AP Biology General Objectives
and Grading Requirements
GENERAL GOAL: The student will be able to :
1. Explain and apply the basic
principles of ecology. (ECOLOGY)
2. Discuss behavior, including
societies, communication,
territoriality,
and courtship. (BEHAVIOR)
3. Discuss cellular structure and
function. Including membrane
structure
and transport. (CELLS)
4. Explain the chemistry and
function of organic and inorganic
compounds
in life processes. (CHEMISTRY)
5. Understand the biochemical
processes of respiration and
photosynthesis,
and how the anatomy of the mitochondrion
and chloroplast function in
chemiosmosis.
(RESPIRATION; PHOTOSYNTHESIS)
6. Distinguish between the
prokaryotes, protists , and fungi on the
basis of cell and organismal structure. (KINGDOM
SURVEY)
7. Recognize and explain the
functions of plant structures selected
from bryophytes and tracheophytes. (PLANTS)
8. Compare and contrast mitosis
and meiosis. (CELLULAR REPRODUCTION)
9. Discuss Mendel's Laws of
Inheritance and other selected topics in
the area of genetics and apply knowledge of genetics
to solve
problems
involving monohybrid, dihybrid, and sex-linked traits.
(GENETICS)
10. Describe DNA structure,
replication, and translation. (DNA; RNA)
SPECIFIC COURSE ACTIVITIES:
1. The student will learn to use a
college text as a tool for
his/her
own learning.
2. The student will develop a
working background of common Greek and
Latin roots in the development of proficiency in the
language of biology.
3. The student will become
proficient in common lab procedures, perform
basic college level laboratories, and design and
execute an
original
experiment.
4. The student will read and
analyze current scientific literature,
write abstracts, article reviews, and make oral
presentations.
5. The student will write numerous
essay responses in both homework
and unit tests as preparation for the AP Exam.
Course Web Page:
Campbell Biology Log-In Page:
http://wps.aw.com/wps/media/access/Pearson_Default/1663/1703422/login.htm
Student Responsibilities:
1. Attend
Class and Be On Time Tardies
will be recorded. If you are late to class on the day an
assignment
is due,
that assignment is late and will be worth
60%.
2. Come prepared for class Prepared
students
will come to class with the following:
•Read assigned pages from
textbook
•Pre-lab reading and
materials/methods,
lab notebook, lab manual
•Printed Diagrams
•Course notebook/binder
•Writing utensils of various
colors
•Completed assignments due
on a given day
3. Ask for help: AP biology is a
challenging,
fast-paced course. Tests are a significant percentage of
your
grade in this
class. Ask for help and come in well in advanced of
tests to prepare, review, and ask questions. Organize
yourselves into
study
groups of 3-5 students so you have a resource of peers to study
with. The more you
prepare during the
year, the less stressful your AP test
preparation will be!
4. Lab
safety: Come prepared to class
especially on lab days. Be aware of and follow all lab safety
protocols.
Failure to be prepared will
result in failure or the lab. Lab time is precious we need to be
ready to use it when we have it.
5. Homework must be
turned in on the date
it
is due. It is your responsibility to get your assignment to your
me on or before the
due date. Few exceptions will be
made!
Teacher Responsibilities:
*Be respectful
to all students and maintain a
respectful,
risk-taking learning environment
*Come prepared
to teach and engage all students
*Grade tests,
labs, and other assignments in a
timely
manner
*Be available
outside of class to provide extra
help as needed by students
Course Grading Policy:
Grades may not be regularly
posted,
so you should monitor your own progress.
55% Tests
20% Laboratory Reports, Misc
Homework
Assignments, Quizzes
25% Journal Article Summary &
Evaluations
Course Grading Scale:
A: 85% - 100%
B: 75% - 84%
C: 65% - 74%
D: 55% - 64%
F: < 54%