BIOLOGY 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY
SPRING SEMESTER 2007
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An introductory course designed to survey the principals of biology. Cell theory, cell division, heredity, evolution,
ecology, anatomy and physiology of plants and animals, and the classification system of organisms are included. Biological
issues related to current events will be included in discussion and take home assignments.
CREDIT:
Biology 1: 3 Semester units: 3 hours lecture (Estimated Hours of Study per week: 3-5 hours)
INSTRUCTOR:
Rick Miranda.
Office: S18
Phone: (661) 763-7857
Email address: rmiranda@taft.org
Office Hours:
Day
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Webpage: http://www.taftcollege.edu/faculty/rmiranda
Time
10:00 to Noon.
10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
10:00 to Noon
Text (required): Johnson, George B. The Living World. 4th edition. 2005. Wm. C. Brown Publishers. (Library rental)
LRC Resources:
Student Tutor
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
See separate handout: Biology 1 Outline and Objectives
COURSE EVALUATION:
Four midterm exams and a final exam will be given. One of these will be dropped.
Lecture Exam 1
100 points
Lecture Exam 2
100 points
- Ther are NO make-ups on exams or quizzes.
Lecture Exam 3
100 points
- One of the first 3 exams may be dropped but exam 4 is mandatory.
Lecture Exam 4
100 points
Current Event (4 x 10)
40 points
Journal
40 points
Total 480 points
**You may be dropped from the course for more then 2 unexcused class sessions at the discretion of the instructor.**
FINAL GRADING DISTRIBUTION
%
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 65-79
D = 50-64
F = <50
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COURSE SCHEDULE:
Lecture Schedule: Monday/Wednesday, 1:10-2:30 p.m., Room SCI-02
The reading assignments are listed. The reading and lecture complement each other. Not every detail can be covered in
lecture, therefore I expect you to obtain information from the text. Read assigned chapter before each lecture. If you can’t,
then read at least within a day or two. Review the study questions that are in the text, CD, or website to help you understand the
concepts. Bring your textbook to every lecture session.
**Notice: All personal phones and pagers should be silenced during class time. No phone conversations are allowed
during class time. I will dismiss you from the class if I am disrupted by your phone use.
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Date
1/15*M
1/22
1/29
2/05*F
2/12
2/19*M
2/26
3/05
3/12
3/19
3/26
4/02**
4/09
4/16
4/23
4/30
5/07
Chapter
1
3
4, 5
5, 6
7
8
9
10, 11
2, 13
31, 32
34
14, 15
16
17, 18
19, 20, 21
21
Subject
Introduction, Scientific Method
Organic Chemistry
Cell Structure and Function, Energy and Life
Energy and Life, Acquiring Energy
Exam I Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 6; Mitosis & Meiosis
Foundations of Genetics
How Genes Work
Gene Technology, Genomics
Exam II Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; Evolution and Natural Selection
Ecosystems Ecosystem Function; Populations & Communities
Ecosystem Stress
**Spring Break**
Classification of Organisms, Single Celled Organisms
Exam III Chapters 2, 13, 31, 32, 34; Advent of Eukaryotes
Evolution of Multicellular Organisms, Plant Life Evolution,
Plant Structure and Function, Evolution of Animal Phyla
Evolution of Animal Phyla; Exam IV 5/11/07 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.
All exam dates are approximate as listed in schedule below. Exact dates will be announced in during class.
Deadlines
Biology 1, 1L
Add: prior to 1st meeting of 3rd week
Drop: 2/08 with no notation; 3/26 with (W)ithdrawl; 2/20, Electing Credit/No Credit
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Journals
Each student will be required to maintain a journal of their activity related to this course. The journal will be handwritten in a
blue book and submitted at the start of class every Monday. Blue books are at the book store. The journal will contain the day
of the week, the actual date, the time you started/ended and a brief summary of what you did. Each calendar week will end with
a weekly total. The calendar week will start on Monday and end on Sunday. Please note that the journal will be written in a
blue book, no other format will be accepted.
Three self evaluations are due during the course. The self evaluations will address the following:
o
o
o
o
At this point in the course, are you receiving the grade you hope to receive?
If you are not receiving the grade you had hoped at this point, then discuss why.
 Look at your journal entries. Are you putting in enough time?
 Are you working throughout each week, or are you doing little each day then concentrating heavily
immediately prior to an exam?
 Are you spending time learning the vocabulary?
 Are you completing the objective questions?
 Have you contacted the professor to ask questions while studying?
 What adjustments will you make in your study habits to increase your level of success?
 Do you have suggestions that I, the professor, can make to help you become more successful?
If you are receiving the grade you had hoped for and it is anything other than an “A”, what will you do to
raise your grade more? (See above for some ideas).
If you are receiving an “A”, what will you do to ensure your continued success and prevent “slipping
backward”?

There is no minimum or maximum word count for the self evaluation. I expect to see evidence of honest reflection, not
some junk scribbled down to satisfy an assignment. The purpose is to help ensure your success.

Your journal entries will take on a specific format as shown in the example below. Failure to comply with the
formatting instructions will result in you receiving no credit.
Week (enter week number, such as “Week 1”, “Week 2”, … )
Day
Date
Time
Activity
Monday
2/3
5:00 – 7:30
Homework, chapter 2
Tuesday
2/4
3:30 – 4:30
Recopied lecture notes
7:30 – 8:00
Homework, chapter 2
Thursday
2/6
3:00 – 4:30
Reviewed lecture notes, worked on Homework
Friday
2/7
3:30 – 5:30
Recopied lecture notes
7:30 – 9:30
Studied – read book, reviewed notes, worked out some practice
problems
Saturday
2/8
12:00 – 2:00
Study group – preparation for exam
Total Hours:
10.5
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