(a) Essay/Quiz/Chapter Tests
If you are told there will be an Essay as a POP
QUIZ/Chapter Test it will appear here - a few days before the scheduled
administration - which could be at ANY TIME after the lecture over that essay
material is completed or assigned in lecture!! There will be a few "ALL ESSAY"
Chapter tests. All essays are IN CLASS from memory ON MY PAPER!
Essay 1 or A: Intro Notes - "What is Science?"(a) Define
SCIENCE as we did in class (explain each important term briefly); (b) discuss
the nature or process of Science and (c) Discuss the goal of
Science…(d) Differentiate between Pseudoscience and Science
Essay 2 or B: Explain the purpose of a SMEAR. Discuss the "theory" concerning HOW each stain works?
Essay 3 or C: How do you focus (steps), as well as clean and store your microscope?
WORD QUESTIONS on the Midterm/Lab Practical 2 - you will have about 4 - ONE
WILL BE REQUIRED OF EVERYONE and 3 will be BONUS!
ESSAY CHOICES MIDTERM: Choose only 1 (ONE) of the following for BONUS POINTS
D) Compare between Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes 1 of the following
· Protein synthesis + action
· DNA action + syn.
· Photosynthesis
or
E) Explain Enz. Induction or Enz. Repression (use outline + drawing)
ESSAY CHOICES MIDTERM: Choose only 1 (ONE) of the following for BONUS POINTS
D) Compare between Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes 1 of the following
· Protein synthesis + action
· DNA action + syn.
· Photosynthesis
or
E) Explain Enz. Induction or Enz. Repression (use outline + drawing)
Essay F: Answer the 7 questions concerning each example Eurkaryotic Parasitic Disease covered in class from my website - THE 5 GREAT Neglected Diseases of Mankind (Eurkaryotic Flashcards).
Essay G: Explain: Prions, Viroids, Virusoids, Satellites and Viruses... how are they similar, how are they different?
Essay H: Explain briefly the viral diseases emphasized in the Chapter 10 online powerpoint. Know the virus vocabulary!
Essay I: Explain the "AIDS TIMELINE" from the Powerpoint notes.
Essay J: Explain how to: pour and cool an agar plate, do an isolation streak, do the "Dots-R-Us" Lab, do the "Purity" Lab and the Optimum Temperature Lab (STRAIGHT LINE 2 SLANTS!)
Essay K: What are "AIDS Denialists?" What techniques do they use? Discuss their ideas and why they are mistaken (the 7 Deadly Deceptions).
Essay L: Discuss the 4 phases of HIV/AIDS (CDC pages 555-560 Text chapter 18) and the AIDS Timeline (PPnotes).
Essay M: Describe the origin of HIV-1 and HIV-2; discuss the reasons & social changes that resulted in HIV/AIDS spreading around the world during its last "jump" into man versus the previous two movements into man.
Essay N: Discuss Hep B or C and its treatment and prevention. Which of these has a purported "cure" and what does that mean?
Essay O: Discuss HIV prevention efforts with respect to the cheapest world-wide efforts, safer sex education and prophylaxis -TRUVADA?.
Essay P: Discuss the progress toward an effective HIV vaccine... Problems, failures, possible future progress
Essay Q: Discuss the first viral cure. What disease, why, treatments and most difficult genotype to treat. Use the following: SVR, Interferon, protease inhibitor, endoplasmic reticulum, Ribavirin
Essay R: Discuss the "latest" approach to controlling the spread of HIV with respect to early detection, treatment, undetectable viral load and PrEP.
Essay S: Explain the origin and significance of Nosocomial infections.
Essay T: Differentiate between nonspecific and specific immunity; discuss at least 4 components of each.
Essay U: Differentiate between cellular and humoral immunity; discuss at least 4 components of each.
(b) GRADES AND GRADING:
ALL COURSE GRADES ARE WEIGHTED OUT OF 100% and
REQUIRED EVALUATIONS to PASS MICROBIOLOGY with an average of 60% are the:
COURSE GRADE COMPOSITION: EXAMS + LRB + Unknown + BiWeekly Tests =
100% or 1000 pts
Exam 1 = Lab Practical 1/Chapter Exam 1 20% or 200 pts;
Exam 2 Midterm/Lab Practical 2 Exam 2 20% or 200 pts;
Exam 3 Comprehensive Final Exam 3 20% or 200 pts.
Laboratory Record Book with of 90% video notes & Lab Data Signatures LRB = 5%
or 5 pts.
Typed APA-style Formal Unknown Report = 20% or 200 pts.
BiWeekly Tests (drop 1 lowest/10) BW = 15% or 150 pts.
CLASSWIDE BONUS 100 Points 3-4%
PQ pts earned?
Print in color, bind Lab Guide+25 pts
*Group Library Assignment+25pts
Hep C/Parasites+25pts
CLASS Volunteer+25 pts.
PQ pts earned?
Print in color, bind Lab Guide+25 pts
*Group Library Assignment+25pts
Hep C/Parasites+25pts
CLASS Volunteer+25 pts.
*required assignment
Inc or INCOMPLETES are given only for verified college excused absence/work.
If you receive an incomplete, DO NOT RE-REGISTER FOR THE CLASS! Please see the instructor to complete the
required work within 1 year or the Incomplete reverts to an “F.”
GRADESHEETS are emailed to students at
your official college email address after each major portion of the above 1st
5 course requirements are met. Check your name, ID# and the listed scores ASAP
and bring any correction to the attention of the instructor, scores become
FINAL after 2 weeks and are then un-alterable. Please review AND sign the last
gradesheet before the final exam, print it out, & include it in your Final
Exam Day Packet.
Drop Dates/Repeats: Effective July 1, 2012 students are
allowed three (3) attempts to pass a single class within the Los Angeles
Community College District. If a student gets a “W”, “D”, “F”, or “NP” as a
grade in a class, that counts as an attempt. If you think you will not be able
to complete this course with a C or better, please drop by the due date which
is LISTED AT: https://www.lacitycollege.edu/
3) Lab Unknown Report Average* (there are 2 at %6 each for Micro-1; 1 for M-20 and Biol 112) = your % is weighted 20% of your Final Class Grade.
4) Lab Record Book Average* = your % is weighted 5% of your Final Class Grade. This grade is NOT a part of your Chapter Test grades.
5) SEMI-COMPREHENSIVE BiWEEKLY or CHAPTER TESTS = your % average achieved (-3 are dropped if we have 15 or more BW scores in 1 semester or -2 are dropped when there are at least 10 recorded BW scores; if less than 10 then only the 1 lowest is dropped) is weighted 15% of your Final Class Grade; Usually these tests are given on the first class day of the testing week (Sunday BEFORE eXAMS IS "Call the Prof from 12-3 PM for Q and A!")... These tests are usually 90% from the material covered since the last evaluation and 10% comprehensive. They are usually on a Scantron #882 and may include BONUS questions that apply to that test score only. The test questions are mostly Scantron with 1-2 short answer questions or essays (see essay list above). If a great deal of material is covered, then 1-2 Chapter tests may count 2X - this will be announced before the evaluation.
DO NOT BE LATE ON EVALUATION DAY AS NO EXTRA TIME WILL BE GIVEN.
6) COMPREHENSIVE Final Exam* = your % is weighted 20% of your Final Class Grade... The % you achieve on this test is included as a Chapter Test score.
ADDITIONAL "OVER THE TOP" BONUS PONTS! These points are Never more than 5% as determined by the number of Bonus points offered that term and the Dept Chair (Final Grade % + 10% = 110% possible) of the FINAL GRADE. The Bonus POINTS include: pts for pop quiz scores and 25 pts (see BONUS for other ways to obtain the 100 Bonus Points!) for submitting THE LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT BEFORE THE MIDTERM EXAM and 25 pts for the Hep C/Eukaryotic Parasite Studysheet due the second to last week of classes each term. You may work "TOGETHER" on these Bonus assignments but everyone must participate and each person must be listed LAST name first on the cover page. IF YOU WORK TOGETHER YOU BETTER KNOW THE MATERIAL INDIVIDUALLY - DO NOT LET ONE PERSON DO ALL THE WORK! NO MORE THAN 4 people can work together on these assignments.
*ALL Exams must be taken "IN-CLASS" with the exception of those students who take tests/exams at the college testing center (for those students with verified learning disabilities). Students with learning disabilities must officially notify the instructor during the first week of class so that appropriate measures to assist them may be organized.
NOTE: Pop Quizzes are often given THURS during the last 10 min of Lecture and not when you are having another type of evaluation that week. The positive points will be added to your class BONUS. PQ's are given to let you know what you should be reviewing and where you stand in preparation for the daily lecture and the next chapter test. PQ's are usually 10 multiple choice questions (10 min for the multiple choice pop quizzes; ~8 from the last class information presented and ~2 from the assigned readings) or a short 1/4-1/2 page Essay on the essay material we just finished in the lecture (you will have 10 min for the essays)... PQ's are graded and computed during the last week of classes but may be reviewed orally to the whole class the same week if requested. NOTE: If you submit photos of your stains (hicksmicro@gmail.com) or good short videos of how to inoculate or read your Unknown Test experiments, you will receive 1 point for PQ's; several of these would change your PQ average over the term to 75% or above which would equal up to a +0.99% push to the next higher grade in the course.
ADDITIONAL RULES, Assistance and Recommendations for my classes: This class is not difficult but it is very very time consuming and requires good organization as well as discrimination with respect to your personal time constraints. If you are great at short answer and essay or if you are not willing to keep-up with the assignments and work "AHEAD" of your deadlines - perhaps you should take another Microbiology instructor - each instructor teaches the class slightly differently and has slightly different daily/weekly requirements and testing methods. If you want to make a good grade (B or A) in my sections please ask me to discuss "How to make an "A" in microbiology.
EVERYONE in every class should PRINT IN COLOR & BIND their own Lab Manual; or if you cannot afford to have one printed and bound, I will loan you 1 for the term (please return it)! wE WILL ASK YOU TO MEMORIZE THE lAB gUIDE A LITTLE AT THE TIME in order to understand and learn about the lab procedures and to reduce the expensive losses that we have when students misuse testing laboratory media. Many students find this advance preparation/learning requirement upsetting and too time consuming; you should consider this in advance of taking my classes (talk to others that have taken Micro from me). The purpose of the advance Lab Manual assignments is to familiarize you with the material for the Lab Practical (20%) and the MIDTERM Exam (20%) and to reduce lab losses from students who do not understand "how" to do each experiment. Additionally you should read the following additional class considerations:
There are NO MAKE-UP EXAMS/TESTS etc... You will receive an "i" in the class if you miss a major exam and do not "plan" for another administration with permission (usually within a day or so during my office hours at my convenience).
You cannot miss the a major course requirement/assignment and you must take the tests during the regular posted times (I may offer the test at another time within a day or so from your assigned test. With verified excuses, ask for permission to take it at another administration during my office hours at my convenience).
If you miss a Pop Quiz you are recorded as having made a "0" and if you are late and I have already given the Pop Quiz, you receive a "0."
THERE ARE NO BONUS POINTS IN THE CLASS other than those listed and available to EVERYONE Unknown CARDS + Lib. Assignment & as a few Essays given as Pop Quizzes). NO one is given any Bonus assignments not available to EVERYONE equally. The total Bonus points in a class cannot exceed 3% of the total class points.
- If you are LATE - there is NO EXTRA TIME. Remember if you arrive late, for a weekly chapter exam you will be given the question sheet but your paper will be taken at the normal EXAM END TIME the same as everyone who attended on time - NO MAKEUPS! YOU MAY COME and BEGIN/PREPARE EARLY!
- You will receive a gradesheet at least 4 times during the term if you supply me with your official college email address during the first week of classes or it is on the college registration. I will communicate with you through this email in emergency circumstances.
- On the Sunday before each exam, I will AVAILABLE for "Call the Prof" from 12-3 PM for Q and A!" hours. You can also submit up to 10 practice questions/PERSON for me to grade and comment on your answers through EMAIL.
- CHEATING will not be tolerated in any form. I am different from any other instructor you have known - I enforce academic honesty completely. If you often cheat, I suggest you take another instructor. I will NOT tolerate cheating in any form. If you see cheating, I expect to be informed at that instant - even during evaluation. If you see cheating and you do not inform me, you are considered guilty of cheating as well. I expect those around a cheater to tell me if they see cheating immediately by email if it is an out of class assignment or using discrete note to me during at test/exam. If you are caught cheating, you will receive a "0" for that assignment; if it is a Chapter test your benefit of dropping the two lowest grades will be void and you will receive a "0" for that chapter test. If you are caught cheating on major course requirement, you must drop the class take a W or withdraw - WF. When cheating occurs, I will ask you to leave the class immediately and I will ask for and record all information on the incident. This information and my evaluation will be forwarded to the Dept. Head for action and a meeting with you, the Dept. Head and myself. Further action may be taken at the discretion of the college. Officially recorded academic dishonesty may result in a notation on your Academic Record and can affect you the rest of your life. Cheating is easily defined (p
==============================
EXAMPLE GRADE SHEET:
TYPICAL GRADESHEETS are sent to you by email at least 4 times during the term such as the one below...
NOTE: I do not drop the first tests until AFTER you take LP1. After evaluations the questions will be in DropBox AFTER I distribute the scantrons. An example gradesheet may be seen below...
School: Los Angeles City College
| 315587245 HICKS, DONALD R | ||||||||
| Subject: Microbiology 20 #0930 T⁄Th | ||||||||
| Teacher: HicksMicro@gmail.com | February 26, 2013 | |||||||
| Date | Assignment | Category | Points | Possible | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb | 12 | Test A Syl+Safety+Ch1 | CH-BW TESTS | 100 | 100 | |||
| Feb | 12 | Test B Syl+Safety+Ch 2 | CH-BW TESTS | 100 | 100 | |||
| Jun | 6 | MISSING MATERIAL SEE ME (0=OK; other see me) | NOTES TO STUDENTS | 0 | ||||
| Category | Points | Possible | Grade | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH-BW TESTS | 200 | 200 | 100.0% | A+ | ||
| LAB PRACT 1 EXAM | 0 | 0 | -- | |||
| LP2⁄MIDTERM EXAM | 0 | 0 | -- | |||
| FORMAL UNKNOWN REPORT | 0 | 0 | -- | |||
| LRB (LAB RECORD BK) | 0 | 0 | -- | |||
| NOTES TO STUDENTS | 0 | 0 | -- | |||
| Extra Credit | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Final Exam | 0 | 0 | -- | |||
| Spring 2013 | 100.0% | A+ | ||||
| ||||||
| BETTER TEST DATES are tentative dates only - SEE COURSE GOOGLE CALENDAR for more exact dates for the major exams and BW Tests (under construction) * Inc/INC in a POINTS column or in the MISSING MATERIALS COLUMN MEANS (=) see the INSTRUCTOR IN YOUR NEXT CLASS! I need to speak with you ASAP. A "0" in that column means everything is OK! Thanks DRH |
| NOTE GRADE CHANGE: This class is graded so that I DROP your 3 lowest BiWeekly Tests & gain CLASS-WIDE BONUS POINTS by doing the assigned BONUS material (Cards); 1st Drop EVEN after LP1. DO NOT PANIC - this is your first test. NEXT week BW Test C! ==============================
(c) COURSE CALENDAR
This is a LEVEL 3 (trust level) Guide to the Course Date see the right hand menu item, the LEVEL 2 is the Daily Agenda and the BEST or LEVEL 1 is "The Week in Brief" found on the INDEX page of the Microblogsite... When I post a class CALENDAR it will be the second week of the term - remember this must be RECONSTRUCTED each term and is quite lengthy - BE PATIENT - it takes a week or so! Please note: (1) This calendar may change at any point (2) the Calendar is assumed to be accurate +/- 2 class periods (3) I will adjust the Calendar according to the speed of lecture and laboratory (4) If there is a particularly bad evaluation I may be repeat the TEST in the NEXT CLASS- be ready! and (5) THE DAILY WEBPAGE "WEEK IN BRIEF" ANNOUNCEMENTS followed by the DAILY AGENDA - "TRUMP" the CALENDAR if they conflict! |