Dr. Wendy Hood. 

Office: Science 206B

Phone 349-2208

email: wrhood@coastal.edu

Office hours: Tues 8-11, Th 2:30-5:30

Course web pages:

WebCT: WebCT will be used for submitting lecture questions and posting grades.

http://kingfish.coastal.edu/biology/bio434/: The course webpage will include a general outline, links, and downloadable pdf’s of laboratories and relevant lecture material.

Required text:  Animal Behavior: An evolutionary approach, 7th ed. by J. Alcock.

On reserve at the library: We will periodically assign additional readings.  These will be placed on reserve at the library.  Of these, An introduction to behavioral ecology by J.R. Krebs and N.B. Davies is a good place to look for background for your paper and research projects

Course policies:

ATTENDANCE:  We strongly urge you to attend every lecture and lab.  Much of the testing material will be based on class lectures, films, etc.; therefore, to do well on tests you must attend lecture.

COOPERATIVE LEARNING: Your contributions to the class are essential.  Each of you comes from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and you are a unique educational resource.  Your questions and observations are not only welcome but also expected in this class.  A portion of your grade will be based on your attendance, ability to ask questions, share observations, and listen respectfully to your colleagues’ questions and observations during class and during classmates’ presentations.

ASSESSMENT: Your final grade for this course is based on both your performances in lecture and in lab.  Your final grade will be based on 1000 points, 500 from lecture and 500 from lab.  You must pass both the lecture and lab portion of the class with a “C” or better.  You will be assigned the same grade for both lecture and lab. 

Your final grade will be based on the following scale:

                        90-100%,    900 - 1000 pts =   A

                        87-89%,      870 – 899 pts =    B+

                        80-100%,    800 – 869 pts =    B

                        77-100%,    770 – 799 pts =    C+

                        70-100%,    700 – 769 pts =    C

                        67-100%,    670 – 699 pts =    D+

                        60-100%,    600 – 669 pts =    D

                        < 60%,        Below 600 pts =    F

LECTURE PORTION OF GRADE:

·         There will be 5 quizzes; 4 are worth 43 points while the fifth, given during the final exam period, is worth 86 points.  If you miss a quiz because of a documented university excused absence (see current catalog) your final grade may be calculated based on your point totals without the quiz.  If you miss more than 1 quiz, you will receive an F in the course.

·         BEFORE attending class on the day each chapter is begun, you are to submit three quiz questions to webCT based on the material in the chapter, one multiple choice and one short-answer / essay question.  These questions are worth one point per question (3 points per chapter). 

·         Presentations of peer-reviewed research articles, given in lab on Sept 28 or Oct 5, will be worth 75 points.  See attached page with description of ‘Presentations’.

·         You will be working on your animal behavior review papers throughout the month of September, with revisions due in October.  The project will be worth 75 points.  See attached page with description of ‘Review Papers’.

·         Class participation scores are based on attendance and participation in class discussion.  Again, participation is both expected and necessary to do well in the course (50 points).  .

                        5 Quizzes:                                      258 pts

                        Chapter Questions                             42 pts.

                        Review Papers                                   75 pts

                        Presentations                                    75 pts.

                        Participation                                      50 pts.

                        Total:                                              500 pts.

LAB GRADE: Please see the syllabus handed out during lab.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Discussion of lab homework problems is not discouraged; however, you MUST supply the answers with your own reasoning and words.  For the papers and debates, outright copying and paraphrasing will result in either a 0 on the paper or quiz or an F in the course for all the students involved.  Please read the links on the course webpage defining plagiarism.  “I didn’t know what I did was plagiarism” will not be accepted as an excuse.  Quizzes are closed book and cheating on a quiz will result in an F in the course.  Please come discuss any source of ambiguity prior to the quizzes or paper.

PROBLEMS:  If you are having any problem with the course or feel unsatisfied with your progress, please come see us.  We will be available in our office for office hours and drop-in visits.  If your native language is not English or you have a learning disability, please see us as soon as possible so special arrangements can be made for quizzes, debates and question.