PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of high school biology. Successful completion of high school chemistry or CHEM 1360 L or SCI1360L is recommended.·

• COURSE DESCRIPTION: This college-level course covers the principles of cell biology, including cellular physiology, cellular metabolism, molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics. Laboratory exercises are designed to reinforce theoretical concepts presented in the lecture portion of the course.

• TEXT/INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

Biology: Tenth Edition, by Campbell, Reece and Mitchell

Investigating Biology Lab Manual, 8^th edition

Routine access to Google Classroom

• COURSE OUTCOMES/COMPETENCIES:

This is a list of what you must successfully accomplish to pass the course. The list roughly goes in the order in which material is presented, although quite often several different interconnected topics will fold into one competency. Each competency is satisfied by your routinely performing the action correctly or appropriately, as demonstrated through the various assessments.

You must:

1. understand the rationale for, and follow safety procedures with foresight and care;

2. correctly and thoroughly follow all experimental procedures, collect appropriate observations and data, and perform all analyses and data interpretations;

3. demonstrate an understanding of, and the proper execution of, basic laboratory techniques in cellular biology, including the routine use and care of microscopes;

4. correctly analyze and draw conclusions from generated scientific data;

5. routinely demonstrate correct usage of spelling, grammar, sentence structure and paragraph construction in test responses, laboratory reports and other written work;

6. routinely use the vocabulary of the course correctly in class discussions, questions and responses, and in written work;

7. demonstrate an understanding of the basics of the scientific method;

8. demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the role of biology in society;

9. demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical fundamentals of cellular biology, biochemistry and genetics;

10. successfully demonstrate understanding of metabolic cycles (i.e. Kreb’s cycle, photosynthesis, etc)

11. successfully demonstrate understanding of cell life cycles (ie mitosis, meiosis)

12. successfully demonstrate understanding of principles of heredity from molecular basis to gene expression and regulation.

13. successfully demonstrate knowledge of cell structures and functions.

GRADING:

A 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79

C 73-76 C- 70-72 D+ 67-69 D 63-66 D- 60-62 F 0-59

Grading Scale:

The following table gives the anticipated percentages for the different assessments used in the class.

Exams/Quizzes 60 % Laboratories 20% Homework 20%

Expectations: Your success in this or any college course begins with attending each class period and working hard outside of class to complete all assignments and reading associated with the course. You are expected to be present for each lecture and exam. You are expected to behave in a respectful manner and participate in class discussions or group work.

Attendance Policy: Attendance is recorded at the beginning of every class period. All students will be allowed two (2) absences. After the second absence, two percentage points will be deducted from your final grade for each subsequent absence. Students missing three (3) consecutive classes without contacting me may be withdrawn from the course and receive a grade of “AF.” Chronic lateness will also result in point deductions from your final grade.

Policy on Make-up and Late Work: All assignments must be completed on time. This is primarily for your benefit-- this class moves along very quickly, and students have generally found that if they fall behind, it is very difficult to catch up. Regarding make-up work, the following policies apply:

Students who miss a class are responsible for obtaining the handouts and lecture notes from other students.

All assignments must be turned in on time in order to receive full credit. There will be a deduction of 20% of the assignment point total for late work. Assignments that are more than one class session late will not be accepted.

Make-up exams will be given at my discretion at a time that fits my schedule. If it is not possible for you to attend a scheduled exam, you must contact me by e-mail before the exam begins (dwebster@lin-wood.org), and receive an e-mail response from me that the message has been received. Failure to successfully contact me prior to the exam will result in forfeiture of the makeup opportunity and a grade of zero for that exam. I understand that in extreme situations it may not be possible to obtain prior approval. The instructor on a case-by-case basis will evaluate such situations.

Approved make-up exams must be completed prior to the next scheduled class time, unless special arrangements are made with the instructor. Failure to do so will result in a zero for that exam

Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism is the intentional or unintentional failure to immediately, accurately, and completely cite and document the source of any language, ideas, summaries, hypotheses, conclusions, interpretations, speculations, graphs, charts, pictures, etc., or other material not entirely your own. This includes failure to cite work of your own that you have used previously.

Cheating and plagiarism are strictly forbidden. Any student found to be cheating on a quiz or exam, or plagiarizing in reports or other written assignments, will be given a zero for the quiz, exam, report or assignment.

If school is cancelled on the day of a scheduled exam, students should expect to take the exam during the next class section.

Class cancellations due to instructor illness or other extenuating circumstances, will be posted on Google Classroom. Note: You are responsible for checking Google Classroom on a daily basis during the week.

Electronics in the Classroom: Cell phones and texting devices must be turned off during class. You may record lectures if you would like to. Personal computers or tablets may be used for note taking during class. If you are found to be using these devices for non-class related activities, you will no longer be allowed to bring your computer to class.

SPECIAL NOTES

1) Dropping the course: If you must drop the course, you must fill out an official DROP SLIP from the Registrar’s office. This must be done by the appropriate deadline- check your calendar! If you do not fill out the DROP SLIP, you will receive an “F” for the course.

2) If you miss two (2) classes in a row, without communication with the instructor, you may be administratively withdrawn from the class.

3) Keep all of your graded materials until you receive your final grade in SIS.

4) If school is cancelled during a class period for which an exam was scheduled, expect to take the exam during the next class period.

5) If school is cancelled during a period before which an exam was scheduled, the exam will take place as scheduled, and will include the material that would have been covered during the cancelled class, as stated by the lecture schedule.

6) Eating and drinking are not allowed in the lab portion of the class.

7) Unsafe lab practices will cause your dismissal from that day’s lab exercise, and you will not be allowed to make up the missed work.

8) Check your student email and Blackboard frequently! Updates, schedule changes, and other important announcements will be posted on Blackboard and sometimes emailed. It is your responsibility to stay current with any announcements or changes posted.

HELPFUL HINTS

1) Don’t panic.

2) Form study groups right away!!!!! They are a key to success. If you find that your study group is not helpful, join another one.

3) Get a tutor. Request one in The Learning Center (located on the first floor).

4) If you are having any difficulties with your study habits, or if your study skills need help, please see Maureen Baldwin in The Learning Center. Maureen can help you with organizational skills, time budgeting, reading, workshops for study skills and learning styles, customized learning, accommodations for disabilities, tutoring, Plato & general learning center assistance.

5) Pre-read. Make sure that you read the material in the text and laboratory manual BEFORE the class lecture.

6) Keep a positive outlook. Don’t get bogged down by negative thinking.

7) If you need something, TELL ME! I need to know what works for you. I cannot know unless and until you tell me.

8) Study sessions should have breaks. Do not study for more than two hours without taking a good break.

9) Learn by teaching. Tell each other. Help each other. Tell your family and friends what you are learning and get them to help you.

10) Use the textbook. Read the summaries at the beginning and end of each chapter. Read the study questions and LOOK CAREFULLY at the pictures and diagrams. Lectures are intended to reinforce and clarify specific topics and cannot replace reading the assigned material. Any assigned reading material is fair game for exams.

I reserve the right to change these policies if necessary given unexpected or unusual circumstances –

please see Google Classroom for announcements of changes and posted revisions