Syllabus Spring
2008 
Biol 210 – Biology:
Concepts and Methods
Room 255
Henson Hall
Course
Instructor: Dr. Joan Maloof
Office:
224 Henson Science Building
Office
Phone: (410) 548-5788; Home Phone (410) 546-1038 (emergencies only please)
E-mail:
jemaloof@salisbury.edu
Website:
www.salisbury.edu/biology/faculty/Maloof.html
Texts:
1. Biology by Robert Booker, et al. Selected chapters
custom published for
2. Biology
210 Course Packet, available at the bookrack
Both
texts are REQUIRED, and you are expected to bring them to class. You
will also need a calculator.
Purpose:
Biology 210 is
an introduction to the fundamental concepts of biology, and the main methods
used by biologists. At times it may feel as though we are jumping from topic to
topic; this is because biology is a very broad field and it is my goal in this
course to introduce you to a wide cross section of it. The skills you learn
this semester will be needed in your advanced courses.
About this course: Our classroom time will be
filled primarily with activities and discussions. I will try my best to make
our time together stimulating and productive, but just attending class will not
be sufficient to learn what you need to learn in this course. Be prepared to
allow ample time for out of class work. A substantial portion of your learning
will happen outside the classroom as you work on reading and summarizing the
chapters, and completing the assignments.
MyClasses: Everyone registered for this class is automatically registered on our campus classroom management system, MyClasses. I will post your grades there so you can keep track of your progress during the semester. To use this system, go to the site http://myclasses.salisbury.edu or click on “MyClasses” in the upper right corner of the University homepage, and log in using your Novell username and password (i.e., the same username and password you use to check your e-mail using Groupwise). If you do not know these, contact the help desk right away. (http://helpdesk.salisbury.edu/, helpdesk@salisbury.edu, or 410-677-5454).
Groupwise: Groupwise
is the official e-mail notification system at
Attendance:
I will take
attendance. Your attendance will be considered for grades on the borderline:
good attendance will help you, poor attendance will hurt you.
Classroom etiquette: Please silence your cell phone while in
class, and refrain from taking or making calls. During
class the computers in the laboratory are to be used for course related
activities only. Please refrain from web surfing, checking e-mail, etc. during
class. Because of safety regulations no food or drink is allowed in the laboratory.
Assignment Lateness: Turning in a late assignment is
better than turning in no assignment; but it is difficult for me to keep track
of all those late papers. Therefore, to encourage promptness, if you hand it in
the class after it is due it will be worth 50% of the original points, if you
hand it in 2 classes late (1 week later) it will be worth 0%. No summaries or
assignments will be accepted that are more than 1 week late.
I will accept assignments by hard
copy or by e-mail. If you e-mail an assignment as an attachment it should be in
WORD (.doc) and your name should be on the assignment (not just on the e-mail).
Academic integrity: The University guidelines concerning academic honesty, as explained in the Undergraduate Catalogue and Student Handbook pages 51-52, will be strictly enforced.
Working together: In many of the activities in class you will be working in pairs or as part of a team. Please help others, and seek help when you need it, during this classroom work. Assignments to be done outside of class, however, should be done individually.
Writing
across the curriculum: At SU we practice “writing across the curriculum,” which means
that any and all writing assignments will be graded on English structure
(grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.) as well as content. The campus writing
center is available for help, if needed.
Grading: 3 Exams, 100 points each = 300
10 Chapter quizzes, 20
points each = 200
5 special assignments, 20 points each = 100
TOTAL 600
points
100-90% (600-540) =A; 89-80% (539-480) = B; 79-70% (479-400)=C; 69-60% (419-360 )=D; 359< =F
Quizzes: You may use one page of
handwritten reading notes during the quiz. There will be no make ups for a
missed quiz.
Optional Extra Credit: There will be seminars given
this semester that you may receive extra credit for attending and writing a
brief summary. (5 points each, maximum of 4 for credit) Additional details will
be given in class. Get in the habit of attending seminars whenever possible –
especially if you are thinking about graduate school.
If you attend
all classes with a sense of active participation, complete your assignments on
time, and study adequately before the exams, you will do well in this course.
210 Syllabus. Spring 2008
|
Wk |
Topics |
|
Activities |
|
Wk 1 Jan 28 |
Welcome MyClasses information Intro to biology Scientific Method |
Chap.1 Assign. #1 |
|
|
Wk 2 Feb 4 |
Chemistry of Life |
Chap. 2, 3 quiz
|
|
|
Wk 3 Feb 11 |
Cells and Organelles |
Chap. 4, 5 quiz |
|
|
Wk 4 Feb 18 |
Mitosis and Meiosis: Cellular basis of reproduction and inheritance |
Chap. 15, 16 quiz |
|
|
Wk 5 Feb 25 |
Genetics |
|
(Test 1 Wed. Feb. 27) |
|
Wk 6 Mar 3 |
Transcription/ translation |
Chap. 11, 12 quiz Assign #2 |
|
|
Wk 7 Mar 10 |
DNA Technology |
|
§
Graphing and Pipetting
practice and
|
|
March 17-23 |
Spring
Break |
|
|
|
Wk 8 Mar 24 |
Enzymes & Cellular Respiration |
Chap. 7 quiz |
§
Enzyme Assay § Rodent Respiration |
|
Wk 9 March 31 |
Photosynthesis: Converting Light Energy |
Chap. 8 quiz Assign. #3 |
|
|
Wk 10 April 7 |
GMO Discussion |
|
(Test 2 Wed. April
9) |
|
Wk 11 April 14 |
Evolution Mechanisms |
Chap, 23, 24 quiz |
|
|
Wk 12 April 21 |
Ecology |
Chap 54 quiz |
|
|
Sat.April 26 - Field Trip to |
|||
|
Wk 13 April 28 |
Population Ecology |
Chap 56 quiz |
|
|
Wk 14 May 5 |
Species Interactions |
Chap 57 quiz Assign #5 |
New Activity? |
|
|
9am class: Wed. May 14, at 8am 1pm class: Fri., May 16 at 10:45am |
|
Final Exam |
Assignment 1: Curriculum design. Using your text, what you’d like to learn this semester, and what you think is an adequate measure of assessment; design a curriculum or syllabus for the semester. Due Feb. 4.
Assignment 2: Research proposal. In a group of 2-4 persons design a greenhouse experiment which you will conduct during the semester. Additional instructions will be given in class. Due Mar 5.
Assignment 3: Scientific paper. Using the directions in your course packet, and working with your group members, prepare a paper on your research results. Due April 2.
Assignment 4: Field Trip. Participate in the field trip to Assateague on Sat. April 26
Assignment 5: Research display and handout. Prepare a 1 page color handout summarizing your research project. Set up a display at the seminar class poster presentation. Thurs, May 8, 4pm