What is AP Biology?

AP Biology is the study of life supercharged!

What to Expect AP biology is equivalent to a college introductory biology course for majors (2 semesters with labs) There will be homework! Expect to spend at least 5 hours each week working on biology. - Be sure to read the assigned chapters and watch any videos before you get to class so you have seen the material before I teach it. This is not a class where cramming the night before a test will work! You must do the reading to keep up! Remember- this course is the equivalent of 25% of a college semester course load, so it will be rigorous.

What You Need A large three ring binder Tab dividers Lab notebook (black and white bound composition book) Simple 4 function calculator with square root button

Resources Aside from your textbook, I would recommend the following: Cliffs AP Biology 4th edition Other available resources: Princeton Review Cracking the AP biology Exam Kaplan AP biology Test Prep McGraw Hill 5 Steps to a 5 in AP Biology Barron’s AP biology AP Biology for Dummies pdecandia.com Bozeman Khan Academy  MAKE SURE THE EDITION IS THE MOST RECENT EDITION

Big Ideas in AP Biology Big Idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.

Big Ideas in AP Biology Big Idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.

Big Ideas in AP Biology Big Idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes.

Big Ideas in AP Biology Big Idea 4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.

Inquiry is at the heart of science. Inquiry is the search for information and its explanation. Two process of inquiry Discovery/observational science Combines observations of nature and collection/analysis of data Qualitative and quantitative Uses inductive reasoning: conclusions are generalizations based on observations Hypothesis based science makes predictions that can be tested by recording more observations or experiments Results can support or reject/refute the hypothesis not…”my hypothesis is correct or wrong”

Science Practices for AP Biology Use representations and models to communicate and solve problems Use mathematics appropriately Pose scientific questions to extend thinking or guided investigations Plan and implement data collection Analyze data and evaluate evidence Work with scientific explanations and theories Connect and relate knowledge across scales and domains

Common Terms You Will be Asked to Use   Analyze Interpret data sets or statements made based on evidence in order to reach a conclusion. Describe Use details to provide an accurate account of a situation. Justify Support a statement with sufficient evidence. Refine Clarify assertions or models about a biological concept by using evidence. YOU WILL NOT BE REGURGITATING FACTS. YOU WILL NEED TO USE YOUR BRAIN!

Suggested AP Bio Labs Artificial Selection Mathematical Modeling: Hardy Weinberg Comparing DNA Sequences (BLAST) Diffusion and Osmosis Photosynthesis/ Transpiration Cell Respiration Cell Division: Mitosis and Meiosis Biotechnology: Bacterial Transformation Biotechnology: DNA Analysis Energy Dynamics Fruit Fly Behavior Enzyme Activity

AP Bio Exam Monday May 8, 2017, 8 am Multiple Choice (50%) 90 minutes 63 MC questions 6 grid in questions FRQ questions (50%) 90 minutes 10 minutes reading time 80 minutes: 2 long FRQ and 6 short FRQ

College Credit If you plan to obtain credit for an introductory college biology course, you should contact the colleges you are likely to attend. Find out if they accept AP scores for credit. You may go to the College Board website. There is a link that will allow you to search for AP credit policies at different institutions.

I hope you learn to be scientists and have fun at the same time I hope you learn to be scientists and have fun at the same time. Remember Let’s have a great year.