Download Syllabus - Frenship

Page 1 of 10
ADVANCE PLACEMENT BIOLOGY®
COURSE OVERVIEW
EXPECTATIONS
The AP Biology course is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology
course usually taken by biology majors during their first year of college. This class is designed
for students who have completed PreAP Biology and PreAP Chemistry and are thinking about a
major in a science field. Students can earn college credit for part or all of their freshman science
classes by earning a 3 or better on the AP Biology Exam at the end of the year. The class is
conducted at a college level and students are expected to work accordingly. Students are
expected to come to class prepared (all reading and assignments completed).
GOALS OF THE COURSE: 4 BIG IDEAS
The AP Biology Examination continues to emphasize the concepts and themes of
biology. Less weight is placed on specific facts than on the “big ideas” that tie them together.
This AP Biology course is organized and taught with great attention paid to the themes below.
The units and lessons highlight the repeating, overarching themes or patterns that thread their
way through 4 Big Ideas:
1. The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.
2. Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to
grow, to reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.
3. Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information
essential to life processes.
4. Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess
complex properties.
These 4 Big Ideas of the AP Biology course are constantly stressed. Even though each
unit has its own subject matter, the Big Ideas are intertwined throughout all the units we do.
LABORATORY COMPONENT
In order to meet the objectives provided in the AP Biology Course Description, we use
labs found in the College Board’s AP Biology Investigative Labs Manual or other labs that fulfill
the required objectives. Students will be engaged in laboratory work a MINIMUM of 25% of
their classroom instructional time.
To stress that biology, like other sciences, is a process, all AP lab activities emphasize
developing and testing each student’s hypothesis. Data collection and analysis is critical to this
process, in addition to discussion of the results and the “whys” behind it. For the first time,
many students see that science is not just a collection of facts, but rather a systematic process.
These labs are critical in the success of the student. Pre-lab question sheets and lab
procedures are given to the students prior to the day it will be performed. These pre-lab
questions must be answered and turned in the day of the lab in order to have the privilege of
doing the lab. I have found this to be most helpful in assuring that students have studied the lab
and know all procedures before beginning each lab. These labs usually run more that one class
period. Attendance is stressed so that the student will not fall behind.
Victoria Bacon
Frenship AP Biology
Page 2 of 10
REQUIRED STUDENT MATERIALS
 Biology, 9th Edition, Campbell, Campbell and Reese, 2011.
 Notebook or paper for chapter outlines and questions.
 3 Ring Binder with dividers
 Pens, pencils, highlighter
 Pack of colored pencils
 Calculator
CLASS SCHEDULING / TUTORIALS
We are on a block schedule with 86 minute long sections that meet every other day. This
is not as much time as you would be required to attend a college laboratory biology class. It is
critical that you are prepared for class and work to your fullest potential. I am at school before
7:50 every morning if you have questions or concerns. I will also be posting 2 weekly afternoon
tutorial times. If there is a situation that needs to be resolved one-on-one, then the student can
request additional tutorial times.
This course will have an online component, accessed through the FISD website. Some
assignments will be completed online, and it is where you will access the course calendar. The
forum section of the website is designed to be a place where students can discuss assignments,
deadlines, and biology concepts. It is not a place for school gossip or any subject other than
Biology. The website will be updated after every class with a rough outline of the class lecture
and assignments, calendar of assignment due dates, and notices of upcoming events. The
website will be monitored by the teacher. You may use the website to ask questions about your
assignments and you will be given feedback. This will be great way to always have access to
help.
READINGS / LECTURE / DISCUSSION
Students are required to read AND OUTLINE the assigned textbook chapters prior to
lectures as well as completing the study guides that go with each chapter. The study guides
should be used as reinforcement of the main ideas of each chapter. If anyone in the class has
difficulty with any of the questions or concepts, they are to address it in class.
Classroom lectures and discussions will highlight the main concepts and themes of the
unit. Lecture is done in a very interactive manner. After covering a new concept, the students
are given a manipulative. This gives them the opportunity to process the information they were
just given and allows time to clear up any misconceptions. The goal is to spend less time talking
and more time experiencing biology.
STUDENT ASSESSMENT
This course is divided into 10 units, not 6 – 6 weeks. This will mean that there is no good
way of standardizing the number of grades in each grading period. We will be using a points
system. Each assignment type will be worth a different number of points. Students’ 6 week
average will be calculated as follows:
TOTAL POINTS EARNED
X 100
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE
Each student earns their grade based on the quality of the work they complete. Grading will
follow standards equal to the standards used when scoring the AP Biology Exam.
Victoria Bacon
Frenship AP Biology
Page 3 of 10
FORMS OF ASSESSMENT/WEIGHTING
 Daily Work – 10 points
 Free Response Essays – 20 points
 Chapter Quizzes (following every chapter) – 10 points
 Labs and Lab Reports – 30 to 50 points
 Exams – 100 points
MAJOR EXAMS
Each major exam will follow the same format as the AP Biology Exam. Consider them
“mini AP Tests.” This means that there will be multiple choice section worth 60 points and a
“free response” or short answer essay section worth 40 points. This will be covered in more
detail as the first exam approaches. Students are encouraged to prepare for all exams by
studying their chapter outlines, chapter study guides, and lab reports.
AP BIOLOGY EXAM
Every student enrolled in this course will be prepared to take the AP Biology Exam and
will be expected to do so. Scoring a 3 or higher will save many students time and money in
college, depending on their major.
The AP Biology Exam is three hours in length and is designed to measure a student’s
knowledge and understanding of modern biology. The exam consists of an 90 minute, 63 item
multiple choice section, and 6 question grid-in section which examines the student’s
understanding of representative content and concepts drawn from across the entire course; a 10
minute reading/planning period; and a 80 minute free-response section, consisting of two long
free response and 6 short free response questions that encompass broader topics.
AP Grade
Qualification
5
Extremely well-qualified
4
Well-qualified
3
Qualified
2
Possibly qualified
1
No recommendation
AFTER THE AP BIOLOGY EXAM
After the AP Exam, we will be working on a book report project. Details will be
discussed at the end of the year. The students’ final grade on this project will be used as their
Final Exam grade.
Victoria Bacon
Frenship AP Biology
Page 4 of 10
COURSE OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION: SCIENCE AS A PROCESS / AP BIOLOGY THEMES
Resources
Concepts
Chapter 1
 Class Rules
 Lab Safety
 Overview of an AP Biology Course
 4 Big Ideas of AP Biology
UNIT 1: CHEMISTRY OF LIFE
Resources
Concepts
Chapters 2-5
 Element vs. Compounds
o Atomic Structure and Bonding
o Molecular Shapes are Important to
Function
o Chemical Reactions
 Water
o Polarity Results in Hydrogen
Bonding
o Cohesion, Adhesion, Surface
Tension, High Heat of
Vaporization, High Specific Heat,
Expansion upon Freezing,
Resistant to Temperature Change
o Aqueous Solutions
o pH Scale
 Organic Chemistry
o Why Carbon Atoms are the most
Versatile Building Blocks
o Isomers
o Functional Groups
 Macromolecules
o Condensation Reaction vs.
Hydrolysis
o Structure, Function, Examples,
and Bonding of Carbohydrates,
Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic
Acids
o Four Levels of Protein Structure
UNIT 2: CELLS
Resources
Concepts
Chapters 6-7, 11
 Cell Structure and Function
Victoria Bacon
Frenship AP Biology
Assignments/Laboratories
 Goal setting
 Scientific processes

INVESTIGATION 1:
ARTIFICIAL
SELECTION
Assignments/Laboratories
 Chemistry Review
 Losing It Activity
 Free Response: Water
 Free Response:
Biomolecules
 Lab: Comparing Bond
Properties
 Lab: Properties of
Water Demonstrations
 Contrasting Organic
Molecules

INVESTIGATION
13: ENZYME
ACTIVITY
EXAM: INTRO AND
UNIT 1
Assignments/Laboratories
 Intro to cells
Page 5 of 10


o Microscopy and Cell
Fractionation as Tools to Study
Organelles
o Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cell
Structure
o Endomembrane System
o Other Membranous Organelles
and the Cytoskeleton
o Cell Surfaces and Junctions
Membrane Structure and Function
o Science as a Process: Evolution
of the Membrane Model
o Active and Passive Transport
o Osmosis and Dynamic
Equilibrium
Cell Communication
o Three Stages of Cell Signaling:
Reception, Transduction and
Response
o G-Protein Linked Receptors,
Tyrosine Kinase Receptors, IonChannel Receptors, Intercellular
Receptors
o Protein Phosphorylation &
Second Messengers
o Signal Amplification and
Specificity
UNIT 3: CELLULAR ENERGETICS
Resources
Concepts
Chapter 9-10
 Metabolism
o Two Laws of Thermodynamics
o Free Energy Changes
o Exergonic and Endergonic
Reactions in Metabolism
o ATP
o Enzymes
o The Control of Metabolism
 Cellular Respiration
o Principles of Energy Harvest
o Three Stages of Aerobic Cellular
Respiration
o Fermentation
o Evolutionary Significance of
Glycolysis
o Feedback Mechanisms
 Photosynthesis
Victoria Bacon
Frenship AP Biology









Review of microscope
technique
Cell Review
Comparing Cell Parts
Edible Cell
Build a Membrane
Why Don’t Cells Grow
Indefinitely?
Free Response: Cell
Size
Cell Signal Analogies
INVESTIGATION 4:
DIFFUSION AND
OSMOSIS
EXAM: UNIT 2
Assignments/Laboratories
 Redox reactions
 Glycolysis
 Krebs cycle
 Electron transport
system
 Cell respiration
simulation
 Fermentation
 Leaf structure
 Light reactions
 Dark reactions
 CAM photosynthesis
 AP BIO LAB 5:
CELL
RESPIRATION
 AP BIO LAB 4:
Page 6 of 10
o Science as a Process: What’s the
Source of O2 in Photosynthesis?
o Nature of Sunlight
o Photosystem I and II; Cyclic vs.
Noncyclical Electron flow; Calvin
Cycle
o Comparison of Chemiosmosis in
Chloroplasts and Mitochondria
o Photorespiration: An
Evolutionary Relic
o C3 vs. C4 vs. CAM Plants
UNIT 4: CELL SIGNALING AND THE CELL CYCLE
Resources
Concepts
Chapters 11-13
 Cell Cycle
o Key Events of Mitosis and
Cytokenesis
o Evolution of Mitosis in
Eukaryotes
o Regulation of the Cell Cycle
 Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles
o Basic Vocabulary for Meiosis and
Genetics
o Sexual vs. Asexual Reproduction
o Significance on Independent
Assortment and Crossing Over
PLANT PIGMENTS
AND
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
EXAM: UNIT 3
Assignments/Laboratories
 Cell signals – reception
 Cell signal analogies
 Share cell signal
analogies
 Mitosis models
 Haploid/diploid life
cycles

AP BIO LAB 3:
MITOSIS AND
MEIOSIS
EXAM: UNIT 4
UNIT 5: HEREDITY
Resources
Chapters 14 -15

Concepts
Mendel and the Gene Idea
o Basic Mendelian Inheritance
o Extending Mendelian Genetics:
Multiple Alleles, Pleiotropy,
Epistasis, Polygenic Inheritance,
Environmental Influence on
Genes
Victoria Bacon
Frenship AP Biology
Assignments/Laboratories
 Mendel’s laws
 Monohybrid crosses
 Gene expression
 Genetic problems
 Pedigrees and
inheritance patterns
Page 7 of 10

o Mendelian Inheritance in Humans
The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
o Chromosomal Theory of
Inheritance
o Linked Genes
o Sex Chromosomes and Sex
Linked Disorders
o Errors and Exceptions in
Chromosomal Inheritance



Gene sequencing
Karyotyping
Chi-squared poster

AP BIO LAB 7:
GENETICS OF
ORGANISMS;
STATISTICAL
ANALYSIS
EXAM: UNIT 5
UNIT 6: MOLECULAR GENETICS
Resources
Concepts
Chapters 16-21
 The Molecular Basis of Inheritance
o Science as a Process: The Search
for the Genetic Material
o DNA Replication and Repair
 Gene to Protein
o Science as a Process: The
Connection Between Genes and
Proteins
o Protein Synthesis: Transcription
and Translation
o Comparing Protein Synthesis in
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
o Mutation Types and their Effect
on the Protein
 Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria
o Science as a Process: History of
Virus Discovery
o Viral Genomes
o Lytic vs. Lysogenic Cycles
o Evolution of Viruses
 Genetic Recombinations in Bacteria
o Regulation of Gene Expression in
Bacteria
o Organization and Control of
Eukaryotic Genomes
 Eukaryotic Chromosome Structures
o Genome Organization at the DNA
Level
o The Control of Gene Expression
o Molecular Biology of Cancer
o DNA Technology and Cloning
o DNA Fingerprinting
Victoria Bacon
Frenship AP Biology
Assignments/Laboratories
 DNA Model
Manipulative
 LAB: DNA Extraction
 DNA Made Easy
Manipulative
 LAB: Transcription/
Translation
 Virus Poster
 Operons
 Gene control
 Bacterial life cycles
 Biotechnology

AP BIO LAB 6:
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY
(Substituting the
BioRad pGlo)

LAB: Restriction
Enzyme Cleavage of
DNA
Page 8 of 10
o Practical Application of DNA
Technology
UNIT 7: EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Resources
Concepts
Chapters 22-28;
 Descent with Modification: A Darwinian
33-34
View of Life
o Historical Context for
Evolutionary Theory
o Darwin’s Voyage and The Origin
of Species
 Natural Selection
o Homologies
o The Evolution of Populations
o Gene Pools, Allele Frequencies,
Hardy-Weinberg Theorem
o Causes of Microevolution
o How Genetic Variation is the
Substrate for Natural Selection
o Modes of Selection (directional,
diversifying & stabilizing)
 The Origin of Species
o What is a Species?
o Modes of Speciation
 Phylogeny and Systematic
o The Fossil Record
o Modern Phylogenetic Systematics
based on Cladistic Analysis
 Introduction to Animal Evolution
o Characteristics of “An Animal”
o Traditional Phylogenetic Tree
(based on body plan) vs.
Molecular Systematists (based on
nucleotide sequences)
 Invertebrates
o Basic Characteristics and
Representatives of the Major
Invertebrate Phyla
 Vertebrate Evolution and Diversity
o Basic Characteristics and
Representatives of the Major
Vertebrate Phyla
UNIT 8: ORGAN SYSTEMS
Resources
Concepts
Chapter 40-49
 Introduction to Animal Structure and
Function
o Animal Form Fits Function
Victoria Bacon
Frenship AP Biology
EXAM: UNIT 6
Assignments/Laboratories
 Population genetics
 Evolution review
 Mammal taxonomy
project
 Phylogenic hypotheses
 Protein and DNA data
bases
 Prokaryotic evolution
 Protists
 Multicellular
development
 Phylogeny mobiles
 Invertebrates
 Comparative evolution
 Vertebrate taxonomy

AP BIO LAB 8:
POPULATION
GENETICS AND
EVOLUTION
EXAM: UNIT 7
Assignments/Laboratories
 Tissue Identificaiton
Lab
 Nerve conduction
Page 9 of 10






o Interdependence of Body
Systems
o Homeostatic Mechanisms
Bioenergetics of Animals
Digestive
Circulatory/Respiratory/Immune
Regulation
Nervous/Behavior
Reproductive












CNS stimulation
Muscle contraction
models
Sensory organ
presentations
Water balance and
nitrogenous wastes
Compare homeostatic
and nervous system
Digestion self-study
Digestive enzyme lab
Respiration rate and
temperature lab
Frog dissection
Sea urchin fertilization
Pig dissection – review
of anatomy
AP BIO LAB 10:
PHYSIOLOGY OF
THE
CIRCULATORY
SYSTEM
EXAM UNIT 8
UNIT 9: STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF PLANTS
Resources
Concepts
Chapters 29-32;
 Plant Diversity
35-39
o Overview of Land Plant Evolution
o Alternation of Generations in
Plants
o Avascular vs. Vascular Land
Plants
o Evolution of Seed Plants
o Gymnosperms vs. Angiosperms
 Plant Structure and Growth
 Transport in Plants
o Transport at (1) cellular level, (2)
short distance cell to cell, (3) long
distance transport throughout the
whole plant
o Quantitative Analysis of Water
Potential
o Transport of Xylem Sap
Victoria Bacon
Frenship AP Biology
Assignments/Laboratories
 Fungi presentation
 Plant scavenger hunt
 Roots, stems, leaves
 Plant tissues and
cellular growth
 Transport in plants
 Stomata and water
regulation
 Plant visual dictionary

AP BIO LAB 9:
TRANSPIRATION
Page 10 of 10
EXAM UNIT 9
UNIT 10: ECOLOGY
Resources
Chapters 50-55




Concepts
Assignments/Laboratories
Ecology
 Global climate
o Factors Affecting the Distribution  Biome dioramas
of Organisms
 Population dynamics
Aquatic and Terrestrial Biomes
game
o Behavior Results from both Genes  Human population
and Environmental Factors
growth calculation
o Animal Cognition and
 Distribution of life on
Sociobiology
Earth
Characteristics of Populations
 Biodiversity/succession
o Population Growth and
 Food webs
Population-Limiting Factors
 Nutrient cycles
Community Ecology
o Interdependence in Ecosystems


AP BIO LAB 12:
DISSOLVED
OXYGEN &
AQUATIC
PRIMARY
PRODUCTIVITY
AP BIO LAB 11:
ANIMAL
BEHAVIOR
MAJOR EXAM: UNIT
10
Victoria Bacon
Frenship AP Biology