NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BIOL 1554:
Principles of Biology
Instructor: Dr. Sandra Tedder
Office phone 619-4367
Office #1476
stedder@nwacc.edu
sandytedder@sbcglobal.net
Office Hours:
My schedule for office hours is posted on the door of my office, which is
located in this wing, on west end of the building. It will be best for you to make
an appointment to see me.
Course Description:
My goal in this class is to teach you some of the basic principles of biology
that may be relevant to your life and your future. In order to accomplish this goal,
you must first learn some basic biological information on which the more
interesting and relevant topics are based. We will study chemistry, the cell
theory, genetics and inheritance. We will conclude with addressing the causes of
human health problems and the environmental problems that are associated with
human activities. We will examine these themes and the nature of science. I
hope that you will take away a better understanding of yourself and
consequences of your activities on the many other organisms with which you
share the earth. I also hope that some so you may find biology to be a
fascinating and rewarding field of study and may consider taking on the field as a
major or minor.
Course Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Describe the characteristics of life
Describe the scientific method and its application to the theory of life
Discuss the chemistry and genetic principles of life
Will develop basic skills in light microscopy, observation, and scientific
reporting in the laboratory setting
5. Discuss the theory of evolution to explain the unity and diversity of life
6. Understand the basic principles of ecology
Assignments:
The student is expected to keep current in his reading of the text.
Assignments include homework exercises, lab exercises, scientific lab reports,
and short essays of the video presentations. There will be a prefix-suffix quiz
given weekly. Opportunity for bonus points will be given.
Grading:
Lecture exams @ 100 points each
Unannounced quizzes
Prefix quizzes
Laboratory reports @ 30 points each
Service Learning
400
100
225
120
100
Total ~
= 945
Exams:
Exams may be objective, or a combination of objective, short answer,
and/or essay questions. The items and dates for all major exams will be
announced well in advance. All students are expected to take all exams at the
designated times. Make-up exams will be given for extreme cases only
(documented medical emergencies, etc) at the discretion of the instructor. Only
one make-up exam will be given to any student. If you know in advance that you
must miss a test or lab, see me in advance. I will arrange for you to attend an
earlier or later session. Laboratory and quizzes cannot be made up.
Unannounced quizzes may be given at the beginning of class or at the end of
class. These can not be made up.
SERVICE LEARNING:
You will be required to do 15 hours of service learning. The service learning will
be volunteer work with an agency of my choosing and approved by the Service
Learning Director. All work must be documented. Places you may choose from
are:
Compton Gardens – Bentonville, AR Contact: Boni Melchor 271-0947
boni@comptongardens.org
Botanical Garden of Northwest AR – Fayetteville, AR Contact: Scott Star
443-6638 scottstarr@bgso.org
Arkansas Audubon – Fayetteville, AR Contact: Fran Free 527-0700
ffree@audubon.org
Rogers Recycling – Rogers, AR 636-3593
Forms: http://www.nwacc.edu/LDC/careerservices/service-learning/index.php
Attendance Policy:
Your performance in this course will be greatly impacted by your
attendance. Unless you have a legitimate excuse you should be in every class.
Legitimate excuses are your own illness or a death in the immediate family.
There will not be more than a total of three (3) legitimate excuses. Poor
attendance will make it difficult to prioritize materials while studying for exams.
Also much of the material I cover in the lecture is not given in the textbook. In
the event of unavoidable absence, the student is responsible for securing all
class notes, handouts, reading and/or other assignments, announcements, etc.
from other classmates.
Academic Honesty:
I will make every effort to insure academic honesty in both the lecture and
laboratory. Anyone caught will be subject to any or all of the following: no points
issued for the work involved; an immediate “F” for the course; referral to college
authorities for further discipline including expulsion.
Special Services:
If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting
accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Special Services. Special
Services will recommend appropriate accommodations to your instructor and
his/her director. The instructor and director will identify for you which
accommodations will be arranged.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
DR. TEDDER – GENERAL BIOLOGY
DATE
TOPIC
READING ASSIGNMENT
Week 1
Introduction and Policies
A View of Life
Basic Chemistry
Chemistry of Life
Chemistry of Life
Cell Structure and Function
Cell
Membrane Structure and Function
Cell cont.
EXAM
Metabolism
Photosynthesis
Cont.
Cellular Respiration
Cont.
EXAM
Cell Division
cont.
Meiosis
cont.
Genetics
cont.
EXAM
Darwin and Evolution
Cont.
Evolution
Ecology
Human Impact on Global Environment
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Study
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Study
Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Study
Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 24
Chapter 27
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
FINISH