6. Students will function effectively on team-oriented projects.  This will be demonstrated because dissections will require all members of the group to work together to earn good grades on the dissections.

Term:

Fall Semester, 2011

Instructor

Dr. Stephen Burnett
phone: 678-466-4774
fax: 678-466-4797
e-mail: sburnett@clayton.edu
internet address: http://a-s.clayton.edu/burnett/

Office: 

Faculty Hall, room A28A

Office hours: 

9:40-11:00 and 2:00-3:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Also available some lab times and by appointment.

During office hours, I will generally be in one of three locations:  A28A (my office), the biology labs (C23, C29, C32, or LAB 201) or the research labs (C28 or C62).  If I am not in my office, I will leave a note on my office door indicating where I can be found.

Class meetings:  

Class meetings will be held 11:00 am - 1:50 pm on Wednesdays (CRN 87096) and 2:00 pm - 4:50 pm on Wednesdays (CRN 87097) in LAB 201.

Textbook information:

Required texts: 

Fishbeck, D.W., and Sebastiani, A.  2008.  Comparative Anatomy, 2nd Edition: Manual of Vertebrate Dissection.  Morton Publishing Co.  ISBN 13: 9780895827487

This is the textbook that you will be expected to use for the course. If you have an older or alternate version that you have purchased, you are free to use it, but you are responsible for all material that is in the required textbook.  It is your responsibility to work with a classmate to determine any differences between your text and the assigned text for the class.

Text Coverage: Introduction, Chapters 5-12, 15-22, 24-30, 33-40

Victoria E. McMillan.  Writing papers in the biological sciences, 4th edition.  Bedford/St. Martin's.  New York. ISBN-13: 978-0312440831

Text Coverage: This text will be used as a reference for writing various assignments.  This is a reference that is used by a variety of biology courses.  The specific sections you need to read will be indicated by your instructor.

Recommended materials

BIOL3650L DVD set - this will be available for purchase from the Clayton State Science Association.  Check with your instructor for more information.

Dissection kit - while we do provide dissection tools, they are of lower quality than a kit of your own. You can purchase dissection tools from the bookstore.

Evaluation and grading:

Tentatively, the points will be distributed as follows:

Item	Points
3 lab exams	150
Class Reports	40
Dissection quality1	20
Attendance/Participation2	20
TOTAL	230

¹Particular dissections will be graded by your instructor, based on the quality of the dissections the thoroughness of the dissection, and the time you spent.  This grade will be given to the entire group, so it is important that you work together and produce the best-quality dissection you can.  Absent students lose these points automatically (with a valid excuse, those points won't count in your total).  Students who are present but who do not participate in the dissection will receive an automatic zero for these points.  The criteria that your instructor will be using for this grade will be posted in GAView before the first grade dissection.

²Attendance/participation points will be given partly for attending lab on time and partly for taking part in the lab exercise each week.  Simply watching while other students in your group perform the dissections will result in loss of points, so it is in your best interest to remain involved in all laboratories.  Absence from class automatically causes a loss of any of these points for the missed lab.

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

Grade	Points
A	207 - 230 (90-100%)
B	184 - 206 (80-89%)
C	161 - 183 (70-79%)
D	138- 160 (60-69%)
F	Below 138 points

Due to the relatively small number of laboratory grades that will have been returned by mid-term, no mid-term grade will be reported for this course.  Students making unsatisfactory progress will be contacted individually by the instructor before mid-term (October 7th). 

Course schedule

The course schedule is listed on a separate page.  Be sure to check it often to keep track of any changes in the due dates of assignments and exams during the semester.  Due dates for assignments may be changed at the instructor's discretion.  You are responsible for keeping track of due dates and turning in your work when it is required.

Please note that the schedule is tentative and the dates of the exams and the chapters that each exam will cover are tentative and subject to change. Exam dates are not set until they are announced in class. The exam date will be announced at least one week in advance.

Course policies:

General policies

Changes or additions to this syllabus, including readings, exam dates, grading, and course policies can be made at the discretion of the instructor at any time.  If such changes are made, they will be posted on the announcements section of the instructor's web page or in GAView.

General data from this course may be used by the instructor for research on improved methods of teaching, leading to presentation or publication.  Data that would be used for this purpose would consist of anonymous data, with no identifying information from particular students (e.g., the overall average for the course, NOT grades from particular students).  If you do not wish for your instructor to include your data in such studies, fill out the withdrawal of consent form and bring it to your instructor.

Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook.  Students are also expected to abide by the guidelines in the "Basic Student Responsibilities" document.  Of particular concern is disruptive behavior, where a student is not showing proper respect to the instructor or other students in the class.  Such behavior will not be tolerated and a student engaged in such behavior will be required to leave the class, forfeiting the attendance points for that day as well as any other points that are associated with that day's activity.  The ability of the student to return to class is determined by the instructor, based on the severity of the disruption, and can range from missing the current class period up to administrative withdrawal from the course.  In addition, charges may be filed with the Office of Judicial Affairs. 

Grades will not be communicated by phone or email - graded materials can only be picked up by the individual to whom it belongs.

Visitors, including children, are not allowed in the classroom.

No smoking, other use of tobacco, eating, or drinking is permitted at any time in the classroom.

Issues associated with grades on assignments (disputes over points for a question, questions about grading keys, etc.) must be brought to the instructor's attention in a timely manner.  This means that such concerns must be brought to your instructor within one week of the assignment being returned to the class.  Items that are not brought to the instructor in this time period will NOT be addressed.

Academic integrity

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.  Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to: falsifying data from an experiment, copying the work of another person, allowing another person to do your assignment, allowing another student to copy your work, working in a group on a graded item that is not intended as group work, copying or closely paraphrasing referenced sources, using anything but your brainpower on an exam, etc.  Misconduct in any form will result in a zero on the assignment for all involved students and academic misconduct forms may be filed with the Office of Student Conduct for any violation.  Judicial procedures are described on the webpage of the Office of Student Conduct.

Disruption of the Learning Environment

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not tolerated. This includes belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class.

    Examples of disruptive behavior:

    Common examples of behaviors that may be disruptive include, but are not limited to:

• Refusal to comply with faculty direction
• Monopolizing classroom discussions
• Talking when the instructor or others are speaking
• Failing to respect the rights of other students to express their viewpoints
• Constant questions or interruptions that interfere with the instructor’s presentation
• Creating excessive noise
• Use of electronic devices (pagers, iPods, MP3 players, or cell phones) in the classroom without the instructor’s approval
• Overt inattentiveness (e.g., sleeping or reading the paper in class)
• Inordinate or inappropriate demands for time or attention
• Routinely entering the class late or leaving early without instructor permission.
• Leaving and re-entering the class during lecture.
• Verbally abusing an instructor or student (i.e. cursing or extremely loud talking directed at a particular person)
• Threatening to physically harm an instructor or student through verbal or body gestures.
• Intimidating through body gestures and/or posture.

Students exhibiting these types of behaviors can expect a warning from the instructor or dismissal for the class period in which the behavior occurred.  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 (e.g., taunting, badgering, intimidation)
• Harassment
• Threats to harm oneself or others
• Physical violence

A student who is dismissed from a course for unacceptable and/or disruptive behavior is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights within 3 class days following dismissal. If found in violation after the review process, the student’s dismissal will be upheld and a grade of WF may be issued for the course.

Conditions attributed to physical or psychological disabilities are not considered as a legitimate excuse for disruptive behavior.

Operation Study

At Clayton State University, we expect and support high motivation and academic achievement. Look for Operation Study activities and programs this semester that are designed to enhance your academic success such as study sessions, study breaks, workshops, and opportunities to earn Study Bucks (for use in the University Bookstore) and other items.

Attendance

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.

You are expected to attend all class meetings and be on time.  Attendance of all of the labs is REQUIRED and will be checked at each lab period. Unexcused absences from laboratory result in a grade of zero (0) for any graded work that was assigned that week as well as a loss of attendance points for that week's lab.  You cannot turn in assignments that include any portions from a lab you missed.  Late arrivals will automatically result in loss of attendance points for that week's lab.  Anyone who arrives more than 45 minutes after lab starts forfeits the attendance and participation points for that lab.  There are NO exceptions to these rules.  Due to the nature of the laboratory exercises in this course, attendance at all lab meetings is vital to learn the material - any student who misses more than five (5) of the lab periods, including lab practicals (whether excused or unexcused) will be automatically withdrawn from the course and receive a grade of W or WF (depending on when the withdrawal occurs), no matter what grade he/she was earning at the time.  The only exceptions to this are absences that are documented and due to official CSU functions (such as athletic events) or required official military duty.  Such absences will not be considered, but students with such absences can still exceed the threshold for withdrawal if they have sufficient absences that are caused by other reasons.

Attendance will be taken at each class meeting by signing the class roll, so it is vital that you sign the roll sheet even if you are late!  Students who attempt to sign the attendance sheet for someone else will be submitted for academic misconduct and have 20 points subtracted from their points for the course.  Attendance and participation in class activities will be considered as part of your class grade.  You are expected to remain in lab for the full time, so do not schedule other appointments during this time.   You are responsible for providing your instructor with complete information if you are absent from class, particularly if you are aware of an issue ahead of time.  In all cases, you must provide that information either by email or in writing as appropriate.  In addition, if the absence is to be excused, you must provide me with suitable written documentation.  In neither case is it suitable to simply tell me you are going to be absent and provide no further information.  It is your responsibility to make sure that I have the information I need to document your absence.  If such documentation is not provided, it will be assumed that your absence was unexcused, which will result in a loss of points for any missed work.

For any excuse to be "acceptable", you must provide me with an original (no photocopies) of a document from a competent authority (doctor or other healthcare provider, a subpoena, jury summons, etc.).  For this purpose, a note from your parents is NOT acceptable.  The excuse must specifically indicate the dates that are to be excused, and must be presented upon the first class day that the student returns to school.  If you have an acceptable excuse , the missed points for the laboratory will not count against you.  Excuses will not be accepted for routine procedures (checkups, teeth cleanings, eye exams, etc).  Students should not schedule such appointments for lab times.  If you miss lab, you are still responsible for the lab material on the lab practical.  Be aware that being delayed due to traffic will NOT be accepted as a valid excuse for missing labs (including lab practicals). 

There are NO makeups for lab exams.  If you have a VALID excuse and you miss a practical you have 2 options.  It is ultimately up to your instructor, which option is most applicable to your situation.  PLEASE discuss it with your instructor.

1. Your instructor may allow you to take the practical in another lab section; however, arrangements must be made in a timely manner (i.e., this option will NOT be available the day of the practicals).

2. You may be allowed to forfeit taking the practical and your total points in the lab will be adjusted accordingly (meaning that all the other assignments will make up a greater part of your final grade).  YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO MISS MORE THAN 1 PRACTICAL REGARDLESS OF THE EXCUSE.  MISSING MORE THAN ONE PRACTICAL IS CONSIDERED UNREASONABLE SINCE THE PRACTICALS ACCOUNT FOR THE MAJORITY OF YOUR GRADE.  FOR THE SECOND MISSED EXAM, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A GRADE OF ZERO (0).

NOTE: Excuses for graded assignments can only be applied if you were NOT present to take the assignment.  If you take the exam/quiz, you cannot come to me and ask not to count that assignment in your grade after the fact.  In such situations, you will receive the score you earned on the assignment.  If you know of an extenuating circumstance, it is in your best interest to discuss it with your instructor ASAP.

Proper attire

For safety reasons, students are required to wear appropriate clothing for all laboratory sessions.  In general, approved clothing will cover your skin to minimize the risk of injury or any material landing on your skin.  Gloves will be provided, but any other protective clothing you wish to wear (e.g., lab coats, safety goggles, etc.) must be provided by the student.  Any student with inappropriate clothing will not be permitted to attend lab (causing a loss of attendance and participation points).  The following types of clothing are specifically not permitted:

1. Open-toed shoes or sandals
2. Shorts, short skirts, etc.

Exam/quiz policies

Specific policies on exams and quizzes will be provided on the day of the exam/quiz itself, but several rules apply to all testing situations

1. All electronic devices including cell phones, palm pilots, pagers, calculators, MP3 players, etc. are not allowed during exams or quizzes, unless specifically permitted by the instructor.  During such activities, these devices are not permitted to be in your possession at all (which means they cannot be clipped to your belt, in your pocket, etc.).  Possession and/or use of these items during an exam or quiz will result in an automatic zero on the graded activity, and may result in a charge for academic misconduct.
2. If a cell phone or other electronic device makes noise (by ringing, buzzing, etc.), even if it is not on your person, the instructor will penalize the responsible student(s) by taking 10 points from their score on the assignment or 10% of the total points for the assignment, whichever is larger.  It is possible that this will result in a negative score for the assignment.
3. On any portion that is graded using a scantron sheet, your grade will be based on what you marked on the scantron sheet, with no reference to what you have written on the exam pages.  I will return the exam to you, but I will keep all scantrons in case there are problems in scoring, errors on the answer key, etc.  If you wish to see your actual scantron sheet, you will need to come to my office.
4. For any exam or quiz you are NOT permitted to leave the room once you have started. If you wish to leave the room for any reason you must turn in the assignment before you leave. If you leave without turning the assignment in, your instructor will collect your assignment and you will not be permitted to work on it further.

Electronic Devices

Turn off all unnecessary electronic devices during class.  Unauthorized use of cell phones, MP3 players, etc. during class will result in confiscation of the device and loss of attendance or participation points for that day.  Repeated use of such devices will result in additional points being subtracted.  Unless otherwise stated by your instructor, no electronic devices including cell phones, palm pilots, pagers, calculators, etc. are allowed during exams or quizzes.  Possession of these items is forbidden during any graded activity, which means that they cannot be clipped on your belt, in your pocket, etc.)  Possession and/or use of these items during an exam or quiz will result in an automatic zero on the graded activity and may result in charges of academic misconduct.  If a cell phone or other electronic device makes noise (by ringing, buzzing, etc.) and disrupts the testing environment, even if it is not on your person, the instructor will penalize the responsible student(s) by taking points from their score.

Lab exercises

You are expected to prepare for the current week's lab topic prior to lab so that you will already be familiar with the subject matter. This will enable to you to work through the lab on your own, asking the instructor when you have questions.  This process will involve reading the required sections of the lab manual, checking the web page for identification sheets or other handouts, viewing the review pages, DVDs, etc.  You are responsible for printing handouts and bringing them to lab.

Late assignments

Unless otherwise stated by your instructor, assignments that are to be completed outside of class are due in class on the assigned days.  Assignments that are not turned in during class lose 20% of their points.  They lose an additional 20% per day (only Monday-Friday are counted for determining how many days the assignment is late). The additional 20% is taken off based on the ending time of your lab section.  For example: If you are enrolled in the lab that ends at 1:50 and you turn in an assignment on Thursday at 2:30 pm, it will be penalized 40% (20% for being after 1:50 pm on Wednesday and 20% for being after 1:50 pm on Thursday).  Late work that is turned in to me will be penalized based on the time I received it.  If you are unable to turn an assignment in to me personally, you must have a faculty or staff member from the Department of Natural Sciences sign the assignment and mark the date and time on it before you place the item in my mailbox or under my door.  Items that lack any of these three items will be penalized based on the time that I pick up the assignment.  Electronic submission of assignments is only allowed if the instructor specifically permits it.  If it was not permitted, electronic submissions will not be accepted and your work will be considered late, losing points until I receive a printed copy of the assignment.  Printing problems are not an acceptable excuse for submitting work late.  Under NO circumstances will assignments be accepted more than one week after they are due or after I have returned the graded work to the class, whichever is sooner.  Because assignments that are completed in GAView typically allow students to see the answers as soon as they are completed, you generally cannot turn in GAView assignments after the due date and time, so it is important to complete these assignments before the deadline.  I will not re-open assignments after the deadline has passed.  Turn in all parts of your assignment together. No supplemental materials may be added once you have turned in the assignment.

Lab exams

The lab exams will start at the beginning of the class period. If you come in late and the practical is still in progress, you may take the practical, but you will NOT be given any additional time to work. You must turn in your work when time is called.

E-mail

Each student must activate his/her e-mail account at Clayton State University. The class list serve will be the only method for communicating with the class by email.  Important announcements will be sent to the class on the class list serve.  You should also check my web page regularly for new postings. Handouts given in class and other important items will be posted on the web page for this class.

Communication from personal email accounts (e.g., Yahoo, gmail, etc.) is acceptable, as long as the following requirements are met:

1. You clearly identify yourself in the body of the email
2. You clearly identify which class you are writing to me about
3. The subject line of your email is suitably descriptive that I can tell it isn't Spam or a virus (e.g., do not send emails with a subject of "Hello", etc.)
4. You do not ask me specific questions concerning grades, as they cannot be discussed by email.

Emails that do not meet these requirements will not receive a response.

Website

Check my web page and GAView regularly for new postings. Handouts required for class and other important items will be posted on the web page for this class.

GeorgiaView

Each student must activate his/her GAView account at Clayton State University. This account will be used for completing various assignments in and out of class.  These assignments will generally have very specific time limits, and if they are not completed on time, they will not be possible to complete as late assignments.  More information on these assignments will be provided as the semester progresses.

 

This page last updated August 15, 2011