COURSE INFORMATION
Biology 191
Organismal Biology
Spring, 2014
INSTRUCTOR: Renee Magrini
OFFICE: Bris. 324
OFFICE PHONE: 445-3280
EMAIL: renee.magrini@wnc.edu
OFFICE HOURS: 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Mon., Wed. & Thur.; 1:00-3:00 p.m. Thur.; or by
appointment.
ATTENDANCE: It is your responsibility to attend all lecture sessions. Attendance will be
recorded at the beginning of each lecture. Attendance in lecture is particularly important
because exam questions will be drawn from lecture material. Attendance will be recorded at
the beginning of class and after the 15 min. break. If you are late and miss the taking of
attendance, be sure to see me after class so I can mark you present. If you fail to do this, you
will be marked absent irreversibly. Each lecture class will be worth 2 points if you are
present at the start time for the class. If you arrive late or leave early, only 1 point will be
earned. There will be a total of 16 lecture classes during the semester, for a total of 32
attendance points possible. Throughout the semester, a total of 2 absences or 4 tardies or
any combination totaling 4 points will be excused. Any additional absences or tardies will
diminish your attendance grade. Attendance in lecture is worth 100 points toward your
lecture average.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: Primarily lecture, however slides and videos may be shown
occasionally.
ONLINE QUIZZES: Upon completion of each chapter, you will have one week to take the
online quiz for that chapter. Each online quiz will have between 10 and 20 questions,
depending on the length of the corresponding chapter. You will be permitted to take each quiz
two times and only the highest score will be recorded. The quizzes will be averaged at the
end of the semeter. Online quizzes are worth 100 points toward your lecture average.
Extra Credit: You will be given the opportunity to choose any two of the CRITICAL
THINKING questions at the end of each chapter in your textbook in order to earn extra credit.
The Discussion questions require the ability to apply what you have learned in class to a
hypothetical situation in order to strengthen your powers of deductive reasoning. You must
complete two (2) questions from each chapter that we cover to receive 2 points of extra credit,
which will be added to your final average at the end of the semester. For example, if your
overall average was 88 (B+) and you completed all of the Critical Thinking questions by the
end of the semester, 2 points would be added to your overall average, bringing your total up to
90 (A-). Student’s name, chapter number, and “Critical Thinking” must be typed in the upper
right corner of the page. Extra credit is worth 2 points added on to your final lecture
average.
EXAMS & GRADING: Three lecture exams, at 100 points each, will be given during the
course of the semester. Each will be non-comprehensive, covering the material for that
section only. Exams are worth 300 points toward your lecture average.
Make-up exams will only be given to students with a valid doctor’s excuse stating that either
the student or his/her child was ill. YOU CANNOT MAKE UP MORE THAN ONE EXAM!
If you miss an exam for a valid reason, i.e. an important business trip of a mandatory
meeting, you must provide documentation and make arrangements with me in advance, and
I will schedule a makeup date.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY (CHEATING): Cheating includes, but is not limited to: looking at
another student’s quiz, lab practical, or exam; looking at one’s notes, textbook or cell phone
while taking a quiz or exam; plagiarizing another student’s work; plagiarizing copyrighted
material. Any students found cheating will be expelled from the class.
TEXTBOOK: Biology by Solomon, Berg, and Martin. Vol. II. 9th Ed.
ISBN-13: 9781111774370
OR IF YOU PREFER TO PURCHASE THE FULL VERSION TEXTBOOK:
Biology by Solomon, Berg, and Martin. 9th Ed.
ISBN-13: 9780538741255
COMPUTING YOUR GRADE: Your final grade will be calculated using the following formula:
Calculate your lecture average.
Lecture exams (300 points possible), Online Quizzes (100 points possible), Attendance (100
points possible). Total points possible for lecture = 500
To calculate your lecture average, add up your three lecture exams, homework, and
attendance and divide this sum by 500.
Hypothetical Example:
85 (Ex. 1)
91 (Ex. 2)
89 (Ex. 3)
93 (Attn)
100 (Quizzes)
458
458/500 = .916 X 100 = 91.6% (92%)
If your final average is:
Grade
93-100 ......A
90-92 ........A87-89 ........B+
83-86 ........B
80-82 ........B77-79 ........C+
73-76 ........C
70-72 ........C67-69 ........D+
63-66 ........D
60-62 ........D59 i .........F
Grade Points
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.7
0
THIS GRADING SCALE IS ABSOLUTE--THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY!
TENTATIVE LECTURE OUTLINE
Organismal Biology
Biology 191
DATE
TOPIC
Spring, 2014
READING
Jan. 21
Introduction/Understanding Diversity: Systematics
Viruses
Bacteria and Archaea
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Jan. 28
The Protists
Chapter 26
Feb. 4
Kingdom Fungi
Chapter 29
Feb. 11
The Plant Kingdom: Seedless Plants
Chapter 27
Feb. 18
The Plant Kingdom: Seed Plants
Chapter 28
Feb. 25
EXAM 1
Plant Structure, Growth and Differentiation
Chapter 33
Mar. 4
Plant Structure, Growth and Differentiation
Chapter 33
Mar. 11
Stems and Transport
Roots and Mineral Nutrition
Leaf Structure and Function
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 34
Mar. 18
Spring Break–No Classes!
Mar. 25
Reproduction in Flowering Plants
Chapter 37
Apr. 1
Growth Responses and Regulation of Growth
Chapter 38
Apr. 8
EXAM 2
The Animal Kingdom: An Introduction
Chapter 30
Apr. 15
The Animal Kingdom: The Protostomes
Chapter 31
Apr. 22
The Animal Kingdom: The Protostomes, cont’d
Chapter 31
Apr. 29
The Animal Kingdom: The Deuterostomes
Chapter 32
May 6
Community Ecology
Chapter 54
May 13
EXAM 3
I: Catalog Course Description
1. Combines the principles of botany and zoology into one course emphasizing levels of
organization and life processes common to all organisms. Topics range from nutrient processing
and homeostasis to reproduction. Note: BIOL 190/190L plus BIOL 191/191L transfer to UNR as
fulfilling BIOL 190, 191 and 192 requirements.
II: Course Objectives
C
Gained factual knowledge (terminology, classifications, methods, trends) about
Introduction to Organismal Biology.
C
Learned fundamental principles, generalizations, or theories of Introduction to Organismal
Biology.
C
Learned to apply course material (to improve thinking, problem-solving, and decisions) in
Introduction to Organismal Biology.
C
Developed specific skills, competencies and points of view needed by professionals in the
field most closely related to Introduction to Organismal Biology.
C
Acquired an interest in learning more by asking questions and seeking answers about
Introduction to Organismal Biology.