Biology 11 is a content heavy subject spanning all 5 kingdoms of life. We start our journey with a look at the controversial foundation of modern Biology, Evolution. Our journey will find us exploring the microscopic world of viruses, bacteria and protists and ending with a look at the macroscopic fungi, plants and animals.
Our emphasis will be on comparing each subsequent group of organisms with the previous group, looking for both similarities and differences. Biology is a vocabulary driven course and an understanding of the basic terminology is essential for success. Nelson Biology will be the textbook assigned to you but much of the content will be introduced through supplemental material provided to you in class or online.
Marks will be gathered from a combination of formal assessment (tests, quizzes, projects, labs) and informal assessment (homework, lab procedure, etc). Marks will not be separated by category, a mark from a test is equal to a mark from a homework check. A final exam worth 15% will be administered at the end of the school year (June 2011).
Animal dissection will comprise a large portion of the zoology portion of this course. It is expected that students will participate in dissection labs, either through direct participation or observation. If for personal reasons you are unable to do either, a make-up assignment will be made available to you.
I am available by appointment or during office hours for additional help or to make up missed assignments. You are also welcome to e-mail me if you have any questions that require feedback outside of school hours.
