2 days, Hands-on
Animal Dissections (shark, squid, seastar,): each lasting 1-2 days, totaling 6 days, Hands-on
Assigned Reading:
Chapters 34-49 and related materials
Unit 11: Ecology - 2 weeks
Lecture Topics:
Population Dynamics
Communities and Ecosystems
Global Issues and Human Impact
Labs, Projects, and Activities:
AP Lab 10 – Energy Dynamics 3 days (plus plant grow time), Hands-on
AP Lab 12 – Fruit Fly Interactions – 3 days, Hands-on
Assigned Reading:
Chapters 50, 53-55, related materials
Topic Outline for the Year
The AP Biology Curriculum is framed around four Big Ideas. For each of these Big Ideas, there is a set of core concepts called Enduring Understanding which will be used to guide the AP Biology course curriculum. Below is an outline of the AP Biology Curriculum Big Ideas and the Enduring Understandings topics covered in this course. AP Biology is a rigorous course which demands personal responsibility from the student. In order for students to plan effectively, they are provided with due dates for all major projects, labs and tests. They are strongly encouraged to complete nightly readings and study each day’s lecture notes on their own time.
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AP Biology Science Practices
The new AP Biology exam strongly emphasizes that students should be well prepared in the seven science practices they have established. These practices will be used throughout the year with labs, projects, and other activities.
Science Practice 1
The student can use representations and models to communicate scientific phenomena and solve scientific problems.
Science Practice 2
The student can use mathematics appropriately.
Science Practice 3
The student can engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or to guide investigations within the context of the AP course.
Science Practice 4
The student can plan and implement data collection strategies in relation to a particular scientific question. (Note: Data can be collected from many different sources, e.g., investigations, scientific observations, the findings of others, historic reconstruction and/or archived data.)
Science Practice 5
The student can perform data analysis and evaluation of evidence.
Science Practice 6
The student can work with scientific explanations and theories.
Science Practice 7
The student is able to connect and relate knowledge across various scales, concepts and representations in and across domains.
ADDITIONAL HELP
If you are having difficulty with material in the course, it is your responsibility to seek additional help! It is my goal to have every student succeed in this course. If you have questions, I am available at 7:45 a.m. in my room and Period 8/CKU. Given notice, arrangements can be made for meeting over lunch, or before/after school. Questions can always be emailed to me as well at cswartz@canton.k12.pa.us.
2016-2017 AP Biology Student Contract
Canton Area High School
After reviewing the AP Biology Course Syllabus and Course Outline, I understand that this course demands that I perform work on a college level and accept the academic responsibilities associated with college level work. As a student I also recognize the following:
1. I acknowledge the extra work commitment that an AP course requires.
2. I am making a commitment to take this course for a full year.
3. I have read the Advance Placement course description and understand the scope of the class as well as the amount of material that will be covered this school year.
4. I plan to spend at least 5 hours outside of class each week reading and reviewing material and it is my responsibility to seek additional help for material I may have difficulty understanding.
5. I understand that 3 absences constitutes one week of college level work and will put my understanding of the material at a disadvantage.
6. I am taking the AP Course with the goal of scoring a 3 or higher on the AP Exam in May and/or obtaining a “C” or better for college credit through Keystone College.
7. I understand that cheating/plagiarism will not be tolerated and will EXEMPT me from receiving credit though Keystone College.
8. I will be taking the AP Biology Exam in May 2017 and understand that this is a cost to me.
Student Signature ____________________________ Date _______________
AP Biology Parent/Guardian Contract
Canton Area High School
As a parent/guardian of a student enrolled in AP Biology, I acknowledge the level of responsibility required of my son/daughter and the expectations associated with an AP Course. I agree with the course requirements and expectations as outlined in the course syllabus and will help my son/daughter organize study time in support of class assignments.
Parent/Guardian Signature ______________________________ Date ___________
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