Heartland Community College
Math/Science Division
Student Syllabus for BIOL 161-01, L-1 & L-2
Principles of Biology I
Spring 2013
Meeting times
Class: T and R, 11:00 am - 12:15 pm [ICB 1103]
Lab: T or R (depending on what student registered for)
L 1 T 9:00 am – 10:50 am [ICB 1005]
L 2 R 9:00 am – 10:50 am [ICB 1005]
Catalog Description
Prerequisite: Completion of Math through Intermediate Algebra Level 1.
BIOL 161 is one semester of a first year, general biology course for students who plan to pursue science careers. Students question
and analyze concepts related to cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, and evolution. Students apply their knowledge to their life
and the world around them. Students improve collaboration skills as they work with peers to solve different problems. The laboratory
component emphasizes data collection and analysis.
Instructor Information
Manjushri Kishore
Phone: 268-8669(O); 309 807 0357(H) Office: ICB 2425; e-mail: manju.kishore@heartland.edu
Office hours:
M and W: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
T and R: 12:30 pm – 1:00 p m
Required Materials
Mader, S.S., & Windelspecht, M. (2013). Biology (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Labs should be printed from the BIOL 161 website:
http://employee.heartland.edu/tjongky/biol161.html
1
Important URL
http://www.heartland.edu/asc/ includes: information about library, tutoring and testing services, computing lab, writing services and
disability support services.
my Heartland information:
https://my.heartland.edu includes: access to IRIS, your Heartland student e-mail, Black Board, your Backpack files, the library,
Class Cancellations, and announcements


If you are logging in for FIRST time, use Password Station to create password and change your security questions after
creating password.
IMPORTANT: If you choose to e-mail me, I will only read and respond to your e-mail if your e-mail extension is
my.heartland.edu. Also, I will e-mail the entire class through my Heartland periodically if I need to tell the whole class
something but forgot to mention during the face-to-face meeting.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transferability
BIOL 161 fulfills four of the semester hours of credit in Life and Physical Science required for the A.A. or A.S. degree. This course
should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois
colleges and universities participating in the IAI. However, students should consult an academic advisor for transfer information
regarding particular institutions. Refer to the IAI web page for information as well at www.itransfer.org.
Beliefs about Student Learning:
Students must take responsibility for their own learning. Part of that responsibility is attendance and active participation in all lecture
sessions. Taking notes during lecture, asking pertinent questions, participation in group activities and completion of written
assignments, when required are a part of that participation. The student must read the assigned text, and spend enough time in
independent study to master the material. It is a well established fact that in order to master a course, the student must spend at least 2
to 3 hours of outside study for each 1 hour spent in class. If the student is having difficulty with a particular topic it is his or her
responsibility to ask questions or consult with the teacher to gain additional help in that topic.
The following activities will help you in learning the material:
A. Attend the lectures on the current topic. Not attending lectures punctually will negatively impact grades.
B. Take thorough notes during lecture.
C. Study the required textbook pages.
2
D. Complete all activities for each unit and hand in all assignments on time.
E. Participate in group discussions and activities.
F. Take all exams as scheduled.
G. Review the corrected tests in class after they are returned, using the opportunity to master the material.
Beliefs about Teacher's Role:
It is the teacher's responsibility to facilitate the student's learning. This is accomplished by conducting lectures and discussions in an
organized manner and preparing assignments which enhance that learning. The teacher also is responsible for clearly stating course
objectives, and evaluation of student progress based on those objectives. While some class time should be taken to answer questions
and clarify lecture material, the teacher must move on to other topics in a timely fashion in order to be fair to students who are ready
to move on as well. However, the teacher must be available outside of the classroom to aid individuals who need more help on a
particular topic, or to direct them to tutorial assistance.
Course Learning Outcomes
Throughout this course, students
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
hypothesize, experiment, gather data, and formulate conclusions.
question validity of results and conclusions that are presented in lab, newspapers, magazines, TV, Internet, and radio.
relate concepts of cellular biology, molecular biology, genetics, and evolution to their life and the world around them.
integrate concepts from one chapter to another.
improve independent learning skills.
The above course learning outcomes correlate to three of Heartland Community College’s General Education Outcomes.
1.
CT 4: Student actively reflects on his/her answer, approach, or solution and acts upon those reflections to improve the final
result.
2.
PS 5: Student has the ability to define, interpret, and solve problems through collaboration with others.
3.
CO 2: Student effectively delivers a message via various channels/modalities.
3
Method of Evaluation The final grade will be based on the following requirements:
Classroom Components 80% of total grade
Exams
One cumulative final
Ch quizzes
Lab Components 20 % of total grade
Labs
Attendance 1 point for each lecture class
Ch prequizzes
Concept maps, homework, activities
80 % of final grade
Total final grade %
Final Grade
90+
A
20 % of final grade
80+
B
70+
C
60+
D
<60
F
Make-up policies
1. EXAMS
a) If a student is unable to take an exam, the student should inform the instructor as soon as possible. The instructor will put the
exam in the Testing Center. Take the exam before the next class session that the student attends. The student must take 30%
deduction in the score. Maximum 1 make-up.
b) Any student who does not take the final exam will receive an F for the class.
2. QUIZZES
a. There will be 11 quizzes, each worth 15 points, for a total of 165 points. However, the total possible points will be recorded as
150 in the grade book. This means that if you miss one quiz, you may still receive up to 150 points. If you take all the
quizzes, you may receive up to 15 extra points.
3. PREQUIZZES
a. There will be 11 prequizzes, each worth 10 points, for a total of 110 points. However, the total possible points will be
recorded as 100 in the grade book. This means that if you miss one prequiz, you may still receive up to 100 points. If you take
all the prequizzes, you may receive up to 10 extra points.
4. HOMEWORK
a. One homework make-up is possible. The homework must be handed in before the next class session that the student attends.
4
5. There are NO make-ups for activities done in and handed in during class.
6. LABS no make up for the labs that are missed.
Incomplete Grade
An Incomplete grade may be justified to a student if the student encounters extreme circumstances (e.g., serious illness, accident,
death or serious illness in the immediate family) toward the end of the semester and is unable to complete the semester. The student
must be in a position to pass the class if the Incomplete grade is given. The student must sign a form requiring him/her to finish the
class by next semester.
Required Writing and Reading
Students will read approximately one chapter per week in the textbook. Students will write answers to problem-solving questions,
exam questions, and lab questions.
“We learn… 10 % of what we read, 20 % of what we hear, 30 % of what we see, 50 % of what we see and hear, 70 % of what we
discuss 80 % of what we experience, and 95 % of what we teach others.” William Glasser
ABSOLUTELY NOT ALLOWED IN CLASS
 NO Cellular phones. If you choose to use your phone, I will ask you to leave my class. In case of emergency you can inform

the instructor and keep your phone on the vibrator.
Do not use your laptops. If you need laptops they will be provided to you in the class.
Academic Integrity
The Heartland Community college policies on academic integrity and/or plagiarism from HCC syllabus guidelines are quoted below.
In this course, violations of the policy will automatically result in a “0” on the assignment and may result in an “F” for the course.
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College and is essential to the credibility of
the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work
violate the rights of their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonesty as a serious offense requiring
disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion from the College. In addition, an act of academic
dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far beyond any officially imposed penalties.
5
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or suborning cheating or other acts of academic
dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data, falsification of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to
computerized academic or administrative records or systems. Definitions of these may be found in the college catalog.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper, create a project, do a presentation or
create anything original, it is assumed that all the work, except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own.
Plagiarism is considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
 Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
 Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
 Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own
 Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source
 Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it were your own.
 Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if it were your own.
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism. The penalties for plagiarism may be severe, ranging from failure
on the particular piece of work, failure in the course or expulsion from school in extreme cases. Real or pretended ignorance of what
constitutes plagiarism will not excuse students from the penalties of such conduct.
[Adapted from the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
6
The following sheet helps you keep track of grades for various activities.
Exams
Quizzes
Concept
maps
Work-sheets
Pre-quizzes
Clicker
activities
Other
Labs
7
BIOLOGY 161-01 Spring 2013
TENTATIVE COURSE AND LAB SCHEDULE
Week
1 (1/15, 1/17)
2 ( 1/22, 1/24)
3 (1/29, 1/31)
4 (2/5, 2/7)
5 (2/12, 2/14)
6 (2/19, 2/21)
7 (2/26, 2/28)
8 (3/5, 3/7)
Topics
Welcome; Life; Classification
Scientific Method; Basic Chemistry
Basic Chemistry; Organic Molecules
Organic Molecules
Cell Structure and Function
Membrane Structure and Function
Review
Mitosis
9 (3/19, 3/21)
10 ( 3/26, 3/ 28)
11 (4/2, 4/4)
12 (4/9, 4/11)
13 (4/16, 4/18)
Chapter
1
2
3
Lab
9
1: Basic Microscopy
2: Life Characteristics
3: Microbes
4: Chemistry of Life
5: Homeostasis
6: Cellular Pathology
9: Mitosis/Meiosis
Meiosis
DNA
Gene Expression
Genetics
Metabolism: Energy and Enzymes
10
12
13
11
6
10: Blueprint of Life
13: DNA Detective
11: Mendelian Genetics
12: Human Genetic Disorders
14: Natural Selection
14 (4/23, 4/25)
Cellular Respiration
8
7: Cellular Respiration
15 (4/30, 5/2)
Photosynthesis
7
8: Photosynthesis
16
FINAL
Finish and review
FINAL EXAM
4
5
8