Foundations of Biology (Biology 10200)

Bio 102 Syllabus  Spring 2012  Foundations of Biology II  6 hrs, 4 cr  Dr. RF Rockwell

 
 

Important Notices

3/27/12 - I figured out how to get around their security and changed settings on the quizzes.  you should be able to see questions after you have taken the quiz

3/30/12 - I have posted your grades on the first, second and third exams using a CODED ID - the last 4 digits of your ID number +102. Thus if the last 4 digits of your ID number is 1234 then your coded ID number is 1234+102=1336 and if the last 4 digits of your ID number is 0011 then your coded ID number is 0011+102=0113.  A sheet with all the scores can be downloaded here. If your coded ID is highlighted with a color, please see me. 


 

The distribution of scores for those taking the first, second and third exams are depicted in the following graph:


 

Hours: Lectures are Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-10:45 in NA-1214  Labs at various scheduled times during the week.  You must take the lecture and lab together.

Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9:00-9:30.  Other hours by email appointment are available on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:45-12:00.  My sole email for this course is [email protected] .   MAKE SURE THE SUBJECT LINE READS: BIO 102.  I will not reply to email sent to my other addresses nor will I respond to any email message that is not written out fully and correctly in standard American prose.  My phone number is 212 769-5793. 

Text and web connections: The text is selected chapters of a larger book, Biology 9th Ed by Raven, Johnson, Losos, Mason and Singer.  You can�t pass this course without studying the book!  You also will need to acquire access to Mcgraw-Hill�s web product Connect that is your conduit to required quizzes (see below) and on-line learning aids.

You have 3 options for acquiring the text and web-based product. 

 

The first option is to purchase a new text from the CCNY book store.  The new paper books come with an access code that gives you access to Connect and the quizzes and online study tools.

 

The second option is to purchase a used text book at the CCNY bookstore.  If you choose this option you must also purchase online access to Connect to take the quizzes and use the study tools.  You will be given the option to purchase that access for approximately $37.50 the first time you go to my Connect website (below).

 

The third option is to purchase the online version of the book (no paper book) with Connect and study tools.   Purchase requires a credit or debit card and is approximately for $70.40.  The ISBN # of the e-book is 9781121433397 and you obtain it directly from

 

 

https://create.mcgraw-hill.com/shop/#/catalog/details/?isbn=9781121433397

 

 

Regardless of the option you choose you must register at my Connect website for access to quizzes and learning aids.

http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/r_rockwell_spring_2012_1

If this procedure is not followed you will not have access to required quizzes and study aids and your grade will suffer.

If you have problems registering, contact McGraw-Hill http://www.mhhe.com/support or 1(800)331-5094 for help.  Do not contact me since I have no way of addressing any problems you may be having with their website.

Communication:  This is NOT a blackboard course. Course schedule and other pertinent information will be posted on my website http://research.amnh.org/users/rfr/bio1022012 .  Additional announcements and quiz assignments (see below) will be posted on the text book website http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/r_rockwell_spring_2012_1 .  Both sites must be checked regularly for updates.  They will not necessarily contain the same information! 

Attendance : Attendance in lab and lecture is mandatory.  If you miss more than two laboratories, you will be dropped from the course with a grade of WU.  Fieldtrips count as labs.  Don�t bet that you can skip the lecture and make up the material by reading the book, watching video lectures and other folks� notes.  If you miss all or part of a lecture, get the notes from another student.  I will not repeat myself to cover your absences. 

Quiz assignments : There will be an online quiz for each lecture at http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/r_rockwell_spring_2012_1 .  These quizzes are really study exercises but they also comprise 8% of your course grade.  The questions on these quizzes are drawn from the same question bank as I draw the lecture exam questions (~20% overlap).  Quizzes are available from the start of the course but each has a due date listed on the website.  They must be completed by that date for credit.  You get 1 attempt at each and the system sends me your score for each quiz.  If you fail to complete a quiz by the deadline, the system sends me a 0 as your score for that assignment.  The average of all the quiz scores (including any 0�s) counts as 8% of your final grade.

You must register for Connect at http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/r_rockwell_spring_2012_1 to take the quizzes.  Failure to register costs you 8% of your final grade.  If you have problems, contact McGraw-Hill technical support at  http://www.mhhe.com/support or 1(800)331-5094 for help.

Lecture exams : The 3 lecture exams are not cumulative and each emphasizes materials that are covered in both lecture and your readings.  However, I do ask some questions that are only covered in lecture and other ones only covered in the book.  You can�t do well in this course by memorization alone.  You have to grasp the underlying principles.  There is no final exam as such.

The three lecture exams are each comprised of 50 multiple choice questions that are answered on computer-readable answer sheets.  To reduce any temptation for cheating, we distribute 4 fully-randomized versions of the same questions.  You must make sure to indicate the version of the exam (A, B, C, D) you are taking on your answer sheet.  Since they are graded by computer, failure to do that will guarantee you a grade of ~20% on that exam. 

You must print your name on the exam question booklet and return it at the end of the exam.  Any answer sheet not matched by name by an exam booklet will result in a 0 for that exam.  I do not return the exams but will post a copy of version A in the glass case across from the Biology office for your edification.

Lab exams are made up by the lab instructors.  They are short answer, fill-ins, problems and short essays, as well as lab practical. 

Grades : The grade in the course is based on 42% of the average score of the 3 lecture exams, 8% on the average scores of your online quizzes and 50% on the lab grades (20% from the results on two lab exams (there are no make-up lab exams: if missed due to a documented, legitimate excuse, then the other lab exam grade will be adjusted accordingly), 12.5% for the fish lab report including the peer reviews, 7.5% for the two short lab reports, 7.5% for the other written lab  assignments, and 2.5% on lab participation).  There are no make-up exams in either the lab or the lecture unless you have a note from a doctor, a judge, a desk sergeant, a mortician or a member of the clergy!  Other than such �excused exam absences� any missed lecture exam will be assigned a 0 that will be averaged as part of your grade.  

Your lab reports count for 27.5% of the course grade.  Pieces of the reports are graded and handed back for you to revise and assemble into a final coherent report This only applied to the big lab report for the fish lab.  We do not accept emailed lab reports.  A lab report (or piece of one) that is one day late is counted down by 10%.  We do not accept lab reports that are later than one day.  You will get a zero for the exercise.  

You cannot raise your grade by doing extra work.  No favorites or favors.  I do not give ABS or INC grades.  

Letter equivalents to percentage scores are taken from the CCNY Student Handbook. 

percentage score

letter grade

97.5 - 100

A+

92.5 - 97.4

A

90.0 - 92.4

A-

87.5 - 89.9

B+

82.5 - 87.4

B

80.0 - 82.4

B-

77.5 - 79.9

C+

72.5 - 77.4

C

70.0 - 72.4

C-

60.0 - 69.9

D

<60.0

F

 

Study  Suggestions 
1. Get to lecture on time!  I begin talking at the start of the period and rarely stop until it ends
2. Read the lecture textbook assignment prior to coming to lecture.  This will help familiarize you with the material discussed in class, and will help fill in gaps in your notes. 
3. Study your notes weekly. There is too much material to learn in one night or weekend cram session.
4. Take the quizzes and learn from your mistakes.  Remember, the average score of the quizzes is 8% of your final grade.  Also, Students in 2010 found a high positive correlation between performance on quizzes and exams.

 Course Objectives :  This course is meant to follow Bio 101 and will cover organisms, physiology and ecosystems.  Evolution is the framework of Biology and will be discussed throughout the course. In order to link concepts, the course also emphasizes control and feedback systems that regulate all Biology processes. In detail:

1. Understanding the importance of Evolution as an organizing principle in Biology.

2. Understanding the importance of control and feedback systems that regulate Biology processes.

3. Compare and contrast inherent differences between plants and animals.

4. Being able to analyze data and extrapolate the results to the organismic and ecosystem levels. .

A PDF version of these instructions can be found here .

 
 

Schedule of Lecture and Laboratory Topics

Lectures are on Tuesday and Thursday while labs are on various days

 

date day lecture topic reading lab topic
01/27/12 f     Genetics I
01/31/12 tu introduction   Genetics I
02/01/12 w     Genetics I
02/02/12 th genes in populations 20 Genetics I
02/03/12 f     Genetics II
02/07/12 tu evidence for evolution 21 Genetics II
02/08/12 w     Genetics II
02/09/12 th origin of species 22 Genetics II
02/10/12 f     Genetics III
02/14/12 tu systematics and the phylogenetic revolution 23 Genetics III
02/15/12 w     Genetics III
02/16/12 th the tree of life 26 Genetics III
02/17/12 f     Population Genetics
02/21/12 tu Monday schedule no class
02/22/12 w     Population Genetics
02/23/12 th overview of green plants 30 Population Genetics
02/24/12 f     Effects of drugs on Pulsation Rates I
02/28/12 tu overview of animals 32 Population Genetics
02/29/12 w     Effects of drugs on Pulsation Rates I
03/01/12 th lecture exam 1   Effects of drugs on Pulsation Rates I
03/02/12 f     Effects of drugs on Pulsation Rates II
03/06/12 tu animal body and regulation 43.1 to 43.7 Effects of drugs on Pulsation Rates I
03/07/12 w     Effects of drugs on Pulsation Rates II
03/08/12 th nervous and sensory systems 44, 45 Effects of drugs on Pulsation Rates II
03/09/12 f     lab exam 1
03/13/12 tu musculoskeletal system 47 Effects of drugs on Pulsation Rates II
03/14/12 w     lab exam 1
03/15/12 th digestive system 48 lab exam 1
03/16/12 f     Effects of Temperature on O2 Consumption
03/20/12 tu circulatory and respiratory systems 49, 50 lab exam 1
03/21/12 w     Effects of Temperature on O2 Consumption
03/22/12 th temperature, osmoregulation and urinary system 43.8, 51 Effects of Temperature on O2 Consumption
03/23/12 f     Fetal Pig Dissection
03/27/12 tu reproductive system 53 Effects of Temperature on O2 Consumption
03/28/12 w     Fetal Pig Dissection
03/29/12 th lecture exam 2   Fetal Pig Dissection
03/30/12 f     Field Trip to AMNH
04/03/12 tu plant form 36 Fetal Pig Dissection
04/04/12 w     Field Trip to AMNH
04/05/12 th transport in plants 38 Field Trip to AMNH
04/06/12 f spring break
04/10/12 tu spring break
04/11/12 w spring break
04/12/12 th spring break
04/13/12 f spring break
04/17/12 tu plant nutrition and soil 39 Field Trip to AMNH
04/18/12 w     Flower Evolution and Transpiration
04/19/12 th plant reproduction 42 Flower Evolution and Transpiration
04/20/12 f     Flower Evolution and Transpiration
04/24/12 tu behavioral biology 55 Flower Evolution and Transpiration
04/25/12 w     Field Trip to Inwood Hill Park
04/26/12 th population ecology 56 Field Trip to Inwood Hill Park
04/27/12 f     Field Trip to Inwood Hill Park
05/01/12 tu community ecology 57 Field Trip to Inwood Hill Park
05/02/12 w     Population Ecology
05/03/12 th dynamics of ecosystems 58 Population Ecology
05/04/12 f     Population Ecology
05/08/12 tu the biosphere 59 Population Ecology
05/09/12 w     lab exam 2
05/10/12 th conservation biology 60 lab exam 2
05/11/12 f     lab exam 2
05/15/12 tu lecture exam 3   lab exam 2
 
 
 
 
  A PDF version of the course schedule can be found here.