BIO 200G Science and
Society (Pilot Core Curriculum)
Fall Semester 2009
(syllabus also available at
courses website via TigerNet BIO 200 link)
Section 02, Room 141, Dansby
Hall (starting October 19, Room 311 Hope
Hall) Monday and Wednesday 9:00 – 10:50
Instructors:
Willie
Rockward, Room 113, Dansby Hall
Telephone: 404 614-6036
Office Hours: MWF 11:00 – Noon and by
appointment
E-mail:
wrockwar@morehouse.edu
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
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.
|
Meeting Date |
Topic
|
Reading |
Laboratory Activities |
|||
|
1 |
W |
26-Aug |
Introduction: Purpose and Scope of Course |
|
Diagnostic Examination |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
M |
31-Aug |
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 1.
Volume & Density |
|
|
3 |
W |
2-Sep |
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 |
|
|
|
M |
7-Sep |
Labor Day Holiday
– No Classes |
|
|
|
|
4 |
W |
10-Sep |
3 Energy Work through Energy Tomorrow |
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
Read Chapters 12, 13,
and 14 |
|
Read Chapters 12, 13,
and 14 |
|
|
5 |
M |
14-Sep |
12 The Universe The Night Sky through Galaxies |
267-286 |
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
W |
16-Sep |
13 The Solar System Planets, Moons, and Other
Bodies through Origin of the Solar System |
287-310 |
Answer multiple choice and
questions Page 309: MC:1-8 and Q: 1,4,7,9,11,12 Lab 5: Our Solar System and its Planets 1. Model our Solar System |
|
|
7 |
M |
21-Sep |
14 Earth in Space: Our
World Shape & Size of Earth through The Earth-Moon System Review for Exam #1
(10-20 minutes) |
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 1. Model the Earth-Moon system |
|
|
|
|
|
Read Chapters 4, 6, and
7 |
|
Read Chapters 4, 6, and
7 |
|
|
8 |
W |
23-Sep |
Examination #1 at 141
Dansby Hall 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: Converting the temperature scales |
|
|
9 |
M |
28-Sep |
Review results from
Exam #1 (10-20 minutes) 4 Heat and Temperature
(continued) |
|
Lab 7B: Measuring the Heat Capacity of Metals |
|
|
10 |
W |
30-Sep |
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 |
|
|
11 |
M |
5-Oct |
6 Electricity (continued)
Magnetism
|
137-151 |
Lab 8B: FaradayÕs Law and the Compass |
|
|
12 |
W |
7-Oct |
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 9A: Reflection and Refraction |
|
|
13 |
M |
12-Oct |
7 Light (continued) Review for Exam #2
(10-20 minutes) |
166-178 |
Lab 9B: Total Internal Reflection (Demo) |
|
|
14 |
W |
14-Oct |
Examination #2 at 141
Dansby Hall (on meetings 8-13) |
|
1-hour time limit Exchange with Dr. Blumer
(go to Hope 311) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 |
M |
19-Oct |
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) |
|
|
16 |
W |
21-Oct |
Is Earth over-populated? |
584-588 |
Collect data on animal
responses to their environment (1A) Modeling population growth
and human population growth (2A) |
|
|
Meeting Date |
Topic
Reading |
Laboratory
Activities |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
17 |
M |
26-Oct |
How do populations grow? |
584-588 |
Population growth
simulation workbook (Isle Royale) due 2-Nov
in class |
||
|
18 |
W |
28-Oct |
Where do we get energy and
for what purpose? |
62-71 |
Exploring non-carbon energy
resources (3A) |
||
|
19 |
M |
2-Nov |
What is global warming and
what causes it? |
578-579 |
Exploring energy efficiency
(4A) |
|
|
|
20 |
W |
4-Nov |
What can we do about
climate change? |
131 |
Exploring energy efficiency
(4A) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21 |
M |
9-Nov |
Examination #3 at 311
Hope Hall (on meetings 15-20) Science and Medicine What causes multi-drug
resistance in bacteria? |
505-515 |
1-hour limit Evolution simulation
workbook (Darwinian Snails) due 18-Nov in class |
|
|
|
22 |
W |
11-Nov |
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? |
|
|
|
23 |
M |
16-Nov |
Reproduction and
information |
667-674 490-492 |
What and where is the
information in cells? (5A) |
||||
|
24 |
W |
18-Nov |
Reproduction and
information |
626-629 656-664 |
Reproduction and
information |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
25 |
M |
23-Nov |
Cancer |
493 |
How is biological
information transmitted in humans and how is it expressed? (6A) |
||||
|
|
W |
25-Nov |
No Class Meeting –
Happy Thanksgiving |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
26 |
M |
30-Nov |
Immune System, HIV and AIDS |
|
|
||||
|
27 |
W |
2-Dec |
Exam #4 at 311 Hope Hall (on meetings 21-26) |
|
1-hour limit Review for Final
Examination |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Examination Schedule |
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
W |
26-Aug |
Diagnostic Examination,
Dansby 141 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
M |
23-Sep |
Examination 1, Dansby 141 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
W |
14-Oct |
Examination 2, Dansby 141 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
M |
9-Nov |
Examination 3, Hope 311 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
W |
2-Dec |
Examination 4, Hope 311 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
W |
9-Dec |
Final Examination, Hope
311, 10:30-12:30 |
||||||
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 |
|
Total = |
1000 points |
Letter grades will be assigned as described below:
|
A+ |
= |
98 |
to |
100% |
|
A |
= |
93 |
to |
97% |
|
A- |
= |
90 |
to |
92% |
|
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 |
||
Attendance Policy
Absences will not be excused unless permitted in writing by the Academic Dean and/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 and/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 and/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 assigned.
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
Name: BIO
200G Science & Society (Fall 2009)
Date: Prof.
W. Rockward / L. Blumer
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:
4-5 points
¯
Descriptive of either
the question or the system: 2-3
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: 8-10 points
¯
Statement of question
and alternative hypotheses given, but context missing: 4-6 points
¯
Statement of alternative
hypotheses missing: 1-3 points
¯
Statement of question
missing: NO points
Findings (15 points
max.) _____
¯
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: 12-15
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: 8-12
points
¯
Statistical findings
only in the form of graphs or tables:
4-7 points
¯
Raw data presented
without statistical summaries: NO
points
Interpretation (20
points max.) _____
¯
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: 16-20 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: 10-15
points
¯
Interpretation of
results to reject hypotheses provided but the question posed in the
Introduction not addressed: 5-10 points
¯ Interpretation of results to reject hypotheses and
address the question posed in the Introduction not provided: NO points
Evaluation Comments: