11th & 12th grade Advanced Biology Syllabus Mr. Seth Stettler Email:
Course Description: Biology is the study of life, and the scientific extension of our human tendency to feel connected to and curious about all forms of life. This course will emphasize on the understandings of basic characteristics, processes, and activities of living organisms. Through inquiry-based learning, laboratory experience, and directed instruction students will be able to explore the living world through fundamental concepts of cells, chemistry of life, genetics, mechanisms of evolution, biological diversity, organism form and function, and ecology. This course will foster a learning environment where students can ask valid scientific questions and engage in scientific investigations to understand and explain the behavior of living organisms through reasoning, analysis, communication, and real-world applications.
Course Outline: (Subject to change) Semester One Unit One: Chemistry of Life Unit Two: The Cell Unit Three: Genetics Unit Four: Mechanisms of Evolution
Semester Two Unit Five: Evolutionary History of Biological Diversity Unit Six: Plant Form and Function Unit Seven: Animal Form and Function Unit Eight: Ecology
Weighting of Grades/Grading Scale: 70% Exams and Quizzes 30% Coursework/Laboratory
Grading Scale: 100-94% A 93-90% A- 89-87% B+ 86-84% B 83-80% B- 79-77% C+ 76-74% C 73-70% C- 69-67% D+ 66-64% D 63-60% D- <60% F
Late-Work Policy: In this course, work will be viewed with a “git-r-done" attitude. This means that late work will be accepted and have the potential to receive full credit. However, late work will only be accepted during the unit it was assigned in. For example, an assignment that was assigned during unit five must be turned in before the unit five exam to receive full credit.
Lab Work: This course is a lab science. This means students will be involved with physical and virtual investigations. Students will be responsible for using tools and handling materials that require their focus and care. Any student who is not focused and using care while handling these tools and materials during class may be removed from the lab and given a zero that cannot be made up.
Make-up Work: If a student is absent from class or knows they will be absent in the future, it is their responsibility to get make-up work before the absence or to receive their make-up work from the teacher the day of the students return. Students will have 2 days for each day absent from school. This only applies to excused absences. If a student’s absence is unexcused, the student will not be given additional time to complete an assignment and it is their responsibility to complete the work. Retake Policy: In this course, retakes will be allowed. Students may retake or redo any formative assessment. For a student to redo formative assessments, they must communicate to Mr. Stettler that they would like to redo an assignment for a better grade. Once the student has received materials needed from Mr. Stettler, they have one week to complete the assignment. If student returns assignment within one week, they are eligible to receive full credit for the assignment.
In this course students are allowed two test retakes each semester (four total). In order for a student to be eligible to retake a test the student cannot have any missing assignments from the unit associated with the exam. A student must take the following steps for retaking an Exam:
Extra Credit: There will be no extra credit offered in this course Classroom Expectations: 1) Number one and most important: Think like a proton and be positive! 2) Be Safe 3) Be Responsible 4) Be Respectful
Cell Phone Policy: Cell phones will not be allowed during class unless permission is granted by the teacher. Phones should be silent and kept in the Cell Phone Pockets located by the door or in student backpacks
iPads: iPads are to be used for educational purposes only. If a student is caught using their iPad for any reason other than school may have their iPad privileges taken away.
Food and Drink Policy: Drinks will be allowed in the classroom as long as they are stored in a water bottle and are kept at the student tables. Absolutely no drinks will be allowed on lab tables. Food will not be allowed in the classroom. During labs, there will no food or drink allowed.
If there are ever any questions about anything, please email me at
I am overly excited to get to know each one of you! This year will be filled with a lot of fun and exciting opportunities for everyone to enjoy! Mr. Stettler reserves the right to change this syllabus as need throughout the year. Students and Families will be contacted about any changes. |