AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE COURSE EXPECTATIONS
The Advanced Placement Environmental Science course is designed
to be the equivalent of an introductory college course in environmental
science. The goal is to provide you with the scientific principles,
concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships
of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems
both natural and man-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated
with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for
resolving and/or preventing them. APES follows the core curriculum learning standards.
APES is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics
from different areas of study including geology, biology, chemistry
and geography. The course is designed for students who have successfully
completed earth science and biology. Due to the quantitative analysis
that is required in the course, students should have strong math
skills. Experience has shown that the most successful students
in AP courses are those who are both well prepared and highly
motivated.
COURSE OUTLINE
1. Understanding Our Environment- -
I think therefore, I own
2. Biological Communities and Species Interaction- There's always
a bigger fish
3. Biodiversity, Land Use and Preservation- Extinction is forever
4. Biomes, Restoration and Management- Where will the deer and
the antelope play?
5. Matter, Energy and Life- What makes everything go?
6. Population Dynamics- What goes up must come down.
7. Human Populations- And you thought the hallways were crowded!
8. Environmental Health and Toxicology- Living can be dangerous
to your health
9. Environmental Geology- Rocks Remember
10. Food and Agriculture- Whose hungry?
11. Pest Control- Don't bug me.
12. Air, Weather and Climate- Our fragile veil
13. Air Pollution- Hold your breath and turn up the air conditioner
14. Water Use and Management- Water, water everywhere and not
a drop to drink?
15. Water Pollution- Where did all the fish go?
16. Solid, Toxic and Hazardous Waste- Not in my backyard!
17. Environmental Policy, Law and Economics... or How much are
you willing to pay?
18. Conventional Energy- Hey, who turned off the lights?
19. Sustainable Energy- Get off the grid!
20. Urbanization, Sustainable Cities and Personal Action- - Get
Up, Stand Up
Texts
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: A Global Concern, Glencoe McGraw-Hill
Cracking the AP Environmental Science Exam: The Princeton Review
Materials Needed
A 3-Ring Binder, Dividers, pencil or pen, and a simple calculator (Although you will not be able
to use one on the APES exams!!!!)
Course Expectations
- Be on time to class. No excuses, no exceptions. Three latenesses
will equal a detention.
- It is extremely important to keep up with your homework. A
significant amount of material is covered in the course- more
than I can present to you in a lecture format. It is assumed that
if you are in this course you will stay on top of your assignments
and readings. Late assignments will be severly marked down.
- If you have been absent, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to
make up the work you missed. Some labs may to difficult to redo.
Try not to miss class! For each absence you will be given ONE
days grace for turning in assignments.
- Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. If you hand in
an assignment that is a replica of someone else's work BOTH of
you will receive a zero. (There will be occasional exceptions
made for lab partners).
- Cell phones and iPods are not permitted to be used in the classroom. If I see them I will take them away from you.
Grading
EXAMS (50 %)
The bulk of examinations will be multiple choice questions designed
to cover the breadth of the students' knowledge and understanding
of Environmental Science. Thought provoking problems and questions
based on fundamental ideas from Environmental Science are included
along with questions based on the recall of basic facts and major
concepts.
Free response essay questions will be included in the unit tests
that will emphasize the application of the principles studied
in greater depth. Students must organize answers to broad questions
thereby demonstrating reasoning and analytical skills as well
as the ability to synthesize material from several sources into
cogent and coherent essays. The three type of free response questions
are: data-analysis, document based, and synthesis/evaluation.
There will be seven unit exams throughout the year. Each exam
is worth 100 points.
QUIZZES (25 %)
Fill in the blank, multiple choice and free response quizzes will be given after
the textbook reading assignment for each chapter. Each quiz will
be worth 100 points and will be valued at 25% of your overall grade.
HOMEWORK, LABS AND SHORT ACTIVITIES (20 %)
These will include textbook outline homework, moodle activities, and laboratory
investigations. Homework and short activities will be be graded on a 10 point scale and will NOT be accepted late. Larger labs and most moodle work will be graded on a 100 point scale. All unit activities on moodle and large labs will NOT be accepted after the unit test is given. No exceptions.
PARTICIPATION (5 %)
Your participation in class discussions WILL help your grade. Voice your thoughts. Your questions and opinion matter. This class will also run collaboratively through a platform called Moodle. Stay involved and you will work and learn together with your fellow classmates.
THE WORLD WIDE WEB WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF THIS
COURSE. STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO VISIT MS. LAW'S WEB SITE AND MOODLE REGULARLY
TO ACCESS TEXT NOTES, DOWN LOAD REVIEW SHEETS AND TO COMPLETE ONLINE ASSIGNMENTS. http://cathylaw.com and http://ncsmoodle.ucboces.org/login/index.php
Extra Help
I am available for extra help every day after school from
2:20 - 2:45. You can also e-mail questions to me at cathy_law@yahoo.com. My school phone number is 845-256-4100 x 61814. Complete classroom notes and review sheets can be found at cathylaw.com.
Note: Special Thanks to Chris Viasco for 113 Ways to Go APES
and curriculm outline phrases!
You Rock!
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