UNIT EXAMS (40% of Grade)
Three Exams will consist of approximately 50-75 questions (M.C., short answer, T/F, and matching) equally covering all chapters discussed within the designated time period. Questions are based upon concepts also covered in readings and quizzes/homework. The intended date and time of these exams are listed below in the course outline and plans should be made well in advance to be in attendance. There are no exceptions for missed tests. Tests cannot be taken late, though arrangements can be made to take a test early. It is your responsibility to make these arrangements and I reserve the right to deny your petition.
All tests will be taken in the SUU Testing Center and spread out over a two-day period. You need to make sure to schedule your life to account for these tests. You will need to take a photo ID to the Testing Center.
QUIZZES, HOMEWORK, ACTIVITIES, & MOVIES (40% of Grade)
At the beginning of each chapter I will post a HOMEWORK assignment that you will have a number of days to complete as we work through the chapter as a class. Class discussion should be dominated with questions that you're struggling with on the homework or from the readings. After each chapter, we will take a quiz. These are meant both as a review document for you and to spark class discussion. You must come to class the day of the quiz and engage in our discussion to be eligible for the resubmit of the quiz for full points. Resubmission of quizzes can NEVER be completed late. Late quizzes can be turned in anytime before taking the Exam which covering those chapters. The maximum score for late quizzes and assignments is 7 points. Once the Unit test has been taken for a number of chapters, all assignments included within that Unit are concluded and late materials will not be accepted. Quizzes involve group discussion and decision making, therefore attendance is required to gain the full points. There will also be a few times that you will need to participate in an activity or watch a movie. These activities/movies will have an assignment that will need to be completed and turned in. Activities that are done in-class cannot be made up.
Historical Figure Movie Project (20% of Grade)
Each of you will need to select a HISTORICAL FIGURE prominent in the field of biology and in an area of focus interesting to you. The person may still be alive, or they could be in the distant past; You get to decide. Once selected, you will need to research that person, focusing on the following areas: 1) What is the historical context? 2) Describe the upbringing of the person and how that may or may not have contributed to them going into their area of research. 3) What was the big picture question they were researching and how did they contribute to the answer? 4) How did the scientific community react to their findings? You will then create a 5-minute movie to teach us what you learned. Get creative and have fun with this.
All of these videos will be uploaded into a Google folder. You will then be assigned to watch and take a few notes on a group of these movies as part of our final.
A=94%, A- =90%, B+ =87%, B=84%, B- =80%, C+ =77%, C = 74%, C- =70%, D+ =67%, D =64%, D- =60%