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General Biology – Lecture Syllabus Office Hours – Email for appointment Office – 225M (2nd floor of Sciences Complex) Instructor – Brandon McDonald Email – [email protected] Website – www.cameron.edu/~bmcdonal REQUIRED TEXTS: (1) Campbell NA, Reese JB, Simon EJ. 2009. Essential Biology, Cummins, San Francisco 4th Ed. (2) General Biology Laboratory Exercises available @ CU Bookstore LECTURE ITINERARY: Chapter 1 Introduction: Biology Today Unit 1: Cells Chapter 2 Essential Chemistry for Biology Chapter 3 The Molecules of Life Chapter 4 A Tour of the Cell Chapter 5 The working of the Cell Chapter 6 Cellular Respiration: Obtaining Energy from Food Chapter 7 Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food EXAM 1 Unit 2: Genetics Chapter 8 Cellular Reproduction: Cells from Cells Chapter 9 Patterns of Inheritance Chapter 10 The Structure and Function of DNA Chapter 11 How Genes are Controlled Chapter 12 DNA Technology EXAM 2 Unit 3: Evolution and Diversity Chapter 13 How Populations Evolve Chapter 14 How Biological Diversity Evolves Chapter 15 The Evolution of Microbial Life Chapter 16 Plants, Fungi, and the Move onto Land Chapter 17 The Evolution of Animals EXAM 3 Unit 4: Ecology Chapter 18 Intro to Ecology & the Biosphere Chapter 19 Population Ecology Chapter 20 Communities & Ecosystems EXAM 4 (final) GRADING SYSTEM: We will follow the letter grade system. Students who study generally do well and those who do not study do not do well. >90% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, <60% = F MY DUTIES AS INSTRUCTOR: To facilitate your learning and appreciating the complexity of life on earth as well as underlying mechanisms responsible for diverse patterns among different levels living systems. My job is to explain the material, provide relevant examples of the concepts, be open to student questions, & to evaluate your learning the material. HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS COURSE: (1) Read the textbook before class (2) Ask questions during lecture to clarify material you did not fully understand while reading before class (3) Do not miss class (4) Arrive on Time (5) Take full advantages of bonus points offered (6) Contact the instructor for additional tutoring outside class with specific questions. It is your responsibility to learn the material – I will be more than happy to assist you in learning as long as you put effort into it. The teacher cannot do the learning for the student. 25 AVERAGE EFFORT EXCEPTIONAL EFFORT 20 MINIMAL EFFORT GOOD EFFORT 15 LITTLE TO NO EFFORT 10 5 0 A's EXAM 1 EXAM 2 EXAM 3 EXAM 4 Assignments & Quizzes B's C's D's F's + 100 points Lecture = 75% of course grade Laboratory = 25% of course grade 100 100 100 100 * how to calculate your grades - (lecture %) (0.75) + (lab %) (0.25) = Semester Grade ∑ = 500 BONUS POINTS: An undetermined amount of bonus points might be offered during the semester – missed bonus cannot be made up. GADGETS AND CELL PHONES: All electronic gadgets must be turned off in class. I will keep track of each instance of Texting in Class –after three such instances, I will make a NO BONUS POINT POLICY for the remainder of the semester. ATTENDANCE: Attendance will not be recorded. TARDINESS: Arrive for class on time. You enrolled in this course with the knowledge of when lecture begins and when lecture ends; if you have activities in your life that are going to conflict with your attendance of this class, please enroll in another section. To disrupt lecture by arriving late is disrespectful to both the lecturer and other students. If tardiness becomes a chronic problem, I will begin locking the doors at the beginning of class. I will not allow a few students to negatively affect the learning environment of this classroom. EXAMS: Examinations will be during lecture hours. Exams will be multiple-choice so, students need to bring their own scantron sheets. If your scantron is folded or wrinkled and will not go through the machine, you will lose 10% of your score immediately. Exams will follow the completion of each of the four major units of the book. Students are responsible for attending class and keeping track of lecture and upcoming exams. Students absent from an exam will earn a 0 (zero), except for students missing an exam due to medical, military, or legal circumstances (documentation required); you have a maximum of 1 week to complete the missed exam or assignment. Students arriving late to an exam will be allowed to take the exam so long as no one has finished and left the classroom; if you arrive after someone has finished the exam and left the room, you will receive a zero NO EXCEPTIONS. The disruption by, or use of, an electronic gadget during an exam will result in the student being asked to leave the classroom and the unfinished exam will be graded as such. HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS - will be explained as each assignment is handed out. #1 – Essay on a chosen Biology Discipline and most appropriate advisor for that discipline in the CU Biology Dept.. DUE DATE TENATIVE #2 – Solve 10 genetics problems (I will hand out the assignment mid-semester). DUE DATE TENATIVE #3 – Critical Thinking Activity – I will give you an article / advertisement about a product which makes claims pertaining to your health, well being, and so on. You will be asked to critically evaluate the article / advertisement and turn in a brief summary of your conclusions. More details will be given later. DUE DATE TENATIVE. MY WEEKLY SCHEDULE – SUMMER, 2011 8:00-9:00 9:00-10:00 10:00-11:00 11:00-12:00 12:00-1:00 1:00-2:00 2:00-3:00 3:00-4:00 4:00-5:00 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Lecture Prep General Biology Lecture Thursday Friday Lab Prep Research General Biology Lab SSS Tutoring (1:00-3:30pm) Research Lab Prep Research Lab Prep