Erin C. Vaccaro

College Prep Biology

Willits Charter School 2007-2008
science_wcs@yahoo.com

Course Overview

College Preparatory (CP) Biology is a fundamental survey of Biology aligned with California State Standards and designed for college bound, high-school students. This course has been approved by the University of California and meets the “d” requirement for a Lab Science course.


Course Goals

The main goals of this course are for students to:

  1. Demonstrate analytical thinking skills by working cooperatively on labs and research assignments

  2. Be comfortable with oral presentations of scientific concepts and self-generated research

  3. Demonstrate the ability to rework complicated facts and concepts into models that students understand

  4. Gain independence in gathering data and conceptual information from scientific texts and journals


Course Objectives

In this course you will:

  1. Design experiments, test hypotheses, and formulate written results and observations

  2. Regularly present your data and/or research through formal and informal oral presentations

  3. Become familiar with the major conceptual fields of Biology: including Ecology, Human Physiology, Genetics, Evolution, and Zoology. Molecular Cell Biology will be integrated throughout the course within context.

  4. Utilize diverse note taking techniques to organize information: including concept maps, flow charts, comparative data tables, outlines, and diagrams

  5. Learn specific note taking strategies for scientific text

  6. Be held responsible for knowledge gained from independent reading assignments through written and oral responses


Materials

You will need to bring the following materials to class everyday:

  • 3-ring binder for THIS CLASS ONLY, with separate sections for class notes, labs, and graded assignments that have been returned

  • Loose-leaf, 3-hole, ruled notebook paper (not spiral bound)

  • Pencils and Pens

  • Colored Pencils

  • A basic calculator for labs and grading calculations


Text and Readings

Each student will be assigned a copy of Glencoe’s Biology: Dynamics of Life. Additional supplementary reading will be distributed as needed throughout the year.

Notebooks

The ability to keep a complete and organized notebook is one of the most important skills you will need in college. It is essential that you keep all of your assignments organized in your 3-ring CP Biology binder. Never throw away (or recycle) any of your work. You will need all of your assignments for notebook quizzes several times throughout each quarter.


Assessments

A variety of assignments will be given including (but not limited to) quizzes, tests, papers, lab write-ups, review questions, and projects. At the end of each quarter, your grade will be calculated by dividing the points earned by the total points possible. You will monitor your own grade throughout each quarter by recording your scores as assignments are returned.


The following grading scale will be used:

A+: 97.5 and above A: 93.5 to 97.5 A-: 89.5 to 93.5

B+: 87.5 to 89.5 B: 83.5 to 87.5 B-: 79.5 to 83.5

C+: 77.5 to 79.5 C: 73.5 to 77.5 C-: 69.5 to 73.5

D+: 67.5 to 69.5 D: 63.5 to 67.5 D-: 59.5 to 63.5

F: 0.0 to 59.5


Mid-term and Final Exams

Comprehensive exams will be given at the end of the second and fourth quarters. Scores on the mid-term and final exams will be averaged into the student’s overall grade for the quarter in which they are given.


Science Fair Requirement

Completion of a science fair project is a requirement of this class.

Students, and parents, will be given more information about the science fair project several weeks into the first quarter.


Absences

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get and complete any work you have missed. In general, for EXCUSED absences due to illness or emergencies, you will have one day for each day you are gone to complete the work. If you are absent for more than 2 days, please call the school to request make-up assignments. If you know that you will be absent ahead of time, please arrange to get your work before you go. In any case, upon your return, you will need copies of all the class notes and handouts you have missed for exams and future assignments.


If you are absent from science class (for any reason)

1st Find out what we did and what was for homework

2nd Check the HANDOUT BINDER for any Handouts you may have missed

3rd Complete and TURN IN all missing assignments


If you are absent on the day of a test or quiz, you should plan on making up the test or quiz after school following your absence. If this is not possible, you are responsible for making other arrangements. Except in the case of an extended EXCUSED absence, all missed tests or quizzes must be made up within one week of the original test date.


Late Work

Late work will not be accepted for credit unless accompanied by a late work pass. Each student will be given 2 passes each semester that may be used, during that semester, at the student’s discretion. With a late work pass, an assignment will be accepted without penalty for up to 5 school days after the due date. These passes can be found in your Student Reference Guide. To redeem a late work pass, you must show the teacher your completed assignment along with the late work pass and obtain the teacher’s initials. Lost late work passes will not be replaced.


Students who turn in all work on time throughout the semester can redeem unused late work passes for extra credit at the end of each semester.


Classroom Rules

All WCS rules apply in the science classroom. In addition:

  1. Be in your seat and silent at the start and end of class.

  2. Only one person talks at a time.

  3. Behavior that interferes with another student’s learning or the teacher’s teaching will not be tolerated.

  4. Follow all safety instructions the first time they are given.


The consequences for choosing not to follow the rules are:

1st incident - Reminder

2nd incident – Blue slip

Major infractions of school or classroom rules will result in a referral (orange slip).


Lab Information

As required by the University of California, 20% of this lab science course will consist of hands-on science activities that involve inquiry, observation, analysis, and write-up. Safety is of the utmost importance during science lab. Please be aware that you may be asked to secure long hair or loose clothing during lab time. For some labs, safety goggles and/or gloves may be required. Any student not following safety directions during lab time will be removed from the lab and will earn zero points for that activity. Remember, there is no eating, drinking, or chewing gum in a working science laboratory.


Assignments

Readings, chapter questions, and other homework assignments will be due every MONDAY. Other assignments, including more long-term projects, will have specific due dates that may not necessarily fall on a Monday.