AP Biology 2009-2010 Course Syllabus - Mr. Johnson
These dates are only approximations, but should give an idea of the course sequence
8/20 Ch 8: Introduction to Metabolism
8/24 Enzyme Catalysis Lab
Review: Ch 3: Water and the Fitness of the Environment
Review: Ch 4: Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
9/07 No school (Labor Day)
9/08-Ch 9: Respiration
Respiration Lab
Review: Ch 5: The Structure and Function of Macromolecules
9/14-Ch 10: Photosynthesis Lab
Review: Ch 6: A Tour of the Cell
9/21 Photosynthesis Cont’d wrapped on 9-24
Review: Ch 7: Cell Membranes
9/28 Review: Ch 12: The Cell Cycle
10/05 Fall Break (No School)
10/6-Ch 17: From Gene to Protein started on 9-28
Review: Ch 13: Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles
10/12-Ch 18: Microbial Models: The Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria
Ch 19: The Organization and Control of Eukaryotic Genomes (start)
Review: Ch 14: Mendel and the Gene Idea
10/19-Ch 19: The Organization and Control of Eukaryotic Genomes (cont’d)
Review: Ch 15: The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
10/?? Parent-Teacher Conferences (No School)
10/26-Ch 20: DNA Technology and Genomics (review some)
Review: Ch 16: The Molecular Basis of Inheritance
11/02-Ch 20: DNA Technology and Genomics (cont’d)
Bacterial Transformation (pVIB Lab)
Possibly DNA Fingerprinting Demo/Lab
Review: Ch 22: Descent with Modif: A Darwinian View
11/09-Ch 21: The Genetic Basis of Development
Review: Ch 24: The Origin of Species
11/10-End of 1st Trimester
11/16-Ch 23: The Evolution of Populations
Hardy Weinberg Lab
Review: Ch 25: Phylogeny and Systematics (some in Class)
11/23-TBA (senior retreat)
11/25-11/29: Thanksgiving Break
11/30-Ch 26: The Tree of Life: An introduction to Biological Diversity (may skip due to senior retreat)
12/07- Ch 28: The Origins of Eukaryotic Diversity
Review: Ch 27: Prokaryotes and the Origins of Metabolic Diversity
Review: Ch 31: Fungi
12/14 Midterm Review/Midterm.
12/19 - 1/03 Holiday Break
1/04-(no classes Monday) Ch 34 (only 707-714): Primates and the Evolution of Homo sapiens (rest review)
Review: Ch 32: Introduction to animal diversity
1/10- Ch 42: Circulation and Gas Exchange
Blood Pressure/Rate/EKG Lab
Review: Ch 40 Intro to Animal Structure and Function
1/18 –No classes (MLK Jr. Holiday)
1/19- Ch 42 Continued/Ch 44: Osmoregulation and Excretion
Review: Ch 41: Animal Nutrition
Cat Dissections
1/25- Ch 44 cont’d
Cat Dissections
2/04- Ch 45: Hormones and the Endocrine System
Cat Dissections
2/11-2/15 Winter Break
2/12 - Ch 46: Animal Reproduction
2/??-End of 2nd Trimester
2/?? Junior Ring Ceremony
2/19- Ch 47: Animal Development
Cat Dissections
2/26- Ch 48: Nervous Systems
Cat Dissections
3/01- Ch 49: Sensory/Motor Systems
3/08- ??? Catch up week
Review: Ch 29/30: Plant Diversity I&II
3/15- Ch 50: An introduction to Ecology
Ch 35 Plants (RQ Style)
3/22- Ch 51: Behavioral Ecology
Ch 36 Plants (RQ Style)
3/29- Ch 52: Population Ecology
Ch 37 Plants (RQ Style)
4/02 – 4/11 Spring Break
4/12- Ch 53: Community Ecology
Ch 38 Plants (RQ Style)
4/19- Ch 54: Ecosystems
Ch 39 Plants (RQ Style)
4/26- Begin AP Review/Catch up Week
4/30 Derby Eve (no school)
5/03- AP Review
5/10 - AP Biology Exam!!
Ch 35-39 Plants – These chapters will not be covered in class in great depth. However, it is worth noting that material from these chapters is on the AP exam, thus I will give “Review Quiz-Style” quizzes over these chapters later in the year.
Review: Ch 30: Plant Diversity II: The evolution of seed plants
My expectations from you, the student regarding homework:
1. Homework and review quizzes are to be completed on time. Late work will receive half credit. I will of course make exceptions for excused absences. Excused late work should be made up within the number of days missed (if you miss 2 days, then make it up within two days). However if you know ahead of time that you will be gone (ie college visits), you should try to get the assignments before you leave.
2. All work should be your own. Any assigned work should be a reflection of only your creative output. Unless I say otherwise on a specific assignment, assume that you should complete the assignment completely on your own. For worksheets or other book based work (ie, end of chaper quizzes from the text, or handouts) you may look up info from the chapter (not the answer key of the book).
3. Data presented in lab write-ups may be obtained from other students (ie- numerical values obtained in experiments). However, you should answer the questions for yourself. That said, you may ask another student general questions, but remember, what you turn in is a reflection of your understanding. Someone else’s answer (even if it is in your own words) is not your intellectual property. If you are having difficulty with a problem, you really ought to see me for help anyway!
4. Online quizzes should be closed note (you may study as much as you like before hand, but the book is closed while you are taking it).
5. Unless I say otherwise, review quizzes are to be completed before 3:30pm on Friday of the assigned week. A 20% point per day reduction will result if you take it later.
Your grade will be based on:
Exams: Generally Multiple choice (60% of test) and Essay (40%). Exams are designed to reflect actual CollegeBoard AP exams.
Review Chapters: out-of-class readings based on material discussed in Adv. Biology. In-class multiple choice quizzes will be in a folder at the back of the room. You may take this at your convenience during the week the Review Chapter is assigned.
Labs: there are periodic lab exercises in class. These labs include questions to be answered by the student.
Pop Quizzes: Quizzes are unannounced and may include questions from assigned readings (not review chapters), or class discussions.
Ancillary Homework: occasionally I may assign worksheets or projects to be completed out of class.
Online Quizzes: the text you are using includes an online companion with quizzes that I may request be emailed to me.