Biology Introduction Notes

Instructor: Mark Fontenot mfontenot@hbsd.net

I can be found for extra help before school from about 8:00-8:25 am, during my 3rd hour prep period, advisory period, after school until about 4:00 pm, and other times by appointment. Or drop me an email and I will soon reply. Don’t even look for me on Facebook, don’t tweet at me unless you are asking for birdseed. I encourage you to seek one-on-one help whenever you feel a little lost. It is something that most successful science students do frequently.

Course Description

Biology is a two-semester course comprising a wide range of topics all related to life processes and living things. What it takes to be alive is the focus of first semester. Study of the major groups of different organisms that have each found their solution to the problem of how to be alive is the focus of second semester. Lecture/discussion, lab work, field work, individual and group research projects, and reading will all be used in our study of life.

Grading

The approximate breakdown of your grade in this course will be as follows: • Labs and other activities- 25% of overall grade • Homework and in-class participation and paperwork-25% of overall grade. • Tests and quizzes-50% of overall grade.

There will be a final exam given each semester that makes up a significant part of the test part of your grade. You can expect homework three nights a week. Small quizzes can be expected weekly. Larger unit tests will happen about once a month, or whenever we finish the units outlined on the syllabus. Labs are less predictable, but on average might happen once every couple of weeks.

Materials

You will need the following materials with you when the bell rings to start class EVERY DAY: • Notebook dedicated to this course alone, so that it can be handed-in (not containing stuff you need for other classes). Laptop • Pocket folder dedicated to this course alone, so you always know where your in-progress work is, and have a place to keep handed-back work for later reference. • Textbook (even though there will be many days we won’t use it, you won’t know when those will be, so just bring it.) • A writing utensil of your very own.

Rules

The school rules are spelled-out in detail in your student handbook. My classroom rules are much simpler, but I do want to emphasize that it takes a constant effort on everyone’s part to maintain an environment where learning is possible for us all, and where much valuable time is not wasted.

• Be on time and prepared for this class. • Be respectful.

Late Work Policy:

Simple. To receive full credit you must hand your work in when it is due. Work is accepted one day late, but will receive at most half credit. Later than one day, work will not be accepted unless you have had an excused absence. Basically, if you want credit for your work, then do it and hand it in on time.