Text:
Immunobiology fourth edition, by Charles A. Janeway and Paul Travers, Walport and Capra
Grades:
* class participation can change your grade by one increment (up/down +/-)
3 exams during the semester and 1 during finals 80% of the final grade*
web page on immune system protein 10% of the final grade*
review paper on homepage 10% of the final grade*
Attendance policy: I will take attendance to facilitate a more objective means for assigning the class participation grade. In order to receive a passing grade in this course, you cannot miss more than 5 classes without a legitimate reason. Legitimate means medical, legal circumstances, or college sponsored events; it does not mean lots of tests that day, wanted day off, interviews, etc.
Grading Scale:
| B+ = 91 - 89 | C+ = 82 - 80; | D+ = 73 - 71 | ||
| A = 100 - 95 | B = 88 - 86 | C = 79 - 77 | D = 70 - 68 | F = < 67 |
| A- = 94 - 92 | B- = 85 - 83; | C- = 76 - 74 |
Course Outline:
I have outlined an ambitious agenda for us; there is a lot to learn and we don't want to miss out on any of it. However, if we find that this is unrealistic, we will adapt (or die?). You should be forewarned that immunology is a vocabulary rich discipline and there is a lot of reading. I will try to strip the material down to the most important elements, but at times you will feel that you should get a language credit for this course. When reading the chapters, do not try to memorize every single detail. Since this text is written for undergraduates and graduate students, we will pick up the necessary information but we will not attempt to get every detail. We will use Molecular Movies to help us better understand complex processes and Hyperlinked Human Histology to better understand the anatomy of where processes occur.
The exams (see old exams) are all scheduled for Fridays, are take home exams, closed book, answers are to be typed, and are due Monday at class time. Exams are not to be turned in late unless you have made prior arrangements with me. Acceptable reasons for delay include: death in the family, personal illness requiring doctor's care, etc. Unacceptable reasons include: intramurals, Patterson Court functions, other tests or exams, etc. The exams will be distributed at the beginning of class and an optional review session will follow. Exams turned in late will be docked one letter grade for each day they are late.
I want each of you to learn how to make a WWW home page and learn how to work with HTML. Therefore, each person must begin the process of establishing a home page. Your home page will be graded on its clarity of information and it must meet certain minimal standards. Your first assignment will be to describe a molecule directly involved in the immune response. We will discuss this in more detail as the semester progresses.
The term paper (see some examples) you will write will be a summary of an immune-related disease or condition. Your summary will be presented on your personal web page. You will need to explain the condition you are researching, what proteins and/or cells are involved, and how this conditions differs from the wild-type immune system. If there is any therapy, what is it and how does it work?
The format of the class will require each of you to read that day's assignment BEFORE you come to class. Each class will begin with a period where you can ask specific questions related to the previous day's material or specific areas you do not understand from the current day's assignment. We will try to stick to the syllabus schedule because there is so much to learn and so little time. Therefore, if we do not cover a topic in class, but it is covered in your reading assignment, you are responsible for it. We will discuss some topics as a group, I will call on you randomly to answer a question or lead a discussion, and I will present some information in the traditional lecture format. If I call on you to answer a question, it is OK to say, "I got this part, but this other section lost me." It is not OK to say, "I did't read it." I understand that occasionally you might fall behind a day or two but do not make this a practice since class participation is also graded.
Finally, I do not know everything. If you think I have said something that is incorrect, please point this out. When you ask me a question that I cannot answer, I will research it and get back to you. If you have tried to understand the material but just can't get it, then come talk to me either during my office hours or make an appointment. I am happy to work with you as much as is necessary.
"On my honor I have neither given nor received unauthorized information regarding this work, I have followed and will continue to observe all regulations regarding it, and I am unaware of any violation of the Honor Code by others."
All of your tests are closed book, closed notes, take home exams. You do not have a time limit for these tests other than the weekend, and you can take them any place you want. This form of testing is only possible because of the honor code. If you violate my trust in you and the honor code, everyone will have to take the tests during the 50 minutes of class. You are required to not cheat on these tests, and to report to me or the Dean of Students any violations you observe, or hear about second hand. This means that even your lab partners or best friends must be reported if you know they are cheating. The entire system will break down when individuals make exceptions to the rule in order to spare their friends.
The content of your home page is to be designed and written by only one person (i.e.you), but you may get assistance from anyone (and everyone?) with the technical side of developing your home page. The term paper is to be researched and written by only you. It is considered an honor code violation if someone takes credit for work he or she does not deserve. If you have questions, ask me. Therefore, when you pledge your term papers and web pages, you are pledging that you are the sole contributor to the product you are submitting.
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Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28036
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