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, 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) |
40% |
| Identification Tests |
200 pts (best 4 of 5 @ 50 pts) |
20% |
| Labs |
200 pts |
20% |
| Project |
200 pts |
20% |
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TOTAL
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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% |
900 -1000 points |
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B =
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80 - 89% |
800 - 899 points |
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C =
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70 - 79% |
700 - 799 points |
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D =
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60 - 69% |
600 - 699 points |
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F =
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00 - 59% |
000 - 599 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 lowest identification test
-- see explanation). Late Project assignments
may be turned in up to two weeks late (except for revised report; see project
info), but are deducted up to 25% of the possible points. All labs must be in my hands no later than Dec 2. Please do not wait until the last minute! Things happen! Because
I not only allow but encourage you to turn in your project and lab assignments
early, I will not accept any excuses for late work.
Scholastic
Ethic: You
are expected to abide by the College's
Student Rights and Responsibilities (http://www.pima.edu/~coadmissions/studresp.htm).
Breaches in scholastic ethic (e.g. cheating and plagiarism)
will be dealt with severely (including receiving an F in the class).
Official
Withdrawal (W): If you decide you cannot continue in class, make sure
you officially withdraw by Nov 12. 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
County Community College District strives to comply with the provisions of
the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act. Students with disabilities requiring special accommodations must notify
the instructor of this need or directly contact the Disabled Student Resources
Office on your campus at the beginning of the semester. One or more field
trips are tentatively planned during the course. A reasonable accommodation
will be provided unless it creates an undue hardship or is not possible. Total
participation may be denied for education or safety reasons, and an alternative
activity will be provided.
PHILOSOPHY
OF CLASS
