La Vernia High School

Biology 1406 - General Biology I for Science Majors

Lecture/Lab Syllabus

COURSE MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS:

TEXT:Biology (10th ed) by Campbell (ISBN-10: 0321775651 • ISBN-13: 9780321775658)

LAB MANUAL:Biology Laboratory Manual (12th ed) by Mader (New Editions Only)

(ISBN #9781259298516)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Fundamental principles of living organisms will be studied, including physical and chemical properties of life, organization, function, evolutionary adaptation, and classification. Concepts of cytology, reproduction, genetics, and scientific reasoning are included. This course fulfills the Life and Physical Sciences foundational component area of the core and addresses the following required objectives: Critical Thinking, Communication, Empirical Quantitative Skills, and Teamwork.

PREREQUISITES:This course is for science majors

INRW 0420

MATH 0310

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Describe the characteristics of life.

2. Explain the methods of inquiry used by scientists.

3. Identify the basic requirements of life and the properties of the major molecules needed for life.

4. Compare and contrast the structures, reproduction, and characteristics of viruses,prokaryotic cells, and eukaryotic cells.

5. Describe the structure of cell membranes and the movement of molecules across amembrane.

6. Identify the substrates, products, and important chemical pathways in metabolism.

7. Identify the principles of inheritance and solve classical genetic problems.

8. Identify the chemical structures, synthesis, and regulation of nucleic acids and proteins.

9. Describe the unity and diversity of life and the evidence for evolution through naturalselection.

10. Apply scientific reasoning to investigate questions and utilize scientific tools such asmicroscopes and laboratory equipment to collect and analyze data.

11. Use critical thinking and scientific problem-solving to make informed decisions in thelaboratory.

12. Communicate effectively the results of scientific investigations.

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT FOR LECTURE:

The student will be able to answer correctly at least 70% of questions on exams (including a comprehensive final exam).Exam questions will consist of multiple choice, true or false, fill in the blank, matching, short essay, and problem solving. Exam material is taken from the course unit notes and the lecture presentations. All tests are based on 100 points.

GRADING:

  1. The final grade for the course will be determined as follows:

Best 4 of 5Lecture Exams / 50% / Grading Scale
Laboratory Average / 30% / A=89.5-100
Comprehensive Final Exam / 20% / B=79.5-89.4
C=69.5-79.4
D=59.5-69.4
F=below 59.5
  1. If the student takes ALL 5 lecture exam, the lowest grade on ONE lecture exam will be dropped.
  2. Students are exempt from the comprehensive final ONLY if they obtain an 89.5 or higher for the lecture average ANDfor the lab average going into the final exam.
  3. If a missed lecture exam or final exam is not made up, then grade of “0” is recorded and cannot be dropped
  4. EXTRA CREDIT: Students may make out review question sheets for the exams given in class. The review sheets will consist of a minimum of 75 questions AND answers numbered consecutively that cover the material for that exam. (Of course more than the minimum is better.) The review sheet must be handwritten and turned in at the beginning of the class when the exam is taken. Multiple choice (at least 4 choices), short answer, or matching questions are acceptable. NO FILL-IN-THE-BLANK OR TRUE/FALSE/YES/NO ITEMS ALLOWED! The review sheet will be worth an extra 5 points on that exam grade. Each review sheet done during the semester will add 2 points to the final exam grade (maximum of 10 points). No credit will be given if these guidelines are not followed.
  5. All examination materials are the property of the instructor and must be returned to the instructor. Student review questions turned in for extra credit will be returned to the student (lecture only).
  6. It is the student’s responsibility to access and/or print out the course unit notes and lecture presentations from Canvas. Device use to access these materials is permitted during lecture as long as it does not distract or disturb others. Course unit notes are grouped by exam and are a general overview of the chapters covered in the lecture presentations.
  7. All grades for the semester will be recorded in the Canvas gradebook. Grades will also be posted in the District’s GradeBook for eligibility purposes, but the semester grade for the course will be determined according to the Canvas gradebook as it reflects the overall grade for the entire twenty-week dual credit semester, rather than the average of 2 nine-week grading periods.

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT FOR LABORATORY:

The student will be able to answer correctly at least 70% of questions on lab practicals.Dailypost-lab quizzes and lab review questions will be given. Four laboratory practical exams will be given.Lab Practical questions will consist of multiple choice, true or false, fill in the blank, matching, short essay, and problem solving. All exams/practical are based on 100 points.

GRADING:

The final laboratory grade average will be determined as follows:

Best 3 of 4 Laboratory Practicals / 60% / Grading Scale
Lab Quizzes and Reviews / 40% / A=89.5-100
B=79.5-89.4
C=69.5-79.4
D=59.5-69.4
F=below 59.5

Lab Practical Examinations:

1. Lab Practical Exams must be taken when scheduled.

2.No make-ups will be given for missed lab practicals.

3..Missed lab practicals will be recorded as a zero.

4. Students may make out review sheets for the lab practicals. The review sheets will consist of a minimum of 75 questions AND answers numbered consecutively that cover the material for that lab practical. (Of course more than the minimum is better.) The review sheet must be handwritten and turned in at the beginning of the class when the lab practical is taken. Multiple choice (at least 4 choices), short answer, or matching questions are acceptable. NO FILL-IN-THE-BLANK OR TRUE/FALSE/YES/NO ITEMS ALLOWED! The review sheet will be worth an extra 5 points on that lab practical grade. No credit will be given if these guidelines are not followed.

5. There are no comprehensive lab practicals. Each practical covers material for 3-5 lab exercises.

Lab Quizzes and Lab Assignments:

1. Lab quizzes may be given at the end of the lab period to be completed as a take-home. Take-home lab quizzes are due at the beginning of the lab session immediately following that lab’s activities unless otherwise stated by the Instructor. Lab quizzes may also be given in class rather than as a take-home.

2. As lab quizzes and lab reviews (assigned from the lab manual) are graded in class, no quizzes or reviews may be turned in after the graded quizzes and reviews are returned to students. Students will need to come in before or after school to grade the missed quiz and/or review.

3. Questions for the lab quizzes will be derived from the material covered in the designated laboratory session.

4. The lab manual is classified a “consumable” by the publisher. NO photocopies will be accepted. Each student MUST purchase the lab manual. Assigned activities and lab review questions from the lab manual will be torn out of the manual and turned in at the beginning of the lab session.

  1. It is the student’s responsibility to print out and/or access the lab session guides from Canvas for reference during the lab session and study for lab practicals. Computer/tablet use to access these materials is permitted in the lab, but the College and Instructor are not liable for damage or loss.
  1. Lab practical materials are the property of the instructor and must be returned.

STUDENT OBLIGATIONS:

1. Attendance is a very important factor in success, whether the class is on campus or online.Excessive absences tend to adversely affect student progress in this course.

2. Students will NOT be dropped from the course beyond the college’s designated last day to drop a course with a “W.” See lecture schedule for last day to drop with a “W.”

3. Please silence cell phones and remove headphones. Electronic device use is NOT allowed during exams and lab practicals. You may use your device during lecture to view the lecture notes and presentations; and to view the lab session guides during lab. Cell phones should be silenced during the lecture and lab times.

IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE GRADE PERFORMANCE, IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE STUDENT DO THE FOLLOWING:

1. Read the assigned chapter and answer questions proposed in the textbook before coming to class!

2. Access the PowerPoints, lecture notes, and lab session handouts in Canvas. Print these out and bring to class each day (use grayscale to save ink and print 3-4 slides and 2 handouts to page to save paper) or access on your computer as we go through the lecture and take notes separately.

3. Participate in class discussions and ask questions.

4. Form study groups. Several brains are better than one!

5. See me immediately if you are having any problems which could be hindering your performance.

LA VERNIA HIGH SCHOOL

BIOLOGY 1406 GENERAL BIOLOGY I

FALL 2015

INSTRUCTOR: Teri A. Haye

CONFERENCE HOURS:7TH Period

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

WEEK / TOPIC / CHAPTERS
1 / Introduction/Exploring Life/Chemical Context of Life / 1,2
2 / Water & Life/Carbon & the Molecular Diversity of Life/ / 3,4
Structure & Function of Macromolecules / 5
3 / EXAM #1 (Chapters #1-5)/Cell Structure & Function / 6
4 / Membrane Structure & Function / 7
5 / Introduction to Metabolism / 8
6 / Photosynthesis/Cellular Respiration & Fermentation / 10,9
7 / EXAM #2 (Chapters #6-10)/The Cell Cycle / 12
8 / Meiosis & Sexual Life Cycles/Mendel & the Gene Idea / 13,14
9 / Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance/ Molecular Basis of Inheritance / 15,16
10 / EXAM #3 (Chapters #12-16)/From Gene to Protein / 17
11 / Mechanisms of Evolution/History of Life on Earth / 22,25
12 / Phylogeny & the Tree of Life / 26
13 / Viruses/Bacteria / 19,27
14 / EXAM #4 (Chapters #17,19,22,25-27)/ Protists/Fungi/Plant Diversity / 28,29,30,31
15 / Introduction to Animal Diversity/ Invertebrate Animals / 32,33
16 / Vertebrate Animals / 34
17 / EXAM #5 (Chapters #28-34)/Review for Final
18 / FINAL EXAMINATIONS

LA VERNIA HIGH SCHOOL

BIOLOGY 1406 GENERAL BIOLOGY I LABORATORY SCHEDULE

FALL 2015

INSTRUCTOR: Teri A. Haye

CONFERENCE HOURS: 7TH PERIOD

SESSION / TOPIC / EXERCISE #
1 / SCIENTIFIC METHOD/METRIC SYSTEM / 1,2
2 / THE MICROSCOPE / 2
3 / CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CELLS / 3
4 / CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION / 4
5 / LAB PRACTICAL # 1(EXERCISES 1-4)
6 / ENZYMES / 5
7 / PHOTOSYNTHESIS / 6
8 / MITOSIS & MEIOSIS/HEREDITY / 8,9,10,11
9 / LAB PRACTICAL # 2 (EXERCISES 5, 6, 8-10)
10 / BACTERIA, PROTISTS, FUNGI / 15
11 / FUNGI / 16
12 / SEEDLESS & SEED PLANTS / 17,18
13 / LAB PRACTICAL#3 (EXERCISES 14-17)
14 / INTRODUCTION TO INVERTEBRATES / 23,24
15 / PROTOSTOMES / 24
16 / DEUTEROSTOMES / 24,25
17 / LAB PRACTICAL # 4 (EXERCISES 22-24)