BIOLOGY 106H
INTRODUCTION TO ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY
SPRING 1999
The College of Life Sciences welcomes you to Biology 106H, An Introduction
to Organismal Biology. This is a CORE Life Sciences Laboratory course designed specifically
for students who are science majors. In lecture you will become acquainted with the
evolutionary processes that resulted in the enormous diversity of living organisms,
and the complex behavioral and ecological interactions that occur among species.
The laboratory exercises complement the lecture and are designed to provide you with
hands-on experiences and the opportunity to `learn by doing'.
The course is divided into three 1-hour lectures per week; one 3-hour laboratory
per week; and required textbook readings. Laboratory attendance is mandatory. Absence
from three or more labs will result in an automatic failure in the lab portion of
the course. If you miss your lab for a legitimate reason (such as a religious holiday,
illness, family emergency, etc.), please notify the Laboratory Coordinator as soon
as possible.
Your overall grade in Biology 106 will be based on a possible total of 600 points:
two lecture examinations of 100 points each, a final worth 150 points, and a laboratory
grade based on 250 points. There will be three mid-terms given during the semester,
allowing students to drop one of the midterm exams in lieu of makeups. No makeup
tests will be offered in the lecture portion of the course. It is to your advantage
to take all three of the lecture mid-terms, in order to give yourself the best chance
of a high grade. The laboratory grade will be based on problems and lab reports.
The point distribution for laboratory assignments is given in the schedule of classes.
At the end of the class, we will use total points (lecture+lab) to assign grades
based on a curve.
Smoking, eating, and drinking are not permitted in either the lecture room or the
laboratory. Shoes must be worn in the laboratory. Do not bring pets to lecture or
laboratory.
Both the faculty and teaching assistants for Biology 106H are available
to help you. We hope that you will find the course stimulating and that it will be
a valuable contribution toward your college curriculum as well as your knowledge
of the biosphere we all live in.
Please feel free to use email to set up appointments or to ask
questions about the course. We will attempt to respond to messages as soon as possible.
Professor in charge of Lecture: Dr. Jerry Wilkinson
Office: Room 4224, Biology/Psychology Bldg
Phone: 301-405-6942; email - gw10@umail.umd.edu
Office hours: W 1:00 - 2:00 or by appointment
Laboratory Supervisor: Dr. Jeff Jensen
Office: Room 2246 Biology/Psychology Bldg
email - jensen@fas.harvard.edu
Laboratory Coordinator: Mr. Hans Lemke
Office: Room 0224, Biology/Psychology Bldg
Phone: 301-405-6897; email - hl53@umail.umd.edu
Teaching Assistants:
Dr. LaReesa Wolfenbarger (8-11 AM)
Office: Room 4235, Biology/Psychology Bldg
Phone: 301-405-6942; email - lw137@umail.umd.edu
Office hours: F 1:00-2:00 or by appointment
Gary Dodge (12-3 PM)
Office: Room 1215D, Biology/Psychology Bldg
email - gdodge@wam.umd.edu
Office hours: W 10:00 - 11:00 or by appointment.
Brad Cardinale (3-6 PM)
Office: Room 4235, Biology/Psychology Bldg
Phone: 301-405-6942; email - cardinale@wam.umd.edu
Office hours: TBA
SUGGESTIONS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS:
- Attend ALL lectures and laboratories. There is no substitute for
hearing things firsthand from the instructors.
- Copy your lecture notes into a second notebook within 24 hours
of the lecture.
- Read over carefully, but DO NOT memorize, the assigned material
in your textbook. Use the text to clarify and complement the lecture notes.
- Before an examination, concentrate your study efforts on the lecture
notes.
- Study for only 1-2 hours per day, rather than several hours on
one day.
- Read your notes to yourself out loud, auditory reinforcement helps
memory.
- If you have difficulty taking notes, taking examinations, identifying
important concepts, etc., visit the LEARNING ASSISTANCE SERVICES (Room 2201, Shoemaker
Building, X4-7693). The LAS staff offers a variety of helpful workshops. Descriptions
of their programs and schedules are available in the laboratory.
- There is no substitute for effort. You should be spending an average
of 8-12 hrs per week outside of class working on BIOL 106 material and assignments.
- Do not hesitate to ask for assistance. We are here to help you.
NOTES ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
- Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. The Code of Academic
Integrity is laid out in your undergraduate catalog. Definitions of academic dishonesty
include:
- CHEATING: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized
materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise.
- FABRICATION: Intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention
of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
- FACILITATION: Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting
to help another to violate any provision of the Code of Academic Integrity.
- PLAGIARISM: Intentionally or knowingly representing the words
or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise.
- Remember: While we encourage group work and thought in the laboratories,
all written lab exercises are to be the work of individuals. Lab reports which are
found to be very similar in wording and structure will be considered as plagiarism
and appropriate measures will be taken