BIOLOGY 1322 BASIC NUTRITION SYLLABUS
3 hour lecture course / 48 hours per semester/ 16 weeks Fall and Spring—5 weeks
summer I or II
Instructor Information
Name: Mary G. Puccini, MS, RD
Email: Use your Eagle Online email account within your Distance Education (DE) course
during semester. Before the semester starts and after the semester ends use:
mary.puccini@hccs.edu
Office Hours: You can meet me in person at Central College, Central Campus in room 401 of
the Learning Hub Science Building (LHSB) by appointment. To set up an appointment email
me through Eagle Online or phone 713-718-2545.
I’ve been teaching at HCC since 1995 in face-to-face courses and since 2001 in online
courses. I have also taught at the University of Houston. I have enjoyed the previous
traditional and online classes and look forward to another interesting semester. I am
always open to suggestions.
Course Objectives
The course you are taking with me is using EAGLE ONLINE version 2.0. The log in for
EAGLE ONLINE, from now on referred to as EO2 is:
http://hccs2.mrooms.net
HCC is using two versions of moodle this semester, version 1.9 and version 2.0. The URL
above is for version 2.0. The distance education platform we use at HCC is nicknamed Eagle
Online which is usually abbreviated EO. When I refer to the course, I’m meaning your
online EO2 course.
Your Eagle Online login is the same as your PeopleSoft account username and password
which you used to register for this course. If you get a message saying either the user name
or password is invalid when you try to login, then reset your password. It doesn’t matter
that you are certain the password is fine. Reset it anyway. That usually works. If not, then
you will have to contact tech support on the right side of the login screen.
Make sure you write down the login URL for Eagle Online and also save it as a “favorite.”
Course description: This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of nutrition
covering the sources and functions of the essential nutrients, the nutrient intake standards
for healthy populations, the evaluation of a healthy diet, and dietary applications to various
disease conditions. This course also fulfills the content needed for health sciences
programs. Core curriculum course.
Course Prerequisites: Prerequisites: Must be placed into college-level reading (or take
GUST0342 as a co-requisite) and be placed into college-level writing (or take ENGL
0310/0349 as a co-requisite). Although there is no MATH prerequisite, if you were placed
into MATH 0312 and have not finished it, you will be at a disadvantage in this course.
Student Learning Outcomes: New changes from DE orientation file are in blue font
1. Identify the functions of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water
and be able to develop a healthy well-balanced diet, using the principles of
myplate.gov.
2. Use the information of food labels to calculate nutrient content and determine the
quality of food.
3. Understand the role of all the essential nutrients in disease prevention and
promotion.
4. Identify tools used to determine physical fitness, body weight, and body fat as it
relates to chronic disease.
5. Demonstrate how nutrient needs change for pregnant women, infants, children,
adults, and the elderly.
6. Be able to use the scientific method to evaluate nutrition information.
7. Describe the safe handling, preparation, and storage of food.
Course Goal: Have associate degree candidates and health science majors understand the
interface between nutrition and health.
Core Curriculum Statement: This course fulfills the science requirement (no lab) for
associate degree majors and is also a pre-requisite for many 4-year degree nursing or allied
health degrees.
Policies:
Before we get started, a few housekeeping details.
I expect ALL students who wish to receive credit for this course to logon and take the
Mandatory Introductory Quiz before the Official Day of Record, Sunday, January 26 at 3 PM.
Since this is an online course, you have the added challenge of being responsible, yourself,
for staying on schedule. Realize then that you cannot fall behind. Distance classes are just
as time consuming as face-to-face courses, but you do have the advantage of making your
own hours rather than conforming to an established schedule. If you are not familiar with
Eagle Online, the Learning Management System that HCCS uses, then you will need to take
time to learn it. Go back to the orientation web site for this course to access general
information and videos on how to work with Eagle Online.
Technical Compliance: This class is a distance-education class using Eagle Online for
lecture notes and assessments. Each student must maintain Internet access throughout this
course. Additionally, students are expected to maintain a state of technical compliance,
including (but not limited to): up-to-date software for realplayer and flash videos; a stable
Internet connection; and use of the Firefox browser when using Eagle Online. The
instructor is not required to give consideration for lost/missing/unacceptable work
stemming from technical non-compliance and/or end-user technical issues. Failure to
maintain Internet access shall not constitute a valid excuse for missed work. Any student
who cannot keep up with the coursework owing to a lack of computer or Internet must
drop the course. (You are welcome to use the computer labs on campus.) Any student
found to have quit logging in (three weeks is typical) is subject to being dropped without
further warning, resulting in either a "W" or a "FX" grade, depending upon the time of the
term at which the behavior is noted.
HCC COURSE WITHDRAWAL POLICY: The State of Texas imposes penalties on students
who drop courses excessively. Students are limited to no more than SIX (6) total course
withdrawals throughout their educational career at a Texas public college or university.
To help you avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, contact me regarding your
academic performance. You may also want to contact your DE counselor to learn about
helpful HCC resources (e.g. online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc.).
Although it is the responsibility of the student to withdraw officially from a course, the
professor also has the authority to block a student from accessing Eagle Online, and/or to
withdraw a student for excessive absences or failure to participate regularly. DE students
who do not log into their Eagle Online class AND complete the Mandatory Orientation Quiz
before the Official Day of Record, Sunday, January 26 at 3 PM, will be automatically
dropped for non-attendance. Completing the DE online orientation does not count as
attendance.
If you are having technical difficulties and cannot login, you must immediately contact your
instructor at mary.puccini@hccs.edu AND the Eagle Online Help desk or you will be
counted as absent.
If you decide to withdraw from this class upon careful review of other options, you,
yourself, can withdraw online prior to the deadline of March 31, 4:30 through your
HCC PeopleSoft Student Account.
HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which I may “alert” you and DE counselors
that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic
performance.
CLASS ATTENDANCE AND GRADES: As stated in the HCC Catalog, all students are
expected to attend classes regularly. Students in DE courses must log into their Eagle
Online class or they will be counted as absent. Just as in on-campus classes, your regular
participation is required.
After the withdrawal deadline of March 31 has passed, you will receive the grade you
would have earned. Zeros averaged in for required coursework not submitted will lower
your semester average significantly, most likely resulting in a failing grade of an F. If you
have completed all quizzes and assignments, but do not take the final exam, you will get a
“0” for your final exam grade and most probably a D or F in the course. An I or incomplete
is assigned to students who have finished all requirements of the course except for one
project or one exam/quiz. An I is given to those who encounter extraordinary
circumstances that prevent them from completing the course. Documentation of this
extraordinary circumstance is required and will be considered by me and also my
department chair in deciding whether to allow a student to make up the missing work. Put
the final exam weekend dates on your calendar NOW: Friday, May 2; Saturday, May 3
and Sunday, May 4. You choose one of those dates to take the closed book comprehensive
final exam in-person at one of the DE testing centers of your choice that weekend.
There is a new grade of FX. An FX is given to a student by his professor if the student logs
on to the online class, completes the mandatory orientation quiz, an exam or Discussion
Question and then never logs on again. The professor will assign an FX grade to the student
and record the last date of significant student activity in the class. This grade is for students
who abandon a course early in the semester. The final exam will not be administered to
students who do not participate (participate and logging in are not the same) in class after
the withdrawal deadline.
DISTANCE EDUCATION ADVISING AND COUNSELING SERVICES: The Distance Education
Student Handbook contains policies and procedures unique to the DE student. Students
should have reviewed the handbook as part of the mandatory orientation. It is the student's
responsibility to be familiar with the handbook's contents. The handbook contains valuable
information, answers, and resources, such as DE contacts, policies and procedures (how to
drop, attendance requirements, etc.), student services (ADA, financial aid, degree planning,
etc.), course information, testing procedures, technical support, and academic calendars.
Refer to the DE Student Handbook by doing a copy/paste of this link:
de.hccs.edu/media/houston-community-college/distance-education/studentservices/2013-2014HCCDEStudentHandbook-%28Revised8-1-2013%29.pdf
ADA Accommodations: Once your ADA counselor has created your accommodation letter,
he/she will scan the letter and email/attach it to you. You will then email/attach the letter
to me using jmail within EO2 so that I can make the accommodations. Realize, I will need
some time, about a week, to make accommodations. You cannot email me the day before
the accommodation is needed and expect it to be ready for you.
COURSE REPEATERS: Students who repeat a course for a third time or more will be
charged a tuition/fee increase of $50/credit hour at HCCS and other Texas public colleges
and universities. Please contact your counselor or me before withdrawing or if you are not
receiving passing grades.
STUDENT WORK/ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Students are responsible for conducting
themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Disciplinary
proceedings may be initiated by the college system against a student accused of scholastic
dishonesty. Penalties can include a grade of “0” or “F” on the particular discussion question
or assignment, failure in the course, academic probation or even dismissal from the college.
See Student Handbook for further details. All answers to the project and discussion questions
will be original, not copied from the internet or textbook. If you are using a reference from the
text, internet or my online notes either summarize it in your own words or put it in quotes and
limit it to one sentence. You will find one tutorial on plagiarism on the course homepage.
SYLLABUS MODIFICATION: I will make every effort to adhere to the requirements in this
syllabus during the semester. I reserve the right to make any necessary changes. Students
will be notified in a timely manner of any such change by Eagle Online email.
TEXTBOOKS: Required text: Nutrition Your Life Science, by Turley and Thompson, 1st
edition, Cengage Publisher. HCC has received a special price for this book if purchased from
HCC bookstores. Textbook information and link to bookstore is http://hccs.bkstore.com
You will not be needing the Diet Analysis software that may come bundled in the bookstore
version of the text. A used version of the first edition will work fine.
GRADE BREAKDOWN:
Nutrition Evaluation Project: 12%
Team Project: 8%
Discussion Questions: 12 %
Answer a total of 4 Discussion Questions (DQs) during the entire semester for 3 points
each.
Select one DQ to answer from DQs 1-12
Select one DQ to answer from DQs 13-24
Select one DQ to answer from DQs 25-36
Select one DQ to answer as a comment on one of the Team Projects presented from DQs AT.
Online exams 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7—Lowest grade of the seven exams dropped. 48%
In-person Final Exam at the testing center: 20% Will be multiple choice and essay.
Extra credit: Up to 5% Go to the “Getting started” topic of the course for the link and
instructions about extra credit.
Exams: Each Module, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 will have a randomized multiple-choice exam
which you will take online and can be accessed from the margin of your homepage. The
exams are open-book and TIMED. You should prepare for these exams the same way you
would for closed book, in-class tests. Module 1 will cover all Module 1 sections 1.1 to 1.5.
Module 2 will cover all Module 2 sections, 2.1 to 2.4. Modules 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 follow the
same pattern. You will have only one (1) chance to take each Module exam. The time
allowance for each exam may vary. The Module exams have expiration dates in order to
discourage you from falling behind. All exams will expire on Saturdays at 11:55 pm. Do
NOT wait until 11:55 pm to open the quiz. Your clock may be out of sync with that of Eagle
Online. Also, if you open the exam 5 minutes before it expires, you will only have 5 minutes
to take the exam. When the exam expires, it doesn’t matter when you started the exam,
the tool will kick you out. Follow the Course Schedule to determine when the Module
exams will expire. I will drop your lowest exam grade and average the remaining to make
up the exam component of your grade. If you miss an exam, your grade of “0” on that exam
will be your lowest grade. Do not ask for a make-up exam.
Don't miss the exam deadlines; you will not be given a chance to make them up. If you
choose to wait until the last minute to take the exam and encounter a problem or
emergency at your home or office, technical or otherwise, do not expect me to reset the
exam for you. Personal emergencies always come up. If you choose to wait until the last
minute and then have to leave town to help your ailing grandmother, I will refer you to this
passage of the syllabus. Many students tell me of the meritorious deeds they have
performed which have, sadly, caused them to miss the exam deadlines. It is possible to be
both compassionate and responsible. There are no make-up exams.
MANDATORY INTRODUCTORY QUIZ: This quiz will be over the information contained in
this syllabus and the Tour of Homepage video. It is found under the “Getting Started”
section on your homepage. To open or expand a topic on the homepage, click the folder
icon on the left. Although this quiz does not count toward your grade, it is your first
practice with taking online tests in this course. It will also serve to prove to me that you
read and understood the syllabus and watched the Homepage Tour video. It counts as
“active participation” before the Official Day of Record.
FINAL EXAM: The most important exam is the final exam. It is comprehensive and closed
book and accounts for 20% of your grade. You will take it in person at one of the three
testing centers on final exam weekend. It will consist of multiple-choice (MC) questions and
essay questions. I will email the class about one month before the final with some study
tips. The best study tip for any course is to keep up with the material and keep wellorganized notes, Take-Ten review sheets, etc. If you will be out of town at a family reunion,
delivering a baby, or going on a Parisian vacation (Yes, I’ve heard all of these excuses)
during final exam weekend, DROP THE COURSE NOW. If you live out of town, or out of the
country, open the proctor form for out-of-town students on the “Getting Started” topic of
the homepage and email me the first week of class. Follow the directions on the form. You
will have to contact judy.carson@hccs.edu to help you make arrangements to have a
proctored exam given to you at a testing site where you live.
PROJECTS: The individual project is called The Nutrition Evaluation Project. I will provide
information about the project and how to turn it in online later on in the semester.
The second project is a small team project found under the Topic Link for Team Projects
toward the bottom of the topic list on the homepage. I will reveal this link later on in the
semester. See course schedule. You will have two weeks to look over the topics and “sign
up” for your favorite by posting your message to that project’s discussion forum. Simply
state: “I would like to be a part of this team” and give your name. ONLY FOUR STUDENTS
PER TEAM. If a project already has four students posting their interest, move on to another
topic. (If you have not posted your interest in a Team Project by the deadline, you will not
be able to participate and will forfeit 8% of your grade.) You will use the discussion site to
post your final project. You can also use it to correspond with your team members. First,
your team will simply answer the project questions. Second, you will choose one question
to answer creatively. I will post a file with examples of what I mean by creatively. For now,
here is a short list of ideas. You can find a website that answers that question, give the link
and then write a paragraph why you chose that link. Or you could create an online graphic
(think of it as a digital poster you would have made on poster board) and explain the
significance of the items in the graphic. Or you could find good recipes and again explain
why you chose them. Think graphic, video, song, cartoon, either original (what your group
created) or what you found online to add interest to your project.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (DQ): You will be making four (4), and only four, postings to the
Advanced Forums Discussion Board over the course of the 15 week semester. You will find
a list of Discussion Questions (DQs) pertaining to the modules covered. Every two to three
modules (1-2; 3-4; 5-7) will have a list of twelve DQs you can choose from. You will answer
only ONE DQ from each of these three lists. You cannot post twice to the same DQ to earn
double points.
The last of the four discussion questions will be your comment to one of the 20 team
projects. Simply posting, “Great project. I can tell you did a lot of work and I really enjoyed
reading it” is not what I’m looking for. Write about what you learned and why it was
effective. Again, if 3 or 4 students have already posted comments to one particular project,
then read another for comment. Look for Team Project Topic for DQs A through T.
You are expected to make a substantive response to the question asked or to the student
response posted. There is usually nothing new to add to a Discussion Question after four or
five students have answered it so move on to another.
Read all the posted responses FIRST before adding your response to make sure I have
not closed the question and that you are NOT repeating what a classmate has already
posted. I will grade what you have posted. Considering each of your three postings is worth
3% of your grade, make sure you write a meaty paragraph and have data to back up your
statements.
Please capitalize words only to highlight a point; otherwise it is generally viewed as
SHOUTING.
Cite all quotes, references and sources. If quoting from the text, simply say: (from text,
p.##) Plagiarism will be receive a “0” grade, a warning from me and a report to the
department chair. Go to the plagiarism website found under the “Getting Started” section
on the course homepage and read through the information on plagiarism thoroughly. While
I do take satisfaction in catching someone who copied, I do not take pleasure in it.
Remember to cite all quotes, references and sources and full URLs.
I like to respond to everyone's first posting to DQs 1-12 so each student knows what my
expectations are and how well he/she met them. You will not be given a SECOND chance to
submit discussion questions should you not like the grade you received on them. I'll say
this again. If you post a DQ, it will be graded, regardless of a misunderstanding on your
part. Check your course calendar to make sure the set of DQs has not expired. You can
determine if you received credit for your posting by checking the “Grades” link at the right
of the course homepage.
HOW TO NAVIGATE THIS COURSE: The authors of your text decided to split up the
information into modules rather than chapters. So as not to confuse you, I have adopted
modules as well. Each module has sections, usually 5. You will be using your text as a
reference book and will not be reading it cover to cover. I have highlighted relevant
information about the subject in the modules in my own “online Module notes.” When you
look at the course calendar below, you will be directed to read my online notes first, then
go to the text and read the “Summary Points” that come at the end of the corresponding
section. As a review and study guide, go back online and open and fill out the “Take Ten”
questions that pertain to that section of the module. These take ten questions will
sometimes be identical to those in the text and sometimes different. The authors and I do
not always agree on what information is important. If I have changed the Take Ten
questions, you can go to my online notes and find the answers there. This is especially true
for Modules 6 and 7. Often the answers to the Take Ten questions are found in the
“Summary Points” for that section. You will not turn in these Take Ten study guides, but if
you fill them out as you go through the course, you will be in good shape for the online and
final exams. The authors and publisher have provided a lot of ancillaries, some of which I
have included as links after my online module notes. I’ve found other ancillaries at youtube
and other sites. You should open and view all the links under the online module notes. They
will help you understand the material and information in them may appear on your module
exams. At the end of each module in the text, the authors have homework assignment, total
recall and case study quizzes. These are also available online at the end of each module. You
can look them over in the text, then answer them online. You will see which of your
answers are right or wrong that way. I have labeled them optional so they do not count
toward your grade.
PRINT OUT THIS SYLLABUS and Course Calendar. Good luck!
Course Calendar
January 13-18: Read the syllabus and view the Tour of Homepage. Take the Mandatory
Orientation Quiz found under the “Getting Started” topic.
Go to Module 1 Topic
Read online Module 1.1 and view any links below it.
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Module 1.1
January 19 - 25: Read online Module 1.2 Carbohydrates and online Module 1.3 Protein and
view any links below them.
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Modules 1.2 and 1.3
Sunday, January 26: Official day of record. If you do not take the mandatory introductory
quiz by 3PM this day, you will not be considered an “active” participant in this course as
mandated by the Distance Education Department at HCC.
January 26-February 1: Read online Module 1.4 Fats and online Module 1.5 Vitamins,
Minerals, Water and view any links below them.
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Modules 1.4 and 1.5
Finish Take-Ten Review sheets—optional but recommended
Online EXAM 1 over Modules 1.1 to 1.5 expires on February 15
February 2-8: Read online Module 2.1 Food Labels (also See Table C-3 on page in text 457)
and online Module 2.2 Dietary Reference Intakes and online Module 2.3 Module 2.3 Myplate
and online Module 2.4 Dietary Guidelines and Recommendations and view any links below
them
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Modules 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4
Finish Take-Ten Review sheets—optional but recommended
February 9-15: Read online Module 3.1 The Gastrointestinal System and online Module 3.2
Protein and view any links below them
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Module 3.1 and Module 3.2
Online EXAM 2 over Modules 2.1 to 2.4 expires on March 1
Discussion Questions (DQs) 1-12 covering Modules 1 and 2 expire on March 1.
Answer only ONE DQ from this set of DQs 1 through 12.
February 16-22: Read online Module 3.3 Photosynthesis and fiber and online Module 3.4
Carbohydrate storage and disorders and view any links below them
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Module 3.3 and Module 3.4
February 23-March 1: Read online Module 3.5 Lipid and Heart Disease and view any links
below it
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Module 3.5
Finish Take-Ten Review sheets—optional but recommended
Online EXAM 3 over Modules 3.1 to 3.5 expires on March 22
February 23 midnight: Team Project Topics open for selection. Post to the Discussion
Question Topic A-T that you want to be a part of.
March 8 midnight: Team Project Topics closed. If you haven’t posted to a Team
Project Discussion Question that you want to participate in, it is now too late.
March 2- 8: Read online Module 4.1 Obesity and online Module 4.2 Energy Balance and
online Module 4.3 Body Composition and weight control and view any links below them
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Module 4.1 and Module 4.2 and Module 4.3
March 9-15: SPRING BREAK
March 16-22: Read online Module 4.4 Principles of Fitness and online Module 4.5 Exercise
Nutrition
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Module 4.4 and Module 4.5 and view any links
below them
See Topic for video instructions on how to complete the Nutrition Evaluation Project and
pertinent links.
Finish Take-Ten Review sheets for Module 4—optional but recommended
Online EXAM 4 over Modules 4.1 to 4.5 expires on April 12
Discussion Questions (DQs) 13-24 covering Modules 3 and 4 expire on April 12.
Answer only ONE DQ only from this set of DQs 13 through 24.
March 23-29: Read online Module 5.1 Fat-soluble Vitamins and online Module 5.2 Watersoluble vitamins and Read online Module 5.3 Water and electrolytes and view any links
below them
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Module 5.1 and Module 5.2 and Module 5.3
March 31, 4:30 PM: Withdrawal deadline
March 30- April 5: Read online Module 5.4 Major Minerals in bone and online Module 5.5
Trace minerals and view any links below them
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Module 5.4 and Module 5.5
Finish Take-Ten Review sheets for Module 5—optional but recommended
April 5 Team Project Due by posting to Advanced Forum Discussion Question A-T.
April 11 Extra Credit due in Biology Dept office, LHSB 402 by 3 PM (no staff on duty
after 3 PM) or through US MAIL. If you have a scanner, you can scan it and attach to
an email. Do not drop off extra credit at the front desk of the LHSB or at the library in
the LHSB.
Online EXAM 5 over Modules 5.1 to 5.5 expires on April 19
April 6-12: Read online Module 6 that covers the whole module on Food Safety
Finish Take-Ten Review sheet for Module 6—optional but recommended
Online EXAM 6 over Module 6 expires on April 26
April 13-19: Read online Module 7.1 on Pregnancy and online Module 7.2 Nutrition During
Infancy and view any links below them
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Module 7.1 and Module 7.2
April 19: Nutrition Evaluation Project DUE—submit online—Look under Module 4
for links pertaining to this project
April 20-26: Read online Module 7.3 Childhood and online Module 7.4 Adolescence and
view any links below them
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Module 7.3 and Module 7.4
Discussion Questions (DQs) 25-36 covering Modules 5, 6 and 7 expire on April 26.
This is a week before classes end. I want you to use this week to review the course
for the final exam.
April 27-May 3 Read and online Module 7.5 Seniors
Read the “Summary Points” in the text for Module 7.5
Finish Take-Ten Review sheet for Module 7—optional but recommended
This is week to catch up and review and finish your last online exam. Use all the Take Ten
review questions for each module as study guides for the final exam. If you wait until
Saturday December 6th to take Exam 6 and there is a problem, I cannot fix it in time to get
grades in. So take your exam early.
Online EXAM 7 over Modules 7.1 to 7.5 expires on May 3 (Take Note: This is NOT the
final exam. You will take the final exam on the weekend of May 2-4 at one of the
three testing centers. See my email about the final exam in your Eagle Online email
inbox)
Final Exam in person on: Friday May 2 at Central Campus, or
Saturday May 3 at Katy Campus, or
Sunday May 4 at Southeast Campus