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Advanced Placement Biology Syllabus 2009-2010 Peak to Peak Charter School Instructor: Mr. Justin Silcox E-mail: [email protected] Voice mail: 303-453-4750 Office: 245A North Building Office hours: Monday 3:05 – 4:05 and by appointment. Course Overview The AP Biology curriculum is organized into three overarching topics (as outlined in the AP Biology course description): Molecules and Cells, Heredity and Evolution, and Organisms and Populations. We will use the following textbook to support these topics: Campbell, Neil A. and Reece, Jane B., Biology, Benjamin Cummings, 7th/AP edition (2005). The course emphasizes that science is a process, not simply a body of knowledge. Students perform hands-on labs that require hypothesis testing/development and data collection/analysis to reach conclusions presented in classroom discussion and written lab reports. A second emphasis of the course is the recognition of evolution as the foundation of biological thought. For this reason evolution is taught in the beginning of the class and is then used as underlying theme for the rest of the course. The presence of glycolysis throughout the domains and a universal genetic code are two examples that illustrate this emphasis. The three overarching topics are given greater meaning by using a thematic approach that deliberately makes connections among the topic areas. Eight major themes are continually emphasized throughout the course. These themes (as described in the AP Biology course description) are Science as a Process, Evolution, Energy Transfer, Continuity and Change, Relationship of Structure to Function, Regulation, Interdependence in Nature, and Science, Technology, and Society. Students are also given the opportunity to apply what they have learned in class to bioethical dilemmas and environmental/social concerns. This occurs through writing assignments, classroom discussion and debate. The class meets three times a week for fifty minutes and once a week for ninety minutes. Every week the ninety minute class period is devoted to hands-on labs. Occasionally, one or two of the weekly fifty minute classes are also used for hands-on labs. All of the 12 labs in the AP Biology Lab Manual for Students are completed as part of this course. The remainder of class time is spent performing inquiry exercises, engaging in discussion/debate, lecture with classroom response systems (clickers), presentations and review. We meet a total of 112 days before the beginning of the AP exams in May. Course Sequence Unit one: Evolutionary Biology Topics Readings 1. Early evolution 1. Chapter 26.1-26.5 of life Activity/Lab/Assessment AP lab 8: Population Genetics and Evolution Length 10 days 2. Evidence for evolution 2. Chapters 22.2, 22.3, 25.1-25.5 Supplemental labs and activities 3. Mechanisms of evolution 3. Chapters 22.1-22.3, 23.1-23.4, 24.1-24.3, 25.4-25.5 Quizzes and Unit test Unit two: Ecology Topics 1. Population dynamics Readings 1. Chapter 52.1-52.6 Activity/Lab/Assessment AP lab 12: Dissolved Oxygen and Aquatic Primary Productivity 2. Communities and ecosystems 2. Chapters 50.2-50.4, 53.1-53.5, 54.1-54.5 3. Global issues 3. 50.1-50.2, 54.5, 55.155.4 Unit three: The Chemistry of Life Topics Readings 1. Water 1. Chapter 3.1-3.3 Length 12 days Supplemental labs and activities Quizzes and Unit test Activity/Lab/Assessment AP lab 2: Enzyme catalysis 2. Organic molecules in organisms 2. Chapters 4.1-4.3, 5.15.5 3. Free energy changes 3. Chapter 8.1-8.2 4. Enzymes 4. Chapter 8.4-8.5 Unit four: Cells Topics 1. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells Readings 1. Chapters 6.1-6.7, 26.3-26.4, 27.1 Activity/Lab/Assessment AP lab 1: Diffusion and Osmosis 2. Membranes Chapters 6.2, 6.4, 7.17.5, 11.1-11.4 AP lab 3A: Mitosis 3. Subcellular organization 3. Chapters 6.2 -6.7 4. Cell cycle and its regulation 4. Chapter 12.1-12.3 Length 9 days Supplemental labs and activities Quizzes and Unit test Length 12 days Supplemental labs and activities Quizzes and Unit test Unit five: Cellular Energetics Topics Readings 1. Coupled 1. Chapters 8.3, 9.1-9.4, reactions 10.2 2. Fermentation and cellular respiration 2. Chapter 9.2-9.6 Activity/Lab/Assessment AP lab 5: Cell Respiration AP lab 4: Plant pigments and Photosynthesis Length 10 days 3. Photosynthesis 3. Chapter 10.1-10.4 Supplemental labs and activities Quizzes and Unit test Unit six: Heredity Topics 1. Meiosis and gametogenesis Readings 1. Chapters 13.1-13.4, 29.2-29.4, 30.1-30.3, 46.4 2. Eukaryotic chromosomes 2. Chapter 15.1-15.5 3. Inheritance patterns 3. Chapters 14.1-14.4, 15.3-15.5 2. Gene regulation 2. Chapters 18.4, 19.119.3 3. Mutation 3. Chapters 15.4, 17.7, 18.3, 19.3, 19.5 4. Viral structure and replication 4. Chapter 18.1-18.2 5. Nucleic acid technology and applications 5. Chapter 20.1-20.5 Unit eight: Structure and Function of Animals Topics Readings 1. Reproduction, 1. Chapters 21.1-21.4, growth and 46.1-46.5, 47.1-47.3 development 3. Response to the environment Length 10 days AP lab 7: Genetics of Organisms Supplemental labs and activities Unit seven: Molecular genetics Topics Readings 1. RNA and DNA 1. Chapters 16.1-16.2, structure and 17.1-17.6, 18.3 function 2. Structural, physiological, and behavioral adaptations Activity/Lab/Assessment AP lab 3B: Meiosis 2. Chapters 40.1-40.5, 41.1-41.5, 42.1-42.7, 43.1- 43. 3, 44.1-44.6, 45.1-45.5, 46.1-46.5, 48.1-48.6, 49.1- 49.7, 51.2-51.6 3. Chapters 40.4-40.5, 43.1-43.2, 44.1-44.2, 45.1-45.5, 48.1, 49.1- Quizzes and Unit test Activity/Lab/Assessment AP lab 6: Molecular Biology Length 11 days Supplemental labs and activities Quizzes and Unit test 10 days Activity/Lab/Assessment AP lab 10: Physiology of the Circulatory system AP lab 11: Animal Behavior Supplemental labs and activities Quizzes and Unit test Length 18 days 49.4, 51.1-51.2 Unit nine: Structure and Function of Plants Topics Readings 1. Reproduction, 1. Chapters 21.1-21.4, growth and 29.2-29.4, 30.1-30.3, development 35.2-35.5, 38.1-38.3 2. Structural, physiological, and behavioral adaptations 2. Chapters 29.1-29.4, 30.1-30.4, 35.1, 36.1-36.5, 37.137.4, 38.1-38.3, 39.139.5 3. Response to the environment 3. Chapter 39.1-39.5 Activity/Lab/Assessment AP lab 9: Transpiration Length 18 days Supplemental labs and activities Quizzes and Unit test Grades Semester grades will be weighted as follows: tests & quizzes 30%, labs & projects 30%, homework & class work 30%, final exam 10%. Assessments (exams, tests, quizzes, labs, papers, projects, presentations) account for 70% of the semester grade. Daily work (homework, class work) accounts for 30% of the semester grade. The following guidelines are used to determine semester grades 100% - 89.5% = A, 89.4% - 79.5% = B, 79.4% - 69.5% = C, 69.4% and below = F. There are no plus or minus grades. Checking Grades in Infinite Campus When checking grades in the Infinite Campus (I.C.) grade book for a specific assignment you will see a grade, an “M” or a blank. An “M” in the I.C. grade book indicates that an assignment was not completed and/or turned in. An “M” calculates as a zero in the I.C. grade book. A blank entry in the I.C. grade book indicates that an assignment has been completed and turned in but is not yet graded. A blank grade does not calculate as a zero in the I.C. grade book. A blank grade is not used to calculate the overall grade for a class. Grades are updated weekly and often daily in the I.C. grade book so you should feel confident that when checking the I.C. grade book that grades are timely and accurate. In order to save us (students, teacher & parents) all time and facilitate our work and communication together please check I.C. regularly, and before any correspondence via e-mail or voice mail. Late Work & Re-assessment Procedures All assignments are expected to be turned in at the precise collection time. In the Daily work (homework and class work) component of the I.C. grade book students will earn an "M" (Missing) or a zero (when appropriate) for any homework not turned in at the precise collection time. In most cases, these assignments may be turned in late for a maximum of 50% credit according to the teacher’s timeline and at the teacher’s discretion. Some daily work and/or homework assignments may not be eligible for make-up credit. Those assignments will be recorded as zeroes for the duration of the semester. Students are expected to take assessments (or turn in assessments that are completed outside of class) on the due date. Students are expected to make up missed assessments (resulting from illness, due to conflict with athletics, etc.) within two calendar days per day of absence. If an assessment isn’t made up within that period of time, or an assessment is missing for any other reason the teacher will assign the student to office hours. Any assessment not turned in on time will receive an “M” in the I.C. grade book until the assignment is made up, and a zero if not completed according to the teacher’s timeline and specific requirements. As general practice, students will not be allowed to take a test, decide they weren’t actually ready, and retake it later. In some cases, re-assessing on portions of summative assessments (unit exams, papers and projects) will be allowed only if: 1) a student has completed all homework required by the teacher for the unit prior to the summative assessment; 2) met with the teacher in office hours (number of times to be determined by the instructor) in order to show adequate preparation for reassessment. Re-assessment will involve only the portion of content on which a student failed to show mastery (i.e. not the whole test). It is the teacher’s responsibility to establish appropriate time requirements for re-testing, and what the re-assessment will look like for each student. Teachers have discretion to determine if and when students are eligible to re-assess. Re-assessing on any summative assessments must be completed according to the timeline set by the instructor, but prior to the next summative assessment. There will be no re-assessment opportunities on final exams. Notebooks & supplies needed for the course: Each student will be responsible for keeping and organizing a notebook for daily class use. These notebooks will serve as an important learning tool and resource for all students. We will be using them for daily writing assignments. The notebook will consist of a 3-ring binder, lined loose leaf paper with a 3 hole punch and a minimum of 3 dividers with a 3 hole punch. The binder will be organized into 3 sections: daily entries, handouts, and graded work. Students may have additional dividers if they would like to organize their notebook further. Students will also need a USB flash drive so that they can safely & reliably save and transfer class work from computer to computer at school and home. Students are also expected to bring pencils and pens to class everyday. The AP Biology Exam A major goal of this course is to prepare you for the AP Biology exam that is scheduled for 8 a.m. Monday, May 10, 2010. At Peak to Peak it is an expectation that every student who enrolls in an AP class takes the national exam. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are considering not taking this exam. Any student who chooses not take the AP Biology exam will need to prepare for a cumulative semester one and two final exam to be taken during the designated time in the semester two final exam schedule. All students who take the AP Biology exam will be exempt from the cumulative semester one and two final exam. The AP Biology exam is three hours long and consists of an 80 minute, 100 question multiple choice section, a 10 minute reading period (when students may read the free response questions and organize their responses), and a 90 minute free response section consisting of four questions. The number of multiple choice questions taken from each subset of biology reflects the percentages in the topic outline that is located below (for example, 25% of the multiple choice questions will be taken from the molecules and cells component of the class). Percentage of Course I. Molecules and Cells ..............................................................................25% A. Chemistry of Life ..................................................................................7% 1. Water 2. Organic molecules in organisms 3. Free energy changes 4. Enzymes B. Cells .......................................................................................................10% 1. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells 2. Membranes 3. Subcellular organization 4. Cell cycle and its regulation C. Cellular Energetics …………………………………………………….8% 1. Coupled reactions 2. Fermentation and cellular respiration 3. Photosynthesis II. Heredity and Evolution.........................................................................25% A. Heredity ……………………………………………………………….8% 1. Meiosis and gametogenesis 2. Eukaryotic chromosomes 3. Inheritance patterns B. Molecular Genetics. …………………………………………………...9% 1. RNA and DNA structure and function 2. Gene regulation 3. Mutation 4. Viral structure and replication 5. Nucleic acid technology and applications C. Evolutionary Biology…………………………………………………..8% 1. Early evolution of life 2. Evidence for evolution 3. Mechanisms of evolution III. Organisms and Populations..................................................................50% A. Diversity of Organisms………………………………………………...8% 1. Evolutionary patterns 2. Survey of the diversity of life 3. Phylogenetic classification 4. Evolutionary relationships B. Structure and Function of Plants and Animals ………………………..32% 1. Reproduction, growth and development 2. Structural, physiological, and behavioral adaptations 3. Response to the environment C. Ecology…………………………………………………………………10% 1. Population dynamics 2. Communities and ecosystems 3. Global issues In the free response portion of the exam, one essay is taken from section I of the outline (molecules and cells), one from section II of the outline (heredity and evolution), and the remaining two questions are taken from section III of the outline (organisms and populations). Any of these four essay questions may require the student to analyze and interpret data from laboratory experience. The multiple choice section of the exam counts for 60 percent of the student’s exam grade and the free response counts for the remaining 40 percent. Within the free response section, each of the questions is of equal weight. Answers to the free response questions must be in essay form. Outlines or unlabeled or unexplained diagrams will receive no credit. The exam is graded on a five point scale. Each number corresponds to a statement of qualification that is outlined below. AP Grade 5 4 3 2 1 Qualification Extremely well qualified Well qualified Qualified Possibly qualified No recommendation Colleges and universities have differing policies on how they grant credit for AP scores. Please contact institutions individually for this information if this is an important consideration for you. Please see next page Please complete this page and return to Mr. Silcox. We have carefully read and discussed each of the individual sections on the syllabus. Parent/Guardian Printed Name _____ Student Printed Name Parent/Guardian Signature ___________________________________ Student Signature _____ Date Date ___________________________________ If you wish, you may use the space below to share any comments or important information about yourself/student.