Biology Syllabus
Introduction to Biology I (BIO 111)
Natural Sciences Division
Tougaloo College
Fall 2014
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor
Email
Dr. Scharri Ezell Walker
SEWalker.tougaloo@gmail.com
SWalker@tougaloo.edu
601.977.7780 (Office)
731.31.DrSEW (731.313.7739) (Cell)
Tuesday, 8AM-12PM
Kincheloe Hall, K122
Phone
Office Hours
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A comprehensive treatment of the major principles of modern biology. Topics include: cell structure, cell membrane, metabolism, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, cell cycle/mitosis, Mendelian genetics, DNA structure and replication, protein synthesis.
Intended primarily for Biology majors and those interested in pre-medicine.
Class Location:
Kincheloe Hall, K127
Prerequisites:
MAT 103 or MAT 105 or consent …show more content…
of instructor.
Credit Hours:
Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week, for a cumulative four semester credit hours.
Required Textbook:
Campbell Biology, 10th ed.
Jane Reece, et al
Benjamin Cummings (9780321832788)
EXPECTATIONS
QEP Component for Course
Students will develop their critical thinking skills by:
making observations during laboratory exercises
interpreting data gathered during laboratory exercises analyzing data and drawing conclusions
explaining discussions questions on exams
Students will be develop their analytical reasoning skills by reading and evaluating case studies during class Tougaloo College Expected
Student Outcomes
Tougaloo graduates will:
be able to communicate verbally and non-verbally in a variety of modes
be able to acquire and process information
be able to organize, comprehend, and make practical use of a wide variety of materials, from the sciences to the arts
be able to apply knowledge in a new context be aware of scientific principles relating to health and the larger environment be able to accept and work through ambiguity and diversity, while developing strong personal values, social skills and a sense of ethics have completed a program of studies in a specific discipline or area (traditionally called a major) which has equipped them with a basic understanding of the concepts and principles of the discipline, and provided them with skills germane to it
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Class Attendance Policy
Tougaloo College believes that its students must learn to take major responsibility for their own education.
Tougaloo students are required to attend all of their classes and be responsible for all assigned course material and all material covered in class. When students are absent from class, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor and ascertain what the instructor requires regarding missed material or assignments. Students with five or more absences may be dropped from the class. Refer to the “Evaluation” section for further information. Scholastic Integrity
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. Any display of scholastic dishonesty will result in your dismissal from the exam resulting in a zero, or possibly a drop from the course with a grade of “F” and necessary academic misbehavior forms will be filed.
Classroom Etiquette
As talking during lecture is distracting to the instructor and can potentially annoy students sitting near you, please limit personal conversations. The instructor retains the right to drop or reseat disruptive students.
Arriving late or leaving early is sometimes unavoidable. If you must do so, do it quietly so as to not disturb others.
If you arrive late or leave early without providing the instructor with an explanation beforehand, you will be counted as absent for that class session.
Cell phones and pagers are extremely disruptive and are strictly prohibited in class.
Visitors are not permitted during class time
(including children).
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Disability Accommodations
A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness or injury. If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, records documenting this disability on file with the Vice President for Student Affairs, and you are encouraged to contact your instructor during the first week of class for proper accommodations.
EVALUATION
This course has both a lecture and a laboratory portion. The course grade will be computed as 75% from the lecture grade and 25% from the laboratory grade. The lecture grade will be determined by averaging 4 exams, 14 homework assignments, and one final exam, in addition to notebook and attendance assessments. Missed exams, or laboratory experiments cannot be made up. If you have a proper excuse, approved by the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, then the point value of the missed exam will be subtracted from the total exam percentage, and you will not lose points for missing the exam. If you do not have a proper, approved excuse, then you will receive a zero for the missed exam.
Assessments (i.e., exams, homework, and notebooks) will be evaluated and grades determined as soon as possible. Grades will not be given out over the phone or via email, nor will grades be discussed with any individual other than the student.
At the instructor's discretion, extra credit assignments may be offered for attending seminars and special events sponsored by the Natural Sciences Division. No projects or assignments will be given for extra credit. After the final exam, this course will
be considered completed, and no further options will remain for improving your grade.
The final exam will be comprehensive and is mandatory regardless of your current grade in the class. Assessment Tool
Exams
Homework
Notebook
Attendance
Final Exam
Total:
Point Value
400
200
100
100
200
1000
Percentage Value
40
20
10
10
20
100
Grading Scale
Letter Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Points Scale
900-1000
800-899
700-799
600-699
0-599
LECTURE SCHEDULE*
Week
Week of
Learning Objective
1
08.18.2014
How to Be Successful in BIO 111
The Chemical Context of Life
2
08.25.2014
The Chemical Context of Life
3
09.01.2014
Water and Life
4
09.08.2014
Carbon and the Molecular Diversity
5
09.15.2014
The Structure and Function of
Biological Molecules
6
09.22.2014
A Tour of the Cell
7
09.29.2014
Membrane Structure and Function
8
10.06.2014
Cellular Metabolism
9
10.13.2014
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
10
10.20.2014
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
11
10.27.2014
Cellular Communication
12
11.03.2014
The Cell Cycle
13
11.10.2014
Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles
14
11.17.2014
Mendelian Genetics
Assessment
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Exam 4
THANKSGIVING BREAK
15
12.01.2014
Finals Review Week
FINAL EXAMS
*The above schedule is tentative and subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
Method of Assessment
Exam 1
Points Received
Exam 2
Exams
(100 pts)
Exam 3
Exam 4
Total:
Assignment 1
Assignment 2
Assignment 3
Assignment 4
Assignment 5
Homework
(20 pts)
Assignment 6
Assignment 7
Assignment 8
Assignment 9
Assignment 10
Total:
Assessment 1
Assessment 2
Notebook
(20 pts)
Assessment 3
Assessment 4
Assessment 5
Total:
Attendance*
Final Exam
Grand Total:
*Attendance 2 pt = on time
1 pt = late
0 pt = absent
Personal Notes
Natural Sciences Division
Tougaloo College
Fall 2014
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor
Dr. Scharri Ezell Walker
SEWalker.tougaloo@gmail.com
SWalker@tougaloo.edu
601.977.7780 (Office)
731.31.DrSEW (731.313.7739) (Cell)
Tuesday, 8AM-12PM
Kincheloe Hall, K122
Phone
Office Hours
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A comprehensive treatment of the major principles of modern biology. Topics include: cell structure, cell membrane, metabolism, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, cell cycle/mitosis, Mendelian genetics, DNA structure and replication, protein synthesis.
Intended primarily for Biology majors and those interested in pre-medicine.
Class Location:
Kincheloe Hall, K127
Prerequisites:
MAT 103 or MAT 105 or consent …show more content…
of instructor.
Credit Hours:
Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week, for a cumulative four semester credit hours.
Required Textbook:
Campbell Biology, 10th ed.
Jane Reece, et al
Benjamin Cummings (9780321832788)
EXPECTATIONS
QEP Component for Course
Students will develop their critical thinking skills by:
making observations during laboratory exercises
interpreting data gathered during laboratory exercises analyzing data and drawing conclusions
explaining discussions questions on exams
Students will be develop their analytical reasoning skills by reading and evaluating case studies during class Tougaloo College Expected
Student Outcomes
Tougaloo graduates will:
be able to communicate verbally and non-verbally in a variety of modes
be able to acquire and process information
be able to organize, comprehend, and make practical use of a wide variety of materials, from the sciences to the arts
be able to apply knowledge in a new context be aware of scientific principles relating to health and the larger environment be able to accept and work through ambiguity and diversity, while developing strong personal values, social skills and a sense of ethics have completed a program of studies in a specific discipline or area (traditionally called a major) which has equipped them with a basic understanding of the concepts and principles of the discipline, and provided them with skills germane to it
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Class Attendance Policy
Tougaloo College believes that its students must learn to take major responsibility for their own education.
Tougaloo students are required to attend all of their classes and be responsible for all assigned course material and all material covered in class. When students are absent from class, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor and ascertain what the instructor requires regarding missed material or assignments. Students with five or more absences may be dropped from the class. Refer to the “Evaluation” section for further information. Scholastic Integrity
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. Any display of scholastic dishonesty will result in your dismissal from the exam resulting in a zero, or possibly a drop from the course with a grade of “F” and necessary academic misbehavior forms will be filed.
Classroom Etiquette
As talking during lecture is distracting to the instructor and can potentially annoy students sitting near you, please limit personal conversations. The instructor retains the right to drop or reseat disruptive students.
Arriving late or leaving early is sometimes unavoidable. If you must do so, do it quietly so as to not disturb others.
If you arrive late or leave early without providing the instructor with an explanation beforehand, you will be counted as absent for that class session.
Cell phones and pagers are extremely disruptive and are strictly prohibited in class.
Visitors are not permitted during class time
(including children).
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Disability Accommodations
A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness or injury. If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, records documenting this disability on file with the Vice President for Student Affairs, and you are encouraged to contact your instructor during the first week of class for proper accommodations.
EVALUATION
This course has both a lecture and a laboratory portion. The course grade will be computed as 75% from the lecture grade and 25% from the laboratory grade. The lecture grade will be determined by averaging 4 exams, 14 homework assignments, and one final exam, in addition to notebook and attendance assessments. Missed exams, or laboratory experiments cannot be made up. If you have a proper excuse, approved by the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, then the point value of the missed exam will be subtracted from the total exam percentage, and you will not lose points for missing the exam. If you do not have a proper, approved excuse, then you will receive a zero for the missed exam.
Assessments (i.e., exams, homework, and notebooks) will be evaluated and grades determined as soon as possible. Grades will not be given out over the phone or via email, nor will grades be discussed with any individual other than the student.
At the instructor's discretion, extra credit assignments may be offered for attending seminars and special events sponsored by the Natural Sciences Division. No projects or assignments will be given for extra credit. After the final exam, this course will
be considered completed, and no further options will remain for improving your grade.
The final exam will be comprehensive and is mandatory regardless of your current grade in the class. Assessment Tool
Exams
Homework
Notebook
Attendance
Final Exam
Total:
Point Value
400
200
100
100
200
1000
Percentage Value
40
20
10
10
20
100
Grading Scale
Letter Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Points Scale
900-1000
800-899
700-799
600-699
0-599
LECTURE SCHEDULE*
Week
Week of
Learning Objective
1
08.18.2014
How to Be Successful in BIO 111
The Chemical Context of Life
2
08.25.2014
The Chemical Context of Life
3
09.01.2014
Water and Life
4
09.08.2014
Carbon and the Molecular Diversity
5
09.15.2014
The Structure and Function of
Biological Molecules
6
09.22.2014
A Tour of the Cell
7
09.29.2014
Membrane Structure and Function
8
10.06.2014
Cellular Metabolism
9
10.13.2014
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
10
10.20.2014
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
11
10.27.2014
Cellular Communication
12
11.03.2014
The Cell Cycle
13
11.10.2014
Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles
14
11.17.2014
Mendelian Genetics
Assessment
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Exam 4
THANKSGIVING BREAK
15
12.01.2014
Finals Review Week
FINAL EXAMS
*The above schedule is tentative and subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
Method of Assessment
Exam 1
Points Received
Exam 2
Exams
(100 pts)
Exam 3
Exam 4
Total:
Assignment 1
Assignment 2
Assignment 3
Assignment 4
Assignment 5
Homework
(20 pts)
Assignment 6
Assignment 7
Assignment 8
Assignment 9
Assignment 10
Total:
Assessment 1
Assessment 2
Notebook
(20 pts)
Assessment 3
Assessment 4
Assessment 5
Total:
Attendance*
Final Exam
Grand Total:
*Attendance 2 pt = on time
1 pt = late
0 pt = absent
Personal Notes