Location and time: Both sections meet in Hartline ScienceCenter, Room 86
Section 1: T, Th --11:00-12:15
Section 2: T, Th --3:30-5:15
Instructor: George T. Davis Telephone: x4120
Office: HSC 272 Email: gdavis@bloomu.edu
Web page: http://facstaff.bloomu.edu/gdavis/
Text: Mader, Sylvia S. 2006. Biology, Ninth Edition, Customized for BIO 102
Other readings will be assigned throughout the semester.
Office Hours: T, Th--12:30-2:00; W, F 1:00-2:00
LECTURE TOPICS
TOPIC Reading Assignment Dates Test
Evolution Weeks 1-5 9/27
The Scientific Method Chapter 1 (pp1-5, 10-11)
Evolution of a Theory Chapter 17
Process of Evolution Chapter 18
Origin and History of Life Chapter 19
Evolution of Humans/Ethology Weeks 6-9 10/25
Evolution of Humans Chapter 32
Animal Behavior Chapter 45
Population Biology Chapter 46
Ecology Weeks 10-13 11/29
Communities Chapter 47
Ecosystems and Human Impact Chapter 48
The Biosphere Chapter 49
Conservation Biology Chapter 50
Bioethics: Readings assigned if time allows
Genetic Engineering
Some Ethical Issues
*NOTE: Exam dates are approximate and will be adjusted as necessary. If, for example, we, as a class become obsessed with any particular topic, we may linger on that topic, thus necessitating adjustments in the hourly exam schedule.
FINAL EXAM: YOU MUST TAKE THE FINAL IN YOUR ASSIGNED SECTION
SECTION 1---Tuesday, December 11--10:30-12:30
SECTION 2---Thursday,
December 13--3:30-5:30
University Final Exam Schedule
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES:
| Classes Begin | Monday, August 28 (8am) |
| Add/Drop Begins | Monday, August 28 |
| Add/Drop Ends | Friday, September 1 |
| Labor Day - No class | Monday, September 4 |
| Last Day to submit a Pass-Fail option | Friday, September 8 |
| Last Day to withdraw from 1st half-semester Physical education classes | Friday, September 22 |
| Last Day to apply for December graduation | Monday, October 2 |
| Reading Day - No classes | Friday, October 13 |
| Mid-Term | Tuesday, October 17 |
| Last Day to revoke a pass-fail option | Tuesday, November 7 |
| Last day for undergraduate course withdrawal | Tuesday, November 7 |
| Last day to withdraw from 2nd half-semester Physical education classes | Tuesday, November 14 |
| Thanksgiving Recess Begins | Tuesday, November 21 (10 pm) |
| Classes Resume | Monday, November 27 (8 am) |
| Classes End | Saturday, December 9 |
| Final Examinations Begin | Monday, December 11 |
| Graduate Commencement | Friday, December 15 |
| Final Examinations End | Saturday, December 16 |
| Undergraduate Commencement | Saturday, December 16 |
| Grades Available on STINF | Thursday, December 22 |
Class Policies—BIO102, sections 1and 2
To avoid confusion and misunderstandings, the following policies will be in place in this class.
1. Cheating: Students will be penalized for demonstrating a
lack of academic integrity. The penalty is at my discretion and may include a
failing grade for the course or request that the student voluntarily withdraw
from the course. Examples of conduct lacking academic integrity include
plagiarism, fabrication and cheating. Additional examples are listed in “The
Pilot” and under Academic
Integrity Policy webpage.
A copy of Bloomsburg University's Policy on Academic Integrity is available on
the opening page of this website. Defined as “unauthorized use of books or
notes, use of crib sheets, copying from another student’s papers, exchanging
information with another student orally or by signals, obtaining a copy of the
examination illegally, and other similar activities”. A student suspected of, or
caught, cheating will be given a failing grade for this course, and may be
expelled from school. No one will be allowed to wear headgear during exams.
YOU KNOW WHAT CHEATING IS, DON’T DO IT, IT’S NOT WORTH IT!!
2. Extra-credit: The instructor will regularly and randomly ask questions in class. If the student responds with the correct answer, the student receives from one “Biopoint" (extra credit). An incorrect answer or "I don’t know" results in a 0, and no response (i.e. the student is absent or sleeping) results in the loss of a point. The maximum number of Biopoints allowed per semester is 10. Your scores on the daily questions using the CPS system will be used to determine "borderline" grades.No other extra credit opportunities will be provided.
3. Library assignment: Readings from journals in Andruss Library will be assigned. Up to three questions/hourly exam will come from these readings.
4. Examinations: Exams will consist of objective questions (multiple choice, True/False, matching, etc.), and will be computer graded. Provided the scanner is functioning properly, grades will be posted within 48 hrs. Your grades will be posted outside Room 100 HSC. Up to three questions/exam may be based on "Biology in the News", three from assigned readings.
5. Make-up examinations: If the
student misses an exam, (s)he will be given a “zero” for that exam. Exceptions
will be made at the instructor’s discretion for documented illness, death of a
family member, or absence due to a university approved function (see Pilot).
Acceptable documentation of illness will be a written evaluation from a medical
professional indicating illness of sufficient severity to disable the student at
the time of the exam. Exams will not be given early.
NOTE: IN THE EVENT THAT CLASSES ARE CANCELLED OR SHORTENED DUE TO BAD WEATHER, A
SCHEDULED EXAM WILL BE RESCHEDULED TO THE FIRST FULL DAY FOLLOWING THE CANCELLED
CLASS.
COMPRESSED CLASS
SCHEDULE
6. Final Exam: The final exam will be comprehensive in nature. It will be equivalent to two hourly exams. The final will be administered as described above unless otherwise noted during the semester. Other than because of schedule conflicts with other final exams, no makeup will be given of the final, i.e., if you miss the final, you will receive a “zero” for the final exam grade. The final will be administered only at the designated time. .
7. Final grading: The final grade for the course will be determined as a straight-scale percentage of the highest possible grade total (500 points). Assignment of letter grades will be as follows:
450 (90%*500) A
400 (80%*500) B
350 (70%*500) C
300 (60%*500) D
Below 300 E
8. Any student whose grade is in the top 5% at the end of three exams will be allowed to design their own comprehensive final exam.
9. Students will be expected to conduct themselves in an adult, considerate manner during class. Biopoints will be deducted for disruptive behavior.
NOTE: How To Forward Your Bloom Email to Your Personal Email Account
Step 1: Log on to Student Email- go to http://www.bloomu.edu/today/index.php , click on Student Email. If you do not know your login and password, log on to STINF, and click on Biographical.
Step 2: After you have logged on to Student Email, click on the Options and Styles Drop Box.
Step 3: Click on Forwarding.
Step4: Type in your personal Email address. Messages will be forwarded to that address.
Students should read the assigned material before class. Lectures supplement and highlight the text. Time does not allow for all assigned reading to be discussed in class. However, an understanding of the assigned reading is necessary for mastery of course content (and a decent grade). Material in the readings that is not discussed in class will be included on exams. Be sure to ask any questions you have about assigned material not discussed in class.
Notify me the first week of class if you have any learning needs that require special instructional assistance, or as soon as such need arises.
SUGGESTIONS--Please feel free to make suggestions anytime during the semester. These suggestions are anonymous.
Response to Suggestions---If I don't address your suggestion or concern in class, please check here