BIOSC 0160 SYLLABUS AND CALENDAR SPRING 2020
This course covers the basic principles of genetics, evolution, and ecology. Emphasis will be placed on the experimental and observational basis for our knowledge of these subjects.
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Lectures:
T/Th 4:00 – 5:15 PM; L9 Clapp Hall
Recitations:
W 10:00–10:50 AM A224 Langley Hall
W 11:00–11:50 AM A224 Langley Hall
W 12:00–12:50 AM A224 Langley Hall
W 12:00–12:50 AM A221 Langley Hall
T/Th 4:00 – 5:15 PM; L9 Clapp Hall
Recitations:
W 10:00–10:50 AM A224 Langley Hall
W 11:00–11:50 AM A224 Langley Hall
W 12:00–12:50 AM A224 Langley Hall
W 12:00–12:50 AM A221 Langley Hall
Recitations are required; you must be enrolled in one of the above four sections and you may only attend the recitation section in which you are enrolled.
Textbook: Sadava, Hillis, Heller, and Hacker. LIFE: The Science of Biology. 11th Edition.
There are several copies on reserve in Langley Library. Ask a UTA or Dr. West if you have trouble accessing the textbook.
Instructor: Dr. Abagael West. Office hours: Monday afternoon (exact time TBD), Hillman Library Ground Floor, and Thursday 5:15-6:15, A352 Langley. Email: abw39@pitt.edu.
Undergraduate teaching assistants will attend all lectures and lead recitations. These are students who have successfully completed 0160 and they should be your first point of call with questions. UTAs will hold weekly discussion hours (schedule TBA) and moderate a facebook page.
CourseWeb: All students have access to CourseWeb (http://courseweb.pitt.edu). Reading quizzes are carried out on CourseWeb, and important materials including syllabus, course schedule and updates, lecture handouts, and grades are located on this site.
Textbook: Sadava, Hillis, Heller, and Hacker. LIFE: The Science of Biology. 11th Edition.
There are several copies on reserve in Langley Library. Ask a UTA or Dr. West if you have trouble accessing the textbook.
Instructor: Dr. Abagael West. Office hours: Monday afternoon (exact time TBD), Hillman Library Ground Floor, and Thursday 5:15-6:15, A352 Langley. Email: abw39@pitt.edu.
Undergraduate teaching assistants will attend all lectures and lead recitations. These are students who have successfully completed 0160 and they should be your first point of call with questions. UTAs will hold weekly discussion hours (schedule TBA) and moderate a facebook page.
CourseWeb: All students have access to CourseWeb (http://courseweb.pitt.edu). Reading quizzes are carried out on CourseWeb, and important materials including syllabus, course schedule and updates, lecture handouts, and grades are located on this site.
ASSIGNMENTS and GRADING
Lecture Activities: Top Hat is used during lecture to practice concepts and calculations. Top Hat questions are graded on participation and make up 6% of your grade. Absolutely no lecture activities may be made-up for any reason. Your lowest 3 will be dropped.
Recitation Work: There are 11 recitation worksheets, each worth 4 points, which together make up 5% of your grade. Your recitation groups are assigned, and you will retain the same group all semester. Recitation work is collaborative, but each student must submit their own worksheet for an individual grade. Absolutely no recitation work may be made-up. Your lowest 2 recitation grades will be dropped.
Mini Exams: Each mini exam consists of short answer, multiple choice, and calculation questions totaling 50 points. There are no make-ups or reschedules of mini exams. Your lowest mini exam grade will be dropped.
Midterm Exams: There are two midterms, on material covered in the entire unit including that which was on the mini exam. Each midterm consists of multiple choice, short answer, and calculation questions totaling 150 points. There are no make-ups or reschedules of midterms, and none will be dropped.
Final Exam: The final is cumulative meaning it is on all the material from the entire course. It consists of multiple choice and calculation questions totaling 200 points. You may not make up or reschedule the final. If an emergency prevents you from attending the final, you may petition for a G grade (see below for details).
Required Reading: Reading must be completed before class time. Familiarity with topics covered in the reading will be assumed in class.
Problem Sets: The UTAs will provide practice problem sets weekly. You are strongly encouraged to complete these. The answers to homework assignments will be available from UTAs during their discussion hours and may be discussed on the facebook page.
Recitation Work: There are 11 recitation worksheets, each worth 4 points, which together make up 5% of your grade. Your recitation groups are assigned, and you will retain the same group all semester. Recitation work is collaborative, but each student must submit their own worksheet for an individual grade. Absolutely no recitation work may be made-up. Your lowest 2 recitation grades will be dropped.
Mini Exams: Each mini exam consists of short answer, multiple choice, and calculation questions totaling 50 points. There are no make-ups or reschedules of mini exams. Your lowest mini exam grade will be dropped.
Midterm Exams: There are two midterms, on material covered in the entire unit including that which was on the mini exam. Each midterm consists of multiple choice, short answer, and calculation questions totaling 150 points. There are no make-ups or reschedules of midterms, and none will be dropped.
Final Exam: The final is cumulative meaning it is on all the material from the entire course. It consists of multiple choice and calculation questions totaling 200 points. You may not make up or reschedule the final. If an emergency prevents you from attending the final, you may petition for a G grade (see below for details).
Required Reading: Reading must be completed before class time. Familiarity with topics covered in the reading will be assumed in class.
Problem Sets: The UTAs will provide practice problem sets weekly. You are strongly encouraged to complete these. The answers to homework assignments will be available from UTAs during their discussion hours and may be discussed on the facebook page.
| Item | Points | Number | Number dropped | Total Points | Percent of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture Activities | 2 | 22 | 3 | 38 | 6% |
| Recitation Worksheets | 4 | 11 | 2 | 36 | 5% |
| Mini Exams | 50 | 3 | 1 | 100 | 15% |
| Midterm Exams | 150 | 2 | 0 | 300 | 45% |
| Final Exam | 200 | 1 | 0 | 200 | 30% |
| total | 674 | 100% |
Each point on any given assignment makes up 0.15% of your total grade. For this course to count towards the BIOSC major you must earn at least a C. The standard 10-point grade scale is used. At the end of semester, if the average for the class is less than a 75%, grades will be linearly adjusted (by adding the same number of points to everyone’s grade) to make the average 75%. No other curve or adjustment will be used in this course. Exams all have a 5-point buffer for questions that are found to be faulty. If you have found a 6th question that you think was graded incorrectly, bring it to the attention of a UTA.
