Honors Biology Syllabus
2016-2017
Course
Summary
Course Outline
Textbook
Mrs. Kathy Megivern
[email protected]
School Phone: 965-9630
Best time to reach me: Anytime outside of class times
Biology is the study of living things. It seeks to answer questions such as:
 What characteristics do all living things share?
 How do organisms perform functions necessary for life?

How do organisms interact with each other and with their environment?
This course is designed to develop students’ ability to think scientifically in the context of biology. Along
with learning major principles of biology, this course will focus on the following science skills:
 Asking questions and defining problems
 Developing and using models
 Planning and carrying out investigations
 Analyzing and interpreting data
 Using mathematics and quantitative thinking
 Constructing explanations
 Using evidence to support claims
 Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Semester 1
 Unit 1 - Introduction to Biology
 Unit 2 – Biochemistry
 Unit 3 - Cell Structure and Transport
 Unit 4 - The Cell Cycle and Mitosis
 Unit 5 - Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
 Unit 6 - Pathogens and the Immune System
Semester 2
 Unit 7 – DNA and Protein Synthesis
 Unit 8 – Meiosis and Heredity
 Unit 9 – Classification
 Unit 10 – Evolution
 Unit 11 - Ecology
Holt-McDougal Biology (Stephen Nowicki)
You will not be assigned a textbook for Biology class. Instead, we will use a classroom set for in-class
work. Outside of class you can access the on-line version of the text by going to my.hrw.com and
signing in. The username is ilovebio2, and the password is ahsbio.
Required
Materials
You may check out a textbook for the year from the Media Center if you choose.
Being prepared is important for success in any class. Bring the following with you to Biology class each
day:
 3-ring binder with loose leaf paper
 Black/blue pen and one other color pen
 Pencils
 Colored pen (for modifying thinking)
 Calculator
Develop the habit of having paper and pencil out (unless otherwise instructed), ready to jot down
notes.
Clipart from http://schools.clipart.com.
Assessment
and Grading
Formative Assessment: Formal and informal processes teachers and students use to gather evidence
for the purpose of improving learning.
Summative Assessment: Assessments that provide evidence of student achievement for the purpose
of making a judgment about student competence or program effectiveness.
How students will be graded:
 A 0-100 percent scale will be utilized at the secondary level in the Ankeny Community
School District.
 Letter grades will continue to be assigned for all courses at the secondary level based on
 the 0-100 percent scale.
Minimum
Percent
92.5
89.5
86.5
82.5
79.5
76.5
72.5
69.5
66.5
62.5
59.5
59 and
below
Letter
Grade
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F
80% of your course grade is determined by Summative Assessments such as quizzes, unit tests, labs,
and projects.
10% of your course grade is determined by Collected Work completed during or outside of class.
10% of your course grade is determined by a Semester Final Exam.
Important! All summative assessments (quizzes, tests, labs, and projects) must be
completed and turned in before you can receive a grade for the course!
Multiple and
Varied
Assessment
Opportunities
(including
Retakes)
Students will have multiple assessment opportunities to demonstrate higher levels of
achievement. The opportunities may be initiated by the instructor or the student, but always at the
instructor’s discretion. Additional opportunities may include retakes of an alternate form of an
assessment (e.g., Form B instead of Form A), student revisions of work products based on descriptive
feedback, or alternative methods of assessments (e.g., an oral response rather than a written test).
Specific guidelines are the following:
 Students will be provided the opportunity to be reassessed (i.e., retakes and homework).
 Teachers determine appropriateness and authentic need for reassessments.
 Generally, reassessments will be limited to one retake per assessment. Additional
reassessments will be provided at the discretion of the teacher.
 While a retake is encouraged by the teacher, it is ultimately a student’s decision whether or
not to participate in the retake.
 Retakes will be taken within a reasonable time frame that the teacher determines and informs
students of in advance.
In this course, the main summative assessments include quizzes and unit tests. Your scores on these
assessments will make up 80% of your grade.
You may have the opportunity to retake all or part of a unit test. Each retake is subject to the guidelines
mentioned above. Before a retake can be done, the student must meet with the teacher at least once
outside of class and, in most cases, do some extra practice work.
Clipart from http://schools.clipart.com.
Homework and
Independent
Practice
Through independent learning tasks (i.e. homework), students assume more responsibility for their
learning and are given opportunities to apply what they have learned to new situations or experiences.
There are four main purposes for independent learning tasks:
Purpose 1: Building fluency
Purpose 2: Applying knowledge
Purpose 3: Reviewing and practicing past learning
Purpose 4: Extending learning across topics and disciplines
The purpose of an assignment will determine whether or not a grade is given. Independent practice /
homework shall be individualized as needed and based on each student’s progress towards established
standards.
In this course, graded homework will be included in “Collected Work” and make up 10% of your
overall grade.
Extra Credit
and Bonus
Points
Missing Class
To ensure that grades reflect progress toward and achievement of the standards, giving extra credit
points or bonus points will not occur in this class.
It is important for you to be in class as much as possible. Students who do poorly in the class generally
do so because they miss too much class.*
If you miss class for some reason, it is your responsibility to talk to the teacher and pick up your missed
work. For each day missed, you have two days to turn in the assigned homework.
If you are absent on the day of a test or quiz, it is your responsibility to see the teacher to arrange the
soonest possible make-up date and time.
Tests are announced well ahead of time. If you are absent on the “Review Day” before each test, you
are expected to take the test on the scheduled day with the rest of the class.
Behavioral
Expectations
*Note that when students are present but not focusing on class work, the same effect is usually seen.
The vision of the Ankeny Community Schools is that behavior will be reported separately from
academic achievement.
Behavior expectations for this course:
 attending class
 bringing required materials to class
 participating in all learning activities
 keeping materials updated and organized (do not throw away papers until you’ve received your
final grade for the class)
 completing in-class and outside-class practice exercises
 exhibiting self-control, including with your cell phone, chromebook and other personal
technology*
 showing respect for the learning of others
 accessing storage areas and materials only as directed
 performing only teacher-authorized experiments
 paying careful attention to and complying with safety procedures presented in class
 limiting food and drink, except for some special activities, to water bottles with secure screw-top
lids and quiet gum (allowed only if no trash from these is left in the room)
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Any violations will be dealt with in accordance with Ankeny
High School policy.
*Further policies regarding cell phones may be announced as needed.
Clipart from http://schools.clipart.com.
Need Extra
Help?
Four teachers in the building are teaching biology and available if you have questions.
 Period 5L Ms. Megivern – Rm 1115
 Period 6 Mr. Grulke — Rm 2407
 Period 8 Ms. Olson — Rm 2406
 Period 8 Mr. Hubbard – Rm 1116
If you need to come in for help, just ask and we can set up a time. Please bring a list of specific
questions/topics that need to be addressed.
Mrs.
Megivern’s
Schedule:
Before School—Usually available for help
Per. 1 Honors Biology
Per. 2 Honors Biology
Per. 3 Teacher collaboration
Per. 4 Honors Biology
Per. 5L Planning
Per. 6 Honors Biology
Per. 7 Biology
Per. 8 Astronomy
After School—Usually available for help
Become familiar with Megivern’s Google Classroom and Google Site
(https://sites.google.com/a/staff.ankenyschools.org/megivern/)for a copy of this course syllabus,
selected class handouts, important dates and updates, useful links, and more.
Clipart from http://schools.clipart.com.