Principles of Biology I (BIOL 106)                                                                                           Fall 2010

Dr. Shonah A. Hunter

General Information

 

Office: Ulmer 320                    Phone # 484-2062   email: shunter@lhup.edu

Office Hours:   Tues  2:00 – 4:00pm, Wed 10:00-11:00 am, Thur  9:00 – 11:00am    

                                                OR BY APPOINTMENT

Web site for class: http://www.lhup.edu/shunter/PoB%20I/PoB%20I.htm

An easy way to get to it is to go to  www.lhup.edu/shunter and click on Principles of Biology I link.

 

All students MUST use their Lock Haven University email account in communication with me.

 

Text Book - Biology by Sylvia Mader (10th. edition)

Laboratory Manual: Principles of Biology I (available in the book store for purchase).

 

Appropirate classroom behavior

            You are expected to exhibit appropriate classroom behavior in lecture and lab.   I expect you to be respectful of your instructors and fellow students.  Please see appropriate behavior and possible consquences at the LHU Student Handbook website: http://www.lhup.edu/student-handbook/

NO CELL PHONES MAY BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM.  NO ELECTRONIC LISTENING DEVICES.  IF YOU USE YOUR LAPTOP DURING CLASS, YOU MUST USE IT APPROPRIATELY; NO “SURFING” OR USE FACEBOOK, OR ANY OTHER DISTRACTING USE.

 

Lecture: Your attendance is expected in lecture. 

            Should you miss class, make sure you get the notes from a classmate. 

            Check your book to fill in any areas, then check with me if you need additional information and

            explanation of the material covered.

 

Exams: There will be 3 unit exams during the semester and a final comprehensive exam. 

Exams will be taken from lecture material and reading assignments and will be composed of multiple choice questions. Bring a #2 pencil to each exam.

            All exams will be taken on schedule.  No make-up exams will be given unless prior

arrangements with me have been made.  The only valid reasons for missing a scheduled exam

will be for University sanctioned events, family emergencies and unexpected illness, but these must be accompanied by appropriate documentation or a health service excuse.  In such a case, you must notify me immediately so the make-up exam may be scheduled as soon as possible. THE PHONES ALL HAVE ANSWERING MACHINES, SO PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE. 

Any make-up may be an essay exam rather than multiple choice.

 

Lecture Quizzes: There will be 6 lecture quizzes scheduled on particular dates throughout the

semester (see the Lecture Schedule).  They will be given at the beginning of the lecture time and

will cover the material from the previous quiz or exam.   Each quiz will be worth 10 points and

only the top 5 quiz scores will be counted (that is, you may drop one lecture quiz). 

If you have an excused absence (see reasons above) for any of the quizzes, then you may either

take a written make-up quiz, or use the missed quiz as the one you wish to drop.  You must take

the written make-up quiz no later than 1 week after the quiz was given, or if you were ill, no

longer than 1 week after returning from the illness.  All illnesses must be documented for the day

of the quiz either from the Student Health Services or from a physician.

YOU MAY NOT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE SEMESTER TO DECIDE THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE A MAKE-UP FOR A MISSED QUIZ EARLIER IN THE SEMESTER.  ALL QUIZZES MUST BE TAKEN WITHIN THE TIME LIMITS ESTABLISHED ABOVE.

 

Laboratory: You must attend your laboratory session and you are expected to stay for the fully

scheduled time.  If in an emergency, you are unable to attend your regularly scheduled lab, you

must attend one of the other scheduled sections, at the convenience and with the permission of

the instructor teaching that section (due to space constraints). 

You must get a Laboratory Transfer Form from your instructor and have the instructor to whose

lab you wish to transfer, sign it.  It is then your responsibility to ensure that your quiz grade or

report gets to your own instructor.  No make-up labs will be given!!!!!!

 

            The instructor for your lab is the person to whom you are responsible for the laboratory grade. 

Each instructor makes the assignments and grades them accordingly.  At the end of the

semester, those grades are submitted to Dr. Hunter for calculation into the final grade.  You

            must discuss with your own laboratory instructor, matters relating to the lab.

Lab Assignments: Lab assignments are designed to test your understanding and interpretation

of the laboratory, and to evaluate your writing for clarity and comprehension.  All assignments

must be turned in on time, otherwise you will receive a grade penalty.         

 

Cheating: The University has an Academic Honesty Policy in place.  It is in the student handbook at http://www.lhup.edu/shunter/PoB%20II/LHU%20Academic%20Honesty%20Policy.htm Make sure you read and understand it.  You will be expected to demonstrate appropriate test taking behavior, i.e., no suspicious looking or moving around.  Anyone caught cheating will receive a zero for that exam, quiz or assignment and will be considered an error in judgment on your part.  A second incident will result in an  E   for the course. CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

            Although discussion is encouraged in interpreting labs, the lab assignments must reflect your own effort.  Any cheating on laboratory assignments or quizzes will be handled in the aforementioned manner. 

Plagiarism is also cheating and will not be tolerated.  It is discussed in the Academic Honesty Policy.  In addition, you are expected to read the document on the LHU Writing Center Web Site (http://www.lhup.edu/English/writingcenter/Writing%20Center%20Home%20Page.htm) regarding Plagiarism and How to Avoid it.  It is your responsibility to read and understand it.  I encourage you to talk with me if you do not understand plagiarism.  It is considered cheating and will be treated as such.

 

Accommodation statement

Students with disabilities are encouraged to discuss requests for reasonable accommodations with the professor at the beginning of the semester. In order for accommodations to be provided, your disability must be verified by the Office for Disability Services, 104 Russell Hall, 484-2665.

 

Grading:          Exams             1st unit exam -    70 points                                                       70

                                                2nd unit exam -  100 points                                                      100

                                                3rd unit exam -  100 points                                                      100

                                                Comprehensive final exam - 140 points                                  140

                        Lecture Quizzes – best 5 out of 6                                                                     50

 

Laboratory – Lab will count as 1/3 of the total grade

Additional short assignments may be made by some laboratory instructors. 

 

 

Additional small assignments may be made for additional points.

 

Grades will be earned on the basis of the following semester percentages of the total points.  No curve is applied.

 

A > 90%                      B+ 86 - 88%                C+ 76 - 78%                D+ 66 - 68%                E < 60%

A-  89%                       B  80 - 85%                 C  70 - 75%                 D  60 - 65%

                                    B- 79%                        C- 69%

NOTE: All students must earn a C average or better in Principles of Biology I, II (BIOL106, 107) combined in order to register for subsequent Biology courses.