Biology I Fall 2014

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Ms. Erica Putnam
Classroom: #223 in Biotech
Website: www.putnamscience.weebly.com Email: ericaa.putnam@cms.k12.nc.us
Phone: 980.343.1110 Tutoring: Tuesday & Thursday 2:30-3:30
About Biology I
Biology is an exciting, hands-on course that surveys the study of life. We will investigate the answers to many biological
questions and will discover that we have even more unanswered questions! Biology is an EOC class and passing this
course is required for graduation. Together, we will work to ensure that you are proficient in Biology and prepared to
take this exam in June.

Classroom Expectations
a. All policies listed in the Students Rights and Responsibilities handbook and the Science Safety Contract will be
enforced.
b. Be Prompt Be in your assigned seat when the tardy bell rings. Students will only be allowed to leave the
classroom for urgent problems, and will not be able to leave on regular basis.
c. Be Prepared- Be ready to start class with binder, sharpened pencil, paper and homework turned in at the
beginning of class. Homework is due at the beginning of class and should be turned in to the designated bin. It is
the students responsibility to turn in homework without reminders.
d. Be Respectful to others and their property Do not use profanity, eat or drink, wear a hat, put on makeup,
write on desks, sleep in class, or put your head down on the desks. Do not talk while the teacher is talking or
another student is presenting or appropriately asking a question or making a comment. Do not touch others
materials without permission.
e. Be Honest - No cheating, plagiarism, forgeries, or copying. I expect you to do your own work and tell the truth.
f. Be cooperative Have a positive attitude, listen and follow directions, and be a conscientious lab partner. Be
aware that your attitude and behavior affects other students as well as yourself. I care about the education of all
students, but if your behavior is disruptive to others than I may remove you from class.
g. Science Safety Contract All rules and guidelines outlined in the science safety contract are in place for
students safety and will be enforced strictly at all times.
Consequences:
In our classroom, its all about choices! If you make the choice to not follow our classroom rules, there will be
consequences to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn!
1. Student will receive a verbal warning from Ms. Putnam.
2. If a student is disruptive to the learning process they will be asked to sit in time out in another teachers
classroom.
3. Guardian Contact
4. Severe Behavior (dangerous, unsafe, or illegal behavior or chronic issues or disruptions): Administrative
Intervention

Attendance Policy
There is an absences crate that will include copies of all of the materials worked on each day. Materials can also
be found on my webpage. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed and ask questions if you need
clarification. If work was assigned BEFORE you were absent, it is due the day you return. If work was assigned DURING
your absence, you have 5 school days to turn in the make-up work. Remember every day you miss you miss a 90 minute
period where a lot of important information is covered. Make up work is not as beneficial as being present for the
class, and all labs must be made up after school!
If you are absent more than 2 days during a unit then you should come to tutoring to get caught up on the
material missed. This is not a punishment, but an opportunity to stay on the same level as the rest of the class! In
addition if a student is absent for more than 10 days during a semester they will need to make up that time outside of
normal school hours. 10 or more absences without making up time after school will result in automatic failure of the
course.
Biology I Fall 2014
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Required Supplies
*All students are required to have an agenda. This agenda is a useful tool for keeping track of assignments and will serve
as their hall pass. Students may not leave the classroom without one.
Each day, all students are required to have:
Pens and pencils
A 3-ring binder with 9 dividers (purchased or made), 1 for each unit.
Loose leaf lined paper
Optional but useful: highlighter and colored pencils
Other supplies will be provided in class. If you have any difficulty obtaining these items, please see Ms. Putnam.

Classroom Procedures (Abbreviated)
Tardiness: You are expected to be in your seat working on the warm up when the tardy bell rings. If you are still in the
hall, you will report to lockout in the biotech office.
Late Work: 5% will be deducted for every day that an assignment is late unless you have accommodations that allow you
to have extra time. Homework is due at the beginning of class, and class work is due by the start of the next class. NOTE:
Assignments that are due at the beginning of the class will be considered a day late if they are turned in at the end of
class.
Leaving your seat: I expect you to be in your seat or at your designated lab bench at all times. If you need to leave your
seat, you must request permission.
Dismissal: In order for the class to leave on time, the classroom must be clean and all materials must be put away. The
bell does not dismiss you, I do.

Plan for the Semester
The EOC will be taken between January 13
th
and 17
th
. Date TBD.
Science classes give tests and quizzes on Thursdays. You can expect a quiz or a test almost every Thursday.
Unit 1: Scientific Method and Introduction to life (STERNGRR) 2.1.2
Unit2: Biochemistry (4.1.1, 4.1.3)
Unit 3: Cells, Transport, & BIoenergetic (1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.1, 5.2.1, 4.2.2)
Unit 4: DNA, RNA and Protein Synthesis (1.1.3, 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 4.1.2)
Unit 5: Cell Division, Reproduction & Genetics (3.2.1, 3.2.2, 1.1.2)
Unit 6: Biotechnology (3.3.1-3.3.3)
Unit 7: Evolution and Classification (3.4.1-3.4.3, 3.5.1, 3.5.2)
Unit8: Living Organisms, Adaptations, STERNGRR & behavior (1.2.3, 2.1.2)
Unit 9: Ecology and Human Impact (2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4 & 2.2.1)

Grading
Your grade will be based on a weighted point system:
Quarter 1 (37.5% of final grade):
60% Formal Assignments all worth 100 points each
Tests
Projects
Average of weekly notebook checks for the
quarter.
20% Informal Assignments
Quizzes 100 points each
Homework 10 points each
Weekly notebook checks 100 points each
20% Midterm Exam

Quarter 2 (37.5% of final grade)
70% Formal Assignments all worth 100 points each
Tests
Projects
Average of weekly notebook checks for the
quarter.
30% Informal Assignments
Quizzes 100 points each
Homework 10 points each
Weekly notebook checks 100 points each
EOC/Final exam is worth 25% of your final grade!
Retests: Retests are allowed on Unit Exams ONLY IF you have scored below an 84% AND have completed test
corrections. The highest grade you can get on a retest is an 84%.
Grading Scale:
A = 93-100
B = 85-92
C = 77-84
D = 70-76
F = 0-69
Biology I Fall 2014
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Notebook Check Schedule: You are expected to turn in your notebooks every Thursday without a reminder!
Notebook checks are both an informal weekly grade AND a formal quarter grade!
All class assignments will remain in the binders/notebooks and will be graded as part of the weekly notebook
checks.
Weekly Notebook Check Grades:
Table of Contents (TOC): 5 points
5 points = complete and accurate
0 points = not complete and accurate
Cornell Notes: 55 points
Notes (5 points each X 5 days): 25points
5 points = fully complete
4 points = missing one or two small things
3 points = missing one major thing
2 points = missing two major things
1 point = missing three major things
0 points = missing more than three major things
Summaries (3 points each X 5 days): 15 points
3 points = excellent summary that fully summarizes the notes, answers the essential question, AND
makes connections between concepts
2 points = adequate summary that fully summarizes the notes AND answers the essential question
1 point = answers the essential question
0 points = did not answer the essential question
Questions/vocabulary (3 points each x 5 days): 15 points
3 points = All vocabulary from the notes is listed to the left of the notes AND at least one higher level
question is provided.
2 points = All essential vocabulary from the notes is listed
1 point = only half the essential vocabulary from the notes is listed
0 points = less than half the essential vocabulary from the notes is listed
Class Assignments (8 points each x 5 days): 40 points
8 points = Excellent (goes above and beyond what is expected)
7 points = does what is expected
- Points will be deducted for lack of detail or based on the amount of the assignment that isnt
complete.
Total: 100 points
Honors:
There will be a district approved honors portfolio that you will need to complete in order to receive honors
credit. Assignments to be included in the portfolio will be given periodically during the semester and will be
graded on a pass/fail basis. You will have to re-do any honors assignments that you fail.
Extra Credit
You will occasionally have the opportunity to receive extra credit. These opportunities will be available to the entire
class, and you will have 1 week to complete the task. I do not give extra credit on an individual basis!
Tutoring: I offer tutoring from 2:30-3:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you would like to stay for tutoring you must be in
my room by 2:30pm, unless you have a pass from another teacher, and you must be picked up at 3:30pm. If you can not
be picked up on time you cannot stay for tutoring.
Agreement: By signing this syllabus I am stating that I have read and understand the syllabus.

Student Name:________________________Signature:_____________________Date:_________

Parent Name:________________________Signature:_____________________Date:_________
Biology I Fall 2014
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North Carolina Biology Essential Standards:
1.1 Understand the relationship between the structures and functions of cells and their organelles.
1.1.1 Summarize the structure and function of organelles in eukaryotic cells (including the nucleus, plasma membrane, cell wall,
mitochondria, vacuoles, chloroplasts, and ribosomes) and ways that these organelles interact with each other to perform the
function of the cell.
1.1.2 Compare prokaryotic cells in terms of their general structures (plasma membrand and genetic material) and degree of complexity.
1.1.3 Explain how instructions in DNA lead to cell differentiation and result in cells specialized to perform specific function in degree of
complexity.
1.2 Analyze the cell as a living system.
1.2.1 Explain how homeostasis is maintained in a cell within an organism in various environments (including temperature and pH).
1.2.2 Analyze how cells grow and reproduce in terms of interphase, mitosis and cytokinesis.
1.2.3 Explain how specific cell adaptations help cells survive in particular environments (focus on unicellular organisms)
2.1 Analyze the interdependence of living organisms with their environments.
2.1.1 Analyze the flow of energy and cycling of matter (such as water, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen) through ecosystems relating the
significance of each to maintaining the health and sustainability of the ecosystem.
2.1.2 Analyze the survival and reproductive success of organisms in terms of behavior, structural, and reproductive adaptations.
2.1.3 Explain various ways organisms interact with each other (including predation, competition, parasitism, mutualism) and with their
environment resulting in stability within ecosystems.
2.1.4 Explain why ecosystems can be relatively stable over hundreds or thousands of years, even though population may fluctuate
(emphasizing availability of food, availability of shelter, number of predators and disease).
2.2 Understand the impact of human activities on the environment (one generation affects the next).
2.2.1 Infer how human activities (including population growth, pollution, global warming, burning of fossil fuels, habitat destruction and
introduction of nonnative species) may impact the environment.
2.2.2 Explain how the use, protection and conservation of natural resources by humans impact the environment from one generation to
the next.
3.1 Explain how traits are determined by the structure and function of DNA.
3.1.1 Explain the double-stranded, complementary nature of DNA as related to its function in the cell.
3.1.2 Explain how DNA and RNA code for proteins and determine traits.
3.1.3 Explain how mutations in DNA that result from interactions with the environment (i.e. radiation and chemicals ) or new
combinations in existing genes lead to changes in function and phenotype.
3.2 Understand how the environment, and/or the interaction of alleles, influences the expression of genetic traits.
3.2.1 Explain the role of meiosis in sexual reproduction and genetic variation
3.2.2 Predict offspring ratios based on a variety of inheritance patterns (including dominance, co-dominance, incomplete dominance,
multiple alleles, and sex-linked traits).
3.2.3 Explain how the environment can influence the expression of genetic traits.
3.3 Understand the application of DNA technology.
3.3.1 Interpret how DNA is used for comparison and identification of organisms.
3.3.2 Summarize how transgenic organisms are engineered to benefit society
3.3.3 Evaluate some of the ethical issues surrounding the use of DNA technology (including cloning, genetically modified organisms, stem
cell research, and Human Genome Project.)
3.4 Explain the theory of evolution by natural selection as a mechanism for how species change over time.
3.4.1 Explain how fossil, biochemical, and anatomical evidence support the theory of evolution.
3.4.2 Explain how natural selection influences the changes in species over time.
3.4.3 Explain how various disease agents (bacteria, viruses, chemicals) can influence natural selection.
3.5 Analyze how classification systems are developed upon speciation.
3.5.1 Explain the historical development and changing nature of the classification system.
3.5.2 Analyze the classification of organisms according to their evolutionary relationships (including dichotomous keys and phylogenetic
trees)
4.1 Understand how biological molecules are essential to the survival of living organisms.
4.1.1 Compare the structures and functions of the major biological molecules (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids) as related
to the survival of living organisms.
4.1.2 Summarize the relationship among DNA, Proteins and amino acids ni carrying out the work of cells and how this is similar tin all
organisms
4.1.3 Explain how enzymes act as catalysts for biological reactions.
4.2 Analyze the relationships between biochemical processes and energy use in the cell.
4.2.1 Analyze photosynthesis and cellular respiration in terms of how energy is stored, released, and transferred within and between
these systems.
4.2.2 Explain ways that organisms use released energy for maintaining homeostasis (active transport).