When Writing AP Biology Essay Answers

When Writing AP Biology Essay Answers…

1. Carefully read the question 2 - 3 times.

2. Brainstorm and outline the answer to avoid confusion and disorganization. Thinking ahead helps to avoid scratch outs, asterisks, skipping around, and rambling. Final answers cannot be in outline form.

3. Pay attention to catchwords such as compare...cycle...mechanism…describe… explain…give evidence for…graph…calculate

4. Define the terms you use. When using terms and definitions, use examples to illustrate.

5. Answer the question parts in order called for, separating each section. It is best not to skip around. Make your points easy to find.

6. Write clearly and neatly. Unless the handwriting is very good, small writing is a pain to read. Make your points easy to find.

7. Go into detail that is on the subject and to the point. Be succinct and answer all parts of the question thoroughly. Rambling is not encouraged. Make your points easy to find.

8. No poetic prose! No introduction or conclusion! Make your points easy to find.

9. When using terms and definitions, use examples to illustrate.

10. If you cannot remember a word exactly, take a shot at it - get as close as you can. If you don't have a name for a concept, describe the concept.

11. Most points are earned for basic information. Information you probably learned in your introductory high school biology class.

12. Use a black ballpoint pen. Make your points easy to find.

13. Remember that no detail is too small to be included as long as it is to the point.

14. Carefully label your diagrams (they get no points otherwise) and place them in the text at the appropriate place - not detached at the end. Make your points easy to find.

15. Bring a watch to the exam so that you can pace yourself. You have four essays with about 22 minutes for each essay.

16. If you are given a choice of 2-3 or 3-4 topics, do not do extra. Only the required writing is graded. 17. Points are not subtracted for incorrect information, but no points are awarded for contradictory information.

18. Grammar and spelling are moot, so long as phonetically accurate. But, do not make the reader work harder than necessary. Make your points easy to find.

19. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

20. Practice outlining essay answers during the year.

21. Understanding that the exam is written to be hard - the average will be about 50%. It is very likely that you will not know everything, so relax and write thorough answers.

22. The rubrics for the essay questions posted on the U of Georgia website (via the Stanford AP Bio Teachers Workshop) were originally "typed" in Helvetica 10 - Microsoft Word. ______When Writing AP Biology Essay Answers DON'T…

1. Don't waste time on background information unless the question calls for historical development or historical significance. Answer the question. 2. Don't shoot the bull - say what you know and go on to the next question. You can always come back if you remember something. Make your points easy to find. 3. Don't panic or get angry because you are unfamiliar with the question. You probably have read or heard something about the question - be calm and think 4. Don't scratch out excessively. One or two lines through the unwanted word(s) should be sufficient. 5. Don't write more than a very few words in the margin. 6. DON’T LEAVE A QUESTION BLANK!

10 Things to include if asked to design or describe an experiment: 1. problem statement 2. hypothesis 3. identify independent variable(s) – what treatment(s) you will apply, etc. 4. identify dependent variable(s) – what you will measure 5. identify several variables to be controlled and eliminated (VERY IMPORTANT) 6. describe organism/materials/apparatus to be used 7. describe what you will actually do (how you will apply the treatment) 8. describe how you will obtain and record data 9. describe how you will analyze date (graphs, charts) 10. state your conclusion, hypothetical or otherwise (compare results to hypothesis)

Graphs (1) set up with independent variable along x-axis and dependent along y-axis (2) mark off axis in increments and label with proper units (3) plot points and attempt to sketch in the curve/line (4) if more than one curve/line is plotted, write a label on each or make a key (5) give your graph an appropriate title, using the independent and dependent variables in the title When writing an essay on a lab… 1. Remember the control. 2. Dependent and independent variables. 3. Graph 4. Graph 5. Graph 6. Theoretical data 7. Testable hypothesis 8. Conclusion based on data