BIOLOGY 1102 - FOUNDATIONS OF BIOLOGY
Spring Semester 2012
Lecture Section 001 (MWF 10:00-10:50) and Lecture Section 011 (MWF 11:00 - 11:50)
Lab Sections 1-9 and 11-19
Professor Office & Phone Office Hours
GENERAL EDUCATION OBJECTIVES : BIOL 1102 is included in the Science and Technology content area for General Education Courses.
1) BIOL 1102 provides intellectual breadth and versatility by providing a perspective on the complexity and diversity of living organisms, and the importance of non-human organisms to the functioning of ecosystems. BIOL 1102 investigates issues of general relevance to human biology (e.g., Evolutionary, Ecological, Genetic, and Biomedical issues).
2) BIOL 1102 helps students acquire critical judgement skills . Laboratories are designed to acquaint students with the process of science--formulation and testing of hypotheses, and acquisition and interpretation of data. Lecture content integrates current topics emphasizing hypothesis generation and testing, and explanation of how to interpret media reports related to Biology.
3) BIOL 1102 will help students to acquire a working understanding of the process by which they can continue to acquire and use knowledge. By emphasizing the scientific process, both the laboratory and lectures call attention to the reality that Biology is a dynamic, not a static science---no 'fact' is necessarily immutable, and any observation can be further tested or reevaluated in the context of new data. Science, by definition, is objective and falsifiable, it can be tested by observation and experiment. Science is for everybody!
TEXT AND LAB MANUAL
The textbook for this lecture section is: Biology: Concepts and Applications by Cecie Starr available online: http://www.ichapters.com/tl1/en/US/storefront/ichapters?cmd=catProductDetail&ISBN=9780495119814&cid=APL1(Please%20The textbook is not required for this lecture section so you DO NOT have to purchase the textbook ever! If you wish to, you can, but it is not required. The Lab Manual is Required of all students, is custom-published by the UConn Co-op, and is entitled Biology 1102 Laboratory Manual. Be sure to bring your lab manual to every lab and to read the assigned material before starting lab because you will take a quiz on the material at the beginning of every lab except the first one. Note. If you have taken the lab previously, you cannot use the lab manual from the previous semester and you cannot receive credit for assignments turned in during the previous semester; all such work will receive zero credit.
LECTURE SCHEDULE
There are two Biology 1102 lecture sections this semester. You must attend the lecture section that you are registered for or you will fail the course. In addition, you must take full responsibility for all information given during lectures. If you must miss a lecture, you are still responsible for all information given in lecture, including lecture notes as well as course announcements or assignments; therefore, make the effort to attend every lecture. Lecture Syllabus. Office hours cannot be used to repeat lectures that were missed. Note: In order to pass the course, you must pass the lecture portion of the course. This means you must earn at least 60% of the points in lecture to pass. The same holds true for lab. See below.
LABORATORY
Note: You must pass the laboratory portion of the course in order to pass Biology 1102. That means you cannot miss more than two labs (excused or not) and you must earn at least 60% of the points in lab during the semester. There are no exceptions to these rules. Lab sections will meet in TLS 303 or 309 (signs will be posted on the doors so you know). There are NO food or drinks allowed in the laboratory due to safety requirements mandated by University, State, and Federal laws. No sandals or open-toed shoes are allowed. Laboratory Syllabus, Laboratory Policies, Lab Meeting Times
GRADING (2/3 lecture, 1/3 lab)
The lecture portion of this course is worth 2/3 (66.6%) of your final course grade.
You are required to take all lecture exams.
There are NO extra credit assignments.Note: There is NO Curve in this course. Letter grades will approximate the following total course percentages (2/3 lecture and 1/3 lab). Use these numbers to estimate your expected (earned) letter grade in the course.
A = 93-100%, A- = 90-92%
B+ = 87-89%, B = 83-86%, B- = 80-82%
C+ = 77-79%, C = 73-76%, C- = 70-72%
D+ = 67-69%, D = 63-66%, D- = 60-62%
F = 0-59%Exam Schedule and Room Locations:
Exam 1: Friday, February 3
Exam 2: Friday, February 24
Exam 3: On HuskyCT (March 3-4)
Exam 4: Friday, March 30
Exam 5: Final Exam: TBARoom Assignments for Exams:
For the MWF 10:00-10:50 lecture, lab sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9 will go to TLS 154 , Lab sections 5, 6, 7, and 8 will go to Arjona 143 for the exam.
For the MWF 11:00-11:50 lecture, lab sections 11, 12, 13, 14, and 18 will go to TLS 154, Lab sections 15, 16, 17, and 19 will go to Arjona 143 for the exam.The fifth and final lecture exam will be given during final exam week and will cover the final 25% of the course. The time and location of the final exam will be announced later. Each exam will be based on lecture notes and may consist of multiple choice, matching, short answer, long answer, drawing, essay questions, or any combination of these. Plan to bring a UConn picture ID and a number 2 pencil to every exam. In addition to the lecture exams, I reserve the right to give announced or unannounced lecture quizzes, homework assignments, and to take attendance in lecture. These activities will be used to monitor your progress in lecture and to help you prepare for exams. There are no make-ups for missed lecture quizzes, homework assignments, or attendance in lecture. Attendance is strictly a bonus based on the fact that you were in class to participate. Attendance cannot hurt your course grade. The magnitude of the attendance (participation) bonus depends on the proportion of classes you attend (See grade calculation below). Because it is strictly a bonus, I reserve the right not to use attendance (participation) in the calculation of final grades and there are no makeups for attendance---you are either present to participate in class or not. I also reserve the right to deny the attendance (participation) bonus for any student that I believe has been dishonest about attendance or any other aspect of the course. The final decision is mine alone. Note: completing lecture quizzes, copying homework assignments, or completing attendance cards for another student is academic honesty and you will FAIL the course. Do NOT make this mistake for yourself or a friend in the class. Helping someone else cheat on small point value work like lecture homework and attendance is NOT worth getting an F grade.
You may also take an Optional Comprehensive Lecture Final (OCLF), which could allow you to improve your grade in the course. The OCLF is taken directly after the required Final Exam during the same time period and in the same room as the final. A higher score from the OCLF can be used to replace the lowest of your first three exam scores. The OCLF cannot be used to replace the Final Exam score. Be advised that because the OCLF is comprehensive, it is typically a difficult exam with an average score in the 60s. Consider the decision to take the OCLF carefully because it can indirectly hurt your course grade by reducing your study time for the Final Exam, which cannot be replaced.
To take the OCLF you must first:
1. Take all five semester exams.
2. Score at least 40 percent on exams 1, 2, 3, and 4.
3. Attend at least 75% of lectures and can prove it with your hand-written notes from each lecture if asked.
Please note: If the OCLF exam score is lower than all of your first three exam scores it will NOT count against you and will be discarded.
The remaining 1/3 of your final course grade will be determined by your performance in the laboratory Laboratory PoliciesExample Student Grade Calculation:
Lecture Assessment Student points Earned Total points Available In-class Exam 1 In-class Exam 2 HuskyCT Exam 3 In-class Exam 4 In-class Exam 5 Lec HW & quizzes Divide points Earned by points Available
Lecture Attendance proportion 0.94
Lab Student points Earned Total points Available Divide points Earned by points Available Final Grade Calculation: (84.00 x 0.666) + (86.90 x 0.333) + 0.94 = 85.89 = B
Note: The number of lecture HW and quiz points available will vary among semesters and may be more or less than that shown above.
MAKE SURE YOU SPEAK TO ME IF...you require extra time for exams, a note-taker, or have any other needs. Please come and speak to me sooner rather than later. Any information provided to me will remain strictly confidential. Also, if English is not your native language and you wish to discuss the possibility of extra time for exams, please see me before the first exam. In addition, if you are on academic probation, do not wait until the end of the semester to tell me and then expect that I will be able to help you. If you find yourself getting behind or not making the grade you need, then come see me immediately so we can discuss study and testing strategies that will help you succeed and avoid dismissal from the University.
MAKE-UP POLICY FOR MISSED LECTURE EXAMS
Makeup exams are available only to students who have a legitimate, documented excuse for missing an exam, such as illness, representing the university at sanctioned events, or death in the immediate family. If you know in advance that you must miss an exam, see me in advance and bring documentation to support your anticipated absence. Do not ask IF you should bring documentation to me, just bring it. If you miss an exam unexpectedly because of last-minute illness or accident, contact me as soon as possible and bring documentation for your situation. Makeups will include short-answer, essay, and/or multiple choice questions--the final format is usually not decided upon until the day of the exam. Please note: You must receive permission before you can take a make-up exam. All makeup exams must be completed within one week of the regularly scheduled exam. If this is not possible, you must see me to discuss an alternative.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: Give Respect, Get Respect
Due to the large size of our class, it is very important that certain rules are followed so that all students have the opportunity to attend lecture without distractions. Here are those rules:
Do not chat with friends; it is hard enough for everyone to hear in the lecture room.
Do not say or do anything in our class that could offend any person in any way. Think before you speak.
Do not bring cell phones, Ipods, headphones, computers, etc. into our classroom or use them during lecture. I will take away anything I find distracting.
Do not read the newspaper during class.
Do not sleep during class. If you cannot stay awake, go home, get some rest, and talk to me afterward.
Do not come to class late or leave early. You will not receive attendance credit and you will miss quizzes, which cannot be made up.
If you must leave class early or come late for a special circumstance, please let me know in advance, and use the entrance at the back of the lecture room to minimize distractions to myself and the other students. IF YOU CANNOT FOLLOW THESE RULES, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE CLASSROOM and we will discuss the situation with the Dean of Students office.
HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS COURSE
In order to succeed in this course, you should Attend All Lectures, complete your lecture outlines, and allow ample time to read and study the lecture material. Attend all labs, read the lab manual before lab so you can do well on the quizzes, and complete lab assignments to the best of your ability. To do well on the lecture exams, I recommend reading your complete set of lecture notes at least 5 nights per week. Treat school like a job. Do your time, earn your reward. If you attend lectures and labs and study regularly from a complete set of notes, you should have no problem succeeding in this course.
- Class Web Site. You are expected to be aware of any course announcements posted to the course website. You should also check the course website once per week anyway to see if there have been any new announcements. Access the course website through your HuskyCT accounts .
- E-mail. I use email daily. and it is the primary method I will use if I need to communicate with the entire class outside of lecture. Please check your UConn email regularly. In the event of an emergency school closing, please check your email within 24 hours for instructions. You are expected to be aware of any course announcements.
- Office hours. My office is in TLS 308 across from the lab room. I am happy to meet with any of my students regardles of how they are doing in the course. If you have unanswered questions, concerns, are in serious academic trouble, or need to speak with me for any reason, Please do! I will help in any way that I can as long as it maintains fairness to all students in the course.
- Setting reasonable goals. Aim high. For example, if you simply must earn a B in this course to maintain honors status, get into the business school, maintain your GPA, prevent yourself from going on academic probation, or whatever, then do not aim for a B. Aim for an A. That way, if you make mistakes or have difficulties, you will still have some chance of getting the grade you want. It is not unusual in such a large class for a student who needs a C, to aim for a C, make mistakes, and not get the C. Better to over-prepare, than under-prepare.
- I am here for two reasons: To Teach You the foundations of biology and To Help You succeed in this course, See me if you need me!
This class is for everybody, even if you think you can't do Biology.
Make the effort and I will show you.