Advanced Placement Biology
Teacher: Don McElroy Year:
2004-2005
Text: Biology The
Unity and Diversity of Life 9th Edition by Starr and Taggart
Prerequisites: One year each of Biology and Chemistry
Description
AP Biology is designed to
be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course usually taken by
biology majors during their first year. This course integrates writing and
reading skills with biology content to prepare students to take the AP exam in
May 2005.
Objectives: The aim of the course is to develop a learning
environment in which students may:
1. Demonstrate a knowledge of the biological
concepts in the three major subdivisions of the course.
a. Unit I:
Molecules and Cells
b.
Unit II: Genetics and Evolution
c. Unit III:
Organisms and Populations
2.
Develop an understanding of the following:
a. The characteristics, unity and diversity of
living things.
b. The concept of evolution as an explanation
of unity and diversity.
c. The concept of homeostasis.
3.
Develop skills in the following areas:
a. Experimental design, and the collection,
analysis, and interpretation of data.
b. The reading and interpretation of scientific
information.
c. The application of biological concepts to
new situations
4.
Develop the following attitudes:
a. The nature of science as an ongoing, human
enterprise.
b. An awareness of the interdisciplinary nature
of biology.
c. An appreciation of and respect for life.
5. Achieve a pass on the AP Biology exam,
with a score of 3 or higher.
Attendance
Due to the elevated level
and accelerated nature of this class; regular, on time, attendance is required.
-When you have an excused absence you have as many days
as you were gone to get the work done.
-If the absence is unexcused you may not make up the
work.
-If your absence is prearranged, work must be turned in
prior to leaving.
In accordance with school
policy, if you are absent, you must have an admit slip from the attendance
office when you next return to class. If you come to class without a slip, you
will be asked to go to the attendance office and get one and you will be marked
tardy.
If the absence is not
excused within 48 hours it will be considered unexcused and make up work will
not be accepted.
You will be marked tardy
if you are not in class and ready when the bell rings. After the third tardy,
and every tardy after that, you will be assigned detention. More than 10
minutes late and it is considered an absence.
When you are absent you are
responsible for acquiring and completing all make-up work.
Grading
Grades will be based on
the following scale:
100%-90% = A 89%
- 80% = B 79% - 70%
= C 69% - 0% =F
1. All assignments are due
at the start of class on the due date.
2. Late work is NOT accepted.
3. Assignments and grades
will be posted regularly in the room so students will know their grade at all
times. Students are responsible for monitoring the accuracy of the posted
grades.
4. All written work including
exams, abstracts, lab write-ups, text questions, etc. is expected to be done at
college level. This includes grammar, punctuation, spelling and neatness. If
your handwriting is not clear, then you should type assignments. All work is
expected to be done by each individual student without the help or cooperation
of others in the class unless specified in advance by the teacher. Copying of the above mentioned written work
is considered to be cheating and will receive a 0 for all parties involved.
You are required to have a
2-inch, 3-ring binder with dividers in which you will keep all class notes,
homework, lab write-ups, handouts, etc.
It can not be emphasized
enough how important it is for each student to master the material as it is
presented. Students having difficulty should seek additional help on an
individual or small group basis as needed. I want you to be successful in your
academic endeavors while at the same time enjoy this course. If you want help,
just ask! Please feel free to contact me any time if there is a question,
conflict or special need. I can be reached in the classroom at 988-5325, at
home at 334-0948 and/or e-mail dmcelroy@sps.lane.edu.
TOPIC OUTLINE Percentage
of Course
I.
Molecules and
Cells............................................................25%
A. Chemistry of
Life.............................................................7%
Water
Organic
molecules in organisms
Free
energy changes
Enzymes
B.
Cells.................................................................................10%
Prokaryotic
and eukaryotic cells
Membranes
Subcellular
organization
Cell
cycle and its regulation
C. Cellular
Energetics.........................................................8%
Coupled
reactions
Fermentation
and cellular respiration
Photosynthesis
II.
Heredity and
Evolution.......................................................25%
A.
Heredity..............................................................................8%
Meiosis
and gametogenesis
Eukaryotic
chromosomes
Inheritance
patterns
B. Molecular
Genetics..........................................................9%
RNA
and DNA structure and function
Gene
regulation
Mutation
Viral
structure and replication
Nucleic
acid technology and applications
C. Evolutionary
Biology........................................................8%
Early
evolution of life
Evidence
for evolution
Mechanisms
of evolution
III.
Organisms and
Populations..............................................50%
A. Diversity of
Organisms.....................................................8%
Evolutionary
patterns
Survey
of the diversity of life
Phylogenetic
classification
Evolutionary
relationships
B. Structure and Function of Plants and Animals...........32%
Reproduction,
growth, and development
Structural,
physiological, and behavioral adaptations
Response
to the environment
C.
Ecology...............................................................................10%
Population
dynamics
Communities
and ecosystems and Global issues