READ the Syllabus – it contains information that you are responsible for – check it
first when you have a question regarding the class.
Syllabus -- BIOL 1010
Biology and the Citizen
Fall 2014
Contact information:
Instructor: Vicki Rosen
Phone: office (435) 797-3694
Office: BNR 331
Email: vicki.rosen@usu.edu
Office hours: by appointment
Course Schedule and Location
Section 1 Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00-10:15 BNR 102
Course website is Canvas:
https://login.usu.edu/cas/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fmy.usu.edu%2Fpaf%2Fauthorize
The web page will consist of lectures, review questions, study guides, assignments, quizzes, exams etc.
The web page will consist of lectures, review questions, study guides, assignments etc.
Supplemental Instructor (SI): Jacob Jewkes; email: jacob.jewkes@gmail.com
SI sessions: Tuesday 4:30 ENGR 203
Thursday 7:30 ENGR 203
Undergraduate Teaching Fellow (UTF): Kyle Spackman; email: kspackman34@gmail.com
Office hours: Thursday 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. TECH 108
Required text:
Essential Biology by Campbell/Reece/Simon – 5th edition
This is an excellent and very readable textbook. For those who want to economize, there are used copies
available or maybe you can share a text.
Required: Access Code to use Mastering Biology website for textbook assignments (comes with some
new texts or can be purchased separately)
Text book website:
http://www.masteringbiology.com/
Please read the registration information on page 3 of this syllabus
Objectives:
Students gain an understanding on how science works and the role science plays in today’s society
Students develop awareness and appreciation for the natural world and its processes
Students gain an understanding of biological concepts
Class structure:
The class will be mainly lecture. I encourage you to take complete notes. Please feel free to ask
questions, either in class, via email, phone etc. Exams will mainly be from material covered in class but
will also include information from the textbook or other assigned readings. The material covered
including page numbers for each lecture is on the last page of the syllabus.
Grades: Your grade is based on the total points that you earn during the class.
Your scores will be posted on Canvas
93-100% A
90-92% A-
87-89% B+
77-79% C+
67-69% D+
83-86% B
73-76% C
60-66% D
80-82% B70 – 72% CLess than 60% F
Once scores appear on Canvas you will have one week to ask any questions regarding your score.
Final grades are rounded up. For example, if a student has 89.5% at the end of the semester, that will
round up and the student will get an A-. If the student has 89.4% at the end of the semester, that will
round down and the student will receive a B+. Do not ask to get a different grade than what you earned.
I cannot and will not change a score because you “need” a certain grade. Your score, as every student’s score,
is based on the points that you have earned in the class.
Bonus points are built into several assignments, quizzes etc. during the semester. Do not ask for additional
assignments or extra credit assignments to improve your grade.
Exams:
Unit Exams -- 3 unit exams- each has 50 multiple choice questions worth 100 points.
Your lowest unit exam score will be dropped
Dates for exams are found on the last page of the syllabus
Final exam -- has 75 multiple choice questions worth 150 points.
You may not drop your final exam score.
The final exam is comprehensive
Approximately 2/3 of the material is from Unit 4, and 1/3 from units 1-3
You will need to supply your own 8 ½ x 11 scantron and number two pencil. Exams will be based
on material covered in class, the textbook readings, online text resources, and any additional readings I
may assign. Notes, books, cell phones, electronic devices etc. are not allowed. You will need to have
all of these materials put away. If any of these are found, your exam will be taken. Make sure cell
phones are turned off.
There are no make-up exams: Because the lowest exam score is dropped, there will be no make-up exams.
If you are unable to take the exam at the scheduled time due to a valid reason (which includes: university
sponsored activities, military service, death or serious illness in your family) you may be able to take an exam
early. You will need to contact me 48 hours in advance of the scheduled exam time to arrange to take the exam
early. Be advised that if you take an exam early, it may be a different exam and different format then if you
took the exam at the scheduled time. If you miss an exam, that will be the exam that will be the drop score.
This includes missing an exam due to illness. Please, do not come to class if you are ill and contagious but use
that exam as your drop exam.
Mastering Biology Website Assignments – there will be weekly assignments on the textbook’s
website. Each assignment is worth 4 points regardless of their length or point value shown on the Mastering
Biology website. There is an introductory assignment that is worth 1 bonus point. Take advantage of an
opportunity to get an extra point and to learn how to use Mastering Biology.
The website assignments have deadlines for full credit. If you miss a deadline, you will not be able
to do the assignment for full credit. Credit is reduced 33% for each day after the deadline.
Reasons for missing a deadline such as “my internet connection went down; or my computer
crashed right before the deadline” “or I couldn’t get the site to work” will not be accepted. If you
have technical problems with the site contact tech support on the Mastering biology website. They
are very helpful, but if you have waited until the last day and have problems, you will not be given
an extension. Don’t procrastinate. Make sure you do the assignment well before the deadline if
you are concerned about this occurring. You can find the grading protocol on the Mastering
Biology website.
These assignments are intended to help you have a more complete understanding of the lecture material.
You may discuss the questions with other students, use the textbook or other material to help you with
these assignments.
Mastering Biology
Assignment Schedule
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Opens
Aug. 25
Sept. 18
Oct. 14
Nov. 11
Closes (for full credit needs
to be completed by this date)
September 16
October 12
November 9
December 7
Unit assignments
Intro, MB 1, MB 2, MB 3, MB 4
MB 5, MB 6, MB 7, MB 8
MB 9, MB 10, MB 11, MB 12
MB 13, MB 14, MB 15
Using the Mastering Biology Website
To register for the online assignments and get access to the electronic version of the textbook, follow the
instructions below. You must have an access code before you begin
1.
2.
3.
4.
go to http://www.masteringbiology.com/
under Register, click on Student
next select your location
Click yes for “do you have a Course ID from your instructor?” Then enter the ID. The
Course ID number is MBROSEN24510
5. If you already have an access code then on the next prompt enter that and continue to follow
the directions until you are registered.
6. If you do not have an access code you can purchase just an access code or an access code
with an ebook. Once you have done that, enter the access code and complete the registration.
If you are buying a book online, make sure you select the correct book. (see first page of
syllabus)
7. At this point you should be registered, and you can log onto the site at any time by going to
http://www.masteringbiology.com/ and logging in with your Login Name and password.
Quizzes: Print off the quiz form found on Canvas and have one with you in class at all times. Quizzes
will be pop quizzes given in class or may be posted on Canvas. Canvas quizzes will have a time frame
associated with them and will be announced in class and on Canvas. For all quizzes, you may use your
notes, books, classmates, etc. to assist you. You must be present to take an in-class quiz. Your lowest quiz
score will be dropped. If you miss a quiz, that will be the quiz that will be the drop score. This includes
missing a quiz due to illness. Students who miss a quiz due to school sponsored activities or military
service need to contact me immediately if they miss a quiz. Quizzes are on material covered or assigned in
class and are a way for students to determine if they have good notes and comprehension.
Assignments and class activities: There may be one or more assignments and in-class activities during the
semester. Assignment information will be posted on Canvas and announced in class and via email. You will
need to be present for any in-class activities.
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Cheating is not tolerated. Students who are caught cheating will receive a zero on that exam, an academic
integrity violation report will be filed with the university, and there will be a notation on your transcripts
indicating that you had an academic integrity violation. Refer to the university’s academic honesty policy.
Students with physical, sensory, emotional or medical impairments may be eligible for reasonable
accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973. All accommodations are coordinated through the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in Room 101
of the University Inn, 797-2444 voice, 797-0740 TTY, or toll free at 1-800-259-2966. Please contact the DRC
as early in the semester as possible. Alternate format materials (Braille, large print or digital) are available with
advance notice.
Tentative Lecture schedule for Bio 1010 – Biology and the Citizen – Fall 2014
The syllabus is a general guide for what and when we will cover certain topics. You are responsible for the
material covered before each exam and any reading in the text or other assignments regardless of where or if it
appears on the syllabus.
Day
Date
Topic
Text
T
Aug. 26 Introduction & characteristics of life
Ch. 1 all
R
Aug 28
Basic chemistry; water and life
Ch. 2 all
T
Sept. 2
Organic compounds – what did you eat today? Ch. 3 all
R
Sept. 4
Cells – parts and functions
Ch. 4 all
T
Sept. 9
Plasma membranes
Ch. 5 pgs. 75, 83-87
R
Sept. 11 ATP and Respiration
Ch. 5 pgs. 76-82; Ch. 6 all
T
Sept. 16 Photosynthesis
Ch. 7 all
R
Sept. 18 Unit 1 Exam
T
Sept. 23 From one cell to many – mitosis and cancer
Ch. 8 pgs.121-129 Ch. 11 pgs. 211-215
R
Sept. 25 Making gametes - meiosis
Ch. 8 pgs.130-140
T
Sept. 30 Modes of Reproduction
Ch. 16 pgs. 324-325; Ch. 17 pg. 360
R
Oct. 2
Introduction to genetics
Ch. 9 pgs. 145-157
T
Oct. 7
Genetics part 2
Ch. 9 pgs. 158-167
R
Oct. 9
DNA, RNA and protein synthesis
Ch. 10 pgs. 174-187
T
Oct. 14
Unit 2 Exam
R
Oct. 16
No class - Attend Friday classes
T
Oct. 21
Gene expression and cloning
Ch. 11 pgs. 199-210
R
Oct. 23
DNA technology
Ch. 12 pgs. all
T
Oct. 28
Introduction to evolution
Ch. 1 pgs. 10-13; Ch. 13 pgs. 243-253
R
Oct. 30
Microevolution
Ch. 13 pgs. 254 – 265
T
Nov. 4
Speciation and human ancestry
Ch. 14 pgs. 269 – 277 Ch. 17 pgs. 361-367
R
Nov. 6
Earth history, biodiversity, classification
Ch. 1 pgs. 8-9; Ch. 14 pgs. 280-289
T
Nov. 11 Unit 3 Exam
R
Nov. 13 Viruses, Bacteria and Fungi
Ch. 10 pgs. 173, 188-194; Ch. 15 pgs 299305 Ch 16 pgs 315, 328-332
T
Nov. 18 Introduction to ecology
Ch.18 373-390
R
Nov. 20 Human impact on biomes and Populations
Ch. 18 pgs.391 -397; Ch. 19 all
T
Nov. 25 Communities and ecosystems
Ch. 20 all
R
Nov. 27 Thanksgiving break – no classes
T
Dec. 2
Communities and ecosystems cont.
Ch. 20 all
R
Dec. 4
Sustainability
Classroom lecture
R
Dec. 11 Final Exam 9:30-11:20
Regular classroom