AP BIOLOGY

ELLSWORTH HIGH SCHOOL MRS. FALABELLA 2013 - 2014

It has become part of the accepted wisdom to say that the twentieth century was the century of physics and the twenty-fist century will be the century of biology. ~ Freeman Dyson
Advanced Placement Biology focuses on all the major topics of biology with an emphasis placed on four pervasive themes: Big Idea 1: the process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life Big Idea 2: biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis Big Idea 3: living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes Big Idea 4: biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties. This is a fast paced course that is intensive in breadth and depth. Students are strongly encouraged to take Honors Anatomy and Physiology, concurrently. The course culminates in the spring with the College Board Exam in May 2014. Students will be participating in engaging discussion that analyze the connections of the four Big Ideas. Extended periods will be required.
* This course has an Honor Challenge option. Students opting for the Honor Challenge will not be preparing to take the AP Exam in May and will have differentiated assessments.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
jfalabella@rsu24.org
https://sites.google.com/a/rsu24.org/jfalabella/

After School Help Sessions: Monday & Thursday 2:35 - 3:00

Each day will focus on different topics; topics will be posted in advance.

Visit: https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/exploreap/ap-and-your-future/apcourse/ap-biology

COURSE RESOURCES:
Biology by Campbell and Reece, 2008 & corresponding Active Reading Guide, 2008.
I have copies available but I strongly recommend that you purchase your own copy to practice note taking skills. You will also need a 3-ring binder, index cards (w/storage), and a composition notebook.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS:
Students will approach content material from a thematic approach, focusing on integration of concepts rather than memorization of details. Students will be active learners, participating in class discussions, asking for clari]ication when necessary, and adding commentary when appropriate. Students will have completed their reading and note-taking outside of class and will come prepared to participate in small group activities that will reinforce key concepts. Students will come prepared to participate in laboratory sessions, utilizing the time available to its full advantage. To that end, pre-lab quizzes will be done before most lab sessions. Labs will generate data that will be analyzed and reported appropriately.

TOPICS AT A GLANCE:
Biochemistry* The Cell: Membrane Structure & Function Cellular Energy & Related Processes Cell Communication & Cell Cycle Genetics Gene Activity & Biotechnology Evolution & Phylogeny Organism Form & Function Population Ecology
* Topic primarily covered during summer assignment; review only.

COURSE ACTIVITIES:
Exams will be multiple choice and free response questions in order to mimic the actual exam. Time management is critical; no additional time will be allotted for exams or quizzes. Concept Quizzes will be given frequently during the course to measure understanding of the key concepts in small increments. They may be announced or unannounced. Lab work may be done individually or as a group but all lab work must be recorded and submitted by each individual student. Labs will be inquiry-based when feasible and include mathematical applications. Entrance Slips will be given to measure your understanding of the reading assignments, video analysis, or presentation reviews at the start of class. Vocabulary quizzes will be given to reenforce the importance of understandings key terms. These terms will be useful on the free response portion of the exam.

Grading Breakdown: Exams Concept Quizzes* Entrance Slips* Vocabulary* Laboratory Classwork** 30 % 20 % 10 % 10 % 20 % 10 %

* Lowest grade will be dropped. ** Includes participation.

Unit
Biochemistry (9/3 - 9/13)

Selected Reading
(1) Exploring Life (2) The Chemical Context of Life (3) Water and the Fitness of the Environment (4) Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life (5) The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules (6) A Tour of the Cell (7) Membrane Structure and Function

Essential Knowledge
2.A.3 1.D.1 4.A.1 4.C.1 4.B.1 3.A.1

The Cell: Membrane Structure & Function (9/16 - 10/4) Cellular Energy & Related Processes (10/7 - 10/29) Cell Communication & Cell Cycle (10/30 - 11/22)

2.A.3 2.B.3 4.A.2 4.B.2 2.B.1 2.B.2 2.A.1 4.B.1 2.A.A

(8) An Introduction to Metabolism (9) Cellular Respiration: Harvesting Chemical Energy (10) Photosynthesis (11) Cell Communication (12) Cell Cycle (13) Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycle

2.E.2 3.B.2 3.D.1 3.D.2 3.D.3 3.D.4 3.A.2 3.C.2 3.A.3 4.C.2 4.C.4 3.A.4 3.C.1 3.A.1 3.C.1 3.C.3 3.C.2 3.B.1 3.B.2 2.E.1 4.C.1 4.A.3

Genetics (12/2 - 12/20)

(14) Mendel and the Gene Idea (15) The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

Gene Activity & Biotechnology (1/2 - 1/31)

(16) Molecular Basis of Inheritance (17) From Gene to Protein (18) Regulation of Gene Expression (19) Viruses (20) Biotechnology (21) Genomes and Their Evolution (22) Descent with Modification: A Darwin View of Life (23) The Evolution of Population (24) The Origin of Species (25) The History of Life on Earth (26) The Tree of Life: An Introduction to Biological Diversity (27) Bacteria and Archae

Evolution & Phylogeny (2/3 - 3/14)

1.A.1 1.A.4 1.A.2 4.C.3 4.C.4 1.A.3 3.C.1 1.C.2 2.E.2 1.C.1 1.C.3 1.B.1 1.D.1 4.B.3 2.E.1 1.B.2 1.D.2 3.A.1 3.C.2 2.A.1 4.B.2 2.A.1 2.C.1 2.D.2 2.D.3 2.C.2 2.D.4 3.B.2 3.D.2 3.D.1 3.D.1 2.C.1 3.E.2 4.A.4 3.E.1 2.E.3 2.A.1 1.A.1 1.A.2 1.A.3 1.A.4 2.D.1 4.A.5 4.B.3 4.A.6 4.C.4 2.D.2 2.D.3 4.B.4

Organism Form & Function (3/17 - 4/18)

(40) Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function (43) The Immune System (44) Hormones and the Endocrine System (48) Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Population Ecology (4/28 - 5/2)

(51) Animal Behavior (52) Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere (53) Population Ecology (54) Community Ecology (55) Ecosystem (56) Conservation Biology and Global Change

TALKING POINTS:
This course models the experience of an introductory college level biology course. It is intensive in both breathe and depth of biological content. You will need to have self- discipline and motivation to be successful. It will be an excellent opportunity to prepare your note taking, flash card, and organization skills for college courses in the future. You will be required to keep a professional laboratory notebook. This component will give the opportunity to experience a job skill in todays science careers. There will be a requirement of six (6) formal lab reports during this course. This course requires a double block. We will not meet everyday as a double block; you will have a study hall on days we do not meet.

USEFUL RESOURCES: ADD TO BOOKMARKS!

Bozeman Biology on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/bozemanbiology Open Learning Initiative [Anatomy and Physiology]: http://oli.cmu.edu/courses/free-open/anatomy-physiology/ Online Practice to AP Biology Exam: http://www.wiziq.com/tests/ap-biology-tests AP Central: https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/home Classroom Webpage: https://sites.google.com/a/rsu24.org/jfalabella/
This is an important asset to this course. Visit this webpage daily to see updates to our schedule and essential resources.

SUMMER WORK:
You will be required to complete assignments over the summer as part of this course. We will start the 2013-2014 school year at a fast pace; completing short review sessions of your summer assignments with frequent quizzes and an exam within the first ten days of class. Students opting for the Honors Challenge will still be required to complete the summer work. Summer work will need to be submitted on the first day of the 2013-2014 school year.
THIS SYLLABUS WILL BE UPDATED PRIOR TO OUR FIRST DAY. ACTIVITIES, SCHEDULE, EXPECTATIONS, REQUIREMENTS, AND GRADING MAY BE CHANGED AT ANYTIME.