BIOLOGY 1: General Biology Lecture Spring 2011 Norco College Bio Lecture TTH 11:10-12:45pm M Gutierrez THTR 101 Bio Lab Class Code #32739 Tu 745-1055am M Gutierrez IT 128 Bio Lab Class Code #32742 Th 745-1055am M Gutierrez IT 128 Bio Lab Class Code #32741 Fri 830-1135am T Finnern IT 128 Lecture Instructor: Dr. Monica M. Gutierrez (“Dr. G”) Email: [email protected] Office phone: 372-7171 Office: ST 206B Office hours: MW 12-2:00 pm and TTH 345-445 pm Website: http://faculty.rcc.edu/gutierrez-monica/ Required Textbook: Biology, 10th Edition, S Mader, 2010 and pink parscore form (full sheet) for all lecture exams. Lab Text: Lab Manual for Bio1 purchased at campus bookstore, colored pencils and pink parscore form (full sheet). Recommended: Photographic Atlas for the Biology Laboratory The website will allow students to download schedule, syllabus, study guides for each exam, worksheets, optional textbook assignments, and power point lecture presentations. Also Goggle Images is a great resource for looking up organisms, cells and molecules studied in lecture and lab Course Description: The lecture and lab are designed to introduce the major concepts in Biology, the study of all life. Material presented will be a general survey, encompassing molecular, cellular, and organismal biology as well as ecosystems and ecology. Course Objectives: By the end of the semester, each student is expected to have the ability to describe in their own words each of the major concepts/processes in Biology presented throughout the semester in both the lecture/lab courses and in the required text books as outlined below. Once this knowledge is mastered, students will be expected on exams to take that knowledge, and apply it to solve new problems on related topics. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. List the steps of the scientific method 2. Recognize the components and organization of the cell, how cells and multicellular organisms acquire and utilize energy 3. Comprehend and describe the steps involved in cellular respiration 4. Compare and contrast individual organisms, and population dynamics which include heritability, adaptation and evolutionary principles 5. Explain the ecosystems, and the dynamics of the biosphere 6. Relate biological principles to their lives and interpret their place in the environment 7. Use appropriate biological terminology in discussing biological principles and relationshipsGRADING: The course is worth 1010 points. Grades will be calculated from both lecture and laboratory total points. Total Lecture points possible: 600 pts 6 exams @ 100 pts = 600 Total Lab points possible: 410 pts Lab Reports/Write-ups: 14 @ 15pts each = 210 pts Lab Exams: 4 @ 50 pts each = 200 pts Oral presentation (Extra Credit): 1 @ 10 pts Student Education Plan (SEP) (Extra Credit) 1 @ 5 pts This course is graded on the following scale: A = 1010 - 888 points or 88% B = 887 - 787 points or 87-78%; C = 786 - 676 points or 77-67%; D = 675 - 585 points or 66-58% F= 584 - 0 or 57% or lower Keep records of all work (including test scores) at least until you have received your grade from the admissions office following completion of the course. If you believe an error exists, communicate no later than ten days after the start of the next semester. Exams: All exams will cover material from lectures and assigned readings and will consist of multiple choice, true/false, matching and critical thinking questions. Lab exams will cover analysis and application of the experiments performed during lab. Understanding why you are doing each experiment and what the expected results are critical to your success on the lab exams! You will also be expected to identify organisms studied during the lab on screen. Extra credit: Current Event Awareness. A 1 page double spaced summary on a current newspaper or magazine article (from January 2011 to present). The student will be expected to address the biological relevance of the article and how it relates to this course. Student is expected to do a short oral presentation in class. A copy of the article is required to obtain credit. (5 pts for summary, 5 pts for presentation). Deadline for completion: June 1, 2011 Attendance: Attendance is mandatory and you should be present and ON TIME for all class sessions. If you miss more than 2 consecutive lecture and/or lab sessions, please be aware that on the third absence, you may be dropped from the class; however, this is not a guarantee that you will be dropped. Students who choose not to continue the course are responsible for turning in a drop card to the admissions office. Please do not assume that that the instructor has dropped you. Failure to officially drop the course may result in an "F". If you miss assignments/tests after the deadline to drop and have an acceptable reason (like hospitalization), an "Incomplete" would be more appropriate. Make up exams: Make up exams will only be given under extraordinary circumstances, illness with a doctor’s note, death etc. Make up exams may consist of essay questions. Since the lab portion of the course is based on “hands on” experience it is essential that you attend every lab session. There are no make up lab sessions. There are no make up lab write ups or lab exams. If you miss a lab exam and you have a valid excuse with documentation, then your final grade will be calculated without those lab exam points.Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism is a form of cheating. Make sure that your work is your own. Any time you use someone else's work and do not give that person credit, it is plagiarism. If you are "suspected" of plagiarism, you will bear the burden of proof. Copying the work of another person, whether an essay or answers during a test, is considered plagiarism. Copying the work of another person, even though some cultures consider this sharing work, is considered plagiarism at RCC, an act of academic dishonesty. If you are uncertain about sharing vs. plagiarism be sure to ask for clarification. The District’s Board of Trustees issues policies governing academic integrity. Board Regulation 6080, Section III. C. 1 and 2 approved on January 25, 2005 states: “For instances of academic dishonesty a faculty member may take any one of the following