Advanced Placement Biology

1. Advanced Placement Biology West Valley High School 2018-19 Mr. Button

2. dbutton@auhsd.net • 941-6287 (cell) • 347-7171 ex. 31204 • danbutton.net Contact Information

3. Front of Index Card Name: Home Phone: Write Neatly! Cell Phone: Email: If you ever change a cell number or email address, notify me right away

4. Back of Index Card Answer these questions: Is this your first AP course? If no, what other courses did you take and did you take the AP exam associated with that course? What was your score(s)? If you plan to go to college, where would you like to go? Name as many colleges as you want. Do you have Internet access at home?

5. This course is designed as a entry level, semester-length college course. • If you do well on the AP Exam in Biology and depending on what college you go to, you may receive college credit for this course. This is the most important reason to take an AP course. • You should have taken Chemistry as a prerequisite for this course. Advanced Placement Biology

6. You must bring a notebook with you everyday. Today is the one exception. • You must bring a pen/pencil with you everyday. Today is the one exception. • Keep your text available on campus – at home you can always access the electronic copy(but feel free to do whatever is comfortable). • Be in your assigned seat by the time the bell rings. • Put phone and earbuds away when class starts. Everyday Requirements

7. It should be a spiral notebook or a bound composition book • It is for biology notes only – no homework or other class work Notebook

8. If homework or lab work is turned in late, 50% of work value is deducted. Late work can be turned in anytime during the semester. • Consideration is taken for excused absences (Doctor’s appointment, school activity, etc.) Late Work

9. If you are having trouble or you are going to miss class or you are just returning from an absence – TALK TO ME! • There will be opportunity to make up missed work by utilizing the Eagle Achievement Period Communication

10. This is a mass texting service that allows me to send reminders to all of you. • Text this message: @buttonbio to this number: 81010 DO THIS NOW! Remind.com

11. This period of time is for you – you can get more one on one attention • You may be required to come in during this time for tutoring, although I do not expect anyone in this class to be assigned tutoring • You can voluntarily come in any time you wish • We will utilize the Achievement Period to work on or finish lab assignments. Attendance to these sessions is mandatory. Eagle Achievement

12. Costs – last year the cost was $91 per exam. For qualifying students, there is a reduced fee available • Format • How colleges view the exam – UCLA example • Preparation AP Exam

13. It is the expectation that all of you will take the AP Exam for Biology in May. • If you receive a “2” or higher on the exam and a “C” or better in the course, your grade will be weighted. • If you get a “1” on the exam or choose not to take the exam, your grade will not be weighted. AP Exam Policy

14. II. If you are a seniorand you are getting a “C” or better at the conclusion of the first semester, your semester grade will be weighted. All other weighting of grades will occur after the AP exam results are received. The senior’s grade will ultimately be weighted (or not) as a result of AP exam performance. AP Exam Policy

15. Save time and money by earning college credit now

16. Purpose • What are they like? • Required! • How the labs relate to the exam AP Biology Labs

17. AP Biology What is new for 2018-19? A re-design of the AP Biology curriculum is now in its sixth year. The focus now is on depth, not information.

18. The revised AP Biology course focuses on enduring, conceptual understandings and the content that supports them. This approach will enable students to spend less time on factual recall and more time on inquiry-based learning of essential concepts, and will help them develop the reasoning skills necessary to engage in the science practices used throughout their study of AP Biology.

19. AP Biology Big Ideas The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life. Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis

20. AP Biology Big Ideas 3. Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes. 4. Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.

21. Things we study

22. Ecology

23. The Chemistry of Life

24. The Cell

25. Genetics

26. Evolution

27. Biological Diversity

28. Animal Structure and Function

29. Important course and contact information can be found in the course syllabus. AP Biology Syllabus

30. Exams and Quizzes 40% • Laboratory Activities 40% • Homework and Text review 20% Grading

31. The text is only 2 years old and heavy. It is very expensive. • Online text access is helpful. Text

32. Read……then read some more • Use the College Board Website for Test Prep • Read • Ask questions, especially about the labs and the exam • Did I mention reading? • Start studying for the AP Exam now (I’m not kidding) Keys for AP Success

33. You can find assignments on the board or online at danbutton.net • I would like the assignments, when appropriate, submitted electronically. Textbook reviews, however, will be submitted on paper. First Assignment