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Wayland Baptist University
_______ Campus
School of Mathematics and Sciences
WAYLAND MISSION STATEMENT: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically
challenging, learning-focused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and
humankind.
COURSE NO. AND TITLE: BIOL 3405-Section; General Botany
TERM:
NAME OF INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE PHONE NO. AND WBU EMAIL ADDRESS:
Special Note: I am available for student consultation anytime that I am not in class or otherwise occupied. If my posted
office hours are in conflict with your schedule, please email me or call me to set up an alternative time to meet.
OFFICE HOURS, BUILDING, AND LOCATION:
CLASS MEETING TIME AND LOCATION:
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Survey of the plant kingdom with emphasis on plant morphology, photosynthesis, mineral
nutrition, and growth regulation. Lecture three hours, Laboratory three hours.
PREREQUISITES: BIOL 1401 and BIOL 1402, or school approval. $45 fee.
TEXT: Raven, P.H., R.F. Evert, and S.E. Eichhorn. 2005. Biology of Plants, 7th edition. W.H. Freeman, NY.
*Choose from approved textbook list
LAB MANUAL: Unless notified otherwise, we will use handouts provided by the instructor. These will be posted on the
course Blackboard site, or will be passed out in class.
*Choose from approved textbook list
COURSE WEBSITE: A course website has been established on WBU’s Blackboard server. Each student is REQUIRED to
establish an active account for this website and to log on to BB regularly for posted lecture notes, messages, assignments, and
handouts.
COURSE OUTCOME COMPETENCIES:
Students will be able to:
1. understand the importance of plants to life processes
2. describe the continuum of morphological features of plants from the simplest to the most advanced groups
3. understand factors affecting plant growth in natural versus managed environments
4. apply the scientific method to the study of factors affecting plant growth and distribution
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
An absence will be recorded when a student fails to attend class or fails to return after an allowed break during an extended
class session (i.e., lab-lecture combos). Students missing more than 25% of scheduled classes may be dropped from the
course.
STATEMENT ON PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Wayland Baptist University observes a zero
tolerance policy regarding academic dishonesty. Per university policy as described in the academic catalog, all cases of
academic dishonesty will be reported and second offenses will result in suspension from the university.
DISABILITY STATEMENT:
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In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist University that
no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to
discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as
the coordinator of students with a disability and should be contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291-3765.
Documentation of a disability must accompany any request for accommodations.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING CRITERIA:
Your course grade will be determined by the number of points you EARN as a proportion of the total number of points
available from lecture exams, laboratory exams, and related assignments and quizzes, as described below. Lecture exams
will be weighted to account for 60% of your final grade; laboratory assignments, exams and activities 30%; and class
participation 10%.
Lecture Exams - Lecture exams will account for 60% of your final grade in the course. There will be 4 lecture exams worth
approximately 100 points each. Exam 4 will be your final exam for the course. Makeup exams will be available only under
the most extenuating of circumstances. If a makeup exam is permitted, it must be taken within 24 hours of the in-class exam.
All other makeup exams will be given at the time of the final exam. Bonus points on in-class exams will NOT be offered on
makeup exams. Makeup exams may be of a different format with a greater emphasis on written questions and fewer
alternative questions.
Laboratory Exams, Assignments and Projects - Student performance in the laboratory will be assessed using a combination of
laboratory exams, a major student project, laboratory reports, and possible essays or quizzes. The content and point values
for each of these will be announced when they are assigned.
NOTE: Prof. Grover reserves the option of identifying additional alternatives for lab assignments, or modifying the existing
alternatives as necessary to satisfy the objectives of the course. Modifications to listed alternatives will be announced in
class or posted on the course website.
Class Participation – Class participation will be weighted to account for 10% of your final grade. Class participation will be
determined on the basis of combinations of the following kinds of assignments:
 Adopt-a-Topic – A list of specific topics may be offered for student presentation. These would consist of one or a
few slides taken directly from your text. In other words – you would be the professor for that topic!
 Paper Discussions/Reflective Essays – Occasional special topics may be assigned through additional assigned
readings. Participation in in-class discussion and/or grades from reflective essays on these topics will be
incorporated in class participation grades.
 Attendance – class attendance will be recorded as per WBU requirements. The proportion of classes attended may
be incorporated into your class participation grade.
Final Grade - As noted above, lecture exams will be weighted to account for 60% of your final grade with laboratory grades
weighted to account for 30% and class participation accounting for 10% of your final grade. Letter grades for the course will
be assigned according to the proportion of total points earned using the following scale: A = 90 - 100%; B = 80 - 89%; C =
70 - 79%; D = 60 - 69%; and F = less than 60%.
Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudices or capricious academic evaluation. A student
who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic academic standards, just evaluation procedures, or appropriate
grading, may appeal the final grade given in the course by using the student grade appeal process described in the Academic
Catalog. Appeals may not be made for advanced placement examinations or course bypass examinations. Appeals are
limited to the final course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or lowered at any stage of the appeal process. Any
recommendation to lower a course grade must be submitted through the Executive Vice President/Provost to the Faculty
Assembly Grade Appeals Committee for review and approval. The Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee may
instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more proper evaluation.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE:
The attached class schedule is subject to modification by the instructor. Actual exam dates may change. These changes will
be announced in class OR on Black Board to give students sufficient opportunity to adjust their schedules accordingly.
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Date
11Jan
12Jan
16Jan
18Jan
19Jan
23Jan
25Jan
26Jan
30Jan
1-Feb
2-Feb
6-Feb
8-Feb
9-Feb
13Feb
15Feb
16Feb
20Feb
22Feb
23Feb
27Feb
29Feb
1-Mar
5-Mar
BIOL 3405 - General Botany
Tentative Lecture and Laboratory Schedule*
Lecture Topic
Reading
Lab Topics
Intro
1
LECTURE
NO CLASS - MLK
Molecules & Cells
2,3
Economic Botany
Movement
4
Energy
5
PROJECT LAB
Respiration
Photosynthesis
6
7
Photosynthesis
EXAM 1
Plant Systematics
12
Protista + Fungi
Prokaryotes & Plastids
13
Protista - Algae
15
Bryophytes + Seedless Vascular Plants
Protista - Algae
15
Bryophytes
16
LAB EXAM
Seedless Vascular Plants
17
EXAM 2
NO LAB - TAS
Gymnosperms
18
4
7-Mar
8-Mar
12Mar
14Mar
15Mar
19Mar
21Mar
22Mar
26Mar
28Mar
29Mar
Gymnosperms
Plant Tissues/Transport
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
Angiosperms
19-20
Angiosperms
19-20
Shoots
Plant Growth
22
Cells & Tissues
23
Leaves
2-Apr
4-Apr
5-Apr
Roots
EXAM 3
9-Apr
11-Apr
12-Apr
NO CLASS
Shoots
16-Apr
18-Apr
19-Apr
Shoots & Leaves
Shoots & Leaves
23-Apr
25-Apr
26-Apr
Secondary Growth
Secondary Growth
30Apr
18
24
Roots
25
Secondary Growth & Dendrochronology
25
25
PROJECTS
26
26
LAB FINAL
FINAL EXAM - 10:15 - 12:15
* NOTE 1: Lecture and laboratory schedules are subject to change
Changes in schedules will be announced in class and/or posted on Blackboard.
**NOTE 2: Reading assignments may include portions of certain chapters.
See study guide or announcements for specific reading assignments.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
CELL PHONES and OTHER CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGIES:
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Students are required to silence all cell phones at the start of class. If you anticipate an emergency message by one of these
means, please advise the professor of the need for immediate contact before class begins. Under appropriate circumstances,
you may be allowed to leave the device turned on during class, with the understanding that you will leave the room quietly if
a call is received.
Use of personal computers during class is allowed for note-taking only. Surfing the internet or working on non-class related
projects during this class is strictly prohibited.
IPODS and other listening devices must be turned off before class begins.
Rev. 03/17/15