Instructor - M. O'Connor
Office (Stratton Hall) 5-233, x2637
Emal: oconnor@coasmail.physics.drexel.edu
Suggested Text - Alberts, B. et al. 1994. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3rd Ed. Garland Publishing, NY.
- Intro to Cells, Macromolecules, and Thermodynamics
| Midterm | 150 pts |
| Final | 150 pts |
| Homework | 100 pts |
| Lab | 200 pts |
| Total | 600 pts |
Exams - The exams tend to be take home exams and, thus, involve very little regurgitation. The exams are deliberately challenging (= difficult) and are meant to stretch (bend?) your mind a little. I generally allow folks to collaborate on take home exams but require each person to submit their own best answer. The usual time course is that you have a week or so to work on, type up, and submit your answers.
Make-ups - Don't miss the tests (relatively hard to do since you have a week to work on them). Make-ups will be given when necessary, but the reason for missing a test must be cleared with me ahead of time. When constructing a test, I tend to make up the simplest test I think is fair. Thus, the make-up exam will tend to be tougher.
Re-grades - I'm always willing to admit that I made a mistake in grading an exam. If you think that you've been wronged, turn back the test with a written explanation of what you think was correct and why. "I think that my answer is correct" is not an adequate explanation. Obviously, I didn't think so or I would not have marked something wrong.
Homework - 4-5 times during the quarter, I'll give out problems to solve. The problems will be similar to those on exams. The problems will be due a week after they are given out. As with the exams, folks can collaborate, but must hand in their own presentations.
English - I need to be able to read and understand what you write. Use proper English. Learn to spell. Incorrectly spelled answers are, in fact, wrong and will be graded that way. If something is to be handed in (e.g. exams, homework), type it.
Attendance - I'm not picky about attendance at lectures and don't take roll other than to try to learn names. College is about learning to be an adult (among other things), and you folks need to make - and take responsibility for - your own decisions. Part of that responsibility, however, is accepting the consequences if you decide not to attend. I'm less than totally sympathetic with folks who miss class and then don't understand what was talked about. If you need to miss class for a good reason, check with me ahead of time. My leniency with regard to attendance does not extend to laboratories. Attendance in laboratories is required.
Cheating - It is difficult to cheat on my exams. Should you be tempted to try it anyway, don't. You'll get a zero for the exercise on which you cheated and, in most cases, flunk the course. I'm absolutely intolerant of cheating. There is no room in this world for professionals who can't take responsibility for their actions or admit their shortcomings. Furthermore, it's easier to admit such things in college than later when your actions often have more important and far-reaching consequences. Enough said.