[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Lab Exercises ] [ Botany Projects 2007.doc ]

LABORATORY FOR BOT 1101 - BIOLOGY OF THE PLANTS SCHEDULE/SYLLABUS - Fall 2007

The readings corresponding to specific laboratory exercises scheduled in the listing below should be done before arrival to class.  Lab exercises will be conducted on the premise that respective assignments have been read.  Laboratory exercises will be submitted to students as handouts via the internet or hardcopies given out the week before during class.  A reference book will accompany these lab exercises and should be obtained by students.  The book is A Photographic Atlas for the Botany Laboratory 4th edition (2004) by Kent M. Van De Graaff, Samuel R. Rushforth, and John L. Crawley, published by Morton Publishing Company.  Additional reading assignments and materials from other sources may be incorporated into the content of this course as deemed necessary by the instructor or teaching assistant.
THE PLANT BODY: STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION
Aug. 23 Overview of course goals, objectives, and format; Brief survey of the Plant Kingdom
Aug. 30 Plant cells, organelles, and cell division
Sept. 6 Cell and Tissue Types: Primary & Secondary Growth
Sept. 13 Roots: Form & Function
Sept. 20 Stems: Form & Function 
Sept. 27 Leaves: Form & Function; Campus Field Trip; LAB PROPOSALS ARE DUE; REVIEW OF LAB MATERIAL FOR LAB PRACTICAL EXAM
Oct. 4 LAB PRACTICAL EXAM  I - Includes ALL lab material covered thus far.
PLANT REPRODUCTION (with special emphasis on flowering plants)
Oct. 11 Meiosis and Life Cycles; Flower Structure and diversity; Pollen Development and Pollination; Showing of a film of David Attenborourgh's The Private Life of Plants: THE BIRDS AND THE BEES.
Oct. 18 Embryo Development and Seed Formation; Fruit Morphology  and Seed Dispersal; Showing of a film of David Attenborourgh's The Private Life of Plants:  BRANCHING OUT.
SURVEY OF SOME MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOSYNTHETIC ORGANISMS AND THE PLANT KINGDOM
Oct. 25 Cyanobacteria; Algae and Lichens
Nov. 1 Kingdom Plantae: Bryophytes; Kingdom Plantae: Seedless Vascular Plants
Nov. 8 Kingdom Plantae: Gymnosperms/Angiosperms; Showing of a film on plant evolution.
Nov. 15 LAB PROJECTS ARE DUE; REVIEW OF LAB MATERIAL FOR LAB PRACTICAL EXAM
Nov. 29 LAB PRACTICAL EXAM II - Includes ALL lab material covered since the first exam


COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES FOR

LABORATORY FOR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS - BOT 1101

  • Instructor:  Dr. Martin J. Huss

  • Section 1:  8:00-9:50 pm; Section 2:  10:00-11:50 am; Section 3:  2:00-3:15 pm

  • Lab Place:  LSW 442

  • Dr. Huss' Office:  LSE 317 

  • Dr. Huss' Research Lab:  LSW 545 - Microbial Ecology Laboratory

  • Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday from 1:30-2:30 pm; Wednesday from 8:30-9:30 am; Tuesday from 10:00-11:00 am and 12:50-1:50 pm; or by appointment.

  • Office phone:  (870) 972-3124 

  •  E-mail address:  mhuss@astate.edu 

  • Link to Course Web Pages:  http://www.clt.astate.edu/mhuss/ 

A.  ASU Policies and Regulations:  The student has the responsibility to review information regarding their rights and responsibilities in the ASU Student Handbook.   Please refer to the ASU Student Handbook for university policies and regulations, particularly those pertaining to attendance, inclement weather, enforcement of academic integrity (e.g., cheating, plagiarism), and other matters.  Copies of the Student Handbook are available by contacting the Office of Student Affairs at Arkansas State University (Telephone No. 870 972-2048) or online at http://studentlife.astate.edu/studenthandbook.htm.

B.  Handicap Policy:  Any student having a certified handicapping condition should see the instructor about making any necessary course modifications as early in the course as possible.

C.  Examinations, Quizzes, and Lab Project:

 
EXAM OR ASSIGNMENT
DAY OF THE WEEK
DATE
POINTS POSSIBLE
Laboratory Practical Exam I
Thursday
 October 4
100
Laboratory Practical Exam II
Thursday 
 November 29
100
Weekly quizzes (11 point laboratory quizzes/assignments; with one drop grade)
 Every Lab (on non-exam days)  
99
Laboratory Project (Individual or team effort; proposal/written lab report or poster presentation)
 Thursday
Proposals are due Sept. 27 (20 pts. possible)
100
Thursday

Laboratory Report due on Nov. 15 (80 pts. possible)
 
Total Points Possible:  399

Exams will be handed out at the beginning of class and will be collected at the end of the class period.  Should a student arrive late, he/she will not be given extra time.  Additional assignments may be given as needed, which may add to the total number of points possible that can be earned by the student.  One "optional" comprehensive lab practical exam will be given at the end of the semester (time to be announced) for students who wish to replace their lowest score on a previously taken or missed lab practical exam.

D.  Review Laboratory Sessions:  Prior to each Lab Practical Exam, review lab sessions will be scheduled (to be announced) so that students may examine plant  specimens and other materials in preparation for both scheduled exams.  Teaching assistants and instructors will be available at designated times and  during regular office hours to answer questions students may have to assist in the study of the lab course material.

E.  Grading Scale:  Letter grades will be determined from the percentage of points earned by the student from the total number of possible points (399 points).

  • A = 100 to 90%
  • B = 89 to 80%
  • C = 79 to 70%
  • D = 69 to 60%
  • F = Below 60%

F.  Flexibility Clause:  Circumstances may arise during the course that  prevent the instructor from fulfilling each and every component of this syllabus;  therefore, the syllabus should be viewed as a guide and is subject to change.  Students will be notified prior to any changes.