Student Name: _________________________
Course Title: BIOL. 2420 (Microbiology) - 4 Credit Hours
Instructor: Savannah E. Zinebi, Ph.D.
Email Address savannah.zinebi@hccs.edu & savannazinebi@yahoo.com
Lect. hours:
Lab. hours:
Tuesdays: 11:00 - 2:00 Lab. in Room 221 Felix Morales building
Thursdays: 11:00 - 2:00 Lec. in Room 313 Felix Morales building
Required
Textbooks
& website:
Tutoring:
Textbook: Foundations in Microbiology. Talaro & Chess. Eighth Edition (McGraw Hill)
Book website: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073375292/student_view0
Lab book: Microbiology-Laboratory Manual for Biology 2420. Wiersema/Sen (Edition 5.5
)
Free tutoring assistance center at room 203 & 202 (new facility, must visit)
Withdrawal: Deadline to withdraw from class with a “W” = Oct. 31 st 2014 @ 4:30pm
Textbook website http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073375292/student_view0 (very helpful)
: ( HCCS CATALOG )
1. To understand and apply methods and appropriate technology to the study of natural sciences
2. To recognize scientific and quantitative methods and the difference between these approaches and other methods of inquiry and to communicate findings analyses, and interpretations both orally and in writing
3. To identify and recognize the differences among competing scientific theories
4. To demonstrate knowledge of major issues and problems facing modern science, including issues that touch upon ethics, values, and public policies
5. To demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology and their influence on, and contribution to modern culture
: when absent, call these classmates 1 ST for update before you call the instructor
Name Email Phone # optional
Being in class for lecture and lab is mandatory. If you miss 12 unexcused hours of class, you will be dropped administratively. Tardiness is not accepted, every time you are late by 10 min or more, you will get half absence of class meeting. Attendance is recorded at the beginning of each class session. If you are late, you will also get a zero on the quiz which is given at the start of each class. You are responsible for material missed during your absence. Be responsible, don’t use excuses.

3 LECTURE EXAMS will be given, each worth 100 points. The questions will be primarily multiple choices, but will include some true or false, fill in the blank, figures identification, and short assays. The material for these tests will come from lecture notes & Textbook EXCEPT when otherwise noted that material from the laboratory manual will be included.
On test days, once someone has finished the exam, no other student may enter and start that exam if late.
If you are late for class on a test day, you may be prohibited from taking the test. A set time limit for each exam will be announced. If you arrive late for an exam, you will have only the time remaining from the official start of the exam. THERE WILL BE NO MAKEUP EXAMS unless you can prove you had to go to court or Emergency Room or military services on the day & time of the exam.
18 LECTURE QUIZZES are given during the beginning of class the next class meeting after the chapter is finished. If you are late, you cannot take the quiz & you get a zero.
2 LAB EXAMS will be given, each worth 100 points. The first lab exam will be theoretical but the second lab exam will be practical & covers all lab experiments performed in the lab.
NO MAKEUP EXAM will be given if you miss the lab.
10 LAB QUIZZES: will be given every week & will cover what you learned in the lab in the week before. If you miss them, there is no makeup except with the documents required (see syllabus)
2 FINAL EXAMS
: 1 FROM DEPARTMENT (50 questions) + 1 FROM INSTRUCTOR (100 questions). It is comprehensive & covers all chapters (1 to 24). No one can skip the final exams.
You will have a review for my exam but the department exam has no review. So Read your textbook as you go and do not miss any concept or any paragraph in the book.
SCANTRONS & PENCILS: you must carry scantrons, pencils & a pencil sharpener with you at all times for exams and daily quizzes. No borrowing is allowed during tests.
: If you miss an exam with no excuse, you will get a zero that you cannot drop . The zero on the missed test will be averaged in with your other grades when the final grade is calculated. If you miss a quiz, you can drop that zero. You can only miss 3 quizzes. No makeup for quizzes is allowed, but you can drop up to 3 zeros, other zeros will count.
: lab reports are due 1 week after the lab is done. Late lab reports will not be graded. To avoid being late during lab day, READ YOUR LAB BEFORE COMING TO CLASS . Read the details of your labs before coming to lab on Tuesdays. You will be working & discussing your data in groups, but you will have to write individual reports for individual grades. Lab safety rules must be read before you start the lab. No open toes shoes, no lose hair, no shorts, or nylon clothes (& more) are allowed in the lab. No children allowed in any class.
3 lecture Exams (100 pts each) 300 pts
1 Final lecture exam (100 pts each) 100 pts
2 lab exams (100 pts each) 200 pts
10 lab quizzes: drop 2 & average the rest 100 pts
18 lect. Quizzes: drop 3 & average the rest 100 pts
1 Research project done in groups of 2 100 pts
18 Homework assignments (1extra point per homework) 18 pts-24
FINAL GRADE: = (900+extra)/10
GRADING SCALE : 90-100 = A / 80-89 = B / 70-79 = C / 60-69 = D / 0-59 = F

You will be writing and, if time allows, presenting a research project (in groups of 2 or 3 students only) on health issues that deal with infectious diseases like cancer (papillomavirus), Liver cirrhosis (hepatitis C), meningitis, etc. You will write a 4-5 pages report with an outline, bibliography to support your writing & an accurate learning on how to use MLA format when writing a project. More details will be given when projects are assigned to you on week 4. You will then make a PowerPoint to present the same project before your classmates. This research paper is as important as any lecture exam as it is worth 100 pts. Written project grade is the same for the
2 partners but the oral presentation (4min total) grade is individual (more details to come)
Receiving a W in a course may affect the status of your student Visa. Once a W is given for the course, it will not be changed to an F because of the visa consideration. Please contact the
International Student Office at 713-718-8521 if you have any questions about your visa status and other transfer issues.
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Instructors are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. To visit the ADA
Web site, log on to www.hccs.edu
, click Future students , scroll down the page and click on the words Disability Information. Any student who needs help in this area must contact Jette Lott or
Chris Caldwell at 713-718-7218. They are both ADA counselors at the Disability Services.
Read the syllabus in its entirety & ask any questions you might have about it
Access your HCCS email account . This is an account you have automatically as a registered student at HCCS. Go to www.hccs.edu
, click “ For Students ”, then “ Student Email ”. This will take you to a place where you can find out about your User ID and Password. HCCS will be using this email account to send you important information about registration, financial aid, etc.
Investigate the various sites on HCCs websites that are there to help you study for the course:
Quizzes, Interactive Sites, and Lab Study Pages. Try some of the interactions out to see if you think they will be helpful. There is probably more on the site than you could actually ever use, so try to choose those things that you think will help you succeed. Go to the library and access the computers to learn more about every class you are taking.
1.
If you decide to stop attending class, it is your responsibility to drop yourself or else you get F
2.
All phones must be set on silent mode or turned off in class. If you are seen using a cell phone or any other electron device during an exam, you will not be allowed to complete the exam.
3.
No one other than students enrolled in the class are allowed in any classroom.
4.
Eating, drinking, or smoking is NOT allowed in the laboratory.
5.
You must read the laboratory safety rules before doing any of the lab exercises.
6.
The laboratory safety release form must be signed during the first lab session you attend. If you do not sign the release form, none of your test papers will be returned to you.
7.
MIDTERM & FINAL GRADES will not be posted publicly at any time during the semester; they will be posted on HCC website.
8.
CHEATING IS NOT PERMITTED. If cheating occurs, the student will receive a zero for the exam or a grade of “F” in the course.
9.
Students who require reasonable accommodations for disabilities are encouraged to the phone number given above to make necessary arrangements. Instructors are only authorized to provide accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.

: Homework assignments are uploaded on eagle with each chapter. If you do them & upload them before deadline, you get up to 24 points toward your final exam (1pt for each homework).
: No student may disrupt or interfere with any educational activity performed by a member of the college system. In addition, no student may interfere with his/her fellow students’ right to pursue their academic goals to the fullest in an atmosphere appropriate to a community of scholars. (HCCS handbook)
The HCC Police Department will provide an officer safety escort on request, to all students, faculty, or staff. Campus escorts may be scheduled by calling our department at, 713-718-8888.
1 Written project must be turned in on Tuesday October 29 th of week 10 (projects assigned week 2)
2 Oral presentation will be given on Tuesday November 19 of week 13 (dress professionally)
3 Every time a chapter is finished, a quiz is given the next lecture (have scantrons & pencil with you at all times)
4 NO MAKEUP for any exam except with papers from Court, Emergency Room, or military services
5 Withdrawal Deadline: OCTOBER 31 st @ 4:30 pm (if not you get an “F”)
6 Every time you use your phone in class, 5 pts off final exam. If you talk during lecture, 5pts off
7 YOU CANNOT use your computer/phone during lecture time at all or you get
20pts off
your final exam
8 Before coming back from an absence, know what happened & be ready for quizzes or exam
9 NO offensive language/attitude/behavior is tolerated in class: if so, you are dropped from class
10 If you leave your table or lab bench messy (above & below),
20 pts
will be taken off your lab exam .
11 MUST disinfect lab table w/ detergent before & after use to avoid cross contamination
12 If you come to class late or leave class early, or take long breaks, you get a ½ absence.
13 If planning on an absence, arrange with classmates for update before hand
14 If for safety reason you need help on campus, call campus police at 713 718 8888
15 If you miss 12 hours of class, you risk being dropped from class (if tardy = 1/2 absence)
Circulation Desk, General Information Phone: 713.718.7050
- Reference Desk Research Assistance 713.718.7084
Library Hours: M - Th (8am – 8pm) / F (8am – 4pm) / Sat (10am – 4pm) / S (closed)
Room 203, Felix Moralez Building . To obtain a copy of the schedule, go to http://m.se.hccs.edu/index.php
and click on the Tutoring Center link.
There is free online tutoring 24/7 - 7 days/week at: www.hccs.askonline.net
Call 713-718-2694 or e-mail marisol.montemayor@hccs.edu
to ask for help.
: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073375292/student_view0
Once you open this website, select a chapter, and then look at the titles on the left side of the screen where you have excellent videos that review the chapter, flashcards, outline of the chapter, quizzes, etc. Each chapter has a wealth of info that you have to review regularly
open this website and study the lab pages available to you: hccs.edu/biologylabs
Email me whenever you need help – ask me in class (savannah.zinebi@hccs.edu)

(use Firefox)
USER NAME LOGIN
:
YOUR “W” NUMBER
PASSWORD
:
YOUR EMAIL PASSWORD
If you don't know your HCC “W” number (user ID), you can retrieve it here: https://hccsaweb.hccs.edu:8080/psp/cspwd/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HCCS_CUST_MENU.HCC_UAT.GBL
or http://d2.parature.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8513
Eagle’s live Phone Support: 1 (855) 836-3519 or 877-422-6111 (when you call for help, make sure to tell them that your class is “web-enhanced –face to face)
The default student password is “distance” Students will then be prompted to change their password after their first login. This password is independent of your Online Registration password or
Blackboard Vista password. You will be required to change your password when you first log in.
This is where you find the PowerPoint lecture notes, homework assignments, reviews for lecture and lab exams, study websites for practice quizzes, etc.
This website has 19 HOMEWORK assignments uploaded, 1 homework with each lecture.
For each homework assignment that you do & upload on eagle online before deadlines, you get 2 extra points that you add to your final lecture exams.
Check Eagle online for each homework deadline in advance: remember, this is a courtesy from me to you to help you. If you miss the deadline, still do the homework for yourself and made sure that you do not miss the next deadline.
If you wait till the last minute to upload the homework and the website is down, you will still be responsible and you will miss the 2 points. This is why I encourage you to start uploading your work days ahead of time
Groups of 4 students work together & present 1 chapter inclass:
Chapter ( ……………..
) Pages
Partner 1
Partner 2
Partner 3
Partner 4
Name Phone # Email address

We will lecture on lab days
I reserve the right to change this schedule to fit the course of lecture & then give you a new copy
WEEK
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
DAY
T
Th Aug. 27 Chapter 3
T Sept. 02 Labs 1, 2
Th Sept. 04 Chapter 4
T Sept. 09 Labs 3, 4
Th Sept. 11 Chapter 5
T Sept. 16 Labs 5, 6
Th Sept. 18 Chapter 6
T Sept. 23 Labs 7, 8
Exams/project/presentation
ORIENTATION: LAB MATERIAL
HW1 + HW2
Th Sept. 25 Chapter 7
T Sept. 30 Lab 9, Chapter 9
Th Oct. 02 Chapter 9
T Oct. 07 Lab 10, Chapter 10
HW7
HW8 + HW9
Th Oct. 16 Chapter 11
Th Oct. 09 Chapter 10 HW10
T Oct. 14 Lab 11, 13 + Chapter 11 HW11
T Oct. 21 Lab 14 + Chapter 12
Th Oct. 23 Chapter 12
T Oct. 28 Lab 21 + Chapter 13
Th Oct. 30 Chapter 13
T Nov. 04 Chapters 14
Th Nov. 06 Chapters 14, 15
T Nov. 11 Chapters 15
Th Nov. 13 Chapters 15, 16
T Nov. 18 Chapter 16
Th Nov. 20 Chapter 17, 18
T
Th
DATE
Aug. 25
Nov. 25
Nov. 27
Lecture / lab
Syllabus - Chapter 1,2
Chapter 18
HW3
HW4
Research Projects assigned/groups
HW5
HW6
HW12
HW13
RESEARCH PROJECT DUE
HW14
DEADLINE TO DROP: Oct. 31 st @ 4:30pm
HW15
HW16
HW18
HW17
Oral Presentations of project if time permits
HW19
15
T Dec. 02 Presentation chapter 19
Presentation chapter 20
Th Dec. 04 Presentation chapter 22
Presentation chapter 24
HW20
Groups of 4 students will work together & present 1 chapter to the classroom
16
T Dec. 09 DEPT FINAL EXAM 50% + INSTRUCTOR FINAL EXAM 50%
Th Dec. 14 GRADES ARE POSTED
If time permits, presentation day will be set
http://www.hccs.edu/hcc/System%20Home/Departments/Admissions_and_Registration/Calendars/2113%20Exam%20Schedule/ fall%202013%20Final%20Exam%20Schedule.pdf
HW = homework on eagle to be done & uploaded before class starts on the due dates on syllabus.