AP/IB BIOLOGY
August 2006-May 2007
Paxon School for Advanced Studies
Instructor: Alana Synhoff Canupp Help Sessions: Mon. 3:30-4:30 other times by appointment
ph: 904.693.7583 ext. 210
email: synhoffa@dreamsbeginhere.org
TEXT:
Biology (Campbell), 6th ed.
This course will allow you to receive credit for college level BSC 2010C if you pass the AP exam with a 3 or a 4. Receiving a 5 on the AP will get you 8 college credit hours! This IS college level biology; however, it is much more demanding. This course is actually equivalent to BSC 2010 (biology for majors I) , BSC 2011 (Biology for majors II), plus topics in evolution, ecology, genetics and human biology. The AP covers these topics; therefore this course must cover those chapters.
GOALS:
1. Pass the AP/IB Biology.
2. To gain college level skills not only for this course, but all college courses.
3. To gain self-confidence to enter a 4-year university much better prepared than your peers.
4. To motivate you to become hungry for knowledge…no matter what the subject area may be.
REQUIREMENTS:
LABS: Labs MUST be recorded in a composition notebook in proper format. All pages MUST remain in the book and they will be collected at the end of the year. A handout will be provided.
It is EXTREMELY important that you are present the day a lab is conducted! If you miss a lab you will be required to make up the lab(s) at a alternate date that I choose. This is difficult due to the nature of some of the labs (fresh chemicals, multiple days required to collect data, etc.). Since most labs require multiple sets of data, labs are much easier to perform in groups. I strongly advise you to do everything possible to be present on a lab day.
*** Be advised although you do work in teams for lab (to gather data), your lab reports MUST BE YOUR OWN WORK.***
LECTURE: For the most part, how you organize your material is up to you. I will not grade your notes/notebook, etc. Find the best way to take notes for the way you learn. I have personally found that re-typing notes and using color to highlight terms extremely helpful. Ask if you need help.
RESOURCES:
The internet continues to be a valuable tool in education. As a study tool to get you started, there is a web page for this course. The web page will be updated as much as possible with new information. This is also helpful if you are absent from school.
To calculate your grade, divide the total number of points you have earned by the total number of possible points. Just like most college courses, there is very little to no homework on most chapters. Most of your grade is from exams & quizzes!
The 10-point grading system is in effect:
100-90% A
89-80% B
79-70% C
69-60% D
Below 60% F
**Note: If you have an "F" average (59.9) or below, I do NOT round up to a passing grade (of a D), nor any extra credit earned for that quarter will NOT count towards a passing grade. Extra credit in this class is few and far between.
Rules on Late Work: I do NOT accept late assignments! Late assignments will receive the grade of zero! Work is considered late if it is not in my possession when the tardy bell rings.
IB: If you are an IB student, there will be additional requirements, such as the Group IV project between IB physics and chemistry classes. An additional syllabus from IB will be given to you in sections when we cover specific topics.
Cheating: Each one of you will sign a Student Integrity Contract with the school and this class. This contract and its' definitions of what cheating/plagarism is and is not will be strictly adhered to in this course. Any cheating will result in a grade of zero by all parties involved. I will also contact the dean's office so that the incident is on file with the school. If I suspect you are cheating it is up to YOU to supply the proof that I am incorrect (documenting sources, research, etc.) ALL work you submit must be your own. Be advised although you do work in teams for lab (to simply gather data), your lab reports MUST BE YOUR OWN WORK.
Attendance: If you miss a class for any reason it is YOUR responsibility to find out what you missed and acquire any information of assignments so that they are completed. Any missing assignments must be made up in a timely fashion (according to how many days you missed) or you will receive a grade of zero. If you miss a lab, it is going to be extremely difficult for you to make the lab up. You will not be able to compile data from other groups and you must perform the lab on your own with no assistance.
Absences from school that are excused (with a readmit) will be allowed to turn work in with no penalty. A missed exam or lab will be made up AFTER SCHOOL, not during class, or another teacher's class. If you miss a quiz because you are tardy (or cafeteria duty), you will NOT be permitted to take the same quiz and will take an alternate quiz after school. If you miss an exam, you will NOT receive the same test that was administered to the class. Your exam will NOT be curved.
The school policy on attendance will be strictly enforced in this course:
In order to earn a passing quarter grade in ay course, any student who misses
more than 4 classes (not including school-related absences) will be required to pass a
comprehensive quarter exam or project, in addition to having an overall passing
grade for the quarter. A student must be present for at least half of the period to
be considered present.
Grade Recovery:
As per Duval County's requirement to offer grade recovery, the policy for this course is as follows:
To be eligible for grade recovery for the quarter, the student must meet the deadlines established by Paxon SAS for turning in forms, with parent and student signatures.
Students may only "recover" a grade of an 'F' to a 'D' OR from a 'D' to a 'C'.
In order for a grade change to occur, the student must retake every exam in the quarter in which he/she earned a grade below 70%. To raise a grade from an 'F' to a 'D', a student must pass every retaken exam with a 70% grade or higher. For example: If a student must take two exams that quarter and earns a 67% on one test and a 76% on a second test, no grade change will occur.
The same 'rule' applies from changing a grade from a 'D' to a 'C', but the passing requirements for this grade category increase to a 75% on all exams retaken.
Exams will be taken on the day designated by the teacher. Once this deadline has passed if a student has not taken the exams required, no attempts will be allowed.
Grade recovery exams will be different from the original exams as to maintain security of the original test.
Keep in mind it is MUCH easier to do well the first time around than to attempt to obtain a grade change from the 1st quarter while trying to also be successful while learning new material in the 2nd quarter.
Electronic Devices, ETC:
iPods, cells phones, etc must be turned off at all times and not seen. If I see these devices, they will be confiscated and only returned to a parent. Food and drink are not allowed in this room at anytime. No exceptions! This is the Paxon policy and it will be enforced.
Course Outline
First Quarter
Ten Themes in The Study of Life
Water and Fitness of the Environment
Carbon: Molecular Diversity of Life
Structure and Function of Macromolecules
Test 1
A Tour of the Cell
Membrane Structure and Function
Osmosis and Diffusion
Test 2
Introduction to Metabolism
Cellular Respiration
Photosynthesis
Test 3
Second Quarter
The Cell Cycle: Mitosis
Meiosis & Sexual Life Cycles
Test 1
Mendel and the Gene Idea
Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
Test 2
Molecular Basis of Inheritance
From Gene to Protein
Genetics of Bacteria: the Lac operon
Test 3
Third Quarter
Organization of the Eukaryotic Genome
DNA Technology
Viruses
Test 1
Descent with Modification
Evolution of Populations and Speciation
Introduction to Taxonomy: Phylogeny
Test 2
Early Earth and the Origin of Life
Prokaryotes
Origin of Eukaryotes
Kingdom: Protista
Kingdom: Fungi
Kingdom: Plantae
Kingdom: Animalia
Test 3
Fourth Quarter
Embryology
Excretory System
Immune System
Nervous System
Circulatory System
Exocrine & Reproductive Systems
Test 1
Population Ecology
Community Ecology
Ecosystems
Conservation Biology
Ethology
Test 2
Practice AP or IB Test = Test 3
EXAMINATIONS:
All exams will be in AP or IB exam format. For AP, this includes multiple choice and free response questions. For IB exams, there will be multiple choice, short answer, interpretation of data and free response. Final exam grades will appear as a separate grade on your report card, as is 1/9 of your final average for the course.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Last week in April 2008.
STUDY ASSISTANCE:
I am available after school on Mondays; other days by appointment. Please let me know that you are coming so I do not leave campus right away.
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
Review your notes briefly every night. Make notes or highlight things you do not completely understand. Ask questions the next day!
Do NOT procrastinate!
Do not memorize material, but conceptually understand it. Memory alone will not be successful in this course.
Print out notes BEFORE coming to class.
Attend class every day. If you get behind in this course, it is very difficult to catch up.
Read ahead whenever possible.
Form study groups and meet once a week. Studying 3-4 hours each week will produce better comprehension than cramming one or two days before a test. If you try to cram for this class, you will most likely not succeed.
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