Syllabus

Judith S. de Nuño
http:/www.jdenuno.com

jdenuno@mhs-la.org

Science at Marymount

Office Hours
Daily at Lunch in the Science Patio

Cyber Office Hours
AIM: teachsci23

Nature of Science
Animal Behavior
Conservation Biology
Shapes of Nature
Biomolecules
Cells: Tiny Bricks of Life
Energetics: Recharging Batteries
Genetics
Viruses and Bacteria
DNA & RNA: Blueprints of Life
Evolution
Biodiversity
Human Evolution
Human Body Systems

Course Description

The Journey into the inner workings of the living world:

(This journey may change your view of life, your view of science, your view of learning, and your view ofhow life works!)

  • This is a project- and laboratory-based course where you will be allowed to generate knowledge about biology (a fancy term for the study of the living world) with your peers.
  • Your teacher will be a guide for the journey, a facilitator, an events planner, and occasionally a source of information.
  • Other sources of information will be the textbook, charts and diagrams, videos, and many internet sources selected by the guide and by yourselves.
  • Always remember, you are the learner here! You are the one who needs to actively acquire knowledge.
  • The biology honors guide (aka teacher) will provide you some of the ways and means of acquiring knowledge about the living world but you will also actively construct and generate your own knowledge by interaction with each other, written text (books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, internet "stuff"), graphs and data charts, numbers, drawings yours and those of others), pictures and movies, sound, microscopes, test tubes, stethescopes, blood pressure monitors, computers, specimens (aka body parts), EACH OTHER....and the list goes on......
  • who knows where the journey will lead (actually, the guide does), but by the end of the journey you will be richer in knowledge and experience.

The content: (Ah....now it comes....)

  • TERMINOLOGY
    • used to describe the living world and how it functions..
    • there is a lot, so be prepared to memorize and share mnemonics with each other
  • Semester 1
    • Nature of Science
    • Animal Behavior
    • Conservation Biology
    • Shapes of Nature
    • Biomolecules
    • Cells: Tiny Bricks of Life
    • Energetics: Recharging Batteries
    • Genetics
  • Semester 2
    • Viruses and Bacteria
    • DNA & RNA: Blueprints of Life
    • Evolution
    • Biodiversity
    • Human Evolution
    • Human Body Systems

This doesn't seem so bad......you've seen some of this before

Nature of Science
Animal Behavior
Conservation Biology
Shapes of Nature
Biomolecules
Cells: Tiny Bricks of Life
Energetics: Recharging Batteries
Genetics
Viruses and Bacteria
DNA & RNA: Blueprints of Life
Evolution
Biodiversity
Human Evolution
Human Body Systems

Goals and Objectives:

  • Conscientiously become more scientifically literate in matters related to the living world as you develop an awareness of the diversity and complexity of life on earth.
  • Actively ask, find, determine answers related to biology
  • Carefully describe, explain, and predict consequences based on knowledge (prior and that to be acquired in this class) of the the living world by developing an understanding of various scientific methods and how they are used and how scientific hypotheses, laws, principles, and theories are formulated and tested.
  • Critically analyze articles about biology in the popular press
  • Accurately organize, analyze, and communicate information about the living world
  • Perceptively discuss issues related to human interactions with the living world
  • Dilligently develop an understanding of chemical and physical processes that occur within, affect, or are affected by living organisms.
  • Enthusiastically develop an awareness of the history of science and the men and women who have contributed to the advancement of biological knowledge.
  • Enjoy the Journey

Nature of Science
Animal Behavior
Conservation Biology
Shapes of Nature
Biomolecules
Cells: Tiny Bricks of Life
Energetics: Recharging Batteries
Genetics
Viruses and Bacteria
DNA & RNA: Blueprints of Life
Evolution
Biodiversity
Human Evolution
Human Body Systems

Requirements

COME TO CLASS PREPARED:

THIS MEANS

  • Read the text assignments (see homework chart)
  • Prepare and Study Vocabulary Lists
  • Prepare Outlines for Each Chapter (outline templates avaliable on Text Website)
  • TURN IN ASSIGNMENTS ON TIME (This means organize your time!)
  • Bring Text to Class
  • Bring a Pen or Pencil, Notebook, and Lab Notebook to class
  • Bring colored pens or pencils and a metric ruler
  • TURN IN ASSIGNMENTS ON TIME (did I mention this?)
  • Late assignments are NOT accepted!
  • If you are ill, your work is due the DAY you get back!
  • Students are expected to treat each other with respect in both words and actions. Inappropriate language and behavior is NOT tolerated!
  • Students may NOT eat in the classroom but may drink WATER.

Tests

 

  • 100 points each
  • 6 per semester
  • Multiple choice, label diagrams, fill in the blanks.....
  • Critical Thinking Questions
  • Vocabulary Intensive
  • Practice Questions on Text Website and on BioHon17
  • Graphing and Data Analysis
  • Short paragraphs
  • If you are ill on the day of the test, you must make arrangements to make up the test within 3 days of coming back to school!

Quizzes

  • 5~25 points each
  • Vocabulary~Based
  • Matching, Fill-in the Blanks, Label Diagrams
  • MAY BE UNANNOUNCED!!!!!
  • Quizzes may NOT be made up!
  • COME TO CLASS PREPARED!!!!
    • Have I mentioned this?

Projects

 

 

  • 100 points each
  • In Class Preparation
  • Group and Individual
  • Involve Library and Internet Research
  • Turned-in via email
  • PowerPoint/Web Pages/Word or other presentation format
  • Presented In Class and/or Viewed on the Web
  • Reflection Essay (individual assessment = 25~50 pts)
  • Late assignments are NOT accepted!

Lab Write-ups
The Labs

See Biology Lab Instructions for Details

  • 25~100 points each
  • Observations, Data Gathering, Data Organizing, Graphing
  • Microscopes, Dissections
  • Computer~Data Generation
  • Write-up in Lab Notebook or Turn-in Via Email
  • Late assignments are NOT accepted!

 

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Homework Checks

  • 5 points each = 20 pts per chapter
  • Vocabulary Definitions (see Homework Chart and First Class for term list)
  • Chapter Outlines (see Text WebSite for template)
  • Chapter Questions (see chapter resources for specific question numbers)
  • Late assignments are NOT accepted!
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Semester Final

 

  • 20 percent of the semester grade
  • Science Comprehension:
    • Read and interpret information related to biology
  • Science Content:
    • Similar to chapter tests~~questions taken from these tests
  • Data Analysis:
    • Organizing, graphing, and interpreting data related to biology
  • Critical Thinking:
    • Application of biology content to decision~making and data analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Grarding Scale: Standard Scale used school-wide: see page 6 of student manual.
  • Grades are NOT rounded!
  • Extra Credit:
    • Extra Reading Assignment is offered over Christmas Break
    • An Extra Credit Web Project is offered over Easter Break
    • THESE ARE THE ONLY EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE YEAR
  • Projects are flexible in DESIGN, not in DUE DATE
    • Turn in all assignments on time.....
    • Have I mentioned this?
  • Late assignments are NOT accepted!
  • NO DROPPED TESTS
  • Quizzes May Be Unannounced...
    • Come to Class Prepared ....
    • Have I mentioned this?
  • Extended Time Accommodations
    • It is the responsibility of the student to notify the teacher one day in advance of the need for extended time on a test or quiz, and it is the responsibility of the teacher to arrange for the extended time so that it does not impact other classes during the day.
  • Protocol for Addressing Student and Parent Concerns:
    • Students and parents are requested to speak first to the teacher regarding all issues of concern including grade challenges, and other matters related to classroom conduct, and evaluation, at an appropriate time. If, after addressing the matter directly with the teacher, the student or parent needs further help addressing the issue, he or she should proceed to the grade level academic advisor who will bring the parties together to satisfactorily resolve the issue. Students should be empowered by this process - and know that they are their own best advocates.
  • Senior Waiver Policy:
    • Second semester seniors who have achieved an average of 92.5 may waive their second semester final exams in disciplines that allow such waivers. Not all departments allow waivers; however, decisions must be made with department consensus.
  • Cell Phone Policy:
    • Pagers and cell phones must be turned off when students are in the classroom or any building on campus. If a cell phone or beeper goes off during class, it will be taken from the student and given to the Dean of Students until the end of the day. In addition, the student will serve a detention. A student's continued abuse of her the cell phone may result in more serious consequences.
  • Absenses and Tardies
    • You are considered tardy if you are NOT in your seat when the bell rings. You will be marked tardy if you enter class within the 1st 10 minutes of class. If you arrive after the 1st 10 minutes you will be sent to get a READMIT and will be considered ABSENT
  • Academic Integrity:
    • All work (homework, quizzes, tests, papers, projects, labs, etc.) must be your own.
    • Cheating includes, but is not limited to
      • submitting work copied from a friend or an outside source (without attribution)
      • giving work to a friend or giving/receiving excessive assistance from someone
      • Accepting or giving help during a test or quiz.
      • Using a calculator or notes without expressed permission of the teacher
      • Using notes stored on a calculator with expressed permission of the teacher
    • Plagerism, a form of cheating, involves presenting someone else's ideas or words, wheterh deliberate or inadvertent, without giving credit!

Helpful Hints

Science Resources
Anatomy
AP Biology Biology Honors Chemistry
Anatomy Projects  Biology Honors Projects Chemistry Projects
bone images  flower images   micro-images    leaf images   carbon models   periodic table
science images hotlist    grandeur    anatomy art gallery
Webquest on Science Webquests   Virtual Tours with a Science Twist


Animated Graphics
Courtesy of
Jo's World