PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY II
SYLLABUS
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Semester: |
Fall 2007 |
Faculty Name: |
Jason Fuller |
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Course: |
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Office location: |
SS 324 |
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Day/ Time: |
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Telephone: |
240-567-1348 |
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Office hours: |
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email: |
jason.fuller@montgomerycollege.edu |
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This course is designed for Natural Science Majors and examines evolution, taxonomy, kingdoms of life, ecology and behavior. In addition, this course will explore international aspects of the above topics. Specifically, we will cover basic tropical parasitology, and cultural and geographical aspects of diversity and environmental topics. This course will expose students to animal and plant groups found in varying geographical locations, and will compare biomes worldwide. The environmental impact of humans will be addressed along with international efforts to reduce those impacts.
The course consists of three hours of lecture per week and three hours of laboratory. As this course progresses, you will gain confidence and expertise in logical thinking, the ability to work with others, analyzing what you learn, and communicating your ideas to others. All of these are skills highly sought after in today’s competitive employment market place.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will become familiar with evidence supporting evolutionary theory, the processes that drive evolution of populations, and will apply this knowledge to the study of life’s diversity.
2. Students will become familiar with and be able to classify the major groups of extant organisms.
3. Students will be able to describe how organisms interact with each other and with their environment.
4. Students will understand the major ways in which humans negatively impact their environment and the planet.
COURSE PREREQUISITE:
Assessment levels: EN101/101A, MA100, RD120.
TEXTBOOK:
Lecture: Biology, 7th Edition. Campbell and Reece.
Lab manual: BI 108 Laboratory Book
Optional: A guide to the Biology Lab, Rust
SUPPLEMENTAL SOFTWARE/WEB:
Textbooks come with CDs and you are encouraged to use them to enrich your understanding of the lecture and/or to complete lecture notes. You are also encouraged to use the Campbell Website to help with understanding and gaining exposure to the basic themes of the class.
Support material and grades will be made available online using WebCT. To access the course website you must log in to MyMC, and then simply follow the WebCT ling on the MyMC page. Online materials include syllabus, assignment sheets, study guides, informational web links and lecture handouts. For assistance accessing WebCT, ask your instructor.
You are expected to attend and show up on time to all class and laboratory sessions. Because of the accelerated speed of this course, there is little time to catch up on missed work. Missing more than one class period may result in your becoming hopelessly behind. Further, much of the material covered on the examinations comes from class lectures- so it is to your benefit to attend all classes. If you are late to lecture or lab session, please be courteous to your class-mates by quietly sitting in a rear desk. It is your responsibility to get the lecture notes from a classmate if you are late or absent from lecture. If you choose to withdraw, it is your responsibility to complete all necessary paperwork to remove your name from the class roster. Failure to do so could result in a grade of “F” for the semester. Consult your catalog for the add/drop day.
Missed examinations may be made up upon showing a written and valid excuse within one week following the examination. However, NO student will be permitted to make up more than ONE test and all makeups will be essay in format and be given in the last week of class. Due to the long preparation to set a lab test, absolutely NO lab test will be made up. Makeups for Final Exams are rarely given. If you have a conflict with the exam time you must contact your instructor as early as possible (at least one week before the exam). It is at your instructors discretion as to whether or not you may take the exam at another time and when that time will be (usually earlier if allowed). In the case of an emergency for any exam, call your instructor and leave a message at the earliest possible time. Any note from a doctor will be checked for authenticity.
COURSE EVALUATION AND GRADING SCALE:
Each chapter or particular section is indicated in the detailed course outline. Additional reading assignments may be given during the class time. You will read and summarize articles from well-known magazines/journals and present your findings to the class; you will also be required to visit the National Museum of Natural History for an out of class assignment. The grading system for this course will be based upon a point system where each student has an opportunity to earn a total of 875 points. Points will be distributed as follows:
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BREAKDOWN |
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Lecture: 3 exams |
= 300 points |
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Lab: 2 exams |
= 200 points |
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Comprehensive Final Exam |
= 150 points |
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Quizzes (6) |
= 90 points |
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Writing assignment |
= 50 points |
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Lab assignments |
= 60 points |
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850 total points |
EXTRA CREDIT: Interactive computer CDs are in the Math Science Learning Center. Students are invited to use them for better understanding of the lecture materials. Up to ten of them can be used for extra credit worth 2 points each. NOTE: UNEXCUSED ABSENCE FROM MORE THAN 3 CLASS PERIODS (LECTURE OR LAB), OR CONSISTENT TARDINESS WILL RESULT IN A FORFEIT OF ALL EXTRA CREDIT. (You are considered absent if you miss more than 20 minutes of class time).
STANDARDS:
Grade will be assigned as follows:
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A = 90%+ of total points |
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B = 80-90% |
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C = 70-80% |
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D = 60-70% |
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F = < 60% |
CLASSROOM POLICIES
Lecture Behavior: Each and every student is expected to behave in ways that promote a teaching and learning atmosphere. Students have the right to learn; however, they do not have the right to interfere with the freedom of the faculty to teach or the rights of other students to learn. All in-class discussions should be carried out in a way that keeps the classroom environment respectful of the rights of others. For example, students should not interrupt someone else who is talking regardless of whether that person is the instructor or another student. Students should not monopolize class time by repeatedly interrupting and asking questions in a manner that hinders the learning process of others. Students are also expected to conduct themselves in ways that create a safe learning and teaching environment that is free from such things as violence, intimidation, and harassment, including sexual harassment. Pagers and cell phones must be silenced when in the classroom.
Laboratory Behavior: Your lab time is very limited. To complete the labs in the allotted time, you will need to read the lab exercise before coming to the laboratory and review the appropriate chapters in the text and diagrams in Rust. You are expected to clean up after yourself following lab activities. This means that you must, for example, return models to their correct counters, return prepared slides to their specific slide trays, and wash and dry dissecting tools and then return them to their assigned bins.
TO PREPARE FOR THE EXAMS, FOLLOW THESE 5 STEPS:
1. Start early. You typically need two weeks to prepare for an examination. Start tonight!!!
2. Make and use flash cards. They are particularly useful for memorizing plant and animal groups (picture on one side, description on the other). Study them during “Down-time”- waiting in lines, while preparing dinner, while commuting (if you do not drive).
3. Try to understand concepts, not just memorize facts.
4. In a class such as this, it is a good idea to form study groups early. Meet other students in your lecture or lab section, exchange phone numbers and start studying together soon.
5. Work hard. Success in this course comes to those who are dedicated, persistent and enjoy the learning process.
EMAIL POLICY:
Student e-mail (montgomerycollege.edu) is an official means of communication for the College. It is expected that you check your student e-mail regularly and frequently, as you are responsible for information and announcements that will be sent to you from the College. For this class, student e-mail may be used for situations where timing is essential. Most information will be discussed in class or posted on WebCT and all assignments will be turned in as hard copy during regular class times. If you contact me through e-mail, use your student e-mail account rather than a publicly available account so that I can recognize you as a student.
STUDENT DISABILITY:
Syllabus and course material are available in alternative formats upon request. Any student who may need an accommodation due to a disability, please make an appointment to see me during my office hour. A letter from Disability Support Services (ST120) authorizing your accommodations will be needed. Any student who may need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation must identify to the Disability Support Services Office; guidelines for emergency evacuations for individuals with disabilities are found at: www.montgomerycollege.edu/dss/evacprocedures.htm.
Students should refer to the current Montgomery College Student Handbook for the official wording of all academic, classroom, and college-wide policies. Students are expected to abide by the code of Conduct.
According to the policies and Procedures of the College “cheating” or “plagiarism” in connection with an academic program is prohibited and students may be disciplined. In the rare instance that a student in this course cheats or plagiarizes material, that student will receive a grade of F for the course. Cheating and plagiarism are taken very seriously. In all cases, except where teams are set up for specific exercises, your work is to be done independently.
LECTURE OUTLINE
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WEEK |
TOPICS |
READINGS |
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9/5 |
Evolutionary theory |
Ch.22 |
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9/10 |
Population genetics |
Ch.23 |
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Microevolution |
Ch.23 |
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9/17 |
Speciation |
Ch.24 |
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Macroevolution and Life’s origin |
Ch.26 (512-528) |
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9/24 |
Evolution wrap-up and review |
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Exam #1 (Ch. 22,23,24,26) |
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10/1 |
Taxonomy and Viruses |
Ch.25 (491-497), 26 (529-531), 18 (334-346) |
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Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes |
Ch.18 (346-349), 27 |
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10/8 |
Protista |
Ch.28 |
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Fungi |
Ch.31 |
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10/15 |
Lower Plants |
Ch.29 |
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Exam #2 (Ch. 25,26,18,27,28,31) |
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10/22 |
Plants |
Ch.29, 30 |
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Animal classification |
Ch.32 |
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10/29 |
Invertebrates |
Ch.33 |
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11/5 |
Vertebrates |
Ch.34 |
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11/12 |
Exam #3 (Ch. 29,30,33,34) |
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Ecology and Biomes |
Ch.50 |
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11/19 |
Population Ecology |
Ch.52 |
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Thanksgiving Holiday - 11/21-11/25 |
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11/26 |
Human Population Growth |
Ch.52 |
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Community Ecology |
Ch.53 |
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12/3 |
Energy Flow and Chemical cycles |
Ch.54 |
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12/10 |
Human Impact |
Ch.55 |
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12/19 |
Final Exam – 12:30-2:30 pm |
(Ch.50,52,53,54,55+33,34,22,23) |
Important Dates:
Last Day to Drop…………... Nov. 20 Thanksgiving Holiday....... Nov. 21-25
Lecture Final ......................... Dec. 19
LABORATORY OUTLINE
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WEEK OF |
TOPICS |
READINGS |
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9/5 |
No Lab Scheduled |
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9/10 |
Fossils |
handout |
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9/17 |
Population genetics |
1(17) + handout |
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9/24 |
Field Trip: Natural History Museum |
handout |
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10/1 |
Human Evolution |
2(18) |
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10/8 |
Plant Competition experiment setup |
15(19) + handout |
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10/15 |
Protists and Fungi |
3(24), 4(25), 5(26) |
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10/22 |
Non-flowering plants |
6(27), 7(28), 8(29) |
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10/29 |
Lab Exam #1 |
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11/5 |
Flowering plants |
9(30) |
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11/12 |
Plant Competition Harvest |
Handout |
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11/19 |
Invertebrates |
10(35), 11(36), 12(37) |
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11/26 |
Invertebrates |
13(38), 14(39) |
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12/3 |
Vertebrates |
14(39) |
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12/10 |
Lab Exam #2 |
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Laboratory Safety Procedures:
1. Goggles are required for the labs above in bold.
2. For health and cleanliness reasons, eating, drinking, smoking, storing food, chewing gum and applying cosmetics are not permitted in the laboratory.
3. Open toed shoes are not allowed in the laboratory.
4. Your lab bench area must be thoroughly cleaned (with soap or disinfectant) at the end of every laboratory period and after every spill.
5. Disposable gloves are recommended for dissection of preserved materials.
6. Report all spills or accidents, no matter how minor, to your instructor.
7. Students who are pregnant, taking immunosuppressive drugs, or have any other medical condition that might necessitate special precautions in the laboratory must inform your instructor immediately.
8. Do not allow water or any solution to come into contact with electrical cords or outlets. Make sure your hands are dry when you handle electrical connectors. If electrical equipment crackles, snaps, or begins to smoke, do not attempt to disconnect it. Inform your instructor immediately.
9. Do not touch broken glassware with your hands. Inform your instructor of broken glass and follow their instructions for cleanup.
10. Let your instructor know if you are colorblind, as many procedures require discrimination of colors.
11. Only students who are registered in the course are allowed in the laboratory – no children or adult guests.
12. Push in stools and chairs at end of lab to avoid tripping hazard.
13. Wash hands before leaving the laboratory.