COURSE SYLLABUS FOR INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY FOR SCIENCE MAJORS I

BIOLOGY 111, FALL 2008

18 August 2008

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Paul T. Arnold

OFFICE: Maxwell 105

TELEPHONE: 379-5131

E-MAIL: ptarnold@yhc.edu

WEB PAGE: www.yhc.edu – run your cursor over “academics” then “mathematics & science” and then “biology” on the heading near the top of the page, afterwards, click on “Course web pages”, and finally on “Biology 111 - Arnold”.

OFFICE HOURS: MWF 10 – 12 noon

TR 9 – 11 a.m.

Other hours by appointment.

CLASS HOURS AND LOCATION: Lecture 9 - 9:50 a.m. MWF, TBA

Lab Section A: 2 – 3:50 p.m. T, Maxwell 109

Lab Section B: 3 – 4:50 p.m. W, Maxwell 109

Lab Section C: 2 – 3:50 p.m. R, Maxwell 109

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course attempts to provide an understanding of the basic biological principles of cellular anatomy, physiology and reproduction, classical, molecular and modern genetics, and organic evolution, and to encourage scientific thought and experimentation. This course is designed for those students that are continuing their careers in the sciences, especially the biological sciences.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of BIO 111, students should:

1. Be able to recognize characteristics that living organisms share.

2. Understand the taxonomic hierarchies that are assigned to living organisms.

3. Be able to solve problems and create hypotheses logically, critically, and creatively by using scientific methodology.

4. Be familiar with laboratory techniques commonly used in biology, including microscopy, wet chemical techniques, and biotechnological methodology.

5. Understand the basic chemical phenomena underlying biology, including atomic structure, bonding, and acid/base chemistry.

6. Understand the structure and function of the important biological macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

7. Know the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

8. Know the basic structure and function of major subcellular structures and organelles.

9. Understand the structure of the cell membrane and its components, and the physiology of molecular transportation across membranes.

10. Understand the properties of energy in metabolic reactions in the cell, especially as they relate to ATP and other energy-carrying molecules.

11. Understand the general role of enzymes in cellular metabolism.

12. Have a basic understanding of the light-dependent and light-independent processes of photosynthesis, as well as the role of photosynthesis in plant metabolism and the ecosystem.

13. Have a basic understanding of glycolysis, the transition reaction, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport/oxidative phosphorylation systems of cellular respiration.

14. Be able to compare and contrast aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration, and why they occur in organisms.

15. Understand the steps involved in mitotic and meiotic cell division, including differences in these processes between plant and animal cells.

16. Be able to perform a variety of genetic crosses using Mendelian principles, and to calculate genotypic and phenotypic ratios of these crosses.

17. Understand inheritance when it occurs in a non-mendelian fashion.

18. Be able to use the chi-square statistical procedure in evaluating genetic crosses.

19. Know the basic structure and behavior of chromosomes, and their role in sex-linked and autosomal inheritance.

20. Understand the genetic basis of inherited diseases.

21. Understand the role of DNA in the process of inheritance.

22. Know the processes of replication, transcription and translation, and how they apply to inheritance and expression of traits.

23. Know how mutations occur and their result in genetic expression.

24. Understand the genetic systems of viruses, and how they relate to the viral life cycle, and their use as

biotechnological vectors.

25. Understand the genetic systems of bacteria, including their natural and biotechnological implications.

26. Know basic systems of gene regulation and control in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, including their possible involvement with cancer.

27. Understand the basic processes involved with recombinant DNA technology, and their results.

28. Understand the role of modern genetics in medicine, agriculture, and other applications.

29. Be able to isolate DNA, and transform bacteria with plasmid DNA.

30. Be able to perform a restriction analysis of DNA, and interpret the results.

31. Be able to utilize genomic databases to determine the identity of gene fragments.

32. Understand how development is genetically controlled.

33. Understand the historical development of evolutionary theory.

34. Understand the roles of Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace in the development of natural selection as a mechanism of evolution.

35. Know the various evidentiary sources used in supporting modern evolutionary theory.

36. Understand the role of the Hardy-Weinberg theory in population genetics.

37. Understand the underlying causes of evolutionary change in both microevolution and macroevolution.

38. Know what a species is, and how speciation occurs.

39. Understand phylogeny and its basis in fossil and biogeographical evidence.

40. Understand phylogenetic systematics and how it is used to study evolutionary change.

41. Be able to communicate their scientific knowledge and analyses effectively through writing.

42. Be able to use information technology to research scientific information.

43. Be able to cooperate with each other in laboratory situations by working together effectively in the experimental process.

REQUIRED TEXT: Campbell, Neil A., Jane B. Reece. 2008. Biology. 8th ed. Benjamin Cummings Pub., Menlo Park, CA.

GRADING PROCEDURES: The points will be tallied as follows

Points % of Final Grade

3 Unit Lecture Exams (100 pts. each) 300 pts. 11.8% x 3 = 35.5%

1 Final Lecture Exam 150 pts. = 17.8%

1 Lab Practical Midterm Exam 75 pts. = 8.9%

1 Lab Practical Final Exam 75 pts. = 8.9%

11 Lab Write-ups (5 pts. each) 55 pts. 0.6% x 11 = 6.5%

9 Lab Quizzes (5 pts. each) 45 pts. 0.6% x 9 = 5.3%

Genetics Problems 25 pts. = 3.0%

Karyotype Assignment 10 pts. = 1.2%

BLAST Assignment 10 pts. = 1.2%

Research Paper 100 pts. = 11.8%

TOTAL 845 pts. 100.0%

Possible 20 pt. media review

+20 pts.

DESCRIPTION OF GRADE COMPONENTS:

UNIT EXAMS -- 100 pts. (11.8% of final grade) each. Approximately 32% of each exam will consist of the definition of terms, while approximately 33% will be composed of matching/multiple choice questions, and approximately 33% will be composed of discussion/short answer type questions.

FINAL EXAM -- 150 pts. (17.8% of final grade). This exam will be structurally similar to a regular exam and will be comprehensive in nature with emphasis on the last unit covered (Usually 50 pts. comprehensive and 100 pts. over the last unit of material).

LAB PRACTICAL MIDTERM EXAM -- 75 pts. (8.9% of final grade). This exam will occur in the last lab period before midterm break and will be comprehensive over the lab material studied during the first half of the semester. Several stations will be set up in the lab, each station with two or more questions. Each student will be given a limited amount of time per station to answer the questions. These questions will be derived from the study objectives listed in each lab handout.

LAB PRACTICAL FINAL EXAM -- 75 pts. (8.9% of final grade). This exam will be structurally the same as the lab midterm exam. This exam will be comprehensive over the lab material studied during the second half of the semester.

LAB WRITE-UPS -- 5 pts. (0.6% of final grade) each. -- Each write-up will be due the following lab period. Information to be included in the write-up will be found in the lab handout given previous to the lab. NEVER COPY ANYONE ELSES WORK!! This is a violation of the YOUNG HARRIS COLLEGE HONOR CODE, and will result in prosecution following the honor code guidelines. You also CANNOT TURN IN A REPORT UNLESS YOU ATTENDED THE LAB SESSION!!!

LAB QUIZZES -- 5 pts. (0.6% of final grade) each. These will be “mini” lab exams given at the beginning of each lab period over the previous week’s material. Study the laboratory objectives in order to do well on these! Lab quizzes cannot be made up!! If you are late to the lab you may miss the quiz!!

GENETICS PROBLEMS -- 25 pts. (3.0% of final grade). This assignment will consist of several genetic crosses. Utilizing punnett squares, the product law, and other skills, the student will figure out genotypic and phenotypic ratios of various crosses. All students MUST work individually on this assignment.

KARYOTYPE ASSIGNMENT -- 10 pts. (1.2% of final grade). Students will be provided with a chromosome “squash” of a human cell. By cutting out the chromosomes and arranging them according to their morphology, students will be able to determine the sex of their “subject”, as well as the presence of any chromosomal abnormalities that may be present.

BLAST ASSIGNMENT – 10 pts. (1.2% of final grade). This assignment will involve sequencing a segment of DNA from a gel, and then searching the NCBI BLAST database in order to find the gene represented by the gel. Since the NCBI databases are available on-line, any computer with internet access can be used to complete this assignment.

RESEARCH PAPER -- 100 pts. (11.8% of final grade). The student will select a topic from the topic list provided by the instructor. No two students can select the same topic, so you should select your topic as soon as possible! The student must first make up an outline of their paper which they will turn into the instructor at the time indicated on the calendar. The outline will consist of: The title of the paper, a very brief (short paragraph) explanation of what the paper will be about, and an outline of the paper itself (arranged in a typical outline form as in the following example of a fictitious paper entitled "The Behavior of the American Widgeon":

I. Introduction to the American Widgeon

a. Physical description

b. Range

1. Summer

2. Winter

c. Habitat

II. Mating behavior of the American Widgeon

a. . . . . . etc. . . . . .

-----

VI. Summary

Lastly, to be included with the outline is at least two references that you plan to use for your paper. After the outline is submitted to the instructor, the instructor will examine it, make comments, and will turn it back into the student. Based upon comments by the instructor, the student will then begin their construction of their paper.

The paper itself will then be turned in at the deadline shown on the calendar. The paper must follow the following guidelines in order to be accepted:

a. The text of the paper (not including bibliography, illustrations, or title page) must be 4 - 6 full pages, typed, double-spaced, with a one-inch margin, and a font that is no larger than 12 pts. in size.

b. The paper must include a bibliography page. You must have at least four references. At least one of these references must have come from an electronic resource (e.g. legitimate (authoritative) internet sources, on-line journals, CD-rom resources at the library, GALILEO databases, etc.). Also, at least one reference must be non-electronic! Also, half or more of your references should be from sources that are recent (within the last 5 years). The best place to find recent references are periodicals and journals. Make sure you consult various periodical indices at the library (don't be afraid to ask the librarians for help!), and use interlibrary loan if necessary to get the references you need. Use the CBE format for citations and bibliography (consult the library web page, the internet, an English text or professor, or writing lab tutors for more information on this).

c. Your paper should contain a 200 word or less abstract that is placed at the beginning of the text of the paper (this is included in the above 4 - 6 page count). An abstract is a brief concise summary of the major points of your paper (It is not an introduction, so avoid statements like “My paper will discuss . . .“) Virtually all scientific papers have abstracts which are designed to be read by other scientists in order to see if they wish to read the actual paper content.

d. Your paper should be organized with (after the abstract) an introduction, which introduces the subject to the reader by describing important background information that is necessary for the reader to have an adequate understanding of your subject. It should also contain a conclusion at the end of the text, which should not only briefly summarize, but also should explain why this information was important to the reader or the writer. Good conclusions often contain recommendations of areas that should be further researched scientifically.

e. Your paper needs to be free from grammatical and spelling errors, as well as typographical errors. You should always have someone proofread your paper (select someone who will take the task seriously and who is a good writer). Nothing detracts more from clearly presenting your ideas on paper than careless errors!

f. Avoid plagiarism! When you are using information from another source, always document it within your paper! If you are directly quoting a source, either use quotation marks (for short passages) or indent and single-space the quote (for longer passages). In either case you must also indicate the source!! Plagiarism will be penalized by a zero grade on the paper, and your name will be submitted to the academic dean for possible future action under the Young Harris College Honor Code.

If your paper follows the above guidelines, and is written in a clear fashion that adequately covers your subject, there is no reason that an "A" cannot be attained. The instructor will count off heavily on "careless" errors that would have been caught by a good proofreading. It is also very important that this paper is your own original work! The instructor is very familiar with paper "banks" that are maintained on campus, as well as those found on the internet. The instructor photocopies pages of each paper turned into him and keeps them on file, and performs other "checks" for plagiarism. If you turn in a paper that is not your own original work, you will receive a zero for your effort (see part “f” above).

MEDIA REVIEW -- 20 pts. extra credit -- The student will have as an option during the semester to do, for extra credit, one of the following media assignment options listed below:

a. A 3 - 4 page review and critique of a book on a biological topic, approved by the instructor.

b. Up to four (at least one full page) reviews of biological journal articles, each one worth a possible 5 pts apiece. These articles must be from a scientific journal (not popular magazine articles). Examples of scientific journals in our library would be Bioscience, JAMA, Journal of Environmental Health, Lancet, Nature, New England Journal of Medicine, and Science. Do not use popular magazines for this assignment.

c. Up to four (at least one full page) reviews of four different biological web sites (each worth 5 pts.). The sites must be from a legitimate authoritative organization, and must be approved by the instructor. Hint any of the web pages found on the YHC Biology Links site would be acceptable.

The report(s) should be double-spaced with a one-inch margin, and a font no larger than 12 pts. The report should contain a summary of the content of the media source as well as a critique of the source and its content. It does not require an abstract or bibliography, nor do you need to turn in an outline. There will be a deadline to inform the instructor of the source which will be indicated on the calendar. These reports should be completely in your own words to avoid plagiarism! (See notes on plagiarism above).

GRADING SCALE: TOTAL POINTS EARNED LETTER GRADE

757 - 845 A

672 - 756 B

588 - 671 C

503 - 587 D

502 and below F

Since the student is given the opportunity for extra credit as stated above, and because extra credit questions are given on all lecture exams, the above grading scale will be strictly adhered to in the interest of fairness to all students of this course, present and past.

ELECTRONIC DEVICE POLICY: All electronic devices, including cell phones, must be out of sight and on silent during lectures and exams. Laptop computers may be used, but only for note-taking purposes. If your cell phone must be on because of possible emergency situations, please notify the instructor first! Violation of this policy will result in a loss of extra-credit privileges.

STATEMENT ON CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: In the interest of your fellow students and out of respect for your instructor, please:

1) be on time. If you must be late, please minimize classroom disturbance when you enter. Remember, many important announcements are made at the beginning of lecture. Students who are habitually late usually miss out on vital instructions and opportunities, and almost always perform poorly in class.

2) don’t leave during lecture, unless it is absolutely necessary. If you know you will have to leave during class, please sit near the door and be discreet while leaving so as not to disturb the other students or your instructor.

3) don’t sharpen pencils or exhibit any other disruptive behavior during lecture (including talking, whispering, etc.) This shows a complete lack of respect for your instructor and for your colleagues, and is very distracting. Always bring a spare pen or pencil in order to avoid the necessity of sharpening during lecture, or simply sharpen pencils before lecture.

4) don’t sleep during lecture. If you are too tired to attend lecture, don’t come!

LATE WORK Any lab or assignment that is handed in late will be docked one letter grade per day it is late (this includes non-class days -- If an assignment would have received an “A” on Friday, it will receive a “D” if turned in the following Monday).

STATEMENT ON LABORATORY SAFETY Any behavior that would endanger yourself, others, or laboratory property will result in removal from the lab and possibly the course. Removing any substance from the laboratory without the written permission of the instructor is expressly forbidden and will be treated as theft. Many chemicals and instruments you will use could be dangerous if misused, so please use common sense and respect in your behavior. Some basic rules dictated by law and insurance agencies apply in the lab at all times

1. NO FOOD or DRINK of any kind (inc. GUM and TOBACCO products)

2. NO SMOKING

3. NO HORSEPLAY

4. NO INTOXICATION

Also, the following rules apply in order to preserve the equipment and the laboratory cleanliness

5. UNPLUG MICROSCOPES or any other electrical equipment BY PULLING THE PLUG, and NOT BY TUGGING ON THE CORD!

6. PUT ALL TRASH IN TRASH CANS, NOT IN SINKS OR DRAWERS!

7. ABSOLUTELY NO GRAFFITI ON COLLEGE PROPERTY. Any such graffiti will be regarded as VANDALISM.

8. ALWAYS NOTIFY THE INSTRUCTOR if something does not work, or IF AN INJURY HAS TAKEN PLACE, no matter how small.

9. ALWAYS CLEAN EQUIPMENT or SUPPLIES that you use BEFORE YOU ARE DONE WITH THEM.

10. NEVER LEAVE SLIDES IN THE MICROSCOPE STAGE CLIPS.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: It is expected of all students to uphold the integrity expected from an academic institution. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, giving or receiving unauthorized information regarding exams or assignments, copying or allowing copying of any assignment, lab write-up, or test, or plagiarism from copyrighted material. Violators of this policy will receive a “zero” on the assignment involved, AND will have their name and evidence of cheating submitted to the Academic Dean for possible further action. This class will adhere to the policies set forth in the Young Harris College Honor Code which you signed shortly after you came to this college. In addition, every assignment, quiz and test, will contain the statement: “I have neither given nor received any unauthorized assistance on this assignment/quiz/exam.” This statement must be signed and dated by the student.

MAKE-UP POLICY: You will not be allowed to make up any exam or lab unless:

1. You were very ill at the time of the exam AND you have a legitimate written excuse from the college nurse, counselor or a physician AND you notified me prior to the exam or lab time (via voice mail or phone), or

2. You had a family emergency AND you notified the dean’s office or counselor AND you notified me prior to the exam or lab time, or

3. You were on a college-sponsored field-trip or event which required your absence AND you personally notified me of your impending absence at least one week before the event.

If you miss an exam for any other reason than the above, you will receive a zero for an exam grade. If you miss a lab for any other reason than the above, you will receive a zero for the lab. Otherwise, you must make up the exam or lab within 2 days of the missed date. This will be strictly enforced in the interest of fairness to all students. It is also important to realize that giving false information to your professor concerning absences is a violation of the Young Harris College Honor Code.

CALENDAR FOR BIOLOGY 111, FALL 2008

WEEK #1

18 August 2008 -- Introduction to the Course and analysis of the Syllabus

19/20/21 August 2008 Lab -- Laboratory Exercise #1: Microscopy

20 August 2008 -- Order, Evolution & Diversity -- Read Chapter 1 (Introduction: Ten Themes in the Study of Life)

22 August 2008 -- Scientific Methodology & Review of Elements & Compounds -- Read Chapter 2 (The Chemical Context of Life) -- Last Day to Drop or Add a Course

WEEK #2

25 August 2008 -- Atoms & Molecules

26/27/28 August 2008 Lab -- Laboratory Exercise #2: Introduction to Electrophoresis, Lab Quiz #1, Turn in Lab

#1 Write-up

27 August 2008 -- Water, Dissociation & Carbon -- Read Chapters 3 (Water and the Fitness of the Environment) & 4 (Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life)

29 August 2008 -- Functional Groups, Polymers & Carbohydrates -- Read Chapter 5 (The Structure and Function of Macromolecules)

WEEK #3

LABOR DAY BREAK!!!!!!!!

2/3/4 September 2008 Lab -- Laboratory Exercise #3: The DNA Molecule, Lab Quiz #2, Turn in Lab #2 Write-

up

3 September 2008 -- Lipids & Proteins

5 September 2008 -- Nucleic Acids & Metabolism -- Read Chapter 6 (An Introduction to Metabolism)

WEEK #4

8 September 2008 -- Enzymes & Metabolism

9/10/11 September 2008 Lab -- Laboratory Exercise #4: The Cell, Lab Quiz #3, Turn in Lab #3 Write-up

10 September 2008 – Cell Overview, Nucleus & Ribosomes – Read Chapter 7 (A Tour of the Cell)

12 September 2008 – Lecture Exam #1 over Chapters 1 - 6

WEEK #5

15 September 2008 – Endomembrane System & Cytoskeleton – Dubconscious in concert this evening, earn an

IDEAS credit for attending!

16 September 2008 – SYMPOSIUM DAY (no labs this week) – Earn up to 2 IDEAS credits for attending events!

17 September 2008 – Cell Surface & Membrane Anatomy -- Read Chapter 8 (Membrane Structure and Function)

19 September 2008 -- Membrane Function

WEEK #6

22 September 2008 -- Energy & Cellular Respiration -- Read Chapter 9 (Cellular Respiration: Harvesting Chemical Energy

23/24/25 September 2008 Lab -- Laboratory Exercise #5: Photosynthesis, Lab Quiz #4, Turn in Lab #4 Write-up

24 September 2008 -- Other Metabolic Processes & Photosynthesis -- Read Chapter 10 (Photosynthesis)

26 September 2008 -- Photosynthesis, Research Paper Outlines due 5 p.m.!

WEEK #7

29 September 2008 -- Cell Signaling -- Read Chapter 11 (Cell Communication)

30 September/1/2 October 2008 Lab -- Laboratory Exercise #6: Mitosis, Lab Quiz #5, Turn in Lab #5 Write-up

1 October 2008 -- Cell Transduction & Cell Division -- Read Chapter 12 (The Cell Cycle)

3 October 2008 -- Lecture Exam #2 over Chapters 7 - 11

WEEK #8

6 October 2008 -- Mitosis & Regulation of Cell Division (no labs this week)

8 October 2008 -- Heredity & Meiosis -- Read Chapter 13 (Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles)

MIDTERM BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEK #9

13 October 2008 -- Genetic Variation & Gregor Mendel -- Read Chapter 14 (Mendel and the Gene Idea)

14/15/16 October 2008 Lab -- Lab Practical Midterm Exam, Turn in Lab #7 Write-up

15 October 2008 -- Mendelian Genetics

17 October 2008 -- Chromosomes -- Read Chapter 15 (The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance)

WEEK #10

20 October 2008 -- Chromosomal Basis of Sex & Introduction to DNA -- Read Chapter 16 (The Molecular Basis of Inheritance)

21/22/23 October 2008 Lab -- Laboratory Exercise #7: Genetics and the Analysis of Data

22 October 2008 -- DNA Replication & Repair

24 October 2008 -- Transcription & Translation -- Read Chapter 17 (From Gene to Protein), Genetics Problems Due 5 p.m.!

WEEK #11

27 October 2008 -- Translation

28/29/30 October 2008 Lab -- Laboratory Exercise #8: Bacterial Transformation of Plasmid DNA, Lab Quiz #6,

Turn in Lab #7 Write-up (Last Day To Withdraw From Classes Without Penalty)

29 October 2008 -- Viral Genetics -- Read Chapter 18 (Microbial Models: The Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria)

31 October 2008 -- Bacterial Genetics, Human Karyotype Assignment due 5 p.m.!

WEEK #12

3 November 2008 -- Lecture Exam #3 over Chapters 12 – 18

4/5/6 November 2008 Lab -- Laboratory Exercise #9: Control of Gene Expression: The lac Operon, Lab Quiz #7, Turn in Lab #8 Write-up

5 November 2008 -- Genome Structure & Expression -- Read Chapter 19 (The Organization and Control of Eukaryotic Genomes)

7 November 2008 -- The Genetics of Cancer & DNA Cloning -- Read Chapter 20 (DNA Technology And Genomics), BLAST assignment due 5 p.m.!

WEEK #13

10 November 2008 -- Analysis of Cloned DNA

11/12/13 November 2008 Lab -- Laboratory Exercise #10: Restriction Analysis of DNA, Lab Quiz #8, Turn in

Lab #9 Write-up

12 November 2008 -- Biotechnology

14 November 2008 -- Biotechnology, Research Paper due 5 p.m.!

WEEK #14

17 November 2008 -- Biotechnology

18/19/20 November 2008 Lab -- Laboratory Exercise #11: Evolution, Lab Quiz #9, Turn in Lab #10

Write-up

19 November 2008 -- Evolutionary History, Darwin & Evidence for Evolution -- Read Chapter 22 (Descent With

Modification: A Darwinian View of Life)

21 November 2008 -- Population Genetics, Microevolution & Genetic Variation -- Read Chapter 23 (The

Evolution of Populations)

WEEK #15

24 November 2008 -- Natural Selection & Species -- Read Chapter 24 (The Origin of Species), Extra Credit Media Review Approval Deadline, 5 p.m. – No labs this week.

THANKSGIVING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEK #16

1 December 2008 -- Speciation & Evolution of Novel Traits

2/3/4 December 2008 Lab -- Lab Practical Final Exam, Turn in Lab #11 Write-up

3 December 2008 -- Fossils -- Read Chapter 25 (Phylogeny And Systematics)

5 December 2008 -- Phylogeny, Extra Credit Media Reviews due 5 p.m.

WEEK #17

9 December 2008 -- Tuesday, Final Exam, 10:45 a.m.

CHRISTMAS BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!

TALLY SHEET (Percentage can be determined by dividing “points earned” by “points possible” and multiplying the result by 100)

EXAMS PTS. EARNED PTS. POSSIBLE

Lecture Exam #1 __________ 100

Lecture Exam #2 __________ 100

Lecture Exam #3 __________ 100

Final Exam __________ 150

Lab Practical Midterm Exam __________ 75

Lab Practical Final Exam __________ 75

LABS

Write-up #1 __________ 5

Write-up #2 __________ 5

Write-up #3 __________ 5

Write-up #4 __________ 5

Write-up #5 __________ 5

Write-up #6 __________ 5

Write-up #7 __________ 5

Write-up #8 __________ 5

Write-up #9 __________ 5

Write-up #10 __________ 5

Write-up #11 __________ 5

Quiz #1 __________ 5

Quiz #2 __________ 5

Quiz #3 __________ 5

Quiz #4 __________ 5

Quiz #5 __________ 5

Quiz #6 __________ 5

Quiz #7 __________ 5

Quiz #8 __________ 5

Quiz #9 __________ 5

Genetics Problems __________ 25

Karyotype Assignment __________ 10

BLAST Assignment __________ 10

Research Paper __________ 100

Extra Credit __________ 0

TOTAL __________ 855

YOUNG HARRIS COLLEGE

CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY

2008-2009

Young Harris College considers the classroom experience to be a vital part of a college education and essential to academic success. When a student elects to enroll at Young Harris, he or she must therefore accept responsibility for adhering to the class attendance policy of the college.

It is the policy of Young Harris College that class attendance and tardiness regulations in a course are determined by the instructor, who is responsible for setting the number of excused and unexcused absences permitted in the course, deciding which absences are excused and unexcused, and handling tardy arrivals to class. The instructor’s policy and the penalties to be imposed for violation of the policy are contained in the course syllabus which is given to the student within the first three days of the semester.

When a student violates the attendance policy set by the instructor, the instructor notifies in writing both the student and the academic dean that the student has been withdrawn from the course. In cases where excessive absences have been caused by extremely extenuating circumstances--such as personal or family illness or death in the immediate family--a student who has been withdrawn from a course may appeal the decision of the instructor to the academic dean. This appeal must be made on a form obtained from the academic dean. It must be submitted no later than the class day following the day of notification. During the appeal procedure, the student continues to attend meetings of the class in question. The decision of the academic dean is final.

Students have the responsibility of keeping a record of their absences, of removing absences from the class roll on days when they are unavoidably tardy, and of making up all work missed in their absence.

Students who register for a course after the first class meeting should check with the instructor regarding their absences prior to enrollment.

=================================================================================

Instructor Dr. Paul T. Arnold Course Biology 111

Semester Fall 2008 Period 9 - 9:50 a.m. MWF

Total number of absences allowed in this course 9

____________ Excused

____________ Unexcused

____________ Tardy arrivals will count as one absence

Additional comments or instructions

I have found, as an instructor, that there is almost always a direct correlation between attendance and course performance. Hence, it is unwise, and a waste of money, to cut classes. Laboratories and exams cannot be made up except under certain circumstances (see earlier in the syllabus). Missed lab quizzes cannot be made up under any circumstance. I fully expect you to attend all classes and laboratories and be responsible for the material presented!