BIO 200G Science and
Society (Pilot Core Curriculum)
Fall Semester 2009
(syllabus also available at
courses website via Tigernet BIO 200 link)
Section 01, Room 311, Hope
Hall (starting October 19, Room 141
Dansby Hall) Monday and Wednesday 9:00 – 10:50
Instructors:
Lawrence
Blumer, Room 302, Hope Hall
Telephone: 404 653-7873
Office
Hours: MWF 13:00-14:00 and by
appointment
E-mail: lblumer@morehouse.edu
Willie
Rockward, Room 113, Dansby Hall
Telephone: 404 614-6036
Office Hours: MWF 11:00 – Noon and by
appointment
E-mail:
wrockwar@morehouse.edu
Required Text:
Integrated
Science, 4th edition (2008)
Tillery,
Enger and Ross. McGraw Hill
SimBiotic
Software Package for BIO 200
Laboratory
handouts and other course materials will be available for downloading at the
course website via Tigernet BIO 200 link.
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Meeting Date |
Topic
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Reading |
Laboratory Activities |
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1 |
W |
26-Aug |
Introduction: Purpose and Scope of Course |
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Diagnostic Examination |
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2 |
M |
31-Aug |
Energy, Climate and
Pollution What is the most dangerous
pollution? How does energy and matter
flow in nature? |
62-71, 94-97 561-564 |
Design and start experiment
on animal responses to their environment (1A) |
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3 |
W |
2-Sep |
Is Earth over-populated? |
584-588 |
Collect data on animal
responses to their environment (1A) Modeling population growth
and human population growth (2A) |
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M |
7-Sep |
Labor Day - No Classes |
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4 |
W |
9-Sep |
How do populations grow? |
584-588 |
Population growth
simulation workbook (Isle Royale) due 16-Sep in class |
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5 |
M |
14-Sep |
Where do we get energy and
for what purpose? |
62-71 |
Exploring non-carbon energy
resources (3A) |
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6 |
W |
16-Sep |
What is global warming and
what causes it? |
578-579 |
Exploring energy efficiency
(4A) |
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7 |
M |
21-Sep |
What can we do about
climate change? Examination #1 at 311
Hope Hall (on meetings 1-6) |
131 |
1-hour limit |
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8 |
W |
23-Sep |
Science and Medicine What causes multi-drug
resistance in bacteria? |
505-515 |
Evolution simulation
workbook (Darwinian Snails) due 30-Sep in class |
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9 |
M |
28-Sep |
How do organisms change
over time? What is the purpose of
life? |
505-515 |
How do organisms change
over time? What is the purpose of
life? |
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10 |
W |
30-Sep |
Reproduction and
information |
667-674 490-492 |
What and where is the
information in cells? (5A) |
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11 |
M |
5-Oct |
Reproduction and
information |
626-629 656-664 |
Reproduction and
information |
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12 |
W |
7-Oct |
Cancer |
493 |
How is biological
information transmitted in humans and how is it expressed? (6A) |
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13 |
M |
12-Oct |
Immune System, HIV and AIDS |
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14 |
W |
14-Oct |
Examination #2 at 311
Hope Hall (on meetings 7-13) |
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1-hour limit Exchange with Dr. Rockward |
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Meeting Date |
Topic
Reading |
Laboratory
Activities |
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15 |
M |
19-Oct |
Science, the Universe, &
our World 1 What is Science? Objects and Properties through Science, Non-science, and Pseudoscience |
1-24 |
Answer multiple choice,
questions, & exercises Pages 22-23: MC: 1-10 and Q: 1,4,7,8,10 Page 24: E:
Group B -- 1,4,6,9 Lab 1: Measuring the Properties of Objects A.
Volume of objects |
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16 |
W |
21-Oct |
1 What is Science?
(continued) |
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Lab 1: Measuring the Properties of Objects B.
Density |
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17 |
M |
26-Oct |
2 Motion Describing Motion through NewtonÕs Law of Gravitation |
25-54 |
Answer multiple choice,
questions, & exercises Pages 52-53: MC: 1-12 and Q: 1,2,4,6-10 Pages 53-54: E:
Group B – 1,2,4,6,7,10 Lab 2: Measuring the Motion of Objects 1.
Free Fall Motion |
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18 |
W |
28-Oct |
3 Energy Work through Energy Tomorrow Read Chapters 12, 13 and
14 |
55-74 |
Answer multiple choice,
questions, & exercises Pages 72-73: MC: 1-12 and Q: 1,2,4,5,6,8-12 Pages 73-74: E:
Group B – 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,10,12 Lab 3: Measuring the Energy of Objects 1. Potential & Kinetic Energy 2. Energy Conversion |
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19 |
M |
2-Nov |
12 The Universe The Night Sky through Galaxies 13 The Solar System Planets, Moons, and Other
Bodies through Origin of the Solar System |
267-286 187-310 |
Answer multiple choice and
questions Pages 285-286: MC:1-10 and Q: 1,2,5,7,9,12 Lab 4: From Galaxy to Galaxy 1. Model our Galaxy and its neighbor Page 309: MC:1-8 and Q: 1,4,7,9,11,12 Lab 5: Our Solar System and its Planets
Model our Solar System |
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20 |
W |
4-Nov |
14 Earth in Space: Our
World Shape & Size of Earth through The Earth-Moon System Review for Exam #3
(10-15 minutes) Read Chapters 4, 6 and 7 |
311-332 |
Answer multiple choice and
questions Pages 330-31: MC:1-12 and Q: 2,4,6,7,9,10 Lab 6: Our World – the Earth
Model the Earth-Moon
system |
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Meeting Date |
Topic
Reading |
Laboratory
Activities |
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21 |
M |
9-Nov |
Examination #3 at 141
Dansby Hall (on meeting 15-20) Science & Technology 4 Heat and Temperature The Kinetic Molecular
Theory through Thermodynamics |
75-102 |
1-hour time limit Answer multiple choice,
questions, & exercises Page 100: MC: 1-12 and Q: 1,4,5,9,11 Pages 101-102: E:
Group B – 1,2,3,5,8,10 Lab 7A: Turn up the Heat Converting
the temperature scales |
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22 |
W |
11-Nov |
4 Heat and Temperature
(continued) |
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Lab 7B: Turn up the Heat (continued) Measuring the Heat capacity of Metals |
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23 |
M |
16-Nov |
6 Electricity Electric Charge through Electrical Power and Work |
125-137 |
Answer multiple choice,
questions, & exercises Pages 149-150: MC:1-12 and Q: 1,2,4,5,6 Page 151: E:
Group B – 2,3,5,7,8,9,10 Lab 8A:
Electric Circuits and Lemon Battery |
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24 |
W |
18-Nov |
6 Electricity (continued)
Magnetism
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137-151 |
Lab 8B: FaradayÕs Law and the Compass |
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25 |
M |
23-Nov |
7 Light Sources of Light and Properties of Light |
153-166 |
Answer multiple choice,
questions, & exercises Page 177: MC:1-12 and Q: 1,2,4,5,7,8,9,10,12 Page 178: E: Group B – 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9 Lab 9: Properties of Light Reflection and Refraction |
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W |
25-Nov |
No Class Meeting - Happy
Thanksgiving |
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26 |
M |
30-Nov |
7 Light (continued) Review for Exam #4
(10-20 minutes) |
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Lab 11: Properties of Light Total Internal Reflection Review for Examination #4 |
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27 |
W |
2-Dec |
Exam #4 at 141 Dansby
Hall (on meetings 21-26) |
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1-hour limit Review for Final
Examination |
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Examination Schedule |
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W |
26-Aug |
Diagnostic Examination, Hope
311 |
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M |
21-Sep |
Examination 1, Hope 311 |
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W |
14-Oct |
Examination 2, Hope 311 |
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M |
9-Nov |
Examination 3, Dansby 141 |
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W |
2-Dec |
Examination 4, Dansby 141 |
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W |
9-Dec |
Final Examination, Dansby
141, 10:30-12:30 |
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BIO 200G is an interdisciplinary topical introduction to science and its societal implications. Lecture and laboratory activities are integrated in a studio format in which students will work with a given faculty member to both discuss science and perform scientific investigations. The course is team taught by faculty from Physics and Biology and will address four topics: The Origin of the Universe, Energy, Climate and Pollution, Science and Medicine, and Science and Technology.
Your
grade in this course will be based on your combined performance on
examinations, laboratory assignments, and class attendance. At the completion of each of the four
topic modules, there will be an examination, and a comprehensive final examination
given during the final examination period. A comprehensive Diagnostic Examination will also be given at
the beginning of the semester. The
Diagnostic Examination is a required part of this course for which you will
receive one extra credit point per correct answer (applied to your total course
score). All examination questions
will be drawn from the subjects we actually address in class, so punctual class
attendance is required. The
examinations will consist of multiple-choice questions. Questions will emphasize problem
solving.
Laboratory
assignments will consist of written experiment summaries and/or computer
simulation workbooks. The written
experiment summaries will be limited to three-pages typed double-spaced (see
grading rubric as a guide on page 8).
Each laboratory assignment will be worth 50 points.
|
Four one-hour examinations,
100 pts. each |
400 points |
|
Class participation and
attendance |
100 points |
|
Comprehensive Final
Examination |
100 points |
|
Laboratory Assignments
(eight), 50 pts. each |
400 points |
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Total = |
1000 points |
Letter grades will be assigned as described below:
|
A+ |
= |
98 |
to |
100% |
|
A |
= |
93 |
to |
97% |
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A- |
= |
90 |
to |
92% |
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B+ |
= |
87 |
to |
89% |
|
B |
= |
82 |
to |
86% |
|
B- |
= |
79 |
to |
81% |
|
C+ |
= |
76 |
to |
78% |
|
C |
= |
65 |
to |
75% |
|
D |
= |
56 |
to |
64% |
|
F |
= |
55% and less |
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Attendance Policy
Absences will not be excused unless permitted in writing by the Academic
Dean or the Dean of Students. No exceptions. More than four unexcused absences will result in a failing grade. Class will begin promptly at the scheduled time. Attendance will be taken each day by means of a sign-in sheet. Official excuses for absences must be presented to your instructor within five days of returning to class.
Policy on Absences from
Examinations
As stated in the course syllabus, all students are required to take 4 scheduled hour examinations and the final examination. Absences from examinations will be handled as follows:
An unexcused absence from any examination will yield a score of zero for that examination grade.
An excused absence (a written excuse from the Academic Dean or the Dean of Students) from a lecture examination will be handled as follows:
The first excused absence from an hour examination will simply excuse you from that examination, there will be no make-up examination. Your grade will be based on the remaining examinations including the final examination.
The second excused absence from an hour examination will result in a withdrawal from the course (grade W). If you know in advance that you will miss a scheduled examination, speak to your instructor prior to that examination date.
Policy on Absences from Class
Meetings
The Laboratory Assignments that you submit must be for studies that you actually conducted and for which you actively participated in data collection. Consequently, if you are absent from class and did not conduct a given experimental study, then you will not be permitted to submit that study as one of your assignments. This policy will apply whether your absence is excused or unexcused. If you miss all the experimental studies in a given topic module, you will be withdrawn from the course.
Classroom Conduct
á Class
will begin promptly at the scheduled time. Late arrivals will not be permitted.
á No
eating or drinking. No chewing
(gum, tobacco). No smoking.
á No
hats or inappropriate clothing.
á No
cell phones or unauthorized technology including but not limited to camcorders,
hand-held devices.
á
Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.
This includes tardiness, disruptions and sleeping.
á
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and such infractions will be handled severely.
á
Show your work on all assigned exercises, quizzes, lab reports, and
exams.
á
No work
will be accepted in pencil. Pencil usage will constitute a ÒzeroÓ for that particular assignment.
á
Documentation for excused absents are due
immediately upon returning to
class. The student absentee policy
will be enforced (see Attendance Policy above).
á
Any student with a disability who requires classroom
accommodations must contact Office of Disabilities Services (ODS) to receive an
accommodations letter. Accommodations will be considered only after receipt of
this letter. Students needing accommodations are encouraged to contact the ODS
at the beginning of the semester, as accommodations will not be applied
retroactively to coursework that has already been completed.
Academic Honesty (Plagiarism)
All the work that you submit in this course must be
your own. Copying the work of
others and submitting it as your own is dishonest and will not be tolerated
(this includes problem set answer keys).
Copying on an examination is an obvious example of academic
dishonesty. Submitting work copied
from a group effort is unacceptable when individual grades are to be
given. Working with your fellow
students on laboratory studies, problem sets or computer simulations is fine,
but the work you actually submit must be the result of your own efforts and
must be written in your own words.
Paraphrasing the work of others is not acceptable. At the very least, dishonesty will
result in a grade of zero for the
assignment or examination, and a report to the Dean of Students.
Disability Accommodation
Morehouse
College is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students,
including those with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities or
those who suspect they have a disability must register with the Office of
Disability Services (ÒODSÓ) in order to receive accommodations. Students currently registered with the
ODS are required to present their Disability Services Accommodation Letter to
faculty immediately upon receiving the accommodation. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Disability
Services, 104 Sale Hall Annex, Morehouse College, 830 Westview Dr. S.W., Atlanta,
GA 30314, (404) 215-2636, FAX: (404) 215-2749.
Disclaimer
This syllabus is not a contract. The instructors reserve the right to modify it at their discretion.
Laboratory Writing Assignment Evaluation Rubric
PILOT CORE, SCIENCE AND
SOCIETY, BIO 200G Name_______________________________
Morehouse College, Fall 2009
Experimental Study Title:
_________________________________________________________
Writing Assignment Evaluation (50 points possible)
Introduction and Title (15 points) _____
Title:
Descriptive of both the
question and the system being studied:
5 point
Descriptive of either the
question or the system: 3
points
Title not descriptive, such
as Experiment #1 or missing: no
points
Introduction:
Statement of question addressed, statement of
hypotheses to be tested, and context for the current study provided: 10 points
Statement of question and
alternative hypotheses given, but context missing: 6 points
Statement of alternative
hypotheses missing: 2 points
Statement of question
missing: no points
Findings (15 points) _____
Statistical summary of findings (average values, total
counts for each treatment) in prose and in the form of graphs or tables, and a prose description of the
findings: 15 points
Statistical summary of findings (average values, total
counts for each treatment) in prose and in the form of graphs or tables, but no prose description of the
findings: 7 points
Statistical findings only in
the form of graphs or tables: 5
points
Raw data presented without
statistical summaries: no points
Interpretation (20 points) _____
Interpretation of results to reject hypotheses and
address the question posed in the Introduction, and provide a broader context on the meaning of the
findings: 20 points
Interpretation of results to reject hypotheses and
address the question posed in the Introduction, but no context on the meaning
of the findings provided: 10
points
Interpretation of results to reject hypotheses
provided but the question posed in the Introduction not addressed: 6 points
Interpretation of results to reject hypotheses and
address the question posed in the Introduction not provided: no points
Evaluation
Comments: