Syllabus

Dr. Steven J. Wolf

Office: Naraghi Science 269

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

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

Email: swolf@csustan.edu. Email is for emergencies, setting up an appointment, or for questions with very short answers. Put Boty3130 in the subject line or it will not be acknowledged by your instructor. Please ask complex questions during the lecture or office hours. Questions regarding grades and/or those answered on the syllabus will not be acknowledged.

Lectures: MWF 8:00 a.m. - 8:50 in N-221.

Lab: Weds. 2:05 - 4:50 p.m. in N-210.

Recommended Texts: Although the lecture notes are online it is highly recommended that you get a copy of  Biology of Plants 6th or 7th ed. by Raven, Evert and Eichorn. A Photographic Atlas for the Botany Laboratory, 5th ed. by DeGraaff, Rushforth and Crawley has nice photos and drawings of nearly everything we will look at in the lab. I highly recommend you get a copy and always bring to lab.

Course Web page: http://arnica.csustan.edu/boty3130. Consult it often for important, up to the minute information about the course.

Announcements: be sure to check the course announcements page frequently for important announcements or assignments.

Lecture notes: are in a separate private web, the address is: arnica.csustan.edu/b3100. Do not give the username/password to anyone not in the class. If you do so no more lecture notes will be provided and you will have to take your own notes.

The username is _________________________________ the password is ____________________________ .

No classes on the following days:

September 6 - Labor Day
October 13 - Columbus Day
November 26 - Thanksgiving

Course Objectives: This course is a comparative study of the structure, development, ecology, evolutionary relationships and economic importance of plants, algae and fungi. Through lectures, assigned readings and hands on laboratory exercises, you will become familiar with these three groups of organisms. Hopefully, you will also gain an understanding of their importance, not only to humans, but to all organisms that inhabit this planet.

Grading: There will be three mid term exams, a comprehensive final, a lab book, and at least one outside class assignment. Additional assignments may also be made throughout the term. The instructor reserves the right to give unannounced quizzes if it becomes apparent that students are not keeping up with the material, there are an unacceptable number of absences and/or if students show up late for class. The instructor also reserves the right to reduce your grade due to excessive absences and/or tardiness. You will receive only one warning.

Grades: A = 100-90%, B = 89-80%, C= 79-70%, D = 69-60%, F = <60%.

Assignment due Dec. 1: Watch Intelligent Design trial and hand in worksheet worth 20 pts. Click here to download as a pdf file. Questions from this material may occur on the final exam. Requires free Acrobat Reader.

Labs: In lieu of laboratory exams you will be required to prepare a bound collection of labeled drawings. Drawings should reflect careful observation rather than artistic ability. Your lab book will be graded on accuracy and completeness. Therefore, if you miss a lab it will be reflected in your lab book. You are responsible for reading the appropriate lecture notes prior to each lab. The following materials must be brought to every lab period: drawing pencil (4H) and drawing paper, ruler and eraser. Nearly everything you look at in lab is in A Photographic Atlas for the Botany Laboratory, 5th ed. by DeGraaff, Rushforth and Crawley. I highly recommend you get a copy and always bring to lab. 

Preparation of Lab Book

1. Drawings must be made on unruled drawing paper and kept in a quality binder.
2. Drawings must be on only one side of the paper.
3. All labels, titles, dates, names, etc. must be printed.
4. Each object drawn must have a diameter of at least 3 inches (about the size of a petrie dish). Therefore you can fit only two drawings on a page.
5. Number your pages consecutively in the upper right corner.
6. A title must be printed and centered at the top of the page.
7. A two or three line legend should be located beneath each drawing. This should include the name of the object (e.g. Neurospora), type of view (e.g. L.S.), the part being observed (e.g. sporangium) and the magnification (e.g. 10X).
8. A hard drawing pencil (4H) must be used.
9. Label lines must be drawn with a ruler, they must be parallel with the edges of the paper, right justified, and they must never cross.
10. For diagrammatic drawings neat stippling or crosshatching should be used to provide greater contrast between adjacent areas. Do not shade or use colored pencils or ink.
11. Lab book is due at the final exam. Grades will be reduced one letter grade per day late.

Lab Book Grading Deductions:

1. Incomplete, i.e. does not include all materials studied in lab.
2. Improper and/or incomplete labeling.
3. Lack of detail in drawings.
4. Failure to follow guidelines.
5. Sloppy.

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