BIOLOGY II (Biol 1407)

 

Instructor:  Shelley Penrod                                             Office:  WN 208A

Phone:  281-618-5615                                                       e-mail:  [email protected]                                                     

 1. Prerequisite: Biology 1406 (Biology I) or equivalent; Engl 0305 or Engl 0316 AND Engl 0307 or 0326, OR higher level course (Engl 1301), OR placement by testing, MATH 0308

 

 2. Catalog Course Description: This course consists of a continuation of Biology I including a phylogenetic treatment of the 6 Kingdoms, a comparative systems approach, the behavior of living organisms and the ecology of living systems.  (2601015124)

 

 3. Purpose: This course is the second half of a two-semester sequence that will satisfy natural science requirements for majors in most fields.  It will also satisfy freshman biology requirements for biology majors, pre-professional fields and other allied health sciences.

 

 4. Course Outcomes:

a. Describe characteristics of each of the major kingdoms and phyla within these kingdoms, including basis for classification, structural and physiological adaptations, evolutionary history, and ecological significance.

b.  Analyze the inter-relationship between organisms from the molecular through ecosystem levels of biological organization.

c. Evaluate the strength of phylogenetic relationships among organisms, and be able to     distinguish among the various kinds of supportive data (i.e., fossil, developmental, structural, physiological and biochemical).

d. Illustrate the relationship between major geologic change and evolutionary trends.

e. Analyze the different sexual and asexual life cycles noting their adaptive advantages.

f. Compare and contrast life processes from the unicellular organisms through the complex systems of a multicellular organism.

 

5. Credit: 4 semester hours

 

6. Materials:

Text: Biology, 7th edition, Raven, et al - Volume 2

Lab Manual: A Look at Life: Exploring the Diversity of Organisms, 3rd Edition, Crowder and Durant

Lab Review CD: Reviewing the Diversity of Organisms, Durant

Scantron forms:  4 form B (1-100)   and    5 form E (1-200)

       (Turn in to me by second week of class & I will hand them out as needed.)

 

7. Evaluation:

    4 lecture exams @ 125 points each                        = 500 points

    4 lab practicals @ 75 points each              = 300 points

    comprehensive final lecture exam                        = 200 points

Your grade in the course is determined by the total number of points you accumulate during the semester.  The maximum number of points (not including bonus questions or extra credit points) is 1000.

 

            891-1000+points (89.1-100%)           = A

            791-890 points (79.1-89.0%)  = B

            691-790 points (69.1-79.0%)  = C

            591-690 points (59.1-69.0%)  = D

            below 591 points (59.1%)      = F

 

 8. Exams: Lecture exams are primarily multiple choice and matching (85%).  They are approximately 15% discussion (list/describe or essayette) and you will usually (but not always) have choices for this part of the exam, with a total of 125 possible points.  Each exam also contains bonus points.  Some of these come from an optional taxonomy quiz given prior to each exam.  Others are based on the Latin or Greek roots of terms used during a unit. Bonus points are to make up for any questions that might be ambiguous because no exam is perfect.  Exam questions come from the lecture notes!

 

The four lab practicals during the semester cover only material in the lab manual.  The lab practicals are multiple choice and matching.  Each lab practical consists of 160 questions @ 1/2 point each (with the first 10 you miss "free") for a total of  75 pts.  Each lab practical and lecture exam cover the same groups of organisms and you will find that studying for one will definitely help in the study for the other!

 

The comprehensive final lecture exam will NOT contain strictly lab information.  It is more general in nature than the lecture exams and is NOT optional.

 

9.  Help

 

Web materials: Class notes and applicable Internet links will be posted on my web site (http://science.nhmccd.edu/biol/spenrod.html).  These are intended as support materials - skipping lecture because you have the notes has been tried by some of your predecessors and does not work. The notes include review questions that should be helpful in studying.

 

There are many helpful resources on a WebCT site including interactive crosswords that help with vocabulary. To get to the site, follow these instructions:

  1. Go to the NHC website at northharriscollege.com.
  2. In the second column of the page (Resources), click on Distance Learning (the 4th item down). This will take you to eCampus.  (There is also an eCampus icon at the bottom left of the page that will take you to the same place.)
  3. Once on the eCampus page, click on Classes.
  4. If you have used WebCT before, simply follow the link for your Biology I class.
  5. If you have not used WebCT before, click on the “Find your username and password” link to the right of the login button. Follow the directions to get your login information. (At this step, it is critical that you type in your birth date in the format shown, e.g., 01/01/1980).
  6. There is a helpdesk that can deal with the rare event that a password doesn’t work or you cannot get a password. The number is 832.813.6700. The e-mail is [email protected].

 

Lab Review CD:  This CD is available in the bookstore and consists of interactive computer reviews. THESE REVIEWS ARE IN NO WAY INTENDED TO BE A REPLACEMENT FOR GOING TO THE LAB!  They are intended for STUDY purposes!  This is one of the most highly used and appreciated items in this course.

 

Final Exam Review Sheet:  You will receive the final exam review sheet the first day of class.  It is divided into the 4 units of the course and topics are listed.  Obviously, if something is important enough to be on the final, it will also be on the lecture exams!  If you fill out the sheet as we go through the course, you will have it completed for the final and also be able to use it as a guide for each lecture exam. (There is more detail on the lecture exams, but this is a start!)

 

10. Absences and Make-up:  The student is expected to be on time and to attend each class/lab (and is therefore responsible for all material covered/announcements, etc.). Good class attendance is absolutely essential to do well in this course!  It is a good idea to get a few names and phone numbers of others in the class so that you might reach them if you miss a class to arrange to get the information you missed as quickly as possible.  In case of a prolonged absence (2 or more class meetings), the Instructor should be notified. Since exam questions come from the lecture notes, there is no substitute for being there yourself and taking your own notes! Missing even part of one class is a major mistake! DON'T DO IT!

 

A student must go through proper channels to withdraw from (drop) the course. NONATTENDANCE DOES NOT DROP ANYONE FROM THE COURSE!

 

Make-up lecture exams: If you have an emergency situation that prevents you from getting to an exam, you may request by e-mail or phone that I put an exam in the assessment center for you. However, the exam must be completed by the time the assessment center closes on the day following the scheduled exam. You may also take an exam in the assessment center before the scheduled date if you know in advance that you will have to miss an exam. 

 

A prorated final exam score is used as a "make-up lecture exam grade" if a lecture exam is missed for any reason.  However, to encourage everyone to take all four lecture exams, the prorated final exam score will replace your lowest lecture exam grade IF it is higher and will therefore help your grade. (One exception - no substitution is made for a zero grade given for academic dishonesty.)

 

No make-up lab practicals are given.  There will be an optional (comprehensive) final lab practical that will be used as a make-up grade for anyone who misses a lab practical for any reason.  If you know in advance that you cannot be present at class time for a practical, it might be possible to take the practical with another class as long as you check with me first. Once again, to encourage everyone to take all four lab practicals, it can be used to replace your lowest lab practical grade IF it is higher and will therefore help your grade. (No substitution is made for a zero grade given for academic dishonesty.)

 

11. Extra Credit Points: (completely optional....up to you!) A Scavenger Hunt (directions outlined on another handout) provides the chance for earning 30 totally "free" extra credit points. These 30 points would raise your OVERALL average in the course by 3 percentage points. You must follow all directions carefully and the project must be extremely neat or point deductions may occur. It is suggested that if you plan to take advantage of this extra credit opportunity, you should begin ASAP!  Collections are due at the end of the next-to-last week of classes, at the beginning of class. I do not accept late collections.

 

Extra credit is rather like insurance.......you may never need it, but once you’ve had a wreck, it’s too late to go out and buy it!   It's always better to have too many points than not enough!

 

12.. Honors: Honors by contract credit is offered in the spring semester of Biology II. This requires group work outside of class on a scientific investigation chosen by faculty. A paper is required as is participation in a group presentation on Honors Day at the end of the semester. To participate in Honors, you must score an A on the first exam and practical.

  

13. Other policies:

     Cell phones and pagers must be turned off or on “vibrate” mode during lecture and lab.  If an emergency situation exists that requires that a cell phone be left on, the instructor should be informed.

     No children are allowed in lab.

     No restroom breaks are allowed during quizzes and exams.

 

14. Academic integrity: Cheating and plagiarism are defined as taking credit for work that is not one’s own or assisting others in doing so.  Cheating and plagiarism are, then, the unauthorized or uncited use of another’s work or the use of any materials or type of assistance other than those permitted by the professor.  Examples:

 

·         deliberate or prolonged looking at and/or copying another person’s paper during a  quiz/exam

·         unauthorized verbal or nonverbal communication during a quiz/exam

·         bringing unauthorized notes or other materials into a quiz/exam setting

·         using or distributing information about  an unauthorized copy of a quiz/exam

·         helping  someone else with any of the above activities

 

A student who is suspected of cheating or plagiarism will be confronted by the faculty member for a violation of academic integrity.  The consequences for such a violation may include, but are not limited to, any or all of the following at the discretion of the faculty:

·         an F or zero on the assignment, exam, or project; or

·         withdrawal from the course or expulsion from the college.

 

15. ADA Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is a federal anti-discrimination statue that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodations of their disabilities.

Students with disabilities who wish to request accommodations in this class must notify the Disability Services Office as soon as possible so that the appropriate arrangements may be made.   Students requesting accommodations must provide documentation of his/her disability to a Disability Services counselor.  For more information, call or visit the Disability Services Office at A 104, (281) 618-5481."

 

KEEPING UP WITH YOUR BIOLOGY II GRADE

 

LAB PRACTICALS (4 @ 75 points each = possible 300 points for semester)

 

I. ________/75 possible points (=______%)

 

II.________/75 possible points (=______%)

 

III. _______/75 possible points (=______%)

 

IV. _______/75 possible points (=______%)

 

(V)._______/75 (optional comprehensive final lab practical which can replace

                      your lowest lab practical grade)

 

LECTURE EXAMS (4 @ 125 points each = possible 500 points for  semester)

 

I. ________/125 possible points (=______%)

 

II. _______/125 possible points (=______%)

 

III._______/125 possible points (=______%)

 

IV. _______/125 possible points (=______%)

 

COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM (200 possible points)

 

Final______/200 possible points (a percentage of the final exam can replace your lowest lecture exam grade)

 

                             example: 160 = 100

                                               200    125.

 

At anytime during the semester you can:

 

a. Add up all the points you have earned. (Extra credit points are simply added in.)

 

b. Divide that by the total number of points possible at that time (not counting extra credit points).

 

c. Multiply by 100.  This gives you a percentage grade of how you are doing.