Biology 1406 Syllabus
BIOLOGY 1406 GENERAL BIOLOGY I
COURSE SYLLABUS-FALL 2008
INSTRUCTOR: DR. DAVID SCHWARTZ
NO CELL PHONES ARE ALLOWED IN USE AT ANY TIME! AUDIBLE CELL PHONE RINGING MAY RESULT IN YOUR REMOVAL FROM CLASS THAT DAY! CELL PHONE USE DURING EXAMINATIONS IS CHEATING AND WILL RESULT IN COURSE FAILURE!!
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course includes a study of biological chemistry, biological processes, cellular morphology, metabolism, genetics, and molecular biology. Biology 1406 is the first half of a two semester sequence that is intended specifically for life science majors. It will satisfy the freshman biology requirements for biology majors, the pre-professional fields and other allied health sciences, while satisfying the natural science requirement for majors in most other fields as well. One year of high school biology/high school chemistry is recommended.
II. COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To establish an understanding of the major historical events in biology and their impact on science.
2. To describe basic cell structure, biochemistry, metabolism, nutrition, reproduction, and genetics .
3. To demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of cellular inheritance.
4. To demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of molecular genetic technology.
5. To demonstrate skill in basic laboratory methodology, such as microscopy, and the careful analysis of laboratory data and results.
III. LEARNING ACTIVITIES
In order to benefit from the lecture sessions the student should read the assigned sections of the text. The appropriate topics will be presented through lectures interspersed with questions and answers. Laboratory sessions will provide the student with the practical experience necessary to become acquainted with the techniques utilized in the study of morphological, metabolic, and molecular characteristics.
Lecture exams, laboratory practicals and class activities will also enhance the learning process by giving you the opportunity to demonstrate the basic intellectual competencies of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and showing critical thinking and problem solving ability.
IV. PARTICIPATION
Good attendance is a necessity to do well in this course. The student is expected to attend each lecture and laboratory session. Roll will be taken each day. Consistent punctuality is also expected of the student. An absence is defined as any unexcused non-attendance of class for fifteen minutes or more, at any time during regular class hours. Tardy arrival is defined as arrival five minutes or more after the commencement of class. When absence is unavoidable, it is the student's responsibility to obtain lecture notes and test assignments from fellow students. Missed laboratory exercises may only be made up by attending another class during the same week, if I teach more than one section that semester.
Obey all lab safety rules in your lab manual!! The instructor is not responsible for injury to the student or for damage to the lab or equipment due to violation of lab safety rules!!
Frequent absences and tardies will be reflected in your final course grade if you are borderline. The excessively absent (4 lecture sessions or more) student may be dropped from the course before the official drop date!!!
HCC COURSE WITHDRAWAL POLICY
The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively. In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting new students (those starting college in Fall 2007) to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their academic career in obtaining a baccalaureate degree. There may be future penalties imposed as well. Students who repeat a course after two prior attempts face significant tuition/fee increases at HCCS and other Texas public colleges and universities. This policy covers ANY course grade which appears on your transcript, including withdrawals with the grade of W! If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor or counselor as early as possible about your study habits, test-taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available. It is your personal responsibility to seek out and take advantage of these opportunities for help. If you are in difficulty and need assistance - tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement – to stay in class or to improve your academic performance, HCC Student Services can help you. In any case, you no longer are able to drop a course by yourself. You MUST visit with your instructor, or a faculty advisor, or a counselor, or online student services at http://studentservicesonline@hccs.edu prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class. THIS MUST BE DONE PRIOR TO THE LAST DAY TO ADMINISTRATIVELY DROP A COURSE TO RECEIVE A “W” ON YOUR TRANSCRIPT. YOUR INSTRUCTORS WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO ASSIGN A “W” FOR YOU AFTER THAT DATE!!! YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GRADE YOU EARN, WITH NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
In case of prolonged absences the instructor should be notified. The student must go through proper channels in order to officially withdraw from a course; non-attendance does not automatically withdraw one from any course. I am under no obligation to withdraw you from this course if you stop attending!! If a student fails to officially withdraw, he or she may be issued the grade of "F" at the end of the semester for non attendance. Exceptions to this policy will be made only under extraordinary circumstances.
V. LEGAL STUFF HCC WANTS ME TO TELL YOU ABOUT
Students With Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. If you have any questions, please contact the Disability Counselor at your college or Donna Price at 713-718-5165.
Sexual Harassment
It is a violation of HCCS policy for an employee, agent, or student of the college to engage in sexual harassment as defined in the EEOC guidelines (EEO/AA Compliance Handbook 47). So don't do it!!
VI. EXAMINATIONS
During the semester there will be three regular lecture exams, two laboratory practicals, and a comprehensive final exam. In addition, the total of the eleven (11) assigned laboratory reports, at up to nine (9) points each, will serve as an additional major exam grade. Lab reports are due the next laboratory session after the laboratory exercise, or on a due date announced by the instructor. LAB REPORTS ARE DUE BY FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE PRINTED START HOUR OF CLASS!! IF HANDED IN LATE, OR AT ANY LATER DATE, the laboratory exercise(s) will receive one half credit and will be returned to the student uncorrected by the instructor!! Absence upon the due date or the lab performance date is not a valid excuse for late laboratory exercises.
The lecture examinations are primarily objective in nature: i.e. multiple choice, matching, true-false. In addition, each regular lecture exam will consist of approximately 10% subjective (written) material. The lowest regular lecture exam grade will be dropped. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE UP EXAMS IN THIS COURSE!!! A missed regular lecture exam will be considered to be the lowest regular lecture exam grade to be dropped. All other missed regular lecture exams will be recorded as the grade of zero. There will be no makeup exams given for laboratory practicals. No laboratory practical exam grade will be dropped! A firm grade of zero is recorded for missed laboratory practical exams. All exam sheets and Scantron forms will be collected as a permanent record of the student's performance. No exam material will be kept by the student. Loss of exam credit due to scantron erasure errors or other mistakes of use will NOT result in adjustment or readjustment of the student's grade!!!
The comprehensive final is mandatory. Failure to take the comprehensive final will result in the firm course grade of "F", regardless of the student's course average from other exam events. THE STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING THE DATE OF THE FINAL EXAM IN THIS COURSE. THIS INFORMATION IS EASILY AVAILABLE IN THE PRINTED SCHEDULE OF CLASSES, AND ONLINE IN THE STUDENT SEMESTERLY CALENDAR ON THE HCCS HOMEPAGE, CURRENT STUDENTS. DO NOT MAKE EXPENSIVE OR IRREVOCABLE END OF SEMESTER TRAVEL PLANS UNTIL YOU CHECK YOUR FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE!!
Academic dishonesty (cheating) on any exam event will not be tolerated and will lead to failure of the exam event, or the course, depending upon the circumstances of the infraction. A comprehensive statement on academic dishonesty can be found in the HCCS Student Handbook.
VII. STUDENT EVALUATION
* Regular lecture exams (3) (LOWEST GRADE WILL BE DROPPED)
* Practical exams (2)
*11 laboratory reports (1)
* Final comprehensive exam (X2)
A=100-90
B=89-80
C=79-70
D=69-60
F= <59
* All seven test scores will carry equal weight. Course grade will be the average of all seven test scores.
For example:
2 regular exams + 2 practical exams + 1 major exam grade for lab reports + final exam (double weight) = 7 scores
In this course, grades are not "curved". Individual assignments or papers are not accepted in order to earn additional points. All students will have opportunities to improve point scores. Extra credit may be earned on each regular lecture exam by answering the "bonus points" question. Dual credit students will be held to the same college level standards of responsibility, performance, and evaluation that apply to all others in this course.
Textbook:
Biology, 8th Edition, Volume I by Campbell, Neil, and Reese, Jane
Urry, Lisa, Cain, Michael, Wasserman, Steven, Minorsky, Peter, and Jackson, Robert
Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 2008
In certain instances, it may be necessary to refer to material contained in Volume II of this text, or for you to use Volume II for reference. You therefore are also responsible for providing yourself access to this second volume. Purchase of a new copy of your textbook will automatically provide you with access to the ENTIRE e-book on the Pearson Benjamin Cummings website for Campbell and Reese 8th Ed. for eighteen months from date of activation. The e-book is ONLY available to students who have purchased a NEW copy of Campbell and Reese. If you have purchased a used copy, this e-book option is not available, and it is YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY to access Volume II when needed. Neither I nor HCCS will provide you with the text material you need if you purchase a used Volume I, or choose to use a previous edition of the text. In any respect, you will be fully responsible for all material covered, regardless of any lack of ability to access the appropriate text because of your purchasing or usage choices.
Laboratory Manual:
Biology 1406 Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edition, by Tom Loesch, Jasleen Mishra, Leena Sawant, David Schwartz, Nimish Shah, and Donna Wiersema, as contributing authors, Cache House Publishing, 2008
VIII. CONFERENCES/OFFICE HOURS:
I will be available immediately before and after class, and by appointment. My office is in your Biology classroom at the Stafford campus, or at the Student Success Center at the West Loop campus. You are encouraged to visit with me. My email address is david.schwartz@hccs.edu I check my email every day, but due to my schedule I may not be back to you that day. My office hours will change from semester to semester. You can find the current schedule at the Learning Web. The address is learning.swc.hccs.edu This syllabus does not constitute a contract between the instructor or HCC, and the student. The provisions listed above may be changed at any time, either orally or by written notification. However, the above examination and grading policies are firm for any given semester, unless extraordinary or emergency circumstances occur.
