Syllabus
Materials (subject to change)
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Course Description:
Study of the common plants and animals of the southwest. Includes their
distribution, adaptation, behavior and ecology. Also includes physical
geography and geological principles of the region.
Performance
Objectives: Students will:
- Apply
basic geological principles to interpret the physical setting of the
Southwest.
- Apply
meteorological and biological principles to describe the formation
of the major biotic communities in the Southwest.
- Describe
major desert adaptations and the process of natural selection.
- Identify
common plants and animals of the Southwest.
- Integrate
basic biological principles and specific natural history information
into an understanding of the common plants and animals of the Southwest.
- Demonstrate
skills necessary for life-long learning of natural history,
including conducting scientific research.
Texts:
- Website: http://wc.pima.edu/~bfiero/bio109web/. Everything you need for the class is available from here and from MyPima, including lectures (in the form of powerpoint presentations, study guides in the form of self-quizzes, lab manual, identification guides in the form of links from a species list, and project information.
- A Natural
History of the Sonoran Desert by Arizona-Sonora
Desert Museum (optional: not needed for class, but does overlap with the class and can serve as a good reference after the class)
- Note: you do NOT need the lecture/lab packet they sell in the bookstore (that is for my traditional section of the class).
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Grade
Determination: Based on percentage of total accumulated points from both
lecture and lab.
Keep track of your own grades using the grade
tracking sheet and see my records of your grades.
Graded Assignments |
| Exams |
400 pts (best 4 of 5 @ 100 pts) |
50% |
| Identification Tests |
200 pts (best 4 of 5 @ 50 pts) |
25% |
| Labs |
200 pts |
25% |
| Natural History Event |
40 pts extra credit |
+5% |
| TOTAL |
1000 points |
100% |
* I will drop the lowest exam and identification test score at the end of the semester to determine final grades (see Exam Info). |
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Final Grade |
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A =
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90 - 100% |
720 - 800 points |
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B =
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80 - 89% |
640 - 719 points |
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C =
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70 - 79% |
560 - 639 points |
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D =
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60 - 69% |
480 - 559 points |
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F =
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00 - 59% |
000 - 479 points |
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Attendance
Policy: You are expected to take
the exams and identification tests in the West Campus Assessment and Testing Center during
the time periods scheduled. I hope that you will attend the two lab days
(see scheduled dates/times), especially lab day 1, but attendance is
not required. If you do not attend the lab days, then you can do the labs on your own (see lab manual).
Make-up
Policy: Exams and Identification Tests cannot be made up (the Final
Exam grade replaces the lowest exam grade and the Final Identification Test replaces your lowest identification test). If you missed one or both Lab Days, then you have to turn in those labs on or before Nov. 14.
Scholastic
Ethic: You
are expected to abide by the Student Code of Conduct (http://www.pima.edu/studentserv/studentcode/index.shtml).
Breaches in scholastic ethic (e.g. cheating and plagiarism)
will be dealt with severely.
Official
Withdrawal (W): If you decide you cannot continue in class, make sure
you officially withdraw by the deadline. If you wish to receive a grade of "W" after the withdrawal date, please request a grade of "W" in writing to the instructor; however, granting a grade of "W" after the deadline is up to the discretion of the instructor.
Incomplete
(I): Given only when a student has missed 20% or less of the course
material for a reason acceptable to the instructor. Eligibility for an incomplete
requires earned grades that average "C" or above at the time of request.
Posting
of Grades: Grades will be posted anonymously using a personal code
supplied by the student. The purpose of posting grades is to allow students
to track their grade throughout the semester (and to double-check my bookkeeping).
Please send me a personal code consisting of 6 letters and/or numbers if you
wish to have your grades posted in this anonymous way. If you do not wish
your grades to be posted in this manner, please inform the instructor.
Americans
with Disabilities Act: Pima Community College is committed to providing accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in a timely and effective manner. To request a reasonable accommodation, students must be registered with the campus Disabled Student Resources (DSR) office. Accommodations will be made based on eligibility determined by Disabled Student Resources. Services can be requested at any time during the semester. Requesting services well in advance will help to ensure that resources are available when needed. Please contact a DSR office at 206-4500 or DSRhelp@pima.edu.
Mandatory Reporting Statement: Pima Community College complies with Arizona State Statutes pertaining to immediate reporting of abuse of a minor. Abuse is defined as sexual, physical or neglect, and a minor is defined as a person under age 18 (ARS 13-3620). Students who disclose abuse of a minor, either personally experienced as a minor any time in the past or present, or that of another minor, to any College employee legally requires that employee to file an immediate report to PCC DPS”. (PCC SPG-1505/BB).
PHILOSOPHY
OF CLASS
