COURSE SUMMARY

The discipline of biology is organized around the following four “big ideas”:

• The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.
• Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.
• Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes.
• Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.

From (2010).  AP Biology Curriculum Framework 2012-2013.  New York, NY:  College Board.

Within each of these big ideas, several themes exist and will be made evident as we progress through the year.  They are:

• Evolution
• Regulation
• Interdependence in Nature
• Energy Transfer
• Continuity and Change
• Science as a Process
• Science, Technology and Society
• Relationship of Structure to Function

GRADE DETERMINATION

40% Tests (about 2 comprehensive unit tests each six weeks consisting of 50 multiple choice questions + 2 free response questions, modeled after the AP exam)
40% Labs, Lab Reports (about 6-8 each six weeks)
20% Lecture Quizzes and other daily assignments as designated by instructor, (6-10 each six weeks)
NOTE:  The numbers of assignments above will vary; at minimum there will be 6 assignments in total in any given six weeks period, in keeping with AISD district policy.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND HONESTY

Because technology has made it so easy to get and disseminate information rapidly through various media (email, text messaging, instant messaging, social networking, to name a few), academic honesty has become a topic of importance for all educational institutions, including high schools. Integrity in one's scholastic work is of utmost importance, as it demonstrates diligence on the part of the student and respect for the work that others have previously done.

Increasingly, group work and group projects are becoming commonplace not only in high school, but also in college and beyond. For this reason, it is important that students understand the difference between collaboration and collusion.

Webster's Dictionary defines collaboration as: to work jointly with others or together, especially in an intellectual endeavor; and collusion as: secret agreement or cooperation especially for an illegal or deceitful purpose.

An example of collaboration in class would be lab partners gathering the same data from a lab, but writing different conclusions about the result.  An example of collusion would be lab partners gathering the same data from a lab and writing identical or very close to identical conclusions about the result. When collusion occurs in an academic setting, it is considered plagiarism.

In order to establish an appropriate scholastic classroom environment, students are expected to maintain academic integrity and honesty at all times.  Plagiarism of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying a fellow student's assignments;
• Turning in work identical to another student's;
• Using unauthorized notes on quizzes/tests;
• Blatant failure to properly cite outside sources when writing lab reports;
• Turning in someone else’s work as one’s own; and
• Falsifying data that should have been collected in lab.

Students who are suspected of academic dishonesty will be disciplined according to AISD academic honesty guidelines. 

CLASS AND INSTRUCTOR POLICIES

You will have some sort of assessment of the previous class period’s material every class period.  These assessments are designed to help you learn and retain material learned in lecture as well as material gathered from text readings.   You will also have learning log checks before each in-class test. 

Late work is not accepted for daily assignments.  Late labs will be accepted one day past their due date and for a maximum grade of 50. 

Should you miss a test, you have one week from the date of your absence to make up the test.  Failure to make up a test within this time period will result in a zero test grade. 

Proper safety precautions will be followed during laboratory work at all times.  This includes wearing closed-toe shoes and safety goggles when necessary.  

Students are to check Skyward Student Access on a regular basis to keep up with their course grade.  Grades will be updated weekly as assignments are turned in for credit.  When registering for Student Access, be sure you have provided a working email address, as class messages are sometimes disseminated in this manner.

TUTORIAL POLICY

Tutorial times will be established during the second week of class and will be posted to the course calendar.

All students are welcome to come in during tutorial time to ask questions about course material they do not quite understand, to get help with study skills, to review assignments that have been handed back or to review assignments prior to their due date.  Students are highly encouraged to attend the tutorial sessions that are held prior to each unit test.  

Students who fail to demonstrate mastery of course material on unit exams are required to attend at least 2 30-minute tutorial sessions prior to the next exam.  Students will receive a tutorial pass that must be signed by the instructor at the end of the tutorial session to show evidence of attendance.  Students whose grades fall below 75 at the midpoint of the six weeks are subject to the same policy. 

INTERNET ACCESS

You will need to have access to a computer with an Internet connection.  Nearly all course materials will be posted on our class website, so you will need to be able to access them and print them off prior to each class period, NOT IN CLASS. Not having Internet or printer access is not an excuse to come to class unprepared! There are plenty of places to get Internet and printer access:

• A friend’s house
• The public library
• The AHS library (you may not go during class time to print)

If this is an issue, then you need to come and talk to me to see if something can be resolved.

AP EXAM POLICY

All students enrolled in AP Biology are expected to sit for the AP exam, which will take place on May 9, 2011.  Reviews for the exam take place entirely outside of class.  During the spring semester, we will also take mock exams to prepare you for the rigor of the actual exam.  Registration for the exam will take place in the spring semester, at a cost of $57 per AP exam.  Students with financial hardship are encouraged to visit with Mr. Lemons to discuss payment options.  Students who elect not to sit for the AP exam will lose final exam exemption privileges and will take an AP-style final exam during the normal final examination period.

LABORATORY SAFETY

You and your parents will be required to digitally sign and submit a school-issued lab safety contract as well as the syllabus acknowledgement that states that you and your parents understand class procedures and policies. Students must carefully read this contract. It is imperative that the Lab Safety Contract must be returned signed by both the parent and the student before students can perform laboratory activities. A lab safety and equipment quiz will be taken before the second week of class and must be passed with a minimum score of 80% before the student can perform lab activities. I will keep lab Safety Contracts on file all year long.

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