GENERAL BIOLOGY
Biology 1 Section 65330
Spring 2011
Emily Avila-Teeguarden, Ph.D.
(Dr. Avila)
avilabiology1@yahoo.com
or
emily.avila@chaffey.edu
(909) 652-6417
Zimmermann Hall Room 130
Office Hours
Mondays 4-5pm
Tuesdays 5-6pm
Wednesdays 4-5pm
Thursdays 5-6pm
Friday 4-5pm
Lecture
Monday through Friday 10 – 12pm
PS101
Lab
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12:30 – 3:30pm
BL108
Course Description
A survey of the biological principles that govern living organisms from their cellular to their
ecological organization. Involves laboratory and field experiences. Meets general education
requirement.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:
1. Distinguish questions that can be addressed scientifically from those that cannot, and
identify basic components of the scientific method as it pertains to biological systems
ranging from molecules to ecosystems.
2. Identify basic components of the scientific method in laboratory setting.
3. Recognize unifying theories and concepts in biology (e.g. structure & function,
ecological relationships, organismal diversity, & inheritance) within an evolutionary
context.
4. Demonstrate the ability to comprehend current events related to a broad range of
biological topics.
5. Experience the excitement inherent in science and demonstrate a motivation to continue
learning about a broad range of biological topics outside the classroom.
Required Text and Supplies
Text: Simon EJ, Reece JB, Dickey JL (2010). Campbell Essential Biology, 4th ed. Pearson
Benjamin Cummings. ISBN: 0321602064, and access to Mastering Biology for Non-Majors.
You can buy the online version of the textbook and Mastering Biology at
www.masteringbiology.com. Your course ID for Mastering Biology is MBAVILA32837. I will
also assign readings from journals and magazines.
Grading
The final grade in the class is calculated as a percentage of the total possible points from the
assignments below:
•
•
•
•
•
3 Exams X 150 points each = 450 points
1 Cumulative Final Exam = 300 points
Assignments/Quizzes of variable points = ~150 points
~10 Lab Assignments X 10 points each = ~100 points
Total = ~1000 points
Grading Scale
Grades are assigned according to a percentage of the total points accumulated:
A+ = 95%
B+ = 84%
C+ = 72%
D = 60%
A = 92%
B = 80%
C = 68%
D- = 56%
A- = 88%
B- = 76%
D+ = 64%
F = 55% and below
Drop Policy
After the first day of class, it is the student’s responsibility to drop the class. I will announce the
add and drop deadlines in class.
Attendance
You must attend all lectures and labs. If you must be absent, please note that there are no
makeup labs, exams, or quizzes.
Tardiness
Students arriving more than 15 minutes late to class will receive a verbal warning the first time, a
written reprimand from the college the second time, and a 2-day suspension from class
accompanied by a required meeting with the assistant dean of student services if it happens a
third time.
Assignments
All assignments are due at the beginning of class. Unless otherwise stated in class, all
assignments must be typed on a clean sheet of paper. Late assignments are accepted for three
working days after the due date but will receive a 5 point deduction from the final score. After
three working days, the assignment will not be accepted.
Quizzes
Quizzes can occur spontaneously any time during lecture or lab and are not announced ahead of
time. Arriving late to class means you have whatever time is remaining to complete the quiz.
There are no makeup quizzes.
Exams
Students are given 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete each midterm exam, and 2.5 hours to
complete the final exam. I will replace your lowest exam score with the score of your
cumulative final exam. There are no makeup exams. If you miss an exam, then the missed
exam will count as your lowest exam score.
Laboratory/Field Safety
Long pants or skirts that cover the whole leg as well as closed toe shoes must be worn in lab and
field exercises for your safety.
Academic Integrity and Inappropriate Behavior
Cheating: Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, copying another person’s work
in any class activity and using any unauthorized materials (like cell phones) during an exam,
quiz, or assignment, or discussing an exam with students who have not taken the exam yet.
Plagiarism: Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, significantly copying any
work that has been previously published by another individual, presenting another individual’s
work as one’s own work, or identical assignments submitted by multiple students. Not a single
sentence should be directly copied from another source – even if you reference the
resource! You must use your own words in your writings or it will be considered
plagiarism!
Consequences: Cheating and plagiarism are both forms of academic dishonesty. An initial
incident will result in no credit for the assignment, and an incident form filed with the School of
Math and Science as well as the Assistant Dean of Student Services. If the first incident is an
exam, then that exam will NOT be replaced by your final exam score. A second incident of
cheating will result in a grade of F for the class. An exam that receives a grade of zero for
cheating cannot be replaced with the final exam grade.
Student Behavior
Any action that disrupts or significantly interferes with instruction will not be tolerated –
including the use of cell phones in class. The Chaffey College Student Handbook has an
exhaustive explanation of inappropriate behavior. Most initial incidents of inappropriate
behavior will result in a verbal warning from me that will be documented with Student Services.
Subsequent incidents of inappropriate behavior will result in written reprimands, 2-day class
suspensions, or expulsion from class depending on the frequency and severity of the behavior.
Severe inappropriate behavior will result in immediate suspension, and possible expulsion from
class.
Children
Children are not allowed in class under any circumstances. Children are also not allowed to wait
outside of class for you (for their safety). If you show up to class with your children, I will ask
you to leave for the remainder of class. This policy is in place for the safety and well being of
your children.
Disabilities
If you have, or think you have, a disability that could interfere with your success in this class,
please contact me or contact Disability Programs and Services (DPS). DPS can also be
contacted by phone at (909) 652-6398 or on the web at www.chaffey.edu/dps.
Student Success Centers
Chaffey College has created Student Success Centers, which offer free tutorials, workshops,
study groups, directed learning activities, and computer/resource access to assist students in their
academic development and success.
The Rancho Success Centers are designed to address specific subject needs as well as more
general multidisciplinary needs:
Math Center
PS-12
(909) 652-6452
Language Success Center
BEB
(909) 652-6907
Writing Success Center
Library
(909) 652-6820
Multi-disciplinary/Reading Success Center BEB
(909) 652-6932
Call the Centers or consult the college website at www.chaffey.edu/success/ for more
information.
Early Alert
In order to assist students when they need support, Chaffey College uses an Early Alert System
that allows your instructor to notify you if your success in this course appears to be in jeopardy.
This system is designed to provide you with individualized attention while there is still time for
you to successfully complete this course. The Early Alert Office may send you a letter or email
followed up with a telephone call to discuss your classroom performance and the on-campus
resources available to you, so please use My ChaffeyVIEW to keep your contact information upto-date.
Advice From My Previous Biology Students
I asked my previous physiology students, “What advice would you give to students who want to
be successful in my biology class in the future?” I have quoted some of the responses below:
1. “Study groups and go to tutoring sessions! Makes life easier!”
2. “Study all the time, just basically stay on your toes.”
3. Stay on top of things!”
4.
“Make time for study groups.”
5. “Study, be organized and study!”
6. “Study your notes. Don’t memorize them, but it’s imperative that you understand them.”
7. “Take notes in class, and critically think about all of the topics.”
8. “Stay current on each outline that is presented in class. Do not fall behind!”
9. “Study and predict future test questions because just memorizing the info isn’t enough to
pass the test.”
10. “Study every night!”
11. “Pay attention to the lectures. Take your own notes in addition to the notes posted on
eRes. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and read the book on whatever topics were
covered.”
12. “Go to the Success Center.”
13. “Don’t focus on how hard/difficult something is. Approach it as simple as possible.
Make it relate to your life.”
14. “Study the notes! Don’t slack off, and come to class everyday. I think the worst thing I
did for this class was to slack off at the end and I didn’t study enough for the final – so
studying is very important!”
15. “You cannot simply memorize the material. You have to study it to where you have a
conceptual understanding of what is going on. If you don’t get it by the lecture, go see a
tutor, or go to her office hours. If you don’t learn the material from one chapter, you will
pay for it down the road as the class builds on what you learn over the course of the
semester. Ask questions in class! She’s accommodating.”
Schedule for Biology 1 – Dr. Avila
Date
M 2/7
Lecture Topic
Lecture: Introduction to Course
Lab: Intro to Course & Scientific Thinking
Chemistry
Lecture: Why Water is Great!
Lab: Testing Hypotheses
Molecules of Life
Lecture: A Tour of the Cell
Lab: Detecting Macromolecules
Reading
Chapter 1
Chapter 5
Th 2/17
F 2/18
Lecture: The Working Cell
Lab: Enzymes
Exam 1
Lecture: Movement Across Membranes
Lab: Diffusion & Osmosis
Cellular Respiration Part 1
Lincoln Day – No Class
M 2/21
T 2/22
Washington Day – No Class
Cellular Respiration Part 2
W 2/23
Lecture: Photosynthesis
Lab: Fermentation
Chapter 7
Th 2/24
F 2/25
Cellular Reproduction
Lecture: Patterns of Inheritance part 1
Lab: Photosynthesis
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
M 2/28
Lecture: Exam 2
Lab: Genotypes & Phenotypes
Patterns of Inheritance part 2
Lecture: The Structure & Function of DNA
Lab: Replication, Transcription, Translation
How Genes are Controlled
Lecture: Introduction to Evolution
Lab: Ethics & Biotechnology
T 2/8
W 2/9
Th 2/10
F 2/11
M 2/14
T 2/15
W 2/16
T 3/1
W 3/2
Th 3/3
F 3/4
M 3/7
T 3/8
W 3/9
Th 3/10
F 3/11
M 3/14
T 3/15
W 3/16
Th 3/17
F 3/18
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Chapter 1
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 13
Chapter 12
Evolution Part 2
Lab: Camouflage & Natural Selection
Lecture: The Modern Synthesis
Lecture: The Evolution of Biodiversity
Lab: Phylogenetic Trees
Exam 3
Lecture: Microbes
Lab: Plants & Fungi
Chapter 13
Lecture: Animals
Lab: Dichotomous Keys
Lecture: Introduction to Ecology
Lecture: Community Ecology
Lab: Mark & Recapture
Population Ecology
Final Exam
Chapter 17
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 13
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Assignments Due