COURSE INFORMATION SHEET
 BIOLOGY 1413-ZOOLOGY 

 Instructor: Pat G. Taylor                                           Office Hours: MW 1:30-3:30 p.m.
 Office: Classroom Bldg., C6                                                             TR 8:15-9:15 a.m. 
 Office Phone No.: 979- 830-4202                                                     By Appointment
 Email: ptaylor@blinn.edu
 Homepage: www.blinn.edu/natscience/taylor/

 Biology 1413-General Zoology
   A study of the basic principles of animal life and the structure and development of representative
   members of the animal kingdom from protozoans through vertebrates.
   3 class hours and 3 laboratory hours per week. 
   Credit: 4 semester hours
   There are no prerequisites for this course.

Core Course: This is a Core Course in the 42-Hour Core of Blinn College. As such, students 
   will develop proficiency in the appropriate Intellectual Competencies, Exemplary Educational
   Objectives, and Perspectives. 
   www.blinn.edu/corecurriculum 
   
   1. General Course Objectives:
       a. Following lecture and laboratory work over appropriately selected material, the student will
           correctly answer at least 60% of the questions on 4 or 5 minor exams. 
       b. From a wide variety of topics relative to animals, the student will read an article from a
           recent periodical and write a summary of the article. He may present his summary in class. 
       c. Using reserve material in the library and/or tutorial software in the computer lab, the student 
           will read and/or view selected topics and summarize the significant information in a written form. 
           This is an optional assignment. 
       d. After appropriate microscopic and dissection work in the laboratory, the student will correctly
           answer at least 60% of the questions on 2 timed laboratory practicals.
       e. Following lecture, class discussion, and class work over selected topics, the student will correctly
          answer at least 60% of the questions on 3 major exams and a comprehensive final exam. 

  2. Learning Activities:
      a. The student should read the assigned chapters in the textbook and lab manual.
      b. The student should attend class, be attentive, participate in class discussion, and take appropriate
           notes. 
      c. The student should participate cooperatively with his/her lab partner or group during lab work.
          He/she should learn proper usage of the light microscope and the dissection instruments. 
      d. The student should demonstrate computer literacy skills by communication with the 
          instructor by email and the completion of internet assignments. 

   3. Supplies: 
       a. For Lecture: Text- Miller and Harley. 5th Edition. Zoology.
          Spiral, loose-leaf,etc. for note-taking. 
          Textbook Website: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0070294119/ 
          Username and Password are inside your textbook.
       b. For Lab: Manual- Smith. 2nd Edition. Exercises for the Zoology Laboratory.
                                     Van de Braaf and Crawley. 4th Edition. A Photographic Atlas for the 
                                     Zoology Laboratory. 
           Pencil for drawing. Lab kit will be provided to you.
           Please bring text and manual to every class meeting. 
       c. Optional Sources: Miller and Harley. Zoology-Student Study Guide.
                                     Miller and Harley. Zoology-Student Study Art Notebook.
                                     Rust. A Guide to Biology Lab.
                                     CD ($5) with cell, mitosis, tissues, dissections, etc. 

4. Course Content and Calendar – The dates for major exams and practicals are tentative.
                                                        Changes will be announced in class.

                   PROPOSED CALENDAR- Spring, 2004 
                                   BIOLOGY 1413-ZOOLOGY
   Week               Dates                     Lecture Topic                                Lab Exercise (Smith)

                  Final Exam:  Biology 1413-01:    Thursday, May 6 at 10:30 a.m.
                                                                  OR   
                                                                  Wednesday, May 12 at 8:00 a.m. 
     
    
 5. Assignments:
   a. Reading and Study Assignments: Your ongoing assignment and homework for the entire semester
       is to read and study the chapters listed above prior to class discussion. You then should read, 
       study, comprehend, and learn the information in your class notes. It is very important for you
       to take comprehensive notes during lecture and to learn the information in these notes before 
       you return to class again.

   b. Major Exams, Minor Exams, Lab Practicals - See #6 below. 
   c. Periodical Assignment: 25 points (counted as a minor grade) will come from a periodical summary.
      The due date is listed above. You will read an article from a recent magazine or scientific journal
      (no more than 2 years old) and summarize it on paper. The summary with the work cited and a 
      photocopy of the original article will be turned in. Select an article dealing with any of the following
      topics:
                 Environmental pollution, Overpopulation, Species extinction, Endangered species, 
                 Genetic engineering, In vitro fertilization, Ecology issues, Animal behavior, Cloning,
                 Stem cell research, Animal research
      You may be asked to present your summary orally in class.
   d. Internet Assignment: One or more assignments to gather reliable zoological information from 
       the internet. These will be explained in class and may be submitted to me via email or hard copy.
       Point value for these assignments will be added to minor exam grades. 
   
   
 6. Grade Calculation:
     Lecture:
     a. Three major exams. Each will cover several chapters and will usually be a    
         combination of objective and subjective questions. 
     b. An additional lecture grade is from a series of minor exams. You will be given 3 to 5 minor exams,
        each worth 25 points. If you take all of the minors (excluding the magazine summary assignment,
        which is mandatory), you may drop the lowest minor exam grade. Your remaining minors will be
        averaged for another major grade in lecture. 
   
     Lab:
     Two lab practicals. These will cover slides, preserved specimens, and dissections.    
                              FINAL GRADE CALCULATION:
                                       Lecture Average = 50%
                                             Lab Average = 25%
                                               Final Exam = 25%

7. Classroom Policies:
    a. Civility Statement – Members of the Blinn College community, which includes faculty, 
        staff, and students, are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all aspects of campus life. 
       Blinn College holds all members accountable for their actions and words. Therefore, all 
       members should commit themselves to behave in a manner that recognizes personal respect 
       and demonstrates concern for the personal dignity, rights, and freedoms of every member of
       the College community, including respect for College property and the physical and 
       intellectual property of others. 
       If a student is asked to leave the classroom because of uncivil behavior, the student may
       not return to that class until he or she arranges a conference with the instructor; it is the 
      student’s responsibility to arrange for this conference. 
    b. Attendance Policy- Students are expected to attend all classes. When absent, it is your
        responsibility to get the lecture notes and assignments and perform any lab work that you missed.
        The instructor will keep a record of student attendance.  It is the student’s responsibility to
        officially drop a class he/she is no longer attending. To officially drop a class the student must
        obtain the class withdrawal form from the Admissions Office, complete the withdrawal form,  
        secure the required signatures, and return the completed form to the Admissions Office. 
        Students are not assessed absences when representing Blinn College.  Class days missed due to
        inclement weather will be made up as appropriate. A student on scholastic or disciplinary probation
        should not have any unexcused absences. 
    c. Tardy policy- Class begins when the instructor closes the door to the lab. You are expected to
        be in your seats at that time. Three tardies constitute one absence. 
    d. Make-Up policy-
       Major Exams and Lab Practicals-Only in the case of extremely extenuating circumstances which
       can be validated to the instructor's satisfaction or due to a Blinn sponsored activity will a make-up
       exam be given. This will generally be a comprehensive exam given the week prior to final exams. 
       Minor Exams-There are no make-ups on minor exams. 
   e. Academic Dishonesty Policy - The consequences for academic dishonesty will be followed 
       according to college policy as stated in the Blinn College Student Handbook and the Bulletin.
   f. Additional policies- 
      (1) Please turn off all cell phones and pagers before coming into class. These items should be
           placed in backpacks or purses and should not be in view during class. 
      (2) No food or drinks are permitted in the lab.
      (3) MSDS Sheets-Material Safety Data Sheets are in C7. Online go to www.fishersci.ca/    
           Click on “Services” and then Material Safety Data Sheets.

8. Semester Goals for Students:
    a. The student will demonstrate proper usage of scientific terminology in written and spoken language. 
    b. The student will demonstrate improved laboratory skills in microscopy and dissection.
    c. The student will list and explain at least six general principles in zoology.
    d. The student will compare and contrast various members of the animal kingdom and each one's
        role in the ecosystem.
    e. The student will explain and utilize the scientific method and the scientific approach to
        problem-solving.
    f. The student will discuss relevant animal-related issues of today and their effect on man. 

9. Optional Work:
    a. You may locate recent information in the library on any zoology topic we discuss. You must 
        use a source which has been published within the last 5 years.  You should read and summarize
        the information in your own words. The summary should be at least 1 page. This must be turned 
        into the instructor within 1 week of the class discussion of that particular topic. Be sure to cite
       the reference for the information. After reading your summary, the instructor will ask a few 
       questions about the information in your summary. According to your written summary and your
       responses to the questions, you may earn from 0 to 3 points to be added to a minor exam grade.
       You may do this for each minor exam you are given. You may use any sources. The following lists
       some possible sources in our library: 
            Encyclopedia of Human Biology
            McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology 
            General Science Index 
            SIRS Series-Life Science, Medical Science, Physical Science,Population, Habitat, Health
            The Great Scientists

10. Additional Aids: 
     a. The following programs are available in the computer lab of the
         Business and Computer Science/Bullock Building. If you need help in accessing    
         these programs, Linda Pleasant is the lab manager and will be glad to assist you. 
   
               Solenopsis CD
              The Cell 
              Mitosis 
              Glycolysis/Respiration
              Protein Synthisis
              Tissues

      b. The computer in THIS lab has these programs available:
              The Cell                   Glycolysis/Respiration                    CD-ROM’s:
              Chemistry of Life      Protein Synthesis                          Cell Structure and Function
              Mitosis                     Tissues                                        Cell Respiration 
              Dissection of Earthworm and Crayfish                           Solenopsis 

     c. You may also use these programs as a way to receive "bonus" points on your 
         minor exams. After we have discussed one of the preceding topics during class,    
         view the appropriate program. As you are viewing the program, write down and    
         explain 15 new items of information from it. Turn your list in to me within 1 week 
         of our class discussion. I will ask you a few questions concerning the 15 items and 
         perhaps about other parts of the program. Depending upon your written items and 
         your responses to my questions, you will earn from 0 to 3 points to be added to a 
         minor exam grade.
   
    d. Finally, you may do an internet search of any zoology topic we discuss. Print the 
        information, write the appropriate “addresses” and , in your own words, write 15 new 
        items of information dealing with the topic. Turn all of this into me within 1 week
       of our class discussion. After discussing the information with me, you may earn
       up to 3 additional points on a minor exam. 

You may do the optional library work, the computer programs, or internet search on each minor
 you take. However, you can use only 1 of these options for each minor. Therefore, you can increase
 each minor exam grade by a maximum of 3 points.