BIO 208 GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY

This course is a one-semester survey of microbiology required for Biology majors and minors, dietetics majors, and public health majors.

Meeting Times and Locations: Lectures meet Mon. and Wed. from 11:00-11:50 in Brooks 176. Labs are scheduled for two one hour and twenty minute periods per week in Brooks 129. Each lab section is limited to 18 students -- unfortunately, the course is filled to capacity; as a result it is not possible to attend lab sections other than the one for which you have enrolled unless someone drops and you are able to change sections via the registrar’s office.

Instructor: Dr. Elizabeth Alm

email: Elizabeth.W.Alm@cmich.edu (note: this is the best way to reach me)

Office hours: M 3:30-4:30; T 9:30-12:00, R 9:30-11:00 in Brooks 157. Other times by appointment.

Phone: 774-2503 (with voice mail)

1. Textbook: Tortora, G.J., B.R. Funke, and C.L. Case. 1998. Microbiology. An Introduction. Sixth ed. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co., Inc. Redwood City, CA. 803p. With free tutorial CD-Rom.
2. Laboratory Manual: Course Pack.
3. Lens paper (not Bibulous paper).
4. Microscope slides with cover slips.
5. Colored pencils.
6. Sharpie marker (black or blue ink)
7. Optional: Leboffe, M.J. and B.E. Pierce. 1996. A Photographic Atlas for the Microbiology Laboratory. Morton Publishing Co. Englewood, CO. 138p.

 C. Reading Assignments:

Reading assignments in the text are listed with the topic outline. Readings and lecture will complement each other. I cannot cover every detail in lecture and will expect you to supplement lectures with certain information from the text. Don’t fall behind. Try to read the assignment before each class, or at the very latest on the same day as class. Reading a text is very different from reading a novel. Keep a pad of paper with you and use it to make outlines, jot down unfamiliar terms, and make other notes to yourself, try to predict what the lecture will cover. Stop frequently and ask yourself "What did I just read?" If you don’t know, then reread the passage. Work with the "Learning Objectives" to focus your attention on the key concepts in each passage and chapter end "Study Questions" to test your reading comprehension. Answers to chapter end study questions will be on reserve in the library and in the Biology resource room.

Four lecture tests will be given, the lowest of the four lecture tests will be dropped. The final exam will cover the final unit of material in the course as well as a cumulative review of important themes from the entire course. The 4 lecture tests will be given at the CLAS testing center located in the lower level of the Robinson Food Common. Tests will cover both lecture and laboratory material. You will need to bring your CHIP student ID card with you for admission. YOU MAY BE EXCUSED FROM TAKING A TEST AT ITS SCHEDULED TIME ONLY IF YOU'RE ILL (doctors note required) OR FOR DEATH IN THE FAMILY. MAKE-UP TESTS WILL BE GIVEN ONLY FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES AND ONLY ON FRIDAY MAY 7 AND AT NO OTHER TIME IN THE SEMESTER FOR ANY REASON.

Each test will be available in CLAS on three days, Thurs., Fri., and Sun. except for test 3, which will be available only on Thurs. and Fri. due to Spring Break. You may take the test on any of the three days, whenever you feel ready and it best fits your schedule. Those students with concerns about using the CLAS testing center are encouraged to see me as soon as possible.

1 R 2/4 (9:00-9:00), or F 2/5 (9:00-5:00), or Sun 2/7 (3:00-7:00)

2 R 2/18 (9:00-9:00), or F 2/19 (9:00-5:00), or Sun 2/21 (3:00-7:00)

3 R 3/4 (9:00-9:00), or F 3/5(9:00-5:00)

4 R 4/8 (9:00-9:00), or F 4/9 (9:00-5:00), or Sun 4/11 (3:00-7:00)

Final Exam; Comprehensive; Mon. May 3 10:00-11:50 am; Brooks 176

Grading: Best 3 out of 4 tests 55%

Final comprehensive exam 10%

Laboratory Grade 35%

The separate lab schedule lists exercises to be done. You should come to lab having read the lab exercise beforehand! You are expected to attend the laboratory section for which you have registered. You must contact your lab instructor prior to an absence if you cannot attend a specific lab. You must bring official documentation if you are missing a lab due to illness or other emergency to facilitate our record keeping and aid in our evaluation. Please do not miss a laboratory unless there is a valid emergency. The laboratory requires intensive preparation and it may not be possible for us to set up a missed laboratory for you at a later time. The laboratory instructors may use their own discretion in allowing make-ups. Any missed lab must be "made up" within 1 week of absence. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a reduction or forfeiture of points for the missed laboratory exercises. Your grade for the lab will be determined from a combination of quizzes and homework/laboratory assignments. In addition, laboratory material will comprise approximately 50% of each lecture test. You must pass the laboratory portion in order to pass the course.

In order to succeed in this course you should plan to attend all lectures and laboratories, take careful notes, allow ample time to read and study assigned material and turn assignments in on time. You will get more out of lectures if you read the assigned readings before lecture and then reread relevant material carefully soon after lecture.

You should plan on spending a minimum of two hours of study time for each hour of lecture. If you begin to fall behind, make every effort to catch up quickly, otherwise you may find yourself swamped with too much material to assimilate before a test.

Many of you will find attending lectures and labs and reading the text is all the support you will need to do well in the course. Some of you may have problems with some of the material. I offer several forms of assistance to help you with difficulties you may experience.

1. A question box will be placed by each door in BR 176. If you have a content question that you do not wish to ask during class, then please write the question out and drop it in the question box on your way in or out of lecture. I will answer questions at the beginning of the next lecture period whenever possible.
2. A question and answer style study session will be held every Friday from 11:00-11:50 in BR 148 with Janice Burke. These study sessions will not be a rehash of lecture, come prepared with specific content questions.
3. An open laboratory will be available every Friday from 8:30-5:00 for you to spend era time with laboratory material as needed.
4. Handouts will be given from time to time in lecture and lab. Spend some time with these materials as soon as you can -- don’t just put them aside and wait until the night before an exam to look at them.
5. Study Questions at the end of each chapter will help you identify material you may not understand. I will have answers to the study questions on reserve in the library and in the Biology resource room.
6. A web page for this course is under development this semester: http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/AlmE/
7. The text comes with an interactive tutorial CD-ROM that is very helpful. In your text, blue CD icons indicate correlating material that is on the CD-ROM. The CD-ROM also includes additional quiz questions.
8. Summaries of articles from newspapers, magazines, tv programs, or seminars concerning microbiology and occasional other assignments may be turned in to your TA or to myself for "extra consideration"(include name and lab section number on each submission). At the end of the semester, grades falling within 1.00 percentage point of the next higher grade will automatically be evaluated for extra-consideration. Final course grades may be raised to the next higher grade based on a subjective evaluation of your participation in extra consideration assignments and recommendation of your TA. Poor lab attendance or attitude will negate any extra consideration. There will be no other extra credit.
9. All the teaching assistants have office hours and will be happy to meet with you during these hours. You are not limited to the TA for your lab section but may visit any of the teaching assistants for the course. TAs may offer additional study sessions at their discretion.
10. A tutoring service is provided by the university free of charge, phone 4-3465.
11. I am available for individual consultation regarding any aspect of the course. If you have unanswered questions or concerns, or are in serious academic trouble, see me! I will provide whatever assistance I can to help you do well in this course; however, ultimately the grade you earn is your responsibility.

 TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE

 TENTATIVE LABORATORY SCHEDULE

Some fun and useful websites to help you learn more about the topics covered in this course, click HERE!!