Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Steven J. Wolf

Office: Naraghi Hall of Science 269

Office Hours: MWF 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. and by appointment.

Phone: 667-3489. If you leave a message speak clearly and slowly or your call will not be returned.

Email: swolf@arnica.csustan.edu Some things are best discussed in person. Do not use email to discuss personal problems or your grades. Questions that are answered on the syllabus will be ignored.

Lectures: MWF 12:20 p.m. - 1:18 p.m. in C-102.

Text: Basic Concepts in Biology, 8th Edition, by Starr. 

Announcements: Consult the announcements page often for important, up to the minute information.

No classes on the following days:

October 13 - Columbus Day
November 28- Thanksgiving

Course objectives: This course is intended to:

1. provide an understanding of what science is and its methodologies.
2. provide an overview of the issues, principles, methodologies, and perspectives of biology. 
3. develop an understanding to allow effective communication on biological issues. 
4. provide a working background to critically evaluate biological issues and develop continuous inquiry and life-long learning. 
5. provide the framework to understand, examine critically, and use information from various sources to answer questions relevant to biology. 
6. provide an understanding of the accomplishments of selected individuals to biology.
7. demonstrate the relationships between the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, geology and the other sciences with an emphasis on how these fields are closely inter-related. 
8. demonstrate the interdependence of humans on natural ecosystems and the diversity of life on earth. 
9. develop more informed and responsible citizens with respect to issues concerning the living world.

Teaching philosophy: "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime" - Confucius. Your instructor is here to teach you to fish, i.e. think. A question may sometimes be answered with a question, or your fellow classmates may be called upon to help answer it. This is to lead you to the answer, not embarrass you. You are only asked to make an honest effort to answer the question. However, if you are not keeping up with the material then you may indeed be embarrassed.

Attendance: This is college. The only attendance policy is that if you come to class you must respect the rights of others and not disrupt the class in any way. However, if you do not regularly attend class you will probably not pass. Please be on time or do not come at all. However, if you must come late or leave early, then please sit in the back of the room.

Student Conduct: In such a large and crowded class it is essential that students respect the rights of others. Therefore, those who disrupt the class by talking or any other means will be asked to leave. Repeat offenders will be turned over to the appropriate student disciplinary committee. Turn off your cell phones.

Cheating: There is a zero tolerance policy. Any cheating whatsoever will result in an automatic F in the class and the matter will be turned over to the appropriate student disciplinary committee. Submitting a quiz for an absent student is also cheating. Taking out a cell phone during an exam is considered cheating, your exam will be confiscated, and you will receive a grade of F. 

Exams: There will be four (4) exams, each worth 80 points. If you are late then you will have less time to complete the exam. Traffic and/or car problems are not acceptable excuses for being late. Leave early on exam days to ensure you will be on time. Always bring a #2 pencil and Scantron form 883-E to the exams. 

You must not leave the room during an exam without the instructors permission. You must turn off cell phones and remove baseball caps during exams. If your cell phone rings during an exam ten (10) points will be deducted from your score. Failing to follow the instructions written on your exam will result in two (2) points being deducted for each violation. No food or drinks are permitted during exams. Cell phones must be put away during exams. Taking out a cell phone during an exam is considered cheating, your exam will be confiscated, and you will receive a grade of F for that exam. 

Note: the Scantron machine sometime makes mistakes, particularly when you change an answer and do not completely erase the other choice. In order to verify these mistakes you must also circle the correct answer on the question sheet. Challenges to the machine's accuracy will not be accepted if you did not do so. You have until the next class period, after the exam is returned, to challenge its accuracy. 

It is your responsibility to notify the instructor prior to missing an exam and to supply him with a valid, written excuse. There will be no extra credit nor makeup exams. All requests to take exams at other than scheduled times must be in writing to the instructor at least one week prior to the scheduled exam. If you miss an exam for a legitimate emergency it is still your responsibility to notify the instructor immediately. Under no circumstances will you be allowed to take an exam once it has been handed back.

Exams may consist of multiple choice, matching, short answers, diagrams, and short or long essays. The instructor reserves the right to give unannounced quizzes if it becomes apparent that students are not keeping up with the material and/or there are an unacceptable number of absences. If you happen to be absent that day or you fail to follow instructions, you will receive a grade of 0 for that quiz. 

Grades: A = 100-90%, B = 89.9-80%, C = 79.9-70%, D = 69.9-60%, F <60%, CR > 69.9%, NC < 70%.

Grading Options: October 27 is the last day you may change your grading option. No exceptions. To do so you must have your instructor sign a yellow add/drop form. It is your responsibility to turn this form in to Admissions and Records. Your instructor will strictly follow the grading option indicated on the final grade sheet supplied by Admissions and Records. Consult with your advisor before making your decision. Grades will not be changed once they have been submitted.

Evolution: Evolution is the unifying theme of biology and it will be the central theme of this course. If you have an open mind, which is what college is all about, and you understand the first lecture, you should not be threatened by it, regardless of your religious beliefs. Please remember that your beliefs are but one of dozens. If you feel the instructor has disrespected them then please see him personally. Future teachers and those with an interest in science and religion are urged to read Denying Evolution: Creationism, Scientism, and the Nature of Science, a very readable and entertaining paperback by Massimo Pigliucci available at Amazon.com.

 Important Date: October 1 is the last day to drop the course.

Study skills: This course is designed to introduce you to the basic principles and processes of biology. The lectures will cover only selected topics from the text chapters listed below, supplemented by additional material from many other sources. Therefore perfect attendance is a virtual necessity if you expect to pass the course.

To gain the most from lectures, it is best to read relevant text material and class notes beforehand and make a few notes or prepare questions for especially difficult material. Do not be overly concerned if you do not immediately grasp the material, if it were that easy we would not need lectures. During class pay attention and take complete and orderly notes. Exam questions come directly from lecture notes! Do not assume you will remember things because they are easy or obvious; several weeks later when you are preparing for an exam they may not seem so easy or obvious. Pay particular attention to diagrams, lists and terms written on the board as well as anything the instructor clearly emphasizes by tone of voice.

During lecture do not hesitate to ask questions, make constructive comments or contribute if you have expertise on a particular subject. The only "dumb question" is an un-asked one! Very soon after class you should re-read the text material along with your notes. You may find you missed something in lecture or the text, and very frequently you may find misspellings in your notes. Make frequent use of your text glossary and index for further explanations on a subject you still don't understand. At the beginning of the next lecture period (or at his office) ask the instructor to clear up any problems you may still have. This will help both the instructor and the other students. The instructor needs your feedback in order to know if the class is encountering any problems.

The above schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.