How
to contact me
Dr. Bernd's
office: Watson 289 x2889kabernd@davidson.edu
Contact me electronically or in person. Try to head off mild confusion before it becomes paralyzing panic. Remember that we have three hours a week in lab. Incubation periods or early wrap up are times you should use to ask questions. Use the time wisely and stay on top of the material. If you find you are having trouble, contact me!
Required
reading material
1)WWW
readings appear as links from the Study Guide Heading Section of the BIO111
homepage (http://www.bio.davidson.edu/courses/Bio111/Bio111.html)
2) Additional animations are found on the website that accompanies our text (http://www.thelifewire.com ,
Choose edition 8 links)
From
the bookstore:
3)Sadava, Orians,
Heller, and Purves : Life the Science of Biology. 8th edition (Mandrill
on cover)
4)Lom, B., Campbell, A.M., and
Bernd, K. Study Guide, and
Lab Manual SPRING 2009
version
5) Pechenik, J A short guide to writing about Biology. 6th edition
(this book is considered a reference source for all biology courses)
The four sources listed above all contain required reading. Be sure that you have access to each. The 6th and 7th editions of the Sadava et al. text are still 'around'. They have different page numbers and less up to date content so using them will require more effort on your part. Also this text is the same one used for Bio112 so you can buy it now and get two courses 'out of it'.
Schedules
Class readings and assignments. 2009
class schedule
Lab readings and assignments. 2009 lab schedule
The due dates listed will not change. Put them on your
calendar now and plan time for assignments accordingly.
Information about Bio 111: Molecules, Genes and Cells
Bio111 is designed
to provide the background necessary to tackle the 'big questions' in biology.
We will delve into what is currently known about the components of the
cell, the methods used to study them, and the vocabulary used to talk
about them. From those broad statements it should be obvious that we will
be covering a large amount of information. This course provides
background and helps you learn how to talk and think like biologists.
It is an introduction
to topics that are covered in upper level courses. To make this information
more manageable the course provides information on a 'need-to-know' basis.
Just as you would not read every history book to find out about a single
English rebellion--we will not march through the textbook. Each unit
provides unifying questions and the Study Guide, text, and study questions
are designed to provide the background information necessary for the class
to discuss the 'big question'.
There are two types of reading for this class. Both types of readings
include information from the text and from WWWeb sources. Overview
Readings : skim through this quickly to get an idea of the overall topic
and to provide background information. Focused Readings : readings
that should be learned and thoroughly understood. Your Study Guide will
serve to bring these readings together and will provide the basis for
our class discussions. Study questions found in the Study Guide are to
be prepared before class They will not be handed in but they will form
the basis of our discussion so it is in your best interest to write out
main points before class. We will discuss all of the topics and questions if you
ask about them. The
more you ask questions the more this class is tailored to you.
Assignments: All assignments
emphasize the fact that knowledge is not useful if you cannot convey what
you have learned. Class participation, reviews, written summaries, and oral
presentations require that you practice communication skills and apply and
synthesize new information. Check the class and laboratory syllabus now
for
due dates and times and notice that they occur before 8:30am
or outside of class meeting times. Plan ahead. The assignment dates
will not change.
Do not cut it so close that a printer problem costs you. Plan to
turn in an assignment with time to spare as late
assignments are not an 'option' to be chosen and are penalized Subtract
5% for 1min late and an additional 5% for every 60min after that.
You are responsible for all assigned reading, class material, and laboratory material. The 3 reviews, 2 quizzes and final exam will cover material assigned during that 'unit'. Like the questions in the Study Guide, the reviews will require synthesis and application of information. Samples of reviews I have given are available on my course homepage. I strongly encourage you to look at the 'spots' right now and work through the questions as we work through the unit. All reviews are take-home, closed-book and to be completed by yourself under the honor code. I require answers to be typed and in the form of complete sentences.
Laboratory: Lab groups (of 4) will be set up during the first week of lab and will be maintained through the semester. You may not miss lab. It should go without saying that you will not schedule other activities during any lab hours. Since you will be working in groups, labs cannot be 'made-up' during another lab period. This is where you get to practice science by forming hypotheses and determining the best way to test the hypotheses' validity. The four lab units first introduce background and procedures, then requires that you design experiments to further you understanding of the topic and concludes with a report of your findings in oral or written form. The laboratory portion of the course grade will come from your work with your lab group (2%), your oral presentations (3 and 3%), and your writing assignments (3, 3, and 6%) for a total of 20% of your final grade.
Lab presentations and written reports involve working in groups. Be certain that you understand the rules and boundaries of group work and source citation. If you have any questiops ASK BEFORE HANDING ANYTHING IN since plagiarism is wrong and has severe consequences. The Davidson College Biology Department’s statement on plagiarism is found at: http://www.bio.davidson.edu/dept/plagiarism.html and is the guide for this course. You are responsible for reading and following the guide. The course follows the citation style seen in the journal Cell. You must follow both the 'in text' and bibliographic citation style described here http://www.cell.com/authors .
Bibliographic Information taken from The Cell Journal
Website (http://www.cell.com/authors ) NOTE nothing is
indented and pages of entire article are given not just the page
where the information was. Look at a print copy (Library basement stacks
or BioCenter) to see the rules in action.
References should include only articles that are
published or in press. Unpublished data, submitted manuscripts, abstracts,
and personal communications should be cited within the text only.
Personal communication should be documented by a letter of permission.
Submitted articles should be cited as unpublished data, data
not shown, or personal communication. Note: "et al." should
only be used after 10 authors. Please use the following style for
references: King, S.M. (2003). Dynein motors: Structure, mechanochemistry and
regulation. In Molecular Motors, M. Schliwa, ed. (Weinheim, Germany:
Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH), pp. 45–78. This
is the style for an article found within a larger book where different
people wrote different chapters and the listed editors compiled and
have their names on the cover |
Grading rubric for lab articles and presentations
Additional Resources:
I am available for additional help during scheduled lab
times if labwork concludes early, by appointment, or by email message sent
when the question occurs to you. Written and oral assignments require that
you do outside research and reading. There are thousands of resources available
in the library (you know-- those books and journals on paper) in addition
to all of those found online. To help you find the right resources I advise
beginning early and remembering that we have great reference librarians
in Little Library.
Your lab and classmates
are a valuable resource. I strongly encourage study groups where members
work together to determine explanations for study guide questions and discuss
the reading and lab assignments. These groups work best if they meet regularly.
Do not wait until the assignment looms.
Extra Credit Summaries This course has the breadth of an introductory course but it cannot cover every topic. To facilitate your exposure to more topics and current findings I offer extra credit for summaries of science departmental seminars (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Smith Lecture, Spring Research Symposium). To earn these points you must attend the seminar (most of which last approximately one hour) and within 72hours of the event you must a) email me a one to two paragraph summary relaying your impressions of the content and presentation of the seminar OR b) ask a question at the seminar and email the question to me. Any points earned will be added on to the score you earn on the next review/exam that directly follows the event. You may earn a maximum of 4 extra credit points during the semester. I encourage you to attend as many as you can. Seminars will be announced in the BioCenter Newsletter. There are usually afternoon, evening, Thurs, Fri, Sun, and Mon opportunities. I encourage you to put them on your calenddar and attend as many as possible.
Accommodations for Students With Disabilities: I am happy to provide accommodations for students with learning or physical disabilities. If you are a student with a learning disability documented by Davidson College please identify yourself to me within the first two weeks of class so that arrangements can be made. Students with other disabilities are encouraged to self-identify so that we may discuss if there is any way in which I can make accommodations that will enhance your learning experience. All such discussions will be fully confidential unless you otherwise stipulate.
Course grade
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Your course grade will be determined by converting your numerical score into a letter grade and adjusting the letter grade as much as 1/2 a grade level up or down based on your preparation for and participation in class questions and discussion (the participation grade). Remember, an 'A' for participation requires above average and consistent preparation and participation in class. (If you did not complete a written assignment you would expect to get a '0' on it. Not coming to class or coming to class unprepared and never speaking is equivalent to forgetting to complete this assignment and will be evaluated as such.)