Instructor: Dr. Shanna Carney
Department of Biology
E416 Anatomy/Zoology Building
Office Hours: Tuesday 9:00-11:00 am and by appointment
Phone: 491-1092
E-mail: secarney@lamar.colostate.edu
Messages can be left with the Biology Departmental Office (491-7011).Course Description and Objectives: To present an overview of broad concepts of biology, with major emphasis on plants. An additional objective is for students to achieve a basic level of computer literacy since this is becoming a necessity in our society. For this reason, computers will be utilized to achieve some goals of the course. This course is intended for non-science and physical science majors, and credit is not allowed for students who have taken BZ 120, BY 102, or BY 103.
Textbook: Introductory Botany: Plants, People and the Environment by Linda R. Berg, Saunders College Publishing. The relevant pages in the text for each lecture are listed on the lecture schedule.
Optional Text: Student Guide to the World Wide Web and WebCT by Deborah Morley and Barb Solberg, Harcourt College Publishers. This book is intended to aid those students with little or no computer background. It also provides information on the use of WebCT, which will be used in this class. It provides a passworded class website where grades and the syllabus can be found, etc. (see below). Those students who have some experience with web browsers and e-mail will probably find this text unnecessary.
Copies of both texts have been placed on reserve in Morgan Library.
Attendance and Classroom Behavior: Attendance is not required in class, but it is suggested. Tests will cover material from class, while readings in the textbook are meant to be supplementary to the lectures or for clarification. Attendance is essential for a thorough understanding of the material, and a detailed set of lecture notes will be your best resource when studying for the exams. When you are in class, I would appreciate your attention. Reading the newspaper, studying for other classes, and talking are distracting to me and to your fellow students and are not allowed.
Grades: Grades will be based on three exams during the semester (100 points each), the final exam (200 points; partially cumulative), and two short writing assignments (25 points each – one is a summary and your opinion of an online debate about genetically modified foods, the other is a summary and your opinion about a recent news article featuring plants). Exams will be on material covered in lecture. The lowest exam grade will be dropped for each student such that the exam portion of the grade will be based on 400 points. In the event that the final exam score is the lowest, it will count for 100 points (in other words, the final exam will count half of what it would were it not your lowest score). This policy allows students to miss an exam (except the final) in the event of a family or medical emergency without being penalized. No makeup exams will be given, and the final exam is not optional. For each of the writing assignments, two points will be subtracted from the final score for each day that the assignment is late. Borderline grades may be helped by participation (e.g., use of WebCT since I am able to keep track of how many times each person accesses the class website) and attitude, at my discretion.
Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty (see “Students Rights and Responsibilities” section of the General Catalog for definitions) will not be tolerated and will result in severe penalties (i.e., failure in the class and referral to the University’s Director of Judicial Affairs).
WebCT: This Internet based class tool will be used to for you to keep track of your grades, access the syllabus online, and link to the online debate which is part of one of the writing assignments. Class e-mail accounts are also provided for easy access to me and to your fellow students for when you have a question, need to borrow notes from someone, etc. Click to access the Student Manual.
Please let me know if you have any special learning needs.
Helpful Resources on Campus:
· University Counseling Center: 491-6053, C-36 Clark Bldg.
Study skills training, stress management, counseling, emergency service (after hrs: 491-7111)
· The Writers Center: 491-7864, Eddy Hall, Room 6
Help with writing assignments.
· CTSS (Computer Training and Support Services): 491-7653, 221 Weber Bldg.
Computer training and assistance.
· Office of Resources for Disabled Students: 491-3457, 100 General Services Bldg.
· The Career Center: 491-5707, 176 Lory Student Center
Career counseling, recruiting, resource library
· Safe Walk: 491-1155
Provides an escort on campus for your safety 7:00 pm – 1:00 am.
Tentative Lecture Schedule:
Day Final Exam: Monday, May 8, 7:00-9:00am