BIO 111, Spring 2015
PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY II Bob Minckley
Hubbell Auditorium, Hutchison 141 446 Hutchison Hall
MWF 9:00-9:50
office hours: 10:30-12:00 W
10:30-11:30 F
LECTURE
BIO 111, Principles of Biology II, is one half of a two-semester lecture biology course required of all
majors and minors in the biological sciences. An understanding of the material covered in the first half
of the sequence (Bio 110) probably helps, but is not essential to do well in Bio 111.
RECITATIONS
These are 50 minutes long, enough time to review material from the lecture, gain insights on how to
prepare for exams, and discuss readings in classic and recent scientific literature.
LABORATORY
BIO 111P, Introductory Biology Lab, is the lab course that accompanies the lecture course Bio 111. The
content of the lab course supports the lecture material, although the same material in lab and lecture
material may not be presented in the same week. Labs meet 1 day/week for 3 hours. The lab is a
completely different course with its own grade. The lab does not have to be taken if you are in the
lecture, but is required for some majors.
For those enrolled in lab, material will be available each week on the Bio 111P Blackboard. See the Bio
111P syllabus on Blackboard.
LECTURE TEXT
Principles of Life, 2nd edition, 2014. Hillis, D., et al. Reading assignments are on the syllabus, but may
change under rare circumstances. Copies of the textbook are on 2-hour reserve at Carlson Library and
at Rush Rhees Library.
This course (lecture) is supported by a web page on blackboard. The slides that have data/ graphs will
be posted as a pdf on Blackboard for download. Grades may be checked through your Blackboard
account.
ATTENDANCE
Lecture attendance is required in as much as it is your responsibility to note any information presented
in lecture including course content, changes in the syllabus, or course requirements. Part of your final
score (approx. 3%) is attendance. For this part, full credit is given if you are in class for 75% of the
lectures. Attendance is taken by clickers that are available either at the Campus bookstore or by
downloading an app to your phone from https://www1.iclicker.com.
GRADING
Most of the points for the grade in the course come from exams and attendance in the lecture.
However, a full 10% is earned in recitation. Grades for the lab are not part of the lecture grade.
Lecture
Lecture exams (4) 350 pts
Cumulative portion of final exam 50 pts
Attendance 15 pts
Recitation
Participation in projects/Pop quizzes 45 pts
460 pts
1
, Grading (based on total points)
A 93-100% C 73-76.9%
A- 90-92.9% C- 70-72.9%
B+ 87-89.9% D+ 67-69.9%
B 83-86.9%% D 60-66.9%
B- 80-82.9% D- 55-59.9%
C+ 77-79.9% E < 55%
Because some exams may be unexpectedly difficult, exam grades may be adjusted relative to the
highest scores in the class.
Final grade breaks will be rounded to the nearest 0.5 points. Cut offs for grades are firm. If you are
below the grade break by a fraction of a point, you have missed the cut off.
Exam schedule
Exam I Wed, 11 Feb 8:30-9:50 am 100 points
Exam II Tues, 3 Mar 8-9:30 am 100 points
Exam III Wed, 8 Apr 8:30-9:50 am 100 points
Exam IV Tues, 5 May 12:30 -3:30 pm 150 points
All exams will be in Hubbell Auditorium.
The four exams will generally cover one each for the main sections of the course (evolution, diversity,
functional biology, ecology). Questions will be based on material presented in the lecture, in the
textbook, at recitations, and in the scientific papers you will read in recitation. Most questions on the
exam will be short answer. To do well, attend class, think about the material, keep a dictionary of new
terms and concepts, and stay engaged. Hint: Many students who do best make a detailed study guide
(and do not borrow one made by someone else). Tests from some previous years are available on
Blackboard.
The regular exam with the lowest score you receive over the semester will be down-weighted 50% less
than the other three exams. This will mean that if you have a bad day or do poorly for some other
reason this score will not affect your final grade as much. Note, however, that even your worst score
counts, so it is in your best interest to strive to do well on all the exams.
Exams must be written in blue or black non-erasable ink (not pencil).
No pencil or white out will be allowed on questions submitted for regrades.
Missed exams
1. The exam schedule is published. As such, no make up will be given in the case of a previously
scheduled appointment unless notice is given at least one day prior to the exam. One-week notice to
Ms. Baylark should be given for valid reasons for missing an exam, such as religious holidays and
athletic events.
2. Should you miss an exam, you are required to contact Ms. Baylark ()
within 48 hours by email to explain the absence. Oversleeping, forgetting an exam was scheduled, or
having to study for multiple exams are not considered valid excuses for missing an exam.
3. Exam make-ups are NOT graded on a pass/fail basis. Do not assume that skipping your exam and
taking a make up is advantageous. Make-ups must be scheduled and completed within one week of
the date the originally scheduled.
4. Missed exams that are not taken within a week will be entered into the record as a zero.
2
PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY II Bob Minckley
Hubbell Auditorium, Hutchison 141 446 Hutchison Hall
MWF 9:00-9:50
office hours: 10:30-12:00 W
10:30-11:30 F
LECTURE
BIO 111, Principles of Biology II, is one half of a two-semester lecture biology course required of all
majors and minors in the biological sciences. An understanding of the material covered in the first half
of the sequence (Bio 110) probably helps, but is not essential to do well in Bio 111.
RECITATIONS
These are 50 minutes long, enough time to review material from the lecture, gain insights on how to
prepare for exams, and discuss readings in classic and recent scientific literature.
LABORATORY
BIO 111P, Introductory Biology Lab, is the lab course that accompanies the lecture course Bio 111. The
content of the lab course supports the lecture material, although the same material in lab and lecture
material may not be presented in the same week. Labs meet 1 day/week for 3 hours. The lab is a
completely different course with its own grade. The lab does not have to be taken if you are in the
lecture, but is required for some majors.
For those enrolled in lab, material will be available each week on the Bio 111P Blackboard. See the Bio
111P syllabus on Blackboard.
LECTURE TEXT
Principles of Life, 2nd edition, 2014. Hillis, D., et al. Reading assignments are on the syllabus, but may
change under rare circumstances. Copies of the textbook are on 2-hour reserve at Carlson Library and
at Rush Rhees Library.
This course (lecture) is supported by a web page on blackboard. The slides that have data/ graphs will
be posted as a pdf on Blackboard for download. Grades may be checked through your Blackboard
account.
ATTENDANCE
Lecture attendance is required in as much as it is your responsibility to note any information presented
in lecture including course content, changes in the syllabus, or course requirements. Part of your final
score (approx. 3%) is attendance. For this part, full credit is given if you are in class for 75% of the
lectures. Attendance is taken by clickers that are available either at the Campus bookstore or by
downloading an app to your phone from https://www1.iclicker.com.
GRADING
Most of the points for the grade in the course come from exams and attendance in the lecture.
However, a full 10% is earned in recitation. Grades for the lab are not part of the lecture grade.
Lecture
Lecture exams (4) 350 pts
Cumulative portion of final exam 50 pts
Attendance 15 pts
Recitation
Participation in projects/Pop quizzes 45 pts
460 pts
1
, Grading (based on total points)
A 93-100% C 73-76.9%
A- 90-92.9% C- 70-72.9%
B+ 87-89.9% D+ 67-69.9%
B 83-86.9%% D 60-66.9%
B- 80-82.9% D- 55-59.9%
C+ 77-79.9% E < 55%
Because some exams may be unexpectedly difficult, exam grades may be adjusted relative to the
highest scores in the class.
Final grade breaks will be rounded to the nearest 0.5 points. Cut offs for grades are firm. If you are
below the grade break by a fraction of a point, you have missed the cut off.
Exam schedule
Exam I Wed, 11 Feb 8:30-9:50 am 100 points
Exam II Tues, 3 Mar 8-9:30 am 100 points
Exam III Wed, 8 Apr 8:30-9:50 am 100 points
Exam IV Tues, 5 May 12:30 -3:30 pm 150 points
All exams will be in Hubbell Auditorium.
The four exams will generally cover one each for the main sections of the course (evolution, diversity,
functional biology, ecology). Questions will be based on material presented in the lecture, in the
textbook, at recitations, and in the scientific papers you will read in recitation. Most questions on the
exam will be short answer. To do well, attend class, think about the material, keep a dictionary of new
terms and concepts, and stay engaged. Hint: Many students who do best make a detailed study guide
(and do not borrow one made by someone else). Tests from some previous years are available on
Blackboard.
The regular exam with the lowest score you receive over the semester will be down-weighted 50% less
than the other three exams. This will mean that if you have a bad day or do poorly for some other
reason this score will not affect your final grade as much. Note, however, that even your worst score
counts, so it is in your best interest to strive to do well on all the exams.
Exams must be written in blue or black non-erasable ink (not pencil).
No pencil or white out will be allowed on questions submitted for regrades.
Missed exams
1. The exam schedule is published. As such, no make up will be given in the case of a previously
scheduled appointment unless notice is given at least one day prior to the exam. One-week notice to
Ms. Baylark should be given for valid reasons for missing an exam, such as religious holidays and
athletic events.
2. Should you miss an exam, you are required to contact Ms. Baylark ()
within 48 hours by email to explain the absence. Oversleeping, forgetting an exam was scheduled, or
having to study for multiple exams are not considered valid excuses for missing an exam.
3. Exam make-ups are NOT graded on a pass/fail basis. Do not assume that skipping your exam and
taking a make up is advantageous. Make-ups must be scheduled and completed within one week of
the date the originally scheduled.
4. Missed exams that are not taken within a week will be entered into the record as a zero.
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