AP Environmental Science Course Syllabus

Teacher: Mr. Marcus Pate

Classroom: SCHS RM 406
Contact Information:
Phone: 252-321-3232 Ext: 7479
GoogleVoice: 252-493-6308
Email: patem1@pitt.k12.nc.us
Website: marcuspate.weebly.com
Office Hours for Tutoring: Tuesday & Thursday 7:45AM 8:15AM, by appointment

Course Description:
This course focuses on the Earth and Earths systems, population growth and trends, land and water use, energy
resources and consumption, pollution and global climate change. Emphasis includes how human activity
impacts the lithosphere, hydrosphere, ecological relationships and atmosphere. Students are expected to work
independently on a variety of assignments and accept greater responsibility for their learning. This curriculum
will integrate inquiry investigations and a variety of technologies with the study of earth as a system. The
results of student investigations should be communicated through presentations and formal laboratory reports.
This AP course meets the Earth Science graduation requirement.

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one semester, introductory college
course in environmental science. It will be challenging and consume a fair amount of time. Students will be
expected to spend no less than 5 hours per week working on assignments outside of class, sometimes more. The
goal of the AP Environmental Science course is to provide students 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 human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these
problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is
interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study. Yet there are several major
unifying constructs, or themes, that cut across the many topics included in the study of environmental science.
The following themes provide a foundation for the structure of the AP Environmental Science course:
1. Science is a process.
o Science is a method of learning more about the world.
o Science constantly changes the way we understand the world.
2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
o Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere.
o As energy flows through systems, at each step more of it becomes unusable.
3. The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
o Natural systems change over time and space.
o Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances.
4. Humans alter natural systems.
o Humans have had an impact on the environment for millions of years.
o Technology and population growth have enabled humans to increase both the rate and scale
of their impact on the environment.
5. Environmental problems have a cultural and social context.
o Understanding the role of cultural, social and economic factors is vital to the development of
solutions.
6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
o A suitable combination of conservation and development is required.
o Management of common resources is essential.
Text: Environmental Science for AP, 2nd Edition, Friedland and Relyea, W. H. Freeman and Company
Living in the Environment, 13th Edition, G. Tyler Miller, Brooks, Cole Publishing Company
Barons AP Environmental Science 2008 2nd edition, Gary S. Thrope, M.S.

Materials Needed:
2 College Ruled Composition Notebooks Folder
Black Pens Clear Tape or glue sticks (lots)
Pencils Tab dividers
Highlighter Colored Pencils
Ear buds/headphones Notebook Paper

Grading Criteria
Students will receive documentation of their progress in the course periodically throughout the semester.
Students will receive progress reports every three weeks, and report cards every six weeks. Grades will
be calculated based on the following criteria:

Major - Tests & Projects - 70%

Tests will be in the format of the APES Exam 60% Multiple Choice and 40% Free Response
Questions (FRQ).
Projects At least two per six weeks that will involve extensive research

Minor 20%
Quizzes will be both announced and unannounced on information we have discussed in class.
Some Lab reports will fall into this category

Other - Learning Logs, Case Studies, Labs, Notebook Checks 10%

Learning Logs preparation for unit tests
Case Studies and weekly journals from assigned chapters focus on impact and solutions
Labs and Activities Need to be handwritten in the lab notebook or on handouts and placed in
the notebook
**This course will have a mandatory teacher-made final exam that is worth 25% of your final course grade.
The exam will be cumulative and formatted to match the AP exam.

Assignments
Tests- Tests will be given as we conclude each unit and will be in the format of the AP Exam, 60%
Multiple Choice and 40% Free Response Questions (FRQ).

Lab / Notebook Checks At the beginning of each unit students will receive a list of the items we will
complete throughout the unit. These will be the items that I will be looking for when I collect lab
notebooks for grading. Grading will take place at the conclusion of each unit (on test day).

Labs- Each student will participate in labs as a group but will be required to turn in their own individual
lab write-ups for an individual grade.

Other Assignments- From time to time we will have short quizzes on ideas that are very important to
make sure you are following along with me. Also, I may collect and grade class work as needed to make
sure you are on task.
 Classwork/Homework- All classwork must be turned in on the day it is due. If you are absent and miss
a classwork/homework assignment it is your responsibly to ask the teacher for your make-up work and
complete it within a three-day window of your return to school. Late work is not accepted. If you were
absent on the day an assignment is due, you must turn it in upon your return to school. All notes,
handouts, homework and labs are to be kept in the course notebooks.

Projects: You will be assigned at least two project per six weeks. Projects assigned will be based on the
topics covered during the six weeks. Projects are to be complete by the assigned due date.

Final Exam- Each student will take a mandatory teacher-made exam during the designated exam period
for our class which will count as 25% of your final grade for the course.

Miscellaneous
Participation- Students are responsible for participation in all class activities, discussions, and
assignments.

Folders- You will each have a folder in my classroom. We will use the folders to keep up with your
tests. Test will be returned to you so that you can see them and then they will be placed in your folder.

Late Work & Absences- You should always strive to turn in your work on time! Late work is NOT
accepted. If you are absent, you are responsible for getting any missed labs or worksheet solutions from
your lab group. If you are absent for a school related function then you are responsible for making
arrangements to receive and complete your work ahead of time!

Academic Integrity- Cheating will not be tolerated on any level in this course. If you are caught cheating
you will receive a zero and your parents will be notified. Cheating via storing information in your
calculator will result in a loss of calculator privileges for the rest of the semester. Basically, cheating is
the one thing you really do not want to do in my class so please do not even think about it!

Website/Class Technology- We will use various forms of technology to enhance instruction in this
course. Our class website will be your home base to find out what is going on in class each day, to find
assignments, announcements, and other information. Other technology will be used including
GoogleVoice, Remind101, etc.

Discussion Boards
Discussion board participation is an important expectation of this course. Students are expected to offer
comments, questions, and replies to the discussion questions that have been posted for each module as well as to
classmate postings. Students are expected to actively participate in EACH units discussion EACH week
throughout the semester, or as assigned.

How are discussion boards graded?

Students are expected to post 1 meaningful original post in each discussion board. The post must fully address
the question and be stimulating for a substantial follow-up posting. Students must also post at least 2 replies to a
classmate's post. This reply must not be a simple agree/disagree, but must explain why. The reply must extend
discussion by building on the previous post. Full details for discussion posts will be provided via Canvas LMS.
Full discussion board expectations can be found on the classwebsite.
Study Groups
At the beginning of the semester, students will be required to form small groups of 3-4 students. These groups
will be maintained throughout the semester. Study groups will be required to meet outside of class throughout
the semester to study and complete coursework. Study groups will be required to log their meetings and
complete self and peer assessments each grading period. THE MORE EFFORT GROUPS PUT IN THE
MORE THEY WILL GET OUT OF THEIR STUDY GROUPS!

What credit will the college of your choice give you for APES?
Colleges and universities throughout the world offer credit and/or placement for qualifying Advanced
Placement exam scores. Information about AP credit and placement policies at many colleges and
universities is now available on the College Board's web site. Follow the steps below.
Go to http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/apcreditpolicy/index.jsp2
Type in the name of the college or university whose AP policy you want to view (or browse by letter
of
the alphabet).
You will see two things for each school that has provided their AP credit policy info: A link to the college's
own web page and a statement by the college or university about their AP policy

APES Tentative Schedule

Unit Topics in Brief Chapters Test
Date
1 Introduction chapter, Environmental History (poster project), and Science, 1-2
Matter & Energy
2 Ecology food webs, cycles, evolution, & aquatic and terrestrial biomes 3-5, 18
3 Biogeography, climate, biomes, community ecology and populations 6
4 Human population, disease , & waste 7, 16-17
5 Water resources & water pollution 9 & 14
6 Geology, soil formation, agriculture & pest control, and land use 8, 10-11
7 Energy resources 12-13
8 Air quality, Global Change, & a Sustainable Future 15, 18-20
Review for AP Exam All TBA
Chapters
APES Exam All
Chapters
THERE WILL BE REVIEW STUDY SESSIONS AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER
FOR THE AP EXAM ON Thursday, May 10 2018 @ 12 Noon
It is your responsibility to READ the chapters prior to the tests.
Dates will be posted on the board and website for Homework and TESTS.
** All Test Dates Are Subject To Change**