SYLLABUS: FALL 2012
BIOL 2420 Microbiology
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
Name: ________________________
Course Title:
Instructor:
Email Address
Lect. hours:
Lab. hours:
Required
Textbooks
& website:
Tutoring:
Withdrawal:
BIOL. 2420 – 0069 (25022) - 4 Credit Hours
Savannah E. Zinebi, Ph.D.
savannah.zinebi@hccs.edu. For emergency use: savannazinebi@yahoo.com
Tuesdays: 11:00 - 2:00 LAB:
in Room 221 Felix Morales building
Thursdays: 11:00 - 2:00 LECTURE: in Room 313 Felix Morales building
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 (Fifth Edition)
Free tutoring assistance center at room 203 & 202
Deadline to withdraw from class with a “W”
November 2nd 2012
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: (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
HELP LINES: when absent, call these classmates 1ST for update, not instructor (= take Responsibility)
Name
Email
Phone #
ATTENDANCE:
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 to class, or take long
breaks, or leave early, 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 very beginning of each class. You are responsible for material missed during your absence. Be
responsible, don’t use excuses.
TESTING
THREE 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 the exams will come from lecture notes & Textbook. 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. Every exam takes 75min. If you need
more time, you can start the exam 10-15min early. 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.
LECTURE QUIZZES will be given a week after a chapter is finished. We take the first quiz
starting the 2nd week of the semester. If late for class, you miss the quiz (no discussion).
TWO LAB EXAMS will be given, each worth 100 points, for 100 questions.
Lab exam will include short answer questions and identification of slides. You must understand
every lab you do in order to do well on the lab exam.
NO MAKEUP EXAM will be given if you miss the lab.
OPEN LABS: Open labs may be scheduled during the semester for review of lab material and
the schedule will be given to you when available
LAB QUIZZES will be given every 2 weeks & will cover what you learned in the lab in those 2
weeks. Every quiz is taken in the first 10 min of class time, do not miss it
FINAL EXAM: is comprehensive and is made by the department. You must read and
understand every single paragraph in your textbook in order to do well on the final. No one can
skip the final exam.
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.
MISSING TESTS: If you miss a lecture exam or lab exam or a quiz with no excuse, you will get a
zero that you cannot drop. You can’t drop any lab exam grade. The zero will be averaged in with
your other grades when the final grade is calculated.
LAB REPORTS: lab reports are due at the end of each session. Late lab reports will not be graded. To
avoid being late during lab work, READ YOUR LAB BEFORE COMING TO CLASS. Know what you will be
doing in the lab and how you will be doing it before coming to lab. You will be working in groups, 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 (and more) are
allowed in the lab. No children allowed in any class.
HO GETS “I”? A student can only get incomplete “I” as a grade under extreme and attenuating
circumstances (childbirth, hospitalization for surgery, etc., not students struggling with school).
HOW DO I CALCULATE MY GRADE AVERAGE?
3 lecture Exams
1 Final lecture exam GIVEN BY THE DEPARTMENT
2 lab exams 100 pts each (both count)
7-8 lab quizzes: drop 2 & average the rest
12-14 lect. Quizzes: drop 3 & average the rest
Research project
12-14 Homework assignments (14pts added to final exam)
FINAL GRADE:
GRADING SCALE: 90-100 = A - 80-89 = B - 70-79 = C
-
300 pts
100 pts
200 pts
100 pts
100 pts
100 pts
14 pts
= (900+extra) / 10
60-69 = D - 0-59 = F
RESEARCH PROJECT
You will be writing and presenting a research project (in groups of 2 students only) on health issues
that deal with infectious diseases like cancer (Human papillomavirus=HPV), Liver cirrhosis/hepatitis
C, meningitis, etc. You will write a 4-5 pages report with an extra page for bibliography a page for the
outline. More detail will be given when projects are assigned 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 (worth 100 pts). Written project grade is the same for the 2
partners but the oral presentation grade is individual (more details to come)
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:
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.
DISABILITY STATEMENT:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.)
who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact Jette Lott or Chris Caldwell at
713-718-7218. They are both ADA counselors at the Disability Services .
THINGS YOU SHOULD DO after YOU RECEIVE THIS SYLLABUS:
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.
REMINDER OF THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TAKING THIS COURSE
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. This means the only source of information that you may use
during an exam is your own brain! 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.
STUDENT CONDUCT:
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)
Emails are generally answered in less than 24 hours. Use both email addresses and
you will get a very quick answer.
CAMPUS ESCORTS: 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.
There is no flexibility or discussion for the following rules
1
2
3
Written project must be turned in on TUESDAY of week 13 (projects assigned week 4)
Oral presentation will be given on Thursday of week 15 (If time permits: we will discuss this)
4
NO MAKEUP for any missed work/tests: If absent on test day, you get a zero except with
paperwork from Court, Emergency Room, military services)
5
6
7
8
Withdrawal Deadline: NOVEMBER. 2nd
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Every time a chapter is finished, a quiz is given the next lecture session
You must have scantrons & a pencil with you at all times. If not zero on the quiz (can’t leave the room during quiz)
Every time you use your phone in class, 50 pts off exam grade. If you talk in lecture, 5pts off
YOU CANNOT use your computer during class time, if so 10 pts off final exam
Before coming back from an absence, know what happened & be ready for quiz or exam
BEING ABSENT IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO avoid taking an exam or quiz: BE READY
NO offensive language/attitude/behavior is tolerated in class: if so, you are dropped from class
If you leave your table or lab bench messy, 5 points will be taken off your lab exam
Disinfect lab table w/ detergent before & after use to avoid cross contamination
If you come to class late or leave class early, or take long breaks, you get ½ absence for each
.
If planning on an absence, arrange with classmates for update before hand
If for safety reason you need help on campus, call campus police at 713 718 8888
If you miss 12 hours of class, you risk being dropped from class (if tardy = 1/2 absence)
Resources:
Library: 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)
New Tutoring center: 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. Call 713-718-2694 or e-mail at
marisol.montemayor@hccs.edu to ask for help
Textbook website: 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
Lab website: open this website and study the lab pages available to you: hccs.edu/biologylabs
Instructor: Email me whenever you need help
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE FALL 2012:
Subject to changes if needed
WEEK
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
DAY
DATE
Lecture / lab
Exams/project/presentation
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Aug. 28
Syllabus - Chapter 1,2
Chapter 3
Labs 1, 2
Chapter 3, 4
Labs 3, 4
Chapter 4, 5
Labs 5, 6
Chapter 5, 6
Labs 7, 8, 9
ORIENTATION: LAB MATERIAL
Th
T
Th
T
Sept. 27
Th
T
Th
T
Th
T
Oct. 11
Th
T
Nov. 01
Th
T
Nov. 08
Th
T
Th
T
Nov. 15
Th
Nov. 29
T
Dec. 04
Th
Dec. 06
Presentation chapter
Presentation chapter
Presentation chapter
Presentation chapter
Finish lecture
T
Th
Dec. 11
FINAL EXAM
Aug. 30
Sept. 4
Sept. 6
Sept. 11
Sept. 13
Sept. 18
Sept. 20
Sept. 25
Oct. 02
Oct. 04
Oct. 09
Oct. 16
Oct. 18
Oct. 23
Oct. 25
Oct. 30
Nov. 06
Nov. 13
Nov. 20
Nov. 22
Nov. 27
Chapter 6, 7
Lab 10
Chapter 7, 8
Lab 11
VISIT LIBRARY & TUTORING CENTER
Research Projects assigned
LECT. EXAM I
LAB. EXAM I
Chapters 9, 10
Lab 13
Chapters 10, 11
Lab 14
Chapter 11, 13
Lab 21
LECT. EXAM II
DEADLINE TO WITHDRAW OR GET “F”
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapters 14
Chapters 15
LAB. EXAM II
Chapters 15
Chapter 16
THANKSGIVING
Chapters 18
RESEARCH PROJECT DUE
HOLIDAYS
LECT. EXAM III
19
20
22
24
Groups of 4 students will work together
& present 1 chapter to the classroom
Groups of 4 students will work together &
present 1 chapter to the classroom
Dec. 13
Lab: Students will work in groups. If you wish to work outside of scheduled lab time you may do so:
I reserve the right to change this schedule to fit the course of lecture & then give you a new copy