Syllabus
(download this Syllabus as a Word document)
Instructors:
TA:
Goal: To provide an overview of the ecology and evolution of plants and animals of the Southwest region.
Required Text:
Phillips, S. J. and Wentworth Comus P. (eds). 2000. A
Natural History of the Sonoran Desert. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press. 628 pp.
Lectures:T-TH 11:00 - 12:15 PM
,
Marley Building, Room 230
Class
structure: Lecture (50-60 min) plus creature demonstrations
(25-30 min) or student presentations (10 min).
Field trips: Compulsory:
Saturday March 31.
Expectations: Participants are expected to:
- Attend lectures and one field trip.
- Participate in three of the four following activities:
- Give a presentation on a selected topic (my favorite organism from the Southwest).
- Make a plant collection (30 specimens in a plant press-notebook).
- Make an insect collection (15 different insects belonging to at least 5 different orders).
- Two self-guided nature trips.
Grades:
100-90 points = A or S
89- 80 points = B or P
79-70 points = C or P
69-60 points = D or P
< 60 points = F
- Based on 3 midterm exams (20 points each), grade from 3 activities
(10 points each), field trip report (10 points).
- Extra credit: attendance to at least 23 sessions, not counting exams or field trips (5 points). You cannot miss more than 3 classes if you want these points.
- There will be no curving
and no makeup exams.
- Field trip is compulsory and 20 points will be subtracted from final grade if field trip is missed.
- Drinking alcohol during field trips will result in dismissal from the course.
- Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of dishonesty may also result in dismissal from the course.
Important dates:
- Exams: February 14, March 22, April 26.
- April 17: Last day to hand in plant and insect collections. (1 point subtracted for each day late)
- March 10-18: no classes – Spring
recess.
- May 1: Last class.
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Natural
History of the Southwest Spring 2012