GENERAL BOTANY FOR NON-SCIENCE MAJORS
PBIO 100 Lecture Notes
Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland
Instructor: Dr. Paul J. Bottino, Associate Professor
Office: 3223 H.J. Patterson Hall
Email: pb23@umail.umd.edu (this is the best way to contact Dr.
Bottino)
Make an appointment with Secretary: Ms. Terry Olenick (Room 2112)
Phone: (301) 405-1588 (voice-mail)
Email to5@umail.umd.edu
Welcome to Plant Biology 100, a three-credit course in plant biology specifically designed for the non-science student. The goals and objects of the course are:
1) To gain an understanding of the fundamental concepts and processes involving
plants;
2) To examine the diversity of plants and their role in the biosphere;
3) To develop an appreciation of the importance of plants to humans; and,
4) To provide information needed for intelligent management of the natural
world.
Important! The course has CORE approval in the science/math area ONLY as a lab science when taken in conjunction with PBIO 101 (Laboratory in Plant Biology, 1 credit hour).
WORLD WIDE WEB: Actual lecture notes are available on the World Wide Web (WWW). It is recommended that you print out each set of lecture notes prior to lecture and use them as during lecture and as a study guide. The address is:
COURSE READING: Although examinations will focus upon material presented
in lecture, readings in several sources are assigned to reinforce the lecture
material and to deepen your understanding of the subject. Use this
resource.
Recommended Textbook: Levetin, Estelle & K. McMahon. 1999, Plants
and society., second edition, Wm. C. Brown Publ., Dubuque, IA. 441 pp. Readings
from the text are listed on the lecture schedule. This is however NOT
a required text.
World Wide Web: Lecture notes/outlines and additional information
are available on the World Wide Web (WWW). You may want to print the lecture
notes as a study guide. These notes are not intended to be used as a substitute
for attending lecture; these are a general guide only and the actual lecture
material will cover additional material. There are links on the lecture notes
which lead to other sites that more fully explain the material or provide
illustrations. The links marked "required reading" present material which
pertains to lectures but is either important for full understanding of a
concept or is not covered in the textbook. The address is:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/PBIO/PBIO/pbio.html
FILMS AND SLIDES: During this course, films and slides will be shown during your regular lecture periods. These are a regular part of your class instruction, and you are responsible for understanding the material presented.
ATTENDANCE:Attendance is strongly correlated with grade. If you are wise, you will attend class every time it meets.
EXAMINATIONS: All examinations will be held on the days given on the lecture schedule. Four examinations will be given, each worth 100 points, each requiring 50 minutes to take. In addition to exams, there will be 50 points from unannounced quizzes, which will be given in class. All exams start on time; no one will be permitted to take an exam if any student taking the exam has left the room. NOTE: The final examination will be held in the regular classroom but at the hour noted on the lecture schedule.
There are no extra credit assignments.
PRE-EXAM REVIEWS: A special review session will be held prior to each examination at which the lecturer will answer questions relative to the examination. Time and place will be announced prior to the examintion.
GRADING: The total number of points available in this class is 450 points. Students are not graded competitively. Break points for grades occur at:
MAKEUP EXAMINATIONS: Make up exams are offered as guided by University policy (see the Undergraduate Catalog section on attendance and assessment for details). Make-up exams will be offered for those students with official, university-approved excuses accompanied by appropriate written and verifiable documentation, or by consent of instructor. Make-up exams are at the same level of difficulty as the regular exam, but may (at the instructor's discretion) be administered as essay or oral exams, and may differ in content from the regular exam.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Students are reminded that they are subject to the University's Code of Academic Integrity approved by the Campus Senate on 13 Feb 1989. See Chapter 4 of the Undergraduate Catalog for details. Penalties for cheating are very severe, and are not subject to the discretion of the instructor!
BEHAVIOR: Eating and drinking are not permitted in the lecture hall. Students are expected to be alert, to behave with decorum, and to actively particpate in the class. Students that will be unable to do so are expected to leave without disrupting the other students.
REMEMBER: The best way to contact Dr. Bottino is via email, or to
schedule an appointment with Ms. Olenick.
