Introductory Biology I
Spring 2016
Biol 1308 Crn# 91417
Course location and times: Stafford campus; Scarcella Science & Technology Building.
Wednesdays.
11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Room W125
Course semester credit hours:
3 Semester Credit hours
Course contact hours:
Course length:
Instruction type:
Instructor:
48 hrs lecture
16 weeks
In-person, Lecture
Kahkashan Sultana
Office hours By Appointment only
Email address: Kahkashan.Sultana@hccs.edu
Course Description:
BIOL 1308 is a lecture class only. It is a course under Natural Science curriculum requirement for non-science majors requiring a 3 hour credit science course. This course includes basic chemistry, biological molecules, cell structure and function, photosynthesis and respiration, cell division, genetics and molecular biology (DNA/RNA structure and function).
This course cannot be used in conjunction with 1406.
You are spending a good deal of time, energy and money on this course – please, make the most of your investment!
It takes approximately 2-3 hours of study time for each hour of class time to master the material . This class will have over 48 contact hours (3 hr. credit).
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The class and study time necessary to succeed in this class will be around 120-150 hrs!
Course Prerequisites:
College Level Reading as determined by SAT, ACT, TASP or successfully passing ENGL0305 with “C” or better.
Course Goals:
The objective of this course is to give students the basic knowledge of life sciences.
PROGRAM LEVEL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Program SLO #1
To recognize, identify, and describe the basic structures and functions associated with most life forms.
Program SLO #2
To develop study skills and habits appropriate for pre-professional students interested in health-related fields.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR 1308:
SLO1 : Describe scientific terminology and learn accurate use of them in living organisms
SLO2: Define principles of living organisms including physical and chemical properties of life.
SLO3: Understand function at the level of molecules and cells, to include biological macromolecules, cellular organization, communication, and cell division. Understand energy transformations and the metabolic reactions associated with cellular activities, such as the processes of glycolysis, fermentation, cellular respiration, and photosynthesis.
SLO4: Explain the molecular sequence of events involved in the flow and expression of genetic information in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, with special emphasis on the understanding of DNA replication, RNA transcription, and protein biosynthesis and mutation.
SLO5: Understand basic knowledge of Mendelian genetics, perform and interpret genetic problems. Describe advances made in the understanding of genes and chromosomes since Mendel.
SLO6: Apply scientific method of asking a question, developing and testing hypothesis by experiments, collecting and writing organized reports. Develop critical thinking and distinguish theory from a hypothesis.
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Tentative Lecture Schedule
Week Lecture Topics
Week1 Chapter 1: Introduction: Biology Today
Week2
Week3
Week 4
Chapter 2
– Essential Chemistry for Biology
Chapter 3 – The Molecules of Life; Quiz #1 (20 PTS)
Chapter 4 - A Tour of the Cell; Lecture Exam –I; (100 PTS)
Week 5 Chapter 4 - A Tour of the Cell (Cont.)
Week 6
Week 7
Chapter 5- The Working Cell; Quiz #2 (20 PTS)
Chapter 6- Cellular Respiration; Quiz #3 (20 PTS)
Week 8 Chapter 7 – Photosynthesis; Lecture Exam – II; (100 PTS)
Week 9 Spring Break
Week 10 Chapter 8 – Cellular Reproduction: Cells from Cells
Chapter 9 – Patterns of Inheritance; Quiz #4 (20 PTS)
Week 11 Chapter 10
– The Structure and Function of DNA;
Week 12 Chapter 11
– How Genes are Controlled;
Lecture Exam
–III; (100 points)
Week 13 Chapter 11 – How Genes are Controlled (Cont.) Quiz #5 (20 PTS)
Week 14 Chapter 12 – DNA Technology; Lecture Exam –IV; (100 points)
Week 15 Chapter 13- How Populations Evolve;
Week 16 Final Examination Comprehensive (Instructor and Departmental)
*Note that your instructor reserves the right to change the schedule as needed at any point during the course.
Student
Assignments:
Students are required to read assigned chapters and to complete chapter before coming to the class. They also need to take the quizzes and submit the scientific reports on time.
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Student
Assessments:
Students will be assessed via lecture examinations, quizzes, scientific reports and comprehensive final examination. (see below for Instructor’s grading system)
Instructional
Materials:
Textbook:
Simon, Eric, Reece, Jane, and Dickey, Jean., CAMPBELL
ESSENTIAL BIOLOGY WITH PHYSIOLOGY, (CUSTOM EDITION
FOR HCC) San Francisco, CA, Pearson Benjamin Cummings,
2013, ISBN 13:978-1-269-75336-4.
Instructor Requirements:
Basic requirements
Students should be on time for class and be prepared with required materials including textbook. Full class attendance is required during lecture.
Phones/electronic devices
Absolutely no phone or other personal electronic devices are to be used during class (lecture and lab) . This includes making or taking a call, reviewing messages, texting, playing games, checking email, surfing the web, anything that involves a phone or other personal electronic device. If your work or family situation requires that you be available via phone, your phone can be on vibrate mode and you can take the call during our regular scheduled breaks or you can exit the class to review the call. Notify your friends, family, employers, and anyone else who regularly contacts you that you will be in class and that you should be contacted only when necessary. The taking of calls during class is not only disruptive but it is also discourteous to classmates and the instructor.
Testing procedures
Be sure to arrive early for your examinations. Make sure you bring your own scantron and pencils. There are time limits for exams. You will not be given extended time for testing if you arrive late.
Entering and exiting the lecture room is not permitted once exams have begun. Please be sure to use bathroom before or after.
Deportment
Students are expected to conduct themselves as adults. This includes courteous and respectful behavior towards instructor and classmates. Disruptive behavior or any behavior that interferes with any educational activity being performed by the instructor will not be allowed. Additionally, 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. Disruptive behavior may result in removal from the class for that day.
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Instructor’s grading system:
There will be three lecture examinations along with a final exam. Two out of three lecture examinations will count towards the grade. There will be no makeup exam.
Grading Policy: Grade Scale
Lecture exams (average of top 3 grades) 50% A 90-100
Final Exams ( Instructor’s and Departmental) 20% B 80-89
Quizzes (average of top 4) 25% C 70-79
Attendance 5% D 60-69
F Below 60
Instructor Grading Criteria:
Lecture Exams: There will be four lecture exams and a final exam. There will be about 50-100 multiple choice questions with a few bonus questions and they need to be answered on the scantron. Each exam will carry 100 points.
The final exam is mandatory . No make-up exam will be given.
Only in some extreme instances (e.g., medically excused absence, death in immediate family) a make-up exam will be administered with proper documentation. Three out of four lecture exams will count 50% of final grade.
Quizzes: There will be five quizzes out of which the top four grades will be considered. Quizzes will be based on the previous class lecture and will account 25% of final grade.
Final Exam: The final exam will have similar format as the lecture exams. Along with your Instructor’s final there will be another Departmental Exit Examination, to assess your achievement in the course. Both the exams will be graded. The final exams together will count 20% (10% each) of your total grade .
HCC Policy
Statement: ADA
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. If you have any special needs or disabilities that may affect your ability to succeed in college classes or participate in any college programs or activities, please contact the DSS office for assistance. At Southwest College, contact:
Dr. Becky Hauri
5407 Gulfton
Houston, Texas 77081
Phone: 713-718-7909
Fax: 713-718-7781
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HCC Policy
Statement: Academic
Honesty
HCC Policy
Statement: Sexual
Harassment
HCC Policy
Statement: Safe and
Secure Learning
Environment
Student Success
Policy
HCC Policy
Statement: Student attendance, 3peaters, withdrawal deadline
TTY: 713-718-7909
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 assignment, failure in the course, academic probation, or even dismissal from the college. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
It is a violation of HCCS policy for an employee, agent, or student of the college to engage in sexual harassment as defined in the EEOC guidelines (EEO/AA Compliance Handbook 47).
It is the policy of HCC to provide a safe and secure environment within which learning can take place effectively. Accordingly, disruptive, threatening, or violent behavior in the classroom will not be tolerated. Disruptive, threatening, or violent individuals will be asked to leave the classroom for that day. Failure to comply with this request may lead to removal and/or arrest by the police. This is in addition to any college disciplinary action to which the individual might be liable.
Tutoring
The college will provide tutoring for the students. More information will be available later. You can check the tutoring and open lab. schedule at http://learning.swc.hccs.edu
Early Alert process
To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early
Alert process by which your professor will “alert” you that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. The counselors with work with you to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. Students are responsible for materials covered during their absences, and it is the student's responsibility to consult with instructors for make-up assignments.
Instructors check class attendance daily. A student may be dropped from a course for
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excessive absences after the student has accumulated absences in excess of 12.5% of the hours of instruction.
Class attendance will account 5% of final grade.
Habitual tardiness will not be tolerated. Students are expected to be in attendance for the entirety of the scheduled class and are responsible for completing assignments scheduled during their absence/s. It is the responsibility of each student to amend their professional/personal schedule to meet the class schedule
Repeaters
Students who repeat a course for a third or more times may soon face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. Please ask your instructor / counselor about opportunities for tutoring / other assistance prior to considering course withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing grades.
Withdrawals
In case of prolonged absences the instructor should be notified. The student must go through proper channels in order to officially withdraw from a course; non-attendance does not automatically withdraw one from any course. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a request for withdrawal from any course. Students will be required to formally request a drop from their instructors prior to the administrative drop date deadline.
I will no longer be able to assign a “W” for you after that date!
You will receive the grade you earn, with no exceptions! I am under no obligation to withdraw you from this course if you stop attending! If a student fails to officially withdraw, he or she may be issued the grade of "FX" at the end of the semester for non attendance. Exceptions to this policy will be made only under extraordinary circumstances.
The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively. For example, if you repeat the same course more than twice, you have to pay extra tuition. Beginning in fall 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting first time entering freshmen to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree. There may be future penalties imposed as well.
If you are in difficulty and need assistance - tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement – to stay in class or to improve your academic performance, HCC Student Services can help you. In any case, you no longer are able to drop a course by yourself. You MUST visit with your instructor, or a faculty advisor, or a counselor, or online student services at
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http://studentservicesonline@hccs.edu
prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class.
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 713-718-8520 if you have any questions about your visa status and other transfer issues.
Important Notice:
Student who repeats a course three times or more may soon face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other public colleges and universities. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, testtaking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.
Beginning in fall 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting first time entering freshmen to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree.
ASSESSMENT RUBRICS
INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I - BIOLOGY 1308
Performance Factors Rating Scale
F D C B A
1. 1. Describe scientific terminology and learn accurate use of them in living organisms
Unable to demonstrate knowledge of scientific terminology and its use in living organisms.
Occasionally able to demonstrate knowledge of scientific terminology, unable to demonstrate its use in living organisms.
Occasionally able to demonstrate knowledge of scientific terminology, and its partial use in living organisms.
Consistently able to demonstrate knowledge of scientific terminology, and its partial use in living organisms
Consistently able to demonstrate knowledge of scientific terminology, and its complete use in living organisms
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1.
2. Define principles of living organisms including physical and chemical properties of life.
Unable to demonstrate knowledge of principles of living organisms including physical and chemical properties of life.
Occasionally able to demonstrate knowledge of principles of living organisms , unable to demonstrate physical and chemical properties of life.
Occasionally able to demonstrate knowledge of principles of living organisms and physical and chemical properties of life.
Consistently able to demonstrate knowledge of principles of living organisms and partial knowledge of physical and chemical properties of life.
Consistently able to demonstrate knowledge of principles of living organisms and complete knowledge of physical and chemical properties of life.
2.
3. Understand function at the level of molecules and cells, to include biological macromolecules, cellular organization, communication, and cell division.
Understand energy transformations and the metabolic reactions associated with cellular activities, such as the processes of glycolysis, fermentation, cellular respiration, and photosynthesis.
Unable to explain function at the level of biological macromolecule and cell. Unable to understand energy transformations and the metabolic reactions associated with cellular activities.
Able to explain function at the level of biological macromolecule
,
Able to explain the cellular organization , but not function
Unable to explain cell division.
Unable to explain energy transformations
Unable to explain the metabolic reactions
Able to explain function at the level of biological macromolecule,
Able to explain the cellular organization and function of cell components
Able to explain cell division.
Unable to explain energy transformations
Unable to explain the metabolic reactions associated with cellular activities..
Able to explain the function at the level of molecules and cells, to include biological macromolecules, cellular organization, communication, and cell division.
Able to explain energy transformations.
Unable to explain the metabolic reactions associated with cellular activities, such as the processes of glycolysis, fermentation, cellular respiration, and photosynthesis.
Able to explain the function at the level of molecules and cells, to include biological macromolecules, cellular organization, communication, and cell division.
Able to explain and apply the knowledge of energy transformations
Able to explain the metabolic reactions associated with cellular activities, such as the processes of glycolysis, fermentation, cellular respiration, and photosynthesis.
.
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4. Explain the molecular sequence of events involved in the flow and expression of genetic information in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, with special emphasis on the understanding of
DNA replication,
RNA transcription, protein biosynthesis and mutation.
Unable to explain the molecular sequence of events involved in the flow and expression of genetic information in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, with special emphasis on the understanding of
DNA replication,
RNA transcription, protein biosynthesis and mutation. associated with cellular activities.
Able to explain the molecular sequence of events involved in the flow and expression of genetic information in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Able to explain the process of
DNA replication
Unable to explain RNA transcription, protein biosynthesis and mutation.
Able to explain the molecular sequence of events involved in the flow and expression of genetic information in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Able to explain the process of
DNA replication and RNA transcription.
Unable to demonstrate protein biosynthesis and mutation.
Able to explain the molecular sequence of events involved in the flow and expression of genetic information in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Able to explain the process of DNA replication and RNA transcription
Able to demonstrate partial knowledge of protein biosynthesis and mutation.
Consistently able to explain the molecular sequence of events involved in the flow and expression of genetic information in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Able to explain the process of DNA replication and RNA transcription , protein biosynthesis and mutation.
5. Understand basic knowledge of Mendelian genetics, perform and interpret genetic problems.
Describe advances made in the
Unable to demonstrate basic knowledge of
Mendelian genetics,
Unable to perform and interpret genetic problems.
Unable to describe advances made in the understanding of
Able to demonstrate basic knowledge of
Mendelian genetics,
Unable to perform and interpret genetic problems.
Unable to describe advances made in
Able to demonstrate basic knowledge of
Mendelian genetics,
Less than 50% proficiency in performing and interpretation of genetic problems.
Consistently demonstrates knowledge of
Mendelian genetics,
80% proficiency in performing and interpretation of genetic problems.
Able to describe advances made in
Consistently demonstrates knowledge of
Mendelian genetics,
100% proficiency in performing and interpretation of genetic problems.
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understanding of genes and chromosomes since Mendel.
6. Apply scientific method of asking a question, developing and testing hypothesis by experiments, collecting and writing organized reports. Develop critical thinking and distinguish theory from a hypothesis. genes and chromosomes since
Mendel.
Consistently cannot differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate experimental design, in practice or by scenario. the understanding of genes and chromosomes since
Mendel.
Occasionally differentiates between appropriate and inappropriate experimental design, but needs direction to proceed to next step.
Able to describe advances made in the understanding of genes and chromosomes since
Mendel.
Consistently differentiates between appropriate and inappropriate experimental design, but needs direction to proceed to next step. the understanding of genes and chromosomes since
Mendel.
Consistently differentiates between appropriate and inappropriate experimental design. Attempts to perform some appropriate corrective action or explain some appropriate action; needs some assistance from instructor.
Able to describe advances made in the understanding of genes and chromosomes since Mendel.
Consistently differentiates between appropriate and inappropriate experimental design. Takes appropriate steps or explains appropriate steps independently and correctly.
Is able to distinguish theory from hypothesis on their own.
Your grade will be determined by your scores on the assessments given by your instructor. These grading rubrics are just a general guide to student performance.
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