AP Biology Summer Homework

2014-2015 School Year

Hi, and thank you for choosing to take AP Biology with me, Ms. Virgo. AP biology is a fast paced,
rigorous course and the workload you can expect throughout the year is intense. Passing the AP Biology
test will allow you college credit/ passage out of a Biology class in college and therefore the class is run
much like a class you would have in college. You can expect to spend an IMMENSE amount of time
outside of class studying and doing homework. In order to do well in this class, expect to spend no less
than an hour everyday outside of class preparing for the following day or reinforcing ideas from the
current day. To give you an idea of the workload that lies ahead of you, I have created a summer
assignment for you to complete. This assignment is due THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
Late work in NOT accepted in this class, so neither will summer work be. If you fail to complete the
summer assignment, you will be starting off the class with 0/200 points. Here is your assignment:
1. Information sheet: Attached. Due by June 13
th
of this year to room 403
2. Get a binder for the class. At least 2 inches thick. This will hold your portfolio.
3. Read chapters 50, 51, and 52 of the textbook. Answer the reading for comprehension
questions attached to this assignment. Answers must be neatly handwritten, not typed. If
writing is illegible, it will not be graded. (The reason for this is because the AP exam essays must
be handwritten). (50 points each)
a. You will have a test on these chapters within the first week of returning to school.
4. Poster: Using the information in the text, internet research and your creativity, design a poster
that will help you teach the class about the concept you choose from your assigned unit. The
poster should be constructed on standard-sized poster board and must have at least 10
sentences of information and 5 images. Be prepared to orally explain how this concept fits into
the larger context of the chapter and present your poster to the class during the first week of
school. See below for your assignment by birthday (50 points)
Birthday Month Unit: There are 8 units in AP Bio Chapters
January 1: Ecology 51/52/53/54
February & March 2: Evolution 22/23/24/25/26
April 3: Biochemistry 3/4/5
May & June 4: The Cell 6/7/11
July 5: Enzymes and Metabolism 8/9/10
August 6: Plant structure and function 29/30/35/36/38/39
September 6: Animal structure and function 40/43/48
October & November 7: Heredity 12/13/14/15
December 8: Molecular Genetics 16/17/18/19/20/21
Teacher Information:
Ms. Virgo
Room 403
Email: avirgo@psusd.us (best way to contact me is via e-mail.
Website: Website: virgobiology.weebly.com