Natural Science department BSC 2010l: fundamentals of Biology I Lab Fall 2007
Instructor: Andrew R. SwansonOffice Number: 600 Building - 604
Office Hours: Posted on office door, or by appointment
Telephone: 941-408-1494
Email Address:
Web Page:
Department Website: / Course Coordinator:Jane R. Pfeilsticker
Office Hours: Posted on office door or by appointment.
Telephone: Bradenton941-752-5271, or Venice 941-408-1494
Email Address:
Web Page:
Course description:BSC 2010L Fundamentals of Biology I Lab (0) A.A.)
Companion lab to BSC 2010C. Additional special fees are required.
Course Performance Standards: The course performance standards may be accessed via the web at: The performance standards may be found by clicking on “course performance standards” and scrolling for the course prefix and number.
Text and Materials: Biology,8th edition, Campbell, Reece, and Mitchell
Explorations in Basic Biology, 9th edition, Gunstream
Laboratory materials:
Lab coat, 3 ring binder with lined and unlined paper, Safety glasses, Calculator, Ruler, Grease marking pencil or sharpie pens, Colored pencils
These items must be brought to lab every week!!!
Optional text : Chemistry for Biology Students, 6th edition, George Sackheim
Attendance Policy: It is expected that the students will attend all classes and laboratory sessions. If a class must be missed, the student is responsible for obtaining the information that was covered in a missed lecture.
Laboratory attendance is mandatory. Any missed lab must be made up during the last week of the semester or as a virtual lab assigned by the instructor. Failure to complete all of the laboratory exercises will result in a grade of incomplete that will revert to an F if the labs are not completed by the 6th week of the following semester.
Grading Policy: Laboratory Reports will be required for selected labs. The reports must be turned in one week after the completion of the lab period. The lab grade will be based on an equal weighting of each lab report and select laboratory quizzes. The lab reports will be graded based on Clarity, accuracy, depth , breadth and adherence to standard format. Each report must be typed in 12 point font and must contain the following sections:
1. Introduction including a stated purpose
2. Materials and methods
3. Results
4. Conclusion and discussion
Reports must be limited to 3 typed pages. Points will be deducted for reports under 2 pages or over 3 pages.
Three papers will also be required. The topics will be assigned during class. Each paper will be weighted as a lab report.
The grade for the course will be calculated with 75% of the grade consisting of the lecture exams and quizzes, and 25% of the grade consisting of the lab average.
Letter grades for the course will be calculated on a straight percentage basis. The cut-off points for each grade are as follows: A- 90%, B- 80%, C- 70%, D- 60%.
Withdrawal Policy: In accordance with the ManateeCommunity College policy as stated in the college catalog, students may withdraw from any course or all courses without academic penalty of a WF by the withdrawal deadline as listed in the ManateeCommunity College academic calendar. This semester this date is Monday, October 27, 2008. The student must take responsibility for initiating the withdrawal procedure. Students are strongly encouraged to talk with their instructors first before taking any withdrawal action.
Statement of Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of ideas, facts, opinions, illustrative material, data, direct or indirect wording of another scholar and/or writer—professional or student—without giving proper credit. Expulsion, suspension, or any lesser penalty may be imposed for plagiarism or cheating in any manner. Direct copying of lab report information is considered to be cheating on the part of both parties involved.
Standards of Conduct: Students are expected to abide by all Lancer Student Handbook guidelines. Students may be withdrawn from the class by the instructor for any behavior that interferes with learning of others. Obtrusive late entries, early departures, cell phone calls, pager calls, conversations not related to class work, and general loudness fall under the category of interfering behaviors.
Tentative Lab Schedule Fall 2007
BSC 2010L
* Indicates that a lab report is required
College Holidays – No ClassesMonday, Sept 3 – Labor Day
Friday, Oct 12 – Faculty Development Day
Monday, Nov 12 – Veterans Day Observed
Nov 21 – No classes after 4PM for Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov 22-25 – Thanksgiving Holiday
Individual laboratory instructors may choose to administer lab quizzes to ensure that the students are attaining a full understanding of the concepts illustrated by each lab. These quizzes may contribute up to 10% of the total lab grade.
All students are required to read the lab instructions prior to the lab session. Students are responsible for all information conveyed in the lab manual. This information may appear on any lecture exam or quiz.