Advanced Placement Biology Course Outline 2014-2015
WELCOME!!! Mrs. A. Massari
The AP Biology course is designed to be the equivalent of a two-semester college
introductorybiology course usually taken by biology majors during their first year.
AP Students:
Congratulations! As an AP student, you are taking part in a college-levelacademic experience that will challenge and inspire you, and prepare youfor college and beyond. Your hard work is helping you prepare for theAP Exam, which gives you the opportunity to earn credit and advancedplacement in college.
WHY AP?
Confidence — Develop better study habits, improve yourwriting skills and sharpen your problem-solving abilities — thiswill give you the confidence to tackle the academic challengesthat you can expect in college.
Credit — Entering college with AP credits gives you timeto move into upper-level courses in your field of interest,pursue a double major, or study/travel abroad.
College Success — Research consistently shows thatstudents who are successful in AP typically experience greateracademic success in college than similar students who do notparticipate in AP.
Parents and Guardians
With AP, students are able to experience the rigors of college-level studieswhile they still have the support of a high school environment. Resourcefuland dedicated AP teachers help their students develop and apply the skills,abilities and content knowledge they will need later in college. What’s more,
by participating in AP, your child has the opportunity to earn college creditand to stand out in the college admission process.
How you can support your child this year:
-Designate specific areas in your home for schoolwork and study
-Remind your child to prioritize classes, activities and work commitments
-Recommend that your child form a study group
As the parent or guardian of an AP student, youcan take pride in the fact that your child is participating in a challengingacademic program. Thank you for all the support and encouragement you provide. Your AP Exam score is a weighted combination of your scores on the multiple-choice section and on the free-response section. Colleges and universities are responsible for setting their own credit and placement policies.
Instruction focuses on enduring, conceptual understandings and the content that supports them.
This approach will enable students to spend less time on factual recall and more time on inquiry-based learning of essential concepts. This will help students develop the reasoning skills necessary to engage in the science
practices used throughout their study of AP Biology.
The big ideas:
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
AP Exam Grades
The Readers’ scores on the free-response questions are combined with the results ofthe computer-scored multiple-choice questions; the weighted raw scores are summedto give a composite score. The composite score is then converted to a grade on AP’s
5-point scale:
AP GRADE QUALIFICATION
5 Extremely well qualified
4 Well qualified
3 Qualified
2 Possibly qualified
1 No recommendation
AP Exam grades of 5 are equivalent to A grades in the corresponding college course.
AP Exam grades of 4 are equivalent to grades of A–, B+, and B in college. AP Exam
grades of 3 are equivalent to grades of B–, C+, and C in college.
Beginning with the May 2011 AP Exam administration, there was a change to the way AP Exams are now scored. Total scores on the multiple-choice section are now based on the number of questions answered correctly. Points are no longer deducted for incorrect answers and, as always, no points will be awarded for unanswered questions.
Grading procedures:
Marking Period Averages are on a point basis. The number of points you earn divided by the number of points possible X 1.1 weighting for A.P. courses. (the AP weight is not shown in marking period grades.)
Homework assignments are usually worth 10 points for 1 page and 20 for 2 page assignment. Outlines are worth 30 points.
1 DAY LATE –minus 10%; 2 DAYS LATE- minus 20%. No credit after that!
Pop quizzes are worth 2 X the number of questions.
Major assignments such as lab write ups, take home tests, and the classification projects, must be turned in at the beginning of the period on the date due. Oh YES you can always turn it in early. LATE - you will lose 10% per school dayto a maximum of 20% off.
Tests are worth 2 X the number of multiple choice questions + a 20 point essay.
If you are absent for a test, you will take a make up test when you return to school.
You will be informed about your grade status at least twice a marking period - mid way and at the end.There is a 1.1 weighting to the class. A 90% is equal to a 99% - great deal, but 1.1 X 40% is only 44% - not such a great deal.
Fall semester grade will include the marking periods; and the final (mid term) exam. TheFall semester isworth 1 credit.
Spring semester grade will include the marking periods, and the final project. The Spring semester is only worth 1/2 a credit.
****This course requires a tremendous amount of reading, and preparation. You must learn how to budget your time and other activities in your life so as to be successful in this course.
THIS IS A COLLEGE COURSE! You will be held accountable for your grades, actions, and participation.
A review book should be purchasedASAP.
“5 Steps to a 5” OR CLIFF NOTES (Prentice Hall). (2014) .
Purchase early and use often!!!!!
EFFORT + ABILITY = SUCCESS !
The 3 Major Assessments
1. January - Mid term exam - the final for the fall semester
This testconsists of 2 parts.The first part is60 multiple choice questions which you will have 60 minutes to finish.The second part ismade up of3 essays, and a 60 minute time limit to complete the 3 essays.
2. AP Exam -
Monday, May 11, 2015 / AP Biology 8:00amFinal project - After the AP exam
Biology Topic Presentations including and oral presentation and a PowerPoint. Details to follow.
Teacher Contact
E-mail – a
You can also call the high school (497-4000) and leave me a message. I will call you back as soon as possible. I will be after school in room 330 Wednesday, and Thursday.
- You will need to stay after school sometimes to get help or finish labs!!
Please complete the form below, cut it off and returned the signed form to Mrs. Massari as soon as possible.
------
We have read the A.P. Biology Course Outline and the 3 of us Student + Teacher + Parent/Guardian will team up to make this a very successful year.
Student SignatureTeacher Signature Parent/Guardian Signature
______Adelia Massari ______