Algae - Botany 330
Books and Grading
We aim to provide a basic background of information and training that should serve the needs of course clients in general. In addition, we will provide opportunities for specialized learning in accordance with individual student interest. We provide instruction in all three of the major learning modes: auditory (lectures), visual (books, slides, videos, and other images), and manipulative ("hands on" exercises). Please let instructors know if accommodation to individual learning style is needed.
Textbooks:
1) Algae 2nd edition 2009—Graham, Graham, and Wilcox – Benjamin Cummings
The text supplements lectures, and is also meant to be used in the lab. It is a major source of information for composition of lecture exams, which are in "take-home" essay format.
2) How to Know the Freshwater Algae - Prescott
This is the taxonomic key that we will use in the lab for algal identifications to genus. Other reference books will be available in the lab for keying to species (not required in this course--but some students may wish to do this for individual projects or other personal reasons).
Exams and other Course Requirements:
Lecture exams--There will be two exams on lecture material--a midterm
and a final exam. Both exams will consist of 5 or 6, 1-3 page
essays, and will be take-home exams to be completed without collaboration.
Undergraduates will answer 5 questions from a choice of at least 10.
Graduate students will be required to answer one additional question.
Please
consult the course document “Botany 330 – Editorial Issues” before you
begin writing. Pre-grading of exams is required. For pre-grading, receipt
of a preliminary draft will be required at least two weeks prior to
submission deadline. Preliminary drafts will be examined by Dr. Graham,
who will provide suggestions for improvement of both scientific content
and English expression, if needed, then returned for revision a week prior
to the exam due date. Each lecture exam will be worth 100 points. Additional information is available on the exams posted at the course website.
Lab exams--Two 50 point mid-term lab exams will evaluate ability to
identify on sight algal genera that were presented in lab, without the use
of an identification key. Twenty or so stations will be set up in the lab;
these will most often consist of a microscope with specimen on a slide,
but could also consist of fossils, macroalgae or herbarium sheets.
Stations will not be timed. In addition, students will be asked to use the
Prescott key to identify two "unknown" microalgae. Plenty of time is
available for completion of both parts of the lab exams.
Lab exercises--Five brief written reports related to class lab or field
exercises will be worth 40 points each for a total of 200 points. These will
be evaluated for both scientific content and English expression. An
additional week beyond the first due date will be given to revise reports,
if this is recommended.
Lab notebooks—Each student will keep a lab notebook of a form
specified in class. Notebook content will be evaluated early in the
semester, with recommendation for improvement. Notebooks will be
graded at the end of the semester: 50 points total.
Project reports--A written report describing the results of individual or
team field, lab, or library projects will be due at the final exam. Projects
will be chosen in consultation with instructors. It is highly desirable for
projects to coordinate with other work that students are doing (in
research or other coursework). It is fine to submit the same report in
Botany 330 and in a concurrent course, if there is substantial algal
content, and with instructor approval. Examples of previous reports will
be available as models. During the final lab period students will be
expected to present a brief oral report (10 min or so) on their project (to
be considered as part of the project grade). Pre-grading of final project
reports is available and we encourage you to take advantage of this
option. Drafts for pre-grading are due at least one week prior to the final
exam date, and will be returned for revision no less than three days prior
to the final exam date. The project report is due at the time and date of
the final exam.
Other oral presentations--At least two additional oral presentations will
be required and written feedback will be provided (though not graded).
Please refer to the course document “Oral presentations in Botany 330”.
Grading:
Lecture exams (2) 200 points (100 each)
Midterm lab exams (2) 100 points
5 exercise reports 200 points (40 points each)
Lab notebook 50 points
Project report 100 points
____________
650 points
There is no limit to the number of A, B, etc. grades given.
92-100% =A;
88-91% = AB; 80-87% = B