AP Environmental Science

Syllabus
2009-2010
Mr. Vermillion
The Westminster Schools

Text: Living in the Environment, 15th Ed G. Tyler Miller, Jr. Thomson/Brooks/Cole

Biology textbook website: go to http://www.brookscole.com and work through the

subjects and textbooks options until you find our textbook. The website contains Flash
cards, Tutorial Quizzes, Lecture Outlines, and Learning Objectives and Review
Questions for each chapter.
.
Supplies: Three ringed notebook, notebook paper, graph paper, pencils and pen,
notebook dividers, and a device to store files, downloads etc.

Please don’t use a composition type notebook for this class. They are unacceptable for
the type work we do. Use the three-ringed binder with dividers. If you want to keep other
work in it, that’s fine, as long as you use dividers to separate and organize your work.

Scope: First semester, chapters 1-16. Second semester; chapters 17-26.

Room: R-104 for classes, labs, and Extra Help (sometimes R-308).

Tests and Examinations: We will have two to three tests each month as well as a
number of quizzes. There will be a final exam for each term.

Homework: At the beginning of each term, each student will receive 50 points for
homework credit. Random homework checks worth five points each will be made from
time to time. If you have your homework completed with supporting work shown, then
you keep your points. Otherwise, you can lose up to 5 points per homework check. So to
keep an “A” for homework, always have your completed assignments with you when you
come to biology class. Consider all homework assignments as “pledged”.

Homework assignments will generally come from the text and the Brookscole.com
website. Your standard homework assignment is to complete: (a) the study guide
questions (b) master the vocabulary for each chapter. You should divide each chapter into
three roughly equal sections and read each section in three nearly consecutive nights. As
you do your readings, answer the review exercise questions provided. They generally
follow the text’s order of topics.

Example: chapter 1. First night read pages 6-12 and answer questions 1-10; second
night, read pages 13-17 and answer questions 11-17; and the third night read pages
18-26 and answer the remaining review exercise questions. Also master the
vocabularies as you read and study the text’s topics.

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 AP Environmental Science
Syllabus
2009-2010
Mr. Vermillion
The Westminster Schools

We will cover an appropriate number of sections each lecture period. As we complete a

section, be sure to have mastered its vocabulary and key concepts. These are in bold
faced print. Other homework assignments will generally come from the text, class
handouts, and the Brookscole.com website.

If no specific homework is assigned, your homework is to spend 30 – 45 minutes

reviewing or reading ahead.

Class work: Bring your text to class.

We will cover an appropriate number of sections each lecture period. As we complete a

section, again be sure to have mastered its vocabulary and key concepts. These are in
bold faced print.

Laboratory: Labs will be completed weekly. Generally, you will not have formal lab
reports assigned. However, you are responsible for answering all questions, solving the
problems, and filling out data tables for each lab. You will be graded on these questions
and concepts with quizzes and test questions. When a lab report or other written
assignments are submitted, please adhere to following guidelines.

The Honor Code and Lab Reports:

1. You may, and are encouraged, to discuss experimental procedures with your lab partner(s). Often,
understanding and appreciation of scientific knowledge thrives on discussion and exchange of ideas.

2. You may record and use data that have been taken and observed as part of a joint effort between you and
your partner(s). Each person assumes full responsibility for the accuracy of the data s/he records.

3. Calculations, results thereof, graphs, drawings, etc., must be the result of your own efforts (and NOT
your partner's). Copying of work, in all or part, or with minor variations, is not proper and, therefore, not
acceptable. Since the teacher's evaluation of you depends on these items, it is obviously not honorable to
present work not done by yourself to your teacher.

4. Scientific reports should only include the exact data obtained in the laboratory or as a result of the
project. If you decide to omit certain observations and/or data you must include appropriate explanation for
the omission. Including data and/or observations not made in the experiment by you and your partner(s) is
false (misrepresentation) of data.

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 AP Environmental Science
Syllabus
2009-2010
Mr. Vermillion
The Westminster Schools
5. A written report should represent the results of a student's own research and learning. If you include a
phrase, calculations, or a drawing from another source, identify it appropriately, using footnotes if
necessary.

{Adopted from "Laboratory Manual for General Physics" by R. A. Boyer and H. L. Raub, Muhlenberg
College, Allentown, PA}

You are expected to keep your lab area clean and in order and at all times practice good
safe laboratory techniques (refer to lab safety handout).

Any labs missed as a result of excused absences, will be made up promptly at backwork.

Computer Assignments and Videos: During the year, you will watch several video
series. You are expected to take notes (which will be graded). Often you’ll have a
detailed quiz on the video’s contents (the good news is, you may use your notes for the
quizzes!).

We’ll have several computer assignments during the year. Time to complete these will be
provided in one of the computer labs. Always follow the rules for computer use. If you
finish early, you are not automatically excused from the lab. Check with me. I’ll provide
you with guidance as to how and where to spend your extra time.

Grading: Tests 100 - 200 points each; computer and lab reports 20-100 points each;
video notes and quizzes 10 - 20 points each; and homework 100 points maximum.

Grades are determined by the percentage of points earned based on the total points
possible. The final examination counts 25% of the semester grade. The first semester
exam may be in the form of a project (20% of the semester grade).

Occasionally a student has a “bad testing day.” To help in this matter, the final exam
grade can be substituted for any prior test grade. This is fair, as the final exam is
cumulative in nature and scope. As you can readily see, you’ll have a chance to
demonstrate your mastery of the material a second time. This does not apply to the cases
where there is a term project rather than a final exam.

The final examinations are cumulative in nature.

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 AP Environmental Science
Syllabus
2009-2010
Mr. Vermillion
The Westminster Schools

Behavioral Expectations

1. Come to class prepared for the day’s work.

2. Before the second bell rings, be in your seat and have your notebook and text out on your desk.
3. When class starts, be quiet and listen for directions.
4. After class has started, speak out only when given permission. During labs, feel free to converse in
a low voice with your lab neighbor, but keep the conversations on the lab topic.
5. At the end of class or lab, clean up your area before you leave.
6. Be respectful of others.
7. You may drink water from a water bottle during class. Limit the bottles to the desk areas, not the
lab benches.

Extra Credit
You can earn up to 5% or 50 points, which ever is lesser by completing a variety of assignments. Details
will be presented in class.

Class Website

We use scribd.com as an online source of class materials. Here is the link to the site.

http://www.scribd.com/apes2000
Enter the link into your browser. Click on the see all link. We’ll start with the material in
the Unit 1 folder. There you will find the PPP’s study guide questions and other class
materials. In order to down load files you’ll have to register with Scribd.com. It is free.