SCCS 2016 AP BIOLOGY SYLLABUSINSTRUCTOR & CONTACT INFORMATION: Mrs. Debbie BrennerEmail: Brenner@sccs.ccTutoring Times: After school all days except Wednesday, Room 223

PRIMARY TEXTBOOK: Mader, Sylvia S. Edition 11th, McGraw Hill Publishers (2013).

ABOUT THIS COURSE:This course is designed to be the equivalent of a college level introductory biology course. In AP Biology, you will exercise analytical skills and explore complex concepts. You will practice the pursuit of understanding how and why the world works, from the macro scale to the microcosm. As a result, this course may be the most difficult one that you take this year, but hopefully also the most rewarding.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:In this course, students will:

Practice proper laboratory skills which include use of scientific instruments Read and critique papers written by scientists in the field of biology Collect, analyze, and present data in a coherent lab report Find and use patterns in collected data to solve scientific problems Exhibit mastery of the major principles of biology Apply biological knowledge and critical thinking to form valid, informed opinions on

environmental, scientific, and societal issues. Write clearly and concisely about a scientific subject Develop study skills that will make them life-long learners

COURSE EXPECTATIONS:Course WorkloadIn order to succeed in this course, you need to keep up with the assigned readings from textbook and take notes accordingly. You must do all assigned homework on time, including online assignments. You should expect an average of 1 hour of homework each night.

AttendanceIt is essential that you may every effort to attend class and be prepared to participate. If you miss any part of a lab, it cannot be re-run, but you will be responsible to get data from your group and do the write-up. Many questions from the AP Exam are based on our laboratory outcomes, discussions, and inquiry (not something easily found in the book).

GradingHomework/ Notes / Classwork: 15%Lab Write-Ups: 15%Composition book checks: 20%Tests: 25%Midterm/Final: 25%

Homework Assignments

Tests will mimic the AP exam in content and format. In addition, sample AP essays are completed first as a class, then as an outline or concept map, then as a complete essay. These are graded using the AP rubric and discussed in class. My goal is for you to become very familiar and comfortable with the AP Exam style and essays.

Homework is due by the end of the class period on the date due. It is your responsibility to remember to turn in your work as I will not always remind you. Assignments must have clean-cut edges and be headed with name and date.Write or print legibly. If I can’t read it, I will count it wrong. Type if necessary.

Lab Write-UpsWe will conduct 8-12 hands-on, inquiry based labs. Your lab write-up will consist of your answers to a series of prompts, as well as tables and graphs of your data.Lab write-ups are due on www.turnitin.com by 11:59pm of the due date.

CheatingCheating will result in a zero on the assignment, and disciplinary action in the effort to train your heart to trust the Lord, and know that He is pleased with your best honest efforts, and will make sure those efforts are good enough for whatever He has planned for you. Cheating is:

copying someone else’s work and submitting it as your own “helping each other” or “working together” on the final wordage of independent

assignments. (This includes your lab partner on lab reports.) copying from the textbook or other sources word-for-word without using quotation marks

and documentation turning in any independent assignment that is not entirely your own work (lab reports are

independent assignments, to be done on your own) allowing someone to cheat off of you

Late Work or Absent DaysIf you are absent, you are responsible for determining any assignments that you missed.Copy a classmate’s notes for the dates you were absent. (Credit your friend in your notes!)See the assignment board and online class calendar for handouts and/or work missed. You have as many days as you are absent to turn in the other make-up work before losing credit. You will not be reminded to turn in work from an absence. Consult RenWeb for missing work.Late work: 10% is deducted for each day after the due date, as per school policy.

MaterialsEvery student is responsible for bringing the following materials with them to class each day unless otherwise informed by the teacher.

Pen – blue or black ink, and pencils Notebook paper Basic Calculator (no scientific calculators are allowed to be used on the AP test) Composition/note book

Lab SafetyEach student will receive a copy of the SCCS Lab Safety Agreement. Safety procedures will continually be enforced throughout the duration of the course. Any student who does not comply with the rules, and endangers others in the laboratory will be removed from the classroom.

Classroom RulesBe on time to class with all materials prepared to learn. Be in your seat when the bell rings. Tardy policy is outlined in the Parent Handbook.

Limit personal needs/restroom visits.Focus on what God wants us to learn. Behave as God calls us to behave.Follow directions the first time they are given.Only bottled water may be ingested in the classroom. Nothing else.Lab stations must be cleaned prior to students leaving class. Follow all school rules and laboratory safety procedures.Be generous and gracious to others.Do your best!

COURSE CALENDAR:

Week Dates Topic/Text pages Tests/ Labs / Activities

1 August 15-19 Class intro, Intro to Biology, experimental design (1.1-1.4)

2 August 22-26 Scientific method, basic chemistry (1.4-2.4) Properties of Water

3 Aug 29 – Sept 2 Organic molecules (3.1-3.5) Test: Chapters 1-3

4 September 5-9 Cell structure and function (4.1-4.5)

5 September 12-16 Cell organelles (4.6-4.8) Test: Chapter 4

6 September 19-23 Membrane structure, active and passive transport (5.1-5.3)

7 September 26-30 Cell surfaces, metabolic reactions (5.4-6.2) Test: Chapter 5

8 October 3-7 Metabolic pathways (6.3-6.4) Test: Chapter 6 Lab: Enzyme activity

9 October 10-14 Photosynthesis (7.1-7.2)

10 October 17-21 Photosynthesis (7.3-7.5)

11 October 24-28 Cell respiration (8.1) Test: Chapter 7 Lab:Photosynthesis

12 Oct 31 – Nov 4 Cell respiration, fermentation (8.2-8.5) Cell Respiration

13 November 7-11 Cell cycle, mitosis Test: Chapter 8

14 November 14-18 Cancer, prokaryotic cell division (9.3-9.4)

Test: Chapter 9 Lab:Diffusion

15 November 21-25 Thanksgiving Break Review Book

16 Nov 28 – Dec 2 Meiosis (10.1-10.6) Mitosis vs. Meiosis

17 December 5-9 Mendel’s Laws (11.1-11.2) Test: Chapter 10

18 December 12-16 Genetic disorders (11.2) Semester Exams (Chapters 1 – 11.2)

19 Dec 19 – Jan 3 Christmas Break Review Book

20 January 4-6 X-linked inheritance (11.3)

21 January 9-13 DNA (12.1-12.2) Test: Chapter 11

22 January 16-20 Transcription and translation (12.3-12.5)

Saturday, 9am-noon** January 21

Chapter 23: Plant structures, Chapter 32: Heart structure, Practice AP Test questions

23 January 23-27Chromosome structure, regulation of gene expression (12.6-13.2)

Test: Chapter 12

24 Jan 30 – Feb 3 Eukaryotic gene regulation (13.2-13.3) Test: Chapter 13

25 February 6-10 Biotechnology, gene therapy (14.1-14.4) DNA Extraction

26 February 13-17 Test: Chapter 14 Lab:BLAST

Saturday, 9am-noon** February 18

Chapter 33: Immune cells Chapter 35: Gas exchange and lung anatomy, practice AP Test questions

27 February 20-24 Evolutionary theory (15.1-15.2)

28 Feb 27 – Mar 3 Evolutionary theory, evolution in populations (15.3-16.1) Test: Chapter 15

29 March 6-10 Natural selection (16.1-16.3)

30 March 13-17 Speciation, macroevolution (17.1)

Test: Chapter 16 Lab:Hardy Weinberg

31 March 20-24 Speciation, macroevolution (17.2-17.3)

Saturday, 9am-noon** March 25

Chapter 36 Urinary system Chapter 37 Neurons Practice AP Test questions

32 March 27-31 Origin and history of life (18.1-18.3) Test: Chapter 18

33 April 3-7Taxonomy, building and interpreting cladograms (19.1-19.3)

Terra Nova Testing

34 April 10-13 Review Chapter 19 Lab: Data Analysis

35 April 14-21 Easter Break Review Book

36 April 24-28 Viruses, prokaryotes (20.1-20.3) Bacterial plating

Saturday, 9am-noon** April 29 Chapter 40: Hormone function

Practice AP Test questions

37 May 1-5 Archaea, flowering plants (20.4, 26.1-26.2)

Monday, 8am May 8 AP Biology Exam

38 May 9-19 Semester Project

39 May 22-26 Semester Project

40 May 29 – June 2 Project Presentations

No Final Exam, but attendance is mandatory for project presentations!

** Attendance is optional for Saturday sessions. However, the sessions will be valuable and effective time spent in preparation for the AP exam. Also, extra credit of 2 percentage points on the Semester Project will be awarded for each Saturday session completed.

Please read and sign the following Classroom Covenant, signifying that you understand and agree to the course policies stated in the syllabus. This will count as your first homework assignment.

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SCCS AP Biology Fall 2016 Mrs. Brenner

CLASSROOM COVENANT(Students: return this completed sheet for 10 points)

Teacher Portion: I, Mrs. Brenner, will provide classroom activities, assignments, and lab experiences to properly scaffold your learning in AP Biology. My grading will be fair and impartial. I will be praying for my students and myself regularly.

Signed:

Parent and Student Portion: I have read the SCCS AP Biology Fall 2016 syllabus. I understand the grading policy and agree to adhere to classroom expectations. If this sheet is never signed and turned in, then I understand that I will not receive the 10 POINTS of credit for its completion.

Parent/Guardian Signature and Student Signature Portion

Student name (print):_____________________________________________________

Student signature: ____________________________________Date:______________

Parent/Guardian name (print):______________________________________________

Parent signature:_____________________________________ Date: ______________

Please indicate below any student or parental concerns about this course. Please provide contact information (phone, email) if it is not already in RenWeb.

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