Biol106 Syllabus Quiz
Grading Scale
A = 89 and above (92 for above an A-) B= 79 and above (83 for above a B-) C = Same as above D= 60 and above
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic integrity is the cornerstone of the university. As such, all members of the university community share responsibility for maintaining and promoting the principles of integrity in all activities, including academic integrity and honest scholarship. Academic integrity will be strongly enforced in this course. Students who violate WSU's Academic Integrity Policy (identified in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 504-26- 010 (3) and -404) will receive [insert academic sanction such as fail the course, fail the assignment, etc) will not have the option to withdraw from the course pending an appeal, and will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism and unauthorized collaboration as defined in the Standards of Conduct for Students, WAC 504-26-010(3). You need to read and understand all of the definitions of cheating: http://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=504-26-010. If you have any questions about what is and is not allowed in this course, you should ask course instructors before proceeding. If you wish to appeal a faculty member's decision relating to academic integrity, please use the form available at conduct.wsu.edu.
What is the format of the exams?
All lecture exams are multiple choice, 50 graded questions.
Studying and Time Management:
All science and math classes are a lot of work. You should dedicate at least 5 hours per week outside of the time you spend in lecture and lab to studying the course material. To be successful you want to study early and often to build those neural networks and grow your brain. Time outside of lecture and lab should be spent reading the assigned material prior to each lecture to begin understanding;learning the vocabulary and using it every day, using a white board to write out what you know withoutusing your notes etc.
LABORATORY SAFETY:
All students must sign that they have read and understand the Standard Operating Procedures for the Laboratory, know where the safety equipment and all emergency exits are located. Additionally, please familiarize yourself with information regarding WSU emergencies/school closings by visiting this website: http://oem.wsu.edu/emergencies
Attendance:
Attendance in lecture is encouraged and expected but is not graded per se. However, you can earn points when you do attend through participation in iClickers and in-class work. Attendance in lab is required. If you miss a lab you are still responsible for the material covered and any assignments that are due the following week. If you miss three labs you will automatically fail BIOL 106. See below for make-up policies.
Overview:
Biology 106 is the one of two semesters in the introductory biology series. The introductory biology series is designed to provide individuals who have an interest in the life sciences with the foundation for understanding biology and the basic knowledge necessary to pursue further studies in the discipline. Biology 106 focuses on organismal biology, evolution, and ecology. You do not need to take 106 before taking 107.
CAMPUS SAFETY AND EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION.
Classroom and campus safety are of paramount importance at Washington State University, and are the shared responsibility of the entire campus population. WSU urges students to follow the "Alert, Assess, Act," protocol for all types of emergencies and the "Run, Hide, Fight" response for an active shooter incident. Remain ALERT (through direct observation or emergency notification), ASSESS your specific situation, and ACT in the most appropriate way to assure your own safety (and the safety of others if you are able).
Instructors
Dr. Hanjo Hellmann* Abelson 435 [email protected] Office Hours: 1-2pm Wednesday Lectures 1 to 19 Exams 1, 2 and Final Dr. Lisa Carloye* Eastlick 295 509-335-3310 [email protected] Office Hours: 1-2pm Wednesday Lectures 20 to 39 Exams 3, 4 and Final
Cell phone & Electronics Policy
Electronic devices can be useful for taking notes, but, if used for other purposes, are a significant distraction and compromise your learning. Therefore, inappropriate use of electronic devices is strongly discouraged, and we reserve the right to ask you to put your devices away when they are a distraction rather than a benefit.
Communicating with Instructors and TAs:
Email is typically the best way to reach us. Per WSU policy, the "preferred" email address in your myWSU will default to your WSU email address. All correspondence regarding academic and business-related activities will be sent to your WSU e-mail address. Please help us comply with this policy by generating your email correspondence to Drs. Hellmann and Carloye as well as your TAs using your WSU email so we can quickly and easily reply.
Grades
Exams (5 exams @ 100 points each) 500 Labs (top 10 @ 20 points each) 200 Paper (Info literacy@10; polished draft@15 pts; final paper@45 pts) 70 LBL Homework (top 25 days @ 2 pts per day) 50 Clickers (top 25 days @ 2 pts per day) 50 Total 870
What if I have to leave early for winter break?
Except for extraordinary circumstances, University policy (Rule 79) forbids faculty from offering alternative times for final exams. Therefore, if you leave early you will earn a zero for the final exam. NO alternative times for the final will be provided - don't even ask.
Exams
Five exams, worth 100 points each, will be given throughout the semester. The fifth exam is the cumulative final which will integrate all of the topics covered. The cumulative final serves not only as your fifth exam score, but we will use that same final exam score to replace one lower exam score.
BSCI: Inquiry in Natural Sciences requirements
Identify the central body of knowledge in biology or zoology (5) Comprehend the basic terminology associated with biology Formulate logical hypotheses and test them by designing and running appropriate experiments or observational studies and analyses (4) Plant and Animal Lab Modules. Lab exit questions; Scientific paper; Animal module presentation Scientific Literacy Critical Thinking Use critical thinking and scientific skills to analyze and solve problems (2): Analyze scientific data Phylogeny lab, Plant and Animal Lab Modules. Labs 2, 3, 4, 6 and 11, Scientific paper & animal presentation Quantitative Reasoning Critical Thinking Info Literacy, Writing Identify the central body of knowledge in biology or zoology (4) Make connections between organismal form and function and between biological concepts Lectures throughout, Animal physiology lab Lecture exams, clicker questions, lab exit questions & quizzes Critical Thinking Effectively communicate biological problems and solutions (3): Formally communicate scientific results. Scientific paper and presentation Scientific paper & animal module presentation Writing
What if I cheat?
If caught cheating on an exam, the paper, or a laboratory assignment (including plagiarism), you will either fail the assignment, or, at the instructor's discretion, you will fail the course. A letter documenting the violation will be sent to the Office of Student Standards and Accountability and 5 additional disciplinary action by the University will result. If caught cheating with clickers, you will lose all clicker points for the semester. It is especially important that during tests and exams, you don't even LOOK like you might be cheating - so be careful to keep your eyes on your own paper at all times. If you are caught cheating on an exam and the instructor assigns a zero for the exam, that zero cannot be replaced by your final exam score. Your name at the top of an assignment or test or submitted electronically is your pledge that the work presented is your own work and in your own words. Helping friends by bringing their clickers to class to enter answers for them is akin to taking a test for them - and it is a serious form of cheating that will get you both in trouble. Both clicking in for anyone else and having someone else click in for you will result in the loss of ALL clicker question points for the entire semester for all individuals involved. See the information below for a statement describing academic dishonesty. You are expected to have read, understood and abide by the policy.
What if I have to miss an exam?
If you miss an exam for whatever reason, you will receive a score of 0 for that exam and you should plan to study extra hard for the cumulative final to replace the 0. If you have a valid excuse (e.g. leaving early for vacation, going to a friend's wedding, sorority or fraternity events are NOT valid), you may contact the instructor before the exam is over. Proof for the valid reason may be requested by the instructor. No other make-up exam opportunity will be given.
Laboratory
Laboratory sections meet weekly beginning the second week of classes. You must bring the Biol 106 Lab Manual to lab each week. The laboratory grade is worth 200 points (~23% of the final grade) and is based on performance on lab quizzes administered at the start of each lab plus exit questions administered at the end of each lab. The quizzes (10 pts per lab) cover the material explored in the previous lab plus some questions about the current lab (so read through it beforehand). Lab 1 quiz will cover key course information found in the syllabus in lieu of the "previous lab" questions. Exit questions are worth 10 pts per lab and will draw from the work done in lab. Participation in the laboratory is mandatory; You are expected to attend every lab If you have a University-approved reason for missing your regular lab (varsity sport commitment, illness, etc.), you may be able to attend another lab section during the same week if a seat is available and you have contacted your TA in a timely manner. Social functions sponsored by dorms, sororities and fraternities are not valid excuses for requesting a lab make-up. If you know ahead of time you are going to miss lab, please make arrangements with your TA. There is no lab offered on Monday and Friday. You will have to make up labs on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday of the same week. If more than two labs are missed without being made-up, an automatic failing grade for the entire class will result.
Time and Days
Lecture section 1: 11:10-12:00 pm MWF in Todd Hall 116
Class Meetings:
Lectures are held in Todd Hall 116 11:10-12:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Laboratories are held in Abelson Hall rooms 202 and 226. Please make sure that you go to the room to which you are assigned. Students are not allowed to change section/room of their lab.
Course Prerequisites
One of the following -- a minimum ALEKS math placement score of 40%, MATH 100 with an S, MATH 101 with a C or better, MATH 103 or higher, BIOLOGY 103 with a C or better, BIOLOGY 102, BIOLOGY 120, or 3 credits of biology with a lab.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with documented disabilities or chronic medical conditions. If you have a disability and need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please either visit or call the Access Center at Washington Building 217; Phone: 509-335-3417 to schedule an appointment with an Access Advisor. All accommodations MUST be approved through the Access Center. For more information contact a Disability Specialist on your home campus
Required Materials
Textbook, lab manual, clickers, blackboard
STUDENT MISCONDUCT
The Office of Student Conduct believes each person has the right and ability to make decisions about his or her own conduct. Just as importantly, each person has the responsibility to accept the consequences of those decisions. When individual behavior conflicts with the values of the University, the individual must choose whether to adapt his or her behavior to meet the needs of the community or to leave the University. Anyone who believes they have been subjected to acts that violate his/her rights, welfare or individual dignity has a right to report such acts to the Office of Student Conduct. This includes students, teaching assistants and professors. In Biology 106, we are firmly dedicated to maintenance of proper student conduct; this includes showing proper respect to your classmates, teaching assistants and instructors. We will report instances of misconduct to the Office of Student Conduct. Any questions regarding proper conduct or misconduct should be directed or reported to the Office of Student Conduct (335-4532; http://www.conduct.wsu.edu/default.asp).
What does "cumulative final exam" mean?
The cumulative exam covers the material taught over the entire semester by both instructors. Your score for this exam counts toward your course grade. If your score on this exam is higher than another one of your previous exam scores, it will replace the lowest score as well. So, studying hard and doing well on this exam can boost your course grade by counting twice. If your score on this exam is your lowest score, it will not affect your other exam grades.
Paper
The term paper is worth 70 points (~8%). A polished draft of your term paper (15 pts) is due to your TA in Lab 5. It will be returned by your TA in Lab 7. Your final paper (45 pts) is due to your TA during Lab 8. An 'Info literacy' exercise in the 3rd week counts for up to 10 pts. NOTE: Late work will be deducted 20% per day it is late. No papers will be accepted beyond 3 days late. Details on the assignment can be found on the BIOL 106 Blackboard website and will be discussed in lab.
LBL Homework
counts for ~5.7% of your course grade. Your top 25 LBL Homeworks (@2 pts each) will count toward your score. Like for iClicker questions no make-ups will be provided. So make sure you finish all homework on time. Homework questions are provided on Blackboard as Word documents and should be completed while reading the text. After completing the written assignment, you will then use it to complete the on-line quiz covering a subset of the homework questions to earn credit. The quiz questions will be multiple choice. You must complete and submit the homework quiz before 11:00am sharp on the day that it is due. No late submissions are accepted. You have a single attempt for each quiz lasting 6 minutes so be sure to budget your time to submit the quiz prior to 11am. Each Friday, you will have access to the next week's homework soon after class.
Plagiarism
the inclusion of any material that is not your own, without adequate reference to its author. For Biology 106, no direct quotations are allowed in your written work, even if it is properly cited. All information gleaned from other sources must be summarized and cited. Including ideas that are not your own, even when not directly quoted, in your paper without adequate citation is plagiarism. The definition used in this and all Biology prefix classes is available at - https://sbs.wsu.edu/index2.html In laboratory courses, make sure that you do not use the same text as a lab partner. You may collectively use the same figures and tables, ONLY IF you collected the data together. Paraphrasing can also be a form of plagiarism, if the paraphrased text is too similar to the original. If you have any doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, immediately discuss this matter with your instructor or T.A. If you wish to appeal a faculty member's decision relating to academic integrity, please use the form available at conduct.wsu.edu.
iClickers
used in class to help your learning and engagement with course material as well as to expose you to the type of questions to expect from each of the course instructors before you have to take their exams. Your top 25 clicker sessions (@2 points/session) will be used towards ~5.7% of your final grade. If you forget your clicker, you cannot earn points for that day. Make-ups are not provided as only the top 25 (out of 37) count. Clicker sessions start the second week of the semester.
