Honors Biology
Course Expectations
Mr. Davis
Text
Starr, C., and Taggart, R. (2006). Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life, 11th ed. Thomson Higher Education, Belmont, CA.
Grading
Quarterly grades are based on exams, quizzes, lab reports, homework, notes and class participation with the following percentages assigned to each:
Exams (50%):
these will be administered upon completion of a chapter or unit with at least 2 days’ notice. Any student that received such notification, but was absent for the test, should be expected to take it immediately upon return.
Quizzes and lab reports (40%):
Quizzes will be given periodically, with at least a day’s advance notice to reinforce a particular topic. Lab reports will be submitted after each lab and graded as follows. Should the lab be demonstrating a basic procedure then the report will be basic. Such a report will be due the class period following the lab and will receive a quiz grade. At least once a quarter, students will be expected to submit a typewritten lab report, complete with references. Such a report will be due 1 week upon completion of the lab and graded as 2 quizzes. Lab Reports will be considered late if they are not submitted or emailed on the date due. Each day they are late, including weekends, the student will be assessed a 10 point penalty. No labs will be accepted if they are more than 2 days late. The format for such a report will be submitted to students upon completion of the first lab and is also found on the Davis website at www.stjohnshigh.org. Because the maintenance of a good notebook is critical to academic success. It is for this reason that the notebooks will be examined periodically for content and graded as a quiz.
Homework (10%):
homework will be checked periodically for completion.
Class Participation
Class participation can help or hurt your grade. Should students report to class consistently with all appropriate materials (textbook, binder, pen, assignments) and actively participate in class discussion, then their quarter grade could improve by up to 3 points (for example from a B+ to an A-). Should the opposite occur, then the grade could decline by the same margin. Be aware, it will take work to gain or lose these points.
Cheating
As cheating is a most heinous academic crime, any student caught cheating, plagiarizing, or attempting to cheat will be given a zero on the assignment in question and no opportunity to make up the credit.
Be aware that this punishment is almost certain to eliminate any chance for academic success in a given quarter.
In addition to the rules of the Saint John's Student Handbook regarding academic integrity, the following rules are in place during any examination or quiz.
1. Eyes must remain forward at all times, should they stray, the assumption will be that cheating is taking place.
2. Any cell phone that is visible during an exam shall be considered a tool for cheating.
3. Calculators are prohibited unless they are required for an exam. Notice will be given to this effect.
4. No science texts or notebooks should be visible during exam administration. (If a student completes an exam, they may not open such materials until the entire class has finished.)
Class Notes
A notebook for this course is mandatory, as there will be many notes from classes and laboratory exercises. This notebook should be a 3-ring binder and should be organized as follows organized into sections as follows:
The first page will include your name only. Grades for each exam and quiz will be recorded there.
The first section will be reserved for class notes and exercises including relevant handouts.
The second section will be reserved for homework.
The third section will be reserved for lab reports.
No student could be expected to succeed in this course without a strong set of notes. It is for this reason that attendance in class and attention in class are necessities. Should a student be absent from class, the first thing he or she should do is obtain a set of class notes and assignments from a reliable source. Do not attempt to come to extra help without a set of notes as this will hinder progress.
Extra Help
I am available for extra help any morning from 7:35-8:05 in room 105, and on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Additional time can be made by appointment. Feel free to stop by to address a topic of concern or merely for additional information on a subject of interest.