Houston Community College: Spring 2013
Biology 1407 (General Biology II): CRN # 32076
Spring Branch; Mon & Wed; Room 511; 11am - 2 pm
Instructor: Dr. Judith Solti
Office: Spring Branch Campus (at the back of the main bldg); (713) 718-5415; M/W 2 pm.; T/Th 11am
Computer access: judith.solti@hccs.edu (HCC-related business); Please check your HCCS email daily before class
for any Instructor notifications/absences/announcements; DocExo@AOL.com (personal); Facebook
Course Description & Objectives: This 4 credit course focuses on the mechanisms of evolution, biological
diversity, and the form and function of both plants and animals. Emphasis is placed on the anatomy/physiology of
humans. The objective of this course is to give an in-depth study of the biological sciences, especially for those
students pursuing health or life sciences majors. Refer to the student handbook for the HCCS mission statement.
Prerequisite: General Biology I (Bio1406 or equivalent) is required.
Required Textbooks and Course Material: Campbell, N.A., BIOLOGY, 9th Ed;Vol. II, Benjamin/Cummings
Pub., 2011 and Schwartz, D. and Dikeocha, N., BIOLOGY 1407 LABORATORY MANUAL, HCC/Blue Door
Publishing, 2011. Reading your textbook, lab book and any handouts IS required. You are expected to complete the
assigned reading for each topic prior to class. An in-depth copy of the syllabus, as well as all handouts, homeworks,
and test reviews may be found on Dr. Solti’s Learning Web site at www.hccs.edu.
Optional Material: Class notes may be purchased in the Spring Branch HCCS Bookstore: Solti, Judith, BIOS
MEANS LIFE: Domains and Their Organisms, Vol. II, 4th Ed.2012. This is an optional, but helpful purchase.
Also helpful is the website Biology Lab Study Pages written by HCCS faculty at hccs.edu/biologylabs. Online
tutoring for all HCC students, in all subjects, is available at www.hccs.askonline.net.
Attendance: Class attendance is MANDATORY. Attendance will be taken at some point during every class
period. By HCC District policy, more than four absences (for any reason) may result in administrative withdrawal
(W). There are no exceptions for veterans, international students, students on financial aid or on their parents'
insurance. If you are absent, you are responsible for all material covered and any homework/labs assigned.
Class will start on time; tardiness is disrespectful to the Instructor and other students. If you arrive 30 minutes or
more late, it will be counted as an absence. If you arrive late, it is your responsibility to inform the Instructor of your
attendance before you leave class that day and to catch up on any announcements given. If you must leave class
early for any reason, please discuss your departure with the Instructor as it may be counted as an absence. Late
arrivals, early departures, and excessive absences will affect your grade.
Withdrawals: Any time at 4 absences, your Instructor will discuss the option of withdrawing you from this course
as mandated by HCCS policy. April 1, 2013, however, is the last day a Counselor/Instructor may withdraw you
from classes. After that date, withdrawal is not permitted and students may risk getting an “F” in the course.
Student Conduct (refer to Student Handbook): HCC views college-level students as adults who subscribe to a
basic standard of conduct. Therefore, appropriate student conduct is expected in the classroom at all times.
Lecture Examinations: Students are expected to participate in all examinations. If a student arrives late, they will
have only the time remaining from the official start of the exam. Students must take the final exam during the
scheduled time/date or a grade of “F” will be given for the final exam. No exam grades will be dropped. Make up
exams will be given only for valid excuses (must provide medical, legal, or other substantial documentation) and
will be given at the HCCS Testing Center; the format for a make-up exam will be primarily essay.
Bonus Point Opportunities: Pop quizzes will be given throughout the semester to gauge progress as well as to
earn bonus points. There is absolutely NO make-up for a missed pop quiz since it also rewards attendance. Other
bonus point opportunities may also be offered, such as service learning and/or a communication skills-based project.
Laboratory Conduct and Examinations: Students are expected to abide by the rules of safety at all times during
the laboratory exercises and are required to read and sign the HCC "Safety Guidelines Acknowledgement”. Students
will work in groups in the lab, and may work within the group to complete lab reports. These lab reports are worked
Spring 2013
Biology 1407
CRN # 32076
Mon & Wed; Room 511; 11am - 2pm
in your own lab book (no Xeroxes allowed) and shown/turned in at the end of that class period or the beginning of
the next. Late lab reports may be turned in for a starting grade of 50%, but must be turned in before the scheduled
Lab Practical Exam. There is no make-up for a missed Lab Practical Exam - it is an automatic “0”.
Scholastic Dishonesty During Examinations: A written warning will be issued for a first suspicion of dishonesty
on a lab report. Further dishonesty will result in a grade of “0” on those reports. In the case of dishonesty on an
examination (refer to Student Handbook), a grade of “0” will be given for the exam and the student will not be
allowed to complete the exam or stay in the room. If dishonesty becomes a chronic and persistent problem, the
student may receive an “F” for the course.
Miscellaneous: Smoking is not allowed in the class or lab. Cellular phones must be turned off and out of sight,
especially during exams . Any student texting will be asked to step out of the class. Video recording is not
permitted. Tape recorders or laptops may be allowed with permission (laptops may only be used for course
material). If you have ANY problem that you would like us to address, please inform the Instructor as soon as
possible. Students with disabilities (ADA) should inform their Instructor as soon as possible for a referral to the
ADA counselor for "reasonable accommodations" recommendations. Students who repeat a course for a 3rd or more
times WILL face tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges. Please ask your Instructor/Counselor
about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance prior to course withdrawal or if you are not receiving a passing
grade.
Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System: (EGLS3): At HCC, professors believe that thoughtful
student feedback is necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to
answer a short, anonymous survey related to instruction, which will be made available to your professors and
department chairs for continual improvement of instruction.
GRADE COMPUTATION
4 Lecture Exams
= 400 pts
1 Lab Exam
= 200 pts
Final Exam(s)
= 200 pts
Lab Reports/Hmwrks
= 100 pts
Partic/Attend.
= 100 pts
Total
=1000 pts
= 40%
= 20%
= 20% (Discipline Final worth 5%; Dr. Solti’s Final worth 15%)
= 10%
= 10%
=100%
GRADING SCALE
1000 - 900 points = 100 - 90% = A
899 - 800 points = 89 - 80% = B
799 - 700 points = 79 - 70% = C
699 - 600 points = 69 - 60% = D
599 - 0 points = 59 - 0% = F
IMPORTANT DATES
January 13
Last day for drop/add/swap/registration ends
January 14
Classes begin
January 21
School closed- Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
January 28
Official date of record
February 18
School closed - Presidents Day Holiday
March 11-17
School closed - Spring Break
March 29-31
School closed - Spring Holiday
April 1
Last day for administrative/student withdrawals (4:30 p.m.)
May 5
Instruction ends
May 6-12
Final exams
Keep ahead of the material! Educators suggest studying 2-3 hours for each hour of class time. For this class,
that equals 12-15 hours/week of studying. However, this is a course that requires a lot of memorization. So, if
you have trouble memorizing, you may need to spend more time for the grade you hope to achieve.
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Spring 2013
Biology 1407
CRN # 32076
Mon & Wed; Room 511; 11am - 2pm
In General Biology II, the student is responsible for the following Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
 The student will be able to state observations/inferences leading to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by natural
selection.
 The student will be able to compare and contrast the important morphological, taxonomic, and developmental
characteristics of: Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda, Chordata, Vertebrata
 Resources: Cambell and Reese Biology 9th Ed, 2011; www.hccs.edu/biologylabs
 The student will be able to explain the important anatomical and operational aspects of the following animal
systems: digestive, respiratory, circulatory, immune, endocrine, reproductive, nervous, and muscular systems.
 The student will be able to perform an experiment in population genetics and analyze the data by means of the
Hardy-Weinberg equation.
 Given a half-life in an appropriate scenario, the student will be able to calculate the age of an object by means
of isotopic decay.
 Learning Methods: Read course textbook, read laboratory manual, attend lectures
 Resources: Campbell and Reese Biology 9th Ed, 2011; Mastering Biology; Lab Manual; The Learning
Web; Class Discussions
 The student will develop the habit of reliable attendance by being absent from class no more than 4
times/semester.
 The student will demonstrate punctuality in the submission of class assignments on their due date.
 Learning Methods: Read HCC Student Manual
 Resources: HCC Student Manual; The Learning Web (syllabus); Student Counseling
COURSE SCHEDULE
DATE
Jan 14
Jan 16
TOPIC
Syllabus/Introduction to Evolution
Intro.to Evolution (cont'd)
CHAPTER#
22
22
LAB#
Lab Safety
--
Jan 21
Jan 23
Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday
Evolution of Pops./Origin of Species
-23, 24
-1
Jan 28
Jan 30
Early Earth
Phylogeny & the Tree of Life
25
26, Review
2
--
Feb 4
Feb 6
1st EXAM (Ch 22-26)
Bacteria
EXAM
27
-3
Feb 11
Feb 13
Protists
Intro to Plants/Seed Plants
28
29, 30
4
--
Feb 18
Feb 20
Presidents Day Holiday
Fungi
-31, Review
---
Feb 25
Feb 27
2nd EXAM (Ch 27-31)
Evolution of Animals
EXAM
32
5
Animal Specimens
Mar 4
Mar 6
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
33
34
---
Mar 11
Mar 13
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
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Spring 2013
Biology 1407
CRN # 32076
Mon & Wed; Room 511; 11am - 2pm
COURSE SCHEDULE (CONTINUED)
Mar 18
Mar 20
Animal Tissues/Thermoregulation
Gastrointestinal System
40
41, Review
8
Models
Mar 25
Mar 27
3rd EXAM (Ch 32-34, 40-41)
Blood/Cardiovascular
EXAM
42
Models
9, Models
Apr 1
Apr 3
Lymphatic/Respiratory Systems
Immune System
42
43
10, Models
Models
Apr 8
Apr 10
Excretory System /Homeostasis
Endocrine System
44
45
Models
Models
Apr 15
Apr 17
No Class: Jury Duty
Reproductive System
-46, Review
-Models
Apr 22
Apr 24
4th EXAM (Ch 42-26)
LAB PRACTICAL EXAM
EXAM
--
Lab Practical Review
LAB EXAM
Apr 29
May 1
Neurons & Nervous Systems
No Class: Study Day
48, 49
--
---
May 6, Mon
FINAL EXAMS: Cumulative
Discipline Final Exam and Dr. Solti’s Final Exam
11 am- 1 pm
Page 4