BIOLOGY BL -A104, Principles of biology
Lecture section #3: Monday - Wednesday - Friday, 11:00 - 11:50 am
Fall Semester, 2002: COURSE INFORMATION
PROFESSOR: Dr. Stark, OFFICE: Macelwane 111
OFFICE HOURS: 12 noon to 1 pm Monday and Wednesday, also10 am to 10:45 am Friday or by appointment
PHONE: 977-7151. Please DO NOT call me at home.
E-MAIL: StarkWS@SLU.EDU HOME PAGE: http://starklab.slu.edu
HOME PAGE FOR BIO 106: http://starklab.slu.edu/Bio104/Bio104Syllab.htm
Note, there is essential information on the web site that is not on the printed syllabus
TEXT: BIOLOGY (sixth edition - 2002) Campbell and Reece. The first half of the book will be covered this semester, namely Chapters 1-27.

TESTS: There are 4 in-class hourly exams and a final. The dates and times are respectively:
FIRST IN-CLASS EXAM - Wednesday, September 25, 11 am
SECOND IN-CLASS EXAM - Wednesday, October 16, 11 am
THIRD IN-CLASS EXAM - Monday, November 11, 11 am
FOURTH IN-CLASS EXAM - Monday December 9, 11 am
FINAL EXAM - Friday, December 13, 8 to 9:50 am
Final exams for all courses are organized on a campus-wide basis, and I cannot change the time or offer make-ups. Each in-class hourly exam will be 35 multiple choice questions covering only the material in the immediately previous 8-11 lectures (after the previous hourly exam). You must bring a sharpened #2 pencil with an erasor, an ink pen and your student ID to the exams. Your lowest score (normalized to that exam's curve) will not be included in your final grade. This means that you can afford to miss (or do poorly on) one hourly exam. However, there are absolutely no makeups. So if you miss more than one test, a zero will be entered for the second, third or fourth tests missed. So I strongly urge you to take all tests. Also, I will use the average of the first two tests for your midterm grade (without dropping the lower score [and without incorporating your lab performance]). If you take all 4 hourly tests, then I will discount your poorest test, and you will benefit. The Final will be 50 multiple choice questions which will be "cumulative," that is covering the entire semester. Last year's Bio 104 exams are posted on the web site.

POSTING OF TEST RESULTS: Answers will be posted on the web soon after each test. You will be keeping your test booklet (which is a useful study aid), so if you mark it accurately with the answers you marked on your answer sheet, you can get immediate feedback. Scores, so that you can verify that you and I agree about how you did, and approximate grades, will be posted as soon as they are available (usually within 1 day after the test). Bring your test booklet if you want to discuss any discrepencies; since I retain the answer sheets, I can hand correct any computer scanning errors.

GRADING: The in-class and final lecture tests determine 75% of your course grade (with the lab counting 25%) since this is a four credit, three hour lecture course with a 3 hr lab. By simple arithmetic, each of the 3 in-class hourly exams which will count determine 17% of your final grade; the final counts 24%.

CURVE: Each exam will be evaluated on a curve to result in approximately 15 - 20% A's, 20 - 25% B's, 40 - 45% C's, 10 - 15% D's and 0 - 10% F's. Typically you cannot pass this course without earning half of the possible exam points. Obviously, dropping the lowest test will result in a slightly more generous course grade curve. Also, every attempt will be made to achieve a final curve which is consistent with all other Bio 104-106 sections in the previous academic year.

STUDYING TIPS: Tests will be based on lecture. Class attendance is the only strategic way to approach this course. Take thorough notes during lecture. Do not just copy what is put on the board or projected on slides, transparencies and the web. At home, carefully correlate your text assignments with your notes. Friends' notes or web material (these are only outlines, not notes) can be useful study aids, but cannot substitute for your personal knowledge through attendance and note taking. Lecture material is paced at about 4 times that of high school courses. The best way to justify your tuition expense and the commitment of some of the best years of your life is to share the professor's emphasis, interpretation and enthusiasm. The archive of information in the book can be difficult without help. By visiting with the material in lectures, notes and reading you can make the material inviting and get the maximum benefit. There is a hyperlink for further studying tips.

Good luck and best wishes for a productive semester!

This page was last updated 8/19/02

Hyperlink to the academic honesty policy of the College.

If you have special needs, these must be documented with the disabilities office, and I ask you to see me in the first two weeks of class to be certain I know what accomodations to make.

return to Bio 104 Syllabus

return to Stark home page