Pre/Co-requisites:
Chem 121 – if prerequisite, must have a C or better.
Otherwise, must be co-registered.
Required:
All required books are available in the UNM bookstore.
Bring them with you to class every week.
Preparation:
Discussions are scheduled to last seventy-five minutes.
You can shorten the time spent in lab by coming prepared.
Please read the relevant chapters prior to class, and fully answer
all assigned problems.
Grading:
The discussion section will count as 25% of your final grade in
Biology 201. Your grade will be based on homework, activities and several
in-class presentations. You are
also responsible for any University of New Mexico grade policies (refer to
UNM Catalog).
BE ON TIME TO DISCUSSION!!
You will turn in your lecture homework at the start of the discussion
section. If you are 5 minutes
late to discussion, your homework will be considered LATE and will receive a
zero!
This is a Biology class,
but Biology is NOT an exclusive subject. Language and communication are
vital components of any biological endeavor. Therefore, you are expected to
WRITE WELL in this class. Your
grade WILL suffer if you turn in poorly written work!!
Groups:
Groups
will be assigned during the
first discussion class – NO
EXCEPTIONS. These are your
groups for the rest of the semester.
It is very important to learn to work cohesively within a unit
because your in-class activities and points will depend on team cooperation.
Presentations:
We will be working through both assigned and unassigned problems in
class. Part of your discussion grade will be based on your ability to
participate in the discussion section and present problems. Several times
during the semester students may be selected at random to present their
answers to the homework questions assigned in lecture.
You will also do a 2-3 min informal presentation once during the
semester over an article that covers current topic in science that interests
you.
If you are selected to present and
you decline OR are not present you will receive a zero for the presentation
(there are no make-ups).
Homework:
Homework will be posted
weekly on the course website – there will be 10-13 homework assignments
throughout the semester. It is
your responsibility to check the
website each week, download the appropriate homework, and complete it.
Answers must include clear, concise explanations and are limited to
¼ a page per question; short phrase answers will not receive credit.
ALL WORK MUST BE TYPED (including your name) in 12 pt font &
single-spaced, double-sided – Handwritten or emailed assignments will
receive no credit.
Late
Assignments:
NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS!!
Assignments are considered late if they are not turned in at the
beginning of discussion. If you
are 5 minutes late to discussion, your homework will be considered LATE and
will receive an automatic zero.
Attendance:
Attendance is required.
You are responsible for notifying your TA prior, to or immediately, after
missing lab. If you miss your
scheduled lab you MUST
obtain an orange excused absence pass from the lab coordinator or technician
(Castetter Hall Rm 66/68) to attend a lab later that week.
Failure to notify your TA and
lack of an excused absence will result in a loss of points for that lab
period. Labs cannot be made
up after the week of the absence and missed section.
With over 1700 students a week attending labs it is not possible to
maintain live materials after the last lab of the day.
If you have more than 2 unexcused absences you will be in danger of
being dropped from the class.
(Limit - 2 make-up labs)
There are NO make-up assignments should you have an unexcused
absence.
Academic Dishonesty:
Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty
and integrity in academic and professional matters. The University reserves
the right to take disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal,
against any student who is found guilty of academic dishonesty or otherwise
fails to meet the standards. Any student judged to have engaged in academic
dishonesty in course work may receive a reduced or failing grade for the
work in question and/or for the course.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is
not limited to, dishonesty in quizzes, tests, or assignments; claiming
credit for work not done or done by others; hindering the academic work of
other students; misrepresenting academic or professional qualifications
within or without the University; and nondisclosure or misrepresentation in
filling out applications or other University records.
(http://pathfinder.unm.edu/policies.htm#studentcode)
AS A
COURTESY TO YOUR TA AND FELLOW STUDENTS, PLEASE TURN OFF ALL COMMUNICATION
DEVICES!!