HEARTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MATH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIVISION
COURSE SYLLABUS FOR STUDENTS
Spring 2004
BIOL 114- 01
CONTEMPORARY BIOLOGY LECTURE AND LAB
CREDIT HOURS: 4
MW 8:30 AM- 10:50 AM
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to biological principles, including organization, function, heredity, evolution, and ecology,
with emphasis on the importance of biology to the individual and society. The laboratory component will
emphasize scientific inquiry and use of knowledge in problem solving. This course is not intended for students
planning a science major, nor will it fulfill the prerequisite for BIOL 181 or BIOL 191. Students will not
receive science credit toward their graduation requirements for both BIOL 114 and BIOL 161.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Instructor: Ms. Michelle Covi
Phone: work (309) 454-3169 and home (309) 454-2910
Email michellecovi@yahoo.com
Office Hours: By appointment
TEXTS:
Starr, Cecie,. Biology: Today and Tomorrow. Thompson Brooks/Cole., 2005.
Jongky, T., and E. Wallace. BIOL 114 Laboratory Manual. Champaign, IL: Stipes
Publishing, 2002.
RELATIONSHIP OF COURSE TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER:
This course counts as a four credit lab science course for partial completion of the IAI (Illinois Articulation
Initiative) requirements for either the A.A. or A.S. Degree. However, it may not count toward a biology major.
BELIEFS ABOUT STUDENT LEARNING:
Students must take responsibility for their own learning. Part of that responsibility is attendance and active
participation in all lecture and lab sessions. Taking notes during lecture, asking pertinent questions, and
completion of written lab reports, when required, are parts of that participation. The student must read the
assigned text, and spend enough time in independent study to master the material. If the student is having
difficulty with a particular topic, it is his or her responsibility to ask questions, or consult with the teacher to
gain additional help in that topic. Students help to enhance the learning environment by showing courtesy and
respect for fellow students as well as the instructor.
BELIEF ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR'S ROLE:
It is the teacher's responsibility to facilitate the student's learning. This is accomplished by conducting lectures
and discussions in an organized manner and preparing labs that enhance that learning. The teacher is also
responsible for clearly stating course objectives and evaluation of student progress based on those objectives.
While some class time should be taken to answer questions and clarify lecture material, the teacher must move
on to other topics in a timely fashion in order to be fair to students who are also ready to advance. However, the
teacher must be available outside of the classroom to aid students who need additional help or to help arrange
tutoring for them.
GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES (Learning Outcomes):
Upon successful completion of this course the student will:
1. Have an understanding of life processes, organization, and function.
2. Understand basic principles of genetics, reproduction, and development.
3. Understand basic concepts of animal behavior and sociobiology.
4. Understand the importance of biodiversity and principles of natural selection.
5. Understand the concept of populations and their impact on the environment.
6. Be aware of his or her responsibility for the global ecological environment.
7. Understand the ways personal and local practices are connected to global medical, environmental, or
bioethical issues.
8. Understand the methods of science and their application to life sciences and medicine.
9. Be able to identify problems that are appropriately solved by scientific methods.
10. Be able to apply research skills and data collection techniques during completion of assigned laboratory
exercises and in completion of an independent project.
11. Be able to use a computer as a tool to access information.
12. Be able to explore alternative approaches or solutions related to bioethical problems.
13. Be able to evaluate and assess the effectiveness of a solution in addressing a medical, environmental, or
bioethical problem.
14. Be able to formulate a hypothesis, devise a procedure, test the hypothesis, record results, draw conclusions,
and present them in a written report.
15. Be able to comprehend scientific articles or media presentations designed for the general public.
16. Be able to evaluate information based on scientific criteria.
STUDENT EVALUATION:
The final grade will be based on the following requirements:
75 % of the final grade will be based on tests and the final exam
15 % of the final grade will be based on the lab exercises
10 % of the final grade will be based on assignments
Grades will be on a points-percentage basis. Your grade is calculated using the nine best scores from the ten
tests plus the score of the cumulative final worth 100 points. If you are absent from one of the any tests without
permission, it will be counted as your lowest score. Tests will be worth 50 points each and will be multiplechoice questions. Assignments will be worth a total of 75 points. The lab portion of the grade will be based lab
exercises for a total of 100 points. Two low or missed lab exercises will be dropped.
The grading scale:
649-725 pts. = 90-100% A
576-650 pts. = 80- 89% B
503-575 pts. = 70-79% C
405-502 pts. = 60-69% D
0-404 pts. = 0-59% F
POLICIES ON ASSIGNMENTS/TESTS/MAKEUPS:
Students are expected to take exams on the scheduled dates. Since one lecture exam and assignment are
dropped in calculating the final grade, no make-up exams will be given. In the case that there is an excused
absence which the instructor has been notified of arrangements can made to take the exam before the next class
meeting. There are no make-up opportunities for lab sessions. Late assignments will be penalized.
Policies on Attendance:
Regular attendance is expected and necessary for academic success. In science, each lecture will build on the
information learned in the previous lecture. Attendance will be taken at each class meeting, and absences will
result in a reduction of your grade. Please be courteous and avoid be late to class. Students who arrive after
attendance has been taken must inform their instructor that they were present before leaving, otherwise an
absence may be recorded. It is the student's responsibility to withdraw from the course by the last drop date
if a W is desired. A student with excessive and unexcused absences may receive and F for the course.
Following these steps will assist the student in achieving success:
1. Attend lecture regularly.
2. Bring textbook and other materials to lecture.
3. Take thorough notes in lecture.
4. Complete assignments, and submit them on time.
5. Complete the reading assignments on time.
6. Review notes and text for lecture exams.
7. Write down questions to ask before the exam.
8. Take the lecture exams as scheduled.
9. Review corrected tests in class after they are returned using the opportunity to master the material.
Incompletes
An incomplete will only be given for a student that has completed the majority of the course and has an
acceptable reason as determined by the instructor. A written agreement and schedule should accompany the
request for an incomplete.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND PLAGARISM
Academic Integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College and is essential
to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because grading may be competitive,
students who misrepresent their academic work violate the rights of their fellow students. The College,
therefore, views any act of academic dishonesty as a serious offense requiring disciplinary measures, including
course failure, suspension, and even expulsion form the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty
may have unforeseen effects far beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or suborning cheating or other
acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data, falsification of academic records or
documents and unauthorized access to computerized academic or administrative records or systems.
Definitions of these violations may be found in the college catalog.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of other’s ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper, create a project,
do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work, except for that which is attributed
to another author or creator is your own. Plagiarism is considered a serious academic offense and may take the
following forms:
I.
Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
II.
Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
III.
Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
IV.
Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting the source.
V.
Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it were your own.
VI.
Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if it were your own.
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism.
The penalties for plagiarism may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece of work, failure
in the course or expulsion from school in extreme cases.
[Adapted from the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers:
New York: MLA, 1995:26]
Syllabi disclaimer. This syllabus is subject to change. You are responsible for attending lectures or, if absent,
inquiring to see if any written or verbal changes have been made.
Tentative Lecture Schedule
Date
8/19
8/24
8/26
8/31
9/2
9/7
9/9
9/14
9/16
9/22
9/23
9/28
9/30
10/5
10/7
10/12
10/14
10/19
10/21
10/26
10/28
11/2
11/4
11/9
11/11
11/16
11/18
11/23
11/25
11/30
12/2
12/7
12/9
12/14
Topic
Characteristics of Life
Scientific Method and tools
The scale of life
Ecology- Global cycles
The Biosphere
Communities and interactions
Nutrition and digestion
Classification
Biodiversity/Viruses, etc
Cells
Prokaryotes
Protists and Fungi
Plants
Animals
Biodiversity Loss
Reproduction- Mitosis
Meiosis
Human Sexual Reproduction
Heredity: Mendelian Genetics
Beyond Mendel
Heredity and Disease
DNA
Molecular genetics
Gene Expression
Evolutionary Thought
Microevolution
Adaptation and Macroevolution
Life History
Thanksgiving Break (no
class)
Evolution
Human Evolution
Human Populations
Review/Presentations
Final Exam (8:00-9:50 AM)
Chapter
1
1
2
30
31
29
24
13
14, 17
3
14
14
15
16
29
7
7
27
8
8
8
9
10
11
12, 13
12
13
14
15
16
28
Lab Exercise
Characteristics of Life
Scientific Method (1)
Library
Global Cycles lab
Biomes
Food Webs
Nutrition/Digestion (10)
Classification (16)
Microscope (2)
Cell (4)
Bacteria (17)
Protists and Fungi (18)
Plants (19)
Biodiversity loss
Mitosis and Meiosis (5)
Finish Lab 5
Sexual Reproduction (6)
Genetics (7)
Genetics Problems
DNA (8)
Protein Synthesis (9)
Evaluation Assignments
Test1
Assignment 1
Test 2
Test 3
Test 4
Assignment 2
Test 5
Test 6
Test 7
Assignment 3
Video
Natural Selection (15)
Behavior (21)
Whale Evolution
Video
Human Impacts
Test 8
Test 9
Test 10
Assignment 4