Principles of Life 2e | Vision and Change | Conceptual Approach

Key Concepts begin each chapter and serve as the chapter’s organizational framework.

CHECKpoint questions conclude each section, progressing from simple recall questions to questions that require critical thinking at higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Apply the Concept

These critical thinking exercises ask students to interpret data and draw conclusions. These exercises can be used in class (e.g., with “clickers” or to stimulate class discussion) or assigned as homework.

Opening Story

Each chapter begins with an application of a major concept in an Opening Story that illustrates and provides motivation for understanding the chapter’s context.

Opening Question

An open-ended Question is proposed at the end of each story that students can keep in mind as they read and study the rest of the chapter. The question is answered at the end of the chapter, in light of how concepts are presented throughout the chapter.

Chapter Summaries

In each chapter, the summary revisits each Key Concept, include key terms, and remind the student about relevant animations and videos that are available in LaunchPad.

“Principles does not harp on memorization of seemingly endless facts, but instead encourages life-long learning of biological ideas through real-world application. This is a change drastically needed in current education, and I am glad to have found a book finally willing to take this step!” - Lori Valentine Rose, Hill College
“I found Apply the Concept boxes to be excellent learning tools. Most require students to really think about and use concepts and content information, yet students were usually able to figure out the answers. I occasionally borrowed Apply the Concept questions or modified them for exams to assess higher order thinking.” -Suzanne Gollery, Sierra Nevada College