NATURAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
BSC 1005C: DIVERSITY OF LIFE-ONLINE
Instructor: Dr Marlene Mosca Focht
Office Number: 25-131
Office Hours:
Virtual office hours will be announced
Telephone: 752-5609
Email Address: moscafm@mccfl.edu
2008 SUMMER
Course Coordinator: Andrew R. Swanson
Office Number: Venice - 604
Office Hours: arranged or via e-mail.
Telephone: 941-408-1494
Email Address: swansoa@mccfl.edu
Web Page: http://faculty.mccfl.edu/swansoa/index.htm
Department Website: http://www.mccfl.edu/pages/179.asp
Web Page:
Department Website: http://www.mccfl.edu/pages/179.asp
Course Description: Diversity of life (3 credits) (A.A.). Four hours lecture/lab per week. The course meets Area V
requirements for the A.A./A.A.S./A.S. general education requirements. This course is specifically designed for non-science
majors to introduce basic concepts in biology, explore the diversity of life, develop a basic understanding of organismal biology,
and to foster critical thinking skills. Current issues are integrated into the course to make the course applicable to students’
everyday lives. Topics covered include cells, genetics, evolution, ecology, and behavior. This course also introduces the traits
and ecological roles of bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. Many topics will be taught through contemporary issues
such as endangered species and threatened habitats. Students are expected to complete the course through course readings,
modified lectures, research, class discussions, and laboratory activities. Students already with credit for MCB 2003 or
BSC2011C cannot subsequently get credit for BSC1005C. Additional special fees are required.
Course Performance Standards: Students may access course performance standards at the following web address:
http://www.mccfl.edu/pages/1161.asp
Textbooks:
Biology, Life on Earth 8th Ed. (MCC Custom Version), by Audesirk, Audesirk, & Byers
Diversity of Life ,Edward O Wilson
Required Materials:
Computer with: 1. minimum processor speed of 1GHz.
2. minimum of 512 MB RAM.
3. internet access, preferably high speed.
4. e-mail account capable of carrying attachments.
5. word processing software compatible with Microsoft Word. 2003
Student Requirements: Students taking web-based courses must be familiar with the use of the internet, word processing, email, and internet communication and access tools. The following link is for assessment of student readiness for web
courses: http://www.mccfl.edu/Self_Assessment/Self_Assessment.cfm
Attendance Policy: Attendance in a web-based course is determined by participation in the course. A record of the number of
times each student accesses the course is kept online. Most students who successfully complete this course access the materials
at least 100 times during the time frame of the class. The instructor will be checking these access times to determine if the
students have participated in assignments and tests. Also, there will be occasional discussion questions posted that students must
respond to. Failure to do so will also lower the class grade.
Grading Policy: The grade for this course will be based on chapter tests, lab reports, and the final exam. The chapter tests will
comprise 40% of the final grade. . There will be several lab reports quizzes and readings from Wilson text throughout the
course. The average grade for these lab reports and quizzes and Wilson paper will comprise 60% of the grade. Chapter tests
and quizzes will be administered online. There will be no final exam,. Lab reports will vary in length and scope, but are due one
week following their respective dates of assignment and there will be a lab template to follow that will be posted online when
needed
All assignments and labs will open on a certain date and close on a certain date. Anyone failing to access these
assignments on time will not be allowed to hand them in late unless the circumstances are serious. Forgetting the time or
losing track of time does not constitute a legitimate excuse. THERE WILL BE NO OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE UP
TESTS OR QUIZZES UNLESS PRIOR APPROVAL IS GIVEN BY THE INSTRUCTOR.
Letter grades will be assigned on a percentage basis as follows:
A = (90-100%)
B = (80-89%)
C = (70-79%)
D = (60-69%)
F = (0-59%)
Online Testing Policy: Each Chapter Test will be available for a 48 hour period only. Each test may only be accessed once and
will be timed. The maximum allowable time for each test is between 40 and 60 minutes. The tests will be graded and the grades
released after the 48 hour period has ended and all students have taken the test. Make up tests may be accessed with instructor
permission ONLY under extenuating circumstances. All lab reports must be sent to the instructor in a format that can be opened
by Microsoft Word.
Withdrawal Policy: In accordance with the Manatee Community College policy as stated in the college catalog, students may
withdraw from any course or all courses without academic penalty if completed by the withdrawal deadline as listed in the
Manatee Community College academic calendar. This semester that date is: Friday, February 8 2008. The student must take
responsibility for initiating the withdrawal procedure. Students are strongly encouraged to talk with their instructors first before
taking any withdrawal action.
Laboratory: Laboratory exercises are designed to be “kitchen friendly” or virtual. All “kitchen” labs will come complete with
a shopping list of necessary ingredients that may be obtained from any grocery store. The expense of these items will not total
more than the lab fee of $25.00 that the traditional course requires.
Statement of Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of ideas, facts, opinions, illustrative material, data, direct or indirect wording of
another scholar and/or writer—professional or student—without giving proper credit. Expulsion, suspension, or any lesser
penalty may be imposed for plagiarism.
Standards of Conduct: Students are expected to abide by all Lancer Student Handbook guidelines.
Course Assignments: All assignments will be posted on the course calendar. You should check the course calendar regularly
and often for any assignments or modifications.
Library Access: Students may access the virtual library at any time by visiting the following web address:
http://www.mccfl.edu/pages/109.asp
Student services and related important information for current MCC students may be accessed at the following address:
http://www.mccfl.edu/pages/114.asp
Course Evaluation: Students may evaluate this course and instructor at the following address:
http://www.mccfl.edu/dleval/validate.cfm
Week of
chapter to read
6/18 -6/25
ch.1&4 & pg 151-158/DNA ch 9
6/25-7/2
Ch 11&12
7/2-7/9
Ch 14& 16 & 18
7/9-7/16
Ch 19 & 20& 21
7/16-7/23
Ch 22, 23&24
Quizzes and tests
Test 1 Ch 1, 4, DNA & 4
Quiz 1 Ch 11/12
Test 2 Ch 14, 16&18
Quiz 2 Ch 19/20
Test 3 Ch 21, 22, 23, 24
6/27-6/29
7/4-7/6
7/11-7/13
7/18-7/20
7/24-7/26
Quizzes will always have 25 questions; tests will always have 60 except for test three which will have 80 questions.
Quizzes will be timed 45 minutes and tests will be timed at 90 minutes except for test three which will have a 2 hour
window. Tests questions are revealed one at a time and can be revisited during the time allotted. DO NOT hit the submit
button UNTIL you have answered all questions or else you will be submitting the whole test and you cannot re open.
YOU CANNOT TAKE A TEST LATE.IF YOU DO NOT TAKE IT DURING THE TIME IT IS OPENED YOU WILL
GET A 0!
Assignments: all assignments will be opened on 6/18 BUT have different closing times. See below
1.
2.
3.
Cells alive
Peppered moth simulation
Leaf transpiration
close: 6/27 Chapter 4
close 7/10 Chapter 14,16 and 18
close 7/23 Chapter 21
If you hand in assignments one day late there will be a grade penalty and I WILL NOT TAKE THEM LATER THAN 48
HOURS
Readings from Diversity of life E.O.Wilson text
1. New species pg 51
2. Adaptive radiation pg. 94
3. The forces of evolution pg 75
4. Biodiversity reaches the peak pg. 183
Due 7/16
This will be a drop box assignment sent to turnitin.com . You must read all 4 sections then write a 3-4 page paper on how
the findings in these articles relate to what you have learned in the text. First give summaries of each article, then do an
analysis of what you have read. BE SURE you do not quote word from word in the text or it will be rejected as
plagiarism. BE SURE TO PUT IN YOUR OWN WORDS. The grade for this will be included with the lab and
assignment grade.