Concepts of Biology (BIOL116) - Dr. S.G. Saupe; Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321; ssaupe@csbsju.edu; http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Stephen G. Saupe

Office: 335 Science Bldg; 363-2782; 363-3202 (fax)
Office Hours:  click here for schedule
email Address: ssaupe@csbsju.edu
Instructor Home Page: http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe
Section Home Pate: http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/116-home.htm
Home Page for Concepts Course: http://www.csbsju.edu/biology/concepts/concepts.html

COURSE (catalog) DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to investigate the basic principles operating in all living things at levels of organization from the cell to an organism. Emphasis is placed on theories underlying our current understanding of biological processes such as energy capture and utilization, internal regulation, growth and change. Another aim of the course is to enhance the students' understanding and knowledge of living organisms, and to provide her/him with a foundation for continued studies in the biological and health sciences.

COURSE THEMES: This course will focus on the biology of plants and animals and ecology. Evolution and the integration of the form and function will be two major themes running through our discussions.

AUDIENCE:  This course is the second-half of a two-semester introductory biology sequence. This course is required for students majoring in biology.  This course does not fulfill the Core guidelines for Natural Science for non-science majors.

OBJECTIVES:  Upon completion of this course you should be able to:

1. describe the essential theories and concepts of plant and animal biology and ecology
2. be familiar with the resources and methods for acquiring scientific information
3. demonstrate an orderly approach to the solution of a problem
4. apply problem solving procedures to practical situations
5. relate past knowledge to an understanding of modern biology
6. have acquired an openness to new scientific developments and an awareness of their possible implications.

CLASS TIME/PLACE: This class meets days 1 - 3 - 5 from 11:20 - 12:30 pm. You will also attend a laboratory session once per cycle that you have separately scheduled.  Lab starts cycle 1.

REQUIRED TEXTS/MATERIALS:

• Purves, WK, D Sadava, HC Heller.  Life.  The Science of Biology.  6th Edn.  Sinauer Assoc., Inc.  Sunderland, MN.
• three-ring binder and paper

COURSE STRUCTURE/FORMAT:  This course consists of three lectures and one laboratory session per cycle. You must attend the section of lecture and lab in which you registered. In addition to our regular meetings, special lectures and films may be scheduled through the academic year. These are often sponsored by the Biology Club. Use of the library is an essential part of your education and you are encouraged to use its facilities. Also, you are invited to pursue research under the direction of an appropriate faculty member.

DAILY CLASS ACTIVITY/ETIQUETTE:  

• Music will greet us at the beginning of class (selected by the class leader; begins at least five minutes before class.  The music will set the stage for our studies and relax our minds so that we can focus on our task ahead.)
• Gather Materials - check the front desk and pick up your attendance sticker and any handouts for the day. (Good students are prepared and ready for the activities of the day)
• When the music goes off, class begins.
• Opening Greeting: I will greet you by saying "Good Morning/Afternoon". The class will answer back, "Good Morning/Afternoon".  (Please return my greeting heartily. "The secret of joyful living is joyful greeting and that is why we greet each other" - Dr. P. Pendse).
• I will then ask, "How are you this morning/afternoon?" The class answers enthusiastically (one of the following on the overhead; selected by the class leader):

"Fine and dandy! Why shouldn't I be?"
"I am super good, and getting better!"
"I am fantastic, and improving by the second!"
"I am terrific, you better believe it!" (while saying this thrust your finger towards the instructor)
"Super groovy" (give the thumbs up sign)
Or, other greeting selected by the class leader

• Announcements (from instructor and solicited from the class)
• Class overview (provided by the instructor)
• Class Activities - each class will typically provide time to:

Review the previous class material (definitions, summary, quizzes, etc.)
Introduce new material (lecture, dialogs, videos, slides, etc.)
Practice & drill new material (exercises, quizzes, etc.)
Cool Down - review class activities

• Five-Minute Warning - time keeper (class leader) will give signal.
• End of Class - we will not pack up to leave until we show our mutual respect for one another. Please don't pack up until after we have formally ended class.  The class leader will signal one minute before the end of class.  We will all stop immediately and the instructor closes by saying, "Thanks for another great day of biology". The class responds by saying, "Likewise!  Later dude."  Or, other closing selected by the class leader.

REVIEW SESSIONS/STUDY TIPS:  There will be a review session held every cycle.  The time/date will be scheduled in advance.  These sessions are optional, but students who earn less than 70% on exams are EXPECTED to attend these sessions.

    There are many ways to effectively study for this course. Check out the Study Strategies cited in Concepts web site, the Three Dozen Tips  that I wrote, and the text book (p. xiii).  If you need assistance or have questions, please come and see me.

EVALUATION: Grades will be determined on the basis of your performance on:

1. Lecture Exams (65%)
2. Laboratory Work (25%)
3. Notebook (3%)
4. Class Leader (2%)
5. On-line quizzes (2%)
6. Assignments/Participation (3%)

1. Lecture Exams (65%) - there will be five exams. These will be a mixture of subjective (i.e., short answer, definition) and objective (multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank) questions. Sample questions will be provided (click here).  Questions will be taken directly from homework assignments and material that we cover in class. Anything we do in class is "fair game" for an exam. The first four exams are each worth 12% of your final grade. The fifth (and final) exam is worth 17% of your final grade; it is worth more than the others because it has a comprehensive component.

2. Laboratory Work (25%) - Your laboratory instructor will submit to me at the end of the semester a grade (from 0 - 100) that reflects your performance in lab. Please note that this grade is worth one-quarter (25%) of your final grade in the course!  Take lab very seriously - it can make or break your grade.

3. Notebook (3%) - You are required to maintain a notebook that will be graded at the end of the semester. It is my experience that students with neat and organized notebooks perform better than those with messy ones. The notebook should be a three-ring binder type, at least one inch and preferable two, and include:

• Title page - this page should include our course name & number, your name and vital statistics (address, phone, email), our class meeting time. Most importantly, the title page should be decorated to reflect the course content.  If you need stickers,  markers or crayons for your creative work, contact me.
• Attendance Sheet - this should be the second page in your notebook. You will keep track of your attendance on this sheet.
• Lecture notes, dated, in order
• Copies of any handouts, assignments, exams, etc. provided in class, in the appropriate section
• Copies of articles pertaining to our class material. You should include one article per cycle (11 total) for the semester. Good sources of articles include:  Science News, New Scientist, Scientific American, Natural History, American Scientist, Science, and Nature.  Articles can be downloaded from the web, but at least 3 of your articles must be from "hard copy" sources.  Articles may not be textbooks or other books, nor should they be from web sites of other courses.
• A bibliography that lists the articles in your notebook.  The articles should be cited in proper scientific format and at the end of each citation there should be an indication of the text chapter (and brief title) to which most closely fits.  The bibliography should be placed in the notebook before the actual articles.
• Copies of any other resource materials you obtain (i.e., my lecture notes, articles, copies of articles from other web sites, assignments, extensions), in the appropriate section
• Grading Rubric form - this should be inserted into a pouch in your notebook or included as the third page

    I will collect your notebook for grading twice. It will be graded based on the Notebook Grade Rubric.  The first collection date for the notebooks is on the day of the First Exam. This grading will not count toward your grade. The final collection date and grading will be on the day of the Fourth Exam.

5. Class Leader (2%) - Once during the semester you will be assigned to be our "Class Leader". On this day it is your responsibility to:

• Choose the music for the day - to be played at the beginning of class (bring in a tape or CD and have it in the player ready five minutes before class starts).
• Choose the "Greeting for the Day" (or create your own)
• Choose the "Quote of the Day" and write it on the board.  This quote should be either biological (i.e., related to the course) or inspirational.  To find a quote, I have a large selection in a file in my office.  Or, you can visit the "Quote Jar" in the Bailey Herbarium or a Quote website.
• Preview the day's material.  Send me an email by 9:00 a.m. on the day of class that includes:  (1) an indication which topic(s), if any, you think that your classmates will find difficult and why; (2) a summary of the 3 most important ideas in the chapter and why you think so; (3) one multiple choice question, including answer, based on the material in the chapter; (4) one essay/short answer question, including answer, (5) the music you plan to play; (6) a reference citation for an article that is related to the topic of the class/unit; and (7) the Quote of the Day. 
• Provide a reference citation for an article that is related to the topic of the class/unit.  Write this reference on the board using the proper citation format.
• Make sure that the attendance stickers get passed out
• Be timekeeper - sound the buzzer when there is five minutes remaining in class.  Sound the one-minute alarm.  Also make sure we stay focused - call "Time Out" if we get off on a tangent.  
• A grading rubric for this assignment is posted in our course web site.  Bring a copy of this to class on the day that you serve as class leader completed with your name and date.
• You are responsible for leader on the day you choose.  If you have another commitment, switch with another individual (check the listing).  If you miss class for an unplanned reason (i.e, illness), contact me to switch days. 

5.  On-Line Quizzes (2%)  - Visit the website for our textbook (http://www.thelifewire.com).  Once you are at the home page, click on the appropriate chapter.  Then, click on "End of Chapter Online Quizzes".  Complete the quizzes for the assigned chapters.  Bring to class a hard copy of the first page of the quiz showing that you earned a score of 70% or better.  Be sure to write your name on this page when you hand it in for grading.  Your grade will be based on the percentage of total quizzes for hich you earned better than 70%.  Late quizzes will not be accepted without a written excuse. 

6. Assignments/Class Participation/Hustle Points (3%) - This component of your final grade will reflect your performance on any assignments and your participation in class. A portion of this grade is a "good performance and hustle" award.  Everyone begins the course with 20 "hustle" points. As long as you maintain your lecture exam grades above 70% you keep these points.  For each exam that your grade drops below 70% you will loose five "Hustle" points.  You can make them up by doing Bonus Work, including writing summaries/taking notes on text chapters.  

GRADE ASSIGNMENT: Grades will be assigned based upon the percentage of total points accumulated according to the following scale: 100 - 90% = A; 89 - 87% = AB; 86 - 82% = B; 81 - 79% = BC; 78 - 72% = C; 71 - 69% = CD; 68 - 60% = D; below 59% = F

    Getting good grades is very important. Work hard and you will succeed! Remember, the review sessions, on-line quizzes, study guides, and textbook are your secret weapons for success.

   Achievement on exams and assignments will be recognized by stars on your exams.  Stamped stars will be given to everyone in recognition that the course is not easy and that we appreciate the hard efforts that everyone is making to succeed in the course. In addition, the top scorer earns a gold foil star, silver = 2^nd highest, red = 3rd, green = 4th, blue = 5th.  We will applaud when the name of the student earning the top score on the exam is announced. 

    To determine your approximate grade at any time during the semester, simply divide the total number of points you have accumulated by the total possible. This information will always be provided. In addition, I will periodically provide you with a grade report. You should check this report for accuracy and to give you an indication of your progress. Keep all of your graded work, including lab work, for your records.

    Never hesitate to come and talk to me about your grade, or any aspect of the course, at any time during the semester!

    S/U grading can be requested at any time during the regular semester. You must submit your request in writing on a separate sheet of paper (not on a test or other assignment). Note: I do not recommend that anyone take the course for S/U grading, especially considering this is a majors course, but this is ultimately your decision. After final grades have been submitted to the Registrar, I will not change a letter grade to S/U or vice versa. Note: "S" is awarded for a letter grade of "C" and above.

BONUS WORK:  You will have the opportunity to earn bonus points by attending lectures, analyzing journal articles, participating in formal nature walks, or even reporting on science-related television programs.  If it is "scientific" and can be reasonably considered to pertain to our course you can earn bonus points for participating in the activity.  Obtain a "Bio-Bonus Card" file box or online. Complete the card and turn it in to me no later than noon on Study Day.  As a general guide -  lectures are worth a maximum of five bonus points, journal summaries and book reviews 3 bonus points, and summaries of TV programs  2 points.  For other activities, I will assign an appropriate number of points.  Cards should be typed or neatly hand-written.   If in question, ask me.  As a rule, your grade is not benefited by more than 20 bonus points.  Bonus work will first be applied toward any "Hustle" points that are lost.

HOW MUCH TO STUDY? As a general rule of thumb, you should study at least 2 hours for every hour in class. Thus, at a minimum you should be studying at least six hour per cycle for lecture exams. Note that this doesn't include lab work or completing assignments. Imagine that you are an academic athlete working on the mental practice field.  For more information about studying for this course, click here.

PERSONAL FILE, REFERENCES and CUBBY: You will have a file folder in a file in the Botany Lab, SC 342. You may use it to store papers/notes/etc. In addition, I will place in this file any assignments not returned to you personally, extra copies (if any) of handouts, and course readings. When in doubt or need, check here.

HONOR CODE: I run this class on the Honor Code system; in other words, I trust you to do your own work at all times. If you violate my trust, the consequences will be severe. If you have even the slightest doubt that an activity violates the Honor Code - don't do it. For more information, consult our institutional policies on Academic Honesty (CSB, SJU) and the Library web site on plagarism.

ATTENDANCE: I expect you to attend class. Being absent does not excuse you from completing assignments on time (i.e., turning in any that are due and getting the assignment for the next class). In general, you will not be able to make up anything missed in lecture or lab.

VISITORS: Visitors to our classroom are welcome. Please introduce your visitors to me. They should plan to participate (as best they can) in class activities.

SPIRAL BOUND PAPER: Assignments completed on paper torn out of a spiral notebook will be penalized 20% of the total possible points. If you like to use a spiral notebook that’s no problem - simply remove the frayed edges before turning in your work.

COMPUTER LITERACY: Every biologist should be familiar with word-processing (i.e., WordPerfect, Word), database (i.e., Access), and spreadsheet (i.e., Excel, Lotus 123) software. Computing Services offers many interesting workshops that you should consider if you need to improve your computing skills.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: I expect that assignments will be turned in on time. I reserve the right to accept/refuse late assignments.

PRIDE: I believe that the appearance of an assignment is a reflection of the quality of the work and the degree of respect it deserves. Thus, for your benefit I require that written assignments must be typed. There will be obvious exceptions. If in question about whether an assignment should be typed, please ask. Assignments not typed will be penalized 50% of the total possible points. Also, invest in a small stapler.

COURSE PHILOSOPHY: This is a mastery-based course. In other words, anyone can earn an "A" if he/she "masters" course materials. Since you will know exactly what material to master, there is nothing standing between you and an "A" except yourself.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Among other things, the coach of a sports team must: (1) teach a player techniques to play better; (2) provide motivation for a player to achieve success; and (3) evaluate the skills of a player. Like coaches, a classroom teacher serves these same roles; to teach, provide motivation for learning and evaluating (grading) the success of student. Thus, I consider myself a "coach" and you are the players. We are on the same team trying to win the "biology game". In fact, we plan to be the best "team" in the biology department. To help foster team spirit, we may occasionally do motivational cheers, listen to music and probably most importantly, we will work together cooperatively. We will start each class with some warm-ups to get the mental juices flowing (i.e., greeting), we will perform some drills to test our skills (i.e., review previous material), learn some new skills and then get a chance to practice these new skills. We'll also provide a "cool down" period at the end of class where we review what we learned. The best way to learn is simply to practice, practice and more practice until you are ready for the big day.

    I also think that learning should be enjoyable. Hopefully we will laugh together and have fun. Stamps, stars and stickers will adorn some of your graded assignments. "Botanical" music will greet you when you arrive in class. This is all done in good fun, to make our learning environment more pleasant. Yet, we will always be respectful of one another. Some students in the past have commented that they think some of what we'll do is "childish". I hope so because I want to generate some of the fun and enthusiasm that children have for learning. But remember, even though we may be silly and have fun, I am still very serious about the goals of our course.

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