AP Biology Syllabus

Fall & Spring 2007-08

 

 

Instructor

Betty Jo Barton

E-mail

bbarton@cruhsd.org

Phone

928-788-1201 ext. 1329

Office/Hours

.TBA

Dates, days and times of the class

Monday through Friday

Time: TBA

 

Location

T-220

Modality of Course

Labs, lecture, discussion, computer simulations, projects

 

 

 

Course materials required:

 

Text:  Biology- Raven, Johnson, Losos and Singer 7e

 

AP Laboratory Manuel for students (handouts)

 

Biological Explorations: A Human Approach  5e (Stanley E. Gunstream)  (handouts)

 

Three-ring notebook

Journal  (graph type paper)

Calculator

Student Handbook

 

Textbook website:  Biology Information Center:

 

 

 

Course Description:

 

AP Biology (Advanced Placement Program Biology) is an Introductory College
By taking AP Biology, you will be taking a similar or even an identical course to College Students taking their First College Level Biology Course (General or Introduction to Biology). In this course, we will explore several sub-fields in biology, and complete twelve (12) labs to develop your understanding of biology.  Successful scoring on the AP Exam determines how colleges award credit.  Students should check with their intended university to determine their credit policy for AP Biology.  For example, ASU will award credit for a full year of Biology for majors (187,188) (8 credits) if a student scores a 4 or 5 on the AP test. If they score a  3 on the test, they will receive credit for BIO 100 for non-majors.

 

Course Goals:

 The two main goals of AP Biology are to help students develop a conceptual framework for modern biology and an appreciation of science as a process.  AP Biology is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their freshman year.   At  MHS, AP Biology is an elective science course for students who are highly motivated and have a strong interest in science.   Major topics of study include biochemistry, cells, cellular energetics, genetics, evolution, classification, organism structure/function, and ecology.   As in college biology, the AP Biology course is designed to have both a lecture and a lab component.   Labs conducted by AP Biology students are the equivalent of those experienced by college biology students.  At the completion of this course, students are expected to take the College Board’s AP Biology exam.  Some students may earn college credit if they earn high enough marks on this exam.   In class, the format of each chapter test is similar to the AP Biology exam.  Students are expected to demonstrate critical thinking skills through their answers to both multiple choice questions, free response questions and lab analysis questions.  Students will do an independent project which will consist of designing, conducting, collecting data, analyzing the data and communicating the results.

 

Major Themes

 

Science as a process

Evolution

Energy Transfer

Continuity and Change

Relationship of Structure to Function

Regulation

Interdependence in Nature

Science, Technology and Society

 

Suggested Prerequisites

The AP Biology course is designed to be taken by 11th or 12th grade students after their suc­cessful completion (grades of A’s or B’s) of general high school biology and chemistry. 

 

Coursework

This is an extremely fast paced course; students will be assigned written homework and reading for every class period.  Note taking is required in class as well as from the text in conjunction with the homework assignments.  Students should demonstrate appropriate higher writing skills in their assessments.  Assignments should contain correct spelling and grammar, legible writing and complete thoughts.  Problem solving and analytical thought are essential components as well.  On average, students should spend at least 6-10 hours each week studying AP Biology outside of class. All students will be required to do an Independent Project.  Daily attendance is required and late assignments will lose 10% each day the assignment is late. Due to the time involved in setting up the labs, you must be present on lab day.                                                 

 

General Information:

 

All assignments, with the exception of in-class exercises and homework, will be typewritten or word-processed. Accuracy in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and syntax is expected of students in this class.

 

Disruption of the classroom learning environment, including but not limited to unauthorized classroom entry, making loud or distracting noises, persisting in speaking without being recognized, or resorting to physical threats, constitutes grounds for the student being dismissed from class.

 

It is the student's responsibility to have read and be familiar with the policies and procedures outlined in the Student Handbook of MHS.

 

There is absolutely no food, gum or drinks (other than water) allowed in the classroom.  Cell phones must be turned off and electronic devices such as i-pods are not allowed. 

 

 

 

 

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as the use of others’ words or ideas without indicating they are not your own.  Each student is responsible for the academic integrity of all work completed for a given course.  All reports, papers, projects, and examinations must represent the student’s own work.  References and other sources of information must be properly cited.  Any student who violates these regulations will fail the specific assignment or examination and may be dropped from class. 

 

Examples of a breach of academic integrity may include:

·              Representation of the work of others as one’s own.

·              Use of unauthorized assistance in any academic work.

·              Failure to cite sources used.

·              Obtaining and/or using a test unless distributed by the faculty member.

·              Copying the work of another on any test.

·              Offering unauthorized assistance to another student.

·              Modification, without the faculty member’s approval, of any examination, paper, record, report or project

              for the purpose of obtaining additional credit or improved grade.

·               Failure to meet other conditions of academic integrity as required by the faculty member.


Learning Resource Center at MHS is open from 3:00P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Tutoring and Computers with Internet connection are available.

 

                                   

AP Biology (Tentative) Schedule

 

Approximate

Time

Reading Assignments/ Lectures/ Labs

Due Dates for Assignments and Test s

Internet Resources

Semester One

1 week: Aug. 6-10

Introduction

 

  

Chapter 1

Lecture 1-The Science of  Biology  

 

 Video: Darwin's Dangerous Ideas

 

Critique of experimental design.

(Reading for primary research.  Students critique article for experimental design.)

Independent Project Assigned (IP)

 

 

 

Independent Project                                           

APCentral-CollegeBoard

 

APLaboratory Objectives

 

 

2 weeks: Aug. 13-Aug. 24

Evolutionary Biology (8%)

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 21-23

Lecture 2- Evolution

Lecture 3-Evidence for Evolution

Lecture 4- Origin of the Species & Human Evolution

 

Article Critique: Evolution of Cancer (Scientific American)

 

Video: The Arms Race

 

 AP Lab  8- Population Genetics & Evolution

 

Lab: Skull Lab (Biological Explorations) 

 

Activity:  Computer Lab- review using Raven7 website  Aug. 23

Article Critique on Evolution of Cancer due Aug. 24

 

 

Journal with lab reports on Population Genetics and Evolution and Skull Lab due Aug. 27

 

 

 

Aug. 24-

Test on Evolutionary Biology

(Multiple Choice & Free Response

 

The Museum of Paleontology (UCMP)

The Tree of Life
The Talk. Origins Archive

 

 

2 weeks: Aug. 27-Sept. 7

 

Chemistry of Life  (7%)

 

 

Chapter 2 - 3

Lecture 5- Basic Chemistry

Lecture 6- Organic Molecules & Properties of Water

 

 

Lab- Modeling Macromolecules

Lab: Chemistry of Cells Lab (Biological Explorations)

 

Activity

Macromolecule Posters

 

Activity:  Computer Lab- review using Raven7 website  Sept.  6

 Sept. 1-Topics due for IP

 

Macromolecule Posters-Presentations Sept. 4-5

 

 

 Journals: Ap Lab Reports on Macromolecules & Chemistry of Cells graded Oct. 31

 

  Sept. 7

Test on Chapters Chemistry of Life

(Multiple Choice & Free Response)

 

Chemistry Tutorial

Chemicool Periodic Table

Biochemistry Problem sets

 

3 weeks- Sept. 10-28

             Cells (10%)

 

 

Chapter 5-7

Lecture 7- Cell Structure

Lecture 8- Cell Membrane and transport of molecules

Lecture 9- Cell to Cell Interactions

 

Cell lab- (Biological Explorations)   

AP Lab 1 - Osmosis and Diffusion

 

Activity:  Computer Lab- review using Raven7 website  Sept. 26

 Journals due: Sept. 10 Labs- Modeling Macromolecules & Chemistry of cells lab.

 

 Journals: AP Lab Reports 1 and Cell Lab  graded Sept 26

 

 

 Sept. 27 Test  on Cells

(Multiple Choice & Free Response)

The evolution of organelles

Cell Structure- Interactive animations

Cell Tutorial- Cells Alive

Cell Biology Chapter

Cell Membrane

Cell Membranes Tutorial

 

 

4 weeks: Oct. 1-Nov.2

Fall Break: Oct. 8-12

Cell Energetics

(8%)

 

 

Chapter 8 -12

Lecture 10- How Cells Harvest E

Lecture 11- Photosynthesis

Lecture 12- Cell Division: Mitosis & Meiosis

 

Lab: Toothpickase Lab (Peggy Skinner)

AP Lab 2 - Enzyme Catalysis

AP Lab 4 - Plant Pigments & Photosynthesis

AP Lab  5- Cellular Respiration

AP Lab 3 - Mitosis & Meiosis

 

Activity:  Computer Lab- review using Raven7 website   Nov. 1

Oct. 1- (IP) Design of Project Due

 

 

 

 

Formal Lab Report- Enzymes due Nov. 1

 

 Journals: AP Lab Reports 3, 4 & 5 graded Oct. 31

 

Test on Cell –Nov. 2 Energetics

(Multiple Choice & Free Response)

 


Enzyme Laboratory Tutorial
Energy, Enzymes, and Catalysis Problem Set
Learning About Photosynthesis 
Photosynthesis Problem Set 1
Photosynthesis Problem Set 2
Metabolism Problem Sets
Light Dependent Reactions  
Light Independent Reactions

Nov. 4-Nov. 30

3 weeks 

Heredity (9%)

 

 

Chapters 13-15

Lecture 13- Patterns of Inheritance

Lecture 14- DNA- The genetic material

Lecture 15- Genes and How they Work

 

Activity:  From a gene to a protein- simulation

 

Lab- What's in a face?

 

AP Lab 7 - Genetics of Organisms

 

Activity:  Computer Lab- review using Raven7 website   Nov. 29

   

 

 

Journals: AP Lab Reports 7 and What’s in a face graded Nov. 28

 

 

 

Test on Heredity Nov. 30

(Multiple Choice & Free Response)


 MendelWeb Homepage 97.1

Mendel's Peas
Problem sets Genetics -
  Problem sets Human Biology Genetics  
On-line Activity Web Karyotyping
 Blazing a Genetic Trail

Dec. 2-Dec. 20

3 weeks

Molecular Genetics (9%)

 

Chapter 16-20

Lecture16-Gene Technology (C7)

Lecture 17- Genomes

Lecture18-Control of Gene Expression & Mechanisms of Development

Lecture19- Cancer  Biology & Cell Technology (C6) (C7)

 

AP Lab 6 - Molecular Biology (C8) (C7)

 

Ward's DNA Fingerprinting Lab (C8) (C7)

 

Activity

Student presentations on topics in biotechnology such as stem cell research, cloning, genetic engineering, etc. 

 

 

 

Activity:  Computer Lab- review using Raven7 website   Dec. 19

 

Formal Lab Report- Molecular Biology due Dec. 14

 

 

 

Presentations due Dec. 17-18 

 

 

 

 

 

Journals: AP Lab Reports 6 and DNA fingerprinting graded Dec. 18

 

 

 

 

Test on Molecular Genetics – Dec. 20 (Multiple Choice & Free Response)


Molecular Biology
 HHMI's BioInteractive - Virtual Labs

Molecular Genetics Webtext

Semester Two

Jan. 7-Jan. 25

3 weeks

 

Diversity of Organisms (8%)

 

 

 

Chapter 25- 34

Lecture 20- Systematics and Phylogenetic Revolution

Lecture 21- Viruses & Prokaryotes & Protistians

Lecture 22- Overview of Plant Diversity

Lecture 23- Fungi

Lecture 24- Overview of Animal Diversity

 

 

Lab- Classification (Teacher Generated)

Making a cladogram (Phylip Software)

Lab:  Prokaryotes, Protists & Fungi-  (Biological Explorations)

 

Activity:  Computer Lab- review using Raven7 website  Jan. 24 

 

IP project- copies of raw data in journal 

 

 

 

 

 Journals: AP Lab Classification & Prokaryotes, Protists and Fungi graded Jan. 23

 

 

Jan. 25 Test on Diversity of Organisms  (Multiple Choice & Free Response)

Protist Image Data
Introduction to Protists

Virtual Mic table of contents

Jan. 28- April 18

11 weeks

 

Structure & Function  of  Plants & Animals (32%)

 

 

 

 

 

Plants

Chapter 35-41

Lecture 25- Plant Form

Lecture 26- Vegetative Plant Development

Lecture 27- Transport in Plants

Lecture 28- Plant Nutrition

Lecture 29- Plant Defense Responses

Lecture 30- Sensory Systems in plants

Lecture 31- Plant Reproduction

 

 AP Lab 9  - Transpiration

 

Lab: Structure of  Flowering plants- -  (Biological Explorations)

 

Activity:  Computer Lab- review using Raven7 website  - March 9 

 

Animals

 

Chapter 42-53

Lecture 32- Noncoelomate Invertebrates

Lecture 33- Coelomate Invertebrates

Lecture 34- Vertebrates

Lecture 35- The animal body and how it moves

Lecture 36- Digestion

Lecture 37- Circulation & Respiration

Lecture 38- Nervous System

Lecture 39- Sensory Systems

Lecture 40- Endocrine System

Lecture 41- Immune System

Lecture 42- Sex & Reproduction

Lecture 43- Homeostasis

Lecture 44- Sex, Reproduction & Vertebrate Development

 

Lab 28- Simple Animals (Biological Explorations) Sponges, Cnidarians, Flatworms

 

La b 29- Mollusks, Annelids & Arthropods (Biological Explorations) Teacher Modified.  Clam, earthworm, crayfish, grasshopper & starfish dissection)

 

Lab 30- Dissection of fetal pig or rat (Teacher generated)

 

AP Lab 10  – Physiology of the Circulatory System

 

Activity:

Video: The Miracle of Life

 

Activity:  Computer Lab- review using Raven7 website- April 17 

IP - Organizers and Rough Draft of Written Report due

 

 

Journals: AP Labs Transpiration & Flower Lab graded Jan. 23

 

 

 

 

 

March 10- Test on Structure& Function of Plants

(Multiple Choice & Free Response)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Field Trip - Body Exhibition ( Las Vegas)

 

 

 

 

 Journals: AP Labs 10& Lab 28, 29,& 30 April 16

 

 

 

 

 April 18-Test on Structure & Function of Animals  (Multiple Choice & Free Response)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction to the Metazoa
Animal Diversity Lab Tutorial
 Animal Diversity Web
Museum of Zoology
 Entomology Image Gallery -
 Amphibian Embryology Tutorial
Frog Anatomy and Physiology Tutorials
Whole Frog Project

Human Biology
Human Anatomy Online
The Visible Human Project  
Immunology
Human Developmental Biology
Human Reproduction

April 21-May 2

2 weeks

 

Ecology (10%)

 

 

 

 

Chapter 52-57

Lecture 45- Behavioral Biology

Lecture 46- Population & Community Ecology

Lecture 47- Dynamics of Ecosystems, Climate & Biomes

Lecture 48- Conservation Biology

 

AP Lab 11= Animal Behavior

AP Lab 12 - Dissolved Oxygen & Aquatic Primary Productivity

Lab

 

Activity:  Computer Lab- review using Raven7 website- May 1 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journals: AP Labs 10 & Simple Animals graded April 30

 

 

May 2-Test on Ecology& Animal Behavior

(Multiple Choice & Free Response)

Population Biology Simulations

VirtualLabs: explore evolutionary game theory

May 5-13

2 week

 

Independent Project-

 

 

Review for AP Exam- May 5-9

 

IP presentations May 13-16

 

 

May 12- AP EXAM

May 15-16-

IP Presentations

 

May 17- Final  for Seniors not taking AP Exam

May 22- Final for Juniors not taking AP Exam

 

 

 

 

Grading will be based on participation, effort, and academic performance.  Progress reports will be sent out every six weeks. Grading will be continuous throughout the semester.  

 

Unit multiple choice tests- 50 %

Free Response questions, Formal Lab Reports and Journals- 30%

Independent Project- 10%

Homework – 10 %

 

Grading Scale:

95-100%        "A"

90- 94 %        "A-"

87- 89 %        "B+"

83- 86 %        "B"

80- 82 %        "B-"

 

 77-79  %        "C+"

73-76  %        "C"

70-72  %        "C-"

67-69 %         "D+"

60-66  %        "D"

Grades under 60% will result in no credit.