GENERAL BIOLOGY INFORMATION

 

T. DAVID PITTS (dpitts@utm.edu)

 

Office:  Brehm Hall 124      Office Telephone:  881-7182     Home Telephone:  881-9457

 

GRADING
At the end of the semester you will receive one letter grade for General Biology.  You must be enrolled in both a lecture and a laboratory in order to receive credit for General Biology.

Laboratory:  30% of your General Biology grade will be determined by your laboratory performance.  Your laboratory instructor (who will probably not be the same person you have for lecture) will explain the grading procedures in laboratory during your first meeting.

Lecture:  70% of your General Biology grade will be determined by your performance in the lecture part of the course.  Four lecture exams will be given during the semester.  Each of these exams will count 100 points.  Unannounced quizzes for 1 point each may be given at any time; no make-ups will be given for these quizzes.  Any points accumulated on 1-point quizzes will be added to your point total at the end of the semester.  The final exam at the end of the semester will count 150 points.  Most exams will consist primarily of short answer type questions.

Make-up exams will be given only to students with excused absences.  In order to have an absence excused, the student must: (1) have a legitimate reason for missing, and (2) notify me (by letter, telephone, or e-mail) before missing the exam or not later than the next class meeting after missing the exam.  You may call my office or home at any time.  If you do not find me at either place, you may leave a message with the secretary in the Biology Office (Brehm Hall 249; 881-7170).  If you miss an exam and I receive no adequate explanation from you before the end of the next scheduled class meeting time, you will be assigned the score of "0" on the exam and no makeup will be given.  All makeup exams will contain essay questions.

GRADING SCALE
A = 93.0-100%    B = 82.0-92.9%    C = 71.0-81.9%    D = 60.0-70.9    F = 0.0-59.9%

CHEATING POLICY
If I am convinced that a student is involved in dishonest activity of any type, the student will receive the grade of "F" for the semester.  No electronic devices of any type may be used during exams.

ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend every class meeting.  Students who miss class, for whatever reason, are responsible for the material covered and announcements concerning the class.  I will not give private lectures for those who miss class.

CLASS BEHAVIOR
Students are expected to be considerate of others when in class.  Unacceptable conduct includes: being late for class; studying for other classes during biology; sleeping; talking to your neighbors; and, leaving class early.  Any student who is repeatedly involved in any of these or other disruptive activities will be dismissed from class and the grade of "F" will be assigned for the semester.  No caps or hats may be worn during class meetings; this applies to both males and females.  (Headcovers dictated by religious beliefs or medical treatment are excepted.)

DO NOT EAT OR DRINK IN THE CLASSROOM.

 

 PITTS' BIOLOGY 120 LECTURE SCHEDULE FOR  FALL 2003


1

18 August (M)

Introduction; Review of Gene Action

2

20 August (W)

Life; Artificial and Natural Selection

3

22 August (F)

Natural Selection

4

25 August (M)

Natural Selection

5

27 August (W)

Genetic Drift

6

29 August (F)

Gene Flow

 

1 September (M)

No Class

7

3 September (W)

Origin of Species

8

5 September (F)

Adaptive Radiation

9

8 September (M)

Specialists and Generalists

10

10 September (W)

Exam No. 1

11

12 September (F)

Prions

12

15 September (M)

Viruses

13

17 September (W)

HIV, AIDS

14

19 September (F)

Bacteria

15

22 September (M)

Bacteria

16

24 September (W)

Bacteria

17

26 September (F)

Fungi

18

29 September (M)

Potato Blight

19

1 October (W)

Exam No. 2

20

3 October (F)

Protista; Malaria

21

6 October (M)

Embryology

22

8 October (W)

Stem Cells; Nervous System

23

10 October (F)

Nervous System

24

13 October (M)

Nervous System

25

15 October (W)

Nervous System

 

17 October (F)

No Class

26

20 October (M)

Circulatory System

27

22 October (W)

Circulatory System

28

24 October (F)

Exam No. 3

29

27 October (M)

Circulatory System

30

29 October (W)

Lymphatic System

31

31 October (F)

Digestive System

32

3 November (M)

Digestive System

33

5 November (W)

Digestive System

34

7 November (F)

Excretory System

35

10 November (M)

Excretory System

36

12 November (W)

Excretory System

 

14 November (F)

No Class

37

17 November (M)

Exam No. 4

38

19 November (W)

Respiratory System

39

21 November (F)

Male Reproductive System

40

24 November (M)

Male Reproductive System

41

26 November (W)

Female Reproductive System

 

28 November (F)

No Class

42

1 December (M)

Female Reproductive System

43

3 December (W)

Female Reproductive System

 

FINAL EXAM:  8 December (M)  7:45 a.m.

 

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