Dr. N. L. Buschhaus
241 Brehm Hall
Phone: 7177
email: nbuschha@utm.edu
Introduction to Plant and
Animal Biology
Date
Topic
Chapters
Aug 30 - 13 Sept. Principles
of
Ecology
46 - 49
Biosphere, Ecosystems, Community Ecology,
Population Ecology, Human Population Growth and
Human Impacts on the Globe
15 September
Exam
#1
bring calculator; you may NOT share
17 Sept - 1 October Principles of
Evolution
17 - 20
Mechanisms, Microevolution, Macroevolution,
Speciation, Extinction
4 October
Exam#2
No calculators
October 6 - 25 October Diversity of
Bacterial, Protistan, Fungal and Plant Life 22 - 29;
Bacteria (plus viruses), protists, fungi, and plants
30-31
plus plant form and function <>
27 October
Exam
#3
No calculators
Attendance: I take attendance at least once per week
throughout the semester on a random basis (i.e. it could happen on any
day during each week, and possibly every day during certain
weeks). I use your attendance as a record of your williness to
learn the subject, and, at the end of the semester in cases where
students are one point away from the next highest letter grade, I use
your attendance record to decide whether to increase your
grade. For example, last year there were approximately 30
students who
were one point away from the next letter grade, 10 of those had perfect
attendance
and those 10 students received the next highest letter grade.
Therefore,
your attendance, while not required, is an essential part of your
learning
experience, and I strongly suggest that you attend every class
meeting. Those students who must miss class due to approved
university activities should
notify me in advance.
Grading: Total number of points possible: 1000
pts
Lecture = 700 pts (70% of total grade)
Lab = 300 pts (30%
of
total grade) see lab syllabus for details
In-class quizzes 5 quizzes-->6 points each
(30 pts): these quizzes will not be
announced in advance. They must be completed during the class
period when they are assigned (cannot make up unless have an approved
university activity).
In-class discussion/or web writing assignments
4
discussions/assignments-->5 points each (20 pts):
these
in-class assignments will not be announced in advance. They must
be completed during the assigned period.
DO NOT MISS LECTURE EXAMS! Make up exams will
only
be given in cases of serious emergencies or conflict. You MUST
notify
me in advance if you must miss an exam due to illness or an approved
conflict. If I am not in my office, LEAVE A MESSAGE IN THE
BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT OFFICE (587-7170). Otherwise, MAKE-UP EXAMS
WILL NOT BE GIVEN.
Grading Scale: I grade on the standard 10 percentage
point scale:
100-90% = A; 89- 80% = B; 79- 70% =
C; 69- 60% = D; < 59 % = F
POLICY FOR ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Cheating, plagiarism,
lying to the professor, etc. are all forms of academic
dishonesty. If you are caught
cheating on an exam, in lab, or on any other assignment in this
course, you will receive an F in the COURSE. In
addition, you will be reported to the Office of Student Affairs which,
at minimum, will result in you being placed on probation and may
ultimately result in your expulsion from the university. Your
cheating cheats and devalues everyone's education at UTM. I will
NOT tolerate academic dishonesty!
Cell phones and other electronic
devices: Cell phones and any other electronic device that
makes noise must be turned off in class. If you have an emergency
and you must be contacted via cell phone, you must tell me before
class, set the phone to vibrate, not ring, and, if the phone does
vibrate, get up and leave class before answering it. Do not use
other electronic devices (such as portable CD players, etc.) in
class. Anyone using a cell
phone or electronic device during an
exam is getting extra information and is, therefore, cheating; that
person will
receive an automatic grade of F in the course.
Students with disabilities are
encouraged to contact the PACE (Program Access for College Enhancement)
Center.
Extra credit: I do not give extra credit assignments.
Textbook: I highly recommend that you purchase
and read the indicated chapters in the textbook for this course.
In addition, a few copies of this textbook is on reserve in the
library.
Starr, C., and R. Taggart.
1998. Biology: the unity and diversity of life. Ninth
edition. Wadsworth Publishing Co. Belmont,CA.
website resource for textbook: The web site for
your textbook has interactive quizzes, interactive "flash cards",
chapter outlines, etc. I highly recommend visiting the web site
as you study the information in class.
http://www.
info.brookscole.com/starr10