Instructor: Leticia Gallardo

                   Email: leticia_gallardo@westvalley.edu

                   Office: SM 55H             Phone: 408-741-2416

                   Office Hours: TTH 10:00-10:50am (SM58);M 2-3or 4-5pm as scheduled (SM55H); or by appt.

Course:       Bio 055- Biology of Sex- 3 units                  

Web Page:   instruct.westvalley.edu/gallardo/

Class Hrs:    MW 10:55-12:30 pm SM 33

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course. However, students are expected to read and write at the college level and know sufficient mathematics to use and understand graphs and charts.

Required Texts & Publications:

*Scientific American Special edition 2005 Battle of the Sexes.                                                                                                           http://www.sciamdigital.com/index.cfm?fa=Search.ViewSearchForItemResultList

General Course Description: What is sex and why do we need it? Come learn about the biology behind the fantastic strategies organisms use to mix their genes. Topics covered include the evolution of sex, sex differences, mating strategies, costs of reproduction, sexual conflict, sperm competition, sexual selection, promiscuity, and female choice. This is an information competency infused course.

Course Expectations:

This biology course meets for 3 hours per week. In addition to the scheduled class meetings, plan on spending additional research time in the library. To get the most out of this class you should expect to devote study time outside of class. The amount of time you spend in and outside of class will, in a large part, determine how well you do in the course. Students are expected to attend and participate in all lectures. Any student absent from 4 or more class sessions may be dropped from the course by the instructor. Students are encouraged to remain active participants in class. Class involvement will not only make the course more interesting, but will also facilitate student understanding, learning and retention. All students are expected to arrive to class on time, having read the related material relevant to lectures. If you do arrive late please sit in the back or side of the room so as not to disrupt the class (your peers or instructor)

Student Learning Outcome:
*Given a species account of a reproductive strategy students will be able to identify, evaluate, and hypothesize on the natural selection pressures driving the evolution of the strategy.
*Assessment: Comprehensive research paper

Course Format:

Lecture Format: Lectures will be used to present, clarify, and expand on information which is presented in your book and laboratory manual. Although we will follow a typical lecture format, class participation and involvement is encouraged. If, during lecture, you have a question raise your hand and I will try to answer when appropriate. Otherwise please do not talk during lecture– it is disruptive to me and your fellow students! You do not need to bring your text to class, however, it will be to your benefit to have it available. You are required to know all of the information presented in the class lectures whether the material is in the text or not.

Special Accommodations: If you have a learning or physical need that will require special accommodations in this class you will need to notify me in writing of your accommodation needs. Please notify me following the first class if you require any special accommodations for learning or physical impairments. This will allow me to best meet your needs and allow us ample opportunity to provide suitable accommodations. West Valley College makes reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. College materials will be available in alternate formats (Braille, audio, electronic format, or large print) upon request. Please contact the Disability and Educational Support Program at (408) 741-2010 (voice) or (408) 741-2658 (TTY) for assistance.

Homework: Homework assignments will be assigned throughout the semester. Reading and studying the text/ handouts, reviewing lecture powerpoints, and coming to class prepared are considered weekly homework.

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory for student success. It is the student’s responsibility to attend ALL classes, classes will start on time and will run the entire time; schedule doctor appointments, dental appointments, baby sitters etc. accordingly. If you are absent for any reason, please notify me as soon as possible. If a student misses a lecture, it is his/her responsibility to obtain any handouts and information provided. Again, if a student is absent from more than four class sessions he/she will be DROPPED from the course. A portion of your grade will be determined by your participation, so it is important that you attend all class sessions to earn all possible points.

Withdrawing from the Course: Anyone not present in the beginning of the semester will be dropped. After the first class it is the responsibility of the student who registered to withdraw, even if he/she has stopped attending class.  Do not assume that if you stop coming to class that you will automatically be dropped. Students who fail to attend but do not inform the instructor and officially drop the course will receive a failing grade.

Conduct: Disruptive conduct in lecture and lab is unacceptable. This includes late arrivals, disruptive talk, passing notes, ringing cell phones, pagers and ipod use. Disruptive students will be asked to leave and will lose participation points. Continued disruptive behavior will result in disciplinary action.

Websites: This course will have an active website page which can be used to review lecture schedule and general class policies throughout the semester. This lecture section also has a webpage designed to provide students information relevant to this section only. Instructor’s syllabus with polices and lecture powerpoint presentations will be made available to students weekly. These materials are highly beneficial to focusing your study time and if used properly will aid in your success in this course.

Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is MANDATORY. The college policy on cheating is clearly spelled out in the college catalogue and will be strictly enforced.  Use of any method other than your knowledge and memory (such as notes, looking on other students papers, communication between students etc.) to answer questions on an exam or quiz constitutes cheating and will result in failure of that exam or quiz. Dishonest behavior also includes: cheating, tampering, fabrication, plagiarism, and assisting (see course webpage “handout” folder for more details). Therefore be proactive; keep your work to yourself and be sure that all work (papers and presentations) is in your own and in your own words- this includes group activities. Summaries and reports must be completed individually. Any student caught exhibiting dishonest behavior will be appropriately reprimanded. All dishonest behavior will be reported to the Vice president of Student Services and will undergo review by the Disciplinary Action Committee. Resulting disciplinary action may include one or more of the following; academic probation, suspension, expulsion from the district colleges, and academic dishonesty transcript notation.

Make-Up Policy: NO make up exams are given. Be sure to show up!

Evaluation:
Participation (20p): Participation will be evaluated through attendance records and participation & performance during class activities. Some ways in which to lose participation points are: 1) missing class; 2) arriving late or leaving early; 3) violation of class procedures; 4) leaving the class in disarray or dirty; 5) demonstration of continued lack of preparation for class; 6) failure to complete class activities; and 7) disruptive behavior in class.

Homework (100p): Homework assignments will be provided throughout the semester to reinforce concepts covered in lecture and lab.

Grading: You are not in competition with other students. Your course grade will be determined by the total number of points you earn.

Point Breakdown:          Homework totaling                                            100 pts

Exams (2 @ 100 points each)                             200 pts

Participation                                                        20 pts

Paper & Presentation                                           100 pts

Final Exam (100 points, comprehensive):              100 pts

Total Points Possible :     520 pts

Grade Calculation : (pts. earned / pts. possible) x 100 = %

*If complications in assigned point allocation arise, the percent scale of the remaining points will be used to calculate grades

Periodically I will post your grades. This gives you the opportunity to confirm where you stand in the course, if you are missing any work or if I have made any errors recording your grades. Be sure to look it over. If you have any questions regarding any grade you receive and/or the grading method please feel free to talk to me.

Miscellaneous Notes: Due to the disruptive nature of cell phones and pagers all cell phones and pagers must be completely turned off while in lecture and lab. If for some reason you must leave your cell phone or pager on please switch it to silent mode and leave the room before answering it. Ringing cell phones and/or pagers during exams may result in failure of the exam. If you must leave your phone on during an exam please switch it to silent mode. If, for any reason, you answer a cell phone or pager during an exam you must turn in your exam and forfeit your remaining time. Disruptions of this nature will also result in the loss of participation points.

Places to seek Additional Help:

Office Hours: TTH 10-10:50am (SM58);M 2-3or 4-5pm as scheduled (SM55H); or by appt.

Form study groups: Your fellow classmates are a valuable resource

Support Services: Please take advantage of the support services on campus- They are here to help you! Services contact information is listed below

Tutoring:Tutorial Services : All students are eligible for free on campus tutoring. If you wish to get help you MUST make the commitment to attend any scheduled tutorial sessions. If any student misses 2 un-cancelled tutorial sessions they will be dropped from the program.

page created by Leticia Gallardo
updated:  25 Jan 2013