This class is fully in-person. So, lectures will be live. I will record the audio (ONLY) from my lectures. This audio will automatically post to a shared box folder. You can access this folder from the Welcome module on Canvas. Please see Other Classroom Policies to review policies on sharing recordings. In short, don't share my recordings or materials without my permission. These recordings should be used for you to study and/or catch up if you missed lecture. Since, I am recording, you will all be given a contract to sign stating that you understand that you are not to share my materials without my permission. You do not have permission to record video of lectures.

You will be provided with Powerpoint versions of the lecture ahead of class time, so that you can use them for studying/note-taking. 

Late assignments/missed exams:

 You will be given ample time to complete assignments. However, I know that life gets in the way sometimes. You have two "free passes" for the semester for any assignment other than exams. Here are the rules: 

1. If you don't get something in on time, email me within 24 hours of the original due date for the assignment in question. 

2. Ask to use one free pass for that specific assignment and I will reopen it for you for an additional 48 hours. 

3. There will be no deductions and no questions asked. In other words, you don't have to explain or justify why you missed the deadline. 

4. If at the end of the semester, you have not used your free passes, I will add 2.5 points per remaining free pass to your grade. 

5. You may use free passes for Inquizitive assignments as well, but remember that those can be submitted late for a minor deduction, anyway.

Remember that this does not include exams. However, if you absolutely cannot make it to an exam, please notify me immediately.

Introduction Survey/Syllabus Agreement: 

During the first week of the semester you will be asked to complete an introduction survey. This is a short assignment on Canvas, designed to help me get to know you better. There are no right or wrong answers! 

As part of this assignment, I will ask you to stop by my office during office hours sometime in the first two weeks of school. All that is required is that you say hello and sign yourself in. This will hopefully break the ice so that you feel more comfortable stopping by when you need help. If my office hours conflict with your schedule, just email me and schedule a time to drop by my office.

The second half of this assignment is a syllabus agreement. Here I will point out some specifics on the syllabus that I think are particularly important. You should read each one and confirm that you understand the points outlined. If you don't understand, you should ask questions during office hours or in class. I will hold you to this! 

Ultimately, this should be an easy way to get the semester going! So, just make sure you complete all parts of the assignment! 

Inquizitive: 

This is a quizzing program to help you learn the concepts covered in lecture. You will access this program through the link on Canvas, which you will find under the assignments tab on the left. DO NOT just login through their website. You can get a free three-week access trial if you are unable to purchase the book right away. If you need to use the three-week trial, you can login as follows: 

Login to Canvas and click the link for the e-book. 

On the top right there is a yellow tab that says “Purchase Options”. Click that link. 

Create an account. 

Choose 21 day access. 

This program is very game-like and should be fun! However, if you just guess answers without trying, it will continue to give you questions until you score at least an 80%. But, you can keep going to get a higher score. So, don’t guess! Actually, work through the problems! This will help you on your exams!!! 

Your total for all of the inquizitive assignments will be calculated as a percentage to calculate the number of points earned out of 100 total points. 

Due dates for these assignments will be added to the calendar in Canvas and announcements as assigned. You may submit these assignments late, up through the end of the semester. However, you will be deducted 1% per day late. I recommend doing the assignments on time as they will help you grasp the material that we are working on in class, which will help you prepare for exams. But, I understand that life sometimes gets in the way of submitting things on time. 

Pop-Quizzes/Attendance: 

A series of pop quizzes will be given throughout the semester. These will be at random and at my discretion. They are worth a total of 50 points regardless of how many are given in class. Some will be open book/note quizzes on material we covered recently. Some will be more of an attendance check and may ask questions about you (what's your favorite band? What will you be doing over the summer? etc.) or even just your name! Your lowest quiz/attendance score will be dropped. These cannot be made up. 

Literature Quizzes: 

Reading and understanding the scientific literature is important for having a complete education in biology.  For this course, you will read three scientific articles throughout the semester that tie in to the topics we have been covering in lecture.  Each quiz will be done in Canvas on your own time. The quiz will open at 6:00 pm on the day of the quiz (Thursdays; see schedule), and be open until 11:59 pm the following class day (Tuesdays; see schedule).  You may use free passes for these. 

The quiz is open paper, but you should work independently.  Evidence to the contrary will result in a zero. Answers to questions should be written IN YOUR OWN WORDS- NO QUOTATIONS. Answers copied directly from the text, even if in quotes, will result in a zero; and don't even think about using AI. These quizzes will ask questions that apply to the findings in the article.  For example, you may be asked to briefly explain what the authors concluded, to interpret a figure or their results, or to explain information obtained about the background. Each quiz will be timed, and needs to be completed within one hour, so reading the article ahead of time is advised. 

Exams: 

Exams will be on Canvas and consist primarily of a mix of multiple choice, short answer, matching, and essay.  Your final exam will be all multiple choice and cumulative. You will take the exam IN PERSON in a campus computer lab. I will give you a piece of scratch paper to use as you please during the exam. In some cases, I will print a couple of questions on the scratch paper so that you can work them out on paper first. You must write your name on the scratch paper (whether you use it or not) and turn it in at the end of the exam. 

Advance notice of missed exams must be given except in the case of a documented emergency. 

Exam Rules: 

1. Exams should be taken independently, and without outside resources. 

2. Questions will be randomized, but you will have access to the entire exam so you may answer questions as you see fit. 

3. If you are caught using a web-browser or any other materials during the exam, you will earn a ZERO for the entire exam. 

4. You must show Dr. Stokes the submission confirmation for your exam and submit your scratch paper prior to leaving the classroom. 

Grading:

Your grade will be based on the number of points you earn divided by the total points for the course.  Your final grade will be percentage based. Grade appeals can only be made on the basis of miscalculation of your average and must be made to me within at least one week of grades being posted.  There will NOT be any extra credit or curving in this course.  Whatever grade you receive on exams is the grade that you get for that assignment.  Grades are rounded (by Canvas even!) as follows: 79.5%-79.9% rounds to 80%, 79.4% -79.0% rounds to 79%, etc. 

Grade Scale: 

Grades are based on the following percentage scale: 

• 93-100 = A   

• 90-92 = A-   

• 87-89 = B+   

• 83-86 = B   

• 80-82 = B-

• 77-79 = C+

• 73-76 = C

• 70-72 = C-   

• 67-69 = D+   

• 63-66 = D    

• 60-62 = D-  

• <60 = F