BIOLOGY 1106: PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY

Lecture Syllabus, Spring 2006

Anoka Ramsey Community College – Coon Rapids Campus – Room S 145

Course Description:

(Meets MnTC Goal 3) Introduction to the science of biology, including topics in chemistry, metabolism, cell processes, inheritance patterns, the molecular basis of inheritance, evolution, and the process of science.  Three lecture hours and one 3-hour laboratory per week (concurrent registration in lab required).  College level chemistry is strongly recommended BEFORE taking BIOL 1106.  4 credits.

Prerequisites:

High school chemistry (College level chemistry is strongly recommended).  A positive attitude, an open mind, a willingness to work with others, and the understanding that you will be challenged to work hard in this course. 

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, you should be able to:

• Explain the chemical context of life.
• Demonstrate an understanding of cells.
• Demonstrate an understanding of cell reproduction, including mitosis and meiosis.
• Demonstrate an understanding of inheritance, including Mendelian patterns and chromosomes.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of DNA, genes, proteins, and DNA technology.
• Describe the Darwinian view of life, including evidence for evolution and the process of natural selection.
• Demonstrate an understanding of science as a process.

Attendance Policies:

·         Although attendance will not be taken regularly in lecture, it is expected that all students will attend every lecture and actively take notes.  Some assignments will be given and turned in during lecture.

·         It is expected that students will complete all assigned work and readings as well as responsibly and respectively participate in group discussion and activities.  Failure to do so will result in a loss of points.

·         If you must miss a lecture it is expected that you will get notes, assignments, or handouts from a classmate.  After you have reviewed someone else’s notes and consulted the textbook regarding the material, you may schedule an appointment or come to my office hours to review missed material if you have additional questions. 

·         Absences will not affect due dates of assignments therefore it is your responsibility to turn in work on time.  If assignments are handed in late, a 10% point deduction per day late (up to a maximum of three days late) will be imposed.  Even if you are absent you will still be responsible for all materials. 

·         It is extremely disruptive to both the instructor as well as other students when a student arrives late to class.  In order to avoid class disruptions and to ensure fairness to all students, the following late penalty applies on group activity and test dates: 

o        If a student is 5 minutes or more late to class on a day when a group activity or a test is being conducted the tardy student will automatically lose 5 points as well as a 10% deduction for every additional 5 minutes the student is late.  Example 1: A student 15 minutes late to a group activity that is worth 30 points will lose a total of 11 points.  Example 2: A student 10 minutes late to a test that is worth 100 points will lose a total of 15 points.   In essence, tardy students will lose a minimum of an entire letter grade for letting his/her group-mates down and/or disrupting the class.

Grading Policies:

·         No incomplete grades will be given for missed work, only for those who have completed 75% of the course satisfactorily and missed the final exam due to extreme circumstances (such as an extended, doctor-verified illness) and with valid documentation.

·         A missed exam will result in the grade of zero (0%). 

·         Make up exams can only be arranged in advance and/or in the event of an emergency or catastrophe (with valid documentation).  In the event I approve a make up exam, it must take place within 2 days of the scheduled exam, and it may differ from the original exam given in lecture.

·         A student can take no more than one make-up exam per semester and only with a legitimate reason.

·         There are 600 total points in the lecture component of this course and it comprises 75% of your total course grade.

v      There will be 4 lecture exams.  The first 3 are each worth 100 points and the final exam will be worth 150 points.  Exams can include multiple choice, matching, true/false, drawing, labeling, and/or short answer questions.

v      There will be 4 in-class group activities.   Each group activity will be worth 30 points (check schedule for dates).  You must be present to participate in these group activities and earn full credit for them.  If you are not present on the day the group activity is conducted you can complete the activity as an individual but you will receive an automatic 5-point deduction on the assignment in addition to a 10% point deduction per day late (up to a maximum of three days late) even if you have a legitimate excuse for your absence.  In addition to the late policy described above students can also lose points on group activities by not fully participating.  These activities are not meant to be “spectator sports” or opportunities for students to sit back and let someone else do all of the work.  I expect students to be prepared for and fully participate in the group activities.  If they do not I expect their group-mates to inform me.  At that time I will decide if the non-participating student will earn any points for the group activity.

v      There will be 7 online quizzes.  Each quiz will be worth 5 points for a total of 30 possible points (you may drop your lowest quiz score, i.e. only 6 will count towards your final grade).  These online quizzes cannot be made up.

o        The 7 online quizzes will be administered through the Desire Two Learn (D2L) website: https://anokaramsey.ims.mnscu.edu/ 

§         Click on BIOL 1106-02 to access this lecture section.

§         Username: student id, password: birth date (YYMMDD) or last 6 numbers of your Social Security number if birth date does not work.  PLEASE CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD IMMEDIATELY!

o        Each quiz will have 5 questions (1 point possible per question) and last 7 minutes.

o        Please check the syllabus for quiz dates – you will have a window from 12pm on the Wednesday the quiz is posted until 11:59pm on the Friday after it is posted to take each quiz.  REMEMBER: once you login to take the quiz you will only have 7 minutes to complete the quiz.

·         You are concurrently enrolled in a lab section for this course.  I may or may not be your lab instructor.  Lab is a required part of this course, and 25% of your total course grade will be determined from the laboratory.  You will receive a separate syllabus for lab.  Performance in lecture and lab will be pooled and a single composite grade will be assigned for the entire course.  Students must come prepared (i.e. thoroughly read lab material in advance of arriving at lab) and participate fully in all lab activities.  Lab quizzes and assignments will be a part of your lab grade.  Please refer to your lab syllabus and direct specific questions about lab to your lab instructor. 

·         It is your responsibility to record all lecture and lab grades as well as retain all assignments and exams used to calculate your final course grade until the end of the semester after a final course grade has been submitted. 

·         You have 1 week from the time an assignment or exam is returned to contest a grade and you must show proof of inaccurately recorded grades by submitting retained documents.

·         To calculate your % grade at anytime use this equation: 

{[(lecture points earned/ lecture points possible) x 0.75] + [(lab points earned/ lab points possible) x 0.25]} x 100

·         I reserve the right to adjust final course grades if you are at a borderline percentage at the conclusion of the semester (see grading scale below).

Additional Course Policies:

·         No cell phones or pagers are permitted in lecture or lab.

·         No minor children are permitted in lecture or lab.

·         Students are expected to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct.  Failure to do so will result in a loss of points.

·         You are expected to do your own work in this class and cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated.

·         Plagiarism is the use of another’s words or ideas without giving them due credit (copying).  Copying any material from a textbook, lab manual, the Internet, or another author (even a classmate) constitutes as plagiarism.  Plagiarism is considered as serious as cheating on an exam, and is considered academic misconduct.  Please see your Student Handbook and Calendar for the Code of Student Conduct (p. 35-37).  Any student found cheating or plagiarizing will receive a zero grade for that work, and may be subject to disciplinary action by the Dean.  If you witness cheating or plagiarism please report it to me immediately (which can be done anonymously). 

Special Needs:

·         If you need special accommodations for testing please contact Access Services at 433-1350.  No special testing arrangements will be made without documentation from the Access Services office.

 
Tentative Lecture Schedule: (subject to change at any time)

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