Course Description
The
AP program is equivalent to a first-year college biology course. The course is
very demanding and fast-paced, requiring the student to work independently and
thoroughly during and especially, outside of class. No accommodations will be
made for students who are unable to keep up with the pace of the course. An
enormous amount of technical reading, self-guided note taking and
self-assessment is required. Writing is also an essential component of the
course.
Class
time will be devoted to reinforcing concepts, lectures, testing, corrections,
writing and laboratories. Hand-outs will also be given to help facilitate
greater understanding of difficult topics. It is imperative that students
possess good note-taking skills. Students who are
self-motivated, responsible, possess strong reading/reading-comprehension and
writing skills and have an interest in biology are encouraged to enroll. It is
also very important that students minimize absences from class!
Recommendations
from English, science and math teachers are also required. Although students
are not required to take the AP exam, they are strongly encouraged to do so.
All tests and quizzes will reflect the format of the AP examination. Students
will sit for a mock AP exam at the end of each trimester.
Summer
reading and assignments are assigned to entering students. Outside class time
may be scheduled for AP preparation, remediation. Students are also encouraged
to take the SAT II Biology Subject Test.
The AP course is divided into three trimesters of approximately 11 weeks. Classes meet every other day for 90-minutes. All labs are conducted during class time (every fourth class meeting) and represent 25%+ of the total instructional time.