Honors Integrated Science II

BathCountyHigh School

Spring 2013

Mrs. Keri Johnson

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Course Description

Biology is a laboratory-based course designed to introduce students to the science processes, skills, and understandings related to a wide range of biological topics. Topics covered will include the nature of scientific inquiry, cell biology, genetics, and taxonomy. During this course, students will learn to identify the basic questions and concepts that guide scientific investigation and to design and conduct their own investigations. Important skills to develop throughout this course include microscopy, graphing and measurement, identification of research questions, making connections, and the ability to be a self-directed learner.

Required Materials

Notebook: Each student is required to have a three ring binder to hold any class work, homework, or related materials that are used in class.

  • All paper that is turned in must be on loose leaf paper or perforated paper. No frazzled edges please!

Lab Notebook/ Composition Book: You will be required to have a composition book to be used for daily reflections and lab work.You must bring your notebook and composition book to class every day.

Textbook

Pencils/Paper

Course Outline

  1. Biochemistry
  2. Properties of water
  3. Macromolecules
  1. Cell Structure and Function
  2. Organelles
  3. Cell Reproduction
  1. Cellular Processes
  2. Energy in a cell
  3. Photosynthesis
  4. Cellular Respiration
  5. Homeostasis
  1. Molecular Basis of Heredity
  2. Genetics
  3. Human genetics
  4. DNA
  5. Mutations

Grading Policy

Grades for this class will be weighted. Summative assessments (tests) will count toward 70% of your final grade. Other assignments will make up the remaining 30%.

Test Retakes

Quizzes and tests are available for retake if the student deems necessary. Students will be given the responsibility to make arrangements for retakes. An assignment will be issued to act as a review of the material assessed. The assignment must be completed before a retake will be allowed. Retakes may only be taken within two weeks of the original assessment.

Make-up Work

Students with excused absences will be allowed to make up any work missed on that day. For most absences, you will have 3 days to make arrangements for your missing work. Within three days, your completed work should be turned in, or you should have made arrangements with me concerning the completion of this work. For extended absences, consult your student handbook. No make-up work can be completed for an unexcused absence. (Note: Due to the materials needed for most labs, it is not always possible to keep them for make-up work. In these cases, you will be given an assignment that is as close as possible to the lab concept.However, you will be responsible for any techniques completed during that lab.)

Late Work

Late work will be accepted for most assignments. Any assignment that is turned in late will automatically receive a deduction of 5% per day late off the total value of the assignment (up to a 50%). Remember: late work is ALWAYS better than receiving a zero for an assignment

Scientific Literacy

To make scientific progress, it is important for scientists to share information with each other and with the public both orally and in writing. You will be responsible for reading, summarizing, critiquing, discussing, and presenting a number of scientific articles taken from recent issues of scientific journals.

Lab reports will be completed at the conclusion of each lab/activity. All lab reports will need to follow the template attached to this syllabus.

Each student will also be responsible for completing research and writing an argumentative essay regarding a current controversial topic in biology.

Classroom Procedures and Rules

  • Tardy: Be on time. You must be in your seat when the bell rings. Anyone who is not in their seat when the bell rings will receive a tardy.
  • The Beginning of Class: At the beginning of class, while the absences are being checked you are expected to get your notebooks and textbooks ready to begin class. There will be a bellwork assignment on the board, you are to complete it without being told to do so and without talking. Failure to do so will result in break detention. You will be responsible for placing your bellwork in your notebook and turning them in every Friday.
  • Copying: If a student is caught copying, both papers will be taken and thrown in the trash. Both students will receive a zero for the assignment, one day of ACP, and parents will be notified.
  • Asking a question: Absolutely NO call-outs will be allowed in class. You must raise your hand and WAIT to be called on. Call-outs will result in break detention.
  • Treatment of others: Be respectful and responsible. No put-downs, negativism, derogatory comments, interruptions, talking without recognition, getting up without permission, or disrupting other students’ personal belongings.
  • Come prepared for class: Sharpening pencils, getting paper and materials ready should be done before class begins.
  • NO food or drink is allowed in class: Any food or drink must be disposed of before the beginning of class.
  • Class Dismissal: The bell in this school is NOT for the students, it is for the teachers. It lets us know when to start a class and when to dismiss it. The bell does NOT dismiss you - I dismiss this class. When the bell rings I will finish up anything that is necessary and then I will announce that class is dismissed and you may leave. Students that leave their seats without being dismissed will be kept in for break detention.
  • Bathroom Pass–BCHS policy states that students will receive 2 hall passes per 9 weeks in a block class. After using 2 hall passes, students will be required to trade a break detention for a hall pass. Before leaving the room you must sign out in the hallpass log and take the hallpass with you. When you return, you must sign back in, return the hallpass, and then immediately return to your seat. If for some reason when you leave you go to the office and are detained, it is your responsibility to have an office worker tell me where you are. Do not abuse the hallpass privilege or you WILL lose it!!

Writing Formal Lab Reports

All lab reports should be typed or printed in black or blue ink. Always use third person (no personal pronouns) when writing all parts of a lab report. A cover sheet with the lab title, your name, date, and period should be stapled to the front of the lab report. When typing your report put lab headings and lab questions in bold type (underline when writing). Use Times New Roman font 12 point only and only 1" margins. (5 points)

Your lab report should be written using the following format: (Be sure to left align & bold headings)

Title
The title should indicate clearly & concisely the subject and scope of the report.(5 points)

Introduction
The introduction should give background information about the experiment. It should also state the purpose of the investigation.(10 points)

Hypothesis
The hypothesis should be a single statement telling the exact thing you are trying to prove in your experiment. Never write this statement using "first person".(10 points)

Materials
This section includes a list of all the materials and equipment used. Be sure to include specific amounts and concentrations of chemicals used.(10 points)

Methods
This section includes a list of the step-by-step procedures used. The description should be so thorough that someone else could use your listed materials and procedures to conduct the same experiment & get the same results.(10 points)

Results
All data should be collected and organized in a logical order. Results should be illustrated as charts, tables, graphs, &/or diagrams. All graphs should include a title, the independent variable on the horizontal axis, and the dependent variable on the vertical axis.All lab questions and answers should be included also with this section.( Bold the questions & italicize the answers)(20 points)

Error Analysis
Include any important factors that you think may have actually affected your results.(10 points)

Discussion and Conclusion
In this section, you should interpret the collected data and relate it to the restated hypothesis. Explain the significance of and/or concepts behind the results. If additional research and experimentation is needed, explain in this section.(20 points)

Writing a Lab Report Conclusion

A lab report conclusion should be written in an essay format. The conclusion should include complete paragraphs, proper spelling, and correct punctuation. This section is the MOST IMPORTANT part of a lab report. The following format should be used:

Paragraph 1: Restate the problem/purpose. BRIEFLY state whether your

data supported the purpose of the experiment - this would be your conclusion. (Your conclusions MUST relate to the purpose of the experiment!)

Ex: The purpose of this experiment was to compare the pH of an acid after

several different bases were added to the acid. The data collected in this experiment does support the theory that the pH of an acid increases when a base is added.

Paragraph 2: Discuss how the data you received helped you come to your

conclusion. ALWAYS refer to any graphs you have produced to show the relationships in your data. Explain the relationship shown in your graph! (If you have an equation for the graph, the equation will help you to explain a relationship!) MOST IMPORTANT PARAGRAPH!

Paragraph 3: Discuss any sources of error in recording your measurements

(dependent variable) or in the procedure. There are ALWAYS sources of error in an experiment. Discuss why the data, or your conclusion, may not be accurate due to these errors.

Paragraph 4: Closing: BRIEFLY restate the problem & conclusion! Suggest

any changes that can be made to the experimental procedure and how these changes might affect the data received in the lab.

Ex: In this lab the pH of the acid was determined by using various bases to

show a neutralization effect. In future experiments it would be helpful to slowly pour the base into the acid with a dropper instead of a beaker to prevent spilling the base. The remainder of the procedure is easy to follow and safe.

NEVER Personalize your conclusion!

Do not use words like I, we, us, you – UNACCEPTABLE for a formal report!

Honors Integrated Science II

Student and Parent/Guardian Syllabus Contract

You and a parent/guardian must sign this course syllabus. By signing, you are saying that you have read and understand the policies and procedures written in this syllabus. This will be your first grade for the semester.

DO NOT RETURN THIS WHOLE SYLLABUS TO ME. Only tear off this portion. The rest of the syllabus must be kept as the first item in your 3-ring binder notebook.

Class Period: ______

Student Printed Name: ______

Student Signature: ______

Parent/Guardian Printed Name:______

Parent/Guardian Signature: ______

Date:______