Instructor:    JULIE AIRES             Office:  KENT E255              Email address: jaires@fccj.edu

Office phone:  (904)381-3452, Voicemail: will take your message anytime day or night. 

Office hours: M/W -10:00pm-2:00pm / TR 1:30-3:30pm / online office hours daily

STUDENT RESOURCES:

Required Lecture Text:  BIOLOGY 2^nd edition by Scott Freeman volume 1Pearson Prentice Hall

Companion website to text: www.prenhall.com/freeman/biology (Put your name and a contact number in your text.)

Required Lab Manual:  BIOLOGY 4^TH edition by Aires, Fierro, and Spohn

Text and lab manual are available at the Follett’s Bookstore on Kent Campus, Building G, ph # 384-9431.

Blackboard Courseware will be used for this class to make class information available to you online for your convenience. To access Blackboard Go to http://bb7.fccj.edu

FCCJ Library: http://www.fccj.edu/library         FCCJ Kent Learning Center: http://www.fccj.edu/kentlc       

COURSE DESCRIPTION: 

This course, an introduction to the principles of biology, includes studies of cellular organization, genetics and evolution. This course fulfills the General Education Requirements and the laboratory requirement needed by many students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution. Five contact hours: three lecture hours, two laboratory hours. (CBE) A.A., A.S., A.A.S.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS IN BIOLOGY:

1.                  Study in frequent short sessions ... 20 minutes is about right. Find a place with few distractions.

2.                  Review class notes frequently during your free time – before, between, and after classes. Identify the big idea (concept) being taught during class. Don't just memorize facts.  Design your own concept maps after each lecture. Use your study guide, text web site, and Internet resources with your notes.

3.                  Form an online study group. Exchange phone numbers and email addresses with students in the class.

4.                  Work hard! Your success depends on old-fashioned hard work. The work load should be a minimum of two (2) hours of study time for each hour of class.

5.                  ENJOY LEARNING!

IN LECTURE:

7.         Preview the assigned chapter.

8.         Review the study guide objectives.

9.         Attend class and take notes or for online students review the Power Point lectures in Blackboard.

10.       Read the assigned chapter for comprehension.

11.       Go back and answer the questions on the study guide.

12.       Print the PowerPoint handout from Blackboard (http://bb7.fccj.edu ) for a review of the lecture

             notes. Handouts can be found under Course Contents.

13.       Use the Pearson Prentice Hall website at www.prenhall.com/freeman/biology to view tutorials,

            animated concepts and practice test questions.

IN LAB:

14.       Read the entire lab before lab begins!

15.       Carry out all the assigned procedures in the lab.

16.       Make thoughtful observations. Trouble-shoot unexpected problems. Discuss results, questions, and conclusions with your team.

16.       Review the lab exercise procedures, results, and questions after the lab is performed.

17.       Use matrixes and concepts maps to organize the information given in the lab.

TEST INFORMATION:

Six unit tests will be given in this class at 100 points each.  These tests will consist of vocabulary identification, multiple choice questions, and an extra credit essay question. 

Questions will vary in difficulty and test student recall and conceptual understanding. Test material will come from assigned readings in text, power point presentations, class exercises and discussions.

If a unit test will be missed for a valid reason, inform Mrs. Aires, preferably before the test is taken or the day of the test. A student who misses a unit test will be allowed to take a comprehensive exam at the end of the term to substitute for their missed test score. The comprehensive final exam is the student’s responsibility and must be taken after test 6 during the final exam block. (No exceptions)

 LABORATORY INFORMATION: 

Lab attendance points and lab assignment points are available only to the students who were present during lab time and carried out the lab procedure. Assignments are due following the lab session ... on the date listed on your course schedule. The lab assignment is due as you enter the room before the lab begins! On occasion a pre-lab, post-lab, or practical quiz will be given testing student understanding of the lab objectives and procedures for the day to encourage you to read over the lab beforehand and review the lab results after performing the lab.

Students will often check their own lab assignments before lab begins on the lab’s due date. Use red ink only when grading labs. Show your completed lab to Mrs. Aires before grading and after grading to verify the points earned.  Make sure your score is entered on the attendance and participation sheet at the end of the lab session. Get in the habit of checking your lab schedule daily and update as needed.

GRADING POLICY: Letter grades will be assigned as follows.

Grade Forgiveness and Course Repeats (FCCJ Policy)

Students may repeat a course in an attempt to improve a grade previously earned. State Board Rule 6A – 14.0301 limits such attempts to courses where a “D,” “F” or “FN” grade was earned, and limits to two the number of times a course grade may be forgiven. The official grade and the grade used in calculating the GPA shall be the last grade earned in the course. A student may have only three total attempts in any course, including the original grade, repeat grades and withdrawals. Upon the third attempt in a course, the student must be given an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F.” A fourth attempt may be allowed only through an academic appeals process based on major extenuating circumstances.  The “NA” grade is an administrative withdrawal that is given if the student has not attended class within the first two weeks of class. The “I” grade is given only in extreme situations when a student is prevented from completing the course. (The student must be passing the course at the time of application for an “I” grade). The “FN” grade will be given to students who stop attending the class.

Your final letter grade is determined by adding points earned in the categories listed below. Student grades can be determined at any time by dividing points possible into points earned by the student.

GRADE CATEGORIES........................................................ POINTS POSSIBLE.......................................... POINTS EARNED

6 UNIT TESTS (~ 65% of grade)................................................. 6@ 100 PT EACH   ................................. _______/~600______

14 LAB ASSIGNMENTS/ DB’S/ (~ 25%)................................... 4- 20 PT EACH    ................................ _______/~242______

ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION (~ 10% of grade)   40@ 2 POINTS EACH  ................................. _______/~ 80______

EXTRA CREDIT   .......................................................................................  ?  POINTS...................................... _______      /0______

TOTAL POINTS............................................................................................ POINTS...................................... _______/~922______

***THE POINTS LISTED ABOVE COULD CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE***

POINT TO LETTER GRADE CONVERSION SCALE     

If points earned by the student are:                      Letter grade earned is:

90 - 100 % of the TOTAL POINTS OFFERED.................................................. = A   

80 - 89 %         "          "                 "          .................................................................... = B   

70 - 79 %         "          "                 "          ...................................................................  = C    

60 - 69 %         "          "                 "          .................................................................... = D

LESS THAN 60 % OF TOTAL POINTS   ............................................................ = F

Be aware of your grade; use the schedule and grade-tracking sheet handed out after test 1.

View grading section of college catalog online at http://www.fccj.org/resources/catalogs/2002_2003/academics/gradingsystem.html  for more information about FCCJ’s grade policies such as attempts, audits, etc.

FCCJ’S CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY:  The policy on attendance for college classes will be the responsibility of the professor.  The faculty and staff at Florida Community College want you to succeed. Since studies indicate a positive relationship between good attendance and better grades, you are strongly encouraged to attend all classes and arrive on time.

Important Dates to Remember for Spring Term (A 16) 20082

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated in this class. Lab and class exercises are collaborative and you will work on a team. However, quizzes and tests are taken individually. During quizzes and tests students should sit every other seat and keep their answer sheets covered at all times.

FOR EXTRA HELP IN BIOLOGY: In addition to the text website www.mhhe.com/raven7  and www.BioCourse.com , the Student Study Guide for the Freeman text is available in C100 - just ask at the circulation desk. Your lab manual appendix C, page 179 has many excellent websites for improving your grade on tests, labs, and quizzes.  .  If you know you have test anxiety do something about it now. Join the IBG club. FCCJ provides science tutors in the LC located in C100. Ask about the Study Skills Tutorial program there. If you feel like you aren’t getting it, don’t wait. Ask for help right away.

GENERAL INFORMATION:   

1.         Please arrive on time for lab and class. Important announcements such as schedule adjustments, extra credit quizzes, and lab directions are given first thing. Consistent late arrival is disruptive to the class.

2.         Test material will come from lecture material, class and group work, as well as assigned text readings. Lab quizzes will cover the lab reading and report sheet including procedures, experiments, results, and conclusions.

3.         If you are interested, programs are available to improve study skills.

4.         Use the study guides found in Blackboard to help you: get organized, improve note-taking skills, focus on the big ideas, and pretest on the unit being covered.

5.         Class attendance is strongly recommended. Your consistent presence is the best way to comprehend the subject matter as well as earn the points required for a successful grade.  

6.         Lab attendance is required in order to perform, grade, and submit your lab.

7.         The class will be more interesting if you get involved.  Please participate! Remember to respect the rights of others.  Speak only if you have been recognized. Do not interrupt the class.

8.         For safety reasons food is not permitted in the classroom or laboratory. You may bring a drink bottle with cap that is kept out of sight.  Put backpacks out of traffic flow.

9.         On your first day locate the following in the classroom: fire extinguisher, fire alarm, eye wash station, chemical burn center, first aid kit, and fire exit route. 

10.       Phones should be turned off during class. Do not answer your phone, send text messages,

            or play phone games in class. If you must use your phone during class, please leave the room

            quietly.

11.       Volunteers are needed in class and lab. If you can arrive before class or stay after class, a few minutes of your time would be greatly appreciated.

The college provides services for students with learning disabilities according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. This office is located in B-100; the phone number is 381-3500.

Student Goals for Class and Life

1.             Be prompt to class and be prepared for class.

2.             Read everything assigned for this class and participate often in class.

3.             Be honest.  Cheating is not tolerated on tests, pop quizzes, lab quizzes, or participation.  If you are not in class you should not ask for the participation points.

4.             Be successful.  Use all resources available to you in this class such as unit study guides, text, CD-ROM that accompanies text, class handouts, concept maps, matrixes, fellow students, etc.

5.             Be considerate.   Do not disturb class by walking in late. Do not put your classmates at a disadvantage by being unprepared. Turn phones to inaudible mode.  Do not distract your classmates with chatter not pertinent to the group assignment.

6.             Be cooperative.  Learn to use the skills needed to work well in a class group. Ask questions if you do not understand or don't know how to do something going on in class. Get involved in class. Do your part and encourage others to do their part for the betterment of this class.

7.             Go back and substitute the word “life” for the word “class” in each sentence above.

This Course Syllabus is an explanation of class policy. It serves as an academic contract between student and professor. Read it carefully and review it frequently.        

 PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY 1 COURSE OUTLINE

UNIT ONE     READ CH. 1 - 2 in text BIOLOGY, by Scott Freeman, 2^nd edition

            CHAPTERS               CONTENT

            1                                  Biology and the Tree of Life

            2                                  The Atoms and Molecules of Ancient Earth

             TEST I (100 points)

UNIT TWO    READ CH 3– 5 in text

            CHAPTERS               CONTENT

            3                                  Protein Structure and Function

            4                                  Nucleic Acids and the RNA World

            5                                  An Introduction to Carbohydrates

            TEST II (100 points)

UNIT THREE        READ CH 6 – 8 in text

            CHAPTERS               CONTENT

            6                                  Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells

            7                                  Inside the Cell

            8                                  Cell-Cell Interactions

            TEST III (100 points)

UNIT FOUR  READ CH 9-10 in text

            CHAPTERS               CONTENT

            9                                  Cell Respiration and Fermentation

            10                                Photosynthesis

            TEST IV (100 points)

UNIT FIVE    READ CH 11-13 in text

     CHAPTERS               CONTENT

            11                                The Cell Cycle

            12                                Meiosis

            13                                Mendel and the Gene

            TEST V (100 points) 

UNIT SIX   READ CH 14-16 and parts of CH 17-20 in text

            CHAPTERS               CONTENT

            14                                DNA Synthesis

            15                                How Genes Work

            16                                Transcription and Translation

            17, 18                          Control of Gene Expression

            19, 20                          Analyzing and Engineering Genes

            TEST VI (100 points)

I