Dr.

Debra Hansen

Bio 311C Syllabus

Fall 2016

INTRO BIOLOGY I

What do I need for class?

1. Textbook. Campbell Biology,
10th ed., Reece, et al. 2014
(9th ed. okay).
2. Register online with Top Hat,
to use your phone or laptop
for class quizzes. See Canvas
Top Hat link to register.
3. Access MasteringBiology via
our Canvas website for
weekly homework.
If you dont already have a
user code from the textbook
you bought, youll need to
purchase access online.
Registration is via Canvas,
please see instructions on
our Bio 311C Canvas site
before registering.
Prerequisite: Be currently registered
for CH 301, or have received a C- or
higher in CH301 (or equivalent).

Classes
MWF meetings will be lecture
and in-class activities, including
quizzes via Top Hat and group
writing exercises.

Discussion Sections
Weekly small-group meetings
give you the chance to solidify
your understanding of lecture
and reading material. There may
be quizzes, worksheets or
activities during any given class.
Attendance is highly
recommended. Be ready to
participate and learn.

Welcome!
Bio 311C is designed to introduce you to biology at the molecular
level (small is beautiful!). The course is arranged into three Big
Ideas of biology. We will begin by examining the structures and
functions of biomolecules such as DNA and cholesterol. Well
explore the inner world of the cell, focusing on organelles, the
cytoskeleton, and cellular membranes. Next, well investigate how
living organisms transform energy by studying two extremely
important metabolic processes: cellular respiration and
photosynthesis. Finally, well examine how genetic information
can move from cell to cell and from one generation to another.
Bio 311C is part of an initiative to transform introductory biology
into a more student-active course. You will be given participation
points for surveys, activities and assignments. Our objective is to
engage students in higher-level thinking and problem solving as
they learn biology.

2010 Fernan Federici

1

Dr. Debra Hansen

How do I request
information from
Dr. Hansen or my TA?
For a question about class

material or procedures, ask it on

our Canvas Discussion board so
we may answer it just once.
Chances are that if you have a
question about something, other
students do too.
For personal matters, email

either Dr. Hansen or your TA via

the Canvas In-box. We will try to
answer promptly, but may not be
available after business hours.

Always include your lecture &

discussion time in your email.

Bio 311C Syllabus

Fall 2016

Lecture and discussion section* details:

8 am Lecture MWF ~ Welch (WEL) 1.308
48190 Th 9 am

BIO 301

48205

W 3 pm

JES A215A

48195 W

JES A215A

48210

Th 3 pm

SZB 278

48215

Th 4 pm

SZB 240

2 pm

48200 Th 10 am PAR 304

9 am Lecture MWF ~ Welch (WEL) 1.308

48000 Th 12:30 BIO 301

48015

W noon

WEL 3.260

48005 Th 2 pm

MEZ 1.102

48020

Th 2 pm

SZB 278

11 am WEL 2.256

48025

Th 3 pm

SZB 380

48010 W

11 am Lecture MWF ~ Welch (WEL) 2.122

48110 W

noon

GAR 1.126

48117

Th 10 am

GDC 4.304

48113 W

1 pm

GAR 3.116

48120

8 am

GDC 2.210

48115 W

2 pm

GAR 0.132

48125

9 am

GDC 2.410

Teaching Assistants: Mariska Brady Chaehee Lee

Should I go to
office hours?
YES! I reserve a small conference
room for my office hours for
informal discussions. I know from
experience that students who
frequent office hours have a
deeper understanding of the
material and get much higher
grades.* Please come by!
Cant make my office hours?
Attend your TAs office hours to
help you with the material or
answer specific questions.

Gustavo Ochoa

Gautam Surya

Sneha Tharayil

* Discussion sections begin the first week of class

What are Learning Objective Handouts?

Material of this class is organized into Modules 1-16. For each module
you will get a handout with prompts to help you focus on the main
concepts. The Learning Objectives are tasks you should be able to
do, or skills you can demonstrate if you have a good understanding of
each modules content. Use the LOs as self-tests. Some of the tasks
are complex and may take several passes before you can demonstrate
a deep understanding. That is to be expected, keep trying until you
can write about each LO without referring to the textbook.

See Office Hours on Canvas

for times and locations.
* The last week of class is too late to
improve your grade. Ask for help as
soon as you see an exam score you
want to improve.

2014 Joel Dubin

Curiosity leads to understanding, understanding leads to appreciation, appreciation often leads to joy.
2

Dr. Debra Hansen

Bio 311C Syllabus

What is expected
of me each week?
1. Read pre-lecture text, do
pre-lecture homework
(check Canvas and MB).
2. Arrive to class on time.
Please refrain from texting/
web surfing and distracting
conversation. Instructors
and fellow classmates will
appreciate your courtesy!

4. During the week, study and

self-test with LO handouts
using text and class notes
(6+ hrs/wk).
5. Participate in discussion sect
to clarify fuzzy concepts.
Recommended: attend TA or
Dr. Hansen office hours to have
even better understanding!

Due 1-2 times/wk, consists of

reading textbook or watching
videos in Canvas or MB, then
completing self-test quizzes.
See Homework link on
Canvas to register for the
MasteringBiology system.

Grading Scheme
300
30
30
20
120

points (60%)
points (6%)
points (6%)
points (4%)
points (24%)

How will my final grade be determined?

During the semester, you will accrue points from homework, class
participation, and exams. Any earned extra credit points will go
toward your accumulated class points. At the end of the semester, the
total points are divided by 500 (x/500). This number is rounded to the
nearest .00 to determine your letter grade (ex: 427.12/500=85.42% =
B; 427.6/500=85.52 = B+). There will be no curving or adjusting up
after this point, please do not ask.

Exam Policies: Exam material is taken from lectures, assigned

3. Participate during class, and

when taking notes, highlight
concepts that seem fuzzy.

Homework?

Fall 2016

readings, handouts, and homework topics. I will replace your lowest

midterm score grade with the average of all four midterm exams.
Midterms will cover material presented since the previous exam, and
the final exam will cover material from the entire semester (with
emphasis on the last section). Exams will be mostly multiple choice,
with some short answer. Exams are returned in class within a week. If
there is a math error in grading, please bring it to the attention of
your TA within a week of the exam. If you want to correct a content
error in grading, you must turn in a regrade request form (on Canvas)
no later than 1 week after exams are returned, or for the final exam,
within 1 week of the final exam date.
All exam conflicts must be presented in writing by Sept 9th
using the exam conflict form on Canvas. In the event of a
pre-existing exam conflict due to a valid and substantiated medical,
scholastic or religious reason, the exam may be taken the day
before the scheduled exam. In the event of a missed exam with a
substantiated excuse, the average of the other four exams will be
used for the score of the missed exam. There are no make-up
exams after the scheduled exam date.
A missed exam without a substantiated excuse will receive a zero.
Arrive on time. Students arriving late to an exam will not be allowed
to take the exam if other students have already finished and left.
NO EARLY OR LATE FINAL EXAMS CAN BE GIVEN PER
UNIVERSITY POLICY, PLEASE DO NOT ASK.

500 total points for the semester, broken down as:

Three 100-pt midterms, lowest replaced by ave of all three.

Weekly homework assignments (MasteringBiology and Canvas quizzes)
In-class participation (Top Hat participation, exercises, worksheets, etc.)
Weekly Discussion Section participation
Final Exam (comprehensive & cumulative)

Letter grades are as follows: A) 92%, A-) 90-91%, B+) 86-89%, B) 82-85%, B-) 80-81%,
C+) 75-79%, C) 69-74%, C-) 65-68%, D+) 62-64%, D) 55-61%, F) <55%
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Dr. Debra Hansen

Resources for YOU!

UT Sanger Learning & Career
Center (JES A115) offers free
drop-in tutoring (one-on-one
tutoring is also available), a
professional staff, and many
online resources.
lifelearning.utexas.edu
Undergraduate Research is a
great way to really get involved in
science. You can participate in
actual research with UT scientists
and learn valuable skills,
sometimes for course credit.
www.utexas.edu/ugs/our
Tired? Take a power nap!
healthyhorns.utexas.edu/HT/
HT_napping.html

University Policies

Bio 311C Syllabus

Fall 2016

Frequently Asked Questions - Answered!

May I record the lecture?
Yes. However, materials from all classes are copyrighted by both
the textbook publishers and the teachers that developed the
lessons. Posting any class material online (including exams,
worksheets and lectures) without permission is against the law.
Please do not engage in this activity.

May I attend a different discussion section?

No. You must attend the discussion section for which you are
registered. Exception: if you want to permanently change the
discussion section you attend, you may do so provided we have
the space and the TA agrees to the change.

I was sick yesterday/My phone wasnt working

with Top Hat today may I still get points?
No. As much as I want to be flexible, the sheer number of
students requires me to streamline the process, which means
fewer exceptions. However, there are four excused absences, so
you (or your phone) can be sick for four days without penalty.

Students with disabilities may

request accommodations from the
Division of Diversity & Community
Engagement, Services for
Students with Disabilities, (SSB
4.104, 471-6259; TTY 471-4641).
Get started soon because the
process can take a while, and you
want to be registered before our
first exam. utexas.edu/disability/
how-to-register-with-ssd

Where do extra credit points go?

Religious holy days Students

who miss class on a holy day have
the opportunity to complete the
work after the absence. UT Austin
policy states that students must
notify each instructor at least 14
days prior to such an absence.

Will you bump my grade up if my score is very

close to the higher grade?

Academic Integrity All written

work is expected to be the
student's own, individual work,
and cheating will not be tolerated.

I have travel plans during an exam. Can I

reschedule my exam?

All points, whether regular or E.C. points, go into the bin of points
that you accrue during the semester. This means you have the
potential of earning more than 500/500.

Do you curve exams?

Occasionally. I may curve a particular exam, but not often. There
is no curve applied at the end of the semester. How well you do is
independent of the performance of others.

No. Please do not ask for special consideration. All students have
some kind of hardship to bear, and all want to do well. The way to
succeed in class is by learning the material and performing well
on exams, not by asking for a higher grade after class is over.

Only if the travel is sanctioned. See exam policies on page 3.

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Dr. Debra Hansen

Bio 311C Syllabus

Fall 2016

Schedule of Lecture Topics. (May change periodically, check Canvas.)

Date

Class

Tentative Lecture Topic (may change slightly, with notice).

Pre-class reading

BIG IDEA #1: Biological structure relates to biological function.

W Aug 24

Class objectives and practices, Intro to biological concepts.

Learning Objective (LO) Handout #1

Syllabus,
Campbell 1.1-1.2

F Aug 26

Weak chemical bonds and water, practice with Top Hat. LO2

Ch 2.3 and 3

M Aug 29

Organic chemistry: Carbon! Attendance with Top Hat.

Ch 4.2-3

W Aug 31

Major biological molecules! Part I: Carbohydrates LO3

Ch 5.1-2

F Sep 2

Lipids, Amino acids, Proteins

Ch 5.3-4

M Sep 5

Labor day holiday, no class today. But check homework due dates!

W Sep 7

Proteins, cont.

Ch 5.4

F Sep 9

Nucleic acids

Ch 5.5

M Sep 12

Origin of Life, The Three Domains, LO4

Ch 4.1, 25.1,25.3

W Sep 14

Eukaryotic cells: structure and function, LO5

Ch 6.1-3

F Sep 16

10

Eukaryotic cell structure and function cont.

Ch 6.4-6.5

M Sep 19

11

Cytoskeleton / Extracellular components

Ch 6.6-7

W Sep 21

12

Practice, catch up, review

F Sep 23

13

EXAM 1: 50 minutes, in class, covering everything through Sept 21st.

M Sep 26

14

Cell specialization examples (immune, muscle, neuron) LO6

skim 42.1-2,
48.1, 50.5

W Sep 28

15

Cell membrane structure and function (ex. action potentials!)

Ch 7, skim 48.2-3

F Sep 30

16

Signal transduction, (ex. neural synapse!) LO7

Ch 11.1-4, 48.4

BIG IDEA #2: Energy is stored, used, and transformed in living systems.
M Oct 3

17

Energy transformation LO8

55.1, 8.1

W Oct 5

18

Energy-coupled reactions

8.2-3

F Oct 7

19

Biological enzymes

8.4-5

M Oct 10

20

Cellular respiration LO9

Ch 9.1-9.3

W Oct 12

21

Cellular respiration, cont

Ch 9.4-9.6

F Oct 14

22

Photosynthesis, LO10

Ch 10.1-10.3

Dr. Debra Hansen

Date

Class

M Oct 17

Bio 311C Syllabus

Fall 2016

Tentative Lecture Topic (may change slightly, with notice).

Associated text

23

Photosynthesis, cont

Ch 10.1-10.3

W Oct 19

24

Alternate photosynthetic pathways + review

Ch 10.4

F Oct 21

25

EXAM 2: 50 minutes, in class, covering everything from Sep 26 through Oct 24

BIG IDEA #3: Genetic information is transmitted through DNA replication and cell division, and is
the information is used (expressed) in a regulated manner.
M Oct 24

26

The discovery of DNA as the molecule of heredity, LO11

Ch 16.1

W Oct 26

27

DNA structure and function in cell replication

Ch 16.2-16.3

F Oct 28

28

Making proteins: the genetic code & DNA transcription, LO12

17.1-17.2

M Oct 31

29

Post-transcriptional modification and translation

17.3

W Nov 2

30

Protein sorting, mutations and repair

17.4-17.5, (rev 6)

F Nov 4

31

Gene expression and regulation in prokaryotes, LO13

Ch 18.1

M Nov 7

32

Gene expression and regulation in eukaryotes

Ch 18.2

W Nov 9

33

Practice, catch up, review

F Nov 11

34

EXAM 3: 50 minutes, in class, covering everything from Oct 24 through Nov 9

M Nov 14

35

Biotechnology / recombinant DNA, LO14

Ch 20

W Nov16

36

Biotechnology, cont.

Ch 20

F Nov 18

37

Cell cycle and regulation, LO15

Ch 12

M Nov 21

38

Cell cycle and loss of regulation (cancer)

Ch 12

W Nov 23-25

Thanksgiving Vacation, No class Wednesday-Friday

M Nov 28

39

Meiosis, LO16

Ch 13

W Nov 30

40

Meiosis, cont

Ch 13

F Dec 2

41

Synthesis, catch-up, review

M Dec 5

42

Last Class Day! Catch-up/review. Nov 14-Dec 2 material will appear on final exam.

Dec 814 Finals Week. Our final exam is 2 hours long, not in same class room or time. Find your personal
Finals Exam schedule https://utdirect.utexas.edu/registrar/exam_schedule.WBX .
DATES to NOTE Sept 9 official enrollment is taken, is the last day to drop for possible refund.
Nov 1 is last day to drop (needs Deans approval) or to change registration to/fr pass/fail basis.
Bio 311C may be used to fulfill 3 hours of the natural science and technology (Part I or II) component of the
university core curriculum and addresses the following four core objectives established by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board:

communication skills, critical thinking skills, teamwork, and empirical and quantitative skills.