Course Webpage: http://artemis.austinc.edu/acad/bio/ksnipes/ns11/ns11home.html.  Our page can also be accessed via the AC webpage and working your way through to my page under the Biology Dept.  On the page you will find this syllabus, course announcements, the most recent lecture outline, and anything else I find that relates to the course material.

Texts:  1) Hoagland & Dodson, The Way Life Works.  2) Callenbach, Ecology: A Pocket Guide.  3) Handouts given in class.

Office Hours:  My regular office hours will be Monday 4:00-4:50pm and Thursday 3:00-3:50 pm.  Individual appointments are also possible.  Unless I am in a crisis situation, you are welcome to stop by anytime my door is open!

Grading:  Your grade will be based on your total accumulated points in the class.  The breakdown of points will be as follows (218 points total):

 Directions for the papers/essays are on the back of this page.  See the course schedule for the due dates and the exam dates.  Lecture responses will be passed out and collected every lecture and discussion.  On each exam there will be multiple choice and short essay questions for you to answer.  Final letter grades will be assigned based on the distribution of points at the end of the course (any "curving" will happen at the very end and not on each assignment or exam).  Class performance data will be posted with each exam key on the bulletin board in the lecture room.  The probable final cutoffs will be: for an A- 91%, for a B- 80%, for a C- 70%, and for a D- 60%.

Attendance & Make-ups:  If you know that you will be missing a class in advance, see me ASAP about taking the exam or turning in the assignment early.  It is your responsibility to contact me ahead of time and to make up the material.  All late work will be penalized.

Course Objectives:  As this is the only course in biology that you are likely to take, I have a lot to introduce you to.  My first objective is to show you how scientists think and work (any professional's thought process is "warped" by her/his training).  Then, I hope you will grasp the basic "rules" by which life is "played".  It is these rules (concepts) which underlie the multitude of biological issues in our society, e.g., stem cells, pandemic diseases, global climate change, endangered species, etc..  I think that you could find at least one story on the front page of a newspaper every day that is in some way related to biology.  I want you to be able to understand that story and to be able to form an educated opinion about the issue presented.  I think that our society is in desperate need of discussions of the "hot" issues by informed citizens (30 sec. sound bites and inflammatory ads won't do!).  Thus, we will engage in role-playing debates, and you will complete papers describing and defending your opinions.

Academic Integrity:  Austin College sets high standards of integrity for both its students and its faculty.  The work that you submit for this course shall be the product of your individual effort.  The answers on your exams shall be your own (cheating is not allowed).  All the ideas in your assignments that do not originate from you must have their sources noted.  This does not preclude discussion of the assignments with fellow students or faculty.  Make note of the people you worked with, and make sure the final product is your synthesis of the discussion.  Please refer to your student handbook for further explanation of Austin College's policy of academic integrity.  All cases of plagiarism or cheating will be referred to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs for appropriate action.

Directions:  Using your lecture notes, the text book, the library, discussions with professors, and your mind (most important), type up responses to the assignments listed below.  If you are unsure of what you are suppose to be writing about, please ask me!  You are to use double spacing, regular typing paper, and very few typos (proofread)!  The opinion papers should not exceed one page in length.  Your paper should be a cogent expression of your thoughts on the issue and must include your reasons behind your stance.  The paper should be similar to a newspaper editorial.  The essays are most formal and lengthy discussions of issues.  In each essay you should describe the issue/situation (including appropriate scientific background), take a position on the issue (with supporting facts and reasons), and defend your position by presenting counter-arguments to the opposing viewpoints.  The format should resemble the better editorial essay in Time and other news magazines.  A good essay will rarely be less than three pages, but remember that it is quality, not quantity, that counts (please stay under six pages)!  I will be grading your essays on how well you: (a) grasp the scientific concepts involved, (b) identify, and respond to, the different points of view on the issue, (c) express your own independent thinking, and (d) communicate in a written format (composition skills).  I will be willing to look over final drafts and suggest improvements if you give me your draft at least three days before the due date.  Late essays will be accepted (those received after 5:00 p.m. on the due date).  However, one point will be subtracted for every day your essay is late, including Saturdays and Sundays.

Science Opinion Paper (Due Sept. 14):  Many essayist and commentators have expressed their concern about how the scientific community interacts (or doesn’t interact) with the general public.  The mad professor in the basement laboratory is a reoccurring theme in our culture.  Jurassic Park and Frankenstein are expressions of distrust and fear of science and scientists.  How do you view science?  What role do you want science to have in your life?

Pandemic Diseases Essay (Due Oct. 31):  Diseases are front page news --Ebola in Africa, Mad Cow disease in Europe, and AIDS everywhere.  Why are diseases on the rise in this age of medical marvels?  What do you think should be our response, as individuals and as a nation, to pandemic diseases?  Keep in mind both prevention and treatment programs.  Also consider how best to fund programs.

Genetic Ethics Essay (Due Oct. 3):  What should we, as a society, do with genetic engineering?  What concerns do you and other people have about genetic engineering?  What benefits can we receive from genetic engineering?  What are the biological hazards?  How would you regulate genetic engineering and its applications, if at all?

Evolution Opinion Paper (Due Nov. 9):  No issue in biology has been as controversial as the theory of evolution.  What is your position on modern evolutionary theory?

Environment Essay (Due Dec. 5):  Consider the relationship between humans and the environment.  What do you think is the biggest environmental problem today?  (You will have to provide supporting evidence why this problem is worse than the others.)  How do you think we should go about finding a workable solution?  What solution(s) would you propose?