Orange High School

To Educate, Elevate, and Empower Every Student!

Department of Mathematics

 

 

AP Biology Course Syllabus

 

Instructor: 

Email:

Period:

Room #:

 

Course Description

AP Biology is the second of a two-year sequence that is designed to prepare students to take the AP Biology examination and is the equivalent of a two-semester college introductory biology course.  The current framework focuses on depth of student understanding achieved through a change in instruction for acquiring enduring conceptual understanding and the supporting content through Big Ideas.  Students will spend more time in inquiry-based learning and developing the reasoning skills necessary to engage in the science practices.

 

Big Ideas include:

1. The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.

2. Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, reproduce and maintain dynamic homeostasis.                                 

3. Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes.

4.  Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.

 

Students who earn a qualifying score on an AP Exam are typically eligible to receive college credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college.

 

 

Course Materials 

Curriculum Resources: Tag AP Curriculum from College Board.

                                           Add AP Classroom

Additional resources will be provided by classroom teacher.

 

 

 

 

 

Grading

Your AP Biology grade is made up the following categories and their corresponding weights:

Authentic Assessments	25%
Tests	25%
Classwork / Participation	20%
Quizzes	20%
Homework	10%

 

 

Authentic Assessments: Minimum of 2 authentic assessment projects per marking period

Tests: Minimum of 2 tests per marking period, plus a diagnostic before the start of every unit

Classwork: Minimum of 8 classwork grades per marking period.  Whether it is individual work or group work, students are expected to actively work on these assignments. Class work may be collected at the end of the class to be graded for accuracy. 

Quizzes/Checkups: Minimum of 4 quizzes per marking period

Homework: Minimum of 8 homework assignments per marking period.  Homework assignments should be treated as if they were take-home tests because it will be graded for correctness and thoroughness. Therefore, answers must be correct, and all work must be provided in order to receive full credit. If work is not provided, it will automatically be ½ points off, even if the answers are correct. Below are some important guidelines to follow:

• Homework is due on your desk during the Do Now at the beginning of class every day.  If you fail to turn in your homework at the designated time, the most you can get is ½ credit.
• If a student is absent from school on the day homework is due, they are expected to turn it in the day they return. If a student is only absent from my class, they are still expected to turn in their homework on time at some point during the day.
• Any student suspected of copying (or letting others copy) homework will receive a 0.
• When possible, ask teacher for help.  This will be the best way for you to do well on these assignments. I am here every morning and will stay after school upon request.
•  

Required Supplies

Each student is responsible for coming to class everyday with the following:

• 1” three-hole binder for AP Biology class (will contain all notes for this course. Students are responsible for their AP Biology binder and all materials/notes in it, even if it is lost or stolen - at which time they will be responsible for replacing.)
• Lined, three-hole paper placed inside their AP Biology binder for taking notes (also called “filler paper”)
• Class work folder for storing graded classwork and homework assignments
• Pencils with erasers
• Ruler

 

 

Rules of Conduct & Guidelines

• Be respectful to yourself, your classmates, and your teacher(s)
• Do not become a disruption or a distraction in class. This will not be tolerated, and the student will receive detention and/or be removed from class if this occurs. Removal from class would result in loss of participation and classwork points for the day, and possible administrative action.
• Be on time. This means in your seat and quiet before the class starts.
• Follow proper start up procedure. First 10 minutes are spent doing either a Do Now problem or taking an “entrance slip” which will assess students on the previous day’s material. Entrance slips should be taken seriously and with NO talking, so as to simulate a testing environment.  Your homework should be on your desk for the teacher to grade while you are working on your Do Now.
• Do your class work with purpose and urgency. Complete all classwork with the intention to LEARN something, not to just check it off a list.
• ALL Orange High School Rules and Procedures MUST be followed in class and out of class. Please visit our Orange High School Website to review the Student/Parent Handbook.  

 

Absences

Students are responsible for all material taught. If pacing is too fast for a particular student, then they must seek extra help from teacher either before or after school. If a student is absent or removed from class, then points will be lost from their participation/class work grade, and they will still be responsible for all material they may have missed. Students have as many days as they were absent to make up additional assignments (including quizzes and tests). For example, if a student is only absent for 1 day and misses a class work assignment, then it is THEIR responsibility to turn in the assignment within 1 day after their return. If a student is absent for 2 days and misses a class work assignment and a quiz, then it is THEIR responsibility to turn in the assignment and make up the quiz within 2 days after their return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please cut and return

To Students and Parents

With hard work and accountability, we can have all of our students succeed in AP Biology.

I have read the AP Biology 2022-2023 Syllabus and its guidelines. I understand that I am responsible for upholding all requirements and guidelines in order to succeed in this course. I know what I have to do in order to receive the grade I want.

 

Student Name                                                                     Student Signature                                                              Date

 

 

 

Parent Name                                                                       Parent Signature                                                               Date

 

 

 

Contact Name                                                                     Home Phone                                                        Cell Phone