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Text: Biology for Christian Schools (Second Edition).
William S. Pinkston, Jr. Bob Jones University Press; Greensville, SC 29614,
1991. Course Description: The goal of this course is to give students an appreciation for God’s work
of creation in the creatures He has made. Most of our time will be devoted to
developing a comprehensive grasp of the field of Biology, but undergirding the
whole will be a Biblical world-view. At times attention will be given explicitly
to how the scriptures inform our understanding of nature, and the students will
be instructed to approach the text critically. This course will provide an introduction to the whole field of Biology.
Specifically, it will survey the fields of Cytology, Microbiology, Genetics,
Botany, Zoology, and Physiology. It is aimed toward diligent ninth and tenth
graders, but is suitable for ambitious eighth graders and would adequately
fulfill a science course for an upperclassman not planning to major in the
sciences. Those planning to major in the sciences should also consider taking
Advanced Biology after having completed a chemistry course. The first quarter will cover organic molecules, the cell, evolution,
classification, viruses, bacteria, and protists. The second quarter topics will
be genetics and the plant kingdom, covering the major phyla, morphology, and
systems. A short paper (2-4 pages) will be required on one group of plants. The
third quarter will cover the animal kingdom, again discussing both morphology
and major physiological systems, and the fourth will cover human anatomy and
physiology. A major paper (8-15 pages) will be required near the end of the
course on one biome. Quizzes may be given weekly, and an exam will be given at
the end of each quarter. At least four labs will be conducted, mainly focusing
on dissection. The course will meet every week for 1.5 hours, with labs scheduled for an
additional 2 hours. The class period will be a modified lecture, with
significant interaction required from the students. It will focus on aspects of
the lesson that are difficult to grasp or especially critical to understand, but
will not necessarily cover everything in the text. Students will be responsible
for everything covered in the class and the text. Most of the grade will come
from the exams. Quizzes, when given, all together will not be worth more than
10% of the grade. In the second quarter the paper will be worth 15%. The major
paper will be due on the last class of April, and will contribute 20% to each of
the last two quarters. Homework will consist of studying the text and class
material, and will not be collected or graded. The expected study time is one
hour each day. Prerequisites: There are no formal prerequisites for this course, but completion of a full
Junior High curriculum is assumed. Students should have a basic acquaintance
with Junior High science including simple atomic and molecular structure as well
as basic plant and animal studies. The reason that most of the grade comes from
the exams is the focus on mastering the content. Students will be expected to
understand and remember the course material and be able to demonstrate this on
an exam. Students who are not accustomed to examinations may need assistance
from their parents at first in preparing for them.
Instructor: C. David GreenB.A. in Natural Sciences, Biology emphasis: The Johns Hopkins University. Fees:
Contact: Mr. Green may be reached at: 631 Fourth Avenue |