INSTRUCTOR     MATERIALS      GRADING     CLASS POLICIES      SUCCESS  

                                                           Instructor:  MARCI SPIEGLER

E-mail:  spiegler_marci@smc.edu                                                              Section 1195
Room:  Science 227                                                                                    Lec & Lab:
                                                                                                                          MW 3:20pm - 6:25pm
On-line Class Resources:   eCompanion                              
Office Hours: By Appt

 

Course Description

Welcome to Biology 3! In this fun, interactive non-majors class we will explore the diversity of  life on earth and our relationship with our environment,. Prepare to work hard, learn a lot, and make new friends.

Objectives:

By the end of the semester you will be able to:

• Define "biology".

• Distinguish between science and non-science & apply the scientific method to a
     problem.

• Develop critical thinking skills.

• Describe characteristics of living things.

• Apply scientific knowledge to current issues in the realms of health, environmental
     biology, and biotechnology.

• Explain the structure, function, and classifications of living things.

• Recognize and interpret ecological relationships.

• Explain human impact on the environment.

• Solve Mendelian genetics problems.

• Explain population genetics and solve simple population genetics problems.

• Describe patterns of reproduction.

• Explain the process of evolution and its importance to biology.

• Demonstrate basic laboratory skills

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

• Lecture Text: BIOLOGY Concepts & Connections
                          by Campbell, Reece, Taylor, & Simon 5th Ed.

• Lab Text: THE BIOLOGY 3 LABORATORY MANUAL 8^th Edition, 2006 , by Hoffman, Sakai, Allen, Logan, Kim-Rajab, & Nichols

• Santa Monica College Email Account !

• At least two No.2 pencils & good eraser
      *all quizzes, exams, & lab reports must be completed in pencil.

• PEN with ink color different than black or blue

• Folder or large manila envelope (with your name on it) for graded papers & current event assignments.

GRADING

LECTURE:

· 3 Exams (check class schedule for dates) + 1 Comprehensive Final at  3:30 – 6:30 pm on        Wednesday, June 7, 2006. (Each test is worth 100pts x 4 exams = 400pts.)

· Exams will consist of some combination of multiple choice, true/false, short answer, fill-in, definitions, and short essays. You will need to bring a Scantron form (Buy 3 forms # 886-E and 1 form # 882-ES the first week of class and keep them in your notebook.), a couple of #2 pencils, and a good eraser to class for  exams. Exams will cover lecture material from lecture and text.

· Preparation for lecture, prompt and regular attendance, participation in class discussions, individual and group assignments will also contribute to your lecture grade. Be prepared for pop quizzes at the beginning of lecture classes, they will be based on previous lectures, reading assignments, and other class activities. Five quizzes will be given randomly throughout the semester at the beginning of lecture. Each will be worth 5 points.The same attendance  policy  pertains to lecture as lab. Look under "LAB" in syllabus.

· Current event assignment. Find a biology-related newspaper article, magazine article, etc. - stapled  to a brief, summary typewritten - in your own words (do not use direct quotes), followed by your opinion. One complete current event assignment will be due one each of the following dates: 2/27, 3/20, 4/10, 5/1, and 5/22. Bring your projects to each lecture and lab class so they are available when I ask you to share them during class discussions and to submit them.  (5 pts each = 25 points) Un-typed, off-topic, unstapled, incomplete, and late papers will not be accepted. To determine whether an article is appropriate for this assignment, ask yourself, "What did I learn about Biology by reading this article ?"

LAB:

· Lab work will constitute approximately 25% of your grade. Lab performance will be evaluated subjectively and objectively based on the following criteria:

a. Attendance - With each unexcused absence your final course grade drops by 10 points. Absences will only be excused with proper written documentation. One lab absence will not affect your grade because your lowest lab score and quiz grades are dropped. Repeated tardiness and absences will affect your grade. Each instance of tardiness will result in 5 points being deducted from your total points in the class.

b. Participation - Independent thinking, maintaining a clean work space, participating in class discussions, contributing to the group projects, turning in complete assignments punctually etc. Although you will be working with other students to collect data, each of you is required to 
complete their own lab report, in their own words.

c. Preparedness for lab - Labs must be read before class so you understand the activity, and have time to finish within the lab period.

d. Lab Write-Ups - Each should be neat, organized and complete. All questions in the text of the lab must be answered by the end of that lab unless I indicate otherwise. If you answer some questions when you do your pre-lab reading, you will have more than enough time to complete all of your lab work in class. I will check and initial your lab report the end of each lab. They should be complete and ready for grading the day you do the lab; you will submit the lab report to me no sooner than the week following the day you do the lab so you can study it for your next quiz. I’ll collect and grade five, at random,  throughout the semester. Each is worth a maximum of 20 pts. Keep all of your completed lab reports and bring them to class each week so you have them available when I ask for them. Note: Although you will work in groups to collect data for labs, each student is required to answer the questions in the lab reports in their own words.

e. Lab Quizzes - Expect a 10 point quiz at the beginning of each lab (I’ll drop the lowest). Most questions will deal with material from the previous lab; and one or two questions will be about the current lab (to encourage you to prepare for class). If a quiz is not given for a week or two, then the following quiz will cover the all of the material since the previous quiz including a couple of questions about the lab to be done the day of the quiz. Be prepared for a quiz at the beginning of each lab. Keep your  graded quizzes all semester.

f. Following Directions - You must follow directions that I give you and those in your text) for the safety of everyone in class and for the success of your lab activities.

g. Field Trips - There will be one required field trip…I might also offer an optional trip.

GRADE BREAKDOWN:                              GRADING SCALE:
Quizzes                    100 pts                                   90% - 100%         =  A
Lab Reports               100 pts                                   80% -   89%         =  B
Current Events             25 pts                                   65% -   79%         =  C
Lecture Exams          400 pts                                   50% -   64%         =  D
Field Trip                    10 pts                                   49% and below   =  F
Participation                20pts
Pop Quizzes               25 pts
______________________
Total Possible           680 pts

Max Extra Credit        20                                                                           

 

CLASS POLICIES:

CHEATING:

DON'T DO IT! You will be held to SMC’s code of academic conduct. If you are caught cheating, you will automatically fail the assignment and a letter describing the incident will be filed with the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. A second offence in this or any class may result in failing the course and expulsion from the college. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: using answer sheets or notes during an exam, talking to another student during an exam or quiz, plagiarism - passing someone else's work off as your own, making your own work available for someone else to copy and turn in as their work, copying someone else's labs or lab notebooks.

Student College Conduct CODE

Santa Monica College has a Student College Conduct Code and may discipline students in accordance with its provisions. To provide a safe and optimal environment for learning, disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in the classroom. If a student is disruptive of the instructional process, does not respect the civil rights of other students, cannot benefit from instruction, or presents health and/or safety hazards in a class the following actions may be imposed:

·         Dismissal from the class or activity for the present and/or following class session. The student is required to make an appointment with the instructor to discuss the offense before reinstatement into the class.

·         For a serious offense and/or repeated offenses, you may be required to talk to the Department Chair, Campus Ombudsperson, and/or Campus Disciplinarian before being reinstated into the class.

In addition, the following behaviors are disruptive:

·         Chatting while I’m lecturing or making announcements;

·         Tardiness – please arrive on time. If you cannot avoid entering late, come in
           quietly, walk toward the back of the room, and do not disturb other students;

·         Use of cell phones/pagers/other electronic devices in the classroom; they
          must be turned off while you are in class. (If you have a verifiable emergency
          situation that necessitates use of one of these devices, contact me prior to
          class to make arrangements.)

·         Disrespectful language.

·         Walking out of class during lecture or lab at times other than class break
          times.

Code of Academic Conduct

Santa Monica College has a Code of Academic Conduct that defines academic 
dishonesty as the act of or assistance in deceiving, including fraud or deception,
in any academic exercise. This includes, but is not limited to, the following actions
not authorized by the instructor:

·         Allowing another individual to assume one’s identity for the purpose of
          enhancing one’s grade in any of the following: testing, field trips, or
          attendance.

·         Falsifying or attempting to falsify attendance records and/or grade rosters.

·         Representing the words, ideas or work of another as one’s own in any
          academic exercise (plagiarism), including the use of commercial term paper
          companies and the internet.

·         Changing answers on a previously scored test, assignment, or experiment with
          the intent to defraud.

·         Copying or allowing another student to copy from one’s paper or answer   
          sheet during an examination.

·         Inventing information for the purpose of completing a laboratory exercise with
          the intent to defraud.

·         Giving and/or taking information during an examination by any
          means including sign language, hand signals, secret codes, or electronic   
          transmission.

·         Stealing exams or quizzes. Testing questions are my property and cannot be
          taken out of the classroom.

In addition, if I see you talking to another student or looking around during the quiz or exam, I will believe that you are cheating. To avoid this I suggest you:

·         Do not look anywhere but up at the ceiling or down at your exam or quiz;

·         Do not communicate (talk or body language) about anything with another
          student.

And, everyone is welcome to use a dictionary or translator, electronic or print, during
lecture and lab classes except during exams or quizzes.

Each student is expected to do his/her own work on all quizzes, exams, and assignments, unless specifically instructed to work in a group. A first offense of academic dishonesty will result in a zero grade on that lecture exam, lab practical, quiz, or assignment. A zero grade assigned as a result of academic dishonesty will NOT be dropped as the lowest score. In addition, a report will be filed with the Campus Disciplinarian. An especially egregious offense, upon consultation with
the Department Chair and/or Campus Disciplinarian may result in failure in the course, suspension, or expulsion from the college.

For more detailed information, please refer to the College Conduct Code and Academic Conduct Code found posted in the classroom, in the SMC Planning Guide for Success, and SMC's Homepage (Student Guide).

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT:

To create an environment that is supportive of your learning and my teaching, we must all treat each other with respect.

· During lecture or class discussions only one person speaks at a time. If you must have a conversation with a classmate while I'm lecturing or another student has permission to speak, please step outside.

· We all need to help each other so that everyone feels comfortable asking questions, participating in class discussions, and working together on group projects (in lecture and lab)...

SO,

1. Treat others the way you want to be treated; politely and with consideration.

2. If you disagree with what someone says, keep your input friendly and limit your comments to the ideas they are expressing. Keep feedback specific and non-judgmental. Personal attacks will not be tolerated.

3. Remember, we are all on the same team. Enthusiasm is a good thing...anger is not.  If you find yourself getting upset and can't maintain perspective, take a walk.

4. During this class you will learn biology, but you will also learn to think in a new way. Since everyone comes in with a different background, be patient with others. You may learn something from their question.

5. Anyone who does not abide by these guidelines and is disruptive may not continue to attend class.

MAKE UPS:

· There are no make-up exams or labs in this class with the exception of a verifiable emergency. Should an emergency arise, you are responsible for informing me before the class you will miss or as soon as possible after the class you miss. If you are unable to call, have someone make the call for you. You are also responsible for the work that you missed. If you must be absent, contact a class-mate to get lecture notes, lab notes, and lab data. Refer to the course calendar for assignments.

EXTRA CREDIT

There will be opportunities throughout the semester to earn extra credit by doing outside work related to course topics. Read about the assignments on eCompanion, and then contact me to confirm your project. Start early! Your project must be cleared with me. We will discuss assignment completion dates and other acceptable assignments when I return to class. Participation in a Sustainable Works crew is an acceptable project. If you have already been on a crew, you may only participate in the program again as a crew leader, which is an extremely valuable experience. There will be a maximum of 20 extra credit points per student.

eCompanion:

Announcements, class discussions, and frequently asked questions and answers will be available on http://smconline.org/index.real?action=eCompanion. Also your grades will be posted on the site throughout the semester. You must sign up for an on-campus e-mail account to gain access to this service. Please do so by the end of the first week of class.

• To Succeed in This Class:

•     KEEP UP WITH YOUR STUDYING

•     REFER TO YOUR SYLLABUS AND LAB SCHEDULES THROUGHOUT THE
            SEMESTER

•     ASK QUESTIONS WHEN YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING

•     LEARN AND START USING BIOLOGY VOCABULARY A.S.A.P.

•     LOOK UP UNFAMILIAR WORDS IMMEDIATELY AND READ
            ASSIGNMENTS BEFORE CLASS

•         GET HELP AS SOON AS YOU NEED IT

•         USE OUTSIDE SOURCES (Study Groups, Computers, Tutors)

•         USE GUIDELINES FROM THE STUDY SKILLS RESOURCE ON the
         eCompanion site for this class.