Advanced Placement Biology 387 Syllabus 2007-2008  

Hampton Roads Academy                                                 Phone mail: 884-9129 
Teacher: Mrs. Deeley                                                       email: rmdeeley@cox.net or bdeele@hra.org
                                                                                        My web site: http://www.sciencebugz.com  

Office Hours: Blocks C or E &/or by appointment.  

Course Description: AP Biology is a comprehensive survey course equivalent to 2 semesters of General Biology offered at most universities for science majors.  Biological concepts and processes are emphasized in lecture, laboratory experiences, and field trips. Cell structure, chemistry, and physiology, and genetics are taught in the first semester.  Second semester encompasses diversity, evolutionary relationships, and physiology of organisms.  Ecology is taught in both semesters.

 Course Objectives: The student will

 1. utilize principles of chemistry to describe cell structure and explain cell physiology.
2. explain Mendelian, chromosomal, and molecular bases of genetics.
3. explain the relationships between diversity, form and function of individual organisms and communities.
4. describe and explain structure and function of organisms.

Skills: The student will

1. develop critical thinking skills.
2. generate and analyze data in laboratory experiences.
3. analyze and evaluate data in problems and essay questions.  

Textbook and Materials:

 Text: Campbell , N. (2002)  Biology. 6th ed. New York : Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc.
         Lytle, C. (2001) AP Lab Manual.  

The student is encouraged to keep a notebook of daily objectives, lab reports, literature reviews, and critical thinking essays.  

Evaluation: Grading is based on points earned. Letter grade percentiles are as appears in the student handbook.  Grade determination is as follows:
1st semester: 1st term 40%, 2nd term 40%, Examination 20%;
2nd semester: 3rd term 40%, 4th term 40%, Final Examination 20%.
Final grade: based on points accumulated over 1st and 2nd semesters.  

Methods of Instruction:
1. Problem based projects.
2. Class discussion with emphasis on integrating and analyzing data.
3. Laboratory experiments (most are physiologically based or processes, few are anatomically based).
4. Lecture with focus on developing critical thinking skills.
5. Demonstrations illustrating methods of experimentation.
6. Computer simulations.

Methods of Evaluation:
     There is no set total, nor is there any set amount for evaluative instruments.  Generally, in decreasing order of point value, instruments used for evaluation will include:
tests,
laboratory reports,
literature reviews,
critical thinking essays, and
quizzes. 

It is the student’s responsibility to meet with the teacher to arrange for any make up work.  ALL ASSIGNED WORK, OTHER THAN TESTS AND LAB DRAWINGS IN LAB NOTEBOOK WILL BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY.  THE DEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT, NOT ONE MINUTE AFTER, ON THE DUE DATE.  My email addresses are: rmdeeley@cox.net  or bdeele@hra.org.  If you wish to submit a paper copy, you may do so, but only in addition to the electronic submission, not in place of the paperless alternative.   

Evaluative instruments are graded like the AP Exam.  A point for a true, applicable point is awarded within a limited number of points/question. 

Laboratory experiences are not optional.  Field trips which meet laboratory requirements are not optional.  One question in the essay portion of the AP Exam will be based on laboratory experiences.  There may be several more questions in the multiple choice section of the exam.  There are 12 specific AP Biology laboratory exercises.  We will do many other labs to meet the requirements for AP Biology.  Lab reports are considered of equal or greater importance than tests.  

Scheduled Field Trips:

Mariner’s Museum, forest ecology  11 Sep  G, lunch, A
Newport News Park half day                 1 Oct (big 12 lab)  E, F, G, Lunch  

Course Outline

Unit 1: Molecules and Cells
     A. Biochemistry ( 20 class periods)   
        1. Read Chapters 1-6.
        2. Labs:  Hypothesis Lab
                      Enzyme Lab
                      Spectroscopy Lab
      B. Cells  (11 class periods)       
        1. Read Chapters 7 & 8.
        2. Lab: Diffusion and Osmosis.
                   Algae
     C. Energy Transformations  (17 class periods) 
        1. Read Chapters 9-12
        2. Lab:  Respiration.
                     Primary Productivity       

Unit II. Genetics & Evolution.
     A. Cell Reproduction & Mendelian Genetics. (12 class periods)   
        1. Read Chapters 13-15.
        2. Labs:   Mitosis and crossovers in Sordaria
     B. Molecular Genetics (24 class periods)
        1. Read Chapters 16-21
        2. Lab: 10 Jan every day forever!   Meiosis-Drosophila Lab
                    DNA Electrophoresis - 2 lab periods
                    P Gal Recombinant DNA lab series difficult,
                                 will require additional lab time other than 2 hour slot.
     C. Evolution (6 class periods)          
        1. Read Chapters 22-25.
        2. Labs: Hardy-Weinberg.

Unit III: Organisms & Populations
     A. Taxonomy, Monerans, Protistans, and Fungi (Summer and 27-30 Aug)     
        1. Read Chapters 26-29 and 32-33.
     B.  Animals, Diversity, Structure and Physiology (15 class periods)
         1. Read Chapters 34 and 40-49.
         2. Labs: during class or on net: Histology: Animal tissues.
                 Physiology.
                 Animal Behavior.  
     C. Plants, Diversity, Anatomy, & Physiology (14 class periods)
        1. Read Chapters 30-31 and 35-39.
        2. Labs:  Plant tissues.  Transpiration.     
    D. Ecology (4 class periods: 2 field trips and 2 class days)    
        1. Read Chapter 54 for Newport News trip.
        2. Read Chapters 50, 51, 52, 53, and 55
        3. Labs: Ethology
                      Primary Productivity       

Unit IV: Exam Review
        1. Take Home Practice Test Multiple Choice Only
        2. 21 Apr-8 May brown bag lectures, or sooner!
        3. 9 May  Saturday cram session by class vote

AP Biology Exam is scheduled for 11 May, Monday   8:00 AM.      

Contact hours may be reduced by assemblies and other school activities.
For individual students, contact may be reduced by sports, illness, college visits, and other unpredictable events.
Every minute of class time is important.

I look forward to every minute we have together!