Department of Zoology
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

ZOOL 304, Evolution

 

• COURSE DESCRIPTION
• SYLLABUS (Schedule REVISED, 27 March.)
• GRADING AND OTHER POLICIES
  • Book review guidelines
• CLASS NOTES
• LINKS TO RELATED SITES

 

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ZOOL 304,  Evolution

COURSE DESCRIPTION.  This course is intended to provide life-sciences students with an introductory survey of evolutionary biology emphasizing basic principles, including the historical development of evolutionary theory, the genetic mechanisms of evolution, the processes of adaptation and diversification, and the origin and history of major groups of organisms.

Objectives.  By the end of the course, successful students should be able to recognize and define concepts, hypotheses, problems, and scientific controversies associated with the biological processes of evolution, and to appreciate how these issues affect our understanding of various structures, functions, and patterns of organization in other disciplines of biology.

Evaluation will be based on class participation, two written examinations (mid-term and final) of text-book and class-discussion content (may include essay, problem-solving, and multiple-choice formats), and a written book review.

Prerequisites:   ZOOL 220a,b (Diversity of Animal Life).  Also required are basic skills in algebra (interpreting, applying, graphing, and solving linear and quadratic equations) and writing (correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar; clear and well-organized composition).

• RETURN TO TOP
• SYLLABUS
• GRADING AND OTHER POLICIES
  • Book review guidelines
• CLASS NOTES

Syllabus

ZOOL 304         EVOLUTION         SPRING 2003
MWF 8:00a.m., Room 367 LSII

• Beginning of SYLLABUS
• RETURN TO TOP

ZOOL 304  EVOLUTION

 

     
Independent work may be substituted for exam or paper, as described below.

Click here for extra credit instructions.

 

 

• RETURN TO TOP
• GRADING
• ABSENCES
• WITHDRAWAL
• EXAMINATIONS
• BOOK REVIEW
  • Guidelines
• CLASS PARTICIPATION
• INDEPENDENT WORK

 

Absences:   Class attendance is expected, and regular class participation can contribute significantly to exam performance and to grade.   Attendance for exams is required.   A grade of 0 will be recorded for any examinations missed due to unexcused absence.   For excused absence from one exam, a make-up exam or alternative work must be scheduled with the instructor.  Valid excuses include previously approved official University trips or illnesses attested to in writing by the Health Service.   Any other excuses must be validated by the Dean of your College.

Withdrawal from the course:   A student may withdraw from ZOOL 304 without receiving a grade until 1/24.   Students withdrawing between 1/24 and 3/17 will receive a grade of W.   March 17 is the last day to drop the course.   To officially withdraw, a student MUST process a program change through his/her advisor and the registration center.   Merely stopping attendance will result in a grade of F, even if an instructor has been informed of your intent.

Examinations:   The Midterm Exam will be held during regularly scheduled lecture hours.   The final exam will be scheduled during finals week (see SIU final exam schedule).   Each exam will represent 100 points (see grade scale above).   Questions may be multiple choice, short answer, or essay and will be based primarily on information and ideas presented in textbook and lecture.   For Spring of 2003, exams will be based on study questions, including assigned end-of-chapter questions.  Personal identification with photo (student ID or driver's license) may be required and should be brought to each exam.

Book Review:   In addition to midterm and final exams, one book review (approx. 1500 to 5000 words) is required.  This exercise provides an opportunity explore some aspect of evolutionary biology with a level of depth and detail beyond what can be accomplished in class discussion.  Of course, this also means some substantial outside reading.  Your choice of topic should be related to your own personal interests and educational goals, but must be substantially relevant to course content.  

See Book Review Guidelines for details.

For guidance with written work, see The Writing Handbook.  

NOTE:  "Plagiarism, representing the work of another as your own work," is an act of academic dishonesty and a violation of the SIU Student Conduct Code (II.A.1).  "A failing grade (F) may be assigned for the course in which the violation occurred" (SIU Student Conduct Code III.B).  To avoid a charge of plagiarism in written work, any quotation (including substantial paraphrasing) from others' work must receive accurate citation.  

Class participation.  Class meetings will provide orientation to the text readings through lecture and discussion.  Although how much you learn is largely your own responsibility, through your own engagement with the textbook and additional readings, nevertheless classroom attendance and participation provides an opportunity to test and reinforce your initial understanding.

Please, discipline yourself to read each chapter before coming to class.  Your instructor shall not be leading you by the hand through the text (after all, as Darwin himself observed, "...to my mind there are no advantages and many disadvantages in lectures compared with reading").  

Class attendance matters, although it may be truly advantageous only with active participation.  That means, most importantly, thinking critically and asking questions (of your text, your instructor, and yourself).  Your instructor may offer background information and interpretation.  Occasionally that may be enough.  But passive listening will not address the confusion that YOU feel or help fill the gaps in YOUR background unless you ask questions.  REMEMBER:  As Linus once replied to Lucy, "Even stupid questions have answers."   The only dumb question is the one that is not asked.  To reiterate, you will be ill-prepared to participate in class if you have not already read (and thought about) the assigned text.

Extra class meetings may be arranged at the initiative of class members, whether for in-depth exploration of topics of interest or for extra assistance with difficult concepts.  Past experience indicates that active learning -- including thoughtful reading, regular attendance, preparation of assignments, participation in class discussion, and completion of in-class exercises -- is essential for satisfactory grade.

Independent work.  Exams, class participation, and book review are the default basis for grade.  However, any substantial evidence that the student is thoughtfully engaging with the broad content of evolutionary biology may also be submitted (and, at the discretion of the instructor, be accepted for credit).  Students are invited to demonstrate their appreciation of important ideas in evolution by submitting materials for inclusion in the course website (guidelines); by completing independent work in the form of essays, web-site reviews, computer simulations, or other projects; or by volunteering to lead classroom discussion.   Credit will be given for independent work ONLY IF submission is timely AND IF, in the judgment of the instructor, the work demonstrates a significant understanding of biological facts and concepts, comparable to exam performance (i.e., superficial effort will not be treated favorably).  Students considering independent work should submit a plan to the instructor for approval prior to completing the work.

• RETURN TO TOP
• COURSE DESCRIPTION
• SYLLABUS
• GRADING AND OTHER POLICIES
  • Review paper guidelines
• CLASS NOTES
• LINKS TO RELATED SITES

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