BI333, PLANT BIOLOGY, 4 CREDITS, SECTION M1
Structure, function, taxonomy, and ecology of plants. Topics include photosynthesis, reproduction, hormones, nutrition, water relations, evolution and identification.
Class:TR9:40-10:45, CSA 315
Lab:R 1:00-3:50,CSA 103
Professor:Dr. Kendra Cipollini
Email Address:
Professor Website:
Office:CSA 118
Office Hours:M 9:15-10:15 & 11:30-1:00, T 8:45-9:35 & 10:45-11:15, R8:45-9:35 & 10:45-11:15 and by appointment
Office Phone:937-481-2367 (forwarded to cell phone)
Required Materials:Evert and Eichhorn. 2013. Raven Biology of Plants, 8th Edition, WH Freeman, New York, NY.
Newcomb, Lawrence. 1977. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. Little, Brown & Company, Boston, MA.
Course Goals:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the following areas of basic plant biology:
- The structure and function of plant cells and tissues
- The physiology of plant development, growth and maintenance
- The evolution of plant diversity
- Identification of local and regional flora
- Develop the ability to collect and identify plants through creating an herbarium collection
- Demonstrate the ability to clearly convey complex concepts orally through classroom discussions.
Oral Communication Skill Development: This course is designated as an “O” course in the general education curriculum, meaning that it will focus on developing oral communication skills in students and that 25% of the grade will be determined by assessment of these skills. Students will learn and develop oral communication skills throughout the course. Students will lead and participate in class discussions in a quasi-flipped classroom setting and be evaluated on their ability to convey complex information clearly.
Some Important Dates:
Wednesday, January 18 – Last day to add classes
Monday, March 27–Last day to drop classes
Thursday, April 27 - Herbarium due
General Information:
Important course announcements will be made in class and posted on the Facebook course page (which can be forwarded to your email account) and/or sent to your WC email account. It is expected that you will check your emails at least once every 24 hours during the semester. The Higher Learning Commission requires that Wilmington College use the definition of a credit hour as “one hour of classroom instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week.” Therefore, you should plan on spending at least 8 hours per week on average outside of lecture and laboratory on material related to this class.
Doing and learning science requires time outside of specified class time. Doing science does not always fit conveniently into a schedule and can sometimes require unexpected, lengthy tasks. It is imperative that you properly plan for experiments and projects, which may require commitment during weekend and evening times. If a project fails due to inadequate planning or improper care, you will receive a zero for any related assignments. Please contact the professor as soon as any issues arise to assure success in your experiments.
You absolutely must take an active role in your learning to be successful in this course. The professor will be available by appointment during office hours and other times, through email, by phone and through Facebook to answer any questions you have concerning assignments, course content and your progress. There is one guarantee for this course; if you start off with a true commitment to do well, question the professor at every opportunity, be prepared, plan ahead, meet deadlines, and study hard, you will pass this course with no trouble.
Electronic Resources:
Textbook webpage (
The textbook webpage contains information from each chapter, as well as supplementary study tools.This is a very good resource when trying to understand your reading of each chapter, as well as a helpful resource when studying for exams.You should read and understand the relevant textbook chapter prior to coming to the lecture period. The textbook webpage will be used to do online homework.To join the class (which ensures that your grades go to the proper gradebook),enter the email “.”Students are responsible for submitting the appropriate online quizzes on the evening before the chapter is to be discussed during the lecture period.
Course webpage (
Handouts and information will be posted on the course webpage. Lab information will be posted prior to each lab activity, while lab handouts will be provided to you during lab.You should read laboratory information prior to coming to lab and therefore come to lab having a good understanding of the lab activity for the day.
Facebook group (
The purpose of this page is to facilitate communication between classmates and with your professor.Sign up for a Facebook account and join the group “WC Plant Biology.”Post any questions about the course or the material on the Facebook page, as chances are others in the class might have a question as well.Additionally, the professor will post important announcements on the Facebook group page.Set your notifications for the group to “Yes” to receive notifications.It is also suggested that you check the box under “Notifications” > “Settings” to receive an email notification as well to be alerted when someone posts to the Facebook group page.
Grading System:
Grades will be based on:
3 exams, 100 points each300
Final comprehensive exam150
Class participation/discussion points250
Learning exercises, lab assignments, lab reports, etc. 75
Herbarium150
Homework/quizzes 75
Total Possible Points:1000
Points earned will be added and grades will be assigned based on the scale below.Do not expect any "curving" of grades in this course.From the Wilmington College Faculty Handbook:“It is the policy of Wilmington College to strive to fairness in grading and avoid grade inflation.Faculty are encouraged to regard ‘C-‘ as a satisfactory grade, which means the student is meeting College standards, and will treat it as such in talking with students.The grade of ‘A’ on the other hand, should mean outstanding achievement, with a grade of ‘B’ in between.The grade ‘D’ represents minimally acceptable achievement, and the grade ‘F’ indicates failure.”
Letter grade and pointsMeaning of grade (from WC Handbook)
A = 920-1000, A- = 900-919Range of outstanding achievement
B+ = 870-899, B = 820-869, B- = 800-819Range of good achievement
C+ = 770-799, C = 720-769, C- = 700-719Range of average achievement
D+ = 670-699, D = 600-669Range of below average achievement
F = < 600Inadequate achievement
Exams and Assignments:
Exams will be a mixture of multiple choice, matching, short answer and essay. Since learning science is a cumulative endeavor, exams will test on cumulative information. However, exams will mostly focus on material learned in lecture and lab since the last exam. The final exam will be comprehensive and test on all material learned in the course. Homework and quiz questions are to be completed throughout the semester. It is your responsibility to keep track of assignment due dates and ensure that your homework is submitted on time. Be certain to leave yourself extra time in case of computer or other unavoidable problems; try not to wait until a few hours before the due date to complete computer assignments.
If you miss an exam, you will receive a zero on the exam; there will be no make-ups. If extreme and unavoidable circumstances occur that make you miss an exam, you must contact the professors prior to the exam by first calling the professors’ offices and then also emailing the professors. You must have documented proof of these unusual circumstances. Similarly, no late assignments will be accepted except under documented extraordinary circumstances.
Electronic assignments submitted via email or disk will not be accepted unless otherwise indicated by the professor. All multi-page assignments must be stapled when turned in; an assignment is not considered complete until it is properly stapled and will not be accepted by the professor unstapled.
Herbarium: You will create a plant collection, using a mixture of dried specimens and your own photos, of 25 different plants. Details on this assignment are forthcoming.
Attendance/Absence/Behavior Policy:
Attendance at the entire lab period is mandatory. You may miss only one lab period or portion thereof in the entire semester without penalty. For each lab (or portion thereof) that you miss after one absence, 15 points will be deducted, regardless of the excuse. If you miss a lab where a presentation and/or an assignment is due, you will receive a zero for the presentation and/or assignment, unless you make arrangements to turn in the assignment with the professor prior to your absence.
Students are expected to actively participate in laboratory and lecture activities and will be graded on their level of participation and preparation for each class. Students are expected to exhibit appropriate classroom etiquette, including, but not limited to, listening attentively when the professor or another student is speaking, raising your hand before speaking, arriving to class on time and turning off cell phones. In addition, students are expected to clean their laboratory area and return laboratory materials to the appropriate location prior to leaving lab. Points will be deducted for inadequate participation or improper classroom etiquette.
Attendance at lectures is strongly encouraged, but attendance will not be taken. There will be learning activities and quizzes in class. If you miss a class in which these unannounced activities are administered without a documented valid excuse (see below), you will not be able to make up the points and will receive a zero. Students are responsible for getting information from other students or from the professor on what material they have missed from a lecture or laboratory, whether the absence is excused or unexcused. See the current Student Handbook for the college’s attendance policy especially as it pertains to excused absences.
There are only a total of three excused absences in lecture (see above policy for lab) that can occur in the semester without penalty. All excused absences must be documented. The College accepts these four categories of excused absences:
1)Activities in which the student serves as an official representative of the College (e.g., musical performances, athletic contests, field trips)
2)Personal illness, with documentation by the College nurse or a physician
3)Family or personal emergencies
4)When severe weather makes travel to campus dangerous
Field Trips:
Please dress appropriately for field trips (shoes for hiking, appropriate clothing, hat, etc.). Sunscreen and water are recommended on hot days. Field trips will only be cancelled in the event of extreme weather conditions; we will go out in rain and unpleasant weather. Please arrive at lab 5 minutes before it starts, as we will be leaving promptly. If you miss the van, it will count as an absence from the lab. Every effort will be made to return by 3:50 PM, within the constraints of traffic, weather, etc. It is highly recommended that you avoid scheduling anything on your lab day immediately after class in case of unavoidable lateness.
Please note that due to the distance, the field trip to the Conservatory will depart at 12:30 and return as late as 5:30. If you have a conflict, it is advised that you use the Conservatory field trip as your one excused lab absence. Please discuss your conflict for this trip with your professor.
Cell Phone Policy:
Cell phones are to be turned off during both lecture and laboratory, including driving time on field trips. Cell phones should remain in a student’s pocket or bag during the entire class. If a cell phone goes off, the class will get a warning. The second time, the entire class will get a pop quiz. Please be courteous and turn cell phones off. If there is a genuine reason you need to receive a call (e.g., awaiting an important call from a family member) let the professor know at the beginning of class.
Academic Integrity Policy:
See the current Student Handbook for the college’s Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and the process for handling academic misconduct charges. Students are expected to understand and adhere to the Academic Integrity Policy in the Student Handbook and will be reported to The Office of Academic Affairs if a violation occurs. All work in this course should be independent unless specifically stated otherwise. Many times laboratory projects will be group projects and group members share responsibility for such tasks as gathering data and giving presentations; however, any work that is turned in, such as laboratory reports or handouts, should be independently generated. Even though you may share information such as data with your lab partner, your written assignments should be done independently. Do not share laboratory reports or written information to avoid plagiarism.If it is your first academic integrity offense at the College, you will receive a zero on the relevant assignment(s). If it is your second academic integrity offense at the College, you will receive an F in the entire course.
Students with Disabilities:
Americans with Disabilities Act: If you have a documented disability that requires accommodation, contact the Academic Services Director (LeighAnn M. Oettinger, 107 Robinson Communications Center, (937) 481-2444, ). Please do so within the first week of class so that your needs may be appropriately met.
Schedule of Classes:
Note: The course content may be modified as required, at the professor’s discretion (e.g. change of pace, change in chapter readings, change in laboratory exercises, etc.). Such changes will be announced in class and posted on the course website.
Week / Date / Topic / Reading / Laboratory Activity1 / R, Jan 12 / Intro to plant biology / Ch. 1 / No lab
2 / T, Jan 17 / Review of biology of plant cell / Ch. 2,3 / Water potential
R, Jan 19 / Review of cellular movement / Ch. 4
3 / T, Jan 24 / Energy flow & light / Ch. 5 / Plant pigments
R, Jan 26 / Respiration / Ch. 6
4 / T, Jan 31 / Light reactions / Ch. 7 / Photosynthesis
R, Feb 2 / Dark reactions
5 / T, Feb 7 / Types of photosynthesis / Photosynthesis
R, Feb 9 / Cellular biology
6 / T, Feb 14 / EXAM 1 / How to use keys and identify plants
R, Feb 16 / Early development / Ch. 22
7 / T, Feb 21 / Cells and tissues / Ch. 23 / Fruit classification –
Food Science Lab
R, Feb 23 / Roots / Ch. 24
8 / T, Feb 28 / Shoots / Ch. 25 / Plant and flower morphology
R, March 2 / Roots and shoots
9 / T, March 7 / Secondary growth / Ch. 26 / Phloem transport field trip
R, March 9 / EXAM 2
10 / SPRING BREAK
11 / T, March 21 / Hormones / Ch. 27 / Phloem transport - Food Science Lab
R, March 23 / Tropisms / Ch. 28
12 / T, March 28 / Photoperiodism / Conservatory Field Trip
R, March 30 / Soils / Ch. 29
13 / T, April 4 / Plant nutrition / Plant nutrition
R, April 6 / Movement of water / Ch.30
14 / T, April 11 / Movement of solutes / Cowan Lake Field Trip
R, April 13 / EXAM 3
15 / T, April 18 / Bryophytes / Ch. 16 / Caesar Creek Field Trip
R, April 20 / Seedless vascular plants / Ch. 17
16 / T, April 25 / Gymnosperms / Ch. 18 / Glen Helen Field Trip
R, April 27 / Angiosperms / Ch. 19
17 / T, May 2 / Evolution of angiosperms / Ch. 20 / No lab
COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM – MONDAY, MAY 8, 10:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Semester Schedule:
Below is the current semester schedule for Dr. Cipollini. The easiest and quickest way to reach your professor is to arrange an appointment during office hours. If you need to meet outside of office hours, you may also schedule an appointment outside of office hours (though availability is not guaranteed). If you come to the office without an appointment, the professor may be with another student or working elsewhere on campus; thus, you should make an appointment or call ahead before coming to the professor’s office. Phone calls will be forwarded to a cell phone. If you reach the office without an appointment and the professor is not there, please call to have the professor meet you there. Questions can also be addressed via the Facebook group page or via email.
Time / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday8:30
8:45 / Office Hours
CSA 118 / Office Hours
CSA 118
9:00 / Available by appointment / Available by appointment
9:15 / Office Hours
CSA 118
9:30 / BI333
Plant Biology
CSA 315 / BI333
Plant Biology
CSA 315
9:45
10:00
10:15 / Faculty Council Meetings (every other week) or Office Hours by appointment
10:30
10:45
11:00 / Office Hours
CSA118 / Office Hours
CSA118
11:15
11:30 / Office Hours/Lunch
CSA 118/TOP / ES101G
Environmental Science
CSA 308 / ES101G
Environmental Science
CSA 308
11:45
12:00
12:15
12:30
12:45 / Lunch / Lunch
1:00 / ES101GL
Environmental Science Lab
CSA 103 / ES101GL
Environmental Science Lab
CSA 103 / BI333L
Plant Biology Lab
CSA 103
1:15
1:30
1:45
2:00
2:15
2:30
2:45
3:00
3:15
3:30
3:45
Wilmington College Mission Statement:
The purpose of Wilmington College is to educate, inspire, and prepare each student for a life of success and service.
To fulfill that purpose, Wilmington College provides a high quality undergraduate and graduate education shaped by the traditions of the liberal arts, career preparation, and the distinctive values of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). By offering academic programs, practical experience, and co-curricular activities in a variety of settings to students from diverse backgrounds, the College leads students to gain an awareness of the world, to acquire knowledge of career and vocation, and to seek truth and social justice.
In keeping with the rich heritage of the liberal arts, the College seeks to educate the whole person-intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual-in ways that foster critical thinking, reflection, the free exchange of ideas, open inquiry, tolerance, and a desire for lifelong learning. The liberal arts are integrated with career preparation to help students develop the knowledge and skills to succeed in a career or further education.
As an academic community, Wilmington College is rooted in historic Quaker values that include integrity, service, simplicity, equality, peace and social justice, and respect for all persons. These values motivate those who learn and work at Wilmington College to make positive contributions to their professions and their communities.
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