Course Information and Syllabus for 
Biological Sciences 121:  Plant Systems
 	Fall 2006

L The policies outlined here apply to all students, 
whether or not they have read this document.7

Professor:  Dr. Kurt Schulz
Office:  Science 3313,  650_3005   Lab:  Science 3229
Office hours:  11:00-12:00 MTF, or by appointment.  
email:  kschulz@siue.edu
web page:  http://www.siue.edu/~kschulz

Contacting the professor: Email is the best choice.  Email is checked twice daily during the work week.  

Teaching Assistants: Ms. Amy Rogers, Ms. Chris Blackford, Ms. Geeth Vanaik

Contacting your TA: Email is again the best choice in all cases.  Your TA will provide an email address and check it daily.  Alternatively, leave a message in the TA’s mailbox or with Dept. office, 650_3927.

Texts:  Raven, P.H., R.F. Evert, and S.E. Eichhorn.  2005.  Biology of plants, 7th ed.  W.H. Freeman and Co., NY. 
Minchin, P., K. Schulz, M. Smith, and E. Esselman.  2006.  Biology 121 Biology II Plant Systems lab manual (Fall 2006 version).  Privately printed.

Course Objectives:
1.  Provide students with a general background knowledge of plant biology useful in later course work and life.  This includes: 
‚ a knowledge of the anatomy, morphology, growth, and physiology of higher plants; 
‚  a knowledge of basic energy metabolism in higher organisms;  
‚  an introduction to the characteristic taxa represented in kingdoms Plantae, Protista, and Fungi; 
‚ an appreciation of the key role of plants in human existence.
2.  Reenforce the scientific method as an objective mechanism for learning and knowing.
3.  Deepen students understanding and knowledge of evolution as the unifying principle in biology.
4.  Support and reenforce students abilities to teach and train themselves as preparation for work life.

Grades and Examinations:
A total of 800 Points will be distributed as follows:
275 points based on three lecture exams (one 75 point exam, two 100 point exams)
150 points for the cumulative final exam
200 points for two lab practical exams (2 x 100 pts.)
100 points for lab assignments, attendance checks, etc.
  50 points (variable) for lecture quizzes, attendance checks, etc. (may be unannounced)
  25 points for a required field trip to the Missouri Botanical Garden

No extra credit will be given.  Please don’t ask.

The following grades are guaranteed:
90-100% 	= A
80-89   	= B
70-79   	= C
60-69   	= D
< 60    		= F

We do not expect any “curve” will be necessary.  In the rare situation we find it appropriate, the protocol will be to add points to all scores sufficient to give 10-15% of the top students an A.

Laboratory
Your lab manual and lab instructor will provide information concerning this part of the course.  You may expect a graded assignment or quiz every lab period to verify your attendance and keep you on track.

Attendance
Students are expected to attend every class.  If sickness or family emergency prevent attendance, a written, dated note to the professor is required upon the student’s return.  Absences from lecture or laboratory exams will be excused only if the professor is notified in advance of the time of the exam.  Students should confer with the professor in advance to be excused for religious observances or other important events.  Vacations, and other recreation do not constitute “important events.”  Aside from these exceptions, the teaching staff assumes no obligation to help unexcused absentees catch up.  Makeup laboratories, lab quizzes, or lab exams will not be given. 

How to Succeed in this Class
1.  Attend class.  In a recent lecture course, this professor discovered that students lost about 0.5% of their final percentage for each lecture missed.  This means that just ONE absence from lecture could determine a borderline grade.  Put another way, this is the equivalent of losing 4.6% on a single lecture exam.  We are confident that missed laboratories affect final grades even more greatly.  

2.  Capitalize on this opportunity.  Just as a fishing license is not a promise of catching a fish, paying tuition is not a promise of a specific grade.  What you take from this course is largely of your own making.  We take responsibility that information will be presented in an understandable, organized way.  It is not our job to entertain you or make you study, but to provide an educational opportunity.

3.  Take good notes.  Course notes are a custom-made tool which connects the themes in lecture and lab to the details in the text.  A looseleaf binder is the flexible way to keep notes and handouts together.  If you haven’t already, acquire the discipline of promptly reviewing and correcting course notes.  Good notes not only record important information, but provide clear indications of what was stressed in lecture/lab.

4.  Study regularly.  This material is best acquired slowly, not “crammed” for a test.   Successful students make it a habit to spend about 30 minutes after each lecture or lab reviewing and correcting notes.  Additional time will be required for reading the text and studying for quizzes and exams.

5.  Read the text.  At a minimum, skim the readings before they are covered in lecture.  Read the text at least once, and incorporate it into the lecture notes to address the specific topics covered in the lecture and lab.  Laboratory exercises should be thoroughly read before coming to lab.

6.  The lab and lecture are not separable.  Lecture and lab material cross over between parts of the course.

How to Obtain Assistance
This is a very large course.  Your teaching assistant knows best about the particular concerns of students at any point in time.  Take advantage of this “personal touch.”  Email or the professor’s web page are excellent ways to obtain information.  Please take full advantage of these.  It is very important to develop an ability to obtain information through reading.  (We don’t mean to be callous, or seem lazy, but please try your text as a first resort.)  

Decorum in the Classroom and Ethics
This is an environment for learning.  We do not tolerate disruption of lectures or labs with repeated tardiness, ringing cell phones, cell phone conversation, text messaging, loud talking, sustained conversation with neighbors, insubordination, etc.  

Harassment, intimidation of any student, faculty, or staff member is not tolerated University-wide (http://www.siue.edu/POLICIES/3c1.html).  If you have a problem with another student or the teaching staff, it should be taken to the professor.  
Cheating and plagiarism are academic crimes (http://www.siue.edu/POLICIES/3c2.html).  Don't tolerate or engage in cheating.  If you are caught cheating, at a minimum, you will fail the course.  Any kind of cell phone conversation, text messaging, or photography during an exam will be considered cheating.

	Minor schedule changes will be made to accommodate course objectives.

Week 		Lecture Topic	Text Readings & Exam Info.	Laboratory Topic	
21-Aug-06	M	Introduction and why plants matter		
	W	Systematics	Ch. 12	Introduction and identification of woody plants	
	F	Systematics			
28-Aug-06	M	Prokaryotes	Ch. 13 to page 252		
	W	Plant cells and Protista	Ch. 3 (review organelles); Ch. 15	Identification of woody plants	
	F	Protista			
4-Sep-06	M	Labor Day--No Lecture			
	W	Protista		Microscope and Cyanobacteria; sight ID quiz on woody plants	
	F	Bryophytes	Ch. 16		
11-Sep-06	M	Bryophytes			
	W	Seedless Vascular Plants	Ch. 17	Algae	
	F	Exam I	Coverage: Intro. through Bryophytes	
18-Sep-06	M	Seedless Vascular Plants			
	W	Gymnosperms	Ch. 18	Bryophytes	
	F	Gymnosperms			
25-Sep-06	M	Gymnosperms			
	W	Angiosperms		Seedless Plants	
	F	Angiosperms	Ch. 19-20,22		
2-Oct-06	M	Guest Lecture			
	W	Angiosperms	Ch.  6	Gymnosperms	
	F	Respiration			
9-Oct-06	M	Respiration			

	W	Respiration		Plant Id through gymnosperms	
	F	Exam II	Coverage: Bryophytes through gymnosperms	
16-Oct-06	M	Fungi			
	W	Fungi	Ch. 14	Angiosperms	
	F	Fungi			
23-Oct-06	M	Cells and tissues			
	W	Cells and tissues	Ch. 23	Seeds and Fruits	
	F	Roots			
30-Oct-06	M	Roots	Ch. 24		
	W	Shoot, primary structure		Fungi	
	F	Shoots	Ch. 25-26		
6-Nov-06	M	Secondary Growth			
	W	Secondary Growth		Stem and Root Anatomy	
	F	Exam III	Coverage: Fungi through shoot primary structure	
13-Nov-06	M	Movement of substances			
	W	Movement of substances		Stem and Root Anatomy / Transpiration I	
	F	Photosynthesis	Ch. 7		
20-Nov-06	M				
	W	Thanksgiving Break 			
	F				
27-Nov-06	M	Photosynthesis	Ch. 7		
	W	Photosynthesis		Transpiration II and Photosynthesis	
	F	Plant hormones	Ch. 27		
4-Dec-06	M	Plant hormones	Ch. 27		
	W	External factors	Ch. 28	Practical II:  Angiosperms through photosynthesis	
	F	External factors	Ch. 28	EXAM 4  ROOTS THROUGH HORMONES	
11-Dec-06		Final Exam
Thursday, Dec. 14, 10:00	Final Exam:  Shoots through external factors; cumulative portion