RCC Biology 1 Lab Syllabus: Spring 2009 Wed. 9.20 am – 12.43 pm #44522 Dr Lisa (Elisabeth Thompson-Eagle), LS101-B, Phone: (951) 328-3835 Office Hrs: M, T, & TH 10.30am - 12.30pm. E-mail: [email protected] Welcome to General Biology 1 Lab. This course is an introduction to basic biological principles and processes ranging in scale from molecules to ecosystems. Your understanding of all concepts, vocabulary, and laboratory protocols presented during lab and by your lab manual are subject to evaluation. Required Texts: Biology 1 Laboratory Manual 2008-2009 Dept of Life Sci. RCC & Lecture Textbook. This is a tentative Schedule: Students are responsible for changes in the syllabus. Week Dates Topics Exercise 1 Wed, Feb 18 Intro, Syllabus, Experimental Design Handout 2 Wed, Feb 25 Scientific Method, Metric System 1 3 Wed, Mar 4 Biological Molecules 2 4 Wed, Mar 11 Microscopy, Cells & Cell Structure 3 5 Wed, Mar 18 Diffusion and Osmosis 4 6 Wed, Mar 25 Respiration and Photosynthesis 5 7 Wed, Apr 1 Mitosis and Meiosis; 6 (#1-4) 8 Wed, Apr 8 Practicum 1 1-6 Holiday! Wed, Apr 15 SPRING BREAK - 9 Wed, Apr 22 Mendelian Genetics, Create a Kid 6 (#6-8), 7 (#1) 10 Wed, Apr 29 DNA Replication, Transcription, Translation and DNA Extraction 7 (2nd half), 6 (#5) 11 Wed, May 6 Kingdoms Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, and Fungi 8 12 Wed, May 13 Kindgom Plantae 9 13 Wed, May 20 Kindgom Animalia 10 14 Wed, May 27 Evolution and Natural Selection 11 15 Wed, Jun 3 Ecology/Conservation Biology 13, 14 16 Mon, Jun 8 Practicum 2 6-11, 13/14 Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. Practical exams and weekly quizzes cannot be made up. Exceptions will only be considered under extreme circumstances that must be documented. Grading Scale: The approximate grading scale for the course is as follows: 90 – 100% A 80 – 89% B 70 – 79% C 60 – 69% D Below 60% F Lab Grade: The laboratory portion of the class is worth 40% of your class grade. There will be 2 laboratory practicals (exams) as well as weekly quizzes and other assignments. ALL exam/quiz grades count, and there will be NO make-ups except in extreme circumstances subject to approval by theinstructor (vacations, birthdays, and sporting events do NOT count as extreme circumstances). The percentage of points you have earned in lab will be forwarded to your lecture instructor. Your lab grade will be based on your overall percentage of the following point totals: Weekly Quizzes: 100 pts Supplemental points : assignments, Midterm 1 Practical: 100 pts homework, participation, & professionalism. 100 pts . Final Practical: 100 pts Total Available Points: 400 POINTS Weekly Quizzes: Quizzes consisting of 5 to 10 questions will be given at the beginning of each lab period. Missed quizzes cannot be made up. Please arrive promptly to lab so that you have all the available time (usually 15 minutes) to consider each quiz. If you are late, you will not receive additional time to complete the quiz, as all quizzes will be handed in at the same time. In order to be eligible to have your quiz graded, you must complete the entire lab for that day. Lab Practicals: Practical exams will consist of 50 questions each. The mid-term practical will cover all material from the first half of the semester. The final practical is not cumulative and will cover only material from the second half of the semester. Example questions/demonstrations will be presented during lab before the first exam. Additional Assignments: Any additional assignments will be discussed in class and must be typed and handed in at the designated time. Assignments are not limited to, but may include one or more of the following: homework exercises, work sheets, graphs, data analysis, tables & charts, drawings, study cards, oral presentations, group talks, powerpoint presentations, a written scientific paper, persuasive reports and critiques of published scientific papers. No late assignments will be accepted. Participation and Professionalism: This portion of your grade is specifically designed to encourage active (not necessarily vocal) participation during the lab period as well as respect for the instructor, your peers, and the lab equipment. I reserve the right to dismiss anyone from class at anytime whose behavior is detrimental to the learning environment. Points will be awarded at the end of each lab. Failure to thoroughly clean your lab area or properly store lab equipment may result in deductions. Cell phone/Blackberry use & Texting during lab: is NOT acceptable; turn them off during class. Deductions for use of electronic devices and other specified infractions will be at the discretion of the professor. You may not use any dictionary, translation devices, or calculators during lecture exams or quizzes. Policies and Academic Honesty: All exams and assignments must be your own work, original and written in your own words in order to receive credit for the activity. You will be expected to adhere to the College’s policies on academic honesty at all times. Anyone caught cheating, copying or plagiarizing on exams, quizzes, assignments or any other work for this course will be issued a failing grade for the assignment, removed from the classroom and subject to severe institutional disciplinary action according to RCC policy. A failing grade in the course will be issued for a second offense of cheating. A student who has been caught cheating or plagiarizing (or any other instance of academic dishonesty) will become ineligible for any discretionary points retroactive to the beginning of the semester. Accommodations: If you have a documented physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical, or learning disability that may impact your ability to carry out assigned course work, I urge you to contact the staff in Disabled Students Programs and Services at 222-8060. DSP&S will review your concerns and determine, with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is