AP Environmental Science 2009-2010
Instructor: Peg Cornell
Email: peg.cornell@corvallis.k12.or.us
Website: www.csd509j.net/cvhs/staff/cornelp
Text: Living in the Environment (14th edition, by Miller)
Part I: Syllabus
The following is a list of the chapter topics and the exam dates for each topic exam.
1. Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability (p. 5-19)
2. Environmental History: Learning From the Past (p. 20-31)
3. Easter Island (p.32)
28. Environmental Worldviews, Ethics and Sustainability (p. 630-642)
Test 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 28
3. Science, Systems, Matter, and Energy (p. 32-54)
4. Ecosystems: What Are They & How Do They Work? (4.2 & 4.6)
6. Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity (6.1, 6.2)
15. Water Resources (p. 305-330)
16. Geologic and Nonrenewable Energy Resources (16.1-16.4)
Test 2: Chapters 3,4,6,15 & 16
4. Ecosystems: What Are They & How Do They Work? (4.1, & 4.3-4.5)
5. Evolution and Biodiversity (p. 87-100)
6. Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity (p. 101-126)
7. Aquatic Biodiversity (p. 127-142)
8. Community Ecology (p. 143-162)
Test 3: Chapters 4-8
9. Population Ecology (p. 163-175)
10. The Human Population (p. 176-193)
Test 4: Chapters 9 & 10
14. Food and Soil Resources (p. 273-304)
16. Geologic and Nonrenewable Mineral Resources (after 16.4)
23. Pest Management (p. 518-531)
Test 5: Chapters 14, 16, & 23
*****Winter Break*****
17. Nonrenewable Energy Resources (p. 350-378)
18. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (p. 379-408)
Test 6/Semester 1 Final Chapters 1-18, 23 & 28
19. Risk, Toxicology, and Human Health (p. 409-432)
20. Air Pollution (p. 433-460)
22. Water Pollution (p. 491-517)
24. Solid and Hazardous Waste (p. 532-562)
Test 7: Chapters 19, 20, 22 & 24
11.Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: Ecosystems (p. 194-223)
12. Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: Species (224-250)
13. Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity (p. 251-273)
21. Climate Change and Ozone Loss (p. 461-490)
Test 8: Chapters 11-13 & 21
Sustainable School Report
Environmental Legislation Project (April)
Biodiversity Assignment (students taking the AP Exam are exempt from this assignment)
Review for the May 12th International AP Exam. Additional review sessions may be held in the evenings if needed.
************APES Exam (May 12, 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon************
Sustainable School Final Project (May-June)
Part II: Course Information
AP Environmental Science 2009-2010
Instructor: Peg Cornell
Crescent Valley High School
Email: peg.cornell@corvallis.k12.or.us
Website: www.csd509j.net/cvhs/staff/cornelp
Welcome to AP Environmental Science (APES) and thank you for choosing to make this course a part of your 2009-2010 school year. I am excited about the APES journey, and I hope you are too!
APES Course Description
The APES content corresponds to a one-semester length college environmental science course and is truly interdisciplinary. The course will cover such topics as ecology (biology), describe the processes involved in the build-up of ground-level ozone (chemistry), explain the fundamental laws of thermodynamics (physics), and have a discussion on the global effects of the population explosion (social science and economics). Laboratory experiences are an important component of the course as APES is deeply rooted in analyzing scientific data related to the environment in order to learn how the world works and to assess the extent of human impact on the earth.
APES Themes
1. Science is a process.
2. Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes.
3. The Earth itself is one interconnected system.
4. Humans affect/alter natural systems.
5. Environmental challenges/problems have a cultural and social context.
6. Human survival depends on developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems.
APES Course Outline
The following is an outline of major topics and defines the scope of both the
APES Course and the International APES Exam in May. The percentage
after each major topic heading shows the approximate proportion of
questions on the May 12th examination that pertain to the heading; thus the percentage also indicates the relative emphasis that will be placed on these topics in the course.
I. Earth Systems and Resources (10-15%)
Relevant textbook chapters: 3-9, 15-18 & 20
A. Earth Science Concepts
Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar
intensity and latitude
B. The Atmosphere
Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and
the Coriolis Effect; atmosphere-ocean interactions; ENSO
C. Global Water Resources and Use
Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and
domestic use; surface and groundwater issues; global problems;
conservation
D. Soil and Soil Dynamics
Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties; main
soil types; erosion and other soil problems; soil conservation
II. The Living World (10-15%)
Relevant textbook chapters: 3-9 & 11-13
A. Ecosystem Structure
Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions
among species; keystone species; species diversity and edge effects; major
terrestrial and aquatic biomes
B. Energy Flow
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels;
ecological pyramids
C. Ecosystem Diversity
Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services
D. Natural Ecosystem Change
Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession
E. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles
Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter
III. Population (10-15%)
Relevant textbook chapters: 1, 2, 8-14 and 25-28
A. Population Biology Concepts
Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship
B. Human Population
1. Human population dynamics
Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and
doubling times; demographic transition; age-structure diagrams
2. Population size
Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies
3. Impacts of population growth
Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction
IV. Land and Water Use (10-15%)
Relevant textbook chapters: 11-18 and 25-28
A. Agriculture
1. Feeding a growing population
Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture; Green Revolution;
genetic engineering and crop production; deforestation; irrigation;
sustainable agriculture
2. Controlling pests
Types of pesticides; costs and benefits of pesticide use; integrated pest
management; relevant laws
B. Forestry
Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management;
national forests
C. Rangelands
Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management; federal
rangelands
D. Other Land Use
1. Urban land development
Planned development; suburban sprawl; urbanization
2. Transportation infrastructure
Federal hwy system; canals & channels; roadless areas; ecosystem impacts
3. Public and federal lands
Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests;
wetlands
4. Land conservation options
Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration
5. Sustainable land-use strategies
E. Mining
Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties
F. Fishing
Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties
G. Global Economics
Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and
treaties
V. Energy Resources and Consumption (10-15%)
Relevant textbook chapters: 1-3, 13 & 15-18
A. Energy Concepts
Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics
B. Energy Consumption
1. History
Industrial Revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis
2. Present global energy use
3. Future energy needs
C. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use
Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas; extraction/purification methods;
world reserves and global demand; synthetic fuels; environmental
advantages/disadvantages of sources
D. Nuclear Energy
Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor
types; environmental advantages/disadvantages; safety issues; radiation and
human health; radioactive wastes; nuclear fusion
E. Hydroelectric Power
Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts
F. Energy Conservation
Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit
G. Renewable Energy
Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy;
small-scale hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal;
environmental advantages/disadvantages
VI. Pollution (25-30%)
Relevant textbook chapters: 1, 19-24 & 26
A. Pollution Types
1. Air pollution
Sources-primary and secondary; major air pollutants; measurement units;
smog; acid deposition-causes and effects; heat islands and temperature
inversions; indoor air pollution; remediation and reduction strategies; Clean
Air Act and other relevant laws
2. Noise pollution
Sources; effects; control measures
3. Water pollution
Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; groundwater
pollution; maintaining water quality; water purification; sewage
treatment/septic systems; Clean Water Act and other relevant laws
4. Solid waste
Types; disposal; reduction
B. Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
1. Hazards to human health
Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose response
relationships; air pollutants; smoking and other risks)
2. Hazardous chemicals in the environment
Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of hazardous waste; cleanup of
contaminated sites; biomagnification; relevant laws
C. Economic Impacts
Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability
VII. Global Change (10-15%)
Relevant textbook chapters: 6, 7, 11-13, 20, 21 and 26-28
A. Stratospheric Ozone
Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet radiation; causes of ozone
depletion; effects of ozone depletion; strategies for reducing ozone
depletion; relevant laws and treaties
B. Global Warming
Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of
global warming; reducing climate change; relevant laws and treaties
C. Loss of Biodiversity
1. Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and
extinct species
2. Maintenance through conservation
3. Relevant laws and treaties
Laboratory Experiences
Lab experiments and field investigations are designed to complement the classroom discussions and lecture. Some examples of lab and fieldwork topics include ecosystem dynamics, ecological succession, population studies, carrying capacity, soils, energy consumption, ozone, air and water quality, land use planning, solid waste management, and the greenhouse effect. The purpose of these studies is to 1) think critically about environmental systems, 2) develop and conduct well-designed experiments, 3) utilize appropriate techniques and equipment, 4) analyze and interpret data including statistical and graphical presentations, 5) apply concepts to the solution of environmental problems, 6) form conclusions and evaluate their quality and validity, 7) propose further questions for study, and 8) communicate accurately about observations and conclusions. It is highly recommended that students maintain a separate laboratory notebook.
Grading
Graded assignments will include exams, laboratory/field reports, chapter review questions, written reports, oral presentations and a final field studies project after the APES exam in May.
1. Topic Exams (50-100 points): Over 2 or 3 chapters, 30-50 multiple-choice and up to 2 free response questions.
2. Semester 1 Exam (100 points): Given at the end of semester 1, covers all of semester 1 material. 50 multiple-choice questions and 2 free response questions.
Grades are calculated by dividing the points earned by the total points possible.
Pass/No Pass: Any student taking the course Pass/No pass must maintain a minimum of a “C” average to receive credit.
Extra Credit: There will be no extra credit assignments in this course.
Class Expectations
1. Attend class. By enrolling in AP Environmental Science, you have a made a commitment you should honor; skipping class is NOT acceptable. You will be learning important and interesting material every day. I start classes on time, so DON'T BE TARDY!
2. Read and study every night. Although there will certainly be content that I cover in lecture, much of our class time together will be spent on class discussions, activities, labs and field studies. Depending on how quickly you read and assimilate information, you should plan on spending 45-60 minutes per night on APES. We will be covering approximately one chapter per week in the class, so even if I don’t formally assign homework on a given night, the expectation is that you are keeping up.
3. Take notes. By taking notes on text readings, class lectures and discussions, videos and other resources, you will be creating what should be a very valuable study guide to prepare for all exams and quizzes, including the International AP Exam on May 12th, 2010.
4. Be an active class participant. Please do not work on material from your other classes while in APES. Thank you.
5. Be present on exam days. You know these dates well in advance and should be in class. If you must miss an exam for a legitimate reason, please be prepared to make it up during class on the day you return.
6. Homework assignments (e.g., lab reports, chapter reviews, etc.) are due at the beginning of class. Assignments are considered late if they are turned in after the start of class on the due date. CVHS science department policy states that a 30% reduction will be applied to work that is up to one day late. NO CREDIT will be awarded to work turned in more than on day late. You may come by my room (F23), place the work in my box in the front office, or email me the assignment. If you email me, please make sure you get a reply from me that I have received the message and the work. If you don’t hear back, I haven’t received it.
7. Science department policy states that there should be no eating or drinking in any part of the science wing (classrooms or hallways). However, we all have times when we are really hungry and did not have a chance to eat breakfast, lunch, etc. Rather than secretively (or perhaps not so secretively) taking bites from your peanut toffee buzz Clif bar, I would rather you simply ask me if you can address your metabolic demands to be a bit more comfortable. I will probably say yes. These cases should be the exception, NOT the routine. Thanks.
Career Related Standards
1. Personal Management
2. Problem-Solving
3. Communication
4. Teamwork
5. Employment Foundations
The May AP Exam (May 12th 8:00 – Noon)
It is my expectation that students enrolled in APES will take this exam. If you are willing to put forth the effort and devote the necessary time, you will be in a good position to be successful on the May AP Exam. The AP Environmental Science Exam is three hours in length and consists of two parts:
Part I: 100 Multiple Choice Questions in 90 minutes = 60% of score
Part II: 4 Free Response Questions in 90 minutes = 40% of score
I: Multiple Choice Questions: The number of MC questions taken from each of the 7 major topic areas in the course outline is reflected in the percentage next to each topic (please see the APES Course Outline). For example, you can expect to see 10-15 MC questions dealing with Topic I, Earth Systems and Resources.
II: Free Response Questions: The FRQ section emphasizes the application of principles in more depth than a MC question can involve. You will need to demonstrate organizational, reasoning and analytical skills, as well as the ability to synthesize material from several sources into cogent and coherent essays. Within the free response section, each of the four questions is weighted equally. There are three types of FRQs:
The data analysis/calculation-based FRQ provides one or more data sets or numerical values and then asks specific questions regarding this data. In a lab-design FRQ you are asked to design an experiment based on given information. The document-based FRQ presents a news article, an advertisement, a pamphlet or other document, and asks you to apply knowledge of environmental science in responding to questions related to the document. The synthesis/evaluation FRQ is a series of 2-5 question stems that do not include a data set or a document. Most FRQs consist of 3 or 4 parts, while 2 or 5 part questions are less common.
Grading of the AP Exam and College Credit
A total grade for the AP Exam is reported as follows:
5 = Extremely Well Qualified
4 = Well Qualified
3 = Qualified
2 = Possibly Qualified
1 = No Recommendation
Scores of 3, 4, or 5 often qualify students for college credit of 10 to 15 hours and/or placement into higher-level biology courses and/or waiving of requirements. It is important to review the credit policies of colleges you are considering.
College Now
AP Environmental Science students may also choose to participate in College Now. College Now is a program that provides high school students an opportunity to earn college credit by completing comparable college-level course work on-site at CVHS with faculty members who are approved to teach college level courses. Students can transfer College Now credits to OUS (Oregon University System schools) and to some private and out-of-state public institutions by completing the regular transcript request procedures at Linn-Benton Community College. Students maintaining an A or a B for both semesters are eligible for 4 credits from LBCC for General Biology (BI 101).
Final Thoughts
During the academic year, we will thoroughly explore every major AP Environmental Science topic. Given the format of the May 12th AP Exam (only 100 MC and 4 FRQs), it is not possible for this exam to be as detailed and comprehensive as the “sum” of all the class meetings we will share this year. You will have 3 hours to take the May AP Exam, responding to questions dealing with areas we have spent 135 hours or so of class time exploring, plus all the hours devoted to text readings, note-taking, preparation for exams, and assignments outside of class throughout the year. The May AP Exam is one part of the course. It is not “The End”, and it may or may not be “the Summit”. Your interest, involvement and effort in the course will contribute to your success on the Exam. The journey is the destination.
Thanks for choosing to be a part of AP Environmental Science at CVHS. Enjoy!