HON 291- Sophomore Seminar
Gut Bacteria: Friend or Foe?
Fall 2015
3 Credits
Instructor: Maria Stewart, PhD
Office: 314M Agricultural Sciences Bldg
Email: mstew@hawaii.edu
Office hours: by appointment
Meeting location: Moore 207, Tues/Thurs 3:00-4:15
COURSE OVERVIEW
Catalog description:
Special inquiry-based study of multi-disciplinary topics in particular historical, cultural, geographical,
environmental, or other contexts. Emphasis on primary sources and/or fieldwork. (B) biological science.
Repeatable one time. A-F only. Pre: 101 or departmental approval. DB for (B)
HON 291 Stewart Section description:
This course will introduce students to the anatomy, physiology, and function of the human digestive
system. A large part of this course will address the role of gut bacteria (microbes that reside in the human
digestive system) and health. The majority of the student’s grade (62%) is determined by evaluation of
written works (see Graded Items below).
Prerequisites:
Honors program student. No prior biological or physical science course work is necessary. Supplemental
readings on anatomy, physiology, and nutrition will be provided at the beginning of the semester.
Course objectives:
Upon completing this course, students will:
 Understand the anatomy, physiology, and function of the human digestive system.
 Describe the factors that affect gut bacteria composition.
 Describe the role of gut bacteria in human health.
Students will develop specific skills in the following areas:
 Use library resources to conduct a literature search
 Interpret scholarly documents
 Write in a formal, scholarly tone
 Use writing as means of comprehension
 Develop written and oral communication skills that will support a student’s honors thesis research
Course text:
This course will use recently published (usually within the last 5 years) review and primary research
articles to present course topics. All articles will be available through the UH-Manoa library system.
Citations for the articles will be announced in class and also posted on Laulima. Students will be required
to print or photocopy their own copies of the articles.
A few course readings will come from: Gastrointestinal Physiology, by Kim E Barrett
© 2006 McGraw Hill Available at UHM/JABSOM as e-book
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http://micro189.lib3.hawaii.edu/ezproxy/details.php?dbId=52802
Laulima
This course will use Laulima to distribute readings, handouts, and announcements
(https://laulima.hawaii.edu/portal). All registered students can access the website using their UH
username and password. Students should choose the HON 491 tab in the list of courses. If you cannot
access the HON 491 Laulima site, contact the instructor immediately.
Course format:
The course is part lecture (50%) and part discussion (50%). To accommodate for in-class discussion,
students are expected to complete readings in advance of the class. Weekly course load will vary slightly,
and the effort needed outside of class will depend on students’ reading ability.
Course attendance:
Attendance is mandatory. Because this course is partly discussion-based, students who miss class
sessions must make up their missed discussion. If you have a planned absence, please see Dr. Stewart as
soon as possible. Arrangements to make up missed work must be made within one week of the missed
class. Possible make-up assignments are out-of-class discussions with Dr. Stewart or a written
discussion/critique of the papers presented in during the missed class.
GRADED ITEMS
Class participation:
Students are expected to contribute to class discussions. Understandably, some students are more willing
to contribute than others. Students who do not voluntarily contribute to discussions will be “called on” to
answer questions or give their opinion on a specific topic. Students may receive participation credit for
bringing the completed learning sheet to class or taking a pop quiz in class.
Weekly Journals:
Students will complete journal entries based on instructor prompts. These entries are to be completed
outside of class. Journal entries are due Tuesday at the beginning of class. Typically, journal comments
will be provided by Thursday, along with a new prompts for the next due date. Journal prompts will
range from 1 to 3 topics or questions each week. The journal entries are informal writing assignments, but
students are expected to write with proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. Students will be evaluated
on how completely they respond to the prompt. This includes considering alternative outcomes,
demonstrating comprehension of a topic, and identifying themes or connections among ideas. Typical
responses to one prompt will be one hand-written page in length.
Formal Essays:
On three occasions, students will develop a journal prompt or related topic into a more formal piece of
writing. These essays must be typed, double spaced. Students are expected to fully develop their thought
or argument in 3-5 pages. Students will be evaluated on spelling and grammar, writing organization, and
idea synthesis/analysis.
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Gut Bacteria Video (class research project):
Students will create an informative video on the topic of gut bacteria. Information for the video will be
obtained from scholarly, scientific resources as well as surveying the public to determine the public’s
perception. This video will be a collaborative effort of the entire class. When the research project begins,
all students will develop a contract that outlines individual responsibilities. Students will be evaluated on
the video as a whole and how well they addressed their responsibilities in the contract.
Research paper:
Students will write a review paper on a research question of their choice. Research questions are due to
the instructor before reading and writing can commence. Dr. Stewart will provide students with feedback
regarding the scope and feasibility of their research question. Students should cite 7-10 research articles
or scholarly publications to answer their question. More citations are allowed, provided the discussion
warrants the citations. The majority of the citations should be primary research articles. Expected page
length is 8-10 pages double spaced. This is a guideline, not a rule. Please write concisely and
completely. Students will be required to address instructor comments and revise the original paper for
full credit.
Research presentation:
Students will make a 5-7 minute presentation to the class based on their written research paper.
Course grade:
Student knowledge and effort will be evaluated based on the following items:
Class participation (5 pts x 15 wks)
75 pts
Journal entries (5 pts x 15 wks)
75 pts
Formal essays (3 x 25 pts)
75 pts
Gut bacteria video (class research project)
60 pts
Research paper
120 pts
Research presentation
30 pts
Final exam
65 pts
Total
500 pts
Final grades will be based on the percentage of total points obtained during the semester. The following
scale will be used to assign grades:
93-100% = A, 90-92% = A-, 87-89%= B+, 83-86% = B, 80-82% = B-, 77-79% = C+, 73-76% = C, 7072% = C-, 67-69% = D+, 63-66% = D, 60-62% = D-, 59% and lower F. The instructor reserves the right
to curve the grading scale if necessary.
Late Work:
All graded items are due on the due date listed on the schedule. Adjustments to due dates will be made in
class and via Laulima. Unexcused late work will be penalized 10% for each class session after the due
date. Late work that is submitted more than 2 weeks (4 class sessions) after the due date will not be
accepted.
Academic Honesty:
Because the university is an academic community with high professional standards, its teaching function
is seriously disrupted and subverted by academic dishonesty. Such dishonesty includes, but is not limited
to, cheating which includes giving/receiving unauthorized assistance during an examination; obtaining
information about an examination before it is given; using inappropriate/unallowed sources of
information during an examination; altering answers after an examination has been submitted; and
altering the record of any grade. Refer to the UH Student Conduct Code for further information.
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Plagiarism:
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, submitting, to satisfy an academic requirement, any document
that has been copied in whole or in part from another individual’s work without identifying that
individual; neglecting to identify as a quotation a documented idea that has not been assimilated into the
student’s language and style; paraphrasing a passage so closely that the reader is misled as to the source;
submitting the same written or oral material in more than one course without obtaining authorization from
the instructors involved; and “dry-labbing,” which includes obtaining and using experimental data from
other students without the express consent of the instructor, utilizing experimental data and laboratory
write-ups from other sections of the course or from previous terms, and fabricating data to fit the expected
results. PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. ANY PLAIGERIZED WORK WILL RECEIVE
A SCORE OF 0 (ZERO). (Refer to the UH Student Conduct Code for further information.)
OTHER IMPORTANT ITEMS
Disability Accommodation:
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability is invited to
contact me privately. I would be happy to work with you, and the KOKUA Program (Office for Students
with Disabilities) to ensure reasonable accommodations in my course. KOKUA can be reached at (808)
956-7511 or (808) 956-7612 (voice/text) in room 013 of the Queen Lili'uokalani Center for Student
Services.
Additional Assistance:
Additional assistance with study skill development, tutoring, and study groups may be obtained from the
Student Success Center at Sinclair Library (http://gohere.manoa.hawaii.edu/)
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COURSE SCHEDULE
Journal entries are due every Tuesday, in class. Other due dates are listed below.
Week #
1
Date
8/25
8/27
9/1
9/3
9/8
9/10
9/15
9/17
9/22
9/24
9/29
10/1
10/6
10/8
10/13
10/15
10/20
10/22
Topic
Assignment/Comments
Intro, critically reading scientific articles
Gut anatomy and physiology
2
Gut anatomy and physiology
Gut anatomy and physiology
3
Gut bacteria- overview
Gut bacteria- overview
4
Nutrition- overview
Formal essay #1 assigned
Class research project- planning
5
Gut bacteria- environment vs genetics
Formal essay #1 due 9/24
Gut bacteria- prenatal, perinatal influence
6
Gut bacteria- role of diet
Gut bacteria- role of diet
7
Gut bacteria- role of diet
Class research project- work day
8
Gut bacteria- health effects overview
Gut bacteria- obesity
9
Gut bacteria- obesity
Formal essay #2 assigned
Gut bacteria- inflammation
NOTE: 10/23 is the last day to withdraw (W)
10
10/27 Gut bacteria- allergy
Formal essay #2 due 10/29
10/29 Gut bacteria- other health effects
11
11/3
Class research project- work day
11/5
Class research project- work day
12
11/10 Class research project- work day
11/12 Class research project- work day
Research paper due 11/12
13
11/17 Class research project- work day
11/19 Gut bacteria- public opinion
14
11/24 Gut bacteria- future directions
Research paper revisions due 11/24
11/26 No Class Thanksgiving
Formal essay #3 assigned
15
12/1
Class research project- presentation, debrief
Class research project due
12/3
Research presentations
16
12/8
Research presentations
Formal essay #3 due 12/8
12/10 Research presentations
FINALS 12/15 Note adjusted course time 2:15-4:15
Final Exam (Essay format)
** This is the PROPOSED schedule for the semester. We may deviate from this schedule. Revisions to
the schedule will be announced in class and also posted on Laulima.
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