Biology 121 - Concepts of Biology

Assigned Textbook: Biology: Concepts and Applications, 5th Edition by C. Starr; 2003, Brooks/Cole - Thompson Learning, Belmont, CA.

Attendance: Attendance is expected and encouraged for all lectures. At the beginning of each lecture, students will be required to sign his/her name on a circulated attendance sheet (placed at the front of the classroom). Failure to sign your name will be considered an absence even if you were in class. For excused absences (as determined at my discretion), I will adhere to the University policy on attendance and absences. Any student missing more than three weeks of lectures (10 MWF or 7 TTh class meetings) will receive an "F" in the course.

Make-up Exams: Students with excused absences ONLY will be allowed to make-up missed exams.
The determination of an absence as excused or unexcused will be at my discretion.
Make-up exams will be entirely an essay exam format.
A make-up exam must be taken within three weeks of the missed exam.
All missed exams MUST BE COMPLETED prior to dead week.
The Final Exam must be taken on the day and time assigned. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Lecture Grading: 200 total points are available from the lecture component of the course. There will be three, 40 point lecture exams and an 80 point final exam (25% cumulative + 75% new material). Each student is required to provide his/her own Par Score 200 forms for each exam. There will also be 20 quizzes at the beginning of lecture (these will be unannounced prior to class). 40 total points are available from the quizzes and will be used to replace your lowest lecture exam grade.

Course Grading: The lab component of the course contributes 100 points toward your final grade. Therefore, the lecture component accounts for 2/3 (i.e, 200 out of 300 possible points for the course) and the lab component the reaming 1/3 (i.e., 100 of the 300 total possible points for the course).
Final grades will be assigned as follows:

A=100-90% (300 - 269 total points)
B=89-80% (268 - 239 total points)
C=79-70% (238 - 209 total points)
D=69-60% (208 - 179 total points)
F=<60% ( < 178 total points)

Academic Integrity: I will follow and implement the University's policy on academic dishonesty. A portion of the policy is reproduced for you and can be found in your student handbook. "It is the responsibility of the student to abstain from cheating. Dishonesty of any kind with respect to examinations, written assignments, in or out of class, alteration of records, or illegal possession of current examinations or keys to examinations shall be considered cheating." "It is the responsibility of each faulty member to maintain the best possible conditions to prevent cheating in any manner. Each faculty member shall arrange for vigilant protection of all examinations and class exercises. He/she shall also employ every precaution to deny access to class records or examinations to anyone who is not entitled to such information." Any student who is discovered breaking any of these academic standards will be dealt with as outlined in the University Handbook and will fail the assignment and/or course.

Tentative Course Syllabus:
The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus and will inform the students in writing of any change as soon as possible.

WEEK	DATES	TOPIC	CHAPTER
1	8/26 - 8/30	Introduction	Chapter 1
2	9/3 - 9/6;	Molecules of Life	Chapters 2-3
3	9/9 - 9/13	Cells: Structures and Functions	Chapter 4