AP Biology Syllabus
2017-20178 Mrs. Tagan Fullerton (256) 428-8050, ext. 162
Course Description:
This AP course is a full year course designed to be equivalent to freshman introductory Biology 101 & 102. Being taught at the college level, AP Biology will be a rigorous course, demanding personal responsibility from the student. You will be expected to fully participate in all discussions, labs, and associated activities, as well as in the periodic HHS exam reviews and mandatory Saturday Study sessions held during 2nd semester. How well you do in AP Biology class and on the AP Biology exam will be reflections of how much effort you exert, both at home and during our time together. You may or may not receive a college credit for taking this class – it depends on the college, and the score you attain on the AP Biology exam, May 14th, 2018. If you do not take the exam you will not get weighted credit and you will have to take a final exam at the end of the year.
Science Practices:
1. Use representations and models to communicate scientific phenomena and solve scientific problems.
2. Use mathematics appropriately.
3. Engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or to guide investigations within the context of the AP course.
4. Plan and implement data collection strategies in relation to a particular scientific question.
5. Perform data analysis and evaluation of evidence.
6. Work with scientific explanations and theories.
7. Connect and relate knowledge across various scales, concepts, and representations in and across domains.
Classroom Expectations:
1. Entering and Beginning Class
· Enter the classroom on time and in an orderly and civilized manner.
· Be in your assigned seat before the tardy bell rings.
· Come to class prepared with all required materials.
· This is a time for you to learn personal responsibility. I would prefer NOT to collect your cell phones each day. However, if it becomes apparent that you cannot handle not being on it during our class period we will revisit the policy. There is a place that I can put them for you. No worries.
2. Asking/Answering Questions
· Unless it is an emergency, raise your hand to be acknowledged during all classroom discussions. If we are doing discussing something that not go with this type of question and answer technique you will know.
· Please be respectful of others when they are asking and answering questions. They may be saying something that you need to know!
3. Changing Activities
· When it is time to transition between classroom activities, please make sure that you know what your directions are for that transition. Directions will be given before activities.
4. Cooperative Work
· When working in groups during class or labs, students are expected to stay on task.
· All students are expected to contribute equally to the group’s work.
5. Assignments
· Work to be turned in must be written neatly in dark pencil, blue or black ink unless I ask you to type it. Don’t forget your heading for your paper. First and Last Name, AP Biology, Period and Date. I can’t put a grade in for you if it doesn’t have a name.
· All work to be turned in must be neat, organized, legible, dated, and labeled. If I cannot read your work, the readers for the AP Biology Exam cannot read your test. You want me and them to be able to read it.
· When problem solving is involved, work must be shown in order to receive credit. This statement applies to homework, lab reports, and tests.
· This period is for AP Biology only. I am very possessive of my time with you. Please respect our time together by not doing work from another class.
6. Disruptions
· Keep cell phones, ear buds, or other electronics put away unless instructed otherwise.
· Keep your laptop closed until I instruct you to open it for use. You will use it in our classroom for assignments and activities for this class only, unless I direct otherwise. Be sure to charge your laptop at home each evening. Consider charging as part of your homework, completing both at the same time.
· Surfing websites unrelated to the lesson during class is unacceptable. Students who violate this rule will be subject to disciplinary action.
· If you need to sharpen a pencil, throw away trash, or go to the restroom please wait until an appropriate time to do so unless it is an emergency. For the restroom, quietly go get the pass and go. Make it quick. It is literally next door. If this privilege is abused we will revisit this. If you need to see another teacher during my class, you must get a pass from them BEFORE my class. If you are late to my class because you were with another teacher, you need a pass. Again, I am very possessive of your time in this class. Please remember that.
· Always remember that Character Counts. Be respectful of everyone in the class.
7. End of Class
· Bell to bell learning is the expectation every day. You will be given time to clean up before you leave. Please do not begin to pack up or line up to leave. I will let you know when it is time to go. This is “our” room but I am here longer during the day. The custodians and I are not here to pick up a mess.
· It all comes down to respect.
Consequences for Misbehavior:
1. Verbal Warning
2. Last One Out
3. Detention & Parent Notification
4. Office Referral & Parent Notification
*Teacher will adhere to the Behavior Learning Guide. Please refer to that guide if you have any questions. A record will be kept of all infractions.
Getting Help
· It is important to keep up daily, as learning new concepts frequently involves building on old ones. If you feel you are not understanding the material, it is important that you talk to your teacher about getting help BEFORE your grades begin to decline. Tutoring is available before and after school by appointment only. See your teacher for details. Also, students in the National Honor Society offer tutoring in all subjects on Tuesdays and Thursdays during Power Hour. More information regarding NHS tutoring times and room assignments TBA.
· Receiving help on homework and lab assignments is OK so long as it involves explanations by the person assisting and not just copying. Cheating on any homework assignment, quiz, or test will not be tolerated. Copying or sharing homework, classwork, labs, or other assignments will be considered cheating, and both parties will receive a zero. Students using a cell phone during tests or quizzes will be reported to the administration via a disciplinary referral for cheating. All infractions involving cheating will be reported to both the Honor Society Committee and your parents or legal guardians.
Laboratory Experiments
AP Biology lab activities and experiments are exciting ways to explore the study of biology as a process involving the following:
• Generating questions for investigations
• Choosing which variables to investigate
• Designing and conducting experiments
• Designing your own experimental procedures
• Collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and displaying data
• Determining how to present your conclusions
All lab experiments will be graded on participation. In addition, they may be graded on lab write up, presentation or by quiz. If you are absent on a lab day, you hinder not only yourself, your lab group as well. Be here!! If you are absent on a lab day, and your absence is unavoidable and excused, see me to schedule a makeup lab or replacement assignment as soon as possible. Note: If you miss a lab because of an UNEXCUSED absence, the highest score possible on iNow will be a 70%
Tests:
During each quarter grading period you can usually expect a test at the end of each unit. In some units, you may be given several smaller quizzes throughout. You can also expect to complete occasional projects. Each project will count as a test grade. If you are absent on a test day or score below a 70% and would like to retake the test, see me to discuss a time. Note: if you are retaking the test, or missed one because of an UNEXCUSED absence, the highest score possible on iNow will be a 70%.
Homework:
This class will move fast and will contain nightly homework – mostly reading with note taking. You will be required to read and take notes from sections from the text, articles and case studies and be ready to discuss them during class. Homework to be graded may include, but not be limited to, reports, critiques, projects and presentations. Be sure to check the classroom agenda board, as well as Edmodo, for this class every day.
Assignments:
All assignments are due in class the day that they are assigned unless otherwise noted. If an assignment is not completed a “1” will be used as a placeholder in iNow.The student has until the next unit test to make up a missing or late assignment. Students can only receive full credit for missing assignments/tests if the student’s absence is EXCUSED. The highest possible grade that can be earned for a late assignment or work missed due to an UNEXCUSED absence is 70% and will be scored according to the following HCS policy regarding the highest possible grade earned for late work:
1 day late=70% 4 days late=55% 7 days late=40% 10 days late=1%
2 days late=65% 5 days late=50% 8 days late=35%
3 days late=60% 6 days late=45% 9 days late=30%
What to Bring to All AP Biology Activities:
Required
AP Biology Notebook
pencil, black or blue ink pen
black, blue, and green ink pen
laptop computer and charger
Tabs for notebook
Tape or glue (tape is better)
Suggested but not required
Note cards
Four color pen
Calculator (four function)
Scissors and a small ruler (if you don’t want to share)
GRADING SCALE
A student’s grade will be determined by the following evaluative measures:
Summative Assessments 60%o Tests
o Major projects
o Labs / In-class Assignments 40%
o Daily class assignments
o Quizzes
o Minor projects
o Homework
LETTER GRADES AND PERCENTAGES
A =100-90% / B=89-80% / C= 79-70% / D=69-60% / F=below 60%CALULATING SEMESTER AND YEARLY AVERAGES
1st nine weeksx2 / 2nd nine weeks x2 / 1st semester final exam x1 / 3rd nine weeks x2 / 4th nine weeks
x2 / 2nd semester final exam x1 / Final Grade