click on Biol 144 for class resources
This 3 credit course is designed to introduce non-science majors to the concepts of marine ecology and the ocean environment through lecture. Topics covered during the quarter will include an overview of basic oceanography, marine ecology and human interactions with the marine environment. It is my intent to make the course presentation varied and interactive. We will be looking at the material in a variety of ways that will require your preparation and participation. The dynamic nature of marine systems will provide learning opportunities for all of us. You will periodically be in the role of instructor as well as learner, as will I. The 144 course fulfills 3 credits of the science distribution requirement at Clark.
There are two exams for this course that will test for comprehension of material covered in lecture and readings.
The exams are not comprehensive, covering only the material covered prior to the test. These tests are each worth 100 points. There are NO make-up exams.
(I reserve the right to adjust this policy under extreme, documented personal circumstances)
TOTAL points toward grade = 200
Weekly assignments (50 points total): For many weeks during the quarter students will complete an assignment or activity as homework that will be shared and turned in the following week at the beginning of class. Assignment sheets will be handed out weekly in class.
In Class Activities (50 points total): Class will include activities which require your participation and may have pages that need to be turned in. You will receive points for your completion of these activities. Please be prepared by bringing blank paper and a calculator with you each week.
Marine organisms bibliography (30 points) & presentation (20 points): Each student will be assigned a group of marine organisms to research during the term based upon the selections given to you during our first week of class. At scheduled dates throughout the term, individual students will share what they have learned about the biology of these organisms. An annotated bibliography summarizing and evaluating your research is due near the end of the term (see schedule & assignment sheet).
Fall 2006 BIOL 144

Attendance: Your attendance is important. In order to receive credit for in class activities and assignments that are due you must be in class. Assignments are due at the beginning of class or they are considered late. Late assignments will lose points as described in the course policies.
A-
B+
B
B-
Course grading will consist of the total points you have earned divided by the total points possible to calculate a percentage for your final grade. This course is graded A-F.
In Class Activities
Assignments (5 at 10 points each)
50 points
50 points
Research Bibliography & Presentation
Exam 1 & 2
Total points possible
Grade
A
Percentage
92% to 100%
Grade Percentage
C+ 77% to 79.9%
50 points
200 points
350
90% to 91.9%
88% to 89.9%
82% to 87.9%
80% to 81.9%
C
D
F
70% to 76.9%
60% to 69.9%
Below 59.9%
th
A copy of the 5 th edition is on reserve in the library for your use under Reserve shelves BIOL 144 MARI.
The college and community have targeted six ability areas that are intended to assist students apply their learning throughout the curriculum. These six abilities include communication, global/multicultural perspectives, critical thinking and problem solving, information/technology, effective citizenship, and life-long learning. Biology 144 will touch on all of these abilities throughout the term. Our emphasis will be on communication and critical thinking and problem solving.
Communication is defined by the college as, “the ability to understand and deliver written, spoken, and visual communications clearly and accurately.” We will address the communication ability through our course discussions, presentations and written assignments.
Our second area of emphasis, critical thinking and problem solving, is defined as, “the ability to formulate, evaluate, and synthesize facts, data, assumptions, values, and points of view.” Our work in the classroom will develop our problem solving skills.
Fall 2006 BIOL 144

Student Learning Outcomes
Explain/define verbally and in writing the basic principles of marine biology including concepts of ecology and oceanography and the relationships between these principles.
Use the scientific method to answer questions relating to marine biology.
Research and present information relevant to ocean diversity, marine organisms, and marine ecology.
Interpret and evaluate and present both scientific and general literature and evaluate the information from procedural and scientific accuracy points of view.
Assessment
Method
Exams
Assignments
General Science
Outcome
Demonstrate comprehension of fundamental principles and relationships in the natural sciences
Class Activities Analyze issues, claims, and situations using scientific methodology
Presentation & bibliography
Exams
Assignments
Presentation & bibliography
Communicate concepts and issues in the natural sciences
Acquire scientific information from appropriate sources
Analyze issues, claims, and situations using scientific methodology
Students are expected to attend class and be active participants. Attendance and participation is critical to your success during the quarter. If you are absent or late, you are still responsible for the material missed. All assignments must be turned in on time to receive credit and exams must be taken when scheduled. There will be no makeup tests. You must take exams at the assigned time and you may not exit and reenter the room during an exam. Cell phones may not be used during exams, even as calculators. Assignments submitted after collection until 24 hours later will be penalized a minimum of 25% of the possible points, and assignments submitted 24 to 48 hours after collection will be penalized a minimum of 50% of the possible points. Assignments may not be submitted for credit more than a week late. I reserve the right to develop an alternative approach in the event of extreme documented personal circumstances.
It is expected that all members of this class will follow the Clark College student code of conduct while in class and while representing the college in the community. This includes academic honesty and no plagiarism or cheating. Violation of these guidelines may result in an F for the course and will always result in no credit for the assignment or exam. Plagiarism, which is representing another’s work as your own, is considered as cheating and will result in zero points. Cheating includes but is not limited to: copying from another person or published resource, using notes when not allowed, changing answers on your scantron or short answer section after it has been returned, looking at other students’ exams or assignments including those who completed the course in a prior term, or providing your own work for another student to use or copy.
In addition, cell phones and pagers should be turned off during class unless they are serving as emergency contact numbers for your dependents (they should have the sound turned off). No headphones are allowed in class.
Fall 2006 BIOL 144

If you will need special accommodation for this course please speak with me as soon as possible.
Support services for students are available at the college including tutoring (2253), counseling and health (2264), support for students with learning and physical disabilities (2580), and computer access (2562).
Please note that this syllabus is subject to change during the term with written notice from the instructor.
Fall 2006 BIOL 144

Week
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Day Lecture topics
Sept 18 Intro to course
Scientific method and intro to oceanography
Sept 25
Oct 2
Oct 9
Oct 16
Oct 23
M
W
F
M
W
F
Oceanography
Biochemistry in marine systems
Intro to marine ecology
Library instructional lab – Meet at library
Marine ecology
EXAM 1 (Ch 1-4, 10) Part A
EXAM 1 (Ch 1-4, 10) Part B
No class Oct 13 Faculty Workday
Estuaries
Intertidal areas
Oct 30
Nov 6
F
Coral reefs
Continental shelf
Pelagic – open ocean
Abyss – deep sea
No class Nov 10 Veteran’s Day
Nov 13
Nov 20
Nov 27
F
M
W & F
Human roles in the environment
EXAM 2 (Ch 11-17) Part A
EXAM 2 (Ch 11-17) Part B
NO CLASS – Happy Thanksgiving
Tragedy of the commons activity
Class Wrap-up and Evaluation
Reading for class
Ch 1 & 2
Ch 3
Ch 4 pg 77-89
Ch 10
Ch 12
Ch 11
Ch 14
Ch 13
Ch 15
Ch 16
Ch 17, review 18
Annotated Bibliography due at beginning of class December 1st
Fall 2006 BIOL 144

Students will each research and present information on an assigned group of marine organisms. Each student will then share information learned about the organism on a designated date during the term. At the end of the term an annotated bibliography on the organism is due. Class time will be given for using library resources to identify your topic and find resources early in the term. There are two graded components to the project – bibliography (30 points) & presentation of topic to the class (20 points).
Annotated bibliography 30 points
This is a formal bibliography that includes citations of sources with summary and evaluation information for each source. The assignment should be typed and double spaced. Each student will research the marine organisms assigned at the beginning of the term using multiple sources. You may use your text to help you narrow your ideas and begin to find resources. A minimum of seven sources should be used with no more than three coming directly from a website
(using the computer to find articles is not considered a web source but citing the text on the Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institute web page is a web source). Only one encyclopedia may be used as a cited source of the seven. You may choose the citation format – MLA, APA, CBE but be consistent with one format throughout the paper. Your bibliography will be graded using the rubric handed out in class. The emphasis is on finding accurate, reliable sources and providing a clear summary and evaluation for each source.
Presentation 20 points
On the date designated for your presentation, you will have 5-7 minutes to share your research with the class during an informal presentation. You may use a visual aid if you wish but it is not required. Your bibliography will not be due yet
(it is due at the end of the term but you need to be prepared by the date listed with enough information to discuss the basic biology of the organisms and where they are found in the ocean). On many dates we will be discussing that habitat type during class as well so you do not need to describe the ecology of the habitat. Your points will be based primarily on the content of the presentation.
Your presentation should present an overview of the group of organisms. Specifically you should include the basic biology of the animals (physical features and adaptations, reproduction methods), where they live globally and by habitat type (pelagic, continental shelf, etc.) and the roles they play or niches they fill in that habitat (trophic system, population dynamics, etc.). Additionally, include any information you find on conservation efforts or impacts of humans on their populations.
Biology
Habitat & niches
Human impacts
8 points
5 points
5 points
2 points
(Clarity of presentation, flow, ability to maintain audience interest)
A caution - plagiarism can occur during presentations as well as during writing. If you take something directly from a source to share in class but you do not use your own words, you are plagiarizing if you do not credit your source.
Fall 2006 BIOL 144

Topics
Ribbon worms
Seagrasses & marsh plants
Sea birds – shore birds that live in the intertidal zone
Flat worms
Gastropods
Bivalves
Echinoderms
Crustaceans
Reef fish
Sponges
Cnidarians - Anthozoans
Seaweeds
Rockfish
Flatfish
Cnidarians - Scyphozoans
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton (protozoans &mesoplankton)
Zooplankton (macroplankton)
Cnidarians - Hydrozoans
Sea birds – those that live at sea except to breed (e.g.albatross)
Comb Jellies
Cephalopods
Polychaete worms
Sea turtles
Cartilaginous fish
Marine mammals
Use chapters 6-9 & 18 to begin your research
Date of Presentation
Oct 16
Oct 16
Oct 18
Oct 18
Oct 20
Oct 20
Oct 20
Oct 23
Oct 25
Oct 25
Oct 27
Oct 27
Oct 30
Oct 30
Oct 30
Nov 1
Nov 1
Nov 1
Nov 3
Nov 3
Nov 8
Nov 8
Nov 8
Nov 15
Nov 15
Nov 15
Fall 2006 BIOL 144