General Biology II Lecture
Summer C 2012
BSC 2011
Instructor: Dr. Lynn B Martin
Office hours: 10:10-11:00, Tues
Office: SCA 130
Time: 8:00 – 10:10, T & R
Room: CHE 111
Course description:
In the first semester of general biology, you learned of the chemical basis of life, the
genetic code, and the basic functions of cells. This course will introduce you to three
additional, seminal areas of biology including:
i) basic evolutionary processes and mechanisms
ii) biodiversity
iii) how organisms interact with each other and their environments
Course objectives:
At the end of the course, you will have greater understanding of:
a) the mechanisms of evolution and how evolutionary relationships are inferred
b) the evolution of biodiversity and relationships among taxonomic groups
c) the form and function of distinguishing traits of major taxa
d) interactions between organisms and their environment
Text:
Special Edition of Biology for University of South Florida (second edition).
Brooker, Widmaier, Graham and Stiling. 2011. McGraw-Hill
Performance evaluation:
There will be 4 exams: three during regular lecture-periods and one during the last week
of classes that will be cumulative. Each exam is worth 25% of your grade and will
contain 50 questions. Your lowest exam score will be dropped, but if you miss any exam
you MUST take the fourth. If you take the first three and are satisfied with your grade,
you need not take the fourth. If you miss two exams, you should withdraw from the
class. If you show up late for an exam and ANY student has completed the exam (left
the room), you will not be able to take the exam.
The remaining 25% of your grade will come from Blackboard quizzes. There will be 6
quizzes and each will have 10 questions and be completed within 20 minutes. You may
drop one quiz. As most questions for quizzes and exams will come from the textbook or
the textbook’s website, it would serve you well to study them.
Attendance: Attendance will not be recorded. However, if individuals continue to arrive
late, they will be prevented from entering so as to minimize distractions to other students
and the lecturer.
Grading scale:
A
90% and above
B+
85 to 89.5%
B
80 to 84.5%
C+
75 to 79.5%
C
D+
D
F
70 to 74.5%
65 to 69.5%
60 to 64.5%
below 60%*
*F also assigned for serious academic misconduct (see below)
No extra credit will be given and grades will NOT be curved.
Web page:
BlackBoard will be used to post outlines of lecture notes, communicate assignments,
and post grades. Become familiar with this system if you haven’t already
(http://my.usf.edu).
Other important notes:
1. Assigned readings: you should read the chapters below BEFORE attending class.
This way, you will better understand the lecture and make studying easier for yourself.
2. Electronic versions of PowerPoint presentations will be available on Blackboard.
However, you will likely need to make additional notes during lecture to perform well on
exams and quizzes.
3. The content of the course is the sole property of the instructor and may not be
reproduced or distributed in any form for sale.
4. Exam and lecture dates and content are tentative so your attendance is critical to
learn of impending changes.
5. An “I” grade may only be awarded when only a small portion of coursework is
incomplete and when the student otherwise has a passing grade. A Biology department
“Incomplete Grade Contract” must be completed before the “I” grade is given.
6. No cell phones, PDAs or other electronic devices (besides a laptop for taking notes)
are allowed in the classroom. Any use of a laptop besides note-taking is grounds for
dismissal from the class that day; second offenses will result in permanent dismissal.
Any use of cell phones or other communication devices will have the same
consequences.
7. Disruption of academic process is an act by a student in a classroom or teaching
environment which in the reasonable estimation of a faculty member: i) distracts
attention from the academic material (e.g., persistent, disrespectful or abusive
disruptions), or ii: presents danger to the health, safety or well-being of class
participants. This includes excessive tardiness, leaving early, or talking excessively with
classmates.
8. Uncollected assignments will not be retained longer than 90 days from the due date.
Grades cannot be disputed beyond 90 days from their assignment.
9. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and you will be held to all academic policies
and standards of the USF (see below). Should I find evidence of cheating on any
assignment, the student will receive an F in the course. If the offense is serious,
charges will be brought to the Dean of Arts and Sciences, and punishment may include
a punitive F, which cannot be stricken from the student’s record.
10. BSC 2011 lab is operated separately from the lecture, although efforts have been
made to ensure material is complementary. If you have a concern, discuss it with your
TA first. I will get involved only after you have tried to reconcile your problem with your
TA. You must be enrolled in lecture to remain in lab however; if you withdraw from
lecture, you must withdraw from lab too.
11. You MUST bring USF ID or Driver’s License to all tests. ID’s may be checked at the
beginning or end of class to ensure that you are enrolled in the class. Hats must be
work backwards during exam, or ideally removed. NO electronic devices of any kind
may be used during exams. You should not make any large or obvious marks on the
test form, so as to minimize my concern or that of exam proctors that you are attempting
to communicate answers to your classmates.
12. You are held to all of the guidelines of USF Integrative Biology, which can be found
here: http://biology.usf.edu/ib/admin/.
Last day to drop and be eligible for a ‘W’ in the class is June 30, 2012.
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Date
May 15
May 17
May 22
May 24
May 29
May 31
June 5
June 7
June 12
June 14
June 19
June 21
June 26
June 28
July 3
July 5
July 10
July 12
July 17
July 19
Day
T
R
T
R
T
R
T
R
T
R
T
R
T
R
T
R
T
R
T
R
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Readings
Topic
22
Syllabus; History of life
23
Intro to evolution
24
Population genetics
25
Origin of species
26
Taxonomy and systematics
27
Bacteria and Archaea
EXAM 1
28
Protists
30
Plants and land colonization
31
Plant diversity
32
Animal diversity
33
Invertebrates
EXAM 2
34
Vertebrates
54
Introduction to ecology
55
Behavioral ecology
56
Population ecology
58
Community ecology
EXAM 3
FINAL EXAM
Quizzes
1
2
3
4
5
6
Dishonesty Policy:
USF expects all members to behave with academic integrity. Should we find evidence of
academic misconduct (cheating, or complicity in academic dishonesty) by a student, we
will inform the student of the action to be taken. Cheating on an exam will result in a
grade of F for the course. If the offense is extremely serious, charges against the student
will be brought before the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. This can include a
punitive F that cannot be "forgiven" from the records.