Dr. Ray L. Winstead
Professor of Biology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

PROFESSOR: Dr. R. L. Winstead, Office Room 5, Phone (724) 357-2912  (Biology Office (724) 357-2352)
               Office Hours:     Monday         1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
                                           Tuesday        3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
                                           Wednesday   1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

LECTURE TEXT: Biology: Tenth Edition, 2010 by Sylvia S. Mader  (ISBN: 978-0-07-352543-3)

LAB MANUAL: General Biology Laboratory Manual by IUP General Biology Faculty. Purchase at PRO-PACKET at University Square next to Domino's Pizza.

REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL READING: This course is part of the university's Liberal Studies program and therefore, as mandated by the program, requires that you have a supplemental reading assignment beyond the textbook.  The assignment for the supplemental reading will be given by your lab professor, and the grade for that assignment will be a part of your lab score.

NOTE: Information and handouts for this course (plus other information) are also available on my website at http://raywinstead.com

GRADING: Seven tests will be given on lecture material. Recorded scores for each test will be the percentage of correct answers, since each test will have a different number of questions. Lecture tests will consist of multiple choice questions, true-false questions, matching, and/or similar questions. Your two lowest scores of the first six tests will be dropped. However, the seventh test during the exam period will NOT be dropped. The remaining five tests will each contribute fifteen percent (15%) to your course grade and individual lecture tests will NOT be curved. Your laboratory grade will contribute twenty-five percent (25%) to your course grade. Laboratory tests will be given during lab as announced by your lab professor and lab grades will not be curved.  However, since different professors are teaching the labs for this section, I reserve the right to adjust your final lab grade - either up or down - based on the averages of the different lab sections.  This will insure an equitable grade for everyone in this course.  Your final course grade will be on the basis of your overall, weighted average as calculated below:

Note that this formula takes into account the different percentage weights of the lecture tests and lab part of the course. Also note that the five lecture tests in the formula include the scores from the four highest tests out of the first six plus your score for Test 7 during the exam period. Your final course letter grade will be determined by your final average. Since different people will be dropping different tests, individual tests will not be curved, however this final average may be curved at the end of the course.

         SINCE TWO LECTURE TESTS ARE BEING DROPPED, NO MAKE-UP TESTS FOR MISSED LECTURE TESTS WILL BE GIVEN. This means that if you miss one of the first six tests (including arriving late after the first student has turned in a test) FOR ANY REASON, either your "fault" or "NOT your fault," (e.g., illness, accident, car trouble, other university activity, wedding, or funeral), then your score for the missed test will be a zero and no make-up test is available. Missing a test for any reason is included in and provided for by the policy of dropping two of the first six tests. You would be wise to attend class and be on time, if at all possible, to save the two dropped tests until you really need them, e.g., for illness.  (If you miss the final exam, then I will assume you intended to miss it and accept that failing grade, unless you immediately let me know otherwise.) Bring your ID Card to all lecture tests. No extra credit is available.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: You are expected to attend all classes and be on time. There is no direct grade penalty for missing class, HOWEVER I offer you a friendly but strong warning that from past experience the indirect penalty for missing even one class is often severe. Based upon the percentage of material missed, the student who misses a class should not be surprised to score substantially lower on a test than originally expected. This adverse effect is observed even if lecture notes are obtained from someone else in the class.  Note that the grading policy above includes a test at the beginning of the class period basically every other week, but with an exception for test five.  (See the test schedule below.  Also note that, except for test five, a test will last no longer than thirty minutes, and the lecture will continue after the test.)  When a student misses a class, I assume that the student is a conscientious student and is, in fact, missing for a good, legitimate reason.  I do not get into judging myself whether or not I think it was a good reason or not.  Therefore, especially note the policy of the course of no make-up tests above, since I acknowledge and allow for those occasions that do occur when someone must miss a class and test. This is the purpose of dropping two test grades.  Missing more than two of the first six tests means that the person has missed too much of the course and should either seriously consider withdrawing from the course, if possible, or realize there will be adverse consequences of missing so much of the course.

CHEATING: Be aware that any form of cheating in this course (lecture or lab) will result in failure for the course.  (Be aware that this penalty has been officially implemented in this course in the recent past.)  During a test, please be sure that no notes, text, electronic device, or ear phones are accessible.

COURTESY: Please respect your classmates by not disturbing them.  For example, please turn off all sound on phones and other electronic devices while in class.  The college dean has also established the policy of no food or drinks in this lecture room.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Test 1 Tuesday September 13

Test 2 Tuesday September 27

Test 3 Tuesday October 11

Test 4 Tuesday October 25

Test 5 Tuesday November 15    (Note extra week for study for genetics test)

Test 6 Tuesday November 29

Test 7 Thursday December 15, 10:15 AM

 

Dr. Winstead's Blood Pressure Tracker:  Free Templates for Graphing Blood Pressure in Microsoft Excel

Dr. Winstead's Current Local and World Standard Percentage Metric Time Clock

Blue Spruce Park Chickadees