AP BIOLOGY – Course Description and Expectations

Lynbrook High School 2009-2010

Ms. Della Santina • msdellasantina.com • Room 304

Telephone: 366-7700 ext 6826 • email: nicole_dellasantina@fuhsd.org

Welcome to AP Biology! I am excited that you have expressed an interest in biology – a discipline that is fascinating, constantly changing, and applicable to our everyday lives. As we work together this year, our course goals will be to:

• Develop an understanding and appreciation of the unifying themes that integrate the major topics of biology;
• Expand and apply analytical skills to assess the rapidly changing science of biology especially as it relates to environmental and social concerns;
• Gain laboratory skills and an appreciation of science as a dynamic process through designing, implementing, and interpreting complex labs;
• Communicate effectively with peers and adults through speech, writing, graphics, and presentations;
• Participate actively and work cooperatively with one another in a positive classroom community;
• Take the Advanced Placement Biology exam on May 10, 2010.

The AP Biology course is designed to be the equivalent of a year-long college introductory biology course. Enrolling in AP Bio means that you have undertaken a personal responsibility to work hard and manage your time to keep up with a rigorous curriculum. In order to maintain a fun, intellectually stimulating, and balanced year, carefully examine your academic load and outside activities, and make sure that you are willing and prepared to commit AT LEAST one hour per night (more on weekends) to AP Bio. Your success in (and enjoyment of) this class will directly reflect the amount of energy you invest.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

At all times, to contribute positively to the learning environment:

• Respect, listen to, and support each other. Science works best when done collaboratively.
• Come to class on time, prepared to participate, learn, and succeed.
• Exhibit responsible behavior and attention to safety.
• Abide by the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy.  A copy of the policy is available in the student planner or on the LHS website. Refer to the FUHSD Academic Honesty Policy for various examples and forms of academic dishonesty that should be avoided and consequences for those actions.

PREREQUISITES

The following are highly recommended: STAR Chemistry test score of 5. Completion of Chemistry/Chem Honors and Biology with minimum grades of B.

COURSE MATERIALS

• Textbook: Biology, 8^th Edition (AP). Campbell, and Reece. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings, 2008. Past students highly recommend purchasing a supplemental AP Bio prep book. Student suggestions include: Cliffs AP Biology, Barron’s AP Biology, etc.
• Supplies: Pens or pencils, highlighters or colored pens, colored pencils, a metric ruler, a calculator, lined paper, a USB key/flash drive, and a few sheets of graph paper.
• Web resources: Our textbook is supplemented by ample online resource including summaries, animations, practice tests, textbook images, lab review, an online textbook, web links, and more.

ASSIGNMENT POLICY

· All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day of the deadline.

• Work turned in late will receive a 50% penalty. Late work will not be accepted after two class days.
• If you know you will be absent ahead of time (i.e. for sports, field trip, club day, college visits, etc.), find out IN ADVANCE what you will miss in class by checking with me and asking for any handouts or due dates
• If absent on the day of an exam a make-up exam will be available one to two weeks before the end of the grading period. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the teacher to schedule the make-up exam.
• If you are absent on the day of a lab or activity, see the teacher the day you return for the assignment or alternative.
• Students will NOT have the opportunity to make up work or exams for unexcused absences.
• Most assignments that are collected for grading should be handwritten using blue or black ink. Each assignment must include your name, period, assignment title and the date.
• If you have a question about how an assignment was graded make an appointment with me within one week of the grade being posted to our web site. Grade inquiries will not be granted after this time.
• Your assignments must always be kept in your possession. Copied assignments will be considered academic honesty violations for all participants involved. The acceptable way to help or receive help from another student on an assignment (including homework and labs) should involve a discussion where no writing takes place followed by time for all participants to work independently on the assignment.

ATTENDANCE

• Regular attendance and participation in class are essential for a successful mastery of the sequential concepts that are inherent in a science course. One day builds on the next. Please make every attempt to schedule dentist and college appointments at times that do not conflict with class.
• In the event that a day is missed, students are expected to check the class website or call a classmate for assignments and class notes. After a student returns from an absence, they have the same number of class meetings as they missed to turn in assignments for full credit. Assignments turned in after that time will receive fewer points.

PARTICIPATION

Each grading period you will start with 7 points out of 10 in participation. Exemplary classroom conduct will earn participation points. Any violation of class expectations (use of personal electronic devices, bathroom visits beyond one per semester, etc.) will result in deduction of participation points. Each tardy will result in a loss of 0.5 points. Unexcused absences will result in a loss of 2 points.

GRADING POLICY

Students are expected to turn in all assignments. Course grades are determined by the total number of points earned divided by the total number of possible points in each of the following weighted categories. Grades are rounded to the nearest tenths place, 89.818% becomes 89.8% = B.

Assignments subject to academic honesty violations receive a 0% F.

Grading Categories

Tests and Quizzes 45%

Homework 15%

Class Work (Labs/Activities/Warm-Ups/Participation) 20%

Final Exam 20%

Cumulative Grade 100%

Grading Scale

90-100% A

80-89% B

70-79% C

60-69% D

59-0% F

WEBSITE: www.msdellasantina.com

You may use our class website to monitor your progress in our class, check the assignment list, or to use a recommended link. I will do my best to keep your assignments and grades up to date.

EXTENDED CLASS TIME

Expect to spend time beyond our class during tutorial, lunch, 7^th period, or after school working on perfecting your understanding of our challenging content material. Our room will often be used for AP bio study groups. It is important to me that you feel comfortable studying in our room with your classmates and me toward our goal of success in AP Biology.

Again, welcome to AP Biology. AP courses are very challenging. I will do my best to define the challenges of AP Biology so that you may rise and meet these challenges.

Sincerely,

Nicole Della Santina

The above document may be subject to modification.

After reviewing the course description and expectations with your parent/guardian, please sign below, cut, and return the bottom portion to me. Keep the remaining course description for future reference.

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AP BIOLOGY – Course Description and Expectations

Lynbrook High School 2009-2010

Ms. Della Santina

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