SYLLABUS & SCHEDULE BIOLOGY CONCEPTSBIO 100CRN 34774FALL 2012 JOANNE OELLERS Tuesday & Thursday 2-4:45 Life

takes on a staggering variety of forms! As we investigate cellular processes, cellular structures, and lifestyles, well explore the fundamental concepts that unite members of the living world. We will explore life by building up from small units in order to appreciate and understand the complexity of life and diversity among organisms. INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION Office Phone: Email: Skype: Office Location & Office Hours:

928.634-6578 joanne.oellers@yc.edu joanne.oellers Building M, Room 213 MW 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., TTh 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Other times by appointment. Building L, Room 106 TTh 2 p.m.-4:45 p.m.

CLASSROOM & MEETINGS

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION Course Description BIO 100. Biology Concepts (4). Basic principles and concepts of biology. Methods of scientific inquiry, energetics and metabolism, genetics, evolution and natural selection. Not for majors in the biological or preprofessional sciences. Duplicate credit for BIO 100 and BIO 156 will not be awarded. Prerequisite: Reading Proficiency. myYC Portal All Yavapai College students will be required to use the myYC portal. The portal includes: Links to your College email Your degree audit system DegreeWorks to track your progress Registration information & your schedule Links to view transcripts, update information, and more!

For assistance with the Portal, go to http://portalinfo.yc.edu/support.asp. Student Email Yavapai College requires enrolled students to have an email address to which official College communications can be sent, referred to as your scholar address, accessed by clicking on the email icon in your myYC portal.

Students are expected to check their Yavapai College email account for college-related information and for class information and announcements at least every other day. Students may elect to forward their YC email to an address different from their scholar account (see instructions on website) but assume full responsibility for reading email at the forwarded location. For assistance, go to http://www.yc.edu/content/myyc/emailinfo.htm.

Safety For your safety, you must wear full coverage shoes for every class. If you forget, you accept full responsibility for any injury that results from exposed foot areas. I suggest you keep a pair of full coverage shoes in your car or backpack just in case. 2. No eating in class, please. Water bottles are allowed.
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Textbook Essentials of Biology, Sylvia Mader & Michael Windelspecht, 3rd edition. ISBN: 978-0073525518. The textbook companion website, www.mhhe.com/maderessentials3, contains many study tools that will be useful to you, including learning objectives and outlines and flash cards. Course Website = Blackboard + My Website Even though we meet in the classroom, I provide announcements, materials, and activities in Blackboard or on my website, linked through Blackboard. Please start exploring each of these sites. Important College-wide Dates Fall semester begins Late registration ends Last day for 100% refund Last day for student-initiated withdrawal Labor Day holiday Veterans Day holiday Thanksgiving holiday Last day of fall semester

Monday, August 20 Sunday, August 26 Sunday, August 26 Sunday, October 14 Monday, September 3 Monday, November 12 Wednesday, November 21-25 Monday, December 10

SOME CHOICES OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS 1. Develop personal responsibility. See yourself as the primary force in outcomes and experiences. 2. Become self-motivated. Discover personally meaningful goals to overcome obstacles. 3. Practice self-management. Plan and take purposeful actions in pursuit of goals. 4. Be interdependence. Build mutually supportive relationships that help yourself and others to achieve goals. 5. Cultivate self awareness. Employ behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes that keep you on course. 6. Strive for life-long learning. Find value in every experience. 7. Develop emotional intelligence. Manage emotions in support of goals.
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8. Enjoy discovery learning. Find the wonder in the nature and seek understanding outside the classroom. 9. Believe in yourself! See yourself as a capable of achieving your dreams and goals.

ASSESSMENT Class Progress Simply select View Grades and Email on the left sidebar of your Blackboard Announcements screen. The Grade Center displays your point totals and the points possible in the course. Simply divide your earned points by the total course points at a particular point for your percentage grade. Be alert to your scores. Check frequently! If you uncover any discrepancies, notify me ASAP, and please let me know if you are struggling in any way. We can work together to find a solution.

Assessments & Grading Criteria Lab notebooks Quizzes Milestone Papers Attendance Exams (you will drop one)

4 x 50 11 x 10 4 x 15 26 x 5 3 x 100

200 110 60 130 300 800 points total

All assessments are equally weighted. Here is the performance and grading scale used to determine your final grade: A = 90 - 100% 720 & above Superior, extraordinary scholarship outstanding performance, excellent comprehension of subject material and above average written/oral expression B = 80 - 89% 640 to 719 Above-average work, good conceptual understanding, good expression, perhaps slightly lacking in organization and/or mechanics C = 70 - 79% 560 to 639 Acceptable work for this level of college D = 60 - 69% 480 to 559 Below standard of acceptable college work F = < 60% 480 & below Failure to meet minimal requirement for passing course To do well, expect to spend 8-12 hours a week on the course outside of class. A failing grade may reflect lack of attendance, effort, or points, or result from non-compliance with course policies, including neglecting to withdraw oneself from class before the student-initiated withdrawal deadline.

Progress Reports and Meetings Three times during the semester, I will give you an official report on your progress to that point. Also, please meet with me in person sometime during the semester. After exams or during my office hours are good times. COURSE COMPONENT DETAILS Assignment details can be found on Monday mornings in weekly folders through your MyYC Portal in Blackboard. To keep up with the action, visit Blackboard and read your YC email at least every other day. To keep up with the action, visit Blackboard and read your YC email at least every other day.

Blogs You will post your Milestone Papers (see description below) to a personal blog. Please develop a blog site or have an established blog ready for class by the end of the first week of class. Make sure the blog does not incorporate another class, since your work there should be stored separately. You may use an alias for your blog name, but I must know who you are (I will see this on the wiki). I will collect your blog links into the class wiki and then share them in a blogroll on my Wordpress site. I will help you get started, if you need me to. Let me know right away if you have any problems. Your blog entries are intended to be public! Please tell me if you have concerns about this. Be sure you save your own copy of every blog posting that you do. I recommend doing the postings in a word or rich text document and then copying them into the blog. You can save these on your own computer, your campus M drive, or a portable hard drive. Be sure you have these backups just like you would for a paper assignment that you turn in. Reading Assignments Please complete any reading assignments or other materials as directed before class, to prepare for discussions and activities. Quizzes You will take quizzes in Blackboard. They are due on Sundays by midnight. Details will be available in your weekly folders. Laboratory Exercises The laboratory exercises take many forms, group work, discussion, problem solving, and analysis of data to name a few. Lab time is collaborative, so I expect to see you sharing results, but answers, drawings, and written discussions must be your own and submitted separately, even if you work in a group. Laboratory exercise sheets are provided to you through your course on Blackboard. In preparation for a lab period (see schedule on pages 9-14 of syllabus) always read the lab exercise ahead of class and starting week 2, please print your own laboratory exercise. On exam days, you will submit a laboratory
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notebook containing labs from the unit you just completed. Each lab is usually worth 10 points and each units labs are valued at 50 points. If the number of labs is more or less than 5, then the points for each lab will be distributed, so each lab has an equal value. For example if there are 6 labs in one unit, then each lab is worth 8.34 points. To be accepted and considered for evaluation, your laboratory notebook must: 1. Be placed in a folder or binder separate from class notes 2. Be neat and legible 3. Include a cover page indicating your name and course name 4. Have a table of contents that refers to tabs placed in front of each laboratory exercise I will not grade notebooks missing any of the requirements above. In addition to the basic requirements, your grade will reflect your thoughtful answers to questions, presentation of data, and other lab-specific details. Exams A total of 4 exams will be given each worth 100 points. You will take all four exams, but your lowest exam score will be dropped. Therefore, the resulting exam total will be out of 300 points. Each exam includes multiple choice questions, vocabulary matching, and short answer questions. You should prepare by using textbook companion website pre- and post-tests, Key Terms, Testing Yourself multiple choice quizzes, and Check Your Progress sections throughout the chapters. This material provides you a good basis for understanding the material on exams. I provide a study guide for each exam. During exams, only instructor-provided materials and a pen or pencil are allowed in your desk area.

Milestone Papers After each unit you will write a unit paper and post it to your blog. The purpose of this paper is to give you another opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the unit material, reflect on your experience with the content, and comment on how you learned the various topics. Details for assignments are provided in separate documents available on your Blackboard site. CONTENT AND OUTCOMES Course Description Basic principles and concepts of biology. Methods of scientific inquiry, energetics and metabolism, genetics, evolution, and natural selection. Not for majors in the biological or preprofessional sciences. No duplicate credit for BIO 100 and BIO 156. Prerequisite: reading proficiency, Credit hours: 4. Course Content (not necessarily in order of presentation) 1. Characteristics of life 3. Basic chemistry and biological macromolecules 2. Scientific method 4. Cellular structure and function
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5. Energy and enzymes 6. Photosynthesis 7. Cellular respiration 8. The cell cycle 9. Genetics 10. Gene expression

11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Evolution and natural selection Survey of kingdoms Written analyses of scientific information Data collection and analysis Light microscopy

Learning Outcomes. Numbers in parentheses represent the relationship to course content above. 1. Describe the characteristics of life. (1) 2. Apply the scientific method in problem solving. (2) 3. Describe the basic chemistry of life. (3) 4. Describe the structure and function of the four main types of biological macromolecules. (3) 5. Identify and describe the function of the parts of a typical cell. (4) 6. Describe the properties of enzymes and their relation to cellular metabolism. (5) 7. Explain the fundamental processes of photosynthesis. (6) 8. Explain the fundamental processes of cellular respiration. (7) 9. Describe the biological processes of cell division including the cell cycle, mitosis, and meiosis. (8) 10. Solve Mendelian and non-Mendelian genetics problems. (9) 11. Describe the fundamental processes of gene expression. (10) 12. Describe the scientific evidence for evolution and the role of natural selection. (11) 13. Explain the evolutionary patterns of multicellular life. (12) 14. Conduct experiments, observe biological phenomena, record and analyze data in written form. (13,14) 15. Use a light microscope to examine cells and cell structures. (4, 15) TECHNOLOGY Even while meeting face to face, technology is part of our regular course operation. You be comfortable with normal technological operations, such as 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Accessing and working in Blackboard Email communication Sending, receiving and attaching files through email Viewing online videos Searching the internet for resources Opening and saving Word documents Converting documents to Rich Text

I can provide you with some help, but I will not be familiar with your computer and might not offer the best advice. Sometimes a problem is system-related, and then I feel really helpless. If you inform me of a technological glitch, I will do my best to find help for you. Your best bet: contact the Help Desk (see contact information on page 8) or a friend who is smart about these things. INSTITUTION & INSTRUCTOR POLICIES Instructor Response Time I will do my best to respond to emails and phone calls within 24 hours (I will likely not respond on weekends) and correct assignments within 48 hours after the due date.

Attendance & Preparedness Students are expected to show up to class ready to actively participate, with all assigned readings and homework completed beforehand. Active participation during the class and evidence of engagement with the class material is expected. Each day you are present, you have the potential to earn 5 attendance/preparedness points. There are a total of 31 class meetings four of which are exam days. You cannot earn attendance points on exam days or the first day of class, therefore 26 days remain so you can earn up to 130 for attendance. If you do not miss a class, I will award 10 extra points. I calculate attendance/preparedness into your grade reports, but it is your responsibility to know how this record might be affecting your grade. Points will subsequently be deducted from the total if the student shows poor participation or preparedness. This includes (but is not limited to) providing apathetic responses to teacher questions, rarely or never speaking in class (when appropriate for discussion), falling asleep, texting, or being otherwise distracted or disruptive in class, being absent from class, and showing little or no familiarity with vocabulary and concepts covered previously. Just coming to class will not earn you the full 5 points. Missed Assignments No late work will be accepted. Start assignments well before the due date to avoid finding yourself with a computer problem or other type of problem preventing you from completing an assignment on time. If you want to know what we covered in class while you were absent, please consult your syllabus. Withdrawal Policy Talk to me about any concerns you have about the class, your attendance, or progress. I want to help you succeed. You must be present the first class meeting, or you will be withdrawn from the class. If you are absent four times and/or you do not respond to my calls or emails, I will assume you no longer wish to be part of the class, and you will be withdrawn. It is your responsibility to assess your progress regularly and make the best decision for yourself about continuing in class. To officially withdraw from a course, you must submit a completed Yavapai College Change of Class Enrollment Form by 10/14 to the Registration Office or online. If you remain in the class after the student-initiated withdrawal date, you will likely receive, at the conclusion of the semester, the letter grade you earned by that time, not a withdrawal. Weather and Other Unforeseen Events Extreme winter weather or other conditions may prohibit travel to the College. Subscribing to text alerts and checking for updates on the Yavapai College Home Page keeps you up to date on situations potentially affecting you,. Because I drive from Prescott, weather or road conditions might create an obstacle to my coming to campus. I will use email, Blackboard announcements, and notes on doors to communicate with you about delays or class cancellations.

Student Code of Conduct The intended purpose of Yavapai Colleges Student Code of Conduct is to maintain order and stability and preserve all educational functions by setting forth standards of behavior and promoting respect for the rights of all individuals. Respect for the rights of others and for the College and its property are fundamental expectations for every student. The Student Code of Conduct outlines behavioral expectations, and explains the process for responding to allegations of student misconduct. It is your responsibility to read and understand this document. Academic integrity Honesty in academic work is a central element of the learning environment. The presentation of another individuals work as ones own or the act of seeking unfair academic advantage through cheating, plagiarism, or other dishonest means are violations of the Colleges Student Code of Conduct and a violation of academic integrity. If you are not sure what this means ask me or refer to definitions of plagiarism, cheating, and violation of copyright and penalties for violation in the Yavapai College Student Code of Conduct. Plagiarism or violation of academic honesty in the preparation of class assignments will earn you a zero for that assignment and will likely result in a failing grade for the semester. For example, if I suspect you of cheating, because you are texting during an exam, you will earn a zero for your exam. Internet Downloading Yavapai College technological equipment and resources must be used in accordance with the Copyright Guidelines (check with a librarian). Use of Yavapai College equipment and resources to illegally copy, download, access, print or store copyrighted material,or download pornographic material is strictly prohibited. For example, file swapping of copyrighted material,such as music or movies is strictly prohibited. Users found to violate this policy will have their privileges to use Yavapai College technological equipment and resources revoked. Classroom Etiquette and Netiquette Students are expected to respond and write in a professional and appropriate manner when activities are assigned to create scenarios, discuss opinions, present on a selected subject, or post to the web. Inappropriate language or objectionable material will not be tolerated and could result in disciplinary measures and/or a failing grade for the class. All electronic devices must be placed in a non-audible mode while in classrooms, computer labs, the library, the learning center, and testing areas. However, there may be times we use our phones for research or other activities, and having the sound on is okay. Even in a face-to-face class, there are times when you need to communicate electronically with classmates and instructors. Just as courteous behavior is necessary in person, it is necessary online. See Best Practices for Online Learners and find Netiquette (about halfway down the page) for online etiquette guidelines. For example, I appreciate polite email exchanges with correct spelling.
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In the subject line, include the course number, and a reasonably specific reason for the e-mail Example: BIO 100 Due Date for Lab

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Think about what you are writing. Choose an appropriate greeting such as Hello Professor. Ask politely for what you need. Proofread your message before sending. Sign with your full name, course number, and meeting time. Example: Charles Darwin, BIO 156, TTh 2-4:45 When you receive a reply, say Thanks or something like that. This lets me know you did receive my message.

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HELP Library services are available at Prescott and Verde YC campuses. Both libraries are members of a countywide library network, which provides access to a wide range of information and resources at libraries throughout Yavapai County. The YC computers are fully-equipped for course requirements. Visit a library if your home computer or software is not working for you. Learning Resource Centers are available on most campuses. These centers provide a variety of learning support for students including tutoring, adaptive equipment for students with disabilities, computer-assisted instruction, adult basic education, and English as a Second Language classes. For tutoring, call 928.634.6562 (Verde campus) or 928.776.2085 (Prescott campus). For tutoring, call 928.634.6562 (Verde campus) or 928.776.2085 (Prescott campus). Disability Resources If you have a disability, including a learning disability, please contact Disability Resources at 928.776.2079 or 928.776.2057 to discuss your disability with a staff member. This will be so that you can arrange accommodations that you need for this class. More Resources Academic Advising Registration and Financial Aid Resources (through MyYC portal) Technology Help Desk 928.776.2168 Prescott Campus 928.649.5558 Verde Campus 855.836.3520 Toll-free either campus

SCHEDULE TUESDAY & THURSDAY Please note that lab titles are generalized and may appear in a different form in your weekly folders. This schedule might change, if so, I will notify you ASAP and post the updated schedule online.Dont forget afterchapter resources even only partial chapter reading is required. UNIT 1 SCIENCE & CELL STRUCTURE WEEK 1 (8/21, 8/23) A View of Life (LO 1, 2) Homework: Read Chapter 1 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools In class: Welcome to biology and Chapter 1 topics & homework discussion Labs: 8/23 The Cube, Safety Training WEEK 2 (8/28, 8/30) The Chemical Basis of Life (LO 3) Homework: Read Chapter 2 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools Quiz 1 Chapter 1 (10 pts., online, due midnight Sunday) In class: Chapter 2 topics & homework discussion Labs: 8/28 Epidemic 8/30 Waters Importance to Life WEEK 3 (9/4, 9/6) Organic Molecules of Life (LO 3, 10, 11) Homework: Read Chapter 3, Chapter 11 p. 174-178 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools Quiz 2 Chapter 2 (10 pts., online, due midnight Sunday) In class: Chapters 3 & 11 topics & homework discussion Labs: 9/4 What Molecule is That? 9/6 DNA Extraction from Human Cheek Cells

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Week 4 (9/11, 9/13) Inside the Cell (LO 4, 15) Homework: Read Chapter 4 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools Quiz 3 Chapter 3 (10 pts., online, due midnight Sunday) In class: Chapter 4 topics & homework discussion Labs: 9/11Microscope & Organelles 9/13 Organelles (new)

UNIT 2CELL FUNCTION WEEK 5 (9/18, 9/20) The Dynamic Cell (LO 6, 14)) Homework: Read Chapter 5 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools In class: Chapter 5 topics & homework discussion Lab: 9/18 Enzymes Due: 9/20 Exam 1 on Unit 1 (weeks 1-4) Lab Notebook 1 Milestone Paper

100 points 50 points 15 points

WEEK 6 (9/25, 9/27) Energy For Life (LO 5, 6, 14) Homework: Read Chapter 6 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools Quiz 4 Chapter 5 (10 pts., online, due midnight Sunday) In class: Chapter 6 topics & homework discussion Lab: 9/25 Leaf Anatomy & Photosynthesis ,WEEK 7 (10/2, 10/4) Energy For Cells (LO 7, 14) Homework: Read Chapter 7 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools Quiz 5 Chapter 6 (10 pts., online, due midnight Sunday)
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In class: Chapter 7 topics & homework discussion Lab: 10/4 Bacterial Fermentation WEEK 8 (10/9, 10/11) Cellular ReproductionMitosis & Cancer (LO 8) Homework: Read Chapter 8, Chapter 12 section 12.3 and other as directed in this weeks folder Quiz 6 Chapter 7 (10 pts., online, due midnight Sunday) In class: Chapter 8 topics & homework discussion Labs: 10/9 Mitosis 10/11 Cancerous Tissue Comparison WEEK 9 (10/16, 10/18) Cellular ReproductionMeiosis (LO 8) Homework: Read Chapter 9 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools Quiz 7 Chapter 8 (10 pts., online, due midnight Sunday) In class: Chapter 9 topics & homework discussion Lab: 10/18 Coyote Meiosis Simulation UNIT 3 GENETICS & EVOLUTION WEEK 10 (10/23, 10/25) Patterns of Inheritance (LO 9) Homework: Read Chapter 10 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools In class: Chapter 10 topics & homework discussion Lab: 10/23 Genetics Calculations Due: 10/25 Exam 2 Unit2 (weeks 5-9) Lab Notebook 2 Milestone Paper

100 points 50 points 15 points

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WEEK 11 (10/30, 11/1) DNA Technology (LO 10) Homework: Read Chapter 11 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools Quiz 8 Chapter 10 (10 pts., online, due midnight Sunday) In class: Chapter 11 topics & homework discussion Lab: 10/30 Genome Exploration (my lab, no prep) WEEK 12 (11/6, 11/8) Evolution (LO 12, 14) Homework: Read Chapters 14 & 15 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools Quiz 9 Chapter 11 (10 pts., online, due midnight Sunday) In class: Chapters 14 & 15 topics & homework discussion Lab: 11/6 Natural Selection & Local Adaptations 11/8 pBlue UNIT 4 DIVERSITY OF LIFE WEEK 13 (11/13, 11/15) The Fascinating World of Microorganisms Homework: Read Chapter 17 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools In class: Chapter 17 topics & homework discussion Lab: 11/13 Survey of Microorganisms Due: 11/15 Exam 3 Unit3 (weeks 10-12) Lab Notebook 3 Milestone Paper

100 points 50 points 15 points

WEEK 14 (11/20 only) The Fascinating World of Plants Homework: Read Chapter 20 and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools Quiz 10 Chapter 17 (10 pts., online, due midnight Sunday)

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In class: Chapters 20 topics & homework discussion Lab: 11/20 Plant Anatomy & Growth ~ NOVEMBER 21-25-THANKSGIVING BREAK ~ WEEK 15 (11/27, 11/29) The Fascinating World of Amphibians Homework: Read Chapter 19 Amphibians and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools Quiz 11 Chapter 20 (10 pts., online, due midnight Sunday) In class: Chapter 19 topics & homework discussion Lab: 11/29 Amphibians WEEK 16 (12/4, 12/6) The Fascinating World of Reptiles Homework: Read Chapter 19 Reptiles and other as directed in this weeks folder Use study tools In class: Lab & discussion:

12/4 Reptiles

Due: 12/6 Exam 4 Unit 4 (weeks 13-15) Lab Notebook 4 Milestone Paper Monday 12/10 last day fall semester

100 points 50 points 15 points

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