Clayton State University

BIOL3650L - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory
Course syllabus - Fall, 2008

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@clayton.edu.

Course description:

Number and title:  

BIOL 3650L (CRN 87096, 87097), Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory

Credit hours:  

1.0 semester credit hours

Catalog description: 

Laboratory to accompany BIOL3650.

Course pre-requisites: 

BIOL1108/L

Course co-requisite:  

BIOL3650, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy. Withdrawal from BIOL3650L requires withdrawal from BIOL3650 and vice versa.

Computer Requirement:

Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm .

Computer skill prerequisites:

You must be able to use Windows, Microsoft Word, Outlook Express (including attaching and retrieving files via e-mail), a Web browser, and Adobe Acrobat Reader.

In class use of Student Notebook Computers:

Student computers will be used in the classroom several times in the course.  In addition, students will use their computers outside of class to access the internet, and to communicate with the instructor.  Students are permitted to use their notebooks during class for taking notes or other appropriate uses.  However, students who are found using their computer for activities not related to the course (including, but not limited to checking email, web surfing, instant messaging, etc.) will have their computer confiscated for the remainder of the class period and will NOT be allowed to use the computer in class in the future.

Course objectives:

Outcomes:

Biology Outcomes

BIOL3650L supports outcomes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 of the biology major.

Term:

Fall Semester, 2008

Instructor information:

Instructor

Dr. Stephen Burnett
phone: 678-466-4774
fax: 678-466-4899
e-mail: sburnett@clayton.edu
internet address: http://a-s.clayton.edu/burnett/

Office: 

Arts and Sciences Building, room G110F

Office hours: 

Tuesday 9 - 11 am and 2 - 3 pm, Wednesday 3 - 5 pm, and Thursday 9 - 11 am and 2 - 3 pm.

During office hours, I will be in one of three locations:  G110F (my office), the biology labs (C23, C29, or C32) or the research labs (C60 & C62).  If I am not in my office, I will leave a note on my office door indicating where I can be found.

Class meetings:  

Classroom

Business and Health Sciences Building, room C-32

Class time

9:00 am - 11:50 am (CRN 87096) and 12:00 - 2:50 (CRN 87097) on Wednesdays

Textbook information:

Required text: 

Fishbeck, D.W., and Sebastiani, A.  2008.  Comparative Anatomy, 2nd Edition: Manual of Vertebrate Dissection.  Morton Publishing Co.

Victoria E. McMillan.  Writing papers in the biological sciences, 4th edition.  Bedford/St. Martin's.  New York.

Text Coverage:

TBA

Recommended materials

BIOL3650L DVD set - this will be available for purchase from the Clayton State Science Association.  Check with your instructor for more information.

Evaluation and grading:

Tentatively, the points will be distributed as follows:

Item Points
3 lab practicals  150
Class Reports 40
Dissection1 10
Attendance/Participation2 20
TOTAL 220

1Particular dissections will be graded by your instructor, based on the quality of the dissections the thoroughness of the dissection, and the time you spent.  This grade will be given to the entire group, so it is important that you work together and produce the best-quality dissection you can.  Click here to see the rubric that your instructor will be using for this grade.

2Attendance/participation points will be given partly for attending lab on time and partly for taking part in the dissections each week.  Allowing other students in your group to perform all the dissections will result in loss of points, so it is in your best interest to remain involved in all laboratories.

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

Grade Points
A 198 - 220 (90-100%)
B 176 - 197 (80-89%)
C 154 - 175 (70-79%)
D 132 - 153 (60-69%)
F Below 132 points
Mid-term Progress Report

The mid-term grade in this course which will be issued by October 7th, reflects approximately 33% of the entire course grade.  Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W."  Students pursuing this option must withdraw online using the DUCK or fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, by mid-term, which occurs on October 10th.

Course schedule

The course schedule is listed on a separate page.  Be sure to check it often to keep track of any changes in the due dates of assignments and exams during the semester.  Due dates for assignments may be changed at the instructor's discretion.  You are responsible for keeping track of due dates and turning in your work when it is required.

Please note that the schedule is tentative and the dates of the exams and the chapters that each exam will cover are tentative and subject to change. Exam dates are not set until they are announced in class. The exam date will be announced at least one week in advance.

Course policies:

General policies

Changes or additions to this syllabus, including readings, exam dates, grading, and course policies can be made at the discretion of the instructor at any time.  If such changes are made, they will be posted on the announcements section of the instructor's web page.

General data from this course may be used by the instructor for research on improved methods of teaching, leading to presentation or publication.  Data that would be used for this purpose would consist of anonymous data, with no identifying information from particular students (e.g., the overall average for the course, NOT grades from particular students).  If you do not wish for your instructor to include your data in such studies, fill out the withdrawal of consent form and bring it to your instructor.

Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook.  Students are also expected to abide by the guidelines in the "Basic Student Responsibilities" document.  Of particular concern is disruptive behavior, where a student is not showing proper respect to the instructor or other students in the class.  Such behavior will not be tolerated and a student engaged in such behavior will be required to leave the class, forfeiting the attendance points for that day as well as any other points that are associated with that day's activity.  The ability of the student to return to class is determined by the instructor, based on the severity of the disruption, and can range from missing the current class period up to administrative withdrawal from the course.  In addition, charges may be filed with the Office of Judicial Affairs. 

Grades will not be communicated by phone or email - graded materials can only be picked up by the individual to whom it belongs.

Visitors, including children, are not allowed in the classroom.

No smoking, other use of tobacco, eating, or drinking is permitted at any time in the classroom.

Academic integrity

Cheating in any form will not be tolerated; all work that you turn in must be in your own words and must be your own work.  If your brainpower did not generate what you turn in, it is considered cheating.  Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to: falsifying data from an experiment, copying the work of another person, allowing another person to do your assignment, allowing another student to copy your work, working in a group on a graded item, copying or closely paraphrasing referenced sources, using anything but your brainpower on an exam, etc.  Misconduct in any form will result in a zero on the assignment for all involved students and academic misconduct forms will be filed with the Office of Student Conduct for any violation.  Judicial procedures are described on the webpage of the Office of Student Conduct.

Disruption of the Learning Environment

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not tolerated. This includes belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class.

    Examples of disruptive behavior:

    Common examples of behaviors that may be disruptive include, but are not limited to:

Students exhibiting these types of behaviors can expect a warning from the instructor or dismissal for the class period in which the behavior occurred.  Failure to correct such behaviors can result in dismissal from the course.

     More extreme examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to:

A student who is dismissed from a course for unacceptable and/or disruptive behavior is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights within 3 class days following dismissal. If found in violation after the review process, the student’s dismissal will be upheld and a grade of WF may be issued for the course.

Conditions attributed to physical or psychological disabilities are not considered as a legitimate excuse for disruptive behavior.

Attendance

You are expected to attend all class meetings and be on time.  Attendance of all of the labs is REQUIRED and will be checked at each lab period. Unexcused absences from laboratory result in a grade of zero (0) for any graded work that was assigned that week as well as a loss of attendance points for that week's lab.  You cannot turn in assignments from a lab you missed.  Late arrivals will result in loss of attendance points for that week's lab.  There are NO exceptions to this rule.  Due to the nature of the laboratory exercises in this course, attendance at all lab meetings is vital to learn the material - any student who misses more than 50% of the lab periods (whether excused or unexcused) will be automatically withdrawn from the course.  Attendance will be taken at each class meeting by signing the class roll, so it is vital that you sign the roll sheet even if you are late!  Attendance and participation in class activities will be considered as part of your class grade.  You are expected to remain in lab for the full time, so do not schedule other appointments during this time.   

If you have a written excuse from a competent authority (doctor, judge, etc.), the missed points for the laboratory will not count against you.  Excuses will not be accepted for routine procedures (checkups, teeth cleanings, eye exams, etc).  Students should not schedule such appointments for lab times.  If you miss lab, you are still responsible for the lab material on the lab practical.  Be aware that being delayed due to traffic will NOT be accepted as a valid excuse for missing labs (including lab practicals).

There are NO makeups for lab practical exams.  If you have a VALID excuse and you miss a practical you have 2 options.  It is ultimately up to your instructor, which option is most applicable to your situation.  PLEASE discuss it with your instructor.

  1.  You can take the practical in another lab section if you have permission from your lab instructor; however, arrangements must be made in a timely manner (i.e., this option will NOT be available the day of the practicals).

  2. You can forfeit taking the practical and your total points in the lab will be adjusted accordingly (meaning that all the other assignments will make up a greater part of your final grade).  YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO MISS MORE THAN 1 PRACTICAL REGARDLESS OF THE EXCUSE.  MISSING MORE THAN ONE PRACTICAL IS CONSIDERED UNREASONABLE SINCE THE PRACTICALS ACCOUNT FOR THE MAJORITY OF YOUR GRADE.  FOR THE SECOND MISSED EXAM, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A GRADE OF ZERO (0).

NOTE: Excuses for graded assignments can only be applied if you were NOT present to take the assignment.  If you take the exam/quiz, you cannot come to me and ask not to count that assignment in your grade after the fact.  In such situations, you will receive the score you earned on the assignment.  If you know of an extenuating circumstance, it is in your best interest to discuss it with your instructor ASAP.

Electronic Devices

Turn off all unnecessary electronic devices during class.  Unauthorized use of cell phones, MP3 players, etc. during class may result in confiscation of the device and loss of attendance points for that day.  No electronic devices including cell phones, palm pilots, pagers, calculators, etc. are not allowed during exams or quizzes.  Possession of these items is forbidden during any graded activity, which means that they cannot be clipped on your belt, in your pocket, etc.)  Possession and/or use of these items during an exam or quiz will result in an automatic zero on the graded activity.

Lab exercises

You are expected to prepare for the current week's lab topic prior to lab so that you will already be familiar with the subject matter. This will enable to you to work through the lab on your own, asking the instructor when you have questions.  This process will involve reading the required sections of the lab manual, checking the web page for identification sheets or other handouts, viewing the review pages, DVDs, etc.  You are responsible for printing handouts and bringing them to lab.

Late assignments

Unless otherwise stated by your instructor, lab reports and other assignments are due at the beginning of lab on the assigned days.  Assignments that are not turned in at the beginning of lab lose 20% of their points.  They lose an additional 20% per school day.  Electronic submission of assignments is only permitted if the instructor specifically says it is acceptable.  If it was not permitted, electronic submissions will not be accepted and your work will be considered late, losing points until I receive a printed copy of the assignment.  Printing problems are not an acceptable reason for submitting work late.  Under NO circumstances will lab reports be accepted more than one week after they are due or after I have returned the graded material to the class, whichever comes first. Turn in all of your lab materials together. No supplemental materials may be added once you have turned in you lab report or assignment.

Practical exams

The lab practicals will start at the beginning of the class period. If you come in late and the practical is still in progress, you may take the practical, but you will NOT be given any additional time to work. You must turn in your work when time is called.

E-mail

Important messages and announcements will be sent to you via your CSU account. You must activate your account and check your e-mail regularly. Except under extenuating circumstances, the class e-mail list will be the sole means of contact by e-mail.

Website

Check my web page regularly for new postings. Handouts required for class and other important items will be posted on the web page for this class.

This page last updated August 14, 2008