I. LECTURE INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Geoffrey Birchard Office: 3063 King Hall

Phone: 993-1065 Biology Office Phone: 993-1050

E-MAIL: gbirchar@mason.gmu.edu Office Hours M,W 9:30-10:30 and by appointment

II. GRADING

Your grade will be based on a total of 600 possible points to be earned as follows:

Exam 1..........................................75 points

Exam 2.........................................100 points

Exam 3.........................................125 points

Final Exam...................................150 points

Laboratory....................................150 points

________________

Total 600 points

III. LECTURE EXAMINATION POLICIES

A. MAKE UP EXAMS - Students who unavoidably miss an exam due to illness or due to family or other emergency may take a make up exam provided that they notify the lecture instructor before the exam. Notify Dr. Birchard directly or the Biology Department Office (993-1050).

The makeup exam will be given at one time only, immediately after the final exam. The make up exam covers material from exams 1, 2, and 3. Only one exam may be made up.

B. EXAM LOGISTICS - If a class is canceled for any reason in which an exam is scheduled, the exam will be given in the next regularly scheduled class. If the class meeting immediately prior to an exam date (e.g., a Monday when the exam is scheduled for Tuesday of the same week) is canceled so that material to be covered on the exam is not finished in lecture, then the exam will be delayed one class meeting.

Final Exam: On the day of the final exam. You will be allowed to start the exam until the first person finishes and leaves the room. After the first person has left you will not be allowed to enter the room and begin the exam. You will have to see the Dean to receive permission to take a makeup.

You will need SCANTRON forms and a number 2 pencil for examinations.

IV. CLASS ATTENDANCE

Your lecture grade does not directly depend on attendance; however, examinations focus on what was covered in lecture and how it was covered in lecture. Therefore, lecture attendance may have a significant effect on your accomplishments in this course. You are strongly encouraged to attend every lecture.

Attendance of laboratory is required. Missing 25% or more of the laboratory sessions results in automatic course failure. In accordance with departmental policy persons repeating this course must repeat the entire course, lab included.

Be on time for class. It is discourteous and distracting to others when you come in late. Further you may miss important announcements made at the beginning of class. If you do not attend class you are still personally responsible for any announcements made in class (such as changes in exam dates etc.). You may need to be aware of such information before the next class. Therefore, be sure to check with someone about what was covered in the class you missed, before the next class.

V. VIDEOS AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY

The following videos are available for your to use in the AV section of the library. These should be helpful in your learning to recognize and classify animals. Some of these will be shown in laboratory. Your are encouraged to spend some time viewing these on your own.

Protozoans I and II (10 min each)

Introduction to the Invertebrates (30 min) QL 362 .I6

Survey of the Invertebrates QL 362 .S87

Part 1: Protozoa, Parazoa, Coelenterata, Acoelomates and Pseudocoelomates (24 min)

Part 2: Mollusks, Segmented worms, minor phyla (29 min)

Part 3: Insects (31 min)

Part 4: Non insect arthropods and Echinoderms (30 min)