Syllabus
MorningModule Quarter 4, 2008-2009
Biodiversityand Taxonomy
0.5 Biologycredit
Coursedescription:
Biodiversity isthe variety of organisms within a particular area, especially a biome. Its climate, fauna and flora define abiome. In this course, studentswill learn about the amazing number of living things that make up eachbiome. We will learn whatkinds of biomes there are, and some of the many interactions that occur withineach biome.
Taxonomy is thesystematic classification of living organisms. Without taxonomy scientists have no way to compare organismsor to measure biodiversity.
Focus skills:
Makeconnections and be aware of context.
Course Grade:
ResearchPapers 20%
Field, Lab workand Class Participation 20%
Field and Labnotebook 20%
Tests andquizzes 10%
Homework 10%
ExhibitionBenchmarks 10%
Exhibition 10%
EssentialQuestion: How is anorganism affected by the biodiversity around it?
Classroomparticipation: includescontributions to discussions, classroom behavior, and participation in otherclassroom activities. It alsoincludes coming to class on time, staying in class, and not leaving classearly.
Latenesspolicy - Students mustbe on time to class. If late,classroom participation grade will be affected. If late more than 5 times, one half letter grade may bededucted.
Laboratoryand Fieldwork:
Fieldwork will include observation, and recordingwhat is observed by drawing, writing, photographing, planting, and otheractivities. Students shouldparticipate fully in every activity. Grades will be marked down if a student stands around doingnothing. The activities willoverlap, so one can always finish something up, or start something new. Take initiative. Find what interests you. Engage yourself with your surroundings.
Lab work: Students must take care of themselvesand others in the lab. This meansall safety measures must be followed. Glass and other sharp objects must be used with the safety of oneselfand others in mind, and disposed of properly. Jumping, running, and pushing in the lab will not betolerated. Clean up any mess that is made during experimentation. Ask for help if you if you do notunderstand what to do, or how to use or dispose of anything we use.
Field and Labnotebook: You will begraded on both your drawings and experimental work for completeness, accuracy,neatness, legibility, and aesthetic sense. Work not related to the lab should not be put in your labnotebook. Do not doodle in thenotebook.
Homework: Homework and other assignments must be turned in by the due date, or oneletter grade will be deducted for each day late. Taking notes during lectures is an important part of thisclass. The standing homeworkassignment is to review your class notes each day, and to ask questions thenext day about anything you wish clarified.
Text: I will handout literature from a variety of sources.
AP Exams will occur during this class time. If you are taking an AP exam, be sureto get homework, makeup work, etc. from a classmate.
Courseschedule
Week 1 -Overview – Biomes: what they are, who is there
Week 2 - TheKingdoms:
Plantae
Animalia
Fungi
Protista
Bacteria & Archaea
What organisms need and how they getthem
Week 3 -Surveying biodiversity
Week 4 - Factorsthat affect biodiversity – Food webs & energy flow, interdependence oforganisms
Week 5 - Evolution, speciation andcontributors to change
Week 6 - Genetics
Week 7 -Relationships
Week 8 -Answering the essential question and preparing for the exhibition
Sub-questionsthat you must be able to answer at your exhibition:
1. What is a biome?
2.What is a species?
3. What relationships does an organismhave?
4.What biodiversity exists in the biome of your organism?
5.How are organisms dependent on biodiversity?
6.What biotic and abiotic factors are affecting the biome?
7. What are the present threats tobiodiversity?
8. What is a food web?
9. What is a mutation?
10. How is taxonomy used to measurebiodiversity?
Due dates:
Research paper# 1 with three visuals – April 30th
This paper will be on a particularbiome, including climate, geology, native organisms, climax vegetation and apexpredators.
Paper #1 is 5 pages long, excluding the threevisuals and the annotated bibliography.
Researchpaper # 2 with three visuals – May 14
This paper will be on the particularorganism (e.g. red panda) or group of organisms (e.g. fungi) that youchoose. It should include the lifecycle of the organism, a food web (i.e. what it eats, what eats it), how otherorganisms within its habitat affect it, how the climate and geology affect it,its relationship to other closely related species, its conservation status, andits taxonomy per se and relative to other closely related species. The list above does NOT exclude otherpossible information.
Paper #2 is 4 pages long, excluding the threevisuals and the annotated bibliography.
Format papers inMLA, 1 inch borders on all sides, Times size 12 font, double space (noquadruple space).
Each paper has asingle-spaced abstract at the top (6-9 sentence summary of the paper), thendouble space and begin the paper. After the paper, put the visuals, and lastly the annotated bibliography.
The bibliographyshould be followed by at least a paragraph describing what information you gotfrom it, and an assessment of the quality of the work for your purposes.
Eachbibliographic entry and each visual must be cited within your paper. Bibliographic works are cited as: (2). Visual entries are cited as (Fig.3). You must have something to sayabout each visual within the body of the paper. Do not say something like, “Cnidaria have a complex lifecycle (Fig. 2). Describe what itis you want your reader to learn.
Do not use footnotes.
ExhibitionBenchmarks
Tuesday May 5 –Proposal – three paragraphs
Thursday, May 14- 3 Visuals with captions (the ones in your paper count)
Monday, May 18 –Working Bibliography, annotated
Tuesday, May 19– 3 Visuals with captions
Thursday, May 21– Outline
Friday, May 22 –3 Visuals with captions
Tuesday, May 26– Abstract
Friday, June 1 –All elements of the Poster, but NOT the put-together poster.
Monday, June 1–Revised Abstract and Final bibliography
Tuesday, June 2– Friday, June 5 – Rehearsals
Thursday, June 4– building the posters
Monday, June 8to Wednesday, June 10 – Exhibitions
