Heartland Community College | Math/Science Division
Syllabus for BIOL 161-02 | Principle of Biology I | Fall 2013
Meeting times: BIOL 161-02: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30PM – 6:45PM [ICB 1103]
Catalog Description: 4 HRS; Prerequisite: Completion of Math through Intermediate Algebra Level
1. BIOL 161 is one semester of a first year, general biology course for students who plan to pursue
science careers. Students question and analyze concepts related to cell biology, molecular biology,
genetics, and evolution. Students apply their knowledge to their life and the world around them.
Students improve collaboration skills as they work with peers to solve different problems. The
laboratory component emphasizes data collection and analysis. IAI GEC Code – L1 900L
Instructor Information: Daniel Currier
Cell: 431-0539 | E-mail: daniel.currier@heartland.edu
Office: Before and after class or by appointment.
Lab Instructor Information: Manju Kishore | Office: ICB 2425 | Phone: 268-8669
Required Materials: Mader, Sylvia S. Biology. 11th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2013.
Lab Manuals needed to be printed prior to lab from BlackBoard.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transferability: BIOL 161 fulfills four of
the semester hours of credit in Life and Physical Science required for the A.A. or A.S. degree. This
course should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum described in the Illinois
Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities participating in the IAI. However,
students should consult an academic divisor for transfer information regarding particular
institutions. Refer to the IAI web page for information as well at www.itransfer.org.
Course Learning Outcomes: Throughout this course, students will:
1.
hypothesize, experiment, gather data, and formulate conclusions.
2.
question validity of results and conclusions that are presented in lab, newspapers, magazines,
TV, Internet, and radio.
3.
relate concepts of cellular biology, molecular biology, genetics, and evolution to their life and
the world around them.
4.
integrate concepts from one chapter to another.
5.
improve independent learning skills.
The above course learning outcomes correlate to three of Heartland Community College’s General
Education Outcomes.
1.
CT 4: Student actively reflects on his/her answer, approach, or solution and acts upon those
reflections to improve the final result.
2.
PS 5: Student has the ability to define, interpret, and solve problems through collaboration
with others.
3.
CO 2: Student effectively delivers a message via various channels/modalities.
Required Writing and Reading: Students must read the textbook to prepare for classroom
activities. Students will write about biological news and answer questions on quizzes and labs.
Other writing assignments will also be given.
Basic requirements:
1.
Wireless and media devices are not to be used in class. Phone ringers should be off.
2.
Students will not participate in any activity that compromises other students from learn and
the instructor from teaching.
3.
You are expected to be on time. If you must arrive or leave during class, do so quietly.
Attendance in this course is an expectation NOT a suggestion. Class is like having a job. Excessive
absence will hurt your performance and your ability to pass this class.
4.
In extreme cases (such as, documented severe illness, documented accident, or military
duties) when a student must miss class for more than 2 weeks, the student must contact the
instructor as soon as possible to discuss the best course of action.
Updates and Make-up policies:
1.
It is the responsibility of the students to check their “my heartland” email and course
“BlackBoard” site for any notifications.
2.
Make up quizzes will not be allowed. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
3.
All work is expected to be submitted on time. Late work will NOT be accepted without prior
approval by the instructor. If approved by the instructor, you will have up to seven days to make
arrangements with the instructor to make up the missed work. This includes all graded material for
this class. Time frame for submission of late work and point reductions based on late submission
will be applied at the sole discretion of the instructor.
Method of Evaluation: The final grade will be based on the following requirements:
Classroom Components
Lab Components
Exams – including final (4 x 100 pts)
Labs (20 %)
Quizzes (20 x 10 pts)
Essay (100 pts)
Activities, Homework, Participation, and Attendance (100 pts)
80 % of final grade
20 % of final grade
Grading Scale
Total final grade %
Final Grade
90+
A
80+
B
70+
C
60+
D
<60
F
Academic Integrity: Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When
you write a paper, create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that
all the work, except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism
is considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:

Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.

Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.

Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.

Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.

Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it were your
own.

Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if it were
your own.
[Adapted from the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism. The penalties for plagiarism
may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece of work, failure in the course or
expulsion from school in extreme cases.
Notice of Canceled Class Sessions: Canceled class sessions, for all HCC classes, will be listed under
Canceled Class Meetings in the A-Z Index and under Academic Information in the Current Students
page on the HCC Web site. Go to http://www.heartland.edu/classCancellations/ to learn what
classes have been canceled for that day and the upcoming week. Be sure to check the last column,
which might contain a message from the instructor.
**Syllabus and/or schedule are subject to change at the instructor's discretion. You will be
notified in class and/or Blackboard of such changes.**
Tentative Weekly Schedule:
Week & Dates
Chapters & Topics
Assignments
Week 1
8/20 & 8/22
Chapter 1: Introduction; Life;
Classification; Scientific Method
read and take notes over chapter 1
Week 2
8/27 & 8/29
Chapter 2: Basic Chemistry
Quiz; read and take notes over
chapter 2
Week 3
9/3 & 9/5
Chapters 3: The Chemistry of
Organic Molecules
Quiz; read and take notes over
chapter 3
Week 4
9/10 & 9/12
Chapter 4: Cell Structure and
Function
Quiz; read and take notes over
chapter 4
Week 5
9/17 & 9/19
Chapter 5: Membrane Structure and
Function
Quiz; read and take notes over
chapter 5; Study for exam I
Week 6
9/24 & 9/26
Review and exam
Exam I (Ch. 1-5)
Week 7
10/1 & 10/3
Chapter 6: Metabolism; Review exam Quiz; read and take notes over
chapter 6
Week 8
10/8 & 10/10
Chapter 8: Cellular Respiration;
Review exam
Quiz; read and take notes over
chapter 8; essay - 1st draft (10/10)
Week 9
10/15 & 10/17
Chapter 7: Photosynthesis
Quiz; read and take notes over
chapter 7
Week 10
10/22 & 10/24
Chapters 9 & 10: Mitosis & Meiosis
Quiz; read and take notes over
chapters 9 & 10; study for Exam II
Week 11
10/29 & 10/31
Review and exam
Exam II (Ch. 6-10)
Week 12
11/5 & 11/7
Chapters 11: Mendelian Patterns of
Inheritance; Review exam
Quiz; read and take notes over
chapter 11
Week 13
11/12 & 11/14
Chapters 12-14: Select Topics On
Molecular Biology of the Gene
Quiz; read and take notes over
chapter 12
Week 14
11/19 & 11/21
Continuation of Chapters 12-14
Essay - final (11/21)
Week 15
11/26 & 11/28
Chapters 15-19: Select Topics On
Adaptation and Microevolution
Quiz; read and take notes over
chapter 15-19; study for Exam III
Week 16
12/3 & 12/5
Continuation of Chapters 15-19;
Review and exam
Exam III (Ch. 11-19)
Week 17
12/9-13
Final examination
Final exam