Schedule of Lab Topics
	Lab Syllabus
	Lab Meeting Times
	Assignments
	Safety Rules
	Related Links

Schedule of Lab Topics

*Schedule is subject to change

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Objective:
By the end of the semester students will be:

1. introduced to the scientific method
2. able to understand basic principles of ecology and environmental science
3. able to discuss current issues related to the environment

Grading:

A grade of "I" will only be given at the discretion of the department to students who demonstrate extenuating circumstances and who are passing the course at the time the request for an incomplete is made.

Note: The lab and the lecture are treated as two separate classes. You will receive a grade for the lab that is completely independent of your grade for the lecture.

Release of Grades:
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (1974), does not permit faculty or staff to report grades by phone or email.

Quizzes:
You will have four quizzes during the semester. Quizzes will be handed out at the beginning of the class period and you will have approximately 30 minutes to complete them. Quizzes time will not be extended for late arrivals and can not be made up.

Weekly Assignments:
Most labs will have an assignment associated with them. The assignments consist of a few short answer questions regarding the experiment performed in class. The assignment will be due at the beginning of the next lab class. Assignments are to be completed and turned in on time. No late assignments will be accepted. Please see Appendix 2 of the Lab Manual for additional information on written assignments.

Group Project :
Your instructor will place you in groups of 4 or 5 students. EAch group will select a river or a water shed and write a 5 to 7 page paper. The paper should include a phusical description of the river/watersheaed, problems facing he river/watershed, and any measures that have been implemented to protect or restore the river/watershed. The paper must be typed using standard margins and12-point hont, double -spaced with complete sentences, and in a paragraph form. The paper should include at least three regerencesm which be cited properly. Please see Appendix 1 of the Lab Manual for additional information on citing regerences. Failure to properly cite regerences when used is plagiarism and will result in a grade of 0% for the assignment. In addition to the paper, each group will have 15 minutes of lab time to present the river/watershed selected to the class. Grups should be creative and use their personal experiences and educational backgrounds to develop the presentation. For example, Radio/Television/Film students may want to create a video or Education studends may want to develop a lession plan that they can use later on the job. Groups can bring their own resources or use any of the class resources; overhead projector, whiteboard, computer, DVD plater, etc. It is the group's responsibility to ensure that their materials are comptible with the classroom resources. Groups cannot stand in front of the room and simply read their paper.

The group project counts for 20% of your grade: 10% for the paper and 10% for the presentation. Paper and presentation grades will be acombination peer evaluations, self evaluations and instructor evaluations.. If it becomes apparent during the evaluation process that a group member did not actively participate in the project, that group member may receive a zero for the paper, the presentation or the entire group project, at the instructor's discretion.

Field Study:
The field study exercise is a required Saturday or Sunday trip to the Lake Lewisville Envrionmental Learning Area (LLELA). Your instructor wil divide the class into groups of four or five students. Each group will collect and analyze data the summarize the results in a five-page group lab report. The lab report must be typed using standard margins and 12-point font, double spaced with complete senteces, and in paragraph for. The lab report may include regerences, as neccessary. Any references used must be cited prperly. Pleas see Appendix 1 of the Lab Mannual for additional information on citing regerences. Failure to properly cite references when used is plagarism and will result in a grade of 0% for the assignment.

The field stude counts for 20% of your grade: 10% for the lab report and participating at LLELA. Grades for the report will be a comination of self evaluation and instructor evaluations. Grades for attendance/participation will be assigned by the instructor only. Students who arrive late, leave early, do not actively participate, do not follow the rules, an/or have an unfavorable attitude at LELA will have a reduction in their field study, that group member may receive a zero for the lab report, for attendance/particiation or for theenitre field study, at the instructor's discretion.

Attendance:
Each Student is required to attend his/her scheduled lab section. If you miss a lab you are responsible for obtaining notes, data, etc. You are allowed one make-up lab. The lab must be made up during the same week as the lab you missed in a regular semester or made up the same day during a summer semester. In addition, students who have more than three unexcused absences for the lab may be administratively dropped from the course.

Lab Rules:
Students at each lab table are responsible for leaving it clean and orderly for the nect lab session. Class will be dissmissed in time to leave the room tidy. Outdoor labs will be held reguardless of the weather, so please dress appropriately. In addition, students must wear cloased-toe shoes or booties during labs that use chemicals.

Policy on Academic Misconduct:
Academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Students who are found to be cheating will automatically be assigned a grade of “F” until the matter is resolved through proper procedures. Students are expected to know their rights and responsibilities as put forth in the University of North Texas Undergraduate Catalog and the Student Guidebook.

Cell Phones and Other devices
Cell phones, pagers and other wireless communication devices (e.g. laptops with wireless modens, PDA's blackberry devices) must be turned off during class. If one of these devices becomes obvious during class, it may be confiscatedd by the instructor for the rest of the day or the offending student may be asked to leave the lab. Students asked to leave the lab will not be allowed to turn in assignments for work they missed.

Policy on Disability Accommodations:
The Department of Biological Sciences, in cooperation with the Office of Disability Accommodation, complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. Written requests need to be made prior to the 12th class day.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Teaching Assistants:

Lab Coordinator:

Marie King

Departmental Contacts:

Candy King
Bob Killam
Tom LaPoint

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Lab Meeting Times

Lab Section*	Meets on:	Office Hours	ESSAT Office&Phone	Instructor
500	Monday 10:00-11:50 am	Mon:12-1pm Tues: 9:30-11:30am
501	Monday 12:00-1:50 pm	Mon:9-10am Tues: 10-12pm
502	Monday 2:00-3:50 pm	Mon: 12:30-2pm Wed: 12:30-2pm
503**	Monday 4:00-5:50 pm	Mon: 6-7 pm Fri: 7-9am
504	Monday 6:00-7:50 pm	Mon: 9:30-10:30am Wed: 9:30-10:30am
505	Tuesday 7:30-9:20 am	Tues:2-4pm Thurs: 9:30-10:30am
506	Tuesday 12:00pm- 1:50 pm	Mon: 12:30-2pm Wed: 12:30-2pm
507	Tuesday 2:00pm- 3:50 pm	Mon: 12:30-2pm Wed: 12:30-2pm
508	Tuesday 4:00-5:50 pm	Tues:2-4pm Thurs: 9:30-10:30am
509	Tuesday 6:00-7:50 pm	Tues: 4-6pm Fri 4-5pm
525	Tuesday 8:00-9:50 pm	Tues: 4-6pm Fri 4-5pm
510	Wednesday 7:30-9:20 am	Mon:10-11am Thurs: 4-6pm
523	Wednesday 10:00am- 11:50 am	Mon:12-2pm Tues:12-1pm
511	Wednesday 12:00pm- 1:50 pm	Mon:12-2pm Tues:12-1pm
512	Wednesday 2:00-3:50 pm	Mon: 10-11am Wed:9-11am
513	Wednesday 4:00-5:50 pm	Mon: 10-11am Wed:9-11am
514	Wednesday 6:00-7:50 pm	Wed: 4-5:30pm Fri 10:30-12pm
526	Wednesday 8:00-9:50 pm	Wed: 4-5:30pm Fri 10:30-12pm
515	Thursday 7:30-9:20 am	Tues:2-4pm Thurs: 9:30-10:30am
528	Thursday 9:30-11:20 am	Thurs: 8:25-9:25am Fri: 3-5pm
516	Thursday 12:00pm- 1:50 pm	Tues: 2-4pm Thurs: 11-12pm
517	Thursday 2:00-3:50 pm	Mon:10-11am Thurs: 4-6pm
519	Thursday 6:00-7:50 pm	Mon:10-11am Thurs: 4-6pm
524	Friday 10:00am- 11:50 am	Thurs: 8:25-9:25am Fri: 3-5pm
521	Friday 12:00pm- 1:50 pm	Thurs: 8:25-9:25am Fri: 3-5pm
522	Friday 2:00-3:50 pm	Wed: 4-5:30pm Fri 10:30-12pm

*Not all lab sections may be available for the spring semester
** For education majors only.

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Assignments

Expectations for Written Assignments

Responses to Critical Thinking Questions

If your handwriting is legible, responses to critical thinking questions can be written directly in the spaces provided in the Lab Manual. If your handwriting is not legible, you should type your responses on a separate sheet of paper. If your instructor cannot read your writing, you will receive a grade of 0% for the assignment. Unless otherwise directed by your instructor, you must answer all of the critical thinking questions at the end of each lab experiment. Your responses should be written in complete sentences and in paragraph form. You may lose points on your assignments for poor grammar or incorrect use of punctuation. The responses are due at the beginning of class one week after the lab experiment is complete. Some questions will require you to research an answer. You must cite any references you use to answer research questions, including the lab manual or your textbook. Failure to cite references when used is plagiarism and you will be given a grade of 0% for the assignment.

Citing References

There are many approved formats for citing references. Scientific journals and magazines generally require contributors to use their particular format when publishing the results of their work. A common journal used by environmental scientists is Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (ET&C), a publication of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC). For the purposes of this class, you can use one of two formats: the format followed in the Lab Manual (examples are at the end of each lab experiment) or the format used by ET&C (listed below).

ET&C Instructions for Contributors – Reference Format

References: Cite by number in square brackets in order of mention in the text. Number references cited in tables last. Group full references at the end of the paper. Basic style is as follows:

• Book: Author AB, Author CD. 2004.Title of Book. Publisher, City, ST, Country.
• Book Article: Author AB, Author CD. 2004. Title of article. In Adams AB, Smith DC, eds, Title of Book, 2nd ed, Vol 1-Toxicology. Publisher, City, ST, Country, pp 1-5.
• Journal Article: Author AB, Author CD. 2004. Title of article. Environ Toxicol Chem 16:2200-2204.
• Proceedings: Author AB, Author CD. 2004. Title of article. Proceedings, Name of Conference, City, ST, Country, date (month, days, year), pp 00-00 (if no page numbers are available, cite parenthetically in the text).
• Report: Author AB. 2004. Title of report. EPA 600/334/778. Final/Technical Report. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
• Thesis: Author AB. 2004. Title of thesis. University, City, ST, Country.
  Cite websites parenthetically in the text. Number and list the literature cited as it appears in the text. Personal communications should be mentioned parenthetically in the text (R.G. Rogers, affiliation, location, personal communication). Verify all personal communications with the source of the information.
  

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Safety Rules

1. DO NOT EAT OR DRINK IN THE LAB! This includes preserved or unpreserved materials, specimens, and reagents located in the laboratory. Smoking is prohibited in all of the University of North Texas buildings.

2. Discard of broken glassware in the glass disposal box located in the lab. This box is for glass only.

3. Administer first aid immediately to clean, sterilize, and cover any scrapes, cuts, and burns where the skin is broken and/or where there may be bleeding. Wear bandages over open skin wounds. If you or another student is cut or injured in any way during the lab, you must inform the instructor immediately. Do not attempt to clean blood-contaminated spills!

4. Bare feet are not permitted in lab. Wear shoes as protection against broken glass or spillage.

5. Know where to find emergency equipment such as the eyewash, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit. Report all accidents to the instructor immediately.

6. Report any conditions that appear hazardous to the instructor.

7. Do not bring children to the lab. Unaccompanied children are not permitted on the campus.

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Related Links

City of Denton – Find Your Watershed

City of Denton – Home Page

City of Denton – Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant

City of Denton – Water Quality Report

Ecological Footprint Calculator

• Best Foot Forward
• Earth Day Network
• EcoBusiness

Ecoplex

Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA)

University of North Texas – Department of Biological Sciences

University of North Texas – Institute of Applied Sciences

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