Bios 160 General Biology
1617
Instructor: E. Stavney
2025
MW 5:30-9:40 in AS
Summer 2011 Course
Lecture and Lab Schedule
Week Dates
Lecture Topic
1
M Jun 27
Review of Syllabus, Biology as a Science
Chemistry: Essentials and Important Biomolecules
Lab: Introduction to Lab, Safety, and Microscopes
Chp 1†
Chp 2,3
W Jun 29
Chemistry, continued
Cell Structure: How Things Are Put Together
Lab: Microscopy
Chp 2,3
Chp 4
M July 4
NO CLASS - INDEPENDENCE DAY
W July 6
Cell Structure, continued
The Working Cell: Energetics and Enzymes
Lab: Cell Diversity
M July 11
Exam I (Study of Biology, Chemistry, & Cell Structure)
Membranes: Barriers and Moving Things Across Them
W July 13
Cell Respiration: Converting Food to ATP Energy
Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food
Lab: Diffusion and Osmosis
Chp 6
Chp 7
M July 18
Inheritance: Why Offspring Look Like Their Parents
Other Inheritance Patterns: Variations in Mendel's Laws
Lab: Photosynthesis and Respiration
Chp 9
Chp 9
W July 20
Exam II (Enzymes, Membranes, Respiration, & Photosynthesis)
Making More By Yourself: Mitosis
Chp 8
Activity: Heredity and Genetics
M July 25
Making More with a Partner: Meiosis
DNA as the Genetic Material
Lab: Meiosis and Mitosis
Chp 8
Chp 10
W July 27
How Genes Dictate Form and Function
Activity: DNA and Gene Expression
Chp 10
2
3
4
5
† Chapter
Assigned Reading
Chp 5
Chp 5
Readings in Simon, Reece, and Dickey, Campbell's Essential Biology, 4rd Ed.
Biology 160 General Biology Syllabus
E. Stavney pg. 1
Week Dates
Lecture Topic
6
M Aug 1
Cancer, Stem Cells, and Biotechnology
Lab: DNA Investigation, Part 1
W Aug 3
Exam III (Genetics, Mitosis/Meiosis, Genes, & Biotechnology)
How Populations Evolve
Chp 13
Lab: DNA Investigation, Part 2
M Aug 8
How Biological Diversity Evolves
Evolution of Microbes, Plants, & Fungi
Evolution of Animals
W Aug 10
Evolution of Animals, continued
Population Ecology
Lab: Darwinian Snails: Modeling Evolution
M Aug 15
Communities and Ecosystems: Food Chains
Biomes
Lab: Food Webs and Community Dynamics
W Aug 17
EXAM IV (Evolution, Microbes-Animals, Ecology, Biomes)
5:30-7:30pm
7
8
† Chapter
Assigned Reading
Chp 121
Chp 14
Chp 15,16
Chp 17
Chp 17
Chp 18
Chp 19,20
Chp 20
Readings in Simon, Reece, and Dickey, Campbell's Essential Biology, 4rd Ed.
Biology 160 General Biology Syllabus
E. Stavney pg. 2
Course Description
This is an introductory biology course covering basic biological concepts with emphasis
on general cell processes, plant and animal diversity, morphology, limited reproduction,
phylogeny of living organisms, and an exploration of molecular genetics.
Upon completing this specific course, you should have a strong foundation on the
principles of science and the ability to conduct biological experiments. You will also continue
your learning in scientific communication and working as part of a team. You should develop
enhanced scientific problem-solving skills in this course as well. Finally, you should be
adequately prepared to move onto more challenging courses in pre-health care classes such as
anatomy and physiology, and microbiology.
Course Outcomes:






Explain basic biological concepts and recognize the possible uses of this kind of
knowledge
Recognize and use the language and symbols employed in Biology
Use Biology to solve problems, discuss global and local scientific issues, and better
explain the world around you
Work successfully in a collaborative learning environment to solve problems and
complete course activities
Think responsibly and proactively about the health and well-being of planet earth and all
its inhabitants
Begin to understand yourself as a learner of science and demonstrate skills in taking
responsibility for your own learning
Required Texts and Supplies for Bio 160

Essential Biology, 3rd or 4th ed.; Simon, Reece, and Dickey; Pearson: Benjamin Cummings,
ISBN: 9780321652898

The ability to download and print activity and lab instructions from the internet at
http://facweb.northseattle.edu/estavney/ and to read and prepare for these sessions using
the downloaded handout (be sure to bring a hard copy to class!)
Supplemental Resources
You are strongly encouraged to visit the website associated with your textbook at
http://www.masteringbio.com/. At this website, you can take quizzes for any of your textbook
chapters and select readings (Web Links) related to each chapter. You may be assigned to read
material or take quizzes on the Internet as part of this course. To sign onto this website you
need to enter the Access Code that is revealed by scratching off the silver paint from the first
page of your textbook (see lower right of page). Be sure to navigate to the Essential Biology
website.
Our website where you can download the lab worksheets and other helpful study
materials is at http://facweb.northseattle.edu/estavney/Bio160.
Biology 160 General Biology Syllabus
E. Stavney pg. 3
Instructor Information
Mr. Eric Stavney
Office: IB 2324C Phone: (206) 527-3755
Email: estavney@sccd.ctc.edu
Office Hours for Summer 2011 will be by appointment, usually before class or during lab
You may leave messages for me at the telephone number or email address above.
Attendance and Policies
Students should attend every class session. It is the student's responsibility to obtain
lecture notes, handouts, or other materials in case of an absence. Please see my policy in the
Grades section about missing exams. In general, I will do all I can to help students who must
miss class due to illness or other emergencies, but I must know as soon as possible. A
student who stops attending class without an official withdrawal will be assigned a grade based
on the work completed up to that point.
This is a course that will require a great deal of individual effort by each student. I have
given you a detailed schedule of the quarter for a reason. With this schedule, you will be able to
stay on top of the material, and should not be pressed for time. Attendance, attentiveness, and
effort are essential for success in the class. I also highly recommend that you find some fellow
students to study with!
You have the option of withdrawing from this course as late as Friday, the 11th week of
the term. Withdrawing or dropping is the responsibility of the student, not the instructor.
Please note that no food or drink is allowed in the classrooms, except in sealed
containers inside of a bag or backpack. We ask that you leave coffee, water bottles, or
any other "exposed comestible" outside of the classroom. No food or drink is allowed in
the laboratory room in any form, for additional reasons of lab safety. This rule will be
rigorously enforced.
Please turn off your cell phones and all other audible devices out of courtesy to your
classmates and the instructor. I will ask you to leave class if the device goes off twice in the same
class session.
Many people suffer from allergies and/or chemical sensitivities. As NSCC is officially
a “fragrance-free” campus, please minimize your use of perfumes, colognes, and other
heavily scented products.
Laboratory and Activity Worksheets
Worksheets for each lab exercise or "activity" can be found online at
http://facweb.northseattle.edu/estavney/Bio160. The labs or activities online are ordered
sequentially in the same order as you'll need them, but check your syllabus to be sure you are
downloading and printing the correct activity or lab exercise. As your instructor, I reserve the
right to change the dates when we are supposed to do an exercise, or to cancel it altogether. I
will give you plenty of warning if I need to do this.
On all worksheets, you are expected to completely answer all questions neatly with
complete sentences (standard English grammar and spelling) and draw all required diagrams or
pictures. Be sure you don't leave anything blank unless otherwise noted All lab or activity
worksheets are due at the very beginning of the subsequent session held in the laboratory (e.g. a
lab performed Tuesday is due within 10 minutes of starting time on Friday, and activities done
on Friday are due the following Tuesday). Late papers receive 20% off for each class session
Biology 160 General Biology Syllabus
E. Stavney pg. 4
that they are late. A late paper is any submission that is turned in after the first ten minutes of
the class session when it is due. No credit will be given to you if you were not present
for the lab session, even if you turn in a completed worksheet.
Environmental Action Assignment
You will be assigned an " environmental action" as a means to get you to be an active
participant in conserving the Earth, taking it one step closer to making the environment a
better place. This action will be documented (by you) through a flier or advertisement of an
event signed by the leader, and should include the specific time and dates and where you were
an active participant in some area of environmental responsibility and action. Ideas include, but
are not limited to: being a volunteer in a local community group doing environmental service
(including trash pickup), starting a recycling area with follow-through in your area of residence
or employment (not your personal / family residence), doing some active work in a local stream
restoration project, beach clean up, etc.
You are to type a one to three page paper describing your action (s), with an attached
mandatory proof/affidavit (signed for example by a leader in charge of the restoration or
cleanup) and turned on or before the due date.
This assignment is due within the first ten minutes of class on the day of class (see
schedule for this date). No late environmental action papers will be accepted. This assignment
is worth 50 points.
Grading
Your final grade in this course will be based on the total amount of points that you earn
on quizzes, lectures exams, lab exams, and homework assignments as follows:
4 Lecture Exams (lowest score dropped) @ 100 pts each
400
9 of 10 Laboratory/Activity Assignments (lowest score dropped) @ 20 each
180
Environmental Action Assignment
50
630 total possible
Grades will be assigned as follows:
A (3.5-4.0)
B (2.9-3.4)
B-/C+ (2.2-2.8)
C-/C (1.5-2.1)
D+/D- (0.9-1.4)
F (0.0-0.8)
90-100% of total points and above
80-89.9% of total points
70-79.9% of total points
60-69.9% of total points
50-59.9% of total points
below 50% of total points
Please note that the grade ranges and the percentage of points assigned to them are not
linear and are only approximate. That is, the instructor reserves the right to decide whether a
3.1, for example, is earned by any percentage score between about 81-88%.
If you miss an exam for any reason you should email me immediately in order to be
possibly considered for a makeup exam. If you miss a midterm exam without notifying me or
providing a compelling excuse (as decided by your instructor), your course grade will be reduced
by 16%. Only under very compelling circumstances will a makeup be possible, and that makeup
exam may be in an oral, rather than a written, format. Your instructor may choose instead to
prorate your missed exam, giving you the average score earned on all your other exams
Biology 160 General Biology Syllabus
E. Stavney pg. 5
combined. Extra credit questions may be offered on any of the exams to help you increase your
point total.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated, and will result in a ZERO for the affected
exam, quiz, or assignment. A second offense will result in a failing grade and you will be barred
from the class for the remainder of the quarter. Additionally, I will notify the Vice President of
Students of your academic dishonesty. Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty where you
present ideas, diagrams, or other information without crediting your source; you present the
ideas or writings as if they were your own. Even if you do credit your source, you will not receive
a good grade if your writing consists of direct quotations. If you’re not familiar with plagiarism,
or have any concerns about what constitutes plagiarism, please talk with your instructor!
Disability Accommodation
NSCC supports students with special needs. Students with disabilities must contact Student
Services to arrange any special accommodations.
How to do well in this class
In reading the assigned material, take notes. Paraphrase the material in your own
words; do not just copy the text! If you can't say something in your own words, then you
probably don't understand it. Don't skip over the pictures and examples given in the text. Think
about them as you read because the examples help you remember concepts, principles and aid
you to help solve some of the problems you'll be given in the group discussions. Use the course
website at http://facweb.northseattle.edu/estavney/ to get study sheets and practice materials
helpful in studying for exams. Make concepts maps or review sheets for yourself to help
associate ideas together and to organize the material in a way that makes sense for you.
Extra Credit
Extra credit questions may be offered on any of the exams to help you increase your
point total. You may also earn extra credit by completing certain online biology labs or taking
off-campus field trips to biologically significant locations. The Biology Online labs have to be
completed by certain dates in order to earn extra credit. All other extra credit may be turned in
on the first lab session of the last week of class. No late extra credit submissions will be
considered. The maximum amount of extra credit you can earn is 32 points.
The most useful form of extra credit that you can do is to make a concept map of any
lecture, aside from the first lecture. Concept mapping is the drawing of an elaborate diagram
showing the topics, subtopics, and sub-sub topics of a particular subject. The goal of a concept
map is to get you to associate ideas and organize lecture material. It requires you to be fairly
familiar with how the subjects of a lecture are linked together. It is a great way to review your
notes and study. A properly made concept map for this class is one that includes an entire
lecture's worth of material (where a "lecture" is defined by the coverage of a lecture PowerPoint)
and must only contain information actually discussed in class. Thus, making a concept map of a
textbook chapter defeats the purpose here; the idea is to get you to take good notes and to
organize your notes to make a map.
Concept maps should be done on an 8 ½ x 11” piece(s) of paper, but you can use both
sides. Typing up concepts maps using text boxes in Word is OK, but you may be better served
Biology 160 General Biology Syllabus
E. Stavney pg. 6
by drawing them neatly by hand. Legibility and neatness are part of your concept map grade.
Concept maps can earn up to 5 points each.
You will have 1 week to complete a concept map for any particular lecture
and to turn it in. That is, a lecture given on a Monday can be mapped for extra credit and
submitted the following Monday in lecture. Obviously you shouldn't copy or print out someone
else’s map as your own! If you study together with someone else, be sure your concept map is
significantly unique so it won't be viewed as a copy. Copied concept maps will not earn any
credit and will be considered an act of academic dishonesty (for which there are severe
penalties).
Extra credit can also be earned by working with an established
environmental group performing stewardship activities such as tree planting, cleanup, or
brush removal. These hours are different than or beyond the 2 hours you spend on your
Environmental Action Assignment. You will need a paper from the event showing how many
hours you worked and signed by the leader of the team. Turn this in with a brief description of
what you did and where you did it. You can earn 5 points per hour you work. The maximum
amount of extra credit of any kind is 32 points.
Biology 160 General Biology Syllabus
E. Stavney pg. 7
How to Preread a Textbook Chapter
1. Read the chapter title. The title provides the overall topic of the chapter.
2. Read the introduction or first paragraph. The introduction or fist paragraph if
there is not introduction, serves as a lead-in to the chapter. It gives you an idea of
where the material is starting and where it is leading.
3. Read each major heading. The boldface heading will give you an idea of what is
contained in the following chapter section.
4. Read the first (topic) sentence of each paragraph. The first sentence often
tells you what the paragraph is about or states the central thought. However, be
aware that in some material the first sentence may instead function as a transition or
lead-in statement. In this case, go on to the second sentence to try to determine the
central thought.
5. Look over any typographical aids. Notice words in slanted italic type or in
dark boldface type; usually a definition of an important term follows.
6. Look over any visual aids carefully. Notice any material that is numbered 1, 2,
3, lettered a, b, c, or presented in list form. Graphs, charts, pictures, diagrams, and
maps are very important means of conveying information in science. Read the
captions that go with these graphic aids. Visual aids are included to point out what is
important in the chapter.
7. Read the last paragraph or summary. The last paragraph or summary give a
condensed view of the chapter and helps you identify important ideas. Often the
summary outlines the main points of the chapter.
8. Read quickly any end-of-chapter material. If there are study questions, read
through them quickly since they will indicate what is important in the chapter. If a
vocabulary item is included, skim through the list rapidly to identify terms you will
need to learn as you read.
Adapted from Kate Kinsella, San Francisco State University, 1994
Biology 160 General Biology Syllabus
E. Stavney pg. 8
How To Take Great Lecture Notes
BEFORE THE LECTURE
1. Read the required assignments in your textbook.
2. Review any notes you took in the previous class session.
3. Write down any questions about the homework reading or assignments that you want to ask
your teacher during the next day's lecture and discussion.
4. Come to class ready to take notes. Bring a binder with enough paper and a pen.
5. Sit near the front of the class to better see the chalkboard and hear your teacher.
6. Keep a separate section in your binder for each class.
7. Get your paper ready to take notes. Draw a 2" margin on the left side of the page.
8. Write the date and the name of the class at the top of the page.
DURING THE LECTURE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Use a blue or black ink pen.
Use standard 81/2" x 11" paper
Write the topic of the lecture at the top of the page.
Write down the main ideas of the lecture on the right side of the page. Save the 2" column
on the left to write down your recall clues after the lecture.
Only write key words and phrases; don't try to copy your teacher's exact sentences
Write down any examples your teacher or classmates use
Write down any new terms your teacher defines.
Use abbreviations whenever possible.
Write as neatly as possible.
Leave plenty of blank space between ideas so you can add missing information after asking
the teacher a questions or asking a classmate for help.
Ask questions during the lecture if you don't understand something. You can also write a
question mark next to any ideas that are unclear. Later you can ask your teacher or a
classmate to explain this idea.
AFTER THE LECTURE
1. Edit your notes immediately after the lecture to remember more facts and examples.
2. Underline important new words and important ideas in your notes.
3. Fill in the left margin with words and phrases that briefly summarize your notes. These
recall clues should be words that will help you remember the complete information in your
notes. You can also write questions in the left margin.
4. To study for a test, cover your notes with a piece of paper, showing only the recall clues in
the left margin. Read the first recall clue and try to remember the information in the notes
beside it. Then slide the paper down and check that portion to see if you remembered all the
important facts. If you remembered only part of the information, cover up your notes again
and try to remember.
5. Make a chart or diagram that links together concepts or ideas from your notes. Try to show
how details are linked together the greater subject or concept.
6. Study the details of a complex subject together with other related details. Make connections.
7. Look for the big picture that holds the details together.
Adapted from Kate Kinsella, San Francisco State University, 1994
Biology 160 General Biology Syllabus
E. Stavney pg. 9
How to Write a Good Exam Essay: An Example
Question: Name three ways that DNA differs from RNA.
Topic sentence and
introductory
paragraph lay out the
points that will be
covered.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) differs from ribonucleic acid (RNA) in three structural
respects. DNA is double-stranded, it uses a different sugar, and it uses the nitrogenous base T
instead of U.
DNA is composed of two antiparallel strands of deoxyribonucleotides. The two strands are
held together by hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous bases of each strand. Unlike DNA,
RNA is composed of only a single strand. It sometimes folds upon itself (as in transfer RNA)
and forms hydrogen bonds between bases in the same strand.
DNA has the sugar deoxyribose, which has only a hydrogen atom attached to the 2’ carbon.
RNA, on the other hand, has the sugar ribose, which has a hydroxyl group (OH) attached to the
2’ carbon.
Finally, DNA utilizes four nitrogenous bases: Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine.
RNA utilizes three of these four bases, with the exception of Thymine. RNA has the base Uracil
instead of Thymine.
In summary, DNA and RNA differ in three important ways, all related to their structure.
These nucleic acids also differ with respect to their function within cells.
Supporting paragraphs take up each
point separately, providing detail.
Each point mentioned in the
introductory paragraph has its own
paragraph.
The summary paragraph recaps
the nature of the question and
how it was answered. It need
not be lengthy, and can often be
a single sentence.
Biology 160 General Biology Syllabus
E. Stavney pg. 10
by Eric Stavney 3/09/09 for Bio 201
Biology 160 General Biology Syllabus
E. Stavney pg. 11