BI 153

Semester: Fall 2009

Instructor

Dr. Michael S. Taylor (First Eight Weeks)
Office: Rhodes 217
E-mail: mtaylor@semo.edu
Phone: 651-2357

This syllabus applies only to the first half of the semester. Refer to the syllabus provided by Dr. Judd for information on the second half of the semester.

Office Hours

Mon: 11:00 am-12:00 pm; Tues: 9:00-10:00 am; or by appointment. If my office door is open, please feel free to inquire whether I am busy with pressing matters; if not, I will be happy to meet with you. E-mail is the most effective way to contact me. I check e-mail regularly during the school week, and will generally provide a timely response. I will also use e-mail to contact the class.

Text

Biology, 8th ed. (Campbell and Reece, 2008). I expect students to read the pages assigned on the lecture schedule (separate handout). I may draw homework and test questions directly from the assigned reading.

Important Dates

Final Exam: Monday, 14 December 2009, 10:00 am.

Last Date to Drop: Friday, 30 October 2009.

Web Site

http://cstl-csm.semo.edu/mtaylor/bi153/
Lecture materials and study guides will be available from the course website. Powerpoint presentations in PDF format, which you are welcome to use for your lecture notes, will be available online prior to the start of lecture.

Course Description

This course will provide students with a strong foundation in the unifying evolutionary and ecological concepts and theories that best explain the origin and diversity of living organisms. Students will learn how ecological interactions between organisms and their environment, and between different organisms, leads to biological diversity through natural selection and adaptation. Students will also examine life processes (e.g., metabolism, growth, reproduction, etc.) in the context of natural selection.

Read The Following Class Policies Carefully!

Cell Phones Off!

Use of any type of cell phone or other electronic device in class for voice communication is expressly forbidden. Use of such devices shows complete disregard and lack of respect for both the instructor and your fellow students. If you are caught using any phone or texting device during an exam, you will be immediately dismissed from the exam and receive a grade of zero. These devices must not be out on tables, chairs, floors, etc. during exams, or you will be immediately dismissed and receive a grade of zero on the exam. If your cell phone rings during lecture, you will receive a warning for the first violation. Subsequent violations will result in a 20 point deduction from your final grade, equivalent to a drop of two letter grades on a single exam. Continued violations will double the deduction over the immediately prior violation. If you have a bonafide need to have a cell phone on (vibrate only), you must notify me in advance. Any unauthorized use will be sanctioned as discussed above.

Academic Expectations

Academic study at the university level requires scholarly diligence. Your dedication and perseverance will be the primary determinant of your success in class. Your final grade depends solely on the effort that you apply to the course. I strongly recommend regular study and review of the course material. However, you are an adult with the ability to establish your own priorities and make decisions based on those priorities. Consider carefully the choices that you make and balance them against the final grade that you hope to earn.

Attendance

Attendance is not required but will be recorded and reported, per University requirements. Failure to attend class can result in loss of student financial support. The official attendance policy is stated the Undergraduate Bulletin (http://www.semo.edu/bulletin/). Regular attendance will not guarantee success. Lack of regular attendance will almost certainly guarantee failure.

Excused absences must be arranged with the instructor in advance (e.g., for University-sanctioned events), or your absence must be validated by a written doctor's excuse, police report, or other verifiable document. All absences are subject to verification. Missed exams and assignments can only be made up for excused absences (see below). No exceptions.

Due dates are due dates

You have the responsibility of completing all assignments by the expected date and time. Unless specifically stated otherwise, assignments are due at the start of class on the assigned date. Any assignment not turned in at that time is considered late. Late assignments, where allowed (see below), are docked 10% of the total possible points for every 24 hour period past the due date and, for a maximum deduction of 50%. After five days, a grade of zero will be assigned. Forgetting is not an excuse. A printer or computer problem is not an excuse. Manage your time wisely; do not wait until the last minute.

Make-Up Exams

You are expected to take all exams on the appointed date. Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero for the exam, unless you have a valid and verifiable excuse. If I can not verify your excuse, you will not be allowed to take a make-up exam. Make up exams are administered only on Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30 am in my office (RH 217). Make-up exams are typically comprised entirely of short and long essay questions. If you must miss an exam, then have a valid excuse and come extra prepared. After all, you had more time to prepare than did the other students.

Academic Honesty

Honesty is vital to your integrity and success in civilized society. You are expected and required to be honest in all academic endeavors. Any violation of the university policy on academic honesty is subject to disciplinary action. The Undergraduate Bulletin defines academic dishonesty as ...those acts which would deceive, cheat, or defraud so as to promote one's scholastic record..., and states that [v]iolations of academic honesty represent a serious breech of discipline and may be considered grounds for disciplinary action, including dismissal from the university. The Undergraduate Bulletin contains the full statement about academic honesty (http://www.semo.edu/bulletin)

Dishonesty will not be tolerated. You are free and encouraged to participate in group study, but written assignments and exams must result from only your effort. Cheating or plagiarism will result in a grade of zero for the exam or paper, with no opportunity for makeup. You will also be subject to sanction through the University as described in the Undergraduate Bulletin. No exceptions. Information on the University Policy for Academic Honesty is at http://www6.semo.edu/judaffairs/code.html.

Civility and Harassment

Civil discourse between people with diverse backgrounds and cultures is an essential component of a university education. Your successful education in the classroom requires a mutually respectful and cooperative learning atmosphere for students and instructors. Any action that interferes with a civil environment will not be tolerated. Such actions include, but are not limited to, physical or verbal abuse, sexual misconduct, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion and/or other conduct which (a) submits any person to pain, discomfort or indignity or (b) threatens or endangers the physical or mental health or safety of any person may result in disciplinary action. See Judicial Affairs for more information: http://www6.semo.edu/judaffairs/

Students with Disabilities

Students may obtain official information about disabilities from Learning Assistance and Disability Support Services (http://www.semo.edu/cs/services/lec.htm). The university has many services to assist with your successful education. If you have a special need due to a disability, please notify me at the beginning of the course. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate special needs.

Grading Policies

I do not give grades; you earn them. Each student begins on the first day of class with a grade of zero. You add to your grade through the exams, written assignments and class participation.

Grade Evaluation

Your grades for the first eight weeks of the course will be based on the following:

Evaluation	Points
Lecture Exams (2 @ 100 pts)	200
Online Homework (5 @ 10 pts)	50
Lab Assignments (3 @ 50 pts)	150

Grade	Percent	Quality
A	≥ 90.00	Outstanding
B	80.0-89.9%	Above Average
C	70.0-79.9%	Average
D	60.0-69.9%	Below Average
F	≤ 59.9%	Failure

Simply performing the minimum that is requested from you will be sufficient to achieve average quality for the course. To achieve greater quality requires correspondingly greater effort on your part. Less effort from you will also be judged accordingly. I reserve the right to adjust downward the lower boundary of each grade level. I will never adjust the lower boundary upward. Extra credit will not be available. No exceptions. Spend your “extra” time studying the assigned course material.

Exams

Two lecture exams. Each exam is worth 100 points. Lecture exams will typically consist of concept matching (fill in the blank), multiple choice, and short answer conceptual questions to explore the breadth and depth of your knowledge. You will be required to synthesize and apply material learned in both lecture and lab. Your ability to construct intelligent (and intelligible) responses are critical to successful answers. Cell phones must not be out on tables, chairs, floors, etc. during exams, or you will be immediately dismissed and receive a grade of zero on the exam.

How to succeed: I draw a significant portion of my lectures from the text. You would therefore be wise to review the requisite chapters prior to each lecture, then study both the text and your lecture notes to maximize your understanding. For each lecture, I provide a PDF file of the PowerPoint presentations, usually available prior to the start of class, and a study guide that emphasizes the important concepts of that lecture. Download these and review them. I may also have review sessions prior to each exam. Your best chance for success in this course is to read all assigned chapters and reading material in advance of lecture, regularly review your lecture notes, review the terms and answer questions on the study guide, and attend any review session. Ask questions in class! If you do not fully grasp a topic or concept, ask me to review it.

Homework Assignments

You are required to complete five online homework assignments, wach worth ten points. The link to the assignments is located on the course web page. Each assignment will have 10 questions based on the study guides and the assigned chapter questions. You will generally be given 3-4 days to complete each assignment. You may attempt each homework assignment twice. You will have 100 minutes for each attempt. You may not make up any missed homework assignment without a valid and verifiable excuse. No exceptions.

I suggest you attempt to answer the study guide and chapter questions before attempting each homework assignment. Take your first attempt at the assignment. Check your results, then review the material for which you were incorrect. See me if you are still unclear about the material. Then retake the assignment to correct your initial errors.

Participation

Successful learning is a dynamic process that requires interaction between students and instructor, and among students. I expect you to respond to questions asked by me or by other students, and I expect you to ask questions. Never hesitate to ask a question. Chances are good that if you have a question, at least two others in the class have the same question. Be a leader and ask the question. You will impress me and you will get your answer. A noticeable lack of effort in lecture and lab (via participation and regular attendance) will be detrimental if you are near a grade boundary at the end of the semester.

Laboratory Policies

Attendance is mandatory for all laboratory meetings. You will perform experiments as groups, which requires cooperation from all group members. Failure to attend any laboratory meeting will result in an automatic 10% (one letter grade) reduction in the total possible points for that exercise. See the lecture attendance policy above for possible exceptions. Besides, why would you want to miss labs? Presumably, you became a biology major to "do science." This is your chance to engage in the scientific process in a relaxed atmosphere. Show up and have fun!

In addition to participating in the laboratory exercises, you must contribute to the clean-up of your lab area at the end of each meeting, and at the end of each exercise.

Laboratory Assignments

You will complete several laboratory exercises worth a total of about 150-175 points. See the laboratory schedule for additional details