BIOLOGY 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY SPRING SEMESTER 2007 COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introductory course designed to survey the principals of biology. Cell theory, cell division, heredity, evolution, ecology, anatomy and physiology of plants and animals, and the classification system of organisms are included. Biological issues related to current events will be included in discussion and take home assignments. CREDIT: Biology 1: 3 Semester units: 3 hours lecture (Estimated Hours of Study per week: 3-5 hours) INSTRUCTOR: Rick Miranda. Office: S18 Phone: (661) 763-7857 Email address: rmiranda@taft.org Office Hours: Day Monday Tuesday Wednesday Webpage: http://www.taftcollege.edu/faculty/rmiranda Time 10:00 to Noon. 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. 10:00 to Noon Text (required): Johnson, George B. The Living World. 4th edition. 2005. Wm. C. Brown Publishers. (Library rental) LRC Resources: Student Tutor COURSE OBJECTIVES: See separate handout: Biology 1 Outline and Objectives COURSE EVALUATION: Four midterm exams and a final exam will be given. One of these will be dropped. Lecture Exam 1 100 points Lecture Exam 2 100 points - Ther are NO make-ups on exams or quizzes. Lecture Exam 3 100 points - One of the first 3 exams may be dropped but exam 4 is mandatory. Lecture Exam 4 100 points Current Event (4 x 10) 40 points Journal 40 points Total 480 points **You may be dropped from the course for more then 2 unexcused class sessions at the discretion of the instructor.** FINAL GRADING DISTRIBUTION % A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 65-79 D = 50-64 F = <50 Biology 1, 1L 106759203 1 COURSE SCHEDULE: Lecture Schedule: Monday/Wednesday, 1:10-2:30 p.m., Room SCI-02 The reading assignments are listed. The reading and lecture complement each other. Not every detail can be covered in lecture, therefore I expect you to obtain information from the text. Read assigned chapter before each lecture. If you can’t, then read at least within a day or two. Review the study questions that are in the text, CD, or website to help you understand the concepts. Bring your textbook to every lecture session. **Notice: All personal phones and pagers should be silenced during class time. No phone conversations are allowed during class time. I will dismiss you from the class if I am disrupted by your phone use. Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Date 1/15*M 1/22 1/29 2/05*F 2/12 2/19*M 2/26 3/05 3/12 3/19 3/26 4/02** 4/09 4/16 4/23 4/30 5/07 Chapter 1 3 4, 5 5, 6 7 8 9 10, 11 2, 13 31, 32 34 14, 15 16 17, 18 19, 20, 21 21 Subject Introduction, Scientific Method Organic Chemistry Cell Structure and Function, Energy and Life Energy and Life, Acquiring Energy Exam I Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 6; Mitosis & Meiosis Foundations of Genetics How Genes Work Gene Technology, Genomics Exam II Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; Evolution and Natural Selection Ecosystems Ecosystem Function; Populations & Communities Ecosystem Stress **Spring Break** Classification of Organisms, Single Celled Organisms Exam III Chapters 2, 13, 31, 32, 34; Advent of Eukaryotes Evolution of Multicellular Organisms, Plant Life Evolution, Plant Structure and Function, Evolution of Animal Phyla Evolution of Animal Phyla; Exam IV 5/11/07 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. All exam dates are approximate as listed in schedule below. Exact dates will be announced in during class. Deadlines Biology 1, 1L Add: prior to 1st meeting of 3rd week Drop: 2/08 with no notation; 3/26 with (W)ithdrawl; 2/20, Electing Credit/No Credit 106759203 2 Journals Each student will be required to maintain a journal of their activity related to this course. The journal will be handwritten in a blue book and submitted at the start of class every Monday. Blue books are at the book store. The journal will contain the day of the week, the actual date, the time you started/ended and a brief summary of what you did. Each calendar week will end with a weekly total. The calendar week will start on Monday and end on Sunday. Please note that the journal will be written in a blue book, no other format will be accepted. Three self evaluations are due during the course. The self evaluations will address the following: o o o o At this point in the course, are you receiving the grade you hope to receive? If you are not receiving the grade you had hoped at this point, then discuss why. Look at your journal entries. Are you putting in enough time? Are you working throughout each week, or are you doing little each day then concentrating heavily immediately prior to an exam? Are you spending time learning the vocabulary? Are you completing the objective questions? Have you contacted the professor to ask questions while studying? What adjustments will you make in your study habits to increase your level of success? Do you have suggestions that I, the professor, can make to help you become more successful? If you are receiving the grade you had hoped for and it is anything other than an “A”, what will you do to raise your grade more? (See above for some ideas). If you are receiving an “A”, what will you do to ensure your continued success and prevent “slipping backward”? There is no minimum or maximum word count for the self evaluation. I expect to see evidence of honest reflection, not some junk scribbled down to satisfy an assignment. The purpose is to help ensure your success. Your journal entries will take on a specific format as shown in the example below. Failure to comply with the formatting instructions will result in you receiving no credit. Week (enter week number, such as “Week 1”, “Week 2”, … ) Day Date Time Activity Monday 2/3 5:00 – 7:30 Homework, chapter 2 Tuesday 2/4 3:30 – 4:30 Recopied lecture notes 7:30 – 8:00 Homework, chapter 2 Thursday 2/6 3:00 – 4:30 Reviewed lecture notes, worked on Homework Friday 2/7 3:30 – 5:30 Recopied lecture notes 7:30 – 9:30 Studied – read book, reviewed notes, worked out some practice problems Saturday 2/8 12:00 – 2:00 Study group – preparation for exam Total Hours: 10.5 Biology 1, 1L 106759203 3