Virginia Western Community College

Fall 2016

BIO 101 General Biology I (Dual Enrolled)

4 Credits
Instructor: Mark Madden
Email: mmadden@salem.k12.va.us
Office hours: 7:00 7:50 or by appointment

Location (HS): Salem

Classroom No. 273

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Biology 101 (4 credits) explores fundamental characteristics of living matter from the molecular
level to the ecological community with emphasis on general biological principles. Introduces the
diversity of living organisms, their structure, function and evolution.
PREREQUISITE
Successful completion of MTE 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and a placement recommendation for ENG 111.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The goal of this course is to use the diversity of life to gain an understanding of basic biological
and biochemical principles including cell structure and function, the chemistry of cellular
processes (i.e., photosynthesis, cellular respiration, mitosis and meiosis) and genetics. We will
discuss the structure, function and evolution of prokaryotes, protists, fungi and plants.
At the completion of this course, the student should be able to:

Describe the main themes in the study of life, including the interconnecting webs formed
by living things and their environments.

Explain the chemical basis of life, including the functions of macromolecules.

Describe the structures within and surrounding the cell, giving their functions.

Explain the cellular processes of respiration, photosynthesis and reproduction (i.e.,

mitosis).

Explain the process of meiosis and how it occurs in a variety of life cycles.

Describe Mendels laws and some of their variations.

Discuss some of the phenomena explained by the chromosomal basis of inheritance.

Describe the discovery and some of the properties of DNA.

Explain how a gene may ultimately produce a protein.

Be familiar with the evolutionary trends in plants.

Discuss the anatomical structures and physiological processes that occur in viruses,
prokaryotes, protists, fungi and plants.
TEXTBOOK OR OTHER RESOURCES:
Biology. Raven, Johnson, Mason, Losos and Singer. 10th Edition. McGraw Hill publishing. ISBN
978-0-07-338307-1
Laboratory Manual for Biology 101, Virginia Western Community College. 2008.
Perry/Morton/Perry (Custom Version for VWCC), Cengage Learning. ISBN: 978-0-495-31525-4
The following supplementary materials are available:
1. Study Guide for Biology Concepts and Connections. 2009. 6th Edition. Richard M. Liebaert,
Pearson Benjamin Cummings. ISBN: 978-0-3215-4825-2
2. Van De Graaff's Photographic Atlas for the Biology Laboratory, Seventh Edition, 2013 ISBN-13:
9781617310584
Teach Act Copyright Notice

The materials provided for this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for
purposes associated with this course, and may not be retained or further disseminated.
Attendance:
Salem High Schools attendance policies will be strictly followed. Refer to the school student
handbook
Evaluation/Grading Policy:
Grading will be follow the Salem HS grading scale
100-94% A; 93-87% B; 86-78% C; 77-70% D; 69-0% F
Your Course Grade will be determined by total points out of 1000 total possible points, as follows:
5 lecture tests (500 points)
Lab assignments, including lab quizzes, lab reports, and journal submission (250 points)
Book discussions on discussion board (100 points)
Final comprehensive exam (150 points)
Please note that the instructor reserves the right to alter the course point allocation throughout
the course of the semester.
Respectful and Appropriate Classroom Conduct is expected
No disruptive behavior will be tolerated in class. This includes, but is not limited to,
continually arriving late to class, talking during lecture, wandering in and out of the
classroom, receiving cell phone calls or text messaging during class, listening to MP3
players and working on other assignments or non-class-related activities in class. Cell
phones SHOULD NOT BE OUT ON YOUR DESK OR LAB TABLE WHILE CLASS IN SESSION
unless given permission by the instructor. Disruptive behavior is inappropriate student
conduct and may result in your dismissal from this course.
Turn off cell phones, beepers and other devices with an audible signal before class. If a
special circumstance requires you to be contacted during class, please let me know before
class starts and I will be happy to grant you an exception.
No children may come to class, either lecture or lab.
You must be an active participant in lab. That means everyone uses a microscope and
assists with experiments! Ask for help if you need it. Bring your lab manual with you each
week I will not have extra copies. Read your lab before you come to class and
COMPLETE ALL PRELAB QUESTIONS it will help you to complete the lab in a less rushed
manner and do better.
A positive attitude and active participation are very important in your success in this
course. The instructor in any course on campus can and will ask anyone who is not
contributing positively to the learning environment to leave the classroom or lab.
Please make sure that you are familiar with the colleges policy on student conduct. The Student
Conduct Policy is found in Section 5 of the Student Handbook located at
http://www.virginiawestern.edu/documents/StudentHandbook.pdf . The consequences for
cheating on any graded assignment, test, or lab practical will result in a grade of zero.
Make-Up/Late-Work Policy:
Excused absence for unplanned absence:
Students with an excused absence normally receive two additional days for each day absent to
complete missed work. The student should initiate contact with the instructor on the first day
back to discuss missed work and to request extra time, if needed, to complete assignments. Any
agreements that alter due dates will be documented in writing.
Excused absence for planned absence:
All work due during a planned absence is due on the first day back, if a parent note was provided

prior to the absence. Any deviation from this policy requires a student-teacher conference prior
to the absence. Any agreements that alter due dates will be documented in writing.
Unexcused absence:
Work due during an unexcused absence cannot be accepted.
Late Work:
Assignments that are turned in late will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor. If
accepted, the grade will be reduced 10% for each day the work is late.
Penalties for Academic Honesty Policy Violations:
Academic dishonesty is not tolerated at Virginia Western or Salem High School; violations of this
policy can result in disciplinary actions, including suspension or expulsion from the College.
According to The Virginia Western Student Handbook, academic dishonesty includes, but is not
limited to, the following:
Cheating on a test by giving, receiving, offering, and/or soliciting information.
Buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting any material purported to be a part of an assignment.
Plagiarism (taking and using the ideas of another as ones own).
Unauthorized use of materials, notes, or other aids during a test.
Violations of these offenses could result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Student
Handbook. I fully subscribe to the principles of the honor system. In this respect, your attention
and adherence is required and expected. Any student found in violation of the honor code will
receive a zero for the graded item and possibly an F in the course. Please contact me if there
are questions.
Inclement Weather Schedule:
We will follow the same schedule as Salem City Public Schools.
Students traveling to the VWCC campus should refer to their website or local media
for information on campus closings or delays.
ADA Statement: Questions or concerns about the college and student rights and
responsibilities regarding persons with disabilities may be directed to the 504/ADA Coordinator.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
provides protection from illegal discrimination for qualified individuals with disabilities.
This course meets away from the VWCC main campus.
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS WHEN ON THE VWCC
Emergency Alert Information: In the ongoing effort to provide every VWCC student with
information about how VWCC plans to handle a crisis occurring on the campus, a video has been
created which offers valuable details and proactive guidelines for responding to critical and
unpredictable incidents should one occur on our campus. To view the video, visit
http://www.virginiawestern.edu/police/safety.php.
Virginia Western is pleased to announce the new VW Alert Text Messaging System. The system is
designed to immediately contact you during a major crisis or emergency. The system delivers
important emergency alerts, notifications and updates to you on all your devices. To register,
visit https://alert.virginiawestern.edu/index.php?CCheck=1.
An evacuation plan is located on the wall beside the door of each VWCC classroom and computer
lab. This plan includes evacuation routes for fire as well as shelter in place room designations.
Please make yourself aware of the exits. If asked to evacuate, please do so in a calm and orderly
manner using the nearest exit. Do not try to use the elevator in case of a fire or other situation
that might cause a power outage.

VWCC STUDENT LINKS AND RESOURCES:

For additional information regarding student services or college policies or procedures, please
review the information found at these links.
Student
http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/studentconsumerinfo.
Consumer
php
Information
VWCC
Withdrawal
http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/withdrawal.php
Policy
VWCC Student
http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/resources.php
Resources
VWCC Student
http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/handbook/studentcon
Rights and
duct.php
Responsibilities
VWCC Student
http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/handbook/studentcon
Conduct Policy
duct.php
VWCC Student
http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/handbook/grievance.p
Grievance
hp
Procedures
Title IX: Policy
on Sexual
Violence,
Domestic
http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/intervention/sexualhar
Violence,
assment.php
How
to
Dating
Violence, and
Stalking
study and be successful
Successful students in BIO 101 read the textbook! The new Smart Book option should
help with this!
Class lecture notes in PowerPoint posted on Blackboard under Lectures are just your
starting point. Read the chapter BEFORE you come to class and take any pre-lecture
quizzes to familiarize yourself with what we will be discussing! The course is based on
understanding the concepts, not just memorization of terms.
Use the resources!! These include numerous resources on Connect, plus questions at the
end of each textbook chapter and the review questions in your lab manual. Free tutors are
available at VWCC!
If you miss a class, read your textbook to fill in the blanks or get the notes from a peer.
Study each week read the chapter in the textbook, attend lectures and take notes, then
go over that weeks lecture notes and lab activities and re-read the chapter in the
textbook.
Find a study buddy or form a study group to help you understand the material.
It is your responsibility to attend class and remain up-to-date on assignments and any
modifications to the course schedule.
Study often, work hard and keep up. Theres lots of material to be covered this semester
and very few students can learn it all the night before a test.
Active participation in lecture and lab is one key to doing well in this course.
Come see me during my office hours and ask questions!!
My Philosophy

Biology is the study of life. I love biology!! For me, it is simply the most fascinating, amazing
topic. We are all biological organisms and we live in a world surrounded by equally fascinating
living things. In this course, you will learn about yourself, about how your cells work, how
genetics works in inheriting various traits and how plants work, to name just a few topics.
I will do all I can to make class interesting, enjoyable and relevant. But it will definitely be hard
work. Biology is like learning a foreign language and there will be lots of new vocabulary and
terms to memorize in regards to understanding the basic concepts to be addressed in the course
goals and objectives. To keep class running smoothly and in order to enhance everyones
learning experience, I want you to have a clear understanding of classroom expectations. In
turn, I will do all I can to make learning fun. Are there any questions??
In order to be successful in this course, you must study, study, study!!! Begin immediately and
do not get behind. I want you to be successful and am very willing to help you but remember,
this is your grade, your responsibility and your college career!! Come prepared to learn and we
will have a great time this semester.