SYLLABUS
Biology 107: Principles of Biology I
Spring Semester, 2002


1. Instructors:


Dr. Thomas Terry will lecture for the first half of the course.
Office: Torrey Life Sciences 276
Telephone: 486-4255
E-mail: thomas.terry@uconn.edu
Office Hours: to be announced

Dr. Terry was trained as a physicist and a microbiologist. His research interests include cell ultrastructure (electron microscopy), and virus-membrane interactions. Most recently, Dr. Terry has published and lectured extensively on the uses of internet technology to enrich education. See Dr. Terry's web page for further information: <http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~terry/Common/bio.html>

Dr. Kathleen Van Cleef-Toedt will lecture for the second half of the course.
Office: TLS 63
Telephone: 486-6383
E-mail: kvctoedt@uconnvm.uconn.edu
Office Hours: by appointment.

Dr. Van Cleef-Toedt is an aquatic toxicologist with a research interest in chemical carcinogens and gene expression in estuarine organisms following xenobiotic exposure.

2. Materials you will need for this course

(available at the UConn Coop except as noted)

(1) Biology, 5th Ed., by Neil Campbell. (1999) Benjamin Cummings. Read assignments before each lecture! Later review the reading material to supplement the lectures. Use the study outline and self quiz in each chapter to check your understanding and command of the text. Use the CD-ROM that accompanies the text for weekly help with self-quizzes and for some good animation supplements.

(2) Two laboratory manuals:
A. "Laboratory Manual for Biology 107", by Thomas Terry and Karen Lombard, Spring 2002 version
B. "A Dissection guide and Atlas to the Fetal Pig" by David Smith and Michael Schenk, 1998. ISBN: 0-89582-363-2

(3) Subscription to "The Biology Place, <http://www.biology.com/campbell/login.html> a large collection of Web-based biology tutorials. If you purchase a new copy of Campbell's Biology, your purchase includes a password that will allow you to subscribe for free, found as a sticker on the inside front cover of the text. If you obtain a used copy of the text, you will need to purchase a 3-month subscription to The Biology Place for $15. This can be done with a credit card purchase online, or by check. For either purchase, visit the Biology Place, click the link marked "Student" subscription information, and fill out the application form as a student in this course.

(4) Either a dissection kit (scissors, forceps, probe, ruler) or, at a minimum, surgical scissors with one blade blunt and one blade sharp. (Second half of the semester only)

(5) Access to the World Wide Web is strongly recommended. Many computer labs are available through the Computer Center, Residential Life, University Library, and others. If you own a computer, consider obtaining an internet connection. This class uses Web materials extensively, especially in the first half of the semester.

(6) E-mail accounts are recommended. Obtain your free account from the Computer Center, Accounts desk in Room 001, Math-Science Building. Bring your student ID. Use this to communicate with your instructor, laboratory teaching assistant, lab partner, etc.

3. Laboratories:

• Attendance Policy. Attendance in your scheduled lab section is mandatory. You must attend the lab section for which you are registered.
• Changing Lab Sections. There is no such thing as being "enrolled in the course and therefore free to change lab sections". If you are enrolled, you are enrolled only in a particular lab section. If your schedule has changed and you cannot attend your scheduled lab, you must drop either this course or the conflicting course. If you wish to take a different lab section, you must attempt to re-enroll; your instructors have no control over the availability of seats in lab. There is usually some turnover in lab schedules during the first week, so check the PeopleSoft computer system frequently to see if a space has opened up. If you cannot find an available lab seat that matches your schedule, you will not be able to take the course at this time.
• What's the difference between the 8 a.m. and the 2 p.m. lecture section? Can I switch back and forth? The two lecture sections are completely different. Although much of the information to be covered will be similar, different teachers emphasize different things and will be structuring and writing exams entirely separately from each other. Details such as exam dates, frequency of exams, and allocation of grades will also differ between the two lecture sections. Attend the lecture section to which you are assigned -- if you want to attend the other lecture section, you must officially register for a different section, space permitting. The 8 a.m. lecture is linked with lab sections 01-09. All other lab sections are linked with the 2 p.m. lecture section. Even though labs are identical in content, it is not possible for us to "mix and match" by allowing students in one lecture section to attend labs linked to the other lecture section.
• Starting Date for Labs. Laboratories begin on Monday, Jan. 28. There are no labs on Wed-Fri, Jan. 23-25.
• Laboratory Grading Policy. This will be presented in your first lab section.
• Makeup Policy for Labs. All labs are changed at the end of every week, so it is not possible to make alternate arrangements for lab once the week has passed. If you must miss a lab for a valid reason, ask the instructor as soon as possible if there are any spaces available in other labs that week. If possible, the instructor will issue you a lab pass to attend a different lab. However, this depends on the availability of a vacant seat, which may not be possible if sections are filled to capacity. No student may attend a different lab without a pass from the instructor. In certain situations where a student is absent for an entire week for reasons such as illness or family emergency, a written makeup activity may be available. Permission for such contingencies must be obtained from the lecturer. Students are responsible for communicating with their TAs as soon as possible to obtain such assignments and contract for due dates.
• Dissection Policy. Animal dissection is required for this course. If you are unwilling to carry out the dissection exercises, you should drop this course. Contact Dr. Van Cleef-Toedt if you wish to discuss this further.

4. Exams, Quizzes, and Grades:

• Exam format: Exams will be 45-50 questions in multiple-choice format. Students must bring two #2 pencils to each exam. Exams are based on lecture material and assigned readings.
• Exam location: all exams during the semester will be held in TLS 154, unless otherwise noted. Final exam location may differ, but will be announced towards the end of the semester.
• Exam times: During the semester, exams are held at regular class time, 8-8:50 a.m. Another class uses the same room after our class, so it is not possible to have extra time at the end of the exam.
• Exam dates: There will be four 50-minute exams, each covering 1/4 of the course material. The last of these four exams is the final exam.
Exam 1: Friday, February 15
Exam 2: Monday, March 11
Exam 3: Monday, April 15
Exam 4: Monday, May 13, 3:30-5:30 p.m. (scheduled by Registrar)
• Exam point value: The average of these exam scores will comprise 70% of your course grade. Your performance in the lab, as determined by your laboratory instructors, will contribute the remaining 30% of your course grade.
• Are grades curved? Course grades will be scaled if necessary, but not until the final course grade is calculated. After each exam, your instructors will post a "How am I doing so far?" scale that will show you what your letter grade for the course would be if they were to turn in a grade based only on work completed so far. These scales are only advisory in nature -- we repeat, the only scaling that counts towards your actual course grade is the final scaling carried out after the final exam.
• Final Exam schedule: Your instructors are not allowed to make alternative arrangements for final exams unless we receive written permission from the Dean of students, by university rules.
• Exams for students with special needs: If you have a documented learning disability, please see the instructor at least a week before the first exam, and bring any paperwork you were given by CSD. Also, if English is not your native language and you wish to discuss the possibility of extra time for exams, please see us before the first exam.

5. Makeup Exams:

• Makeup Exam Policy: Makeup exams are available only to students who have a legitimate excuse for missing an exam, such as illness, scheduled job interview out of town, athletic team event out of town, death in the immediate family, etc. If you know in advance that you must miss an exam, see the instructor in advance and bring documentation to support your anticipated absence. If you miss an exam unexpectedly because of last minute illness or accident, contact the instructor when you return to campus (or by phone or e-mail if you will be away for some time) with documentation of your situation.
• Makeup Exam Dates: Makeup exams will be given on the following days for those students who missed the scheduled exam and who have received permission to make up the exam. Makeups may include short-answer, short essay, and/or multiple-choice questions. NOTE: if you are enrolled in lab section 02 (Mon 3-6 p.m.), please ask for a lab pass to a different lab that week.
Makeup for Exam #1 Monday Feb. 25, 4:30 p.m., TLS 79
Makeup for Exam #2 Monday, March 25, 4:30 p.m., TLS 79
Makeup for Exam #3 Monday, April 29, 4:30 p.m., TLS 79

6. Extra credit option:

Students wishing to improve their course grade can write up to three short essays. Topics on specific biological issues related to our course material will be posted at different stages of the course on our Web site, with due dates. You may write up to three short (3 page, double-spaced) essays on suggested topics during the semester, if you meet the appropriate deadlines. Each paper submitted on time may earn one of 3 grades: The total of these grades will be added to the final course grade. Any evidence of plagiarism will result in zero points for all students involved and denial of any extra credit points otherwise earned. Essays must include at least two reference citations. Failure to include references will automatically result in a grade of 0 for that essay. For more details, see the web page.

7. Academic Misconduct Policy:

• UConn's Policy: A fundamental tenet of all educational institutions is academic honesty; academic work depends upon respect for and acknowledgement of the research and ideas of others. Misrepresenting someone else’s work as one’s own is a serious offense in any academic setting and it will not be condoned. .

Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, providing or receiving assistance in a manner not authorized by the instructor in the creation of work to be submitted for academic evaluation (e.g. papers, projects, and examinations); any attempt to influence improperly (e.g. bribery, threats) any member of the faculty, staff, or administration of the University in any matter pertaining to academics or research; presenting, as one's own, the ideas or words of another for academic evaluation; doing unauthorized academic work for which another person will receive credit or be evaluated; and presenting the same or substantially the same papers or projects in two or more courses without the explicit permission of the instructors involved. .

A student who knowingly assists another student in committing an act of academic misconduct shall be equally accountable for the violation, and shall be subject to the sanctions and other remedies described in The Student Code <http://vm.uconn.edu/~dosa8/code2.html>

8. Lecture Schedule:

  1. Part I. Cells and their Molecules. (1st half of course) Dr. Terry
  2. Part II. Animal Structure and Function. (2nd half of course) Dr. Van Cleef-Toedt
    (Schedule to be announced and handed out separately)

9. Laboratory Schedule:

See http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~bi107vc/sp02am/labschedule.html

10. How to succeed in this course:


Studying any science is an art, and like all arts requires discipline and focus. If you read a biology text the way you read a novel, you will miss 90% of what you should be getting.

• Learn to read effectively. The key to successful science text reading involves “Active Reading”, as follows:

(1) When you first acquire the text, skim the whole book to find out what resources it contains. Read “About the authors” and the Preface on pp. iv-vii. Look at the Brief Contents on page xiv to see what the book covers. Read one of the interviews with famous scientists (listed on page xiii). Look at the end of any chapter and note the organization of the review, self-quiz, challenge questions, further reading and web links. Note that there are four appendices: what do they cover? Look up the term “apoptosis” in the Glossary and index as a sample exercise. What does the index to a reference with an “f” tell you (e.g., 407f)?

(2) Before class, skim the assigned chapter. Read the section titles, not the text. Look at the figures and read a few figure captions. Now, close the book and ask yourself: “What is this chapter about? What topics are covered? What do I already know about this?” Don’t just assume that, because you read the chapter, you will remember. Active reading requires that you stop, frequently, ask yourself questions, and answer as best you can without looking back at the book.

(3) As soon as possible, either before or within a day of a lecture, take an hour or two to read the assigned chapter carefully. Again, use the “Active reading” technique: read one section, then look away from the book and ask yourself questions. “What is this section about? What do the figures illustrate? Do I understand this?” Have blank paper handy, and draw your own version from memory of some of the important figures. Go to the self-quiz and find a question on that section’s material to test yourself with. Then continue with the next section. Time yourself, and once you begin to feel you’ve saturated your brain, STOP! Take a break, do something different, continue with the text later on. Use the end-of-chapter questions and the instructor’s review questions to evaluate yourself as frequently as possible. Keep a list of terms from the reading, and use these terms in your self-quizzing. Make flashcards of terms, and keep reviewing the ones you get wrong.

(4) Don’t wait until the night before the exam to study. If you practice active learning regularly, you should be comfortable preparing for an exam with minimal time investment. The best single thing you can do to prepare for an exam is get a good night’s sleep, so your brain is alert and rested. Exams are in some ways like athletic events; they put pressure on you to excel, and are best prepared for steady, regular preparation and good rest. Exams will often occur during busy times of the semester, when you have other exams, papers due, etc. Waiting to study material until just before an exam is like waiting to work out at the gym until just before an athletic event.

Some of you may find that attending lectures and reading the text is all the support you need. Others will have problems with some of the material. We offer several forms of support to help you with difficulties you may experience. Different students have different optimum learning stratagems; we urge you to experiment with the options listed, and find what best helps you.

• Web Class Site. We will be posting many materials for your use. Type the following URL: (uniform resource locator) into the “open location” box of your web browser:
http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~bi107vc/sp02am/home107.html
This address is case sensitive; don’t use upper case letters! These materials include class announcements and updates, interactive practice exams and review questions to help you prepare for exams, web activities for specific topics in lecture, an electronic bulletin board where you can send messages to your instructor and read answers to questions and comments, links to important biology sites on the Web, lecture notes, and more. Using the web is easy; you just “point and click” to access different screens with different topics. This will be demonstrated in class. If you have difficulties using the Web, feel free to ask your instructor for some personal instruction.

• Handouts. Handouts will be given from time to time in lecture; these may include suggestions for specific material and/or study problems. Spend some time with these materials as soon as you can review them — don’t just put them aside and wait till the night before an exam to look at them.

• Interactive Study Partner CD-ROM. Your text comes with a free CD-ROM that includes 20 quiz questions for each chapter, as well as interactive exercises, animations, and more.

• Review Sessions. Your instructors will offer occasional review sessions where you can ask questions about any of the material you wish to review or have difficulty with.

• Office visits and E-mail questions. Your instructors are available for individual consultation regarding any aspect of the course. If you have unanswered questions or concerns, or are in serious academic trouble, see us after class, during office hours, or contact us by E-mail.
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