Bio 110:  Syllabus and Course Information

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Biology 110 - 5 units

Lecture Instructor:  Sue Kloss, Ph.D.

Lab Instructors:  Ralph Sinibaldi, Ph.D., Sue Kloss

Office:  D-100, Next to the biology lab

Office Hours:  M 4-5 pm; T 9-10 am and 3-4 pm; W 4-5 pm; T9-10am

Email: kloss@ltcc.edu  *make sure to include your name and the words Bio 110 in the subject line

Course website: http://www.ltcconline.net/kloss/bio110/index.htm

Course Information:  Bio 110 is a basic biology course that will cover general biological principles of the scientific method, basic organic chemistry, and the basic cellular structure and function of plant and animal cells.  Consistent hard work and effort is required for you to do well in the class. One excellent strategy is to work hard at taking good notes in class;  in the evening, recopy your notes and review them for 30-45 minutes. Answer the homework questions as we cover that material in class.  Repetition, repetition, repetition is necessary to master the quantity and quality of material you will be required to know for this course.  To do well in this course, you must spend time to learn the material!

Final Exam:  Monday Dec. 4, 4 – 6 pm

Text:  Essential Biology.  2nd ed. by Campbell, Reece, Simon.  If you choose to use any other book, including earlier editions of this one,  you are responsible for any differences in the material. 

Lab Book:  Biology Laboratory Manual by Sylvia Mader, 9^th ed. You are  required to buy a new copy of  this book in the correct edition.

Course Requirements for Bio 110:

Quizzes:  Each week I will post a set of learning objectives in the form of questions that provide you with a specific way to learn the material we cover. You will be able to answer all quiz and exam questions if you can completely answer these questions.  Quizzes will be given on Mondays at the beginning of each lecture.  I will also occasionally throw in pop quizzes.  No makeups for any reason!  I will drop your lowest 2 quiz grades for the quarter.  Quizzes are worth 10 points each (10% of the course grade).

Exams:  There will be a midterm and a final exam in this course.  The midterm is worth 150 points (15%)of your grade, and the final, which is cumulative, is worth 250 points (25%) of your grade for the course.  You are responsible for all material covered in lectures, discussions and readings. 

Homework:  Homework will be assigned each week, and is optional on a week by week basis.  If you choose to do the homework, you must do the entire assignment for that week.  All homework is due during your lab period the week after it is assigned and if complete properly, I will add 5 points to your quiz grade for that week.

Project:  You will receive a separate handout on the course project

Lab Notebooks:   At the conclusion of each lab, your team will submit your lab notebook/lab report with your instructor.  Each lab is worth 15 points, for a total of 150 points (15%) of your course grade.  You may make up one missed lab only.  If you have not missed any labs, you may use the assignment for extra credit.  This is the ONLY way to get extra credit. 

Lab Quizzes:  Given at the completion of each lab.  Worth 5 pts. each for 50 points (5%) total.

Lab Exams:  You will have a final lab exam for the lab portion of this class.  The lab final is a cumulative practical exam worth 100 points (20%). 

Attendance/Participation:  Being on time, participating, for the whole time, (and awake!) gets you a 100 pts. (10%).  Absences from lab will affect your lab notebook grade, your lab quiz grade and your participation grade.  You don’t lose too much for one absence (especially if you do a make up) but if you miss a second lab you lose 20% of your participation grade for each absence.  If you have excessive absences from lab (more than 3) you will be dropped from the course.  Spot checking will be used to monitor attendance in lectures and labs.  

Grading summary:                                            Grading Scale:

100 pts. - Quizzes                                               A = 90 -100

150 pts. - Midterm                                               B = 80 - 89

250 pts. - Final Exam                                           C = 70 - 79

150 pts. - Lab notebook                                       D = 60 - 69

50 pts. - Lab quizzes                                             F = below 60

100 pts. - Lab exam

100 pts. - Poster project

100 pts. - Participation

1000 pts. total

Attendance Policy:  Make every effort to attend! It is very important to me that students come to class, on time, for the entire time scheduled. Please make every effort to arrive on time for class.  Having people coming in after class has started can be very disruptive to other students.  If you do miss class, you are responsible to find out what was covered.  Attendance will be monitored on a spot-check basis.

 Exam Reschedules: You may reschedule an exam only by discussing it with me in advance.  (Emails and phone messages do not satisfy this requirement).  If you arrange a makeup and take the  exam within 2 working days of when it was originally scheduled, you forfeit 8% of the total possible.  If you complete the exam within 10 days you lose 30 %.  You may not retake an exam more than 10 days after the scheduled original.  If you miss a lab practical you will retake it in alternate format, subject to the above penalties. 

 Study Buddies: Choose 2 or 3 people for your study buddies.  These are the people who will pick up handouts for you if you are absent, and who will share notes with you for the class you missed. With your study buddies, you can ask about material you don’t understand, divvy up study chores, prepare for exams, etc.  Learning cooperatively is wonderful, but it doesn’t work if every one doesn’t do an equal share of the work.  Take good care of your buddies!  Do not take advantage of them! You may always discuss course information and assignments together (except on exams), but all answers must be your own.  Do not use the same wording as anyone else on any assignment.  When you use someone else’s idea, be sure to provide a citation.  This class will abide by the student honor code. 

Student Learning Outcomes for Bio 110
1. Students will demonstrate use  of the scientific method
2. Students will develop critical thinking skills
3. Students will describe a model of an atom including major sub parts
4. Students will explain how different bonds allow for various substances to interact
5. Students will explain similarities and differences between mitosis and meiosis
6. Students will recognize and give the function of all major cell organelles
7. Students will describe the importance of enzymes and how they function
8. Students will write the chemical equation for photosynthesis and describe the complex photosystems
9. Students will be able to write the chemical equation for cellular respiration as well as understand and describe the complete breakdown of glucose in the cell
10. Students will be able to define Mendel’s laws of inheritance and determine the genotypes and phenotypes of monohybrid and dihybrid crosses
11. Students will be able to build a basic DNA model and describe the function of the operon model of the gene

 * Any students needing accommodations should inform the instructor.

Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) early in the quarter so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible.  Students may contact the DRC by visiting the Center (located in room A205) or by phoning 541-4660, ext. 249 (voice) or 542-1870 (TTY for deaf students).  All information will remain confidential.