Biology Course Syllabus

2016-2017
Mr. Zirbels Class
Room: ____
E-mail:__________________________________________
Website: sciencez.weebly.com
DESCRIPTION
This course will change how you view Life and its interactions.
Concepts and methods will be reviewed that will expose Biology for the
fascinating subject that it truly is. We will explore molecular
interactions, how cells work, evolutionary relationships as determined
by heredity, both the how and why life is classified the way it is,
behavioral and ecological relationships, and the very nature of
science. Be sure to ask questions for we cannot find unless we seek.
MY GOALS FOR THIS CLASS
I want this to be the most enjoyable class that you have attended. You
will be challenged, but if you consistently give me your best effort I
will make sure that you are successful.
1. Learn to appreciate LIFE and its complexities
2. Use what you have learned to positively impact our
community, society, and world.
3. Learn organizational, peer review, scientific, and
interpersonal skills.
4. Learn how to study and respectfully question what is thought
to be true and accurate.
COURSE TOPICS
1. Molecules and Cells
2. Heredity and Evolution (Evolution by means of Natural Selection
as Proposed by Charles Darwin)

3. Classification and Diversity of Life

4. Ecological and Behavioral Relationships
5. Nature of Science

REQUIRED SUPPLIES FOR CLASS (Will be a supply check on 8/22/2016)

1. Graph Paper Pad, 80 sheets min. (Note: The Pad must have a
glued binding, Spiral bound will not be accepted)

2. Red ink Pen

3. Black ink Pen
4. #2 Pencil
5. 150 Sheets of College ruled notebook paper (I WILL NOT
ACCEPT WIDE RULED ON CERTAIN ASSIGNMENTS)
6. 3X5 Note Cards NO OTHER SIZES WILL BE ACCEPTED, but if you
can only find them in green, pink, orange or any other color of
the rainbow, have fun.
RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES FOR CLASS (not required but useful)
1. Colored Pencils (For Notes, Diagrams, and Drawings)
2. Pocket Dictionary or Dictionary APP
3. Four Function Calculator
4. 70 page College Ruled Notebook, (For taking class notes)
5. 1 Binder with Pockets
6. 2 Fine Tipped Black Sharpies
7. A Few sheets of Blank Copy Paper at all times.
8. Safety scissors
All students will be given assignments from time to time that require
the use of a computer and printer. Please set aside $10 for prints at
a local library if you do not have immediate access to a printer. I
will give students, at minimum, 3 days for an assignment that requires
a computer or printing. This will give enough time for a student to
visit the library.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
Be Professional
Appropriate
Responsible
Respectful
Anything less will not be tolerated, everyone is capable of being
PARR.
CLASSROOM CONSEQUENCES
The grades that you receive are the ones that you earn, whether that
be an A or an F, so please meet the expectations. If not see the
consequences below.
1. Late work will not be accepted except in the case of
absences. If it is late it will receive a 0 in the gradebook.
Extenuating circumstance must be verified through both admin and
parent contact. (I encourage you to come by after school to speak
to me, if I see initiative I may be able to show a bit of grace.)

2. It is a students responsibility to turn assignments in. Any

work left in a locker or turned in after class will be considered
late and receive a 0 grade.
3. If you see that there is a 0 grade on the day of an absence
please talk to me and we will amend the grade appropriately.
4. It is the students responsibility to complete and keep
track of all of their assignments.
5. Students with a 0 grade will be asked why they failed to do
said assignment. If the behavior continues parent and
administrative conferences will be held to solve the problem.
6. It is the student's responsibility to both bind and place
their name on assignments, no names and missing pages should be
an assumed 0 grade.
7. Disruptive behavior of any sort will not be tolerated during
class.
8. Backtalk is any comment made after a verbal or non-verbal
reprimand and is extremely disrespectful, this kind of behavior
will under no circumstance be tolerated.
9. Students are to comply with direction without hesitation,
hesitation will be understood by the instructor as
insubordination.
10.
All school wide rules will be enforced in my classroom
11.
All Academic Dishonesty will be met with a 0 grade and
reprimand along with a joint meeting between student, parent, and
administration.
On Plagiarism- Plagiarism is any work that is not in the student's own
voice. Word for word and Idea for Idea are types of plagiarism. The
students voice must come through or proper citation is needed. All
plagiarism will receive a 0 grade, parent contact, and administrative
referral. To clarify: If one sentence in an entire paper is
plagiarized the grade will be a 0.

If at any time a student feels they were wronged in the distribution

of reprimand or grade, I will discuss the issue with them after class.
Once I hear their side of the story I may choose to retract or hold
fast to the reprimand.
STUDENT INPUT
1. Grade Changes: Will only be done after careful referral with
the instructor.
2. Grievances: Will be made in person on a one to one basis or
by following the school handbook guidelines

3. Comments and Questions: Can be made at any time as long as

they are appropriate, respectful, and do not interfere with the
lesson.
a. Note: Feel free to disagree with me in a
respectful manner. We will be speaking on philosophy and
society and I occasionally make mistakes.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
1. Stay Calm
2. Evacuation: See posted route near door
3. First Aid: Located in _____________________
4. Emergency/ Ambulance: Dial 911 and get another instructor
5. Tornado: Follow posted Safety Route
6. Other Disaster: Follow Instruction.
SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS and GRADE SCALE
Every student is capable of making an A in my class if they apply
themselves and ask questions. The list below indicates what has been
observed in the past.
For most students this will be a difficult course. Each student will
be challenged to use higher order thinking skills and maintain the
attitude of a scientist. (Evidence is required for a grade change.) If
there is a lack of understanding it is necessary to ask questions
days, not hours, before an exam. Any point of confusion can typically
be clarified within 5 min.
Grade Scale and requirements to maintain this grade (the items in
are average knowledge at grade level.)
A is 90-100%
To get an A students must study Hard (reviews nightly
20-35 min and studies 1-2hr prior to the exam), participate often,
take good notes, stay well organized, listen to instruction, and
demonstrate OUTSTANDING performance in all areas.
B is 80-89.49
To maintain a B average you must study Moderately
(reviews nightly 10-20 min and studies 45 min- 1hr prior to the
exam), participate, take reasonable notes, stay organized, and listen
to instruction. B grades will be given to students who demonstrate
GOOD work in most areas. (Most students will fall within this range if
they apply themselves well.)
C is 70-79.49 To hold a C grade you must, review, participate, take
notes, be somewhat organized and listen to instruction. Average

students will get a grade of C (Grade C is given to Average students

who do AVERAGE work. Most students who try will get a C grade. This is
not a bad grade it is AVERAGE. (Reviews some nights 10-20 min and
studies 30 min to 1hr prior to the exam.)
D is 60 to 69.49 If you get a D, you probably either
A. Don't Apply yourself but do the bare minimum, or
B. Don't know how to apply yourself in this class.
In case of point A.(Rarely reviews, might study 30 min to 1 hr before
the test)
If you are in category B. PLEASE COME AND TALK TO ME I WILL GIVE YOU
POINTERS SO YOU CAN SUCCEED IN MY CLASS. (A student who receives a D
on any assignment that is not homework or class work needs
improvement, it is the students responsibility to come to me for
help. We should be able to improve the grade at minimum one letter
grade (I typically see 2 letter grades of improvement for these driven
students who just need some extra help)
F. is 0-59.45 If you get an F, you are failing and should speak to me
immediately so we can work out any problems you have. (A student who
receives grade F is failing; this grade should be unacceptable to both
student and parents or guardians and in my experience is solely the
result of apathy. I have never had a student fail who tries.) This is
a challenging class as all VHS classes should be. I expect more than a
90% pass rate, but a student earns their grade for better or worse.
GRADING POLICY:
For a typical classwork/ homework assignment I will grade 3-4
questions using a random number generator, regardless of the length of
the assignment. This method has proved to be effective and efficient
and ensures that students are doing all questions. This method is used
because there is no reason that any child should ever miss a homework
or classwork question, unless they choose not to apply themselves.
Textbooks, internet, classmates, and teacher are all acceptable
resources for this type of assignment.