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Mr. Belmonte's Biology |
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Advanced Placement
Biology Course Description This AP Biology course is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course. It includes topics regularly covered in college biology course for biology majors. It differs significantly from high school courses with respect to the kind of textbook used, the range and depth of topics covered, the kind of lab work performed by students, and the time and effort required of students. A student that expects to achieve a proficient score on the nation wide AP Biology Examination should expect to invest at least 45 minutes of study time outside of our classroom, 4-5 times per week. This AP Biology course is designed for students after their successful completion of introductory high school biology. The AP Biology Examination is proctored on the second Tuesday of May in the morning here at North Muskegon High School and requires three hours to complete. It seeks to be representative of the topics covered in a typical introductory college-level course. It concentrates on three general areas: Molecules and Cells 25% Heredity and Evolution 25% Organisms and Populations 50% After achieving a satisfactory score on the AP Exam proctored in May students, as college freshman, are permitted to take upper-level course in biology or to register for courses that require biology as a prerequisite. Students earn a score of 1-5 on the test, with five being the highest. Scores of 3 or 4 will earn 4 undergraduate credit hours, while a 5 earns 5 credit hours! We will review previous tests and learn how scores are determined, as well as practicing strategies designed to raise achievement. The two main goals of AP Biology are to help students develop a conceptual framework for modern biology and to help students gain an appreciation of science as a process. Primary emphasis is on developing an understanding of concepts rather than memorizing terms and technical details. And essential to this conceptual understanding are the following: 1. grasping science as a process, not as accumulation of facts 2. personally utilizing the six steps of scientific inquiry 3. recognizing the unifying themes that integrate the major topics of biology 4. applying biological knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social concerns. The AP program is administered through The College Board (http://apcentral.collegeboard.com) Accessing their website and navigating to the AP links is highly recommended. It is interactive, responsive to any and all types of queries, and makes available a wealth of resource materials for students and their parents/guardians. Purchasing Barron’s AP Biology study guide is also highly recommended. It sells for $20 at most bookstores. Classroom Procedures and Grading
Please read “Mr. Belmonte’s Class Expectations” but note the following AP differences: 1. Homework is not recorded as any part of a student’s grade and thus, class time will not be used by Mr. Belmonte to walk around our room and “check” homework. All homework will be reviewed upon the responsible students’ request and query. 2. Pop quizzes over any covered concepts are offered at any time and students are expected to complete these quizzes without benefit of open notes. 3.
10 Effort Pool points = 1% bump in
marking period average. 4. Chapter tests are based squarely on the review and critical thinking questions found at the conclusion of each textbook chapter, on each chapter’s bio packet, and on website content. 5. In order to be exempt from taking the cumulative final exam, AP Bio students must maintain a B- average over the first and second semesters.
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Advanced Placement Biology Summer Work
As you undoubtedly surmise from perusing our AP Bio course description and syllabus, we have much to do before the national AP Bio test in mid-May. We begin our preparation now. As an AP Bio student, it is highly recommended that you do the following: -Log on to http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/ and go through the registration process. After registration, work your way through all that this website has to offer. Write a concise report that (includes your email address) that succinctly summarizes what this website offers. The subheadings for your report should include: The Program, The Courses, The Exam, Teachers & Schools, College & Universities, and any other subheadings you deem appropriate. This report is due on the second day of AP Bio class this August and counts as an assessment grade. -Log on to http://brookscole.com/biology_d/ and click on “Student Resources”, scroll down and click on the “Biology-The Unity and Diversity of Life” textbook icon. You should then work your way all that this site has to offer and write another concise report that summarizes your findings. Report subheadings should include: Flashcards, Hypercontent, Infotrac, Internet Activities, Outline, Tutorial Quiz, and any other subheadings you deem appropriate. This report is also due on the second day of our AP Bio class and counts as another assessment grade. -Review chapters 1-14 in our textbook through careful reading, note taking, and utilization of the Brookscole website and textbook CD-Rom. Write out the definitions for the Selected Key Terms, all the Review Questions, and the Self-Quiz found at the end of each chapter. The first 3 weeks of our AP Bio class will be devoted to the rapid review and assessment of chapters 1-16 review, so it is imperative that you are primed and ready for this challenge. -Read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson & The Hot Zone by Richard Preston. Enjoy your summer and remember that effort is always rewarded. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments I can be reached at the following email addresses:
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