BISC 100, SECTION 84
FRESHMAN HONORS SEMINAR FOR
INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY
DR. FLORENCE SCHMIEG
General Information:
This is a pass/not pass course for one hour of credit that is linked with
BISC207, section 84.
The work done in this course will contribute to the final grade in BISC207,
section 84. Therefore you will earn a grade, worth 4 credit hours, that is
assigned to BISC207 but that will include work and grades that you earned in
BISC100. You will earn a pass/not pass for the 1 hour of credit you earn from BISC100.
The BISC207 part of the course will follow the same format, except for the
grading, as that found for my other BISC207 sections.
See the course
website here.
The final grade will be determined by:
3 hourly examinations taken in the BISC207 class:
50%
3 honors exam extensions taken in the BISC100
class:
10%
2 Problem-based learning debate activities in the BISC207
class: 10%
2 Group Presentations in the BISC100 class:
5%
Laboratory, as explained in the BISC207 class:
25%
The class will be held on Tuesday mornings, 10:30-11:30 in room 124 Memorial
Hall.
Schedule:
9-1: Organizing groups and choosing papers for the first set of
presentations
9-8: Groups work on their presentation
9-15: Presentations 1 and 2
9-22: Presentations 3 and 4
9-29: Presentations 5 and 6
10-6: Honors Exam 1 extension
10-13: Discussion of Exam 1; Groups plan second debate paper for
BISC207
10-20: Organizing for second set of presentations; groups plan
debate 2
10-27: Groups work on second presentation; Second debate report due
for BISC207
11-3: Honors Exam 2 extension
11-10: Discussion of Exam 2; Groups continue to plan for second
presentation
11-17: Presentations 7 and 8
11-24: Presentations 9 and 10
12-1: Presentations 11 and 12
12-8: Honors Exam 3 extension
The Presentations will be 20 minutes long. Your group will randomly choose a
short Scientific American paper that will serve as the topic of your first
presentation. You will present to the class a review of this paper, underscoring
the biological content. You may use the overhead projector, power point, or the
blackboard. If you choose power point, please have back up overhead
transparencies or handouts of the slides in case the system breaks down. You
would also need to provide your own computer since the lecture rooms do not
provide them. These presentations are only graded for content. The method that
you choose to use will not effect
your grade. The grade will be from 5 (highest) to 1 (lowest). I will determine
the grade based upon the following criteria:
- Clarity
- Evidence of Group Preparation
- Organization
The second presentation will be similar to the first. The
difference will be that YOUR GROUP will choose the paper or topic to be
presented. You will have to go to the Internet or the library to find the
source you will use. Anything relevant to the biological sciences is
acceptable. Scientific American, American Scientist, and the Science News
sections of the New York Times or Wall Street Journal are all good places to look.
You will be asked to participate in two debates for BISC207.
This will be explained to you in that class. The planning for the first debate
will take place in the 207 class. The second debate planning will take place in
the BISC100 class, as shown above. More information about the debate format can
be found in the Problem-Based Learning link at the BISC207 website.
Presentation One
Date
Group
Paper
9-15
1
Triple
Helix
9-15
5
Ivory
Poachers
9-22
2
Superbugs
9-22
3
Celiac
Disease
9-29
6
Right
vs Left Brain
9-29
4
Biofuels
11-17
4
Origin of Life
11-17
3
11-24
6
11-24
1
12-1
2
Schizophrenia
and Caregivers
12-1
5
Neural Stem
Cells and Alzheimer's