Syllabus
Course Outline
Welcome to Biology! This course will expose you to the biological world around us in many ways. We will investigate many different fields of biology and how they affect us, as well as the careers available in these fields. We will be not only reading and writing about scientific concepts, but we will also be exploring them as much as possible with an inquiry approach, which will allow you to make your own discoveries. In this way, the learning process becomes much more personal, memorable, and therefore more valuable you.
A few of the topics which we will be exploring are:
Scientific Method |
Classification |
Biochemistry |
Microscope Use |
Genetics |
Microbiology |
Dissection |
Botany |
Virology |
Evolution |
Zoology |
Ecology |
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Learning Objectives
The goals for the class:
- Introduce the concepts of a variety of biological fields. (Biology is everywhere!)
- Focus on the application of biology to everyday life. (How does it affect me?)
- Introduce careers related to biology. (Can I do this for a living?)
- Develop problem solving, thinking, and scientific reasoning skills. (Why do living things function the way they do? How do things work?)
- Increase personal interest and knowledge in biology. (Everyone can have fun learning biology!)
Required Materials
Everyone is expected to have the following:
- Notebook – you must have a three-ring notebook, or a section in a three ring notebook shared with another class. I recommend keeping everything dated and in order so you can keep the units together. This will allow you to spend less time searching for papers and more time studying!
- Pen (blue or black ink only for any work that you hand in) or pencil, and paper– it may seem like a given, but this is a gentle reminder to the students that it is not my responsibility to supply you with these items. Please don’t ask.
- Red pen – We will be correcting homework, quizzes, and tests in class together, and if you don’t have a red pen to do so, this will result in points taken off of your grade.
- Colored pencils – I am a firm believer that drawing helps to cement ideas and concepts into your head, so you will need color pencils (not markers) for these projects and for emphasizing your notes.
- Covered book – You will either buy or make a book cover for you text book.
Types of Assignments
You will read the section before we discuss and take notes on a topic in class. After class discussion, you will complete the section reviews for homework. We will go over the answers together in class where you will use a RED PEN ONLY during these corrections. Part of your homework grade will be the effort you demonstrated before coming to class, and part will hinge on how well you tried to correct the wrong answers during class in red. After each chapter we will have a test which will resemble the study guide.
Throughout each chapter or unit, we will be conducting experiments and explorations into the concepts introduced in the textbook. These are meant to enhance your understanding of the material presented. We will have some projects, both written and / or structural in nature, dispersed throughout the year.
Grades
Grades will be figured on a total point basis. Daily assignments are 10-20 points, and tests are 30-70 points. The grading scale is as follows:
100-90%=A, 89-80%=B, 79-70%=C, 69-60%=D, 59-0%=F
Daily participation and completion of assignments is crucial. Updated grades will be posted on the internet each Friday after 3:00 .
Make-up work: The student is responsible for collecting and completing all make up work marked ABSENT on top. Make up work for unexcused absences will not be accepted. There are three ways to obtain make-up work:
- Call a friend and find out what you missed. Take the time to exchange phone numbers with at least one person in class.
- You can also check the calendar on my website to see what you missed and possibly download the homework. This way you can try to complete it before you even get back to class.
- There is a calendar in my room with assignments posted and a box with any sheets available. You can get to these at any time without my help. If there is something you don’t understand I will be happy to clarify it for you.
Late work: During the first semester I will accept late work for ½ credit up until the chapter test, then it remains a zero. The second semester there will be no late work.
Extra credit: Opportunities will be given periodically but rarely in conjunction with other assignments so please do not rely on these points to boost your grade. The need for extra supplies from home or any extraordinary effort above and beyond the class expectations will be grounds for extra points.
Extra help: If you ever need extra help please feel free to ask! I’m usually here anytime during lunch and after school. I do recommend making an appointment since I often use this time to make copies, etc. I also have a link on my website to helpful chemistry tutorials that might clear up any questions that you have that the book doesn’t make clear.
I look forward to a fun and exciting year of learning together!