AP Biology
Welcome to AP biology with Mr. Schnacke. This website is designed to be a one stop shop for all slide sets, practice problems, and study guides. You can access the whole course at any time during the year. There are links to helpful videos, websites, simulations, and questions boards.
Course Description
The AP Biology course is designed to enable you to develop advanced inquiry and reasoning skills, such
as designing a plan for collecting data, analyzing data, applying mathematical routines, and connecting
concepts in and across domains. The result will be readiness for the study of advanced topics in
subsequent college courses—a goal of every AP course. This AP Biology course is equivalent to a
two-semester college introductory biology course and has been endorsed enthusiastically by higher
education officials.
It is highly recommended students complete a Biology course and Chemistry course with a grade of “C” or better before undertaking AP Biology. A significant amount of studying must be completed at home to allow time for discussion, labs, and inquiry during class time. All students are expected to take the AP exam in May.
AP Exam Details
Date and time: Wednesday May 10th, 12pm mountain time
Part 1: Multiple choice: 60 questions, 90 minutes
Part 2: Free Response: 6 questions, 90 minutes
Big Ideas
College Board has four “Big Ideas” that are the foundation of AP Biology:
Big Idea 1: Evolution- the process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.
Big Idea 2: Energetics- biological systems use energy and molecular building blocks to grow, reproduce, and maintain dynamic homeostasis.
Big Idea 3: Information Storage And Transmission- living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes.
Big Idea 4: Systems Interactions- biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions exhibit complex properties.
Science Practices
The redesign of AP science courses and exams focuses on six overarching practices that capture important aspects of the work of scientists. Science practices describe the knowledge and skills that students should learn and demonstrate to reach a goal or complete a learning activity.
Science Practice 1: Concept Explanation -Explain biological concepts, processes, and models presented in written format.
Science Practice 2: Visual Representations- Analyze visual representations of biological concepts and processes.
Science Practice 3: Question and Method- Determine scientific question and method.
Science Practice 4: Representing and Describing Data- Represent and describe data.
Science Practice 5: Statistical Tests and Data Analysis- Perform statistical tests and mathematical calculations to analyze and interpret data.
Science Practice 6: Argumentation-Develop and justify scientific arguments using evidence.
Course Units and Topics
Chemical properties of molecules & properties of water (review)
Properties of bonds and intramolecular bonding
Classes of organic molecules and functional groups
Unit 2: Cell structure and function
Prokaryote vs. Eukaryote
Differences between eukaryotic cells
Composition and function of organelles
Membrane Permeability and Transport
Active vs. passive transport: types and purpose and how they function
Cell Compartmentalization
Enzymes
Cellular Energy
Photosynthesis: entire chemical process
Cellular respiration: entire chemical process, anaerobic vs. aerobic
Unit 4: Cell Communication & Cell Cycle
Overview
Signal transduction
Feedback
Cell cycle & Regulation
Meiosis
Meiosis and Genetic Diversity
Mendelian Genetics
Non-Mendelian Genetics
Environmental Effects on Phenotype
Chromosomal Inheritance
Unit 6: Gene Expression & Regulation
DNA & RNA Structure
Replication
Transcription
Translation
Regulation of Gene Expression
Gene Expression and Cell Specialization
Mutations
Biotechnology
Natural Selection
Artificial Selection
Population Genetics
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
Evidence of Evolution
Common Ancestry
Phylogeny
Speciation
Extinction
Variations in Populations
Responses to Environment
Energy Flow through Ecosystems
Population Ecology & Effect of Density
Community Ecology
Biodiversity
Disruptions
Textbook and Required Materials
Textbook: Campbell-Biology in Focus AP Edition- you may leave the physical book at home if you prefer and access the online text at school if need be. I do not care which edition you use, the most recent (3rd-linked) is usually the most expensive and older (1st or 2nd) editions are fine for this course.
Required materials:
Lab composition notebook- must be bound (no spiral notebooks)
Pen-blue or black ink and pencil
Closed-toe shoes for lab days
Calculator (scientific or graphing)
Classroom Expectations
Regular Attendance: Students are expected to attend class, whether it is in-person or virtual. Students who regularly miss class will have difficulty passing this course.
No cell phones unless SPECIFICALLY allowed under certain circumstances.
Completion of Assignments: Assignments are due on the date assigned. While re-submissions and retakes are allowed, using this as a tool for delaying assignments will only increase your workload as the class progresses.
Respect: Respect for your instructor, your classmates, and all classroom materials must be maintained at all times.
Appropriate Virtual Behavior (if necessary): All rules that must be followed in-class must also be followed while on Zoom (or any other virtual classroom that is set up).
One Last note from Mr. Schnacke
I am here to help you learn but it is your responsibility to do the learning. My philosophy is that this time in high school is a place for you to try your hardest, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes without being penalized extensively.
If you need help prioritizing your time, organizing your materials, or have questions pertaining to an assignment, please consult with me as soon as possible. Do not wait until the day assignments are due to ask for help.