BIOLOGY I – COURSE SYLLABUS

SOUTH POINTE HIGH SCHOOL

 

Instructor:        Mr. John Giacobbe, MA, RPA

Contacts:          voice: 602.243.0600                                           webpage: http://www.nakedscience.org/mrg/index.html

school email: john.giacobbe@leonagroup.com   home email: jgiacobbe_southpointe@cox.net

 

Success in Class is Based on the Following:

Grading Scale:

Ψ       Notebook & Note Taking Skills
  • A = 90 – 100%

Ψ       Lab Work
  • B = 80 – 89%   

Ψ       Daily Assignments
  • C = 70 – 79%

Ψ       Unit Tests & Block Exams
  • D = 60 – 69%          (Failing – No Credit)

Ψ       Participation & Behavior
  • F = 59% and below (Failing – No Credit)

 

Course Goals and Objectives: By the end of the course each student will:

  1. Understand the organization of living things and the ecological nature of the environment
  2. Understand species diversity, and become familiar with invertebrate, vertebrate, & human biology
  3. Understand the Process and Method of Scientific Research
  4. Plan and Prepare a Scientific Research Proposal

 

Participation:  Participation is everything! If I see that you are paying attention, trying your best, and getting involved in what we are doing, I will do everything I can to see that you succeed. Get involved every day and I can guarantee you will do well in my class. You will also earn participation points, so stay focused and follow instructions.

 

Notebook: To pass this course you will need to keep a notebook. This should include any handouts you get in class, lab notes, and daily lecture notes. KEEP EVERYTHING! All assessments are based on notes taken during class, and you can use your notes on most assessments. As you progress in your education and careers, the importance of taking good notes cannot be underestimated. Assessment may come at any time, so you must always come to class prepared.

 

Research Proposal: Each student will be responsible for planning and preparing a scientific research proposal. The proposal will be geared towards participation in the LeonaGroup Regional Academic Challenge

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Late Work:  For each day the assignment is late, you will receive one grade lower than you would have received if the assignment had been on time. After three days, you will receive a zero for that assignment.

 

Progress Reports: Progress reports are given out every week, and must be returned signed by the following week. If you do not receive a progress report, you can always email or ask me for a copy.

 

Absences: You know the rules. If you miss five days of classes, you get no credit. Don’t miss class, period!!! I have no power to reverse this rule, and students (including those who earned an “A”) fail each block because of absences!

 

Classroom Procedures:

 

  • Each day, please enter the classroom, take your seat, and begin working on the bellwork assignment, if any.
  • If you need assistance for any reason, raise your hand and wait to be called on.
  • If you need to leave the classroom for any reason, you must get my permission and use the hall pass.
  • At the end of class, please put your chairs back, throw your trash away, replace your text book and any equipment used, and wait for me to dismiss you.

 

Honesty: Cheating and plagiarism are unacceptable. Truly dreadful things will happen to you if I find you cheating or plagiarizing.

Cell Phones: Not. If you use one in class, I may take the phone and give it to one of my dogs, they always eat theirs.

Respect: Everything else comes under the heading of respect, so show it to both your teacher and fellow students.

 

Classroom Consequences:

 

1st Offense – Verbal Warning

2nd Offense – Loss of Participation Points for the Day and a Phone Call Home

3rd Offense – Visit with the Dean of Students, Loss of Privileges, Suspension, or Dismemberment

Biology I - Course Outline

 

Unit #               Title                                         Allotted Time               Subunits

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Unit 1               Introduction to Biology            One Week                   1.1 What is Biology

                                                                                                            1.2 Scientific Method & Hypothesis Testing

                                                                                                            1.3 Paleontology I: The History of Life

                                                                                                            1.4 Introduction to Ecology

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Unit 2               Basic Chemistry                     Two Days                    2.1 Classification of Matter 

                                                                                                            2.2 Atomic Structure & Chemical Bonding

                                                                                                            2.3 Basic Chemical Reactions

 

Unit 3               Biochemistry                           Three Days                 3.1 Organic & Biological Compounds

                                                                                                            3.2 Carbon Properties & Definition of Life

            3.3 The Molecules of Living Organisms

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Unit 4               Cell Theory                             One Week                   4.1 Structure and Function of Cells

                                                                                                            4.2 Homeostasis and Transport

                                                                                                            4.3 Photosynthesis

                                                                                                            4.4 Cellular Respiration

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Unit 5               Cell Reproduction                   One Week                   5.1 Cell Growth & Division

                                                                                                            5.2 Sexual Reproduction & Meiosis

                                                                                                            5.3 DNA: An Introduction

                                                                                                            5.4 Cloning

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Unit 6               Genetics & Evolution              Two Weeks                 6.1 Mechanisms of Evolution

                                                                                                            6.2 Evidence for Evolution

                                                                                                            6.3 Paleontology II

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Unit 7               Ecology Part I                         Two Weeks                 7.1 Overview of Ecology

                                                                                                            7.2 Abiotic Environment

                                                                                                            7.3 Biogeography

                                                                                                            7.4 Environmental Science

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Unit 8               Diversity of Species                One Week                   8.1 Classification of Life

                                                                                                            8.2 Environmentalism
Mr. G’s Science Department Web World

 

Web Page:                http://www.nakedscience.org/mrg/index.html

 

Science Blog:           http://nakedscience.blogspot.com/

 

Email:                         school email: john.giacobbe@leonagroup.com

 

            home email: jgiacobbe_southpointe@cox.net

 

We have a significant web presence that you should take advantage of. This includes: a web page with class notes, assignments, and old exams; a Science Blog, with extra credit assignments and interesting links posted every week; and an email newsletter, outlining what we are doing in each class each week and detailing upcoming labs, activities, and field trips.

 

Please send me an email address so I can add you to the list!

 

Thanks,

 

 

John Giacobbe

 

 

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Biology I – Review & Understanding of the Syllabus

(must be signed by parent/guardian and student)

 

 

Student Signature: __________________________  Date: ________________________

 

 

Student Name (print): __________________________         

 

 

Student email (optional): __________________________    

 

 

Parent/Guardian Signature: __________________________           Date: _______________________

 

 

Parent/Guardian Name (print): __________________________     

 

 

Parent/Guardian email (optional): __________________________