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Biology Syllabus

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Biology Syllabus

Mr. Kevin Hartzog
Room 101

Course Objectives

Literally, Biology means the study of life. Our biology students will study what living organisms are, and the organisms’ similarities and differences. Our students will investigate how all living organisms interact with each other and their environment. The students will also learn how scientists work, the scientific method, so that they could look at a problem objectively, and make intelligent decisions concerning biological issues.

Units Of Study

  1. The Scientific Method
  2. Fields of Biology
  3. Ecology
  4. Botany
  5. Zoology
  6. Physiology
  7. Cellular Biology
  8. Reproductive Biology
  9. Genetics
  10. Heredity and Evolution
  11. Classification
  12. Evolution Theory
  13. Ecosystems
  14. Effects of Humans on Living Organisms

Materials (REQUIRED DAILY)

  1. Textbook: Biology, Principles & Explorations. Holt, Rinehart and Winston (1999)
  2. Three ring binder with a separate section for biology and loose leaf paper
  3. Lab Notebook, bound
  4. Black or blue Pen and pencil
  5. Highlighter or colored pencils

Evaluation

Graded Material

Percentage of your grade

Tests

40%

Lab Reports

40%

Homework

10% (2 pts each assignment)

Participation & Organization

10%

Late Papers/Reports

-20% per day

Participation

Participation in the class will earn you points toward your grade. Points are earned by the following:

  • Telephoning absent group members about missed assignments BEFORE they return to class (2 pts).
  • Keeping your work area and classroom clean (1 pt)
  • Returning borrowed items (e.g. markers) to their proper places (1 pt)
  • Keeping a safe work space (1 pt)
  • Keeping a neat, organized binder (2 pts)
  • Not speaking without first raising your hand (1 pt)
  • Not being tardy to class (2 pts) (Also see the tardy policy.)
  • Any behavior that helps the class learns (1 pt).

Help Sessions

The Family 10X's Homework Center will be on Tuesday, from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in room 101. There, you will be able to make up labs, reading assignments, homework, and reports. Attending a homework center to make-up work, and completing the assignment will erase one late day's deduction. So if an assignment is one day late and you attend the homework center and complete the assignment, you will NOT LOSE 20%.

I will also be available before school in room 101 on Thursday from 7:00am-7:50am to help you with any assignment. Think of this time as an extended Homework Center for Biology. Completing any late assignment during this time will also erase any lost points for late assignments.

I have also provided my email and phone number on the front of this syllabus. So if you get stuck on any assignment, feel free to email or call. No calls after 10:00pm.

Cheating & Plagiarism:

I will make a clear distinction between work that must be your own and work that may be shared. Make sure you also make that distinction. Cheating and plagiarism will have severe consequences. Copying or helping another person on a test will at a minimum result in an F on the test for all involved. An assignment, such as a formal lab report, copied from the another student, the Internet, or any other source will at a minimum result in an F on that assignment.

Cut Policy

Cutting class will not be excused for any reason. If you do cut class, you will lose all points for that day, and you may not make-up any assignments (including Tests and Quizzes). Your parents/guardians will be contacted for a parent conference, and you will be expelled from class until you arrive with your parent/guardian for the conference.

Tardy Policy

If you are not in class, you can not learn the material. Therefore, the following tardy policy will be enforced.

  1. On the first tardy, you will be reminded of the tardy policy.
  2. On the second tardy, you write an action plan describing how you will avoid being tardy in the future.
  3. On the third tardy, your parent will be contacted. You will also serve detention.
  4. On the fourth tardy, you will be sent to the counselor, who will contact your parent. You will also serve detention.
  5. On the fifth tardy, you will be sent to the counselor, who will contact your parent for a parent conference. You will serve Saturday school.
  6. After five tardies, you will be sent to the dean.

Late Assignments:

Without a valid excuse, any assignment not turned in on time is a Late Assignment. Late assignments will lose 20% of their total possible points per day, excluding holidays and weekends. So if a 40 pt Lab Report was due on Tuesday, you will receive 32 pts if you turn it in on Wednesday, and 24 pts if you turn it in on Thursday. It does not matter if our next class will not meet until Thursday.

PASSING THIS COURSE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION!!!!