The Living World-BIO 100 (Spring 2000)

INSTRUCTORS
 
Gates Modney
687-3917
687-2448
Office Hours T & Th. 11:30-12:30 
Office Hours T 11:30-12:30  Th. 12:30-1:30
Office Location SR 256 
Office Location SI 230 or SI 220
TEXTBOOK required
LIFE by R.. Lewis  The CSU Bookstore has a customized copy for this course.  It includes Chapters 1-6, 9, 10, 13, 18, 21,22,23,24,25,26 & 28  If you order the text from another bookstore or off the internet, you will purchase the entire book which will cost about $20-30 more than the custom copy at the bookstore.
GRADES & OTHER STUFF
Your course grade will be based on 275 total points:  three exams worth 50 points each, a comprehensive final worth 100 points and WebCT quizzes and assignments worth 25 points (see below).  An approximately “straight” scale will be used, i.e. >89.5% = A, >79.5% = B, >69.5% = C, >59.5% = D, <49.5% = F.   Cutoffs for "A-, B+, B-" etc. will not be determined until after all grades (including the final) have been calculated.  Extra Credit - A limited number of extra credit points (maximum 25) are available via WebCT (see below).  Individual extra credit projects will not given under any circumstances.  All exams will consist of multiple choice questions.Dr. Modney will be the course administrator, responsible for all questions concerning grades.

MAKE - UP EXAMS WILL NOT BE GIVEN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.  Students with a valid excuse that can be independently documented (e.g., doctor’s note) will be allowed to substitute their final examination percentage for a missed examination.

Academic misconduct – Students should familiarize themselves with the University Policy on Academic Misconduct (i.e.,cheating).  These policies will be followed in all instances of Academic Misconduct.  Note that these policies are NOT influenced by the consequences of the action for students.  Academic Misconduct results in the placement of Academic Misconduct on student transcripts in addition to the appropriate grade (F on examination, final examination or course grade).

WebCT
This course includes a World Wide Web based course site that contains a number of learning aids to help you study the course material.  Basic instructions on how to set up your WebCT account and use some of the tools are attached.  Computers with access to the World Wide Web are located at several campus locations, including the 4th floor of the library and MC 446.  In addition, most local libraries now have internet access.

For each chapter of the book, WebCT will have a study guide, a vocabulary list, a quiz, an assignment and links to Web sites that provide supplementary material related to the chapter.  Twenty-five points of the total course points require WebCT.  Quizzes are available for two weeks beginning with the date the chapter is started in class.  You must take 5 of the 17 available quizzes to receive 10 of the required points.  You will receive 2 points for taking each quiz, but your score on the quiz does not alter the number of points that you receive.  You should take the quizzes AFTER you have read the textbook.  The quizzes provide information to help you know if you have mastered the material in each chapter.  Short assignments are due one week (by midnight) from the date the chapter is completed in class.  Each assignment is worth 3 points, and you must do 5 of the 17 available assignments to receive 15 points.  All assignments will involve either WebCT's email or WebCT's Bulletin Board.  Due dates for assignments and quiz "offline" dates are indicated on the course calendar in WebCT.

EXTRA CREDIT - For every quiz you take beyond the required 5, you will receive 1 extra credit point.  For every assignment beyond the required 5, you do you will receive 2 extra credit points.  A maximum of 25 extra credit points can be obtained by doing extra quizzes and assignments.  Furthermore, these exercises will help you prepare for the exams.

COURSE SCHEDULE

The approximate course schedule is listed below.  Any changes to the schedule will be announced in class and listed on WebCT.
 

Week
Date
Chpt.
Topic
1
1/18
1
Intro to WebCT & Life
1
1/20
2
 Scientific Thinking
2
1/25
3
Chemistry of Life
2
1/27
3
Chemistry of Life 
3
2/1
4
Cells 1
3
2/3
5
Cells 2
4
2/8
 
EXAM I (Chapters 1-4
4
2/10
5
Cells 2 cont'd
5
2/15
6
Energy
5
2/17
9
 Cell Division
6
2/22
10
 Gametes
6
2/24
13
Genetics
7
2/29
13
Genetics
7
3/2
 
EXAM II (Chapters 5, 6, 9,10 & 13)
8
 
  		SPRING BREAK
9
3/14
18
Evolution
9
3/16
18
Evolution
10
3/21
21
Classification
10
3/23
22
Bacteria
11
3/28
23
 Protists
11
3/30
23
 Protists
12
4/4
 
EXAM III (Chapters 18, 21,22,23)
12
4/6
24
Fungi
13
4/11
25
Plants
13
4/13
25 
Plants
14
4/18
28
Plant Life Cycles
14
4/20
26
Animals
15
4/25
26
Animals
15
4/27
26
 Animals
 
5/4
  		FINAL EXAM - 8:30 to 10:30

Note - The last day to drop without a "drop" notation on your transcript is 2/4/00.  The last day to drop with a transcript notation is 3/17/00.