Guidelines
Room 104
[email protected]
Prep: 12:30-1:30 882-2591
Honors Biology – Is it for you? Honors Biology offers students the opportunity to explore key biology concepts in depth. It is a fast-paced, demanding course. It is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to be challenged in the sciences, and who are willing to work very hard to fulfill those challenges. Students are expected to recall and build on the material they studied in Life Science, Physical Science and Earth Science, or to review those subjects on their own. To be successful in the class, you must come to class having read your assignment, and you must be ready to further investigate the topic through discussion and labs. There will be daily or weekly quizzes on the assigned readings.
What Honors Biology is NOT. This is not an advanced or 2nd year Biology class. This is not an Advanced Placement class; it is not designed to prepare you for the AP Biology Exam. We will not cover every topic in the text, nor will we squeeze two years of biology into one. This is not a class for students who find science easy and do not expect to do any work; there is plenty of work for everyone! You should not take this class because you think it will look good on your transcript, or because your parents want you to take it. You have to really WANT to be in this class. If that is why you are here, you will work hard, have fun, and learn a lot.
[email protected]
Prep: 12:30-1:30 882-2591
Honors Biology – Is it for you? Honors Biology offers students the opportunity to explore key biology concepts in depth. It is a fast-paced, demanding course. It is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to be challenged in the sciences, and who are willing to work very hard to fulfill those challenges. Students are expected to recall and build on the material they studied in Life Science, Physical Science and Earth Science, or to review those subjects on their own. To be successful in the class, you must come to class having read your assignment, and you must be ready to further investigate the topic through discussion and labs. There will be daily or weekly quizzes on the assigned readings.
What Honors Biology is NOT. This is not an advanced or 2nd year Biology class. This is not an Advanced Placement class; it is not designed to prepare you for the AP Biology Exam. We will not cover every topic in the text, nor will we squeeze two years of biology into one. This is not a class for students who find science easy and do not expect to do any work; there is plenty of work for everyone! You should not take this class because you think it will look good on your transcript, or because your parents want you to take it. You have to really WANT to be in this class. If that is why you are here, you will work hard, have fun, and learn a lot.
Major Topics:
Using models to describe the biological world Designing, conducting, redesigning experiments Nervous System / Eye Anatomy Neurobiology and Behavior Circulation, Respiration, and Excretion Comparative Anatomy and Physiology Synthesizing biological concepts Reproduction and Development Genetics and Evolution Microbiology Ecology Field Ecology Ethics issues in biology |
Associated Long-term Projects:
Tube model Trial and Error Learning Labs Eye dissection/ Nervous System Packet Power Point: Nervous System topic Heart/lung dissection Student presentations Concept Map (Semester 1) Amphibian lab Problem sets Petri dish lab Yellowstone Ecosystem Packet Wildlife Management Plan (Semester 2) |
Field trips are taken to University of Idaho Labs, Washington State University Labs, and the Phillips Farm.
Grading: Your grade will be based on tests, quizzes, labs and long-term projects. In general, homework assignments are not graded. When a reading is assigned for homework, you will be given a short quiz on the reading at the beginning of class. The Semester Exam is 20% of the semester grade.
Tests 100 pts each
Quizzes 5-20 pts each
Projects 100-300 pts each
Labs 100-200 pts each
Homework 10 pts each
Activity Points 50 pts/6weeks (Article summaries, Enviro Club meetings, pre-approved Community Service)
Due the Friday prior to the end of each 6 weeks grading period.
Resubmitted work: One of my goals is to assist you in perfecting your technical writing skills. On lab reports and large projects, you will have the opportunity to resubmit your work with corrections. Bear in mind that I do not read “rough drafts.” Every paper you submit, including the first copy, is to be a polished paper. After I make written suggestions for improvement, you must resubmit the original paper and the corrected paper with your changes highlighted. In general, you can earn back 50% of the points missed on the original paper.
Please read the following information carefully, so that you may make an informed decision about taking Honors Biology. You may also wish to talk to students who have taken the course in the past.
1. There is no guarantee that you will earn an A in this class. In order to earn an A, you must both master the course content, as assessed by tests and quizzes, and complete all labs, homework assignments, and long-term assignments meticulously and on time.
2. No late work is accepted. You will receive a “0” for any work that is not turned in at the beginning of the class on the day it is due. Any late or missing work will likely prevent you from earning an A for the grading period, and several late or missing assignments will likely prevent you from earning an A for semester. You are expected to have all supplies with you every day; missing supplies will be recorded as a “0.” If you have late or missing assignments the first 5 days of school, I will recommend that you transfer out of Honors Biology. If you are absent the day that a large project is due, you must find deliver the project to MHS by the beginning of the biology class period.
3. If you are unable to complete regular labs during class time, you are required to complete them after school, during Access periods, or by appointment.
4. Many homework assignments will require use of the Internet. If you do not have home Internet access, you may access the Internet on the MHS library computers during lunch or after school.
5. Many reading assignments and lab reports will be due on Mondays.
6. The Honors Biology textbooks is Biology: Principles and Explorations (Johnson and Raven) and AP Campbell. These texts offer in-depth coverage of the topics to be studied. You are expected to read and understand the assigned readings on your own, and to come to class prepared to conduct laboratory exercises, partake in class discussions and write logical essays based on the readings.
7. Reviews will not be conducted prior to tests.
8. Advice from former students: “Keep your hand-outs organized! Record due dates in your planner. Read the assigned readings and do your homework. Take notes; sometimes you can use them on quizzes. Don’t even think of slacking off because it catches up with you. The Concept Map is a really good exercise; do NOT put it off until the last minute! Resubmitting your work properly is a MUST if you want to pass this class with a good grade. This class can be fun, but it is a lot of work.”
9. Moscow High School offers many opportunities to explore a particular subject area in-depth, including Advanced Placement classes, Honors Chemistry, Math-based Physics, Foreign Languages, and Extended Learning Internships, as well as extra-curricular activities such as Future Problem Solvers, drama, and athletics. Do not try to take too many challenging classes in one year. Also note that Honors Biology is not a prerequisite for Honors Chemistry.
Grading: Your grade will be based on tests, quizzes, labs and long-term projects. In general, homework assignments are not graded. When a reading is assigned for homework, you will be given a short quiz on the reading at the beginning of class. The Semester Exam is 20% of the semester grade.
Tests 100 pts each
Quizzes 5-20 pts each
Projects 100-300 pts each
Labs 100-200 pts each
Homework 10 pts each
Activity Points 50 pts/6weeks (Article summaries, Enviro Club meetings, pre-approved Community Service)
Due the Friday prior to the end of each 6 weeks grading period.
Resubmitted work: One of my goals is to assist you in perfecting your technical writing skills. On lab reports and large projects, you will have the opportunity to resubmit your work with corrections. Bear in mind that I do not read “rough drafts.” Every paper you submit, including the first copy, is to be a polished paper. After I make written suggestions for improvement, you must resubmit the original paper and the corrected paper with your changes highlighted. In general, you can earn back 50% of the points missed on the original paper.
Please read the following information carefully, so that you may make an informed decision about taking Honors Biology. You may also wish to talk to students who have taken the course in the past.
1. There is no guarantee that you will earn an A in this class. In order to earn an A, you must both master the course content, as assessed by tests and quizzes, and complete all labs, homework assignments, and long-term assignments meticulously and on time.
2. No late work is accepted. You will receive a “0” for any work that is not turned in at the beginning of the class on the day it is due. Any late or missing work will likely prevent you from earning an A for the grading period, and several late or missing assignments will likely prevent you from earning an A for semester. You are expected to have all supplies with you every day; missing supplies will be recorded as a “0.” If you have late or missing assignments the first 5 days of school, I will recommend that you transfer out of Honors Biology. If you are absent the day that a large project is due, you must find deliver the project to MHS by the beginning of the biology class period.
3. If you are unable to complete regular labs during class time, you are required to complete them after school, during Access periods, or by appointment.
4. Many homework assignments will require use of the Internet. If you do not have home Internet access, you may access the Internet on the MHS library computers during lunch or after school.
5. Many reading assignments and lab reports will be due on Mondays.
6. The Honors Biology textbooks is Biology: Principles and Explorations (Johnson and Raven) and AP Campbell. These texts offer in-depth coverage of the topics to be studied. You are expected to read and understand the assigned readings on your own, and to come to class prepared to conduct laboratory exercises, partake in class discussions and write logical essays based on the readings.
7. Reviews will not be conducted prior to tests.
8. Advice from former students: “Keep your hand-outs organized! Record due dates in your planner. Read the assigned readings and do your homework. Take notes; sometimes you can use them on quizzes. Don’t even think of slacking off because it catches up with you. The Concept Map is a really good exercise; do NOT put it off until the last minute! Resubmitting your work properly is a MUST if you want to pass this class with a good grade. This class can be fun, but it is a lot of work.”
9. Moscow High School offers many opportunities to explore a particular subject area in-depth, including Advanced Placement classes, Honors Chemistry, Math-based Physics, Foreign Languages, and Extended Learning Internships, as well as extra-curricular activities such as Future Problem Solvers, drama, and athletics. Do not try to take too many challenging classes in one year. Also note that Honors Biology is not a prerequisite for Honors Chemistry.