Advanced Placement Biology
Course Syllabus
2007-2008
Instructor: Mrs. P. Fowler Open Classroom: Monday and Wednesday 2:17-3:00 pm or
Room: 553 by appointment.
Phone: 858-621-9020 x4553
Website: http://obiwan.sandi.net/~pfowler/
E-mail: pfowler@sandi.net (best way to reach me)
TEXT:
Required: Campbell, Biology Seventh Edition
DESCRIPTION:
Biology is the study of living things and their life processes. Advanced Placement is a college level course, which includes an exam on May 12,2008, covering the full year of course work. This course will cover the main topics of biology and new technologies used in the study of biology.
GOALS:
Understand the scientific method as used in biology. Thus the students will be able to demonstrate the skills of experimental design, data analysis, and critical thinking.
Identify the main branches of biological study. Then the students will be able to describe the interdisciplinary nature of biology; e.g. see the big picture.
Apply biological theory and research findings to explain everyday phenomena. Ultimately the students will be able to appreciate the roles of science, technology, and society, and perceive science as an ongoing human enterprise.
To prepare for the AP Exam, May 12,2008. The students will also be able to understand all of the biology standards set by the State of California.
REQUIREMENTS:
Strong reading, computational, and writing skills.
Responsible conduct. We have procedures in this class for many reasons. Most importantly, procedures help us get the most out of the time we have together and help us to learn in a fun and safe environment. Therefore, if you choose to break a classroom procedure, you can expect the following consequences:
First offense: Verbal warning
Second offense: 15-minute detention after school, lowered citizenship, and a phone call home
Third offense: Referral to the office. A parent conference may also be scheduled.
All students are required to take the AP exam.
All students are responsible for the assigned reading, key terms, and questions. Work is to be organized by topic in a three-ring notebook with five dividers. The five sections will be: 1) vocabulary 2) guided reading questions 3) labs 4) in-class assignments including journal work 5) graded essays, quizzes, and tests. The neat notebook with all current assignments and work in progress is to be brought to class daily. All work must be current as notebooks are collected and graded unannounced. Notebooks will be given one grade every time they are collected. Each lab or in-class assignment will be given one grade even if it covers many days of work.
Note- copying someone else’s work will result in a score of zero for both the student whose work was copied and the student who copied the work. Copying is not a way to make up work when you have been absent or fill in blanks you either do not understand or have not completed.
Any students struggling to understand, having difficulties keeping up, questioning their ability to succeed in the class, and/or simply absent, should see me immediately.
EVALUATION:
Students may expect nightly homework, a quiz or essay each week, major exams every two to four weeks covering several chapters, multi-day labs every two weeks, written in-class assignments weekly, and a cumulative midterm and final. Exams consist of both multiple choice and essay questions. Grades will be based on your performance on chapter tests, quizzes, and essays, worth 65%, laboratory experiments and in-class work worth 25%, homework worth 5%, and classroom participation worth 5%.


GRADES:
A=100%-88%
B=87.9%-75%
C=74.9%-62%
F=below 62%
TYPED WORK:
ALL work MUST be handwritten or it will not be accepted.
ABSENCES
Classroom time is very limited, especially considering the College Board recommends students take one year of Biology prior to taking A.P. Biology. We will be condensing those two years into eight months. Students are expected to make up missed work due to excused absences. All assignments will be listed on the classroom board and my website http://obiwan.sandi.net/~pfowler/ for the upcoming week. Any work missed due to truancy will receive a zero. Quizzes and essays cannot be made up. Therefore, one quiz or essay per semester will be dropped, either the lowest grade or one missed due to an excused absence. Assignments not turned in due to an excused absence are due immediately upon the student's return to class. Labs are difficult to make up and you must schedule time, on the day you return to class, to make up any lab you missed. Partial credit, or all credit, will be available for labs missed due to an excused absence, depending on the lab. Failure on the students’ part to contact the teacher on the day they return to class from an excused absence will result in a zero grade for all missed work. In the case of long excused absences, one week or more, please see me for make-up work on the first day you return to class to make special arrangements. If you know you will be absent please see me as soon as you are aware of the pending absence.
Major tests and other in-class assignments missed due to an excused absence may be made up after school, within one week of the first absent day, at the teacher's discretion. It is the student's responsibility to turn in work and arrange for work to be made up. All work not turned in immediately, work not done within that week, or work not made up will become a zero. Any work missed due to truancy may not be made up.
LATE WORK
Late work will not be accepted. All work will be due at the beginning of class, no exceptions, so do not ask.
OPEN CLASSROOM
I will be available for student help two days a week or any other days by appointment. The room is also open at these times for students to make up work missed due to absences, lab groups to complete their work, and/or students to study together.
CLASS POLICIES
No food or drinks can be consumed in class with the exception of water in a clear plastic container.
Safety is a primary concern. Misconduct during labs will result in a zero for that lab. Continued misbehavior will result in suspension from all labs with no opportunity to make up the lost points.
Lowered citizenship and/or lowered grade results from such acts as tardiness, use of foul language, disruptive behavior, rudeness, cheating, copying, sleeping, poor attitude, not following directions, and not applying one's self.
Truancies are not acceptable. The first truancy will result in no higher than an ‘N’ in citizenship for that six weeks. The second truancy will result in no higher than an ‘N’ in citizenship for the semester.
Student's failing at the six week grading periods are recommended to discuss their progress with their counselor, parents/guardians, and me. Any student failing the first semester will be asked to move into Advanced Biology or Biology 1-2.
Additionally, all students and parents are required to read, follow, and sign the ‘Academic Honesty’ policy. All students are expected to follow classroom procedures and school-wide rules.


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I have read, understand, and agree to support my child’s success in AP Biology.
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Parent/Guardian Name (printed) Parent/ Guardian Signature Date
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Parent/Guardian E-mail
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Best daytime phone number for contacting a Parent/Guardian
I have read, understand, and agree to succeed in AP Biology.
__________________________________ ________________________________ ________________
Students’ Name (printed) Students’ Signature Date