Biology 323 Invertebrate Zoology Spring 2011 SyllabusLearning objectivesBiology 323 Invertebrate Zoology Spring 2011 SyllabusInstructor: Dr. Neil Buckley. Office: 444 Beaumont; phone: ext. 5165; E-mail: [email protected]. Class times: Mondays and Fridays 11.00–11.50pm, Yokum 207Wednesdays 11.00-12.50. Beaumont 312Main Text: Because I provide extensive online notes I do not require a textbook. However, if you would like to have a text for reference purposes Animal Diversity by Hickman et al. published by McGraw Hill would be a suitable choice. It is currently ina 5th edition, but previous editions are also available online at considerably less cost and are just as useful. I will also have a copy of Hickman on reserve in the library.In addition to the main text, supplemental material including original scientific research papers will be distributed in class.Office hours: 10.00-10.45 MWF12.00-12.50 MFOther times by appointment, or if I am available.Want to talk? You are always welcome to drop by my office to discuss the class and any problems you might be having with the material. I am always available during office hours and there is no need to make an appointment. Outside of office hours, I am happy to meet with you, if I have time. However, I do have other commitments and occasionallyI will not be free to chat. Therefore, if you want to guarantee that I will be available to talk with you outside of normal office hours, you should make an appointment. Have a routine query? If you wish to get in touch with me and I am not in my office, please use e-mail. It is definitely much more efficient than playing telephone tag. I will respond to e-mail messages as quickly as I can, usually as soon as I receive them. A lot ofroutine class material is posted on the class web page (see Class Web Page below), so if you cannot find me, you may be able to find the answer to your question there.Why study Invertebrate Zoology? This course is an excellent way to obtain a broad understanding of the diversity of the invertebrates, which include most of the animals on this planet and many of its strangest and most interesting inhabitants. You will be introduced to all of the major invertebrate classes and become familiar with their essential characteristics and evolutionary histories. In addition, the study of particular groups will allow us to explore more general issues in biology and examine major ideas and transitions in the field. A note on spelling standards. This is a class in which we will encounter many scientificnames. As a biologist you need to be able to spell these correctly. Consequently, I will deduct 0.1 points for each misspelled scientific name or term on exams and writing 1assignments. Non-science spelling errors, while frowned upon, will not result in point deductions.Class web page. There is a Invertebrate Zoology class web page located on my faculty home page. You can obtain access to the page in several ways:1. Go to the main SUNY Plattsburgh page http://www.plattsburgh.edu and at the top of the page click on current students. Then on the left hand side under Resources click on Faculty web pages. Then click on my name Buckley, Neil to go to my home page. Thereclick on Invertebrate Zoology. 2. Alternatively you can get to my home page through the Department of Biological Sciences home page http://www2.plattsburgh.edu/biology/ From there on the left hand side under Biological Science Programs click on Faculty and then click on my page and follow the appropriate links.Lecture Notes and Attendance. A large amount of material related to the class is postedon the class web page. This material includes routine announcements, assignments, class syllabus, lecture schedule, readings, etc. I also make lecture notes available on the web. Notes are intended to be a supplementary aid to learning. They are provided so that you can check the material we covered in class or, if you have missed a class, find out what material was covered. As you are an adult and can take responsibility for your actions I do not require you to attend class, nor do I take attendance. However, routinely missing class and attempting to study exclusively from the posted material is a very bad idea. If you want to understand what is going on in class you should attend lectures. Classroom approach and teaching philosophy: It is my aim in teaching this class to be approachable and receptive to questions. If you have a question, please ask. I am happy to answer questions at any time in class. Remember that the only silly question is the oneyou don’t ask. Also, if at any time in class you are having difficulty hearing me, or reading something, or are having any other difficulties with how I’m teaching, please tell me. I’m not going to get offended. It doesn’t do either of us any good if you wait until the end of the semester to tell me in evaluations that you couldn’t read my handwriting! Grading: The course will be graded based on the standard scale of A = 90-100%; B =80-89.9%: C = 70-79.9%; D = 60-69.9%; E < 59.9%. Minus/plus grades will be assignedat <3.0 and 6.9. University policy is that there are no A+ or D- grades.Breakdown of grading.Two midterm exams 80 points each Oral presentation and PowerPoint presentationon lesser phylum of invertebrates 40 pointsPaper on same group as PowerPoint presentation 40 pointsLab assignments 80 pointsComprehensive final exam 120 pointsLab Final 40 pointsTotal 500 points2Midterm exams: Two. Each worth 80 pts. Each exam will have a mixed format thatwill include short-answer, fill-in the blank and a number of essay questions. Midterm exam dates: March 9th, April 20th. Oral presentation and paper. Each student will give a 10-minute oral presentation (plus 5 minutes for questions) on a “lesser” phylum of invertebrates. A list of the “lesser”phyla will be made available from which you can select a group. The presentation shouldbe in PowerPoint so it can be made available to the other members of the class. Material in these presentations will be included on exams. In addition, to the oral presentation each student will prepare a 5 page paper summarizing the group on which they presented.Oral presentation dates: April 6th and April 13thComprehensive Final Exam: 140 pts. Final exam week begins Saturday May 14th. Date and time of final TBA.Lab Final: 40 points. May 11th.Absences from exams/delay in