BIOL 1108 - Principles of Biology II
Course Syllabus - Spring 2010

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 214
(678) 466-5445, disabilityservices@clayton.edu.

In class requirement of student notebook computers

Student computers will be used in the classroom and may be required for taking quizzes and exams.  You should bring your notebook computer to every class meeting. Computers will also be required to access course materials and to communicate with your instructor.

Instructors:

Dr. Barbara Musolf (CRN 24407)
Phone: (678) 466-4851
Fax: (678) 466-4899
E-mail: BarbaraMusolf@clayton.edu
Website: http://a-s.clayton.edu/bmusolf/

Office: Faculty Hall A 16C

Office hours: Wed. 10:30 am - 12:30 pm;  1:00 - 5:00 pm  

Final Exam: Tuesday, May 4th at 5:00 pm in B13

Ms. Amy Rollins (CRN 25248)
Phone: (678) 466-4787
Fax: (678) 466-4899
E-mail: AmyRollins@mail.clayton.edu
Website:http://a-s.clayton.edu/arollins/Rollins.htm

Office: Faculty Hall A 14B

Office hours: 

Final Exam: Tuesday, May 4th at 5:00 pm in U265

General policies:

Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.

Visitors (friends, children, etc.) are strictly prohibited from attending class without the permission of the instructor.

Changes or additions to this syllabus, including reading, exam schedule, grading, and course policies can be made at the discretion of the instructor at any time.

Required texts:
Biology, Eighth Edition, Campbell, Reece, Urry, Cain, Wasserman, Minorsky, and Jackson, The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN: 0321578104
Package includes Current Issues 4 and 5 and Inquiry in Action: Interpreting Scientific Papers, Buskirk and Gillen

Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, Fourth Edition, Victoria McMillan, Bedford/St. Martin’s, ISBN: 0-312-44083-1

Text coverage: Biology Chapters 22-26, 28, 31-35, 38, 40, 42, 45, 48, 52 or 53 

Optional text: Student's Study Guide, Taylor

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE YOUR OWN SCANTRON FOR EXAMS

Scantrons can be purchased at the book store.

Evaluation and grading:

Tentatively, the points will be distributed as follows:

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

The mid-term grade  will be issued by March 2nd, reflects approximately 25% of the course grade.  Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W."  Students pursuing this option must withdraw from the course using the DUCK or fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, by mid-term, which occurs March 5, 2010.

Course description:

Number and title: BIOL 1108, Principles of Biology II (CRN 24407, 25248)

Credit hours: 3.0 semester credit hours

Catalog description: A continuation of BIOL1107, which includes evolution, protists and fungi, invertebrate systematics, plant and animal form and function, and ecology.

Course pre-requisite: BIOL1107 and BIOL1107L

Course co-requisite: BIOL1108L, Principles of Biology II laboratory. Withdrawal from BIOL1108 requires withdrawal from BIOL1108L and withdrawal from BIOL1108L requires withdrawal from BIOL1108.  

Course as a pre-requisite:  Note: A grade of "C" or better is required for higher level courses in the biology major.

Computer Requirement: Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm .

Computer skill prerequisites: You must be able to use Windows, Microsoft Word, Outlook Express (including attaching and retrieving files via e-mail), a Web browser (Internet Explorer preferred), and Microsoft Excel

Outcomes:

Communications Outcomes:  Students will gain a knowledge base of basic principles of biology, including evolution, population genetics, characteristics of major groups of organisms, anatomy and growth of vascular plants, diversity of invertebrate phyla, vertebrate anatomy and physiology for selected systems, and basic ecological principles . Students will also communicate their ideas orally and in written form in class discussions, reports, and exams.

Knowledge Base
Description: answers on quizzes, class assignments, and exams must convey knowledge of biology that is appropriate to the question.

Evidence: Samples of student work on examinations and class assignments.

Awareness of Recipient
Description: Communication of answers to quiz and examination problems must be understandable to a trained biologist.

Evidence: Samples of student work on examinations.

Organization
Description: Student must be able to provide organized, concise answers to questions on exams and quizzes. Points are deducted for answers that are unclear or poorly written.

Evidence: Samples of student work on class assignments and examinations.

Mechanics/Delivery
Description: Answers to questions on exams and quizzes must be communicated using vocabulary appropriate for introductory biology. Students are graded on their knowledge of, and ability to use the terminology covered in class.

Style
Description: Students are permitted to use any method to provide appropriate answers to questions presented to them. Diagrams or tables may be used to replace prose when appropriate, but is not required. Expressing opinions are not appropriate for describing the methods of biology.

Critical Thinking Outcomes  

Question/Issue
Description: Given student unfamiliarity with biological concepts, the instructor question/ issue component. Students are encouraged to ask questions about biological concepts. 

Method
Description: Given an instructor provided question, students are required to determine appropriate biological concepts to address the problem at hand.

Evidence
Description: Facts learned in class or from other class work are applied to questions provided by the instructor. Short answer and essay questions are used to address student’s ability to apply concepts to new areas. Critical thinking is also evaluated through conceptual multiple-choice questions.

Conclusion
Description: Conclusions that are based upon the current understanding of biological systems are required.

Tentative course schedule

Course policies

University Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students’ ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Class Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend and be prepared for class. Roll will periodically be taken and quizzes will be frequently given to provide both you and me with feedback on your attendance.

Cheating and Plagiarism: Cheating in any form will not be tolerated; all work that you turn in must be in your own words and must be your own work.  If your brainpower did not generate what you turn in, it is considered cheating.  The following are examples of cheating:  copying the work of another person, allowing another person to do your assignment,  working in a group on a graded item, copying or closely paraphrasing referenced sources, using anything but your brainpower on an exam, etc.  Cheating in any form will result in a zero on the assignment and academic misconduct forms will be filed with the Office of Student Conduct for any violation. Disciplinary procedures are described at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/studentconduct/.     

Making up missed work:

• Exams can only be made up if they are accompanied by an excuse from a competent authority, i.e., a judge, physician or coroner.  The excuse must be an original and not a copy.
• Make-up examinations will be given only if they are taken before graded examinations are returned to students (usually the next class period). In the event that a make-up examination cannot be taken before exams are returned to students, the missed examination will not count in calculating the course grade.  This means that other graded work will be responsible for a greater weight in determining the course final grade. The format of make-up exams will be up to the discretion of the instructor.
• Provided you have a valid excuse, you may only exempt one exam.  If you fail to make up more than one exam, you will need to withdraw from the course.
• In the event of a serious accident, birth of a baby, death of a family member, or jury duty, written documentation is required for the length of time absent.
• Routine doctor visits (i.e., annual eye exam, cleaning of teeth, etc.) should not be scheduled during class time.
• If you know you have a conflict prior to a scheduled test, see the instructor to arrange to take the exam prior to that day.
• Please contact instructor ASAP if you miss an exam.

Quizzes and exams:

• Quizzes and exams will be given at the beginning of the class period. If you come in late and the exam is still in progress, you may take the exam, but you will not be given any additional time to work. You must turn in your work when time is called. 
• All electronic devices including cell phones, palm pilots, pagers, calculators, etc. are not allowed during exams or quizzes unless indicated by the instructor.  Possession and/or use of these items during an exam or quiz will result in a zero on the graded activity.
• Once the exam has been passed out in class, you may NOT leave the classroom.  Please use the restroom before the exam.  If you have an emergency that you are monitoring, you need to notify the instructor.

Cell phones:

• Cell phones should be turned off during exams and quizzes and should not be used to keep track of time. Failure to turn off your cell phone or use of your cell phone will result in a zero on the exam or quiz.
• During class time, if there is an emergency that you may be monitoring, you may keep you phone on vibrate. If your cell phone rings during class, the entire class will lose a point towards their final grade.

Late assignments: Assignments are due on the posted due date and by the end of my scheduled appearance on campus that day. Any work that is not turned in on the due date will be considered late and penalized 10% daily. Under no circumstances can an assignment be turned in more than 5 days late.

E-mail: Important messages and announcements will be sent to you via your CSU account. You must activate your account and check your e-mail regularly.  If you cannot use your CSU account, it is your responsibility to send me an alternate e-mail address.  You are responsible for all e-mails sent to the class list.

Website: Check my web page, http://a-s.clayton.edu/bmusolf/, regularly for new postings. You are responsible for printing out any handouts or other important items posted on the syllabus for this class.  

Disruptive Classroom Behavior¹: Disruptive behavior in the classroom can negatively effect the classroom environment as well as the educational experience for students enrolled in the course. Disruptive behavior is defined as any behaviors that hamper the ability of instructors to teach or students to learn. Common examples of disruptive behaviors include, but are not limited to:

	Eating in class
	Monopolizing classroom discussions
	Failing to respect the rights of other students to express their viewpoints
	Talking when the instructor or others are speaking
	Constant questions or interruptions which interfere with the instructor’s presentation
	Overt inattentiveness (e.g., sleeping or reading the paper in class)
	Creating excessive noise
	Entering the class late or leaving early
	Use of pagers or cell phones in the classroom
	Inordinate or inappropriate demands for time or attention
	Poor personal hygiene (e.g., noticeably offensive body odor)
	Refusal to comply with faculty direction

Students exhibiting these types of behaviors can expect a warning from the instructor or dismissal for the lesson in which the behavior occurs. Failure to correct such behaviors can result in dismissal from the course.

More extreme examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to:

	Use of profanity or pejorative language
	Intoxication
	Verbal abuse of instructor or other students (e.g., taunting, badgering, intimidation)
	Harassment of instructor or other students
	Threats to harm oneself or others
	Physical violence

Students exhibiting these more extreme examples of disruptive behavior may be dismissed from the lesson or the entire course.

Students dismissed from a lesson will leave the classroom immediately or may be subject to additional penalties. Dismissed students are responsible for any course material or assignments missed.

Students dismissed from a course have the right to appeal the dismissal to the department head responsible for the course. Appeals beyond the department head may also be pursued. If no appeal is made or the appeal is unsuccessful, the student will receive a grade o WF (withdrawal – failing) regardless of the current grade in the course.

¹ The description of disruptive behavior and listings of examples of disruptive behavior are taken from the Web sites of James Madison University, the University of Delaware and Virginia Tech.