BSC 201: General Zoology

Dr. Yee, Spring 2014

Lecture: WSB 120 Monday and Wednesdays 2:00 – 3:15 pm Text: Integrated Principles of Zoology, By Hickman et al., 15th ed., McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Boston iClicker: http://www.iclicker.com/support/registeryourclicker/ Text book site: http://www.mhhe.com/hickmanipz15e Who is my instructor? Donald Yee, Ph.D. (Dr. Yee or Don) Contact information [email protected] Phone: 601-266-4927 Office: WSB 136 Office Hours: 1:00-2:00 pm MW or by appointment Course website: http://ocean.otr.usm.edu/~w777157/courses.html Follow the BSC 201 link for course content You will find Lab Materials sheets, Example Lab Notebook sheet, and other lab associated material here, along with lecture material. Please note: I am unlikely to be on campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays What is this course about? This course is designed to provide you with a basic understanding and appreciation of animals, including their evolution, diversity, and characteristics. After successful completion of this course, you will be able to recognize and classify animals to the appropriate phylum or class, explain their evolutionary relationships within and among animal phyla, identify animal body structures and their respective functions, and be able to explain concepts (life cycles, life styles) related to the biology and natural history of animals. This knowledge will aid you in your further pursuit of the wonders of the nature world as you continue on your path as a biologist. Do I have to come to class? Attendance is not taken but can be generally assessed using your iClickers (see below). As adults, it is up to you to decide when to attend class; do please minimize your disruptions when arriving and leaving. Class notes are not posted on-line. What technology can I use in class? Feel free to use a laptop or tablet to take notes, but please don’t web-surf or engage in other non-course related activities during class. Students who use devices for non-course related activities will be asked to leave. Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, and MP3 devices during lecture. RECORDING OF LECTURES OR LABS USING ANY DEVICE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. What is your drop policy? Please be advised that I will not approve permission to drop this course after the designated ‘last day to drop’ unless extenuating circumstances justify my doing so (these are generally rare, and need to be fully documented). A less than desired grade or a decision that the course is too difficult does not represent extenuating circumstances. What are the important dates for dropping? January 28th: Last day to drop and receive 100% financial refund February 24th: Last day to drop full-semester classes without academic penalty

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BSC 201: General Zoology

Dr. Yee, Spring 2014

What about academic honesty? My view of cheating 1. Don’t 2. See 1 USM cheating policy “When cheating is discovered, the faculty member may give the student an F on the work involved or in the course. If further disciplinary action is deemed appropriate, the student should be reported to the Dean of Students. In addition to being a violation of academic honesty, cheating violates the Code of Student Conduct and may be grounds for probation, suspension, and/or expulsion. Students on disciplinary suspension may not enroll in any courses offered by the University of Southern Mississippi.”

What are some examples of plagiarism/cheating (not exhaustive)? - directly copying another students assignment and turning it in as your own work - not properly citing sources for statements or ideas found in those sources - responding to quizzes or other questions with another students iClicker

What if I have a disability accommodation situation? If a student has a disability that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act and requests accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disabilities Accommodation (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies. Mailing addresses: 118 College Drive # 8568, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-8568. Telephone: 601-266-5024; TTY: 601-266-6837; FAX: 601-266-6035. ALL STUDENTS NEEDING MORE TIME ON LECTURE EXAMS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE EXAMS IN THE ODA OFFICE.

Where do the points from for the Course Evaluation? Lecture Exam I Exam II Exam III Exam IV Quizzes Participation

100 pts 100 pts 100 pts 100 pts 60 pts 20 pts

Laboratory Practical Exam I Practical Exam II Quizzes Assignments Lab Notebook

100 pts 100 pts 80 pts 40 pts 100 pts

Total: 900 points Course grade* A: 90-100% B: 80-89% C: 70-79% D: 60-69% F: < 60%

Is extra credit available? Yes…see below How are final lab and lecture course grades determined? The content of lecture and lab is closely integrated to reinforce general zoology topics and concepts. Therefore, the total scores from the lecture and laboratory portions of the course will be combined to determine the final course grade and the same letter grade

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BSC 201: General Zoology

Dr. Yee, Spring 2014

will be given for BSC 201 and 201L. In very rare cases a student may obtain different grades for lab and lecture if their total grade is within 1% of the next higher letter grade. Can you give me an example where this may happened? For example, a student may get an overall score of 79.1%, with a lab grade of 86% and lecture of 74%. In this case, the student would receive a “B” in lab and a “C” in lecture. Typically < 5% of students receive two different grades. What is the format for lecture exams? All lecture exams will be a combination of multiple choice/true-false and short answer questions. All exam questions will be derived from lecture notes unless otherwise noted. Students are required to provide their own Scranton forms for each exam (and a pencil for filling them out). Certain topics may not be fully covered in lecture, although they will be part of the assigned readings. These topics are still likely to appear on the lecture exams. What is the format for lecture quizzes? There will be seven (7) quizzes (10 pts each). As quizzes will be given in the first 10 minutes of class, those showing up late will not be allowed to make up the quiz (although if the quiz is in progress you may start at that point). Quizzes are taken using your iClickers and be based on the material in the PREVIOUS days lecture (students who do not have their iClicker cannot take the quiz). I will drop your lowest score (including a missed quiz for excused or unexcused absence). Can I make up a quiz if I miss it? There are no makeup quizzes even for excused absences as one quiz is dropped. Generally, quizzes are 5 questions with 1 minute for each question. What if I miss an exam? Foreseen: Students who will plan to miss an exam (lab or lecture) in advance must contact me or their TA at least 1 week prior to the exam to arrange a new time for a makeup. If a rescheduled exam is missed a grade of 0 will result. Unforeseen: Student who miss an exam for unexpected reasons must contact me within 1 class period (e-mail, phone) AND provide me with written documentation of the absence. Exams missed without documentation will result in a grade of a 0. In most cases the makeup exam will be a different format (all essay). I think I did better on the exam than you gave me credit for. What do I do? All student want to do their best on exams, but “Grade grubbing” is a separate matter. I do not discuss points on any assignment until the end of the semester unless it is due to my error in calculation. Keep all your returned assignments and keep track of any points you feel you should have received. When you have done this, AND THESE POINTS WOULD HELP YOU TO GET THE NEXT HIGHER LETTER GRADE, then you should plan to schedule a meeting with me to discuss it between April 30th and May 5th. The only exception to this is for points you should have received but did not due to my error (via scoring). What is lecture participation? These points are to encourage punctuality, respect, and participation in lecture. Many of you already do, so please keep up the good work! However, I’ve noticed that a small fraction of students chronically arrive late to class, miss class altogether, leave without notification, do not participate in class discussions, and do not come to class prepared. Unfortunately, sometimes this is disruptive and disrespectful to the class, so I will be

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BSC 201: General Zoology

Dr. Yee, Spring 2014

taking note of these events. These points will be gained through the use of iClickers in class (thus it’s important you ALWAYS bring your iClicker with you). How should I study? Every student learns in a different way which makes answering this question difficult. Having said that, there are some proven techniques that can aid a student in learning the course material in preparation for exams. Notes: take complete and neat notes in class, and you may benefit from rewriting your notes after a couple of lectures. This allows you to determine what you know and what you need to understand better with the help of your text book. You can then use these rewritten notes to study from. Note cards: many students find making note cards to be beneficial for studying. You can write the question or term on one side and then the answer on the other. This approach can be used anywhere (at lunch, while waiting for class to begin, etc.). Don’t forget to shuffle your cards after every time you go through them. Audio recorder: Some students find that although note cards and reading their notes can be beneficial, they still perform badly on exams. This is often because students will memorize the order of material rather than learning the material itself. To avoid this, it helps to use an audio recording of yourself quizzing yourself. You can make up questions on the recorder, then pause, then give the answer. This forces you to be thinking about the material. Study groups: some students do well in small groups wherein group members can quiz one another. Be sure that any group you are involved in is really serious about studying and that one student does not do all the “teaching” and everyone else just listens. Be active! I am confident that you can do well in this course. Take accurate notes in class and find time soon after lecture to make sure that you understand your notes. Be advised that your lecture notes will be your most important study aid because test questions derive largely from lecture material, and some material will not be found within your text. I suggest that you read the material assigned in the text before you come to lecture, that way you can anticipate information about subject matter not well understood. What are some other things to keep in mind? 1. You are an adult, so plan to act like one. You should plan to be courteous, prompt, and engaged in class. Disruptive students will be asked to leave. 2. Do the assignments including readings. This is not the type of course where you can avoid reading the material and still expect to do well. 3. It is MUCH MUCH easier to contact me by e-mail so please avoid calling if you need an immediate response. When you send me an e-mail please include your name somewhere and avoid using texting language. If you need me to contact you via some other e-mail address or by phone please provide that information. 4. Ask questions. Very few students will understand all of the material so it is to your (and your classmates) advantage to ask if you don’t understand. 5. Bring your iClicker to class every day. It’s the main way you will receive participation points and take quizzes it will allow you to be more engaged in class.

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BSC 201: General Zoology

Dr. Yee, Spring 2014

What is an iClicker? USM has adopted the “iClicker©” brand response device. You may purchase your iClicker in the textbook store, from a number of online sources, or from another student. You only need to purchase one iClicker, which can be used in other courses at Southern Miss throughout your academic career. One student One iClicker policy. Each student should only ever have 1 iClicker with them at any time. I WILL CONFISCATE ALL iClickers from students who have more than one in class. My iClicker does not work and we have a quiz today, what do I do? It is your responsibility to make sure that your iClicker has charged batteries and is working correctly. A dead iClicker is not a valid excuse for making up a quiz or missed participation points. We will make a few practice runs to make sure everyone’s iClickers are working on the 22nd of January. *Please register your iClicker NO LATER THAN 23 January 2013. You will begin to use them formally in class on the following lecture.

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BSC 201: General Zoology

Dr. Yee, Spring 2014

What are the Extra credit opportunities? 20 points maximum for extra credit in lecture. No extra credit is available in lab. Please note: There is NO partial credit for extra credit assignments NO credit will be given to late, incomplete, or haphazard assignments ANY deviations from the format (e.g., exceeding the 1 page limit) will result in ZERO credit. To get extra credit, turn in the following (1 full page, typed) - 12 pt font, double-spaced, 1” margins, name, date, and course number in the upper left header - The title, authors/speaker, date (talk)/year (paper) in the topmost line below the header - A brief summary of the research that should include the following: the main research question being investigated, a list of the study organism(s) if applicable, methods and findings, and a question you would have liked to ask about the research For an example see the course website. 1. Seminar attendance (5 pts for each seminar) The Department of Biological Sciences offers two seminars that you may attend (see below)

Departmental Seminar (Friday, 11 to noon, Polymer Science Auditorium) acceptable dates: Jan 31, Feb 7, 14 Feb (see below), 21 Mar, 25 Apr Due date: Following Wednesday after the seminar 2. Journal article summaries (5 pts each) You may select papers from the primary literature to summarize. These papers can be on any zoological topic, but must be from the last 10 years and appear in a zoology-related scientific journal (not magazines, internet sites, or other secondary sources). Also you must turn in a copy of the paper with your summary (to save printing, you may send me a copy of the paper as a pdf). The paper MUST appear as a published journal article, not in HTML or other form (for an example see the course website). These additional summaries MUST be turned in on the following dates to receive credit (only one summary per date is allowed):

5 Feb, 5 Mar, 2 Apr, 30 Apr 3. Darwin Day activities (maximum of 2 talks at 5 pts each) 14 February This year the Department of Biological Sciences will be hosting its first ever Darwin Day on 14 February to celebrate the birthday of Mr. Charles Darwin. You can attend any of the 5 scheduled talks during the day and complete a summary as in 1 above. A schedule of events will be handed out in class. You may attend up to 2 of the talks for credit. Students are free to mix and match seminars and summaries to achieve their 20 pts.

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BSC 201: General Zoology

Dr. Yee, Spring 2014

Tentative Lecture Syllabus: M-W 2:00-3:15 pm, WSB 120 Date

Lecture (subject to change)

Chapter Readings

January 15 W

Welcome & Introduction

pp 1-8

20 M

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

No class

22 W

Taxonomy & Phylogeny; Animal Architecture

9 (184-188), 10

27 M

Development; Sponges

8 (170-174), 12

29 W

Radiate Animals

13

February 3 M*

Flatworms, Mesozoans, Ribbon Worms

9 (189-194), 14

5W

Flatworms, etc.–cont’d

14

10 M*

Gnathiferans, Smaller Lophotrochozoans

15 (Rotifera, Acanthocephala, Ectoprocta 314-316,318-322)

12 W

Exam I

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17 M

Annelids

17

19 W

Annelids cont., Molluscs

16

24 M*

Molluscs cont.

16

26 W

Smaller Ecdysozoans

18 (Nematodes, Nematomorphs, Onychophora, Tardigrada 387-396, 399-400)

March 3 M

Trilobites, Chelicerates

19 (except Pauropoda, Symphyla)

5 W*

Myriapods, Crustaceans

19, 20

10 M

Spring Break

No Class

12 W

Spring Break

No Class

17 M

Crustaceans cont’d

20

19 W

Exam II

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24 M

Hexapods

21

26 W

Hexapods cont’d, Chaetognaths,

21

31 M

Echinoderms, Hemichordates

22 (472-493)

April 2 W*

Hemichordates cont., Chordates

22 (493-497), 519, 23

7M

Exam III

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9W

Fish

24

14 M

Fish cont’d

24

16 W*

Early Tetrapods

25

21 M

Modern Amphibians

25

23 W

Amniotes & Nonavian Reptiles

26, 8 (175–177)

28 M*

Birds

27

30 W

Mammals

28, 8 (177–178)

May 7 W

Exam IV

1:30 - 4:00 pm WSB 120 * = lecture quiz

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