The content of this course will be taught in 7 units according to the Regents Syllabus. Those units are:

1. Introduction to biology (chapters 1-7)
2. Ecology (chapters 37-39)
3. Animal Maintenance (chapters 8-16)
4. Plant Maintenance (chapters 17-19)
5. Reproduction and Development (chapters 20-24)
6. Genetics (chapters 25-27)
7. Evolution (chapters 28-29)

You can access the class syllabus at
http://www.onteora.k12.ny.us/gbuono/biology.html

PORTFOLIO (notebook):

1. Class notes will be taken each day and dated. This will enable you to locate and copy any notes you’ve missed following an absence.

2. You will be required to maintain a notebook, a three-ring binder, so that notes and handouts may be kept in order. Your notebook will provide space for a 'short' pencil to remember information better than your 'long' memory. Notebooks will be collected and graded. They can be collected at Mr. Buono's convenience. Students will receive 100% if homework assignments, personal and class notes are present. Students will receive an 80% if personal notes and homework are present. Students will receive a 0% if they do not have a notebook.

3. Each student will be required to maintain an organized notebook. Each unit must be separated and a table of contents must be included. Also, a separate folder must be maintained for completed labs in preparation to be sent to the state.

LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS:

1. New York State’s Department of Education mandates students to "engage in laboratory activities for at least 1200 minutes." Failure to comply with this will result in your not being able to take the Regents exam.

2. Labs missed due to illness should be "made up" as soon as possible during a mutual free period or by making arrangements with me to stay after school.

3. When pre-lab assignments are given they are due at the beginning of the lab period. Failure to complete these assigned pre-labs will result in your not being allowed to perform the lab. Labs missed due to being unprepared or skipping can not be made up.

4. Labs not made up during the quarter in which they were performed will result in a 0% unless of course your dog ate the lab.

5. Participation is a must. During lab Mr. Buono will circulate throughout the room and ask students to perform task such as focusing a microscope. The student must be able to perform this task successfully or his/her grade will be affected. Also, behavior is incorporated into your lab grades. A responsible & respectful manner is required, for there is very expensive equipment in this classroom. This is not "Romperroom." The corners of your mouth will determine your attitude.

6. Your lab average will carry a 30% weight of your quarter grade.

LABORATORY REPORTS:

1. Lab reports are due when stated by Mr. Buono. All laboratory reports must be handed in to meet the Regent’s laboratory requirements. Labs must be handed in on the due date or the student will lose 5 points for each school day the lab is late.

2. If for some reason you are unable to get a lab report in on the day it is due you may ask for and receive an extension of one day. Providing that you can show that the lab report is completed except those parts on which you have questions or you have an acceptable reason, for example extreme illness.

HOMEWORK and QUIZZES:

1. Your homework and quizzes will carry a 25 % weight of your quarter grade.

2. If a written assignment that is not handed in at the time it is collected, the student must hand in the assignment the next day with opportunity to receive a maximum grade of 75%. If the student does not comply with these standards he/she will receive a grade of 0%.

3. Quizzes will be both announced and unannounced and will be given periodically throughout a unit.

4. Homework will consist of readings followed by questions and dittos related to the topic of study. Opportunity for the student to take advantage of "after you complete each homework on time, you the student will be awarded an additional point to your final quarterly grade. If you miss once, there is no penalty." Every homework assignment you miss after one will result in a one point deduction from your final quarterly average for each incomplete assignment.

TESTS:

1. Tests will carry a 45% weight of your quarter grade.
2. There will be a full period test given at the completion of each unit, and quizzes given in between. Tests will consist entirely of Regents-style multiple choice questions, and quizzes will be a mixture of several types of objective questions. If the student receives a grade lower than a 75%, he/she is required to see Mr. Buono about the tragic occurrence. This is not a penalty, only a reassurance that the student understands the material and corrects their mistakes.
3. There will be short answer questions and/or essays on tests. If they are neglected, the student will receive 0%. If the student's answer is completely wrong, the student will receive a 0% until they make up the test. The student only has 5 days to make up the test.

TESTS and ABSENCES:

1. If you are absent the day of the exam and have been in class all days except the exam day, you will take the test on the day you return to school. This policy can be changed only when you and I have conferred on an alternate time.

2. If you're absent the days prior to the exam day, you will have one week from your return date to take the test. It is your responsibility to remember this as well as to get the adequate notes and, help you will need regarding the material missed.

3. Missed tests will be made up outside of class time. That is either during a study hall (should we both be free then) or after school.