BISC208-012 INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY
SPRING 2012

Index

Explanation of t-test on excel
Samples of graded long reports
Class Activities
Group Assignments
 (also see Formation and Functioning of Groups below)
Course Schedule
Attendance
Grading

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Instructor	Linda K. Dion
Course  Time, Place	Lecture: MWF 11:15; 208 Gore Hall Lab: Tues 2-5 pm
Office	241 Wolf Hall
Office Hours	These will be announced in class
E-mail	ldion@udel.edu - best way to contact me
Class web page	http://www.udel.edu/biology/dion/208012syllabus_2012.htm
Text	Brooker, Widmaier, Graham, Stiling. Biology 2nd ed
Phone	831-2476

COURSE CONTENT

    The physiology of plants and animals, in addition to evolutionary and ecological concepts will be the topics of this course. Lecture is supplemented by labs which teach these topics.

COURSE METHODS
This section of Iintroductory Biology will combine lecturing with an active student-centered approach. During some class meetings, you will work with your group to analyze biologically relevant, real-life problems in light of what you have learned from lectures or you may work on other group activities such as practice quizzes, exercises, or illustrations on the board.

CLASS ACTIVITIES
     Preparation:  You as students will work as individuals and as members of a group. At the beginning of each major topic, you should always do the assigned reading before listening to a lecture or doing a group activity.  It will be VERY helpful for you to print out the Power Point notes, so you can more easily follow a lecture (more about that below). Key Concepts and Practice Quizzes: for each topic, I will provide some key concepts with which you should be familiar. Use these as a guideline when reviewing your notes and the readings. They will be linked to the syllabus (Class Schedule) for the first day on which a topic will be covered. Each document may also list a practice quiz on the publisher's website which you can use for practice. This website is free, does no required a password, and is accessible at www.mhhe.com/biosci/majorsbio/brookerbiology When this site opens, choose edition 2, then choose the appropriate chapter, then choose Post Test. I've omitted some questions from each quiz because the answer is wrong, ambiguous, or because we are not covering it in class.  If you wish to use the electronic version of the textbook you must access Connect Plus (which is a version of the McGraw-Hill platform called Connect). If you bought your 2nd ed. text new from the UD bookstore, an access code for Connect should be included (same one used in fall 2011). If you bought a used version of the text, you can purchase Connect or Connect Plus from the bookstore or from McGraw-Hill. To use it, you must first log in to this "course" managed by the McGraw-Hill company. The log-in you should use is: http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/l_dion_208section_12 Please note that you are not REQUIRED to use the Connect site or the free access site for this course.
     Quizzes & Exams:  Three quizzes will be given this term. They should be an incentive to review material already covered in class so that studying for the exams will be less overwhelming. Quizzes will consist of approximately 10-12 questions.  In addition to the quizzes, there will be three "hourly" exams and a final exam. The format of the exams will be similar to that of the quizzes but will be a more extensive synthesis of the material previously covered in the course up to that time.  See comments below about attendance at exams and quizzes. All hourly exams and quizzes are given in the regular classroom during a regularly scheduled class. Grades are not posted, nor may they be sent by email - you must get your exam in class to learn your grade. Anything that is done in class, or that's assigned for reading is fair game for exams. It's usually best to concentrate on what we do in class when you study for an exam. The final exam's date will be determined by the Registrar and will be posted later in the semester. I have no control over the date scheduled for the final exam. Please do not make any travel arrangements until the exam date is known. There will be no exceptions made to taking the final exam on the assigned date. The final exam will be comprehensive - i.e. will cover all course material, with the exception of lab material.
     Lecture days and Group Work Days:   Class time will be spent in Lectures and "Group Work". Two to three class meetings will usually be required to cover a topic. For two of them, I will lecture and for the third, there will be some type of group activity. Such an activity could be analyzing a real life problem related to the week's topic, or it could be taking a practice quiz or drawing and labeling an assigned structure. Information learned from group work will be included on exams and quizzes. Group work and problems will not be linked to the class syllabus.

Accessing Power Point Notes, Key Concepts and other restricted files:  To access Power Point notes or other restricted files you will need to use a computer linked to the campus network. Using one from off-campus will  not allow access, since these items are restricted to the UD community.  However, if you live off-campus you can connect through a proxy server available only to UD students by using this direct link:

https://proxy.nss.udel.edu/login?qurl=http://www.udel.edu/biology/dion/208012syllabus_2012.htm. This will connect you to the proxy server, which will then require that you log in. After logging in, you will get immediately back to the syllabus (now through the proxy server), so you should now be able to access any restricted files. To download the Power Point slides, you will need Power Point on your computer (if someone does not have this, speak to me). I will create Power Point files in Office 03 and  Office 07. (If you only have Office 03, you can download a free converter package from Microsoft's website). Power Point notes can be accessed through the link under "Class Schedule" for the respective date on this syllabus. Do NOT search in WebCT  or Sakai for lecture notes for this course, although the laboratory portion of it may use Sakai - this will be announced by your TA if she/he decides to use Sakai for your lab section.

FORMATION AND FUNCTIONING OF GROUPS

Heterogeneous groups of 6 people each will be formed by at least the 3rd class period. I will determine who is in these groups, and they will remain intact for the entire semester, with the exception of changes due to students dropping or adding the course. A list of groups and their members are provided here.  If you wish to see which group you are in, you can access the alphabetized list here. Each group will receive a folder on which attendance should be recorded. I will periodically check the attendance sheets on the folder; thus you should record your attendance daily. One of the first group activities will be to formulate some "rules of the road", that is, a series of ground rules for conduct that each member agrees to abide by.  There will be a few suggestions provided for reasonable conduct. Your list of ground rules should be signed by everyone, emailed to everyone and placed in your folder.

COMMUNICATION

    I use email frequently to communicate with the class at-large, and with individuals. Often, announcements will be made by email. In addition, comments about exams or problems may be put on the course web page, as well as the links to Power Point notes.  In laboratory, data may be shared and transmitted through Sakai, which will be explained in lab (note: lab work is the only part of this course which may be on Sakai). Lab TAs will expect all writing assignments to be typed and double-spaced; they will tell you whether graphs can be hand-done or done in Excel. As you can see, it will be necessary for you to have easy access to a computer which has Excel, Word and Power Point. You will also need your campus email access, since this is the only way you would receive class emails from me..

CLASS SCHEDULE

EVOLUTION
Class	Date	Lecture Topic	Chapter	Lab Topic of Week (Tuesday afternoons)
-	-	EVOLUTION
1	M 2/6	Introduction to Course and to evolution	23*, 24	No Lab
2	W 2/8	Microevolution Key concepts	24	-
3	F  2/10	Hardy Weinberg problems. Microevolution	-	-
4	M 2/13	Group Activity  on an endangered species Speciation	25* to p. 520 (omit section 3 & 4)	Lab 1: Introduction to lab; Evolution; Assignment #1 – due end of lab
5	W 2/15	Speciation Key Concepts	-	-
6	F 2/17	Systematics    Key Concepts	26* to p. 535 (though other pages will help you with lab)	-
-	-	PLANT BIOLOGY	-	-
7	M 2/20	Quiz 1 on Evolution; Plant Diversity    Key Concepts	29* (omit section 2), 30 to p. 626	Lab 2: Systematics; Quiz #1; Assignment #2 – due next week
8	W 2/22	Plant  Structure	35	-

9	F 2/24	Plant Structure  Key Concepts	35	-
10	M 2/27	Nutrition and Transport Key Concepts	37*, 38	Lab 3:  Plants I: Anatomy & Transport; Quiz #2; Short Report #1 - due next week
11	W 2/29	Transport	-	-
12	F  3/2	Transport and Review	-	-
13	M 3/5	Exam 1 on Evolution and Plants	-	Lab 4: Plants II: Transpiration Project; WorkPlan #1; Long Report #1 - due next wk
-	-	ANIMAL BIOLOGY	-	-
14	W 3/7	Animal Diversity  Begin Circulation Key Concepts	32* & 34*; Read Ch.40 for Intro. to Animals - I will not lecture on it	-

Class	Date	Lecture Topic	Chapter	Lab Topic
15	F  3/9	Circulation	47	-
16	M 3/12	Circulation  Key Concepts	47	Lab 5: Animals I: Invertebrates: Dissection & pulsation rate in blackworm; Assignment #3 (pre-lab) – due at start of lab; Short Report #2 (pulsation rate only) – due next week
17	W 3/14	Finish circulation; Gas Exchange	48	-
18	F 3/16	Gas exchange Key Concepts	48	-
19	M 3/19	Gas Exchange	48	Lab 6: Animals II: Invertebrates: Blackworm project - affect of drugs on pulsation rate; WorkPlan #2; Long Report #2 – due in two weeks (after spring break)
20	W 3/21	Quiz 2  Begin Nervous Control	41	-
21	F 3/23	Nervous Control Key concepts	41	-
-	-	SPRING BREAK	-	-
22	M 4/2	Nervous Control; begin muscles	41	Lab 7: Animals III: Touch & Temperature Senses; Quiz #3; Assignment #4 – due end of lab; no short report from this lab
23	W 4/4	Muscles	44	-
24	F 4/6	Muscles Key Concepts	44	-
25	M 4/9	Thermoregulation Key Concepts	46, sec. 3 & 4	Lab 8:  Animals IV: Respiration; Quiz #4; Short Report #3 – due next lab
26	W 4/11	Finish thermoregulation or Review for exam	-	-
27	F 4/13	Exam 2 (on material since Exam 1, not including animal diversity)	-	-
28	M 4/16	Digestion	45	Lab 9: Animals V: Chordate Anatomy; Assignment #5 - Statistics
29	W 4/18	Digestion  Key Concepts	45	-
-	4/18 5pm	Dr. John Gearhart, U of PA - Arnold Clark Lectureship - "Instructing our Cells to Rebuild our Bodies"	-	-
30	F 4/20	Digestion; begin Osmosregulation	49 sec 1-4	-
31	M 4/23	Osmoregulation Begin Population Ecology	49 sec 1-4	Lab 10: Ecology Quiz #5; Assignment #6 (Isle Royale) – due end of lab; Short Report # 4 (pegboard only) – due next week as directed by TA
-	-	ECOLOGY	-	-
32	W 4/25	Quiz 3 on digestion and osmoregulation Population Ecology	56	-
33	F 4/27	Population Ecology Key Concepts	56	-
34	M  4/30	Populations Community Ecology	57, 58*	Week 11: No formal laboratory; prepare for exam; had in report #4
35	W 5/2	Community Ecology  Key Concepts	57, 58*	-
36	F 5/4	Communities; Ecosystems	58*, 59*	-
37	M 5/7	Ecosystems and Biomes Key Concepts	59*, 54	Lab 11 (week 12): Final Laboratory Exam
38	W 5/9	Finish Biomes and Review
39	F 5/11	Exam 3 on material since Exam 2	-	-
40	M 5/14	Return exams; comment on final exam; peer evaluations	-	No Labs this week
-		FINAL EXAM - to be announced	-	-

*For reference only.   Refer to class notes to decide what to read for these topics
Syllabus, especially days for Class Activities, is subject to change. Quiz & Exam dates will not change  unless weather causes class cancellation or something else happens beyond my control.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

     Attendance in lecture is EXPECTED and will be recorded daily on your folder, using the Honor System.  Attendance counts toward your course grade. Announcements will be made, or activities started, at the beginning of class, so promptness is important. If you miss a lecture, notes must be obtained from another student, or Power Point notes can be consulted. However, I supplement the Power point notes in my lectures, so you will learn best by coming to lecture.  If you miss an exam or quiz, credit will not be received.
     Exceptions are the following:
          1. documented illness
          2. documented personal tragedy
          3. documented official University business

     If you miss a quiz for one of the above reasons, then a make-up quiz will be given. This make-up must be given before the next class meets. If you miss an exam for one of the above reasons, the portion of the final exam which contains this material will substitute for that exam grade. This substitution may only be used once during the semester and only for an excusable absence which is reported on time. Students whol miss a quiz or exam for an excusable reason must inform me before or on the day of the exam (no later than two hours after the class has met) through phone or e-mail; otherwise, absence will be considered unexcused and a zero will be given. An exception will be made for someone who is hospitalized - in that case, I expect to be notified by the end of the day by a parent or Dean. Later explanations will not be accepted.
     Attendance in laboratory is MANDATORY. We place high importance on the laboratory experience. Therefore unexcused laboratory absences will result in a grade reduction for lab, or possibly for the whole B208 course. One or two unexcused absences will result in NO credit for work done that week in lab (quizzes, assignments, reports) and three unexcused absences will result in a failure of BISC208. Absence for an excusable reason must be reported to the TA and to me within two hours of the missed lab. Excused absences fall into the categories listed above and must be made up by attending a lab at another time during the same week. Responsibility for arranging this lies with the student after FIRST checking with me to explain the reason for missing the lab, and also writing to your TA. Once I've accepted your explanation, you must then (with help of your TA) arrange to take a lab later in the week. Make up during a later week cannot be accommodated, since labs are stripped of their equipment on Thursday evening and set up for the following week's labs on Friday. As in BISC 207, students who have 3 excused absences and are unable (due to excusable extenuating circumstances) to make up those missed labs during the course receive an automatic incomplete in the course. Missed labs and the final lab exam must be made up in the following semester. Additional laboratory policies will be explained in lab by your laboratory instructor, and they should also be read in your lab manual. Your Lab Instructor may give grade deductions for tardiness of lab reports, or late lab arrival, so please do things promptly to ensure your best chance of success in lab. If you arrive late to lab on a quiz day, you might not be allowed to take the quiz.
.

GRADING

     The final grade is a reflection of effort both in the classroom and in the laboratory. Lecture will constitute 75% of the final grade, lab 25%. Your laboratory grade will be explained during the first meeting of lab & is also in your lab manual. It will be based on the criteria shown below, whose due dates are listed in the laboratory manual:.

Laboratory - Graded Items	Percent of Course Grade
Lab Final Exam	10
2 Long Reports	5
4 Short Reports	5
5 Quizzes	2.5
2 Workplans	0.5
6 Assignments	2
Total	25%

   All graded laboratory work, except for data you collect in the laboratory, must be done individually. Even though you collect data in a group, you must still write your own report and construct your own graphs or tables.

Your grade in lecture will be based on these criteria: Quizzes, Hourly Exams and Final Exam, Attendance & Participation (which is determined by your Peer Evaluation Score)

     A more detailed breakdown of the components of the lecture grade is shown below:

Lecture Grade (75% of course grade)
Component	% of Course Grade
3 Quizzes @ 4% each	12%
3 Hourly Exams @ 15% each	45%
Final Exam	13%
Attendance and Participation*	5%

*Determined by Peer Evaluation Score

The final grade will be determined from the following approximate range which is shown below. HOWEVER,  this range is NOT set in stone. Assignment of the final course grade can be influenced by such things as the entire class average. Additionally, assignment of final course grade to each student will be considered on an individual basis and COULD be influenced by my consideration of circumstances which include (but are not limited to) the following:  laboratory grading by TA is significantly different (more or less rigorous) than that of other TA's (in which case, laboratory grades may be "normalized" among sections). Adjustments to grading, if made, will be done fairly for all students.
A plus or minus MAY be assigned for upper and lowermost grades in each range. For example, a grade of 78 & 79 could be a C+, while a 70 and 71 could be a C-

A	90 - 100
B	80-89
C	70-79
D	60-69
F	below 60

PEER EVALUATION SCORE
        When problems are discussed by groups in class or practice quizzes are done,  the expectation is that everyone makes equal contributions and expends equal effort. However, in reality, that may not be true - some may work much harder than others. To acknowledge differences in effort among group members, you will have a chance to evaluate one another with respect to attitude, participation and contributions by doing peer evaluations. These will be done at the end of the term, in a quantitative way; i.e. an average "score" for each group member will be determined. These will then be used to advise me in determining what grade to assign for Participation". In order to receive credit for participation, it is necessary for a student to evaluate other members of his/her group. If this is not done, then there is no credit given for participation. The date to do peer evaluations is listed as the last day of class; if this changes, it will be announced ahead of time and an email will be sent to the whole class.
        Evaluation scores will be given by assigning 0-5 points to fellow group members. A score of 5 indicates that a person is a fully functional group member (comes to class on time, comes prepared to work, contributes to group, listens respectfully to opinions of other group members) - in other words, he/she merits 100% for group effort. Usually students receive between 3-5 points for their peer score.  If a group is not functioning well because of one or more weak members, this should be brought to my attention as early as possible so that the situation can be corrected, and low evaluation scores can be avoided. I reserve the right to modify peer evaluation scores if I think someone has been unfairly evaluated by group members. To determine what proportion of your 5% attendance and participation score you should receive, I will multiply your attendance by your participation score. For example, if your peer evaluation score is 5 (100%), but you only attended half of the classes, you would receive no more than 2.5% toward your attendance/participation score. If you attended every class, but were evaluated with an average of 4 (out of 5), you would receive no more than 4% toward your attendance/participation score.
        As you can see, diligent attendance and participation in group effort can earn you 5% of your course grade.

NOTE ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

     For lab and lecture, be familiar with the university policy on Academic Dishonesty. All work submitted for grading in lab and lecture, must be the original work of each individual. Although you will work as a group in lab, lab reports are to be written individually. This means that graphs or tables should also be done individually. Exceptions will be explained in lab.

The most common problems of academic dishonesty among freshmen students are plagiarism and cheating (both usually done unintentionally because of misunderstanding of what constitutes these infractions). Therefore, based on the Student Guide to University Policies (http://www.udel.edu/stuguide/10-11/code.html#honesty ), here are definitions of each. These definitions are not necessarily all-inclusive.   

Plagiarism is the inclusion of someone else’s words, ideas, or data as one’s own. When a student submits academic work that includes another’s words, ideas, or data, whether published or unpublished, the source of that information must be acknowledged with complete and accurate references and, if verbatim statements are included, with quotation marks as well. By submitting work as his or her own, a student certifies the originality of all material not otherwise acknowledged. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

1. The quotation or other use of another person’s words, ideas, opinions, thoughts, summaries, or theories (even if paraphrased into one’s own words) without acknowledgment of the source; or
2. The quotation or other use of facts, statistics, or other data or materials that are not clearly common knowledge without acknowledgment of the source.

Cheating is an act or an attempted act of deception by which a student seeks to misrepresent that he or she has mastered information that has not been mastered. Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

1. Copying of all or any portion of another’s academic work and submitting it, in part or in its entirety, as one’s own;
2. Allowing another person to copy one’s own academic work—whether intentionally or recklessly;
3. The unauthorized collaboration with any other person on an academic exercise, including collaboration on a take-home or make-up academic exercise, or on the writing of a laboratory report, where instructions have stated that reports must be individually written;
4. The unauthorized use of electronic instruments, such as cell phones, pagers, or PDAs, to access or share information; or
5. The unauthorized completion for another person of an academic work, or permitting someone else to complete an academic work for oneself.

If academic dishonesty is discovered or even suspected, the case will be referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs. If a student is found guilty, penalties will ensue. These could include a zero for the work, or worse, a zero for the course.. Clearly, you as a student are best served by doing your own work. If you have any questions about the right to collaborate, please ask your lab TA or course instructor. Their decisions are binding.

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES

This is a center which provides tutors and other services to students with eitiher physical or learning disabilities. I am not qualified to assess whether or not a student has such a disability, and therefore will not make accomodations for testing without instructions from this office. If you think you need help or should be evaluated, contact http://www.udel.edu/DSS/  If I learn of any group tutoring for BISC 208, I will inform the class.