Essential Knowledge

Background

The Essential Knowledge statements provided in the AP Biology Curriculum Framework are scientific claims describing phenomenon occurring in the physical world. These statements represent conclusions drawn from myriad scientific experimentations and observations. This is in contrast with conjecture, an opinion formed with insufficient supporting information. The Essential Knowledge statements are supported by multiple lines of evidence with examples found in widely published scientific research.

Scientific claims are fully understood when evaluated against supporting evidence found in scientific literature. Students of AP Biology will not only learn statements of Essential Knowledge but be able to evaluate and describe the supporting evidence.

Scientific claims can be incorporated into a broader concept, the scientific explanation. There is research to suggest that a scientific explanation will incorporate three features. These features include the claim, the supporting evidence, and the reasoning for how the evidence supports the claim (McNeill & Krajcik, 2008).

Student Diagnostic

Through the course, we will be reviewing the Essential Knowledge. Make sure that it stays located in your BILL at all times.

    1. Read each Essential Knowledge (EK) statements on the Concepts at a Glance.

    2. Enter a code in the “comprehension level” column, next to each of the EK statements. We will be added to this, several times during the course, so do not fill the whole box. Choose a code from the following list.

      • UC - I understand this claim and can support the concept with evidence.

      • KC - I know this claim but cannot support the concept with specific evidence.

      • NC - I have not encountered this claim before; this is a new concept to me.

Final Assessment

The final assessment for AP Biology will be a compilation of OPS - One Page Summaries. This assessment will be graded throughout the three terms of the course. Each section will be due the day of the unit assessment. Your goal is to create a “one page summary” to summarize the main ideas of each of the Essential Knowledges for AP Biology. OPS should be a combination of sketches and word art, that should help to summarize and clarify the concepts taught during the unit. You can use the following link to the Curriculum Framework for AP Biology for help in understanding the Essential Knowledges below.

Grading:

    • For each Essential Knowledge:

      • Organized and planned layout (1 point)

      • Summarized main points (2 points)

      • Included in-class labs or real world examples (1 point)

      • No more than one page in length (1 point)

    • Each Essential Knowledge is worth 5 points, for a unit that could range from 30 to 65 summative points for the unit.

Example: