BIOL 1111 - Introductory Biology I
Course Syllabus – Spring 2010

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact  the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445,.disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.
 

Course Number and Title:  BIOL 1111, Introductory Biology I

CREDIT HOURS:  3.0 semester credit hours

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:  The biology sequence (BIOL 1111-1112) covers basic and biological chemistry, cellular organization and function, cell division, bioenergetics, ecology and organ/system physiology as well as Mendelian genetics, molecular genetics, biotechnology, and evolutionary principles. BIOL 1111 includes the basic and biological chemistry, cellular organization and function, cell division, bioenergetics, ecology and selected topics in organ/system physiology.

This sequence is designed for non-science majors. The biology sequence of BIOL 1107 and 1108 is the sequence advised for science majors and most medical majors. If you have questions about the appropriate sequence for your major, please ask your instructor.

COURSE CO-REQUISITE: BIOL 1111L, Introductory Biology Laboratory I (1 semester credit hour)

Note: If a student withdraws from BIOL 1111L, the student must also withdraw from BIOL 1111. If a student withdraws from BIOL 1111, the student must also withdraw from BIOL 1111L.

NOTEBOOK 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:

IN-CLASS USE OF STUDENT NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS:  Student notebook computers will not be used in this class. Computers will be required to access course materials and to communicate with your instructor.


COURSE OBJECTIVES:


STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

General education outcomes:

 
Knowledge Base
Description: Answers to quiz and test questions must convey knowledge of biology that is appropriate to the question.
Evidence:  Samples of student work on tests.
 
Awareness of Recipient
Description:  Communication of solutions to quiz and examination problems must be understandable to a trained biologist.
Evidence:  Samples of student work on tests.
 
Organization
Description:  Logical and organized thinking is required.
Evidence:  Samples of student work on examinations.
 
Mechanics/Delivery
Description:  Solutions to quiz and examination problems must be communicated using proper biological vocabulary.
Evidence:  Samples of student work on examinations.
 
Style
Description:  Given that most exams in this course are multiple choice in format, there is no significant evaluation of style, other than proper bubbling of scantron forms.
Evidence: Scantron forms are checked by students for scanning errors.  Any detected are reported to the instructor.
Question/Issue
Description: Given student unfamiliarity with biological concepts, the instructor in all introductory biology courses generally provides the question/ issue component.  Students are encouraged to ask questions about biological concepts.
Evidence:  None.
 
Method
Description: Given an instructor provided question, students are required to determine appropriate biological concepts to address the problem at hand.
Evidence:  Samples of student work on examinations.
 
Evidence
Description:  Non-quantitative critical thinking is evaluated through conceptual multiple-choice questions or short answer questions.
Evidence:  Samples of student work on examinations.
 
Conclusion
Description:  Conclusions that are biologically correct and reasonable are required.
Evidence:  Samples of student work on examinations.
 
TEACHER EDUCATION STANDARDS:  The content of this course syllabus correlates to education standards 
established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting 
agencies and learned society/ professional education associations.  Please refer 
to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site:  http://a-s.clayton.edu/teachered/Standards%20and%20Outcomes.htm

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:

Dr. S. Burran (CRN 24457)
Office: Faculty Hall 30
Phone: (678) 466-4799
e-mail: 
SusanBurran
@clayton.edu

Internet address: 
Spring
Office Hours:  TBA

 

Dr. S. Fowler (CRN 24428)
Office: Faculty Hall 14C
Phone: (678) 466-4816

Internet address: http://a-s.clayton.edu/sfowler4/SamanthaFowler.default.htm

e-mail: SamanthaFowler@clayton.edu

Spring Office Hours:  TBA

 

Dr. J. Jordan (CRN 24429)
Office: Faculty Hall
Phone: (678) 466-4781
e-mail: 
JacquelineJordan
@clayton.edu

Internet address:  http://a-s.clayton.edu/jordan/default.htm
Spring Office Hours:  TBA

 

Dr. P. Melvin (CRN 24406)
Office: Faculty Hall 21
Phone: (678) 466-4789
e-mail: PaulMelvin@clayton.edu
Internet address: 
http://a-s.clayton.edu/pmelvin/pmelvin.htm
Spring Office Hours:  
TBA

 

 

 


CLASS MEETINGS:

Section

CRN

Days

Times

Room

Instructor

1

24406

TR

3:35 pm to 4:50 pm

B13

P. Melvin

2

24428

MWF

10:00 am - 10:50 am

B13

S. Fowler

3

24429

MWF

3:00 pm - 3:50 pm

 B14

J. Jordan

4

24457

TR

8:00 pm - 9:15 pm

B13

S. Burran

 


TEXTBOOK INFORMATION:  Campbell , Reece, Taylor, Simon, and Dickey, Biology, Concepts and Connections, 6th edition, Benjamin Cummings, 2008

Chapters to be covered: 1-12


EVALUATION:

Item

Points

4 hour tests @ 100 points

400

Quizzes/Assignments

100

1 Cumulative Final Exam

100

Total

600

 


GRADING:

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

Grade

Percentage range

A

90 - 100%

B

80 - 89%

C

70 - 79%

D

60 - 69%

F

below 60%

 


TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE*:

Week

Week of:

Topic

Chapters

1

Jan 11

Introduction, Scientific Study of Life, Chemical Basis of Life

1, 2

2

Jan 18

Chemical Basis of Life

2

 

 

Monday, Jan 18:  No Classes for MLK Holiday

 

3

Jan 25

The Molecules of Cells

3

4

Feb 1

The Molecules of Cells, Exam I

3

5

Feb 8

A Tour of the Cell

4

6

Feb 15

The Working Cell

5

7

Feb 22

How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy

6

8

Mar 1

How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy, Photosynthesis, Exam II

6, 7

 

 

Last Day to Drop w/o Academic Penalty: Friday, March 5

 

 

Mar 8 - 14

SPRING BREAK: NO CLASS

 

9

Mar 15

Cell Division: Mitosis

8.1-8.11

10

Mar 22

Cell Division: Meiosis

8.12-8.18, 27.4

11

Mar 29

Patterns of Inheritance

9

 12

Apr 5

Patterns of Inheritance, Exam III

9

13

Apr 12

Molecular Biology of the Gene

10

14

Apr 19

Molecular Biology of the Gene

10

15

Apr  26

Control of Gene Expression Exam IV

11

16

May 3

Last Day of Class

 

 

May 4-10

FINAL EXAMS (See Below)

All above

*This lecture schedule and lecture testing is tentative and may change. Tests may be given the week before or the week after the week listed here--or during the week predicted. Specific test dates will be announced approximately one week in advance in class.


FINAL EXAMINATION SCHEDULE:

Section

CRN

Days

Times

Room

Instructor

Day of Final

Time of Final

 

 

 

TBA

 

 

 

 

 


CLASSROOM REGULATIONS AND POLICIES:

 

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

  1. No cellular telephones, pagers, instant messaging devices, etc.  One point will be deducted from your total earned points each time your device makes an audible sound.  One point will be added to each student’s total earned points if the instructor’s phone makes an audible sound.  If a student’s cell phone makes and audible noise during an exam or quiz, that student will lose ten points from his or her total earned points. 

  2. No talking while the instructor or another student is talking.  Students repeatedly violating this policy will be asked to leave the classroom for being disruptive.

  3. Snacks and drink are allowed, within reason.  If you make a mess, you are responsible for cleaning it up.

  4. Computers are for note-taking, research, or other class related activities only.  Students using them for surfing the internet, checking email, playing games, etc will be asked to turn them off.  On subsequent offenses, the student may be asked to leave the classroom for being disruptive.

  5. Visitors are not permitted without the instructor’s permission.  Children are not allowed in the classroom at anytime.

  6. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class.  Students who are late must remain outside of the classroom until the quiz is finished and will receive a grade of zero.  There are no make-up quizzes.  A quiz may be based on your attendance on a particular day.  Quizzes, including attendance quizzes, may be unannounced.

  7. Exams start at the beginning of class.  The instructor may permit a student to begin late if the excuse is reasonable.  Students who are more than 10 minutes late will not be allowed to begin the exam. There are no make-up exams.

  8. Attendance is expected.  You are responsible for obtaining any missed information from other students.  This includes information concerning quiz dates, exam dates, changes to the syllabus, etc.  Students who do not attend regularly generally do not do well in the course.

  9. Each student is granted an absence from one exam and one quiz during the course of the semester.  This is a “no questions asked” situation.  Illness, travel, court, doctor’s appointment, oversleeping, etc. are all valid.  It is up to you how you use it.  Excuses will not be granted for missing more than one exam or quiz.  Missing more than one exam or quiz will result in a grade of zero for the missed work.  There are no make-up exams.  Your final exam grade will be doubled to make up for your missed exam.  There are no make up quizzes.  The next quiz you take will be doubled to make up for your missed quiz.  Students missing the final exam will receive a grade of F for the course.

  10. No form of academic dishonesty will be tolerated in this course.  The most common forms are cheating and plagiarism, but any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards will constitute academic dishonesty.  The minimum penalty is a grade of zero on the work involved.  The maximum penalty is expulsion from the university.  Be aware that students found in violation of the university’s academic dishonesty code have lost scholarships, athletic eligibility, and/or their U.S. student visa (if an international student).  All forms of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Affairs for investigation.  Judicial procedures are described at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/judicial/.

  11. No form of disruptive behavior will be tolerated in this class.  While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior.  A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or is found to be repeatedly disruptive while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class.  A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal.  If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.  For more information, please refer to: http://as.clayton.edu/DisruptiveClassroomBehavior.htm

 

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

    1. Monopolizing classroom discussions

    2. Failing to respect the rights of other students to express their viewpoints

    3. Talking when the instructors or other students are speaking

    4. Constant questions or interruptions which interfere with the instructor’s presentation

    5. Overt inattentiveness (e.g. sleeping or surfing the internet)

    6. Creating excessive noise

    7. Entering the class late or leaving the class early

    8. Use of cell phones or pagers in class

    9. Inordinate or inappropriate demands for time or attention

    10. Poor personal hygiene (e.g. noticeably offensive body odor)

    11. 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:

 

a.     Use of profanity or pejorative language

b.     Intoxication

c.     Verbal abuse of instructor or other students (e.g. taunting, badgering, intimidation)

d.     Harassment of instructor or other students

e.     Threats to harm oneself or others

f.      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.

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

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.

 

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.



Last update: 1/12/09