SYLLABUS
Biology 269, Human Reproduction (3 SH)Spring 2018
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9:00-9:50am, Pasteur 237
Instructor: Ed W. Thompson Ph.D. Office: Pasteur 224 (Office hours posted on door)
Phone: 457-5271 (office) e-mail:
Textbook: None required (we will discuss readings in class).
Course information will be posted on the course home page:
This course applies to the University Studies Program Science & Social Policycategory,and to MTCGoal 9
It is not an elective for any Biology major or minor.
Course Format:
There are four major components of this class:
a) Lectures, quizzes, and exams
b) Weekly summaries and discussions of reproductive topics in the media
c) Discussions and reportsof videos related to human reproduction
d) Group oral presentations of reproductive topics
Course Expectations and Objectives:
This course will present a basic but comprehensive study of various aspects of human reproduction. I anticipate that most students in this class will have minimal background in biology or chemistry, but you should be able to easily master that information as it is presented. There are two primary objectives of this course. The first isfor you to understand the anatomy and physiology of the human reproductive system, the basic genetics of reproduction and inheritance, conception and contraception, embryology, pregnancy and childbirth, the human sexual response, sexually transmitted diseases, and other topics related to these. Equally important, the second primary objective of this course will be to understand the ethical, historical, political, and social aspects of human reproduction and to be able to correlate these with the appropriate biology.
Approach to the Course:
Your success in this course will depend on your attendance, class participation, and how much study time you put into it. Its concepts aren't particularly difficult, but there is a lot of material to master. You must take good notes and study them (not just read them a few times) until you understand them. You will need to use outside resources (books, articles, electronic sources) to help you master the material. Your short-term memory can hold only a certain amount of information, so change the subject you are studying or take a ten-minute break every half hour or so to allow your brain to move what you have learned to long-term memory. Use your eyes (read), your ears (listen), your muscles (write), and your mouth (discuss) to get material into your brain (learn).
Cramming before an exam is rarely successful in any course, but particularly so in this one since you will be learning many new terms in addition to concepts of how human reproduction occurs. Similarly, trying to prepare your written/oral report just before it is due won't work - an early start will help ensure a good result.
Your success is important to me, and I will do everything I can to help you master this material, provided you do your part as well. Feel free to talk to me about this course and your progress in it before problems arise.
Attendance:
Because lectures are not based on a textbook and the class will often include video presentations and in-class discussions, you are expected to be in class each time. In order to be excused, you must notify me of an absence no later than the beginning of the session you will miss (e-mail preferred). Please note that quizzes and media reports can not be "made up" if you miss a class (even if excused) but your lowest score in each will be dropped as noted in “Grading” below. These assignments must be turned in during the class period when they are due - they can not be turned in later or transmitted electronicallyinstead if you miss class.
Quizzes and Exams:
Eleven quizzes on material presented during the previous week will be given as noted on the course schedule below. An exam covering material in the first half of the course will be given on Friday February 23rd. An exam covering material presented in the second half of the course will be given on Tuesday, May 1st, during final exam week.
Each quiz or exam may include multiple choice, matching, Punnet squares, and short answer questions; quizzes may include extended essay-type questions. All exams and quizzes must be taken at the scheduled times unless an emergency occurs. Make-ups for quizzes will not be given for any reason, although one may be dropped, and make-ups for exams can be given only if you can document that the reason for missing the exam was completely beyond your control (see “Special Circumstances” below). Except in true emergencies, you must also notify me no later than the beginning of the scheduled exam time. Things like vacations and "car trouble" are within your control, so plan enough time for emergencies if you travel out of town. Please schedule medical and other appointments outside of class time.
Any questions about answers or scores on a quiz or exam should be brought to my attention within one week after its answer sheet is returned to you.
Weekly Summaries and Discussions of Reproductive Topics in the Media:
One important component of this course will be presentations and discussions of current topics related to human reproduction which appear in the media. Each Friday you will turn in a short summary of an article or report which has appeared in a print or electronic format during that week. You may also be called upon to do a brief verbal summary of your topic and lead a brief class discussion (~5 min) of it. Possible sources include, but are not limited to, newspapers, magazines, websites, weblogs, television reports, advertisements, etc. The only limitations are that each media report you select must relate fairly directly to human reproduction, it must be a source which can be easily accessed (please give complete citations), and it must have appeared within the previous week. Your written report should summarize the major points of the report in no more than 1000 words, which should be followed by a brief "position" or "reaction" statement of your response to it. Controversial subjects are encouraged, and critical thinking will be rewarded.
Everyone is expected to actively participate in the discussions of topics presented by other students. These may be controversial topics, and very rarely will there be absolutely "right" or "wrong" positions. You are expected to offer your honest opinions and to take a position, but you are expected to do so politely and in a manner which respects the opinions of individuals who may disagree with you. As noted above, these summaries must be turned in as “hard copies” at the beginning of the class period they are due.
We will not do discussions of media reports during the weeks of the class when oral reports are being given, but written summaries will still be turned in.
Discussions and Reports of Videos Related to Human Reproduction:
Another important component of this course will be video presentations related to human reproduction and its implications in human society. We will discuss these in class, in addition to which you willselect one topic from these, do further research on it, and write areport. You will need to identify and use print and/or electronic resources to examine your topic in significantly more depth than it is presented in the video. This may be a group paper if you wish, with up to three participants.
A review of readily available information which is commonly known will not be sufficient - my expectation is that your report will be both descriptive and analytical. I strongly recommend that you pick a limited aspect of a topic rather than the broader topic itself so you can discuss it in the appropriate depth.
More details on this report are linked to the course homepage. It will take me a while to read all of these reports, so theyare due Monday, April 9th. Half credit will be given for a paper turned in before 5:00 pm on Monday April 16thand they will not be accepted after that.
Oral Presentations:
You will prepare and present an oral report on the social, ethical, and/or political implications of a topic in the broad field of human reproduction, working in groups of two, three, or four students (but not alone or more than four). You will need to identify and use many different types of resources. Your presentation should be ten to fifteen minutes in length and should be well organized and easily understood. All members of the group are expected to participate equally in all aspects ofthe presentation - please do not just divide the project up and assign each member of the group to do a particular piece of it. Class discussions will be encouraged.
More details are linked to the course homepage.Topics will be selected during the third or fourth week of the course and presented during the final three weeks.
Grading:
Each of the two exams is fifty points. Each weekly quiz is ten points, with the lowest score dropped. Each weekly media report is three points, with the lowest dropped. Your written report and oral presentation areeach forty points. Thus, the following points are possible:
Quizzes 100 points
Media Summaries 40 points
Midterm Exam 50 points
Final Exam 50 points
Written Report 40 points
Oral presentation 40 points TOTAL: 320 points
Letter grades will be assigned only at the end of the course and will be "curved" by calculating the number of points needed to bring the top student up to the full 320 points and then adding this number of points to the scores of all students who have regularly attended class and have actively participated in class presentations and discussions. Students who miss more than two classes for any reason or who do not participate in class discussions should not expect to get these "curve" points. This is intended to raise the grades of students who make strong efforts to keep up in class, and to lower the grades of students not willing to make this effort. In general, grades will be given as 91-100% = A, 81-90.9% = B, 71-80.9% = C, 61-70.9% = D, and <61% = F.
Academic Integrity:
Unfortunately, there may be times when you may be tempted to seek an unfair advantage or to submit something which you did not write. Don’t. All students at Winona State University are expected to be familiar with and to follow the university’sAcademic Integrity Policy. This is available in the Academic Policies & University Requirements section of the online undergraduate catalog. Violations of this policy include, but are not necessarily limited to, cheating, deception ormisrepresentation, enabling academic dishonesty, fabrication, multiple submissions, and plagiarism. A discussion of the latter is provided on the course homepage.
Any violation of this policy(even for a small assignment) will result in a score of "0" for allstudents involved; a second incident will result in a course grade of "F”. The university’s Director of Conduct and Citizenship may be informed of any violations.
Special Circumstances:
I recognize that some WSU students have special circumstances which can affect your performance in this class such as disabilities, health concerns, and parenting responsibilities. I am willing to provide some flexibility on attendance, assignments, quizzes, and exams if I am aware of these in sufficient time to make appropriate accommodations. Please check out the link provided on the course homepage and then e-mail me or stop by my office and discuss this with me early in the semester.
SPRING 2018 COURSE SCHEDULE
Week / Topic / Quiz, Exam, ReportJanuary 8-12 / Types of reproduction;
Overview of human reproduction & life cycles / No quiz
Media Summary #1 Friday
January 15-19
(No class Monday) / Principles of genetics & inheritance / Quiz #1 Wednesday
Media Summary #2 Friday
January 22-26 / Genetics & inheritance continued / Quiz #2 Monday
Media Summary #3 Friday
January 29 –
February 2 / Female anatomy & physiology / Quiz #3 Monday
Media Summary #4 Friday
February 5-9 / Male anatomy & physiology;
Endocrine control of reproduction / Quiz #4 Monday
Media Summary #5 Friday
February 12-16 / Sexual response and intercourse: Social, historical,& ethical implications / Quiz #5 Monday
Media Summary #6 Friday
February 19-23 / Fertilization & early embryology / No quiz this week
Media Summary #7 Wednesday
Exam #1 Friday;
February 26 –
March 2 / Infertility & contraception / Quiz #6 Monday
Media Summary #8 Friday
March 5-9 / Spring Break
March 12-16 / The embryo and fetus / Quiz #7 Monday
Media Summary #9 Friday
March 19-23 / Birth and infancy / Quiz #8 Monday
Media Summary #10 Friday
March 26-30 / Sexual maturation; Effects of disease and aging / Quiz #9 Monday
Media Summary #11 Friday
April 2-6 / Birth defects; / Quiz #10Monday
Media Summary #12Friday
April 9-13
(No class Friday) / Student Presentations / Quiz #11 Monday
Report due Monday
No media summary this week
April 16-20 / Student Presentations / No quiz
Media Summary #13 (no discussion) Friday
April 23-27 / Student Presentations / No quiz
Media Summary #14 (no discussion) Friday
May 1 (Tuesday of finals week): 8:00-10:00am / Exam #2