HONORS GENERAL BIOLOGY I (BIOLOGY 112C) SYLLABUS
FALL 2007, SECTION 111
MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS,
DR. BONNIE WOOD, PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY
HOW TO FIND ME
¸Office hours, 316 South Hall: Monday and
Wednesday,
( 768-9446 (you may leave a voice mail
message)
: Use Blackboard (www.courses.maine.edu), my email
address (wood@umpi.maine.edu) or my webpage (www.umpi.maine.edu/~wood)
If you need to see
me but cannot come during regular office hours, you may make an appointment to
meet at a more convenient time. If you do
not understand some of the course material, please ask questions before it is
too late!
CWHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS COURSE?
In this section of General Biology, the arbitrary distinction between
"lecture" and "laboratory" is eliminated. Instead, both parts of the course are
interwoven during two longer class meetings each week. Take a look at the Topic Schedule to see what
will be covered this semester.
Biology 112 is the first course of a two-semester sequence.
Although some of you are science majors, many more of you are not. Some
consider the science course graduation requirement a major obstacle. My
goal is to ACTIVELY engage you in the learning of biology so this course
becomes a positive component of your undergraduate experience---a part that is
not only a stepping stone to a degree but also enriches your life. This class will emphasize USING facts about
biology rather than simply memorizing those facts. Sometimes you will do this
alone; sometimes you will do it in collaboration with members of your learning
group.
I teach Biology
112 using methods that I hope will significantly change the way you view the
world. I want to foster an interest in
biology that will continue beyond the date of the final exam; to prepare you to
make effective choices in the voting booth and to be a citizen of the world; to
help you acquire thinking skills that you can use in other life endeavors.
To accomplish my
goals, I use "lecture-free" teaching methods. You will participate in
inquiry-based exercises that foster critical thinking about real-world
problems. Active learning will NOT make the course easier and will NOT take
less of your time. However, if you follow my guidelines you will not only enjoy
the course more but also will increase your likelihood of success in the class.
To be successful you must TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN LEARNING. This syllabus describes how you do this and
is a resource for the entire semester.
Ñ HOW TO SUCCEED IN BIOLOGY 112C
All class meetings
require active involvement. To participate, you must PREPARE BEFORE EACH CLASS.
¨The Honors General
Biology I CoursePack (which you must buy at the bookstore) contains
outlines of the information you are expected to know about each subject listed
on your Topic Schedule. BEFORE each
scheduled class, read appropriate parts
of the suggested chapters, and take notes (in your own words) on the
outlines. The outlines are not
necessarily in the same order as the chapters in your text, and you may have to
look up some terms in the index or glossary to learn about them. If one outline is scheduled for several class
meetings, COMPLETE THE OUTLINE BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS IN WHICH IT IS USED.
:Email me BEFORE
7:00 AM ON THE DAY OF EACH CLASS if you have specific questions or
topics you want me to clarify that day. If I do not receive any questions or
requests, I will assume that everyone in the class understands the topic for
the day, and will spend no time explaining information. You are responsible for
any concept listed in the outlines, even if I don't discuss it in class.
Your completed outlines for a particular topic will be
periodically collected for grading (and without prior notification!). This is
done to give you feedback on your notetaking and to keep you motivated to do
the work ahead of time. (No late submissions will be accepted.)
Class time will be used for active learning and
laboratory exercises that assume prior knowledge. You will work with your assigned learning
groups for many of these activities.
Some of these will be fun, and all of them will help you learn and
understand biology and prepare you for upcoming tests. If you fail to read the chapter and take
notes on the outline before each class, you will let your learning group down
and you will not gain information and expertise during the activities.
During the last two minutes of each class meeting you
will describe in writing "The
Murkiest Point" --something from that class which you still do not fully
understand. If you understand
everything, instead describe "The Most Interesting Point". You will sign this paper and hand it in as
you leave. I will begin the next class
with an explanation of the two or three most frequently stated
"murkies." You must write
something other than your name!
ACADEMIC HONESTY. In cases of violation of academic honesty, I
will discuss the matter with you and will assign you a grade of F (zero points)
for the violated work or require that you withdraw from the course with a grade
of F according to the gravity of the offense.
IATTENDANCE. Attendance at all scheduled class meetings is
very important. Each class will include
activities that you do alone or with your learning group. You are responsible for all material covered
during class whether you were present or not.
If you miss class you should discuss what was done with one of the
members of your learning group. A record
of "The Murkiest Point" papers will assess your attendance.
THESE MUST BE
PURCHASED AT THE BOOKSTORE AND BROUGHT TO ALL CLASSES:
&The Living World, Fifth Edition, by
George B. Johnson and Johnathan B. Losos.
This text is used for both Biology 112 and 113 and was chosen because it
is easy to read and does not contain excessive detail. The chapters of this
book that correspond to each week's classes are indicated on the Topic
Schedule.
& Honors General
Biology I CoursePack is a three-ring binder containing outlines that you
must complete before class as well as detailed instructions for homework,
in-class and laboratory activities.
Other materials (like this Syllabus and the Topic Schedule) that I give
you throughout the semester should be added to the CoursePack.
:BLACKBOARD is an online software tool that you will use in
Biology112C. Through Blackboard you will
receive important announcements from me, communicate with me, access course
materials, and participate in other activities that I will explain during the
semester.
To access the Blackboard Website ( www.courses.maine.edu),
use the instructions in the handout entitled “Getting Started with Blackboard”
that is found in the front of the Honors General Biology I CoursePack.
:COMPUTER LABS:
You may learn about locations and hours of Houlton and
Presque Isle computer labs from the UMPI homepage (www.umpi.maine.edu) by going
to Information ForàCurrent
StudentsàComputer ServicesàFishing Hole (on left of screen)à Lab Hours.
TUTORING AND OTHER
ASSISTANCE:
If you are at all concerned about your ability to
succeed in this course, you should sign up for tutoring IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait until you have done poorly on the
first test! To sign up see the Tutor
Coordinator, 120 South Hall, 768-9614. If you have a disability and need
accommodation or assistance in this course, contact the Director of Student
Support Services, 123 South Hall, 768-9613 or email Mary Kate Barbosa:
barbosam@umpi.maine.edu.
ASSIGNMENTS
E LEARNING GROUPS:
As part of an activity on the first day of class about
the classification of organisms, you will be randomly assigned to a learning
group. You will
work with these students in and out of class for the entire
semester.
Group Coordinator:
Choose a group coordinator who will organize meetings, facilitate
discussion and keep me informed of progress and problems in the group. On the first day of class you should
determine several times during the week when you are all available outside of
class.
Exchange Information: Exchange telephone numbers and email
addresses among yourselves.
Behavior: Arrive promptly to class and sit with your learning
group. There will be activities during
each class in which you will interact and your fellow group members will depend on you to be there at the beginning to
hear the instructions.
GFIRST WEEK ASSIGNMENTS:
·
Read this syllabus
carefully!! Note especially your
responsibilities in the course.
·
If you have not activated your University “@maine.edu”
email account, contact Computer Services in the Library basement (768-9626) for
help.
·
If you forgot your password, you can reset your password
using the following Website: http://mail.maine.edu.
·
I will send you email via Blackboard by using your
“@maine.edu” account. If you check a
different account more frequently, use the UMS Mail Server
(http://mail.maine.edu) to forward your @mail.edu email to your preferred
account.
&READINGS AND OTHER HOMEWORK
Before each class, read appropriate
parts of the chapters listed on your Topic Schedule. Determine the parts of the
chapter you should read by looking at the topic outline. You should also do any
other assignments listed in HOMEWORK column of the Topic Schedule. You are expected to be familiar with this
material before the first class at which it is discussed.
2 WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
Ø ONE POINT IS DEDUCTED FOR EACH DAY THAT ANY PART OF WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT IS LATE, INCLUDING THE CONSULTATION AT THE WRITING CENTER.
Ø BOTH INDIVIDUAL WRITING ASSIGNMENTS REQUIRE A CONSULTATION AT THE WRITING CENTER. YOU SHOULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WELL IN ADVANCE BY GOING TO THE WRITING CENTER LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF SOUTH HALL. STUDENTS FROM MANY DIFFERENT CLASSES USE THE WRITING CENTER SO GETTING AN APPOINTMENT AT THE LAST MINUTE MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE.
8SCIENTIFIC REPORT OF LABORATORY INVESTIGATION
Each student writes one scientific report about one of
the following inquiry-based laboratory exercises: Diffusion and Osmosis (Weeks
3 - 4); In Vitro Gas Suppression:
Beano®--Enzymes to the Rescue (Week 5); Photosynthesis vs Respiration/Cellular
Respiration in Plants (Week 6); Effects of Experimental Variables on
Fermentation Ability in Yeast (Week 6).
On closed reserve in the UMPI library I have placed the
book A Student Handbook for Writing in
Biology by Karin Knisely. Although
Chapters 1-3 may be useful to you, Chapters 4 and 5 give instructions for
preparing and revising a laboratory report.
Chapter 6 is a sample student laboratory report. Carefully follow the “Scientific Report of Laboratory
Investigation Grading Criteria” in the
front portion your Coursepack that I
derived from this book.
·
Wednesday, September
5:
submit a list of students in your learning group indicating which laboratory report each student will
write.
·
By the Monday following completion of the lab exercise, complete your consultation about your
scientific report draft with one of the UMPI Writing Center tutors. Graph paper in the front portion of
your CoursePack can be used for the final report.
·
Two copies of the final report are due on the Wednesday following completion of
the lab exercise. On this due date, submit your report with the “Scientific Report of Laboratory
Investigation Grading Criteria” sheet
stapled to the front. Behind the final copy, attach the first draft along with
notes made during the consultation at the Writing Center.
&BOOK REVIEW
Choose and read a book from the Biology 112 Book Review
Choices on Blackboard and on my website and write a review of its
appropriateness for Biology 112 students.
Each student must read a different book.
For the review, carefully follow the “Book Review Grading Criteria” in
the front portion of your CoursePack.
Due
dates:
(See the Homework column on your Topic
Schedule / You do not have to wait until the due date to complete each
part!):
·
Wednesday, October 24: Tell me the author
and title of the book you have borrowed from the library. Since each student must read a different
book, select your book early to ensure you get your first choice.
·
By Friday, November 29: Complete your consultation with one of the UMPI
Writing Center tutors.
· Wednesday, December 5: Submit your final book review with the Book Review Grading Criteria sheet stapled to the front. Behind the final copy, attach the first draft along with notes made during the consultation at the writing center.
ELEARNING GROUP PROJECTS
There will be two projects (both due on Wednesday,
November 7) that you will organize and complete as a group:
"Supermarket Botany " and "Thermoregulation: How Do Plants Deal
With the Cold?" Detailed instructions will be distributed Weeks 9 and 10.
TESTS
AND EXAMS
TEST REVIEW ACTIVITIES. Before each test there is an
opportunity for extra credit points. To
be eligible, follow carefully the “Guidelines
For Writing Test Review Questions” in the
front portion of your CoursePack. (No
late submissions accepted!)The learning groups will become teams competing for
extra credit points by answering these questions. If you do not submit
appropriate questions on the date they are due (see Homework column on your
Topic Schedule), you may still participate in the review activity with your
team, but you are not eligible for extra credit points.
TYPES OF TEST QUESTIONS. Questions emphasize critical thinking skills
acquired during in class and laboratory activities. For each test you may bring
with you one 8.5" x 11" paper on which you have written important
facts (using one side only) and your name.
This will be stapled to the back of your test when you turn it.
MAKE UP. If you
know in advance that you will be absent during a test or final examination, you
must obtain permission from me at least two school days before the day
of the test. Unanticipated absences will
result in a grade of F (zero points) unless you call me on the day on which the
test was scheduled (you may leave a
voice mail message and I will call you back) and present medical or legal
documentation at the earliest possible date after the class period.
Ø
If you have just read this entire syllabus, email me
before 7:00 AM on the second day of class with a statement of the most
important thing you learned from the syllabus and you will receive 3 extra
credit points!
GRADING PROCEDURES:
The total possible
points for the course is 350 (excluding extra credit) distributed in the
following way:
3 topic
tests @ 50 points =
150
l final exam = 100
Scientific
report = 30
Book review = 30
Supermarket
Botany = 15
Thermoregulation
in Plants =
15
Outline
preparation + class participation = 10
Total course
points = 350
To determine the
letter grade for a test or exam or for the course:
1. Calculate your percentage based on the total
possible points using this ratio: points obtained/total possible points X 100 =
%
2. Convert the percentage to a letter grade
using the scale below:
|
A = 93-100% |
B- =
80-82.9% |
D+ =
67-69.9% |
|
A- =
90-92.9% |
C+ =
77-79.9% |
D = 63-66.9% |
|
B+ =
87-89.9% |
C = 73-76.9% |
D- =
60-62.9% |
|
B = 83-86.9% |
C- =
70-72.9% |
F = 00-59.9% |