biology | Course Paper

Last revised 1/18/2023

BIOLOGY 1010 COURSE SYLLABUS SPRING2018

Professor Sarah Hyatt

COURSE DESCRIPTION

General Biology (BIO 1010) is a four credit Biological Science course developed primarily for non-science majors.

The course consists of a lecture component (three hours each week) and a laboratory session (three hours each

week). The time commitment on your part, therefore, is the same as if you had enrolled in TWO three-credit

courses. At the end of the semester, ONE GRADE IS GIVEN based on your performance in BOTH lecture and

laboratory. This class is a 100% face-to-face class on the Largo Campus of PGCC.

CREDIT HOUR EXPLANATION

At Prince George’s Community College, for all credit courses, students are expected to spend a minimum of 37.5

combined hours of instructional time and related coursework time per credit hour. This course is a 4 credit course.

This course achieves the minimum of 150 hours of total instructional hours by requiring 75 hours instructional time

and 75 hours of student work outside of instructional time.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name: Ms. Sarah Hyatt

Title: Assistant Professor

Office Location: CH210D

Office Phone: 301-546-6718

Biology Office Number: 301-546-0420

Office Hours: Mon/Wed: 8:45-9:15am. Tues. 12:30-2:30pm, Thu. 8:45-10:45am. Also by appointment.

E-mail: hyattsm@pgcc.edu

WARNING: ALL COMMUNICATION BY E-MAIL WILL BE DONE THROUGH THE PGCC EMAIL

SYSTEM. NO EMAILS FROM STUDENTS NON-PGCC ADDRESSES WILL RECOGNIZED. Please

make sure you have a working PGCC email address and that you check it frequently

TEXTBOOKS

1. *REQUIRED* Human Biology: Condensed, 8th edition. 2016. Bres and Weisshaar. Education Resources.

This is a crucial book to own as a new book. I do not recommend getting this used or renting. It is essentially the

outline for the class and will make note taking much easier. It also has all your homeworks and some extra credit

assignments in it so the most recent edition is important. You may only be able to get this at the PGCC Bookstore.

2. * REQUIRED *Thinking About Biology, 5th edition. 2016. Bres and Weisshaar. Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

ISBN 978-0-134–03316-7or 0-134–03316–7. This is your lab book. You will need to draw, take notes, and fill in lots

of questions and answers. This is another one I don’t recommend renting or buying used. It is important to get the most

recent edition of the book.

3. RECOMMENDED: What is Life? A Guide to Biology with Physiology, 3rd edition. 2015. Phelan. WH

Freeman. ISBN 978-1-4641-0243-1 or 1-4641–0243–0. This is your textbook. You can use a previous edition of this

book with no problem so you can get a real bargain! You can also rent this textbook! You can use another general

biology text that has been issued in the last 3 years but run the risk of it not being as complete as the recommended

one. We also place a copy of this book on reserve at the library if you can’t find an edition within your budget limits.

Last revised 1/18/2023

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS

1. Fetal Pig Dissection Diagram Sheet. You will need this mid semester so wait if you are strapped for

cash. It is optional.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

1. Reliable access to a computer for taking online quizzes. Please have a computer backup plan in the event of a

problem with your primary computer.

2. Because you will be completing your lab quizzes online, you will need to make sure that you have easy access to

a computer that fulfills the following criteria:

a) • At least a Pentium-class or Mac computer with at least 256 MB RAM

b) • Broadband (DSL, Cable, FIOS) is highly recommended

c) • An Internet Service Provider (ISP)

d) • Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 4.0+, and Safari 4.0+. The recommended browser for Blackboard 9.1, SP10

is Firefox.

3. Several #2 pencils (Mechanical pencils are preferred. You never have to sharpen them and they are better for

the environment.) and pens.

2. Erasers (lots). An eraser stick may be a good idea.

3. Set of colored highlighters and/or colored pencils

4. Calculator (nothing fancy needed)

5. Stapler (Points will be deducted for papers that are turned in without a staple.)

6. Ruler or straight-edge (for drawing graphs)

Bring the necessary materials with you to ALL lab and lecture sessions. You will always write exercises you do

during lab in pencil.

EXPECTED COURSE OUTCOMES

1. Apply the fundamental principles of ecology to real world situations, including the transfer of energy and

cycling of materials through ecosystems

2. List and explain factors that impact human population growth and evaluate the impact of human population

dynamics on ecosystems

3. Explain how various human actions affect the global and local environments

4. Apply the basic principles of chemistry to nutrition and other functions within the human body

5. Apply knowledge of the working of each body system explored during the course, to the course

instructional objectives

6. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between structure and function within each body system,

among body systems, and as applied to health problems

7. Apply genetic principles to problems related to inheritance, genetic diseases, and current issues in

molecular biology

8. Uses scientific method to solve problems

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS:

For success in the lecture portion of this course:

• Log on to BLACKBOARD and download the presentations for each unit. This will make additional note

taking easier. Answer keys, extra credit assignments, and other information will be posted onto blackboard

and quizzes will be given on Blackboard during the course of the semester. Be sure that you have access!!

• Check your PGCC email regularly and check Blackboard regularly so you are up to date on events

happening in the class.

Last revised 1/18/2023

• BEFORE we go over the material in class, complete the assigned reading in the textbook.

• While we are going over the material in class, fill in all the blanks in the Biology 101 study guide

(Human Biology: Condensed) and take comprehensive notes. You may make an audio recording of the

class but may not video tape the class without my permission. These recordings are for personal use and no

audio or video recording is permitted to appear on any social media site including YouTube, Facebook, or

others.

• REVIEW all the above assigned materials and rewrite your notes in your own words, after we have

covered each topic in class. INSERT re-written notes into the appropriate location in the BIO 1010 study

guide. When preparing for an exam, concentrate on the information presented in the study guide and your

class notes.

For success in the laboratory portion of this course:

• BEFORE you come to lab, read the assigned laboratory exercise in Thinking About Biology. Log on to

BLACKBOARD and download the presentations for each lab. This will make additional note taking

easier.

• WHILE we are in lab, get checked off for all activities and take comprehensive notes.

• Complete the Self-Test and review the above materials at home, after you have completed each lab

exercise. When preparing for a lab quiz, concentrate on the information presented in the lab manual and

what we did in class, and the powerpoint slides for the activities.

• Take the online quizzes as soon as possible in order for you to remember all that you have done in lab for

those lab classes. Be sure you have reliable computer access to take the quizzes. Have a backup plan ready

in case your primary computer or internet has a problem. The Largo campus has many computers for you to

use.

CLASS PARTICIPATION/ATTENDANCE

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all lectures and laboratory classes. Attendance will be taken for every

class period (lab and lecture). People arriving late will be marked late. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

SIGNING THE ATTENDANCE SHEET. In the event that you miss class, you are responsible for all

work/content assigned during your absence.

The NA GRADE may be assigned to any student on the roster who never attends the class during the first three

weeks of class (or equivalent of 20 percent in short courses). See a more detailed explanation in the grading section

of the syllabus

There will be graded homework assignments, class discussions, and non-graded, optional homework

assignments. To be successful, you must keep up with the assigned readings and be prepared to discuss them in

class. If you allow yourself to fall behind, it will be very difficult to catch up again. You are expected to read the

assigned lecture AND laboratory material BEFORE the class meets and to be prepared to discuss the material in

class.In order to be successful in this course, you must be able to demonstrate your comprehension by explaining

course concepts in your own words and apply your knowledge to new situations. Exams will include objective

questions in a variety of formats. There will also be several essay questions and problem solving opportunities on

each examination.

All lecture and laboratory exams/quizzes (except the lecture final) will be returned to you. Exams are a learning

experience. It is important to go over the exams and correct your misconceptions. The course material is

cumulative in that comprehension of subjects later in the course hinges on your understanding of earlier,

foundation concepts. If you need clarification on something you missed on the exam, or didn’t understand during

your studying, please ask me about it. After an assignment is returned, you have only 5 days to notify me of an

issue with the grading.

Students will not be allowed to leave lab early without permission. Should you choose to do so without

permission, you will be marked absent for that laboratory session. YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE

Last revised 1/18/2023

THE QUIZ OR TURN IN THE HOMEWORK ON THE MISSED SUBJECT MATTER THE

FOLLOWING LAB PERIOD.

DELAYED COLLEGE OPENINGS:

When the college announces a delayed opening, all classes with at least 45 minutes of class time remaining at the

time of the opening will be held. For example, in the event of a 10 a.m. opening, a 9:30-10:45 a.m. class will be

held. This procedure applies to all credit classes. To sign up for text alerts such as school closings and delays, go

to www.pgcc.edu, click Services & Support, and then click the Owl Alert icon. Owl Alert is the college’s instant

messaging and email notification system.

If I am late to class or cannot be in class that day, you will be notified by the Biology office or a substitute will be

provided. We make every attempt to ensure that class will be held. If I am late, please stay in the classroom or by

the door until notified by the biology office, or until I (or another instructor) arrives.

CELL PHONE AND CLASS ETIQUETTE:

Cell phones should be silenced and not used during class unless requested by the professor. Texting/browsing and

calling during class is inappropriate and disruptive to the class. Please step outside the classroom/lab if you need to

use your phone. For the first offense, you will be asked to turn off your phone or leave the room if your cell phone

conversation is disturbing to others or used inappropriately. If there are further disturbances, you will be asked to

turn your phone off and put it away or told to bring it to the front of the class for the remainder of the class period

when you can retrieve it. You are responsible for your own devices.

Be courteous to your fellow students and instructors. Loud conversations during lecture or disruptive behavior in

lab or lecture will not be tolerated and you may be asked to leave the room. Be courteous when contacting your

professor by email or by phone. While it may be convenient to email your professor through your phone, remember

to be polite, use proper grammar and refer to your professor by name, identify yourself and the class you are in so

that the professor can determine the best way to help you. Text abbreviations, slang, and informal language are not

appropriate.

COURSE ASSESSMENT/GRADING

The final course grade is determined based on 780 possible points. The exact number of points needed for a

particular grade is listed below. Grades are assigned based on the grading policy stated in the syllabus and not the

Blackboard grade book percentages or other calculations which may not accurately reflect your performance.

ACCUMULATED POINTS necessary to receive a course grade:

A = 780-702 points

B = 701-624 points

C = 623-546 points

D = 545-468 points

F = below 468 points

The NA GRADE may be assigned by the faculty member to any student on the roster who never attends during the

first three weeks of class (or equivalent of 20 percent in short courses). For face to face classes, attendance is

determined by appearing in class or academic activity. For online classes, attendance is considered as participating

in an academic activity such as a discussion or assignment (logging into the class is not considered sufficient).

If you do not attend the class as indicated by the attendance sheet by the end of the third week of class, a

grade of NA will be entered as your grade.

The FX GRADE may be assigned by the faculty member to any student on the roster who did not officially

withdraw from the course but who failed to participate in course activities through the end of the period. It is used

when, in the opinion of the instructor, completed assignments or course activities or both were insufficient to make

normal evaluation of academic performance possible. Submitting 50% or less of assignments puts you at risk for a

FX grade at the end of the semester.

Withdrawal: As the semester continues, I hope to see all of you staying in my course and doing well. However, if

you are considering withdrawing from this course, your withdrawal may have impact on your financial aid and

academic standing. So if you are considering withdrawing at any point, please speak with me before making a final

decision. I may be able to offer help or direct you to someone who can help. If I am unavailable, please contact the

Department Chair, Dr. Hubley, via email at hubleymj@pgcc.edu or 301-546-0420.

COURSE COORDINATOR

If you have an issue with the class, please come speak to me so we can work out a solution. If we can’t reach a solution,

your next step is to meet with the course coordinator as they are the next point of contact for any concerns or

unresolved issues. The Department Chair and Dean will usually send you to them because they are more familiar with

your course. The General Biology Course Coordinator is Dr. Cassandra Moore-Crawford, CH 210H, Phone: 301–546–

7562, E-mail: moorecm@pgcc.edu or call the Biological Sciences Office: 301-546-0420

LECTURE EXAMS = 400 POINTS

There will be four lecture exams, each worth 100 points. Each exam will include several essay questions. For

example, you will be required to explain basic concepts, define terms, read and draw graphs, and demonstrate your

expertise in data analysis and interpretation.

** NOTE: LECTURE AND LABORATORY MAKE-UP EXAMS ARE NOT GIVEN. **

It is YOUR responsibility to contact me within 24 hours of a missed exam/quiz. A missed exam/quiz without a

VALID DOCUMENTED EXCUSE provided within 24 hours is an AUTOMATIC ZERO for the exam with no

makeup offered.