GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
BIOL 1407 GENERAL BIOLOGY II
Instructor:
Mr. David R. Etheredge
Office:
Science Building S-142
Office
Telephone: 894-9611 ext. 2319
E-mail
Address dethered@SPC.CC.TX.US
Course Description: This
course focuses on fundamentals of plant and animal form and function, biological
diversity and ecology. This is the
second semester of an integrated course for majors in biological sciences and
related studies, including the medical disciplines.
Course Implementation:
PREREQUISITE:
BIOL 1406
CREDIT:
Four semester hours
TEXT:
Biology, 5th Ed., Campbell, Reece, Mitchell
Course Objectives:
A.
To introduce basic biological principles through an integrated approach.
B.
To investigate the cellular processes of living organisms with an emphasis on
biological
chemistry
applications.
C.
To investigate the unifying themes and key concepts of the different types of
organisms.
D.
To acquaint the student with the anatomy, function, genetics and evolution of
different
types
of organisms.
E.
To instill an appreciation of the variety and diversity of major organism
groups.
G.
To allow laboratory investigation of topics covered.
Attendance Policy:
Punctual and regular class and lab attendance is required of all students,
Students are responsible for all class work covered during absences from class,
even in cases in which they are able to satisfy the instructor that the absence
was unavoidable. Excessive tardiness will not be tolerated. When unavoidable situations such as illness, weather, an
official college trip, or a death in the family causes absences, I may permit
the student to make up class work missed. In such cases it is the student's to
complete the work missed within one week of their return to class.
Absence Policy:
When
absences become excessive and, in my opinion, minimum course objectives cannot
be met, the student will be withdrawn from the course. Any student with 6
absences and an average below 60, will be withdrawn from the class. In
addition, an instructor is required to initiate a student's
administrative withdrawal when the student has missed every class during a
fourteen consecutive calendar day period (4 class meetings) excluding
holidays. Each class meeting consist of lecture period and a lab period,
consequently being absent from one class meeting will count in 2 absences. A
student who has more than 4 absences will not be allowed to drop any quiz
grades.
Should a student, for any reason, delay in
reporting to a class after his/her official enrollment, absences will be
attributed to the student from the first meeting of the class.
A student who does not attend a class by the 12th day of
class will automatically deleted from the class rolls.
Tardy Policy: Excessive tardiness will not be
tolerated. A student who is consistently
tardy, disturbs class, is disrespectful and rude,
and will be withdrawn (dropped) from the class! A student who has more than 4 tardies will not be allowed
to drop any quiz grades.
Exam Policy: Four major exams will be given during the
semester. The exams will be announced in advance and will be divided between lab
and lecture material. Each exam is worth 100 points.
If it is known in advance that an absence will
occur on an exam date, and the instructor is notified ahead of time, it
may be possible, under special circumstances, to take the exam at an alternate
time. Otherwise the missed exam will count as a zero when computing the semester
average. Due to the complexity and
time involved in setting up lab exams with microscopes and specimens involved,
this policy is rigidly adhered to. DO NOT MISS EXAMS!!!
Daily
Quizzes: Through out the
semester there will be daily quizzes over current material being covered.
Usually the quizzes will be announced in advance, and are over the
previous class time lecture, lab material, or from assigned readings.
These quizzes are designed to make sure the students are keeping up with
the class work, which I believe is vital to successfully completing this course.
There will be at least 10 quizzes worth 10 points each.
At the end of the semester you will be able to drop some of the lowest
quiz grade(s), leaving the best 8
to 10 quiz grades (the number of quizzes that are dropped will be determined by
the number of quizzes given, for example if there are 13 quizzes we will drop 3,
if there are 10 quizzes we will drop 2). There
are no make-up quizzes. If you
miss a quiz or quizzes the grade will be a zero. A student who has more than 4 absences or tardies will
not be allowed to drop any quiz grades.
Quizzes will be
given at the beginning of class. If
you are tardy to class and a quiz has started, you will not get to take the quiz
and the grade will be a zero.
Summary of Grades:
EXAMS: Four
exams worth ,100 points each…………………400 points
LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT: One paper worth …………………50 points
DAILY QUIZZES:
Quizzes worth 10 points each…………….100 points
GRADING POLICY:
Final
semester point total……..495 - 550 points
= A
Final semester point
total……..440 - 495 points =
B
Final semester point
total……..385 - 440 points =
C
Final semester point
total……..330 - 385 points =
D
Final semester point
total……..below 330 points = F
THERE
IS NO CURVING OF GRADES
STUDY AIDS: Peer Tutors may be available for
one-on-one tutoring sessions that are free of charge, Contact the
instructor or the Counseling Center for more information.
SPECIAL NEEDS: Any student with disabilities or special needs
should identify themselves the first week of class. I will do everything in my power to accommodate any special
needs. The student is responsible
for providing the necessary documentation from the SPC Special Services office.
ACADEMIC
INTEGRITY: It is the aim of the
faculty of South Plains College to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a
high standard of integrity. The attempt of any student to present as his/her own
work, which he has not honestly performed is regarded by the faculty and
administration as a most serious offense and renders the offender liable to
serious consequences, possibly suspension. Dishonesty (cheating) of any kind on
examinations and quizzes on written assignments, illegal possession of
examinations, the use of unauthorized notes during an examination or quiz,
obtaining information during an exam from the textbook or from the exam paper of
another student, assisting others to cheat, alteration of grade records, illegal
entry or unauthorized presence in an office are examples of cheating. Complete honesty is required of the student in the
presentation of any and all phases of course work as his/her own.
DISMISSAL POLICY:
A high standard of conduct is expected of all students. it is assumed that
obedience to the law, respect for properly constituted authority, personal
honor, integrity, and common sense will guide the actions of each
member of this class. Any student who fails to perform to expected standards
will be asked to withdraw from the class.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are data sheets detailing with any potential hazards which may be incurred while utilizing various chemicals in the laboratory. The MSDS notebook is located in room 146 of the science building. All students are encouraged to read about the chemicals used in the lab in the MSDS notebook. Please ask the instructor if you need assistance.