Moreno Valley College

General Biology 1

Spring 2018

Lecture Instructor: Mrs. Marshall

Office Location: SAS 327

Office Phone: 571-6141

Email:

Webpage:

Lecture Meeting Days: Monday & Wednesday

Lecture Meeting Hours: 11:10am-12:35pm

Office Hours: Mon. 1:00-2:00pm; Mon. & Wed. 8:30-9:30am; Tues. & Thurs. 1:00-2:00pm

Laboratory Instructor: Felipe Galicia Email:

Laboratory Meeting Times: Mon.1:20-4:30pmORWed. 1:20-4:30pmORFri. 11:30am-02:40pm

Biology Lab: SCI 255

General Information about Biology 1

The main goal of this class is to provide you with a very basic but fairly broad understanding of the scientific principles and methodologies surrounding Biology. An awareness of the methods of science and a basic understanding of the natural world is of critical importance to us as students and as contributing members of our society. We will be covering a considerable amount of topics at a rather accelerated pace, and the material can become confusing at times. One way of keeping the material understandable is by participating in classroom discussions and not hesitating to ask questions. I encourage you to keep your eyes open for any information in newspapers, magazines, or other media sources that might relate to the topics being discussed, for they will help you apply what you have learned in class. The laboratory portion is meant to deepen your understanding of Biology because you will be conducting experiments and carrying out simulations that will highlight key topics in Biology.

Student Learning Outcomes:

List the steps of the scientific method, and understand the process of science.
Recognize the components and organization of the cell, how cells and multicellular organisms acquire and utilize energy.
Comprehend and describe the steps involved in cellular reproduction.
Compare and contrast individual organisms, and population dynamics which include heritability, adaptation, and evolutionary principles.
Explain the ecosystems and the dynamics of the biosphere.
Relate biological principles to their lives and interpret their place in the environment.
Use appropriate biological terminology in discussing biological principles and relationships.

Text and Materials

Text Book: Campbell, Reece, Taylor, Simon, Biology: Concepts and Connections w/ Mastering Biology edition: NA, ISBN: 9781269773744 Pearson/ Benjamin Cummings. This is a custom book available at the M.V.C. bookstore. (RECOMMENDED)

Mastering Biology Access Code for homework assignments. This access code is required regardless of the text book you use for the class. (REQUIRED)

Biology Laboratory Manual: Instructions for accessing all lab material will be given to you in lab by your lab instructor. (REQUIRED)

Scantron Sheets: Form No. 882-E. Please be sure to purchase scantron forms before you come to class to take an exam. You will need four scantron forms for the lecture portion of this class (one for each exam). (REQUIRED)

Special Needs

If you have a documented physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your ability to carry out assigned course work, I urge you to contact the staff in Disabled Students Services (DSS) at y571-6138 on the Moreno Valley Campus in Library 230. DSS will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation are confidential.

Attendance and Tardiness

We are covering a large amount of information in a short period of time and regular attendance is a must! Exams will cover material discussed in lecture and not necessarily in the text. Therefore, missing lecture will have a significantly negative impact on your grade. Tardiness is a distraction to the education process, so please come to class on time. If you are consistently tardy, absent (3 combined total), or leaving early you can be dropped from the course.

EVALUATION

You will be given a letter grade that is based on the percentage of points you have earned out of the total points possible. Your points will come from online homework, three unit exams, one final exam and laboratory.

Homework assignments will be completed online. Please follow the Mastering Biology instructions on the mastering biology website ( There is also a direct link to the mastering biology website on my webpage. You will be given several weeks to complete homework assignments that are due on or before the exam date for that unit. You can redo your homework if you make a request (in person/email) before the homework due date by sending me an email with the specific assignment you want to redo. Your course ID for Mastering Biology is:MWBIOLOGYHW

Unit Exams are1hour 25 min., non-cumulative exams consisting of multiple choice and true/false questions worth 100 points each. The Final Exam is a cumulative exam consisting of multiple choice and true/false questions and is worth 150 pts. You should use your lecture notes, text book, homework assignments, and any other available resource to help prepare for your exams.

The Laboratory component contributes 40 % of the points to your overall grade.

Grading
Source / Points / Grade / % / Point-Range
Online Homework / 150 / A / 90 / 900-1000
3 Unit Exams / 100points each / B / 80 / 800-899
Cumulative Final Exam / 150 / C / 70 / 700-799
Lab / 400 / D / 60 / 600-699
Total Points in Class / 1000 / F 59 and below
Topics Covered and Associated Reading

UnitTopicsChapter

IBiology: Exploring Life1

The Chemical Basis of Life2

The Molecules of Cells3

A Tour of the Cell4

Tentative Date for Exam 1:Wednesday, 3/7

IIThe Working Cell (Metabolism)5

Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food7

How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy6

Tentative Date for Exam 2:Wednesday, 4/4

IIICellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance8

Patterns of Inheritance9

Molecular Biology of the Gene10

How Genes are Controlled11.1-7, 11.12-16

Tentative Date for Exam 3:Wednesday, 5/9

IVHow Populations Evolve13.1-14, 13.16-18

The Origin of Species14.1-7

Population Ecology19.1-7

*Final Exam: Monday, June 4 @ 11:00 AM -1:30 PM in STU 101*

Academic Dishonesty

Board Regulation 6080, Section III.C.1 and 2 approved on January 25, 2005 states:

“For instances of academic dishonesty a faculty member may take any one of the following actions:

The faculty member may reduce the score on tests or assignment(s), reduce the grade in the course, fail the student in the course or recommend to the appropriate administrative officer that the student be suspended from the course. If course suspension is recommended, the administrative officer will review the information regarding the instance of academic dishonesty, notify the student, and will prescribe appropriate due process procedures.

The administrative officer will make note of the offense in the student’s educational records. A second instance of academic dishonesty may result in expulsion proceedings. Any tuition and applicable fees will not be refunded as a result of disciplinary action for academic misconduct.”

Important Dates

Holidays:Mondays, Feb. 19 and May 28

Spring Break: Monday, Apr. 9 through Friday, April 13

Last day to add a full-term class: Friday, Feb. 23

Last day to drop without a ‘W’: see WebAdvisor

Last day to drop with a ‘W’: Friday, May 11

Last day of class: Wednesday, May 30

*Special Note*

I reserve the right to modify this syllabus through the semester. Dates of lecture exams and lecture topics may be subject to change.