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BIOL202 SyllabusFALL15
BIOL202 SyllabusFALL15
Fall 2015
Instructor : Dr. Norbert Cordeiro (Lecture & Lab)
Email : Primary Professor: ncordeiro@roosevelt.edu
Office : WB914N
Office Phone : 312-341-6593
Office hours : Mon, Wed & Thurs: 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Required Books: Biology, 9th or 10th edition by Jane B. Reece et al. (2011/2013). Pearson
Education, Inc. as Benjamin Cummings. Please try to make use of the features on the textbook
website (http://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com/northamerica/masteringbiology/)
Questions, exercises and informative online resources are provided for each chapter. Note: you
must register to use these resources.
The Laboratory manuals will be provided. Labs will be on blackboard approximately one week in
advance and should be printed before class. There will also be a pre-lab assignment before the
beginning of every lab class pertinent to the laboratory which will be performed that day. Pre-lab
assignments will ensure that everyone is prepared for each laboratory.
University objectives:
Goal: Effective communication
Goal: Knowledge of disciplined-focused content
Goal: Awareness of social justice and engagement in civic life
Course Objectives:
1. To comprehend the interaction between organisms and the environment – to understand the
concept of behavioral ecology, population ecology and community ecology.
2. To emphasize the connection between ecology and evolution. To understand how life evolves
and how biologists study evolution and test evolutionary hypotheses.
3. To introduce an overview of major concepts of genetics. To provide students with the ability to
solve problems and make them think analytically. Genetics, lends itself to problem solving and
analytical thinking.
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Grading Scale
A +/– grading scheme will be in use, according to Roosevelt University policy. The final grade
will be based on the percentage of total available points earned. Letter grades will not be given
until all assessments are completed. Deviations from the grading scheme (ie. a √curve) will be
applied at the instructor’s discretion, and only to the students’ benefit. The above point
distribution is subject to change. Students will be promptly notified of such changes. Please note
that even though you have registered for lab and lecture separately, the grades are always
combined.
Course Grades
Exam I 150 points
Exam II 150 points
Exam III 150 points
Final 150 points
Pre-Labs 150 points (10 pts each)
Lab reports 420 points (14 labs, 30 pts each)
Genetics homework 150 points
Miscellaneous assignments 130 points
Assessment & Participation 150 points
Total 1600 points
Regulations covering grades are in the Undergraduate Catalog (the catalog is online at
http://www.roosevelt.edu/catalog/). Incompletes will not be given, except to a student who has
done passing work through most of the term but is unable to complete the final project.
Important Date: The last day to drop a class with a grade of W is October 27 2015 (verify the
correct date online in case this is incorrect). In other words follow RU academic guidelines
(http://www.roosevelt.edu/Registrar/ImportantDates.aspx )
Late Withdrawal Policy– Approval to be given primarily for non-academic reasons. It requires
completion of form, including statement and rationale for request, explanation of why it was not
requested by the deadline, documentation to support the claim, and finally, signatures from the
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instructor, chair, and dean. Such signatures do not guarantee approval of the petition (it will then
be reviewed by committee).
Advice
One simple word of advice is DO NOT fall behind. Read the text and solve suggested problems.
Please do not hesitate to consult INSTRUCTOR if after working through the material you still
have trouble understanding any topic.
Academic Integrity
This course follows the Roosevelt University Standards of Conduct, as published in the Student
Handbook. Any plagiarism, cheating or other academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade.
Plagiarism includes submitting another student’s work as your own and presenting information
from others work as your own. For more information, consult the document Academic Integrity –
A Guide for Students (http://www.roosevelt.edu/Provost/Faculty/AcademicIntegrity.aspx)
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classroom/lab, and points will be deducted, for disruptive or disrespectful behavior. For more
information you can go to: http://www.roosevelt.edu/StudentSuccess/Conduct.aspx
All lecture and lab materials will be found in the lecture/discussion section
ONLY, in clearly defined folders. http://roosevelt.blackboard.com
Class Date Topics Chapter
1 Aug. 24th Syllabus/Introduction to Animal Behavior 51
2 Aug. 26th Animal Behavior 51
3 Aug. 31st Animal Behavior & Intro to Ecology 51, 52
4 Sept. 2nd Population Ecology I 52
5 Sept. 7tth HOLIDAY-NO CLASS
6 Sept. 9th Population Ecology II 53
7 Sept. 14th Community Ecology I 54
8 Sept. 16th Community Ecology II 54
9 Sept. 21st Ecosystems 55
10 Sept. 23rd Aquatic & Terrestrial Biomes 53
11 Sept. 28th Conservation Biology 56
12 Sept. 30th Mendelian Genetics/Review for Exam I 12
13 Oct. 5th EXAM 1
14 Oct. 7th Meiosis & Sexual Life Cycle 13
15 Oct. 12th Mendelian Genetics 14
16 Oct. 14th Extending Mendelian Genetics 14
17 Oct. 19th Mitosis- Cell Cycle 14 & 12
18 Oct. 21st Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance 15
19 Oct. 26th Sex Determination and Sex Linkage 15
20 Oct. 28th Genetics Review Session
21 Nov. 2nd EXAM 2
22 Nov. 4th Evolution: A Darwinian view of life 22
23 Nov. 9th Evolution: A Darwinian view of life 22
24 Nov. 11th Evolution of Populations I 23
25 Nov. 16th Evolution of Populations II 23
26 Nov. 18th Origin of Species 24
27 Nov. 23rd EXAM 3
28 Nov. 25th HOLIDAY-NO CLASS
29 Nov .30th Phylogeny and Systematics 16
30 Dec. 2nd Review session (for final)
31 Dec. 7th NO CLASS
32 Dec. 9th FINAL EXAM (1230-230 pm)
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Lab Schedule and details
Pre-Labs are due in the digital dropbox by 8:00am on the day of your lab, unless informed otherwise by email and/or blackboard
announcement. If you have issues with uploading before 8:00am, send an email with it attached to the TA, Kristy Stenson
(kstenson@mail.roosevelt.edu). If it arrives after 8:00am on the day of your lab, it will not be graded for credit, though you may participate in
lab for no credit. This means the failure to submit a pre-lab on time will result in zero credit for the pre-lab & lab report for that week (loss of
40pts.).
Lab schedule—please note that both Wednesday & Friday labs are shown below. Pre-lab and lab write-ups/report due dates are
shown too. You must bring a printed copy of the lab report to the beginning of your lab and you MUST have deposited an electronic copy into
the relevant Dropbox assignment (if you do not electronically deposit a copy of the lab you will lose 50% of the points for your graded report).
If you have issues uploading your lab report to Dropbox, you must email a copy to Kristy before lab starts. Failure to do so will result in a 50%
grade loss for the lab report. Failure to turn in the lab report the day it is due will result in a 0%.
4 W Sep. 16 Lab 3: Concept of Food Chain Lab (Owl Pellet Lab) PL3
F Sep. 18 Lab 3: Concept of Food Chain Lab (Owl Pellet Lab) PL3
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F Oct. 9 Lab 6: Chi-square goodness of-fit-test PL6
15 W Dec. 2 Lab 13: TBA PL13 L12 (L13 turned in same day)
F Dec 4 Lab 13: TBA PL13 L12 (L13 turned in same day)
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SYLLABUS AND GRADING SCHEME IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, BUT YOU WILL BE MADE AWARE IN
WRITING IF AND WHEN THIS DOES OCCUR.