AP Biology 2013-2014
Course Description & Expectations
Instructor: Ms Powell Email: [email protected]
Phone: (650) 354-8246
Extra help: Tutorial 2:37 –3:35 in J-2 (S-2) or by appointment
Welcome to AP Biology! I am looking forward to an exciting and challenging year with you as we work together to explore the biological sciences. This document will provide you with some background information about the course and my expectations of your responsibilities in it.
AP Biology is a college-level course - you will learn the basic and advanced concepts of biology, lab analytic skills and critical writing skills. I hope that one of the main reasons you are taking AP Biology is that you enjoy the subject and want to learn more about it. As a side benefit, you will also learn some interesting laboratory techniques, gain study skills that will ease your transition to college, and have an opportunity to gain college credit if you earn a score of 3-5 on the national exam in May.
AP Biology focuses on four broad areas of biological principles and processes: 1) evolution and diversity, 2) cells: energy and communication, 3) genetics and information transfer, and 4)
interactions between organisms and systems. The course will be divided into units of study, each of which will have reading, labs and other various assignments. Our syllabus is approved by the
College Board, and can be viewed on the course website. You will receive a detailed list of
assignments and contents for each unit of study in the class, which you are required to check and print from the web.
Materials required: (Everyday you should bring to class: a pencil/pen, paper and biology binder) • 3 ring binder dedicated specifically to Biology • writing tool (pen, pencil)
• Internet access & printer (see assignments below) • simple 4-function calculator • Paper (lined, unlined & graph) • textbook & readers (provided)
Course Website: Please bookmark this site in your browser and check it daily!!
http://sites.google.com/site/powellclassroom/
Key Success Factors: Your success in this course will directly reflect the amount of time and energy you put into it. Plan on an average of 4-8 hours per week of work outside of class. We will use a pre-college text (BIOLOGY, AP version, 8th edition by Campbell and Reece) and cover the
material at a college-level intensity. It is your responsibility to know what the assignments are and when they are due, and you will print most of your worksheets and assignments from the course website. The reading load will be heavy (1-2 chapters per week), the pace will be swift, and the material may be difficult. The key to success can be summed up in the following guidelines:
1 - keep up with your work (especially reading and homework assignments!) 2 - participate actively in class discussions and activities
3 - contact me and come to tutorial sessions if you have any problems
What do I expect of you?
1. A sense of humor whenever possible and appropriate.
2. Completion of all assignments, on time as much as is humanly possible while still having a life! Don’t worry - you get a Late Pass!
3. Responsible conduct such as:
- Being seated and quiet, with pencil and paper out when the bell rings - Common courtesy and consideration
- Respect for the class environment and equipment - Academic integrity
4. Adequate preparation.
- Assignments turned in efficiently (stapled ahead of time, homework out ready for a stamp)
- Pre-class preparation complete every day (except for those Late Pass days) - Check electronic homework postings daily.
- Have course materials available every day: pencil, pen, colored pencils or pens, note paper, lab manual on lab days
Laboratory work. Science is advanced through experimentation, and this course has special designation as a “laboratory science” because of its extensive laboratory component. Therefore, attendance at labs (and the resulting hands-on knowledge gained) is mandatory. You MUST attend lab sessions or complete assigned makeup work to earn credit. You must also be prepared and complete your pre-lab work on schedule. Failure to attend at least 75% of the labs will result in your being given a “modified” grade, changing the lab science credit to general elective college course credit.
Grading. Course grades are weighted by category. There will not be a curve; if you all earn A's, you will all get A's. Similarly to a college course, 45% of your grade will come from exams & quizzes, 40% from homework, labs & projects, and the semester final will be 15%.
Errors in Grade Reports. Grades are posted on Infinite Campus. If you find a grading error, notify me IMMEDIATELY. You will have one week’s time to notify me regarding errors. After that time, no changes in grades will be made.
Assignments. All assignments are posted electronically, and you are expected to download your assignment sheets and lab report forms. You should print them AT HOME before class starts. However, if you do not have access to a home computer or if you are having technical problems with your computer system, you may print them at Gunn in the library. PLEASE NOTE: It is rude and inconsiderate, and therefore NOT acceptable to overload computers and printers in other
departments for this purpose!
Late work and the LATE PASS. Assignments are due by the deadlines in the “Make-up work” section below. If you have a bad day once in a while, you can use one of several late passes to bail yourself out of difficulty. The late pass allows you to turn in an assignment up to 3 calendar days late without penalty. As always, there are caveats and stipulations:
NO MORE THAN ONE late pass may be used for any given assignment, unless you receive prior approval from the instructor. You must ask for and be granted prior permission to receive credit for work that is more than 3 days past due.
You cannot and will not receive permission for extensions after the 3-day “late date” expires.
Late passes CANNOT be used to reclaim pre-lab credit. If you don’t have your pre-lab completed on time, you lose 50% of the pre-lab points.
You will receive a new late pass each semester.
Make-up work and missed exams. It is your responsibility to follow these policies and make up missed work in a timely manner. Procedures for the most common missed work/exam
situations incurred during one or two-day absences are:
You cannot make up any class work or lab work related to an un-excused absence.
If an absence from a test is un-excused, you earn 0 points on that exam.
Your parents will be notified if you earn 0 points on any assignment due to an un-excused absence.
It is imperative that you take exams on time. Specific exam policies are:
- For a pre-planned absence on a test day, you MUST take the exam BEFORE it.
- If you are ill, your parent/guardian MUST phone or e-mail an excuse before the exam. - If there is no prior excuse, you must use two late passes to take the exam.
- If 1st absence day is on an exam day, you must make up the test the day you return to school.
- You may not miss more than one (1) regularly scheduled test during a semester. - Parents/guardians will be notified once you have missed an exam and may not miss
another.
- The 2nd missed exam, if not properly excused, results in a score of zero points.
Homework assignments must be completed by the beginning of the class period to earn a stamp. If you are absent, you must turn in your homework the day you return to class.
Lab reports are due during class on the due date. If you are absent when a lab report is due, it must be turned in the day you return to class.
Unit homework packets are turned in on the day of the unit test. You must use a late pass to turn in homework packets after the exam date.
If you miss a lab activity, you must make it up in order to receive full credit for the lab.
If you miss a class activity worth points, you must make it up BEFORE the unit exam to receive credit.
Late passes must accompany late lab reports or homework packets in order to receive credit.
No credit for late work can be given once a student runs out of late passes.
For extended absences (longer than 3 days), see me to develop an appropriate makeup plan. These general policies apply to extended absences:
The general rule: you will be allowed one calendar day extension for each class day missed.
A specific set of deadlines will be set for homework and lab reports.
Your parent/guardian MUST email or phone me to confirm the nature of your absence.
Academic Integrity. You are expected to follow Gunn’s academic honesty policy, as presented in your Student Handbook (or it is available on the Gunn web site), as well as those listed on the attached “AP Biology Integrity Policy”. I ask that you confirm your willingness to follow all course policies and academic honesty policies by affixing your signature to the attached affidavit. In addition, I am asking your parent/guardian to acknowledge receipt of this information. Your continued
enrollment in AP Biology is contingent upon meeting this obligation.
Where do I find my materials? Most class materials are posted electronically and you will print them yourself from the course website. Some of the first unit materials are printed for you. Specific
instructions regarding access to these materials will be given to you during the first week of school.
AP BIOLOGY ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY
Academic integrity is an essential ingredient of any successful career, and the principles outlined below comprise the ethical and behavior standards common in most high schools and colleges. Please make sure you understand this information, avoid the types of misconduct listed below, and understand the consequences for such behaviors. When in doubt, ask for clarification before engaging in any questionable practices -
nobody will ever punish you for asking permission.
Examples of Academic Misconduct
Cheating on exams, including:
Receiving or providing unpermitted help
Copying or sharing test answers
Giving or receiving old copies of AP Bio tests
Talking about a test before it is handed back
Using unauthorized notes during a test
Working on a test after time has expired
Submitting an altered exam for re-grading
Falsifying an absence for an exam
Test Security
All Tests & most quizzes (answer documents and questions) are not to be removed from the classroom. If this rule is violated the student will be given a zero for the test or quiz. Each student’s graded tests and quizzes are stapled inside a folder and stored in the classroom alphabetically by class period. If you would like to review a test or quiz after it has been filed in the classroom, make arrangements with your instructor to do so during a prep or tutorial.
Unauthorized collaboration or assistance
When working with others on graded work such as lab reports, take-home essays or take-home exams. For lab work, it is OK to discuss ideas, but unacceptable to write answers together using shared phraseology. For take-home essays and exams, all work and ideas must be your own, without discussion with or input from others.
Plagiarism, as defined in Gunn’s Student Handbook
Fabrication or falsification of an excused absence, with serious consequences if that absence results in postponement or avoidance of assignment due dates or extra preparation time for an exam.
Unfair or disruptive conduct, including: Talking or “wandering eyes” during an exam.
Leaving unauthorized materials out or visible during an exam.
Having cell phones, PDAs, computers or
calculators outside of one’s backpack or turned on during an exam.
Failure to follow official directions, including safety rules.
Engaging in dishonest, dangerous or other types of
Student Responsibilities Regarding Integrity
Know the rules. As with driving laws, ignorance is no excuse. If you have any questions, obtain clarification and clearance for your actions - there is never any penalty for being confused or for asking questions!
Adhere to academic integrity principles and course policies at all times. You will be asked to sign an affidavit confirming your commitment to all the policies contained in this document. Your
parent/guardian will also be asked to confirm that they have received this information.
Uphold and actively support these academic integrity policies. If you witness academic
dishonesty or other misconduct, you are obligated to report it to your teacher or an administrator
immediately.
Consequences for Academic Misconduct
Confirmed cheating on exams, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration and/or fabrication of excused absences results in a grade of 0 points on the assignment in question, a note placed in the student’s file and a call to the parents. Second offenses result in the student’s removal from the course.
misconduct noted in the Gunn Student Handbook.
AP Biology Policy Acknowledgment
Electronic Information Confirmation
I understand that I am required to check the course website daily to view announcements and print my materials, and I agree to do this and agree to keep my email address current.
___________________________________________ __________________________
Signature Date
___________________________________________ Name (please print neatly)
Student Statement of Understanding and Affirmationof AP Biology Policies
My signature below indicates that I have read and that I understand the Course Description and Expectations for AP Biology, the Safety First section of my laboratory manual and the AP Biology Academic Integrity Policy. It further signifies my agreement to comply with all the policies outlined in these documents.
___________________________________________ __________________________
Signature Date
___________________________________________ Name (please print neatly)
Parent Affirmation
My signature below indicates that I am aware that AP Biology is a college-level course, and that my child’s successful matriculation in the course will involve a commitment to approximately 4-8 hours of homework weekly and adherence to the course policies and procedures.
I further affirm that I am aware of Gunn’s academic honesty policy and have read the AP Biology Academic Integrity Policy, and I agree to support these policies in the fullest measure.
___________________________________________ __________________________
Parent signature Date
