AP Biology Course Expectations 2019-2020

AP Biology is the high school equivalent of the first semester of any entry level biology course
in most major colleges and universities. This course allows you to use the knowledge you
acquired in biology and chemistry by moving into more advanced concepts about life
processes. This course runs for 3 quarters, culminating in a national standardized AP test on
Monday, May 11, 2020 that gives the opportunity to earn one semester college credit for
biology (depending on test score).

High school comes with high expectations, and I feel that all students can succeed when
everyone supports the rules and procedures. A few general rules:
● Be aware and compliant with the school dress code as it will be enforced.
● Cell phones and any other electronic device need to be placed in the “phone parking”
pockets on the board upon entry of the classroom. This is a school wide policy. If you
choose to leave your device in your locker, that is fine. However, if it magically appears
on your desk during class, I will take it (until 3:30pm). Be responsible with your
technology.

This course relies on a strong work ethic and maturity of its participants to be able to keep
the pace required to cover all required material. It is, however, a class for high school
students, and the delivery of the material will be a blend of high school and college learning
techniques that will prepare the learner for success in future college coursework.

All curriculum is taken from the AP Biology framework established by The College Board who
proctors the test and awards the credit. It is a national curriculum, so students all over the
nation are learning the same material. The four big ideas in AP Biology are:
Big Idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life. (Evolution)
Big Idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow,
to reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis. (Energy)
Big Idea 3: Livings systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information
essential to life processes. (Information)
Big Idea 4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions
possess complex properties. (Systems)
A course guide is included at the back of this document.

Materials to be brought with you EVERY day:

● 3-ring binder (will be handed in twice a quarter as part of your grade)
● AP Biology textbook - assigned, covered, and used regularly.
● AP Biology Pearson Education Test Prep Series - assigned, kept, and used in class
● Pens/pencils/highlighters/colored pencils
● Basic scientific calculator (can handle exponents)
● Lined paper
● Graph paper
Grading “Grades are earned, not given.”
You will not be able to pass this course without being in class, participating, and completing
ALL assignments. You will be required to utilize Google Classroom, Infinite Campus, and check
email to see assignments, quizzes, and other critical class information. I will try to have
everything graded and up to date on Infinite Campus by Monday morning of each week. This
is not a guarantee, teachers have a life outside of school as well.

Late work is accepted at -10% per day, down to 50% (5 days). Work will not be accepted beyond
the last day of the quarter. There are many ways to submit your assignments electronically.
This is how you can turn things in when working from home. We will discuss these options
later. The deadline for all assignments is 11:59pm on the due date.

Excused absences have 3 days to submit work missed, and if you miss a quiz or test, you have
3 days to make up the assessment. Students must be proactive in making up missing work
and are responsible for all missing items in the gradebook. Time will not be taken during class
to review missed assignments on an individual basis. I strongly encourage students to come
by before/after school or during resource to get missed work. Please refer to the student
handbook pg. 12-13 for unexcused absences.

Any form of cheating, plagiarism, or copying will result in a 0% for that grade for all students
contributing to cheating, plagiarism, or copying. Parents will be notified along with
administration.

Grade for the grading period will be based on the following:

A 100%-92% B+ 89.9%-88% C+ 79.9%-78% D+ 69.9%-68%
A- 91.9%-90% B 87.9%-82% C 77.9%-72% D 67.9%-62%
F <60% B- 81.9%-80% C- 71.9%-70% D- 61.9%-60%
Please refer to the student handbook pg. 11

Room Environment:
● Do not disturb materials and experiments that are property of others. They don’t go
through your stuff, don’t go through theirs.
● There are supplies in the classroom that can be utilized by any student. Please keep
this area neat and return the item(s) to their proper place when you are finished.
● Lab safety is it’s own thing and you will be required to pass a brief quiz to work in the
lab. Safety issues in the lab may result in your loss of privilege to do lab work.
● Be respectful of everyone and you will be respected in return. I will not tolerate
discipline problems in our classroom.
● The bell doesn't dismiss you...ever! Please remain seated and working until you are
dismissed. Congregating by the door will result in the entire class being dismissed late.
Bathroom Policy and Leaving Class:
I would strongly encourage you to use the bathroom before you come to class. However we all
have times when we need to go so don’t wait! I reserve the right to take your privileges away
completely if abused. Use it wisely. Please let me know if you have a condition that required
you to visit the bathroom more frequently.

You should not need to go to your locker once class starts. Come prepared for class!

You choose your success in this class. If you work hard, ask questions, and show up ready to
learn every day, you will likely succeed. It is completely up to you how well you do in this
course! Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns. Communication
between students, parents/guardians, and teachers enhances learning! I look forward to
working with each of you this year!

Mrs. Canfield
Contact Information:
Email: b.canfield@macs.k12.wi.us
Phone: 715-723-9126
Website: mrscanfieldmacs.weebly.com
The topics are listed below in the order that the material will be presented.

Energy
Big Idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to
reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.
2A: Growth, reproduction, and maintenance of the organization of living systems require
free energy and matter.
2B: Growth, reproduction, and dynamic homeostasis require that cells create and maintain
internal environments that are different from their external environments.
2C: Organisms use feedback mechanisms to regulate growth and reproduction, and to
maintain dynamic homeostasis.
2D: Growth and dynamic homeostasis of a biological system are influenced by changes in
the system’s environment.
2E: Many biological processes involved in growth, reproduction, and dynamic homeostasis
include temporal regulation and coordination.
Unit 1 The Chemistry of Life - Chapters 2 through 5
Unit 2 The Cell - Chapters 6 through 12

Information
Big Idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to
life processes.
3A: Heritable information provides for continuity of life.
3B: Expression of genetic information involves cellular and molecular mechanisms.
3C: The processing of genetic information is imperfect and is a source of genetic variation.
3D: Cells communicate by generating, transmitting, and receiving chemical signals.
3E: Transmission of information results in changes within and between biological systems.
Unit 3 Genetics - Chapters 13 through 21

Evolution
Big Idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.
1A: Change in the genetic makeup of a population over time is evolution.
1B: Organisms are linked by lines of descent from common ancestry.
1C: Life continues to evolve within a changing environment.
1D: The origin of living systems is explained by natural processes.
Unit 4 Mechanisms of Evolution - Chapters 22 through 25
Unit 5 The Evolutionary History of Biological Diversity - Chapter 26

Systems
Big Idea 4: Biological systems interact and these systems and their interactions possess
complex properties.
4A: Interactions within biological systems lead to complex properties.
4B: Competition and cooperation are important aspects of biological systems.
4C: Naturally occurring diversity among and between components within biological
systems affects interactions with the environment.
Unit 6 Ecology - Chapters 52 through 54
Unit 7 Plant Form & Function - Chapters 35, 36, & 39
Unit 8 Animal Form & Function - Chapters 40, 48, & 49