BIOL-1000
Instructor
S. Baginski
Welcome
to
General Biology
Instructor Information
Instructor S. Baginski
- Office: B-304-1
- Mailbox: B-304
- Telephone: 586-445-7255
- Secretary: 586-445-7106
- E-Mail: baginski@macomb.edu
- Office Hours: To be announced
Biology by Sylvia Mader, 9th Edition
Laboratory Exercises in General Biology by Slobodnik, Bouwman, and Hoffman, Millennium Edition
Biology 1000 is intended as an introduction to the basic principles of Biological Science. The laboratory portion of this course is intended to emphasize certain principles as well as develop basic laboratory skills.
There will be (4) lecture exams worth 100 points for a total of 400 points.
There will be a lecture quiz on the first lecture meeting of each week (except the weeks a major exam is scheduled); each quiz covers the reading assignment for that week. Please read your assignment before you come to class. Each quiz will be worth 10 points (12 quizzes given you can drop your lowest (2) grades).
Total number of points for lecture portion of this course is 500 points.
There will be (2) laboratory practical exams, each worth 100 points. There will be (2) laboratory quizzes, to be announced one week prior to being given; each is worth 25 points.
THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS OR QUIZZES. PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
There will be four (4) required scientific reviews worth (10 points each) for a total of 40 points. These reviews are to be typed and not to exceed two pages in length. The articles to be reviewed are to come from four different scientific journals or magazines devoted to science. (Ex. Scientific America; Science; Discover; Science News). YOU MUST GET ARTICLE AND JOURNAL APPROVAL.
The review must include the following:
1. Name of the journal or magazine. Date of Publication.
2. Name of the article.
3. List of the authors.
4. A short summary of the article. (In other words, describe the content of this article in your own words).
Two (2) articles are due October 16th or October 17th; and two (2) articles are due December 4th or December 5th.
The diversity journal is a required task for Biology 1000. It will be worth a total of 100 points. The journal is to be kept in a Mead Composition Book, which is a bound book, no spiral notebooks will be accepted. The information source for this journal will come from the Diversity Display Showcases located in the east and west halls of the 300 level of B-building. Refer to the schedule for the dates of the displays in the wall mounted showcases.
Each of the entries requires the following:
1. The name of the display.
2. A brief description of the major characteristics of each organism on display.
3. Know and be able to identify and name representative organisms.
4. Include any drawings and/or pictures of represented animals or major characteristics.
This notebook will be due the day of the final laboratory practical, December 11th or December 12th.
The Hay Infusion Laboratory Report is a formal report that is worth 60 points. Data will be collected on a daily basis for 10-11 weeks. This report will be due November 27th or November 28th.
How To Write A Laboratory Report
A scientific paper or lab report are the vehicle for the transmission of scientific knowledge you gained by making an observation or performing an experiment.
In your lab report on the hay infusion experiment, the following format will apply:
Title Page
Name of Author and Date
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion and/or Summary
List of any references used
The title should reflect the report's content. It should never contain abbreviations or jargon.
The introduction should concisely state why you did the experiment. Limit the introduction to just enough information to orient the reader to your work. It should also state the objectives of the experiment.
The materials and methods section should describe how the hay infusion was constructed and the method of observation used to collect your data. For your lab report, do not copy the experimental procedures word for word from the lab manual. Rather, summarize what you did in several sentences.
The results of your experiment are the heart of your report. It should clearly summarize your data and leave no doubt about what you observed over the course of the observation period. This section should include a discussion of Color Change and Odor Change in paragraph form. Also, include a discussion in paragraph form and line graphs(s) for Turbidity Change; pH Change and Living Organisms Changes. You may select three (3) different types of organisms, one from each major group, consumer, producer, and decomposer.
In the summary section, you will need to address the following questions in paragraph form:
1. Where did the organisms come from that you saw during the weekly observation period? Cite two (2) reasons that some organisms may have not have been observed during the first week but appeared during later observations.
2. What happened to the diversity of organisms in the infusion over the course of the observation period?
3. As the number of consumers increases, it is quite common to note a decrease in the turbidity of the infusion. WHY?
4. Was there a correlation between the pH of your infusion and the total number of organisms observed? Number of consumers observed? Number of producers observed? Why might the pH of the infusion rise as the number of consumers increases. EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWERS.
Attach the Hay Infusion Data Sheet from the laboratory manual to the end of the report. Report is to be type-written and is not to exceed a length of six (6) pages.
Your final grade will be based on the following:
| Exams (4 @ 100 points each) | 400 points |
| Lecture quizzes (12 @ 10 points each – drop lowest two) | 100 points |
| Article Reviews (4 @ 10 points each) | 40 points |
| Laboratory Practical Exams (2 @ 100 points each) | 200 points |
| Laboratory Quizzes (2 @ 25 points each) | 50 points |
| Laboratory Diversity Journal | 100 points |
| Hay Infusion Report | 60 points |
| TOTAL | 1000 points |
*Points can and will be removed from final grade if proper microscope storage is not followed. The first occurrence will be a warning, second will be minus two (2) points, third (4) points, and so on.
Small increments of extra credit are given randomly; do not ask for more!!!
Grading Scale
| 1000 – 950 pts | A |
| 949 – 900 pts | A- |
| 899 – 870 pts | B+ |
| 869 – 830 pts | B |
| 829 – 800 pts | B- |
| 799 – 770 pts | C+ |
| 769 – 730 pts | C |
| 729 – 700 pts | C- |
| 699 – 670 pts | D+ |
| 669 – 630 pts | D |
| 629 – 600 pts | D- |
| 599 and below | E |
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR GRADES – DO NOT CONTINUALLY ASK FOR YOUR POINT TOTAL.
Cheating
Cheating will not be tolerated. Any student found cheating will be required to meet with the appropriate administrator before returning to class. The result of cheating can include a zero grade for the assignment(s) and possible dismissal from class.
Student Accountability:
It is the responsibility of the student to further enhance their educational goals. To that end, the student is expected to:
1. Complete all reading assignments before attending lecture and lab sessions.
2. Communicate (during office hours) any concerns (ie: difficulties with lecture material, lab material, exams, quizzes or any written assignment) in a positive and forthright manner.
3. The student should take responsibility for poor performance.
4. The student is expected to be on time for each lecture and lab session.
Attendance:
Attendance will be taken at the start of each lecture and lab session. If you miss a class session, it will be your responsibility to get the notes from a fellow student. I suggest that you trade phone numbers so that you will be able to contact a classmate. Keep in mind that lab sessions cannot be made up. Tardiness – excessive lateness will require a written explanation or a 10-point reduction in the final grade score will occur.
Materials needed for class:
Lecture text, lab manual, #2 pencils, pens, syllabus, six (6) scantron answer sheets, notepaper and notebook. Note: Battery-powered tape recorders are permitted. All classroom discussions are held in the realm of academic freedom. You must bring your scantron answer sheets to each exam. These sheets must be in perfect shape. No folds, wrinkles, or marks are permitted.
Withdrawal Policy:
The college has an official Withdrawal Policy that must be followed. Failure to do so could result in an “E” grade. Check with the Registrar's Office in G-301.
Student Support Services:
Many student services are provided at little or no cost. To name a few – Learning & Academic Assessment Center, peer tutoring, Academic Advising, etc.
Classroom Manners:
Wandering in and out of the room while class is in session is rude, unless an emergency warrants such actions. Please plan to stay for the entire period and prepare yourself. Please mute cell phones and pagers.
Other Information:
Biology 1000 is a structured course covering plenty of intense information. The general rule is for every contact hour per week, the student should be putting in two (2) hours of outside studying. Notes should be prepared for all classes by reviewing previous notes and reading chapters to be covered.
Plagiarism is the use of another person’s words or ideas without acknowledging that person with a citation.
A citation follows the borrowed words or ideas with a footnote, endnote or parenthesis to identify the source.
Examples of Plagiarism:
1. Using another person’s exact words without citation.
2. Altering the words of another person, while keeping that person’s original idea intact. This is called paraphrasing.
3. Using information taken from compilations of data, such as found in encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs and textbooks, without identifying the source.
4. Use of Internet sources without citation. A source is a source whether typed on a page in a book or glowing on a computer screen. Information taken from the Internet must be acknowledged with a citation.
What happens if I plagiarize?
“Any violation of academic integrity is a serious offense for which the student will be subject to grading sanctions up to and including failure in the class involved. Grading sanctions will be administered by his/her teacher. In addition, the student may be subject to additional disciplinary action by the College.” (Article VII, Student Handbook).
Where can I go for further information?
The Library page on plagiarism is at:
http://www.macomb.edu/library/plagiar.aspThe Plagiarism Statement at Macomb Online:
http://www.macomb.edu/online/macomb/resources/plagiarism.aspThe Student Handbook:
http://www.macomb.edu/geninfo/sturight.aspAcceptable Use of Technology Resources (Board Policy):
http://www.macomb.edu/aboutmacomb/policies/UseOfInfoTechResources.asp
Adopted: May 2005
The following materials are provided in Adobe PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader plug-in installed on your computer, click here to go to Adobe's web site and download it for free.
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE FALL 2006