Intructor Contact Info: Phone: 703-845-6517 Home page: www.nvcc.edu/home/nvkingb
Office: Bisdorf 352 email: bking@nvcc.eduPrerequisite: Passing grade in Biology 101.
Books and Assignments:The two required books, available at the Alexandria Bookstore are:
(1) Textbook: Biology: Concepts & Connections, 6th ed. (2009) by Campbell et al..
(2) The Study Guide is General Biology Study Guide and Laboratory Manual, 10th ed. (2007) by King, Wise, Erdahl, West, and Parker.Assigned pages in the Textbook and learning objectives in the Study Guide are listed in the lecture schedule. All charts and questions in the Study Guide are to be filled in by the student before lecture as homework.
Emergency Closings: In the event of an emergency cancellation of class, please check Blackboard (Bb) for further instructions. See http://tac.nvcc.edu/blackboard/student/ for information on how to use Bb.
Withdrawal and Critical Dates: The last day to withdraw with tuition refund is Jan. 28. The last day to withdraw with a "W" grade, but no refund, is Mar. 26. No withdrawals are allowed after this date except in emergencies beyond the student's control if written documentation is provided and approved by the instructor and Division Dean. If this documentation is not provided or not approved, the grade will be "F". No audits are allowed in this course.
Attendance and Behavior: Be on time, since quizzes are given and attendance is taken at the beginning of class. Regular attendance and preparation are required, and essential for success. Missing more than 30% of the lectures results in an automatic "F" for the course. Cell phones must not ring sudibly and no texting is allowed in class. It is the student's responsibility to inofrm me in a timely manner of any adverse circumstances interfering with ability to succeed in this course.
Quizzes & Exams: Quizzes are not cumulative; exams are cumulative. There are no make-up quizzes. Make-up exams are permitted only with instructor approval obtained in advance and only once during the semester. You must pass the final exam to pass the course. The schedule shows dates and point values of quizzes and exams.
Extra Credit: Extra credit work must conform to instructions, be typed, stapled, and turned in at the beginning of class on due dates. No student may earn more than 15 extra credit points in the course.
Grades: The lecture grade is 70% of the course grade and the lab is 30%. Lecture grades are calculated by adding up the points earned on the 4 best quizzes, both exams, and extra credits as a percentage of 350 total points. The one lowest or missing quiz grade will be dropped. The grading scale is as follows:
90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; Below 60% = F Cheating: Academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism or giving or receiving information when you are expected to work on your own, will not be tolerated. No electronic devices may be used during testing. Any student suspected of cheating will be subject to an oral or written questioning. Any student caught cheating will fail the course.
Office Hours: Students who need individual help or academic advice are encouraged to see me during the walk-in office hours listed below or by appointment at other times.
M 12:30-4:30 W 3:30-4:30
T 12:30-3:00 R 12:30-3:00Special Needs: See me at the beginning of the semester about any special problems, medical conditions, or disabilities. If you are seeking accommodations for a disability, you must provide a memorandum of accommodation, which can be obtained from a special needs counselor in Rm. 229, 703-845-6067.
Labs:Labs begin the week of Jan. 25. Read the Lab Safety Rules before you come to lab and bring your Study Guide with you. The rules and lab schedule are on the Lab Home Page (www.nvcc.edu/alexandria/science/s_biolab.htm).
Tips for Success:
•Attend all classes on time, be alert, be prepared, take notes, and follow instructions.
•Have a positive, can-do attitude, work hard, keep in touch with me, and watch my home page for messages.
•Read Unit Goals in the Study Guide and Overviews in the Textbook before you come to class and be prepared to ask and answer questions on the material.
•Fill in all the blanks in your Study Guide (every word in it is fair game for testing) and bring it with you to every lecture and lab.
•Study a little every day to avoid cramming. You should be studying about 6 hours a week for lecture.
•Ask lots of questions in class, during office hours, and in study groups.
•Use all resources available, e.g., instructor office hours, tutors, study groups, web sites (especially mine and its suggested Bio 102 links), and recommended books.
•See me for advice and help at the first sign of trouble; don't wait.