Biology 208 Evolution Fall 2014 Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Neil Buckley.
Office 221 Hudson Hall; phone: ext. 5165; E-mail: neil.buckley@plattsburgh.edu.
Class times: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 12.00–12.50pm, Redcay 111.
Main Text: Evolution: Making sense of life 1st edition by Carl Zimmer and Douglas J.
Emlen.
My plan is to cover all or portions of chapters 1-8, 10-13 and 15-18.
As a supplement to the main text, we also will also read Evolution: The triumph of an
idea by Carl Zimmer.
Office hours:
10.00-11.45 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Other times by appointment or if I’m available.
Want to talk? You are always welcome to drop by my office to discuss the class and any
problems you might be having with the material. I am always available during office
hours and there is no need to make an appointment. Outside of office hours, I am happy
to meet with you, if I have time. However, I do have other commitments and occasionally
I will not be free to chat. Therefore, if you want to guarantee that I will be available to
talk with you outside of normal office hours, you should make an appointment.
Have a routine query? If you wish to get in touch with me and I am not in my office,
please use e-mail. It is much more efficient than playing telephone tag. I will respond to
e-mail messages as quickly as I can, usually as soon as I receive them. A lot of routine
class material is posted on the class web page (see Class Web Page below), so if you
cannot find me, you may be able to find the answer to your question there.
Why study Evolution? There is no topic more essential to a biologist. Evolution
(primarily by natural selection) is the central idea that underpins all of modern biology. It
is one of the most important of all scientific theories and also one of the most significant
ideas in western thought. All educated people should understand how evolution occurs
and no one can claim to be a biologist who does not.
Class Web page. There is an Evolution class web page located on my faculty home
page. You can obtain access to the page in several ways:
1. Go to the main SUNY Plattsburgh page http://www.plattsburgh.edu and at the top of the
page click on current students. Then on the left hand side under Resources click on
Faculty web pages. Then click on my name Buckley, Neil to go to my home page. There
click on Evolution.
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2. Alternatively you can get to my home page through the Department of Biological
Sciences home page http://www.plattsburgh.edu/academics/biology/ From there on the left hand
side under Contact Us click on Faculty Directory and then click on the link to my faculty
website.
Material related to the class is posted on the class web page. I make lecture notes
available on the web. Notes are intended to be a supplementary aid to learning. They are
provided so that you can check the material we covered in class or, if you have missed a
class, find out what material was covered. However, I must warn you that routinely
missing class and attempting to study exclusively from the posted material is a very bad
idea. If you want to understand what is going on in class you must attend lectures.
Classroom approach and teaching philosophy: It is my aim in teaching this class to be
approachable and receptive to questions. If you have a question, please ask. I am happy
to answer questions at any time in class. Remember that the only silly question is the one
you don’t ask. Also, if at any time in class you are having difficulty hearing me, or
reading something, or are having any other difficulties with how I’m teaching, please tell
me. I’m not going to get offended. It doesn’t do either of us any good if you wait until
the end of the semester to tell me in evaluations that you couldn’t read my handwriting!
Grading: The course will be graded based on the standard scale of A = 90-100%; B =
80-89.9%: C = 70-79.9%; D = 60-69.9%; E < 59.9%. Minus/plus grades will be assigned
at <3.0 and 6.9. University policy is that there are no A+ or D- grades.
Breakdown of grading.
Three Midterm Exams
In-class Writing Assignments related to Supplementary
Readings
Comprehensive Final Exam
Total
90 points each
90 points
140 points
_________
500 points
Writing assignments relating to supplementary reading: This semester we will be
Read Carl Zimmer’s Evolution: The triumph of an idea. On six Fridays (see dates listed
at bottom of the syllabus) we will devote the class to a short, graded writing assignment
and a discussion of the assigned material. The discussion session is not optional. Points
will be deducted if you leave class early after handing in your written paper.
Midterm exams: 90 pts each. Each exam will have a mixed format that will include
short-answer, fill-in the blank and a number of essay questions.
Midterm exam dates: September 24th, October 22nd, November 19th.
Comprehensive Final Exam: 140 pts. Finals week begins Saturday December 6th.
Date and time of final TBA.
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Absences from exams/delay in handing in work -- I will be happy to make alternative
arrangements to provide alternative exams or accept late work if you have a legitimate
excuse. Legitimate excuses include: a documented family emergency, an illness or
accident to you, or participation in a University sponsored scheduled activity (e.g.
membership of a University team). Please inform me in advance in the event of a nonemergency excuse. In the event of an emergency, please let me know as soon as possible
thereafter.
Use of cellphones and other electronic devices in class: Please turn off all cell phones
and similar devices before class begins. Do not text during class or engage in any other
form of electronic communication during class. It is unprofessional, rude and distracting
to me and to other students. Anyone who violates this rule will lose 5 points (1%) from
their final grade for each violation. In the case of a first violation, you may earn back the
5 points lost by writing a five page essay on the negative effects of texting on society.
Please note that it is permissible to use a laptop computer to take notes during class.
College Policies
SUNY Plattsburgh Honor Code Statement
“It is expected that all students enrolled in this class support the letter and the spirit of the Academic
Honesty Policy as stated in the college catalog.”
College policy on accommodations
It is the policy of the College that any student requiring accommodations of any kind to
fully access this course must be registered for accommodations with the Student Support
Services office located in the Angell College Center. If you need any accommodations
for this course, please contact Student Support Services at 518/564/2810.
Two policies of the Department of Biological Sciences are directly relevant to this
course.
Assessment of Student Learning: Analytical skill development
and understanding of fundamental biological principles
The faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences are committed to providing
students with a first-rate educational experience as articulated in the Departmental
Mission Statement:
“The Department of Biological Sciences strives to provide students with the
fundamental understanding of the principles and methods of the life sciences within the
context of a sound liberal arts education. Emphasis is on the development of the
student’s ability to analyze problems, apply scientific method, communicate biological
information, and interpret current advances in research.”
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Student progress toward attaining the goals set forth in the Departmental Mission
Statement will be assessed in part by an exam or quiz question that has been selected for
this purpose by the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences.
Writing Standards for Department of Biological Sciences
It is the position of the Department of Biological Sciences at Plattsburgh State that all
students must learn to write in a clear and intelligent manner. We recognize that this goal
cannot be achieved by depending only on the efforts of others to foster good writing. We
further believe that the general quality of student writing will not improve unless we as a
department are willing to state explicitly the standards we expect students to meet and to
enforce those standards. Therefore, in courses taught by the Department of Biological
Sciences, in addition to grading the content of written assignments, all faculty will also
grade assignments for writing.
E: Unacceptable. The student will receive a grade of zero for the assignment. The
student is advised to withdraw and take a remedial writing course before attempting
the course again.
D: The writing is not at the minimal level generally expected for college students, but
improvement appears possible.
C: Poorly organized or with an excessive number of errors in grammar, spelling, or
syntax, even after making allowances for circumstances such as time available.
B: Acceptable in organization, grammar, spelling, and syntax after making allowances
for circumstances such as time available.
A: Clearly and correctly written.
Summary of important dates
August 25th
September 24th
October 13th
October 15th
October 22nd
October 31st
November 19th
November 26th-28th
December 5th
December 6th-12th
December 17th
First day of class
Exam 1
No class (Columbus Day Break)
Midterm grades due
Exam 2
Last day for unrestricted course withdrawals
Exam 3
No classes. Thanksgiving Break.
Last class
Final Exam week
Final Grades due
Supplemental reading discussion dates and assigned readings
September 5th
September19th
October 3rd
Chapters 1 and 2
Chapters 3 and 4
Chapters 5 and 6
October 17th
October 31st
November 14th
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Chapters 7 and 8
Chapters 9 and 10
Chapters 11-13