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2015-2016 AP BIOLOGY Syllabus!!

! ! ! ! ! !!!!!Course: AP Biology!Instructor: R. Ravgiala, Ed.D.!Office Hours: Academic/Lab Makeup and Extra Help by appointment only!Contact Information: Visit the website at ravapbiologyths.weebly.com or contact me directly with your questions via email at rebekah.ravgiala@tyngsboroughps.org (Typical response time is within 24 hours).!!I. Course!This course is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course for first year biology majors. The AP course differs significantly from the general high school biology course with respect to the denseness of content, the range and depth of topics explored, the laboratory experiences required, and the time and effort demands on the AP student. AP Biology aims to provide students with the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skill necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology. This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to biological concepts such as, cell structure, genetics, classification, and human body systems. Advanced concepts in cellular and molecular biology, genetics and heredity, botany, anatomy and physiology, evolution, and ecology will be examined. Considerable use is made of laboratory activities, and students will be required to maintain and regularly submit an AP Biology lab notebook, a Biointeractive Learning Log, and a culminating Individualized Research Project (IRP) to be conducted after the AP Biology Exam in May. College Board guidelines are followed in shaping the course (Please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_bio.html for more information about the College Board. A strong background in math (especially Algebra) is helpful and Chemistry is highly recommended.!!II. Required Materials!

a. Textbook: Urry, L., et al. (2014). Campbell Biology in Focus (AP ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.!b. AP Biology Review Books: Cliffs Notes AP Biology and 5 Steps to a 5 for AP Biology!

! !III. Scientific Themes!The new AP Biology curriculum identifies 8 themes in AP biology to help students connect topics and develop a greater understanding of the biological world. The following themes will be explored in each of the units presented in this course: ! !! 1. Science as a Process – The scientific method and inquiry are used in all aspects of biology to !! further current understanding of organisms and the complex systems that govern how organisms !! live. ! ! 2. Evolution – The theory of evolution is the central and unifying principal for all areas of biological !! science. Evolution is the process that allows organisms to adapt to their surroundings and leads to !! changes in species over time. Natural selection is the driving force behind evolution. The current !! diversity seen in life on Earth is extraordinary evidence of the evolutionary process. ! ! 3. Energy Transfer – All energy on Earth comes from the sun. Energy must be obtained and !! changed into a usable form to be used by organisms. Organisms use energy to perform the !! chemical reaction necessary for survival and reproduction. !

Ecology Human Body Evolution Cell Biology Genetics

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! 4. Continuity and Change – All organisms seek to continue their species by passing on genetic !! information ! thought reproduction. Asexual and sexual reproduction are the two methods ! !! responsible for ensuring continuity between generations. However, changes in the environment !! require that species be able to adapt (change) to survive. ! ! 5. Relationship of Structure to Function – The shape, size, and other physical attributes of a !! structure determine how it will work (function). At each level of biological organization, structures !! are determined by their function. ! ! 6. Regulation – Biological systems (cells, organisms, ecosystems) are dynamic and must be !! controlled by a complex form of regulation using positive and negative feedback mechanisms. !! 7. Interdependence in Nature – Nature is a complex system that requires organisms to interact !! with one another. ! ! 8. Science, Technology, and Society – Scientific and technological advances are made possible !! by scientists that conduct research. Society must determine the possible positive and negative !! impacts specific types of advances will create and regulate the advances to ensure human safety. !!IV. Course Topics and Percentage Goals!It is the goal of this course to broaden your understanding of biology as it relates to three major areas that are further divided into 9 major concepts. The themes and concepts are accompanied by percentages. These percentages represent how much of the course and AP Exam will be devoted to that topic. These percentages should help you determine how much time you should spend reviewing these topics in preparation for the exam.!!

1) Molecules and Cells……………………………………………………………………….! 25%!a) Chemistry of Life…………………………………………..! 7%!b) Cells…………………………………………………………! 10%!c) Cellular Energetics………………………………………….! 8%!

2) Heredity and Evolution……………………………………………………………………! 25%!a) Heredity……………………………………………………..! 8%!b) Molecular Genetics……………………………………….....!9%!c) Evolutionary Biology……………………………………….! 8%!

3) Organisms and Populations………………………………………………………………! 50%!a) Diversity of Organisms…………………………………….! 8%!b) Structure and Function of Plants and Animals………………………………... ! 32%!c) Ecology……………………………………………………..! 10%!

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V. Course Sequence!!Unit 1: Ecology— Interdependence in Nature & Energy Transfer !

Overview This unit explores how organisms interact with each other, within their environment, and with their environment. Students study the movement, conversion, and storage of energy within an ecosystem as well as its loss from the system as heat.

Chapters 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 Labs New AP Lab 12. Fruit Fly Behavior (& Chi square extension) !

Old AP Lab 12. Dissolve Oxygen & Ecosystem Assessment!New AP Lab 10. Energy Dynamics!Duckweed and Environmental Pollutants

Unit 2: Evolution!

Overview This unit investigates change over geologic time and the mechanisms that generate those changes. We complete a series of labs modeling the genetic and phenotypic changes to understand underlying mechanisms of evolution.

Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25Labs Natural Selection of Butterflies !

Natural Selection of Strawfish !New AP Lab 1. Artificial Selection (?)!New AP Lab 2. Mathematical Modeling!New AP Lab 3. BLAST!Old AP Lab 8. Population Genetics !Simulating Genetic Changes!Harvard Museum of Natural History: Human Evolution (TBD)

Unit 3: Building Blocks of Life—Biochemistry, Cells & Separating Inside from Out !

Overview This unit emphasizes an understanding of the basic subunits of life from macromolecules to cells as well as membranes that define the boundary of life vs. environment.

Chapters 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 Labs Biological Shapes: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, DNA !

Protein Chemistry (Cheese & Eggs) !New AP Lab 4. Diffusion & Osmosis !Agar Races

Unit 4: Energy Transformations—Cellular Respiration, Photosynthesis & Associated !Systems Overview We study the processes that enable autotrophs to convert solar energy to

living matter and then allow heterotrophs to convert that captured energy to usable chemical energy for their life processes.

Chapters 5, 8, 9, 10

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Labs Properties of Enzymes (Pineapple & Jell-o) !Properties of Enzymes (Lactose Intolerance & Lactaid) !Using the Spectrophotometer and Glucose Trinder!New AP Lab 13. Enzyme Activity!Toothpickase!Alcohol Fermentation (root beer fermentation – if time permits) !New AP Lab 5. Cellular Respiration !Lactic Acid Fermentation (yogurt production – if time permits) !Old AP Lab 4. Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis!New AP Lab 5. Photosynthesis (spinach disks)

Unit 5: Continuity and Change—Mitosis, Meiosis, Heredity, and Gene TechnologyOverview In this unit, students explore how cells reproduce and the inheritance

patterns that result from the chromosomal arrangement of genes. This unit also introduces the Central Dogma of molecular genetics as proposed by Francis Crick and elaborated further by other scientists.

Chapters 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21Labs Cell to Cell Communication Studies !

New AP Lab 7. Mitosis (Onion squash) & Meiosis (Sordaria)!DNA Extraction (strawberries)!Chi Square with M & Ms!Old AP Lab 7. Genetics of Organisms (FlyLab simulation) !Paper Plasmid Model !New AP Lab 8 AND 9. Bacterial Transformation and Restriction Enzyme Analysis!Restriction Analysis - Field Trip (TBD)!Sickle Cell Bioinformatics

Unit 7: Regulation, Development, Related Body Systems!

Overview We study how organisms coordinate separate systems and regulate a changing internal environment to maintain homeostasis and create a coordinate whole out of the many working parts.

Chapters 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50Labs Cat Dissection (all systems)!

Urinalysis Lab!Chemoreception (pupillary response and taste)!Brain Caps!Old AP Lab 10. Physiology of the Circulatory System (blackworms & goldfish)

Unit 8: Biodiversity!

Overview We study the organism-level structures and systems that support the processes of transport, nutrition, growth, response, and reproduction as it occurs in plants and animals, with specific emphasis on the invertebrates.

Chapters 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, Labs Plant Survey!

Plant Reproduction: Flower Dissection!Plant Response: Gibberellin and Fast Plants!New Lab 11. Transpiration

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!VI. Laboratory Work!AP Biology has 13 recommended lab activities. They will be completed along with supplemental labs, activities, and computer simulations. Whenever possible and appropriate, open-ended student designed inquiry labs are used. Students determine their own questions to investigate, decide what type of data is necessary to collect and what protocols will do so, conduct lab, collect and analyze their data and then determine what conclusions may or may not be drawn. This will be particularly appropriate during the end of the year IRP. Any lab activity may not be completed until the lab safety agreement has been signed and returned to the teacher. Lab assignments must be completed according to the standard format unless otherwise noted, and are due one (1) week after the lab is complete. Students will lose 10% credit for each day late and earn only a maximum of 50% for a satisfactory report after 1 week late. If you are absent for a lab activity, you must make it up (if possible) ASAP, before school or by appointment. Some activities cannot be made up but you are still responsible for a write-up that includes the purpose, procedure, results, and concepts of the activity and will be recorded in your lab manual or formally typed. The following are the AP Lab Topics will be investigated:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!VII. Student Evaluation!Grades will be calculated on a percentage basis. The value of each individual assignment varies, and is dependent on how many of that type of work is assigned each term. Each student earns his/her grade based on the quality and accuracy of the work submitted. The following is the grade distribution per trimester:!!!!!!!!!!!!VIII. Things to Know!Exams (30%), Quizzes (20%), & IRP (15%):!Generally students have 3 to 5 Exams per trimester which are always announced in advance. Test questions draw from released and practice AP exams as well as the Campbell test bank. Two to three open-response questions similar to the AP exam essay questions are always included to help students

Big Idea 1: Evolution!1 - Artificial Selection!2 - Mathematical Modeling with Hardy-Weinberg!3 - Comparing DNA Sequences with BLAST!Big Idea 2: Cellular Processes!4 - Diffusion & Osmosis!5 - Photosynthesis!6 - Cellular Respiration!Big Idea 3: Genetics & Information Transfer!7 - Cell Division!8 - Biotechnology: Bacterial Transformation!9 - Biotechnology: Restriction Enzyme Analysis!Big Idea 4: Interactions!10 - Energy Dynamics!11 - Transpiration!12 - Fruit Fly Behavior!13 - Enzyme Activity

Unit Exams! ! ! ! ! 30%!Quizzes (including prelabs)! ! ! 20%!Labs Activities & Lab Reports!! ! 25%!HW (written assignments, handouts)/!Participation! ! ! ! ! 10%!Trimester Exam! ! ! ! 15%

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prepare for the AP exam as well as grid-in and computation questions. These are graded based on the AP criteria. The essays are typically 50% of the exam and multiple choice 50%. It is assumed that you enter this course with some biology knowledge. !!After the AP Exam:!During the second half of the third trimester, students will be required to plan, design, and carry out an independent research project. Students must work individually, and the majority of the experimental work will be conducted in class, but the majority of the scientific writing and preparation will be conducted outside of class. Students will be engaged in weekly “group meetings” for sharing and summarizing project progress with classmates, and will be required to present the results of their research during the last week of classes. Some students may choose to carry out research projects that are modifications of the procedures learned in the AP labs. Others may choose to conduct research based on the selection provided by the instructor, or may propose original research ideas to be approved by the instructor. It is the goal of the Independent Research Project is to provide a learning experience that best reflects their learning in AP Biology because it actively involves them in true scientific inquiry and requires them to problem solve, meet deadlines and manage their time carefully, use technology, and communicate about science.!!Lab Activities & Lab Reports (25%):!We will be performing several required, formal experiments during the year along with many lab activities that will help you to internalize the content. Take time to read the relevant sections in your textbook, and do some independent research for each lab topic. For formal laboratory investigations, a prelab quiz or similar assignment will be required to assess your preparedness regarding the content being explored. For every lab report that is assigned, you will be expected to cite at least your textbook as a source, and you will also be required to correlate the lab to one of the major themes described on page 1. Lab reports will be submitted in a separate section of your BioBinder and will be graded according to the rubric provided. In addition to the hard copy organized in your BioBinder, you will be required to submit an electronic copy of all AP Lab reports, preferably through GDocs. BioBinders will be assessed separately for credit on test days and must include a table of contents with sequentially numbered pages. !!Homework & Participation (10%):!Homework:!Various types of homework are assigned, including chapter questions from the text, student chapter review packets, supplemental readings, essays, short papers, models, and lab packets not requiring a formal report including data charts and graphs and online Mastering Biology. Assignments are weighted depending on their length and complexity.! !IX. Expectations for Success!Attendance:!Come to class everyday and on time. The difficulty and intense nature of this class has made it incredibly hard for students in previous years to catch up after being absent. If you are absent the day of the test you will be granted 5 days to makeup the test per school policy (I recommend making it up well before the 5th day… The pace of this course is demanding). Similarly, due to the equipment and material intensive lab exercises, some labs will not be able to be completed beyond the original lab day. If your absence occurs under these circumstances, you may complete a paper/virtual/online version of the lab. Otherwise, plan on reporting to class before school (6:30am) for make up work.!!Late Work:!Any assignment (including projects) not turned in at the beginning of the class period on the due date, and classwork not turned in by the end of the class period will be considered late. Please Note: Computer/Printer failures, extracurricular responsibilities, or forgetfulness, especially for long term projects and lab reports are not valid reasons for not meeting academic deadlines. You will not receive full credit for late work. !

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! Penalties:!1. Collected assignments turned in within 24 hours of the due date will be accepted with

a 10% penalty.!2. Collected assignments turned in after 24 hours of the due date will be accepted for

up to half credit.!3. After 1 week, you will receive NO EARNED CREDIT!!

Any work that is due the day you are absent must be turned in the first day you return to class or it will be considered late. Any test/quiz that is missed will be completed the first day you return to class during the class period. Classwork missed due to absence or test make-up must be completed in a timely manner. If an absence occurs the class period before a test/quiz, you are still required to take the test/ quiz on the scheduled date. Field trips are not counted as absences, but are considered school-related functions. Therefore, if you have a homework assignment due on the day of a field trip please submit it before your departure (you may leave it in my mailbox in the office). If you miss a test/quiz due to a field trip, you must see me PRIOR TO the field trip to make arrangements for makeup. !!Acceptable Work:!All assignments from lab reports to homework assignments will be submitted with your name (first/last), date, and period in the upper left hand corner along with the title of the assignment. All assignments must be stapled upon submission. Assignments such as lab reports, projects, and other work must be typed (12-point font, Times New Roman) – You will be given adequate time to meet this requirement. Please proofread all assignments. !!Academic Integrity:!All work must be your own. Cheating on any assignment in this class will not be tolerated.  This includes, but is not limited to: submitting work copied from a friend or outside source, giving work to a friend or giving/receiving excessive assistance from someone, accepting or giving help during a quiz or test, using a calculator or written notes without permission from the teacher, using notes stored in calculator or other electronic device without permission from the teacher.  Plagiarism, a form of cheating, involves presenting someone else’s ideas or words, whether deliberate or intentional, without citing or giving credit. Any student (or students) caught cheating will receive a zero on that assignment and will be referred to Guidance. !!Textbook:!You are responsible for its security and condition. Please take every precaution to maintain its integrity… that is, DO NOT LOSE OR DAMAGE IT, you will be required to pay restitution to replace it. In order to prevent your book from being “intentionally borrowed,” I highly recommend obtaining and using a lock for your locker. !!Food and Drink:!Do not bring food (this includes lollipops) or drink (open containers) into this classroom, and keep your shoes on! IT IS SAFE TO ASSUME NOTHING IS STERILE!!!Electronics:!1) Cell phone use is prohibited during class (yes, this includes texting, taking photos, and any other fancy functions), 2) Refrain from unauthorized recording of the activities in this classroom… (I do not want my debut to be on YouTube), and 3) iPods, CD players, and other devices are not permitted during class! !!!

Have an outstanding and productive year!!! Stay curious!

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