Course Syllabus

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Course Description 

This rigorous interdisciplinary course explores the interconnections between the physical environment and living organisms, the impact of human activities on our planet, and our choices for the future.  The course will be broken down into 9 units. 

This course will follow the 9 Units recommended by the College Board. Our textbook follows a slightly different sequence, use this guide as needed:

Course Overview

Course at a Glance from College Board

Summer Assignment: 

Summer 2024: Getting Ready for In Class Work

Complete the summer reading assignments prior to the beginning of the Fall Semester and the in-class portion of this course. Book provided by GSA.

bookcover.png Steve Chapple, Steve Chapple|AUTHOR, Jeremy B. C. Jackson|AUTHOR, and Keith Sellon-Wright|READER. Breakpoint: Reckoning With America's Environmental Crises Tantor Media, Inc., 2018.

Labs and Field Work

You should be dressed properly for any lab or field work.  I will tell you in advance so that you know what to prepare for.  You should have a good pair of waterproof boots and a set of clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty while we are working in the field.  There is a collection of classroom boots and you are welcome to use those, but please make sure your size is available (if not, tell me as soon as possible).  There are also extra rain jackets and pants so you have no excuse to be cold and miserable during field work. 

Grading and assessment

Students will be assessed on their ability to think critically about complex issues, engage enthusiastically with the class material, ability to record data and relevant scientific information, general preparedness and ability to adapt to changing circumstances while in the lab or on field trips.  Class participation is key in this course. 

FALL 2024 Grading Breakdown 

HOMEWORK [Weekly]: 20%

CLASSWORK [Non-lab]: 10%

LAB INVESTIGATIONS [~20]: 30%

TESTS [9]: 40%

Unit Test Grade Breakdown

Each Unit Test will model the APES exam scoring. 60% of your score will be from your multiple choice question (MCQ) score and 40% will be from the free response question (FRQ).

Because a 50% is a qualifying score of 3 on the exam, your score will be adjusted to reflect a 50% as a 70% (3.5/5) on Canvas and a 5 as a 100% (5/5).

        • MCQ Score = 60% Total (50% accuracy on AP Central would be a 70% score on Canvas; 75%=85%; 100%=100%)
        • FRQ Score = 40% Total (Free response point values vary unit to unit but as an example 3/6 = 70% 4/6 = ~80% 5/6 = ~90% and 6/6 = 100%)

Questions? 

Feel free to always ask questions about anything we cover in class or during field work. 

College Board AP exam information  

You will take the College Board AP Environmental Science exam on Thursday May 13, 2025. There is a cost associated with the exam (usually around $85). Please do not hesitate to reach out if you would like GSA to help cover the cost (no judgment and no questions asked!)  I will help you with waiving the fee and I’d be happy to assist you. Your grade for my class is not dependent upon the grade you receive on the college board AP exam. Those exam grades don’t get posted until June/July. You may be able to receive some college credit if you receive a high grade. It will depend on the requirements at your college. 

Everything you need to know about the AP Exam is on the College Board website. The class is structured so that you will be exposed to as many topics as possibly considering our time constraints. Labs and field work will prepare you for many aspects of the AP exam. 

College Board APES Exam Overview