North Union High School

Course Syllabus

College Prep Biology

2014-2015

Instructor Information

Instructor: Jill Rainey

Office Location: 401 North Franklin Street

Telephone: (740)943-1815

E-mail:

Conference Period: 2nd period or after school

Course Identification

Course Number:

Course Name: College Prep Biology

Course Location: Room 103

Credit: 1.00

Prerequisites: Sophomore standing – OR –

Completion of Physical Science

Course Description/Overview

Prerequisite Guidelines: Sophomore standing or completion of Physical Science

1. This course examines ecology, cell biology; genetics; evolution, diversity, and the scope of living things with a more hands-on approach and less emphasis on textbook reading.

Biology is a high school level course that satisfies the Ohio Core science graduation requirements. This course investigates the composition, diversity, complexity and interconnectedness of life on Earth. Fundamental concepts include heredity, evolution, diversity and interdependence of life, and cells. Students will engage in investigations to understand and explain the behavior of living things in a variety of scenarios that incorporate scientific reasoning, analysis, communication skills and real-world applications.

This course will have a strong inquiry and laboratory element that is essential to building and understanding science. Students will use the following scientific processes with the appropriate laboratory safety techniques (see Lab Safety Contract) as an integral part of their learning:

· Identify questions and concepts that guide scientific investigations

· Design and conduct scientific investigations

· Use technology and mathematics to improve investigations and communications

· Formulate and revise explanations and models using logic and evidence

· Recognize and analyze explanations and models

· Communicate and support a scientific argument

Due to the nature of the content dissection of specimens will also be included in this course. The observation and experimentation with living organisms give students unique perspectives of life processes that are not provided by other modes of instruction. Studying animals in the classroom enables students to develop skills of observation and comparison, a sense of stewardship, and an appreciation for the unity, interrelationships, and complexity of life. This study, however, requires appropriate, humane care of the organism. The biology discipline will respect and try to accommodate students with ethical reservations about dissection, as much as is feasible.

Course Learning Objectives

Please see Ohio’s current (2011) Ohio Revised Science Standards and Model Curriculum for High School by going to the following ODE webpage: http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Academic-Content-Standards/Science/HSscienceMCNovember2012.pdf.aspx and opening the Biology link.

Course Resources______

Course Website(s)

· North Union Local Schools http://www.courses/nu-district.org/ and additional dates and information can be found on the class Schoology site.

Resource Text

Course Fees

$18

Course Supplies

3-ring binder

Spiral bound notebook, Paper, Graph paper, pencils, calculator

Grading Policy

Grades will be based on the following:

Grades are based on tests, quizzes, and projects (50%); labs (25%), assignments, and notebooks (25%).

Quarterly grades are determined by adding the total points the student has earned and dividing this number by the total points they could have earned. Semester grades are based 40% on the first quarter’s grade, 40% on the second quarter grade, and 20% on the exam grade, provided at least two of these three grades are passing.

Late Assignments

Late assignments that are turned in a timely fashion (prior to the test of that material) will be considered for partial credit.

Grading Scheme

Grading System

Letter Grade / Percentage / Grade points/credit / Rating
A / 90% and up / 4.00 / Excellent
B / 80% – 89% / 3.00 / Good
C / 70% – 79% / 2.0 0 / Average
D / 60% – 69% / 1.00 / Below average /Inferior
F / 59% – 0% / 0.00 / Failure
I / Incomplete; given only when a student is unable to complete a segment of the course because of circumstances beyond the student’s control. A grade of incomplete may be given only when approved in writing by the department chair or school dean.
X / Conditional, with no grade points per credit; given only when the student is at fault in failing to complete a minor segment of a course, but in the judgment of the instructor does not need to repeat the course. It must be made up within the next semester in residence or the grade becomes a failure (F). A (X) grade is computed into the grade point average as a (F) grade.

Collaboration/Plagiarism Rules

This course involves a significant amount of group work. The participation of each individual student is expected and required. Work that is submitted for a group should reflect the joint efforts of all members of the group; work submitted for an individual (including an individual’s report on a group lab) should reflect that individual’s analysis and discussion of the group’s data. Plagiarized or cheated work will earn zero points.

Course Schedule

First Semester

· Introduction & Chapter 1: The Study of Life

· Unit 1: Ecology – Biomes, Foodwebs, Nutrient Cycles

· Unit 2: The Cell- Structure, Energy, Division, Biochemistry

· Unit 3: Genetics – Human Heredity, Diseases, DNA, Molecular Genetics, Biotechnology

Second Semester

· Unit 4: History of Biological Diversity: Evolution, Sexual Selection,

· Unit 5: Plants – Photosynthesis, Transpiration

· Unit 6: Bacteria, Viruses, Protists, and Fungi

· Unit 7: Invertebrates

· Unit 8: Vertebrates

Course Expectations

· This class will adhere to the school handbook policies and consequences.

· Laboratory rules will be strictly enforced. Read and sign the contract and lab safety agreement. This course will have a strong inquiry and laboratory element that is essential to building and understanding science.

· Come to class prepared - in order to facilitate class discussions and reduce lecture time in favor of labs and knowledge enhancing activities, you must complete all required assignments.

· Come to class! The work we will be doing during class cannot be replicated at home, labs in particular. There will be guidelines for allowance of make-up work.

· Writing is important! You must write in complete sentences. You have to show your work including writing out procedures, data tables, and label graphs. You may not write in ‘text-speak’

See the Course Expectations document for a detailed list.