AP Biology

Instructor: Mr. Cardinale

Email: cardinalej@psdri.net
Objectives of the course:
This course seeks to cover the subject areas in biology determined by the National College Board as
representative o an introductory college biology course. This means you !ill be learning the same
concepts and principles that college reshmen learn in their irst year biology classes. It should be clear
that this course !ill not involve the simple memori"ation o acts# la!s# or theories. $ather this course is
meant to deepen your understanding o the uniying principles o biology using the principles o in%uiry to
guide you through. & detailed course plan has been attached to this syllabus to help you track !hat !e
have learned# and !hat !e !ill be studying ne't. It !ill also be posted on the class !eb page !ith links to
several relevant resources.
Text:
Biology in (ocus# Campbell et al# &) ed. *+,-./
01ther readings !ill be used to enhance learning. These !ill be provided as they are used.
Expectations for success:
Come to class every day and on time.
&l!ays put your best oot or!ard. This class re%uires dedication and a commitment to your
academic achievement. 2ou !ill get out o this class only !hat you are !illing to invest.
I you are absent the day o the test you !ill take the test the day you return.
T!o !eek period or make up o assessments *retakes ater school/.
Grading and assessment:
abs and experiments:
2ou !ill spend a minimum o +34 o instructional time engaged in in%uiry0based laboratory !ork. 5e !ill
use labs pre0set by the National College Board &dvanced )lacement )rogram as !ell as additional
supportive labs. The labs put orth by the National College board are representative o the investigative
labs completed at the college level. This means that they are diicult in nature and re%uire not only
speciic lab skills# but also a air understanding o the topic o the lab and investigative conidence. Thus it
is o dire importance that you come to the lab prepared in terms o the content# but also prepared in terms
o kno!ing !hat the purpose and a general idea o the procedure o the lab. Coming unprepared !ill
result in a poor perormance on your part and !ill negatively aect other members in your group.
Collectively the lab e'periences !ill provide you opportunity to apply the seven science practices listed
later in this syllabus.
There !ill be labs that are student0directed# speciically the artiicial selection lab and the independent
research project# similar in nature to the one oered in accelerated biology I. 2ou !ill report your lab
indings in various !ays# including through ormal reports# presentations !ith visuals# and group
discussions.
!aterials re"uired for class:
-.30inch 60ring binder
Composition notebook
earning and assessment:
&ter home!ork assignments# !e !ill take short %ui""es to assess your comprehension.
7ui""es and unit assessments account or 8,4 o your grade.
)erormance and analysis in our in%uiry0ocused labs !ill account or +34 o your grade.
9ome!ork is 34# and the CC& is -,4.
#ourse Organi$ation
Topics of study
It is the goal o this course to broaden your understanding o biology as it relates to three major areas that
are urther broken do!n into : major concepts. The themes and concepts are accompanied by
percentages. These percentages represent ho! much o the course and &) E'am !ill be devoted to that
topic. These percentages should help you determine ho! much time you should spend revie!ing these
topics in preparation or the e'am.
-. Molecules and Cells;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;+34
a. Chemistry o <ie;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;=4
b. Cells ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;..-,4
c. Cellular Energetics;;;;;;;;;;;;;;>4
+. 9eredity and Evolution;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;+34
a. 9eredity;;;;;;;;;;;;;;.................>4
b. Molecular ?enetics;;;;;;;;;;;;;...:4
c. Evolutionary Biology;;;;;;;;;;;;;.>4
6. 1rganisms and )opulations;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;...3,4
a. @iversity o 1rganisms;;;;;;;;;;;;.>4
b. Atructure and (unction o )lants and &nimals;;6+4
c. Ecology;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;..-,4
Our Big %deas or the year !ill provide broad conte'ts o relevance&
Big idea ': The process o evolution drives the diversity and unity o lie.
Big idea (: Biological systems utili"e ree energy and molecular building blocks to gro!# to
reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.
Big idea ): <iving systems store# retrieve# transmit and respond to inormation essential to lie
processes.
Big idea *: Biological systems interact# and these systems and their interactions possess
comple' properties.
+cience Practice ': The student can use representations and models to communicate scientiic
phenomena and solve scientiic problems.
+cience Practice (: The student can use mathematics appropriately.
+cience Practice ): The student can engage in scientiic %uestioning to e'tend thinking or to
guide investigations !ithin the conte't o the &) course.
+cience Practice *: The student can plan and implement data collection strategies in relation to
a particular scientiic %uestion. *Note: @ata can be collected rom many dierent sources# e.g.#
investigations# scientiic observations# the indings o others# historic reconstruction andBor
archived data./
+cience Practice ,: The student can perorm data analysis and evaluation o evidence.
+cience Practice -: The student can !ork !ith scientiic e'planations and theories.
+cience Practice .: The student is able to connect and relate kno!ledge across various scales#
concepts and representations in and across domains.