Course Syllabus for BIO 181
Introductory Biology I
Fall Semester 2013
Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:15-11:30 AM
3712 Bostian Hall
Instructor Information
Dr. Brad Lamphere
Course Information
Office: David Clark Labs 158
Phone: 513-7565 (shared)
E-mail: balamphe@ncsu.edu
Credit hours: 4
Prerequisite: None
Co-requirement: Bio 181 Laboratory Session
Office Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 1:30 – 3:30 pm or by appointment
Course Description and Structure
This course will introduce you to ecology, evolution, and biodiversity within the context of structure and function including the adaptive strategies plants and animals use to manage the everyday challenges of life. Most importantly, you will build a foundation for understanding how science works and how to think and communicate scientifically. Your participation in this course will give you a solid background of basic biology concepts that you will use in the next part of this course, Biology 183, to explore topics dealing with the cellular and molecular components of animal and plant systems.
This course is a lecture and laboratory format, and the topics covered in lab are emphasized in lecture. The lecture structure includes discussions, question/answer sessions, demonstrations, inclass assignments and activities, exams, and quizzes. Overall goals for the entire course are listed below, but you will receive specific learning objectives for each class session.
GER Designation of BIO 181
BIO 181 is listed as a Natural Sciences course that completes the laboratory requirement for the General Education Program 2009, http://oucc.ncsu.edu/gep-nat-science
Objectives for courses in the category of Natural Sciences:
Each course in the natural sciences will provide instruction and guidance that help you to:
1.
use the methods and processes of science in testing hypotheses, solving problems and making decisions; and
2.
articulate, make inferences from, and apply the methods and processes of science to problem solving, scientific concepts, principles, laws, and theories.

Overall Goals
This course aims to:
 target scientific thinking and communication skills.
 define ecology and explore ecosystems to show the dynamic nature of populations and communities and the factors which affect them.
 establish the mechanisms underlying the theory of evolution.
 look at biodiversity and how organisms are classified based on specific characteristics essential to survival in their specific habitats.
 discuss the adaptations of plants and animals for acquiring nutrients and carrying out other life processes.
Course Requirements
Textbook: Raven et al. 2012. Biology . Tenth Edition. McGraw Hill: NY. You may purchase the textbook from the NCSU Bookstore, from other commercial bookstores near campus or directly from the publisher.
Note : the book is also available as an eTextbook (lower price and access will last two years). Go to the link below and fill in the appropriate information. When you get to the student registration site, click on “Buy Online” on the lower right hand corner. If you purchase a new book through the campus bookstore, the eTextbook (Connect Plus) is included and you will access it through the link below. Do not click “Buy Online,” instead, enter the code that is included with your book. In either case, you will have to create a Connect account. Connect is the managing system for the eTextbook. Make sure to use your NC State email address and your official name as shown on MyPack Portal. http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/b_lamphere_005
Personal Response Cards (“Clickers”) : We will be using personal response cards to enhance your input and participation in the course. They can be purchased at the NCSU bookstore. Make sure to register your clicker in our Biology 181 (section 005—Fall
2013) course by going to: http://student.turningtechnologies.com/
Add your complete student ID number in the “other” field. Use your official name as shown on MyPack Portal. When asked to enter the instructor’s email address, make sure to use brad_lamphere@ncsu.edu
. Note: If you are using the clicker in another class, register for that class separately. Also, older models of clickers will also work.
To learn how to use your clicker, you may go to the Turning Technologies personal cards online tutorials page: http://www.turningtechnologies.com/pdf/UserGuides/NXTQuickstartGuide.pdf
Laboratory:
Official registration for BIO 181 includes both a lecture section and a lab section .
Failure to register in both a lecture and lab section by the end of the official University registration period will result in the cancellation of your enrollment in this course. The
Biological Sciences Office does not provide alternative means for adding or changing
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lecture sections or lab sections. Registration for both lecture and lab is the responsibility of the individual student and is to be accomplished only via MyPack Portal. Lab sections are paired with specific lecture sections (see the course listings under the “class search” in MyPack for pairings) and you must sign up for a lab paired with your lecture section.
If you switch lecture sections you must switch to a paired lab section as well.
All laboratory sessions start the week of August 26 th .
You will receive a separate set of guidelines for the laboratory during the first regularly scheduled meeting of your lab section.
You must adhere to all safety instructions that are stated in these guidelines, in the laboratory manual, and by your laboratory instructor.
The laboratory manual is a required part of the course and may be purchased from the NCSU
Bookstore . BIO 181: General Biology I Laboratory Manual. Department of Biology. North
Carolina State University. Hayden McNeil. Fall 2013.
Evaluation
Your grade in this class will come from your combined efforts in both lecture and lab. Based on your efforts, you will receive a certain number of points for each of the categories listed below.
You will take four exams in this course; the date of each exam is stated on the lecture schedule.
Each of these exams covers information and activities in both the lecture and the laboratory.
Each exam is given at the beginning of the designated class meeting, so you should be there at the scheduled times.
Attendance is required at all lecture meetings, and it will count towards your participation points. If you miss more than three classes, you will start to lose five points per absence, starting with absence one. Attendance in class is recorded when you participate in class using your clicker and complete in-class assignments. It is your responsibility to respond to clicker questions during class. Failure to do so will result in an absence. Clicking in for others or having someone click in for you is considered a breach of the Honor Code. To read more about the policies concerning student conduct, go to: http://studentconduct.ncsu.edu/policies-and-procedures
An absence may be excused if appropriate documentation is provided. Excused lecture absences carry no penalty. You may read about University attendance regulations (REG 02.20.03) at: http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-03
Point Distribution:
Lecture Participation/Assignments
Laboratory Grade
Exam I
Exam II
150
300
100
100
Exam III
Final Exam
Total
100
150
900
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A plus/minus system of letter grading is used in this course .
A+
A
873-900
837-872
C
C-
657-692
630-656
A-
B+
B
B-
810-836
783-809
747-782
720-746
D+
D
603-629
567-602
D- 540-566
F below 540
C+ 693-719
A grade of Incomplete (IN) may be assigned at the discretion of your instructor. This grade is considered only in the circumstances of a serious interruption in your work not caused by your own negligence. An IN grade is appropriate only if your record in this course is such that the successful completion of missed assignments or exams would enable you to pass the course.
A grade of AU will be assigned only if the student auditing the course has an attendance record with no more than 3 unexcused absences, complete all on-line assignments, complete all lecture assignments, and attend lab according to lab attendance requirements. Students taking this course for credit-only (S/U) must complete the course with the equivalent of a grade of C- or above. Students taking the course for credit-only should be aware that credit-only will not count toward Natural Science or Biology major requirements, and in most majors will count only for free elective credit (in some cases, it will not count for any credit toward a degree).
Expectations & Policies
Attendance

You are required to be in class and on time. Since part of your grade comes from attendance and your participation during class, you will lose points if you’re not present.
If you’re late, and you miss the attendance or participatory activity, you will also lose points.

If you discontinue class attendance without following proper procedures for dropping or withdrawing, you will receive a grade of F in the course.

If you must be absent on the day of an exam, you will need an excuse that can be verified by appropriate documentation. To take a makeup exam, you must contact me as soon as possible, and no later than two days after the missed exam. I will then make arrangements to provide a place and time for your makeup exam. All makeup exams will be in a different format than the exam given in class and will be given during the week of
November 18 th . No more than two makeup exams are allowed per student.

You will not be able to makeup participation activities we conduct during class.
Activities that become take-home assignments can be made up if you have appropriate documentation for your absence.
Adverse Weather Policy : Adverse weather policy will follow that of the University. Follow
University announcements on local media and on the University web site (http://www.ncsu.edu) or from me via e-mail, if possible, for information on whether class will be held. In general, if
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you are unable or feel it is unsafe to travel to class due to adverse weather conditions, contact Dr.
Lamphere for lecture or lab as soon as you are able.
Assignments

You are responsible for obtaining lecture material from the course Moodle site and for reading associated portions of the textbook as listed on the schedule of topics in this syllabus.

Exams will include all the material we cover in class up to the day before the exam. As lab and lecture topics overlap, your exam will have items from lab as well.

The final exam will include new material since Exam 3, but it will be mostly comprehensive, including integration of laboratory information.

You are responsible for following up with postings on the web and e-mail, even if you’re absent. This will be my main line of communication with you, where I will be posting materials, sending reminders, etc.
Integrity

All course work submitted for a grade in both lecture and lab must be your own.
University standards of academic integrity forbid either giving or receiving unauthorized help on graded work. Violations of University standards will be prosecuted. You will need to sign the academic integrity statement on each exam.
Please read the Code of Student Cond uct (POL 11.35.01) found at http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01 and go to the Office of Student
Conduct at: http://studentconduct.ncsu.edu/

Be considerate of others in class by following simple rules of politeness.

Try not to pack up before lecture ends. This is disruptive to me and to other students.

Turn off all electronic devices (iPods, cell phones, laptops) during lecture.
The use of any other electronic device is not allowed during lecture and may count against your course participation. If you require special assistance, please see me.

Remember that this course is for you—you will get as much out of it as you’re willing to put in.
Email Etiquette
Please include your full name in the body of all emails you send to me. In the subject heading, please write bio 181--005 . If you are attaching a document, include your name in the document and include your name and course number in the file name .
Statement on Disabilities: If you have a disability that will affect your performance in this course, reasonable accommodations will be made for you. You must provide documentation of your disability from the NCSU Disability Student Services, 2000
Harris Hall, 515-7653 (disability@ncsu.edu). For more information on NC State's policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Regulation (REG 02.20.1) at http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-02-20-01 and Disability Services Office at http://dso.dasa.ncsu.edu/welcome . Also, please be sure to discuss with me.
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Course Evaluations : Online class evaluations will be available for students to complete during the last two weeks of class (November 19 th
, noon-December 9 th
, 8am).
Evaluation website: http://upa.ncsu.edu/eval/clev/students-info ; Student help desk: classeval@ncsu.edu
Electronically Hosted Components : Students may be required to disclose personally identifiable information to other students in the course, via electronic tools like email and discussion posts, blogs, etc., where relevant to the course. All students are expected to respect the privacy of others by not sharing or using such information outside the course.
Non-discrimination Policy : NC State University provides equality of opportunity in education and employment for all students and employees. Accordingly, NC State affirms its commitment to maintain a work environment for all employees and an academic environment for all students that is free from all forms of discrimination.
Discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation is a violation of state and federal law and/or NC State
University policy and will not be tolerated. Harassment of any person (either in the form of quid pro quo or creation of a hostile environment) based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation also is a violation of state and federal law and/or NC State University policy and will not be tolerated.
Retaliation against any person who complains about discrimination is also prohibited. NC
State's policies and regulations covering discrimination, harassment, and retaliation (POL
04.25.05) may be accessed at http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-04-25-05 and http://oied.ncsu.edu/oied/policies.php
.
Any person who feels that he or she has been the subject of prohibited discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 919-515-3148.
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Schedule of Topics
Date Lecture Topic Textbook
Aug.
22 Th Introduction
Aug.
27 T Scientific Inquiry
Aug.
29 Th Methods of Science
Sep.
3 T Evolution: Overview
Sep. 5 Th Evolution
Sep. 10 T Evolution
Sep. 12 Th Origin of Species
Sep. 17 T Origin of Species &
Review
Sep. 19 Th EXAM I
Sep. 24 T Animal Behavior
Sep. 26 Th Mating Systems
Oct. 1 T Population Ecology
Ch. 1
Ch. 1
Ch. 20
Ch. 20-21
Ch. 20-21
Ch. 22
Ch. 22
Oct. 3 Th Community Ecology
Oct.
8 T Ecosystems: Cycles and flows
Oct.
10 Th Fall Break—No Classes
Oct.
15 T Ecosystems: Biomes
Oct.
17 Th Ecosystems: Review
Oct.
22 T EXAM II
Ch. 54
Ch. 54
Ch. 55
Ch. 56
Ch. 57
Ch. 58
Ch. 57-59
Oct.
Oct.
Oct
Nov
Nov
24 Th
29 T
. 31 Th
. 5 T
. 7 Th
Phylogeny
Origin of Life
Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Ch. 23
Ch. 26
Portions of
Ch. 28-35
Portions of
Ch. 28-35
Portions of
Ch. 28-35
Ch. 36 & 38 Nov . 12 T Acquisition of Nutrients
& Review
Nov . 14 Th EXAM III
Nov . 19 T Acquisition of Nutrients Ch. 38 & 47
Nov . 21 Th Acquisition of Nutrients Ch. 38 & 47
Nov . 26 T Ch. 37
Nov . 28 Th Thanksgiving Holiday—
No Classes
Dec . 3 T Diversity of Transport
Dec. 5 Th Diversity of Transport—
Last day of class
Dec . 10 Tu Final Exam 8 -11am
Ch. 37 & 48
Ch. 48 & 49
Lab
No Labs
Lab 1—Basic Skills
No Labs –-Labor Day
Holiday
Lab 2a—Scientific Method
Lab 2b— Scientific Method
Lab 3a— Aquatic
Communities
Lab 3b— Aquatic
Communities
No Labs—Fall Break
Lab 4— Natural Selection:
Speciation
Lab 5— Classification:
Assessing Relatedness.
Lab 6— Classification and the Use of Taxonomic Keys
Lab 7—Species
Relationships: Symbiosis
Lab 8—Nutritional
Adaptations
Lab 9a—Transport Systems
No Labs— Thanksgiving
Holiday
Lab 9b—Transport Systems
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Personal Information Sheet
Please fill out and turn in on Tues for 2 free points.
Name:______________________________________________
Student ID Number:___________________________________
Major:______________________________________________
Career Goals:______________________________________________________________
Local/global cause that interests you:____________________________________________
I have read and understand the information included in the Bio 181 course syllabus.
Sign:________________________________________________________________
I will abide by the University Honor Code: I will not give or receive any unauthorized help on any assignment or test.
Sign:________________________________________________________________
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