AP Biology Summer Assignment 2015-2016 Introduction: Welcome to AP Biology! If you are holding this paper you are one of the lucky ones who are taking AP Biology. Over the course of the next school year, you will learn a tremendous amount about biology. Yay! I have to warn you: this is not the world’s easiest class; it is a little like drinking from a fire hose; however, I will personally make sure that, if you give it your best, you will not be disappointed. Do not be intimidated! If you want to succeed in AP biology, you will. Do not get me wrong, success in the class will take work, but I will provide you with all of the tools necessary to be successful. This course is designed to be equivalent to a two-semester introductory biology course (8 credit hours) and an introductory biology lab (3 hours) that are usually taken in the first year of college. (Most AP courses in high school only give 3 credit hours.) My goal is to prepare you for taking an upper division college biology during your first year of college. AP Biology will be a rewarding experience, but it will also be challenging. I know what you are thinking….why a summer assignment? AP Biology is a rigorous, yet manageable and rewarding class. In order to meet the demands of the curriculum, it is necessary for you to complete some work before you come back in August. The College Board Objectives outlined for AP Biology are broad and deep. We have the months of August-May to complete 56 chapters in the textbook prior to AP testing in May. In order to cover the ENTIRE textbook, we must dive into our learning during the summer months. First, you need to register for the course website and the book website. The step-by-step instructions are below. If you have any problems, feel free to stop by and ask me or email me at
[email protected]. Second, you will need to write a letter of introduction and post it to the discussion thread on schoology.com. Third, you will read and fill out reading guides for chapters 1-4. Then, you will do online activities for each chapter and then take a timed quiz. These will be daily grades and quiz grades respectively. During the first week of school, we will have a test over the first four chapters, so be sure to read in depth. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me (
[email protected]) or stop by my room (2260) and talk with me. I look forward to working with you during the next school year and I hope you have a wonderful summer break!! Sincerely, Ms. Christie Caldwell
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To Complete Your Assignments, You Need to Register for these Online Sites Step 1: Register for Schoology.com (Class website) 1. Go to schoology.com. 2. Click on signup, then click on student, and enter the following access code: 2J8N7-3R86P. 3. Enter all of the information needed and then click on register. 4. I will have to accept your request, which may take up to 24 hours before I see the request. 5. Once you can log on to schoology.com, click the tab at the top labeled courses and select AP Biology HHS: Section 1. 6. All of the instructions and documents will be posted in the summer assignment 15-16 folder. 7. NOTE: this is where you will have access to all course related documents, upload assignments (letter), and be able to have discussions and ask questions with other classmates. Step 2: Register for Online Textbook and Masteringbiology (You must follow this step-by-step!) 1. Go to www.pearsonschool.com/access 2. Enter SSNAST into the text field and click “enter code” 3. Use the drop down menu under “covered titles” to register for the correct book. a. Click on “science”, then Campbell, Biology 9e AP* edition b. Then click student registration. c. Read and accept the license agreement. d. Select “No” when asked if you have a Pearson account and create a Login name and password. KEEP THIS LOG IN AND PASSWORD SAFE. e. Enter one of following access codes and then click next: SSNAST – TRAIL – SKELF – TURVY – FLAIR – HIKES SSNAST – TRAIL – SKELF – TURVY – FLAIR – GAMES f. Complete the personal information. g. Complete the school location. School zip: 75010 – School name: other – Other school name: Hebron High School – School city: Carrollton – School State: Texas h. Enter a security question and answer. i. Once you have completed the process you will receive an email from
[email protected] with a link to your online resources or you can just click login now. j. Join Your Online course – answer: yes k. The Course ID is: MBCALDWELL37993 2
Step 3: Accessing/Viewing/Using Your Online Textbook and Masteringbiology Accessing and Viewing the chapters using the “eText” 1. Go to www.masteringbiology.com and sign in. 2. Select the blue tab “eText” at the top of the page. 3. On the left hand side of the page is the table of contents, select the chapter you wish to view and read. a. You can highlight, underline and make notes on these pages. b. NOTE: There is an app for the textbook on your iPad in case you would like to use it (Pearson eText) Accessing and Viewing the chapters using the “STUDY AREA” 4. Go to www.masteringbiology.com and sign in. 5. Select the blue tab “study area” at the top of the page. 6. At the top of the page there is a pull-down menu, select the chapter that you need to study and click “GO” 7. Under each section of the chapter, there are associated virtual activities and videos to help reinforce the concepts. 8. At the end of the chapter, there are self-quizzes and practice tests. Accessing and Viewing the “ASSIGNMENTS” for each chapter (ACTIVITIES & QUIZZES) 9. Go to www.masteringbiology.com and sign in. 10. Select the blue tab “assignments” at the top of the page. 11. All of the assignments will be listed below. 12. For the summer assignment you must complete: (These will be graded!) a. Chapter 1 activities (80 minutes) and Chapter 1 quiz (20 minutes) b. Chapter 2 activities (15 minutes) and Chapter 2 quiz (10 minutes) c. Chapter 3 activities (50 minutes) and Chapter 3 quiz (15 minutes) d. Chapter 4 activities (20 minutes) and Chapter 4 quiz (15 minutes)
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Assignment #1: Post: Letter of Introduction Due date: Sunday, August 16, 2015 at 11:59 pm I would like to know who you are; therefore, your first graded assignment is to write a letter of introduction and copy and paste it onto the letter of introduction discussion thread on schoology.com. The purpose of this letter is to allow everyone in the course to become familiar with others in the class. There are no right or wrong answers to the questions below. However, you will need to answer all of the questions below, to receive full credit on the assignment! I would also like you to include a picture of yourself at the top of the letter in order to put a face with your name. Rules for the letter: 1. Please use clearly written and complete sentences. Do not abbreviate words like you are texting. 2. Please use spell check both on the computer and in your brain! This is a professional communication like you would have with a college professor, so let’s practice for your rapidly, nearing future! 3. Begin the letter with a formal salutation like “Dear Ms. Caldwell” and end the letter with a formal closing: “Cordially”, “Sincerely”, “Warm regards”, etc. and add your name as if you signed a letter. What do I put in the letter? a. Put a picture of yourself at the top b. Introduce yourself (your name include your nickname) c. What do you like to do (hobbies, sports, music, interests, etc.)? d. Tell me a little bit about your family (Mom? Dad? Guardian? Siblings? Pets?) e. How long have you lived in the area? Were you born here? f. What do your parents do for a living? g. Who was your last science teacher? What class? What grade did you earn? h. What other science classes have you taken? Are you planning to take any next year? i.
Was there any unit that you liked/disliked about your ninth grade biology class?
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What are you looking forward to the most in AP Biology?
k. What are you anxious about the most in AP Biology? l.
Why are you taking AP Biology? What do you hope to accomplish/gain?
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Assignment #2 Chapters 1 - 4 in Online Textbook For each of the chapters, go to the schoology.com class website and download the chapter reading guide. Then, read the chapter while filling out the reading guide. I also included a copy of each reading guide in your folder. These will be due in class on the first day of school. (All four will be one daily grade.) Next, you need to log on to masteringbiology.com and go through the assignment titled “activities” for each chapter. This consists of tutorials and activities that will reinforce the concepts from the chapter. The activities will be worth a daily grade and due Sunday, August 23 at 11:59 pm. After you feel confident that you have reviewed the content in the chapter, then you will need to take a timed quiz by the due date: Sunday, August 23 at 11:59 pm. Each chapter has a different number of questions and therefore will have different time limits. These will be worth quiz grades. Reminder: We will have a cumulative test during the first week of school over these concepts. Be prepared.
Chapter 1 activities (approximately 80 minutes) and Chapter 1 quiz (25 multiple choice in 20 minutes) Overview and review of biology Be sure to spend significant time reading and reviewing this chapter
Chapter 2 activities (approximately 15 minutes) and Chapter 2 quiz (15 multiple choice in 10 minutes) Overview and review of elements and bonding from chemistry
Chapter 3 activities (approximately 50 minutes) and Chapter 3 quiz (18 multiple choice in 15 minutes) Overview and review of properties of water Be able to calculate molarity and pH Spend time on the bicarbonate buffer equation in the oceans and the blood
Chapter 4 activities (approximately 20 minutes) and Chapter 4 quiz (20 multiple choice in 15 minutes) Overview of organic chemistry For many students, this will be new information. Focus on the functional groups –memorize the structures and functions (make a chart)
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Calendar for Due Dates Assignment Join Course at Schoology.com (Access Code: 2J8N7-3R86P) Register for Masteringbiology.com
Due Date Before you leave for the summer Come by during A block lunch to do this together
Chapter 1
Letter of Introduction
August 16, 2015 (11:59 pm)
Reading Guide
Sunday, August 23 (11:59 pm)
Online Activities Online Quiz Chapter 2
Reading Guide
Sunday, August 23 (11:59 pm)
Online Activities Online Quiz Chapter 3
Reading Guide
Sunday, August 23 (11:59 pm)
Online Activities Online Quiz Chapter 4
Reading Guide
Sunday, August 23 (11:59 pm)
Online Activities Online Quiz
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