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Advanced Placement Biology Course Expectations
Instructor: Dr. Tamara Coleman Course Title: Advanced Placement Biology
Text: AP Edition Campbell Reece Biology 10th Ed.
Grade Level: Typically Juniors & Seniors Course Description:
This course is designed to A) prepare students for the A.P. Biology Exam in May and B) equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in future college Biology classes. The material covered in A.P. Biology is equivalent to a freshman 2 semester college biology course (8 college credits-lecture and lab), which makes AP Bio. a unique AP course. College biology differs from a typical high school course in regards to the amount of material covered, the pace at which topics are presented, and the time and effort required by students.
Like most college classes, A.P. Biology is taught primarily through lecture and involves a considerable amount of studying outside the classroom. Exams will require students to A) recall facts directly from lecture, but more often to B) apply the facts to new situations. A.P. Biology isn’t as “black and white” as chemistry and physics where problems have the correct answers. Biology is a science of “best answers” and therefore, students will need to develop the skills habits, and dedication necessary to perform this sort of reasoning.
Four Big Ideas will be the focus of the course: Evolution, Energy, Information, and Interactions. Students should expect to learn some material independently. On occasion, students may need to come in before or after school to complete a lab. To be successful, students need to appreciate that this course will go quickly and
studying should occur most evenings (successful students study approximately 1-1.5 hours per evening). For the majority of students, A.P. Biology will be challenging. Please keep in mind that success is measured by growth and improvement, not just by the grade!
Textbook and supplies: **see collegeboard.org and look around at the many resources there.
Biology: 10th Edition, Campbell & Reece.
Pearson’s Test Prep Series A.P. Biology Review Book is also highly recommended. ***A four function (yes, JUST FOUR) calculator, a lab notebook, blue and black pens, pencils and notebook paper are expected.
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This course will run three trimesters. Trimester A, B and C will cover course content and the AP Biology Exam will take place on Monday May 14th, 2018. This
course is organized into 4 Big Ideas. They are covered in the following order: Ecology (Ch. 50 thru Ch. 54 summer reading /study packets due at beginning of school year), Biochemistry, Cells, Animal Physiology unit I, Animal Physiology unit II, Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Evolution, Respiration, Photosynthesis,
Classification, Animals and Plants. This means there are unit exams throughout the year as well as quizzes over each chapter.
A.P. Exam:
The A.P. Biology Exam is administered on Monday morning, May 14, 2018. The Exam is 63 multiple choice questions and six grid-ins (50%) and 8 required free responses (50%). To prepare students for this format, our practice and unit exams will be approximately 50 multiple choice with 1-3 free response questions. Many of the past A.P. Biology free response questions, answers and grading rubrics can be found at: http://www.csun.edu/%7Evceed002/biology/AP_biology/index/.html or College Board’s website under Biology. This is a highly recommended resource. Before each exam, I will give students a list of possible free response questions. One of these may appear on the exam. Be aware that not all grading rubrics are on-line and rubrics used in class may be A) more or less detailed than those on-line, and B) require students to incorporate points from class lectures as well. Furthermore, to understand what goes into constructing a well thought out and organized free response essay answer, students will be grading each others’ free responses in class. Computers:
Students will need to access a web-site specifically designed for this course. To register go to: www.pearsonschool.com/access
The registration access code (at the time of this printing) is: SSNAST-PASHM-MELIC-BAJAN-PATHS-MILES. This site is helpful for reading the text on-line, and provides chapter quizzes and vocabulary.
Grading:
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Make up policies:
Only work missed due to an excused absence will be accepted. Late home work will not be accepted. All lab answers/packets for the 12 required A.P. Biology labs, must be turned in, in a lab note book at the end of tri 1 and tri 2.
Assignments that were due the day a student was absent are due when he/she returns. One day will be allowed to make up missed in-class assignments for each day of excused absence.
If a student is absent on a quiz day, he/she will make up the quiz in the morning on the day he/she returns.
Attendance:
The school attendance policy is adhered to. Tardiness and unexcused absences are noted. If a student is absent, it is his/her responsibility to get assignments/notes and fill them in. If a student is absent on the day of one the 12 A.P. biology labs, he/she needs to get the data from a classmate and then answer the questions to the lab on his/her own. It is suggested that appointments should be scheduled around such labs.
Hall Passes:
Students are welcome to use the restroom or go to the locker as necessary, but not during testing or quiz time. They must sign out. If this privilege is abused, hall passes will be revoked.
Copyright credits:
All lecture notes created for this class were compiled by Dr. Coleman, using the following resources: Campbell Biology 10th edition and the Campbell Test prep
book, referenced previously.
Getting Help:
It is VERY important that students understand the topics in this class and that success be attainable. If you are not being challenged, please formulate reasonable suggestions to improve your learning in the course. If you are feeling overwhelmed please understand the nature (and reward) of an A.P. course and do not hesitate to ask questions or to come in before or after school for additional help and/or to discuss your concerns. Your learning and improvement in biology is my #1 goal!
Class Procedures:
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Be respectful!2)
Take notes during lectures (this is not optional). This course, like most college courses, is a lecture course. All students are required to take notes during lectures.4
Biology coursework is completed, only then may students work on assignments from another class.
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Late homework assignments will receive no credit. The A.P.
Biology labs are
required.
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No food or drinks allowed in lab area. The general rule with food and drinks is that it should be healthy and should not be distracting. If students leave food wrappers, empty bottles, etc. around the room this privilege will be revoked.6)
Come to class prepared. Students need to bring the following to class everyday: notebook with paper, a pen or pencil with an eraser, whiteout, colored pencils, any homework that is due and a positive attitude.7)
Please keep this positive attitude every day! Understand that while the course is challenging, only when one is faced with a challenge is there anopportunity for growth! Approach this course with an optimistic outlook and you may actually enjoy the process of learning biology! and possibly being rewarded by college credits.
For the benefit of the entire group, these class policies will be adhered to. If any student chooses to disregard these policies, there will be consequences (parental correspondence, detention, separation from class, etc.) based upon the nature of the offense.
Dr. Tamara Coleman X 2946
tcoleman@lowellschools.com during the school year. tammyccoleman@gmail.com during summer months.
*Please note, I am not often on this email over the summer months of course. I teach Biology at Northwestern MI College in summer months.
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