Biology+Syllabus+2011-2012

Course Syllabus
 * Biology ** Loyola High School 2012-2013

Instructor: Mr. Paul Picard ppicard@loyolahs.edu 213-381-5121 ex. 445

__ Office Hours __ : Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from 2:30-3:30pm in Room H104 and by appointment.

__ Course Description __ : This biology course is aimed to develop the skills to help you more fully understand the nature of science, the role of humans in the natural world, and to effectively pursue higher levels of study in science. You will complete four major research projects, one in each of four major units. In the Molecular/Cellular Biology unit you will investigate how the collaborative actions of molecules organize and accomplish the activities of living cells.In the Genetics unit, you will uncover the role of genes in living organisms. In the Evolution unit, you will examine Earth’s rich biodiversity and inquire about how species have changed and continue to change over time. In the Ecology unit, you will investigate what living things need to survive. You will explore the complex interactions between living things and their physical environment. You must also address the role of humans as stewards of nature. In all of your course activities, you will practice scientific inquiry into the living world.

__ Textbook: __ //Insights in Biology-// // Journey of Discovery // by EDC. 2nd edition. 2007. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. Dubuque, Iowa ISBN 13:978-0-7575-0863-9

__ Course Materials __ : You must bring the following materials with you to class **each day**:
 * 1) Textbook
 * 2) Bound composition notebook. Quadrille Ruled preferred. Spiral notebooks are NOT acceptable
 * 3) Three-Ring Notebook (1 or 1 1/2”) or a section within a common three-ring notebook.
 * 4) Pencils (#2) with erasers
 * 5) Pens (black ink, ballpoint)
 * 6) Ruler (with metric measure)
 * 7) Calculator (add, subtract, multiply, divide, exp. notation)

__ Evaluation of Student Performance __ : Students will be evaluated individually and as a member of a working group. Students are expected to perform **High Quality** work in all areas of the course.The following are areas of evaluation, and the percentage they contribute toward the overall course grade: Each day you are to be prepared for class work by bring all materials, completing all assignments that are due, and actively participating in all class activities. You will be scored daily on your participation on a scale of 1 to 5. See the Participation handout for a detailed explanation of how your participation will be evaluated This is a cumulative examination of all skills and concepts of the entire semester.
 * Class Participation [10%] **
 * Tests [20%] **
 * Tests ** will take place about every three or four weeks. Each exam will consist of ten to twenty short answer questions that will require you to use and apply the skills and understandings you have gained to that point in the course.
 * Semester Final Exam [10%] **
 * Quizzes [10%] **
 * Quizzes ** will take place the final class meeting of each week (unless there is a test scheduled that week) and will consist of one or two short answer questions.

Each unit of study will involve you in performing a long-term (6-8 weeks) performance task. This task will require you to apply a wide variety of science skills and to construct an explanation from a number of concepts and kinds of information. Some short-term (1-5 days) tasks will be performed as part of each unit to assess competency for selected concepts and skills. Details of each task will be provided in an assignment sheet and an evaluation rubric will be given to you so that you know how it will be evaluated.
 * Notebook [30%] **
 * Biology Notebook ** (bound quadrille or composition notebook) is a daily, dated record of what you do, what you observe, and what ideas and explanations you formulate for the questions you investigate.
 * Performance Assessments ** **[20%]**

Each area will be evaluated using the following grading scale:

100-92% = A 91-90% = A-  89-87% = B+  86-83% = B  82-80% = B-  79-77% = C+  76-73% = C  72-70% = C-  69-60% = D  59-0% = F

__ Class Participation and Classroom Policies __ : Your actions in the classroom should be guided by the following principles: The Classroom Policy handout specifies how each of these principles applies specifically in our classroom. Read this handout carefully and apply its guidelines to your actions.
 * **// Treat each person with Respect. //**// Each of us is a child of God, gifted with our own talents, abilities, and limitations. We each deserve to be valued as sacred individuals. We all have much to learn from each person around us and we have much to share with others. //
 * **// Actively contribute your talents //**// toward learning in the classroom. Don’t do anything that interferes with anyone’s learning – even your own. //
 * **// Perform work of High Quality. //**// Accept challenges to go beyond what you have done before. //
 * ** Contribute ** toward making our classroom a safe and healthy environment for all to work in.

Class Participation is graded based on your adherence to these principles. Each day you will be given a participation grade of 100% unless you fail to follow these principles and the Classroom Policies that follow from them. If you do fail, any day, in one of these areas, you will loose 5% of your overall participation grade for that quarter. You may earn this back, only once during a week, by making an appointment with the instructor to work in the classroom before or afterschool for a period of 45 minutes. Serious or consistent failure to follow these principles will involve disciplinary actions beyond the participation grade.