Introduction

Advanced Placement Biology is designed to offer students a solid foundation in college-level introductory biology, based on the belief that many students are ready for college work while still in high school. Students should be prepared for complex science texts and reading, including a minimum of 30 minutes to one hour of work outside class each day (about 5-8 hours a week). As a college-level course, the amount of material covered as well as the complexity of the topics will be high. An ongoing expectation, therefore, is to learn the material as it is presented and come to class each day to understand the previous day’s material. Students must be certain that they are willing to accept this challenge and be committed to keeping up with the work. Upon completion of the course, students should have the conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology.

 

Prerequisites

College Board recommends that students taking AP Biology has successfully completed Biology and Chemistry.

 

Topic Coverage

 

Textbook

• Details to access the online textbook will be given in class, on Canvas, and in OneNote.

 

Materials

• School-issued laptop (charged)
• Acceptable calculator - preferably the one you will use on the AP Exam
• 3-ring binder to keep notes
  
  • Recommended tabs: Bio Review and Statistics, Chemistry of Life, Cell Structure and Function, Cellular Energetics, Cell Communication, and Cell Cycle, Heredity, Gene Expression and Regulation, Natural Selection, Ecology, and Review
  • Include line and graph paper
• Colored pencils
• Blue or black pen    

 

Grading Policy

60%     Summative Assignments – Unit Exams, Projects 

40%     Formative Assignments – Labs, Reading Quizzes, Activities, Homework

All assignments and grades are cumulative.

 

AP Exam

• Date: Monday, May 5th, 2025 @ 8:00 AM
• Two sections - 3 hours total, 90 minutes for each section
  • Section 1: 60 Multiple Choice Questions
  • Section 2: 6 Free Response Questions

 

AP Exam College Credit

Colleges vary in what score they will accept for credit. Generally, a student must score at least a 4 for credit, but some schools will accept a 3. Check with the schools you are applying to for details.

 

Classroom Culture

• Be courteous to others.
• Be prepared with all the needed supplies and work.
• Be on time and on task. On time is defined as being seated at your desk before the tardy bell rings. (You will be counted tardy if not seated by the bell).
• Cell phones are placed in assigned pockets on the wall.
• Always ask if something is not clear.
• Leave the room the way you found it (Leave No Trace).
• Be respectful. Be appropriate. Be kind. Be present.
• We are in a science lab - no eating in the classroom without the instructor's permission.
• Not everything we do will be for a grade. Some things are just to help you improve in biology.

 

Procedures

1. Come into class quietly, place your cell phone in your assigned pocket on the wall, sit in your seat before the tardy bell rings, and prepare for class. Tardiness is not acceptable - you will be counted tardy if you are not in your seat when the bell rings.
2. You may not eat or drink anything but water during class without my permission.
3. You may use any writing tool (pencils, pens, etc.) for your notebooks, but all written work that is to be turned in must be done in a standard blue or black pen. Please try to write neatly and legibly. Work that cannot be read cannot be graded and will be returned as incomplete.
4. All major projects are due at the begin of class on the due date. You will be told in advance which projects are due at the beginning of the day. If your bus is late, please bring the project to me, then proceed to your first period of the day.
5. Talking or distracting other students, intentionally or unintentionally, during a test or quiz is not tolerated. You are now in high school and should conduct yourself as such. Disrupting a test or quiz will be considered a violation of academic integrity. You will receive a score of “0” and reported.
6. All proper PPE should be worn, and safety precautions should always be followed during labs.

 

Cell Phones

Cell phones are not permitted for use in class unless directed by the teacher. All cell phones must be placed in the cell phone pocket chart hanging at the front of the classroom before class starts and will be “parked” there until class is over. Students caught with a cell phone will have their phone taken up and given to the Assistant Principal.

 

Consequences Any/all of steps 1-4 may be skipped, dependent on the severity of the incident.

1. Verbal warning.
2. Personal conference with teacher.
3. Lunch detention and parent(s) contacted. (detention only applicable during in-person instruction)
4. Parent/teacher/student conference.
5. Referral to Administration.

 

Headings ALL assignment submissions must include the following information: 

Full Name (first AND last name without initials or abbreviations)

Class and Period (example: Bio P4)

Date of submission

 

Assignment Calendar

A cycle calendar will be posted in the class Canvas and posted on the class whiteboard. This calendar will have all assignments, projects, daily objectives, quizzes, and tests for the cycle clearly outlined. This calendar is subject to adjustment based on student progress or unforeseen events. You should regularly check the cycle calendar for any changes!

 

Labs

When you are involved in a lab, you MUST act accordingly. Participating in labs is a privilege, one that can be taken away if the proper procedures are not followed.

 

If you do not follow the rules of the lab then you will not be allowed to participate and will receive a zero for that lab as well as a zero for your lab skills grade. In order to participate in lab you must make at least an 80% on the safety test and turn in a signed safety contract.

 

Absences

• You are expected to attend class every day. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to promptly gather the assignments that you missed. I will not remind you of missed assignments, you must take the initiative to find out what you missed by looking at the OneNote cycle calendar. If you miss a test or quiz, YOU must schedule a make-up, but keep in mind that the format of the retest is at the teacher’s discretion. It is your responsibility to reschedule your missed test in a timely manner.
• Any assignments not made up from an absence will result in a zero.
• Please do not disturb the teacher during class to get missed assignments, wait for a quiet time or come by outside of class time.

 

Late Work/Missing Assignments

• All assignments are due ON TIME. Late work will be accepted up to two days late and no later. An academic grade on late work is up to 70% for two day late and 0% thereafter.
• If you are on campus the day an assignment is due, you are required to turn it in, even if you miss your biology period. If possible, notify your instructor of unforeseen circumstances.

 

Tutorials

I am available to help you better understand information in a small group or individually. Tutoring is available by appointment at lunch and during SSEP. The National Honor Society also offers peer tutoring. If you are having difficulty in this course you should ask for help early!

 

Extra Credit

I do not offer extra credit.

 

Assignment Re-submission

Re-submissions are permitted at my discretion. The following are general guidelines for re-submissions and are subject to additional requirements:

• The original assignment must have been turned on time or within the 2-day late window.
• You must show all the work and explain how you came to the new answer/conclusion.

 

Retakes

The policy for my class is outlined below. Please review it carefully.

• Maximum of 2 retakes per grading cycle
• The maximum retake score is 70 (score of 70 to 100 = 70); higher grade between original/retake counted
• The student, not the parent, must request the retake using the provided form in the course OneNote Notebook.
• Students must request the retake within 24 hours of the grade posting on PowerSchool and complete the retake within one week of the grade being posted.
• Retakes are for tests only. A reading quiz is an extension of homework and not eligible.
• Retakes will be held at the beginning of lunch on the Thursday following the date of the completed retake request. If you have multiple retakes on the same day, it is your responsibility to reschedule in advance.
• “No show” counts as a taken retake. You will be considered a “no show” if you arrive 15 minutes or later from the start of your scheduled retake time.
• Final Exams are not eligible
• Missing assignments fall under my late policy, not the retake policy.

 

Academic Integrity

Cheating, copying, plagiarizing, and falsifying documents will not be tolerated at CVHS. Any student displaying academic dishonesty will be reported and referred to the Assistant Principal. The student will receive a grade of “0” on the assignment and there will not be an opportunity to make up the assignment. This includes exams and quizzes. Any disruptions, intentional or unintentional, or use of a cell phone during a test or quiz will be perceived as a violation of academic integrity in the classroom. Students will receive a score of “0” and be reported to administration.

 

Conduct Grades

Conduct grades are a reflection of the students’ positive and negative behavior. To earn an “E” the student must participate on a regular basis and follow class procedures. Participation is necessary for class. Participation should be meaningful and add to discussion, not detract.

 

Study Techniques
Studying for classes involves more than just "cramming the night before a test." The following are suggestions to improve your grade in biology:

1. Write all assignment due dates in your planner.
2. Read over your notes soon after you have written them.
3. Review the vocabulary list as you go.
4. Do all in-class assignments, homework, worksheets, study questions, etc.
5. Keep your handouts, lecture summaries, and study questions organized in your notebook.
6. Always read assigned materials and make a graphic organizer to help you summarize the main ideas.
7. Participate in class.
8. Study frequently and in small doses. 
9. Set up a study group and study with friends.
10. If you are having trouble with the content material, get help early. Do not wait until the end of the grading period and/or test day!!!

 

*Anything not covered here is subject to the rules and regulations of the Student Handbook and/or my discretion.