TEXTS:

Lecture: A Syllabus for Biology 105-Environmental Biology (Dinchak/Bricker)
Lab: Biology 105 - Laboratory Activities in Environmental Biology (Dinchak/Bricker)

ATTENDANCE:

Attendance, official absences, and withdrawal policies are outlined in the MCC catalog. You may be withdrawn when you have accumulated unofficial absences in excess of the number of times a class meets per week. Contact me if you are going to miss class. Your attendance and classroom involvement is crucial for a successful experience in biology.

GRADING:

The grade received for BIO 105 will reflect your performance in both lecture and lab. 

Your grade will be determined as follows:

GRADES will be based on a straight percentage scale:

LECTURE EXAMS:
Exam dates are in the class schedule. These are tentative dates and are subject to change by the instructor. Advanced notice of any date changes will be given by the instructor. Make-up exams are given only with the permission of the instructor. In documented emergencies please contact the instructor so other arrangements can be made. Students must contact the instructor before the exam in order to receive permission for a make-up. Green Scantrons (100 questions) are used for all exams.

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE:

For classes meeting more than once a week, final exams are scheduled based on the first weekly time.
 

DAY CLASSES – MCC FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE
Classes Beginning		Examination Time
MWF	7:00 AM	7:00 – 8:50 AM	Monday, Dec. 15
MWF	9:00 AM	9:00 – 10:50 AM	Monday, Dec. 15
MWF	11:00 AM	11:00 – 12:50 PM	Monday, Dec. 15
MWF	1:00 PM	1:00 – 2:50 PM	Monday, Dec. 15
MWF	3:00 PM	3:00 – 4:50 PM	Tuesday, Dec. 16
MW	3:00 PM	3:00 – 4:50 PM	Tuesday, Dec. 16
T – TH	9:00 AM	9:00 – 10:50 AM	Tuesday, Dec. 16
T – TH	12:00 PM	12:00 – 1:50 PM	Tuesday, Dec. 16
T – TH	2:30  PM	2:30 – 4:20 PM	Tuesday, Dec. 16
T – TH	3:00 PM	3:00 – 4:50 PM	Tuesday, Dec. 16
MWF	6:00 AM	6:00 – 7:50 AM	Wed., Dec. 17
MWF	8:00 AM	8:00 – 9:50 AM	Wed., Dec. 17
MWF	10:00 AM	10:00 – 11:50 AM	Wed., Dec. 17
MWF	12:00 PM	12:00 – 1:50 PM	Wed., Dec. 17
MW	1:30 PM	2:00 – 3:50 PM	Wed., Dec. 17
MWF	2:00 PM	2:00 – 3:50 PM	Wed., Dec. 17
T – TH	7:30 AM	7:30 – 9:20 AM	Thursday, Dec. 18
T – TH	10:30 AM	10:30 – 11:20 AM	Thursday, Dec. 18
T – TH	1:30 PM	1:30 – 3:20 PM	Thursday, Dec. 18

 

LABORATORY ACTIVITIES:

Laboratory points will be earned by the student attending the laboratory period, completing the work and turning in a laboratory write up. Each write up will be collected the day that it is complete. NO late reports will be accepted unless the student attends that class period. Occasional laboratory quizzes may be given. The instructor will announce such quizzes. The instructor will check lab questions before lab begins. The questions to be graded are indicated in your laboratory schedule with double asterisks. Make-up labs are possible, but only during the week of that lab. Contact your instructor.

MAKE – UP LABORATORY POLICIES

If you miss your regularly scheduled laboratory period, with permission of instructors, you may make the lab up. This must be done the SAME week and can be done only twice during the semester. Contact both your regular lab instructor and the instructor you with whom you will be making the lab up. ALL BIO 105 laboratory sections are held in LS 202. The schedule BELOW indicates days and times of BIO 105 laboratory sections for the semester.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Failure to complete all lecture and lab assignments listed in the schedule will lead to a grade of INCOMPLETE. Late assignments will not be accepted.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

A student who cheats during an exam or quiz will receive a zero for that exam or quiz. This may result in withdrawal from the class.

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR:

Any inappropriate behavior will lead to student disciplinary action. This may include
the following:

1. Not following lecture or laboratory regulations (i.e., no food or drink in the rooms, no "testing" of equipment without instructions and permission from the instructor.
2. Common courtesy to your fellow students and instructor during class time. We will start and end on time.

SPECIAL SERVICES:

Please notify the instructor if you have special learning needs so proper arrangements can be made.

VISITORS: Visitors and children of students are not allowed in class.

BEEPERS / PHONES: Beepers and phones must be in vibration mode or turned off.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY: Refer to your  MCC Catalog for information on this issue.

SUMMARY: Approximately ¾ of your write-up is an OBJECTIVE summary of what you feel are the most significant points made by the author.

CRITIQUE: Approximately ¼ of your write-up consists of a SUBJECTIVE summary or critical analysis (personal opinion) about how the article was presented by the author and the quality of the material in article. The length of your report must be a MINIMUM of one full TYPED page, double spaced, standard print size with one inch top, side, and bottom margins. A MAXIMUM of 2 pages.

DO NOT include a cover page or report cover. All late journal reports will receive a maximum of one half credit. Late is defined as any time after the class meets on the day that the reports are due.
 

POLITICAL ACTION LETTER (50 points)

You will write a political action letter concerning an environmental topic of your choice. The due date is indicated in your lecture outline. The guidelines outlining the proper format for writing such a letter are presented in your lecture syllabus in Section 25. You man select a local, state, national, or global environmental concern. If you are not sure of your topic, check with the instructor. You will turn in the following:

1. An addressed, stamped envelope ready to send to the political figure of your choice.
2. Your political action letter. Make sure you sign your letter.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORIAL

You will write a minimum of 400 to 500 word environmental editorial suitable for publication in school, church, or local newspaper. The topic will be of your choice. Present your position on this environmental topic, such as recycling, environmental education, air pollution, etc., and support that position with facts, obtained from literature or interviews. Your final product will be turned in WITH the political action letter and must be typed (NO EXCEPTIONS!). Your political action letter and editorial may be on the same or different subjects. An example of such an editorial is in your lecture syllabus in Section 25.

The editorial may also be e-mailed to the instructor.