Evoluation and Diversity
THIS IS FOR FALL 2011 -- but gives a good overview - may be modified slight for 2012
Biology L111 Sections 1141 & 6713
TR 1:00-2:15pm
Jordan Hall 124
Instructor: Dr. Susan Hengeveld Office Hours: Mondays 2:00-4:00pm
(or by appointment)
MO 203 (855-5239)
Textbook: CUSTOM – Brooker, et. al, 2nd edition (2011) Biology
Note: the text is a CUSTOM text, covering only chapters we are using;
if you have access to the full Brooker et.al, Biology – use that!
The custom text is designed to be less to carry around and cheaper.
REQUIRED – You must purchase the classroom remote to use in class everyday.
OPTIONAL – IU COURSEPAK: course packet basically consists of lecture outlines
Course Description: The course is arranged into three main units. The first unit focuses on the theory of evolution and how genetic variation is the key to the origin of species. In the second unit we explore the evolutionary history, diversity and characteristics of Domains Bacteria, Archaea, & Eurkarya. In the third unit we focus on how organisms interact with each other and with their environment. We end the semester with a discussion of ecosystem ecology and conversation biology, disciplines that utilize every single topic that we cover in this course.
Course Goals: I want you to gain an understanding of ecology and evolutionary biology. Societal decisions and actions affect species, including our own, in terms of species extinction and conservation efforts. An understanding of ecological interactions, genetic variation, natural selection, and evolution are critical to understanding these phenomena. Furthermore, I hope that our discussions, assignments, and exams improve your critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Grading: Exam 1: 100 points Grading Scale: A: 90-100%
Exam 2: 100 points B: 80-89%
Exam 3: 100 points C: 70-79%
Final Exam: 150 points D: 60-69%
Discussion Group 90 points F: < 60%
Quizzes 60 points
Participation pts. 20 points
Total: 620 points pluses and minuses will be assigned
Exams: There are three exams and a cumulative final. Exam 1-3 will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. The final exam will consist of 75 multiple-choice questions, approximately 15 covering last four lectures, and 20 questions covering each of the first three exams. Make-up exams will be given only for university excused absences. Documentation will be required. Make-up exams for unexcused absences will be at the discretion of Dr. Hengeveld and may be essay format. If you miss the exam or are late for the exam, contact Dr. Hengeveld immediately. You may receive a penalty, but it is better than missing it altogether!
Discussion Group: Registration and attendance of discussion groups are mandatory. Discussion groups allow you to gain a better understanding of the material in a small classroom setting. There will be graded discussion group assignments that require analytical and critical thinking. Your lowest assignment will be dropped from your discussion group grade. The discussion group assignments will be distributed via the class website and/or in your discussion groups.
Discussion groups are NOT optional. There are seven weeks during the semester when we have graded assignments. The lowest score of those graded assignments is dropped. If you miss a DG when there is a graded activity, you will drop those points If you miss a DG activity you MAY NOT turn in any part of the activity for points.
MAKE-UPS ARE NOT ALLOWED EXCEPT UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
If you know ahead of time that you need to miss a DG, you may ask permission to attend a different section. Your reasoning will influence whether or not you are allow to switch; but if it is done ahead of time you will generally be allowed to switch. Switching sections repeatedly, however, will NOT be allowed. AHEAD OF TIME means before Monday morning at 8am!
If you are sick the day of your discussion group, you can pick up the assignment or get it off of the web (depending on how the activity is distributed). It is recommended that you read through the material associated with the DG, but you will NOT BE ALLOWED to turn it in late for points (this includes pre-discussion assignments). Discussion group activities are dependent on your working with the group on the activity, and it is not something you can do individually. It is recommended that you discuss the activity with other students or your AI/UTA to understand what was done and why. EVEN IF YOUR ABSENCE is excused, you can NOT make-up the discussion group activity after the fact. It is not fair to the Thursday’s group to allow folks from Monday-Weds groups to miss their discussion and then attend a later one in the week.
If you miss a DG, for whatever reason, you will have to use that one as the one that you drop. IF YOU HAVE A DOCUMENTED VALID EXCUSED ABSENCE for missing discussion group than bring Dr. Hengeveld your documentation and it will be marked as excused. AGAIN YOU MAY NOT MAKE UP THE POINTS. The reasons for letting Dr. Hengeveld know it was excused are twofold – (1) We wont think you were blowing it off, (2) IF in the unlikely event you have two excused absences from discussion group, we will arrange an alternative assignment for you to do to make up the points associated with the 2nd miss.
IMPORTANT HEALTH RELATED EXCUSES – if you miss DG because you are sick, we need a note form the heath center to consider it excused. You need to make sure you ask for a note WHEN you are at the health center – if you try to go back after the fact that note will not have the doctor’s name on it and will not be valid.
Lecture Quizzes: There will be a four written quizzes given throughout the semester. The quizzes will be based on materials presented in lecture and/or discussion group. Quizzes will be given during class lectures. Announcements on the timing of quizzes will typically (but not necessarily) be made in class and on-line.
NO MAKE-UPs will be given for the quizzes. We drop the LOWEST of the quizzes. If you miss the quiz for any reason, you will drop that quiz. If you miss the quiz due to an excused absence, please contact Dr. Hengeveld ASAP. In the unlikely event you miss two quizzes due to excused absences, you will be allow to make-up the 2nd excused miss.
Classroom Clickers: We will be using electronic clickers throughout the semester. You are required to purchase a clicker and bring it with you to class EVERY DAY, except for the days of exams. While the main purpose of the clickers is to use them as a learning tool to assess your understanding during lecture and to give you feedback on how you might be tested, etc., attendance is taken with the clickers every day. If you forget your clicker you may sign up on a sheet of paper at the end of class to let me know you forgot your clicker. Students will receive participation points based on attendance and clicker use. NOTE: You may NOT bring in another students clicker for them in order ‘record’ attendance for that student when indeed he/she is not attending. ANY STUDENT CAUGHT WITH TWO CLICKERS WILL BE WRITTEN UP FOR ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT!
Participation Points: In order to encourage folks to attend lectures, bring their classroom clickers every day & participate in the lecture, you will be receiving participation points for each day we use the clickers. There will be 23 class days where we will be using the clickers (we will not use them on exam days, nor will it count the first week of class). You will receive 1 pt for each day that you bring your clicker and participate in the activities (answering the questions) in class. You can miss class three times without it impacting your grade (so not a major hardship). HOWEVER, you must remember your clicker in order to get the points associated with that class period. If you forget your clicker, you can sign in, and it will still count towards overall attendance and can help you earn bonus for attendance. Technical difficulties with the clicker will not count against you, unless you do not take the actions required by you to fix the issue. If you are having technical difficulties with the clicker, be sure to come up before or after class, so I can mark your participation point for that day, and so I can help you determine how you need to resolve the issue.
Student Code of Conduct: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Your answers to quizzes, assignments and exams must by your own, original thought in your own, original words. The first offense will result in a grade of F (zero) on the quiz, assignment or exam. The second offense will result in dismissal from the course. The guidelines described in Chapter III (Student Misconduct), Section A (Academic Misconduct) of the Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibility, and Conduct will be followed. Please see http://campuslife.indiana.edu/Code/ for further details.