Marine Biology by Peter Castro and Michael Huber. 7th or 8th Ed., McGraw Hill Publishers.

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• Marine Biology Seventh Edition, Castro and Huber, ISBN# 978-0-07-302819-4.

1. Describe how scientists study the oceans.
2. Compare and contrast the geological, physical, and chemical aspects of the ocean environment.3. Distinguish between types of geological features in the ocean environment.
4. Relate the mode of action of tides, waves, and currents to the effects they have on topographical features.
5. List the properties of seawater and explain how seawater is a complex solution.
6. Describe the relationships between the biotic and abiotic portions of selected marine environments.
7. Distinguish between conformers, regulators, and selectors by their means of surviving environmental extremes.
8. Describe what happens to marine organisms when abiotic factors in their environment fluctuate.
9. Relate the distribution of a marine species to its range of toleration and the presence of abiotic gradients in the world's oceans.
10. Compare and contrast the various methods used by marine organisms to acquire food.
11. Identify the ways in which a particular marine organism defends itself against predators.
12. Explain the fundamental differences between asexual and sexual reproduction and how each is suited to particular environment conditions.
13. Describe examples of competition and coexistence in the ocean.
14. Compare and contrast the three types of symbiotic relationships.
15. Distinguish between colonies and individuals and describe the advantages of each of these modes of life.
16. Apply unifying theories of biology to classify organisms.
17. Produce phylogenic trees and taxonomic keys for groups of selected marine organisms.
18. Identify the general types of microscopic marine organisms.
19. Categorize the major groups of marine plants using biochemical, structural, and ecological criteria.
20. Distinguish between examples of the major invertebrate groups.
21. Relate the structure of marine fish to their ability to live in their environment.
22. Describe the life cycle of the sea turtle.
23. Compare and contrast the ways of life of major types of marine birds.
24. Explain how marine mammals are readapted to life in the ocean.
25. Contrast the adaptations of toothed and balleen whales.
26. Describe how organisms interact with their environments as individuals, populations, and species.
27. Identify adaptations of marine organisms and describe how they promote the success of the organisms.
28. Analyze the structure of a marine community utilizing data collected by modern methods.
29. Draw a food web diagram for marine community.
30. Predict the outcome of ecological succession in a marine community.
31. Identify the processes which occur in successful ecological systems.
32. Compare and contrast pelagic and benthic environments.
33. Identify the special problems met by marine organisms in a variety of marine ecosystems.
34. Describe the biotic and abiotic portions of several important marine ecosystems.

• You must log-in to the course on a weekly basis throughout the term and respond to messages sent by your instructor.
• You must complete the online orientation during the first week of the term.
• You must complete the essay writing workshop during the second week of the term.
• You must complete all the assignments in the course by their assigned due dates to get a passing grade. Refer to the course Schedule for details.
• You are responsible for knowing and following the information in this Syllabus and in the Logistics page.
• You will be notified by the instructor of any changes in course requirements or policies.
• You are responsible for following College policies included in the College Catalog and the Student Handbook.

2. Final Letter Grades are determined from the course total

• A=greater than 89%=900 points or more
• B=80-89%=800-899 points
• C=70-79%=700-799 points
• D=60-69%=600-699 points
• F=less than 60%=599 points or less

3. Orientation Grading Information

• One Orientation Quiz, will be offered worth a total of 40 points or about 4% of the grade.
• The Orientation Quiz will consist of 20 multiple choice questions worth 2 points a piece.
• The Orientation Quiz will be administered during the first week of class.
• See the Orientation section of the course for more details.

4. Essay Workshop Grading Information

• An Essay Workshop will be offered worth a total of 60 points or about 6% of the grade.
• The Essay Workshop assessment will consist of 20 multiple choice questions worth 1 point a piece, an essay outline assignment worth 10 points, an essay writing assignment worth 20 points, and an essay review and correction worth 10 points.
• The Essay Workshop will be administered during the first two weeks of the class.
• See the Essay Workshop section of the course for more details.

5. Reading Based Grading Information

• The Reading Based portion of the class is worth 120 points or about 12% of the grade.
• Twelve (12) Reading quizzes will be offered worth a total of 120 points. Each Reading quiz will be worth 10 points. The Reading quiz found within each lesson will be taken online. Instructions are embedded in each lesson.

6. Notes Based Grading Information

• The Notes Based portion of the class is worth 120 points or about 12% of the grade.
• Twelve (12) Notes quizzes will be offered worth a total of 120 points. Each Notes quiz will be worth a total of 10 points. The Notes Quiz found within each lesson will be taken online. Instructions are embedded in each lesson.

7. Lab Worksheet Grading Information

• The Lab Worksheet portion of the course is worth 180 points or 18% of the grade.
• Twelve (12) Lab Worksheets will be offered worth a total of 180 points. Each Lab Worksheet will be worth a total of 15 points. The Lab Worksheet found within each lesson will be downloaded, completed, and submitted as an attachment to an assignment. Instructions are embedded in each lesson.

8. Lab Quiz Grading Information

• The Lab Quiz portion of the course is worth 120 points or 12% of the grade.
• Twelve (12) Lab Quizzes will be offered worth a total of 120 points. Each Lab Quiz will be worth a total of 10 points. The Lab Quiz found within each lesson will be taken online. Instructions are embedded in each lesson.

• The Essay portion of the class is worth 240 points or about 24% of the grade.
• Twelve (12) Essay Worksheets will be offered worth a total of 180 points. Each Essay Worksheet will be worth a total of 20 points. The Essay Worksheet found within each lesson will be downloaded, completed, and submitted as an attachment to an assignment. Instructions are embedded in each lesson.

10. Discussion Grading Information

• The Discussion portion of the class is worth 120 points or about 12% of the grade.
• The Discussion will be conducted on the BlackBoard Discussion Board.
• Three (3) Lesson Forums will be offered worth a total of 120 points. Each Lesson Forum worth 40 points will consist of four threads (one per lesson) worth 10 points each. Each thread consists of watching a series of online videos and writing approximately 50 words of interactive message. Instructions are embedded in the thread.

• Demonstrates a complete understanding of the overall topic.
• States the meaning of each supporting idea, including details and explanatory examples.
• Organizes the essay with an introductory paragraph. Places and develops each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
• Uses proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

18 Points Very Good Job

• Demonstrates a complete understanding of the overall topic.
• States the meaning of each supporting idea, including details but does not use explanatory examples.
• Organizes the essay with an introductory paragraph. Places and develops each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
• Uses proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

16 Points Good Job

• Demonstrates a basic understanding of the overall topic.
• States the meaning of some supporting ideas including details but does not use explanatory examples.
• Organizes the essay with an introductory paragraph. Places and develops each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
• Uses proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

14 Points OK Job

• Demonstrates an incomplete understanding of the overall topic.
• States the meaning of some supporting ideas but does not include details and does not use explanatory examples.
• Occasionally fails to organize the essay properly. Fails to include an introductory paragraph or fails to place and develop each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
• Occasionally fails to use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

12 Points Minimal Job

• Fails to demonstrate an understanding of the overall topic.
• Often fails to state the meaning of supporting ideas.
• Often fails to organize the essay properly. Fails to include an introductory paragraph and often fails to place and develop each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
• Often fails to use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

10 Points Not Acceptable

• Totally fails to state the meaning of supporting ideas.
• Totally fails to organize the essay properly. Fails to include an introductory paragraph and totally fails to place and develop each main supporting idea in a separate, complete paragraph.
• Totally fails to use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

8 Points Off Topic

• Content of essay is off topic.

0 Points Nothing Written

Withdrawn (W or Y) - Students who enroll but do not participate in the class may withdraw themselves by calling Admissions and Records, or their instructor may withdraw them. Either case will result in a grade of "W." Note that participation means the completion of a single homework assignment or an exam.
Students who participate in the class for any amount of time up to the midway point of the course and then cease to participate may withdraw themselves by calling Admissions and Records, or their instructor may withdraw them. Either of these cases will result in a "W."

Students who complete assignments or participate to the midway point of the course and then cease to participate must contact their instructor to initiate a withdrawal. The instructor will not withdraw them automatically. This case will result either in a "Y" or a "W" grade at the instructor's discretion. A "Y" grade (withdrawal failing) counts as an "F" toward a student's grade point average.

Incomplete (I) - awarded if student does not complete course work but does notify his/her instructor and commits to a contract for completion. Students receiving an incomplete must make up the missing assignments within the time frame specified by the instructor in the contract. Requests are not automatically granted. Your instructor will consider granting an incomplete only when the majority of course work is up-to-date and has been of acceptable quality, plus the student must be missing assignment due dates because of circumstances beyond the student's control. Students who know ahead of time that they will be unable to complete assignments on the specified date should contact the instructor.

Credit/no credit option (P/Z) - must be requested during the first week.
This course may be taken on a credit/no credit basis. If you wish to take the course on that basis, you must initiate your request during the first week of class by calling your instructor.

The P/Z option allows you to participate in the class without completing a letter grade. If you wish to receive credit (P), you must complete all course work at a passing level. If you do not wish to receive credit (Z), you must submit assignments, but you are not required to take the mid-term and final exams.

It is the student's responsibility to request advisement concerning the transferability of a grade of P or Z.

If you elect the P/Z option, you must meet these expectations.

Your assignments have been included within the course as online quizzes, worksheets, and discussions.

To submit quizzes, click to open, click the button beside your chosen answer for ALL the questions, click save answer after each question, and then click the "submit" button at the bottom of the quiz.

To submit essays, click to open, click the assignment file, open the zip folder and the file inside, choose save as, add your name to the front of the file name, and save it to your computer. Then, write the essay in the downloaded file, make sure you continue to save it in .rtf format. Finally, reopen the assignment, browse to your completed .rtf file on your local drive, and attach and submit it.

If you are unable to submit the form with all required information fields complete, please contact your instructor immediately.

• Save all of your email correspondence for the semester.
• Keep a back-up copy of ALL the work you submit to your instructor.
• If you do not receive your assignment or quiz results within a week of the due date, please contact your instructor.
• If an assignment or quiz has been lost, you will need to submit a replacement copy.

• Be professional and careful with what you say in your posting. Express your thoughts clearly and concisely.
  
• Be careful when using sarcasm and humor. Internet communications are very impersonal and others may take your words as criticism.
  
• Be courteous and respectful of other people. If you use abusive or offensive language, you will be blocked from the discussion area and potentially removed from your course. If that is the case, you will not receive a refund for your tuition.
  
• Use common sense - is this message something that you want to be sent to you? Will you understand it in 3 days if you were to go back and read it?

If a student falls behind, she/he must contact the instructor and request an extension of her/his end date in order to complete the course.

It is the prerogative of the instructor to decide whether or not to grant the request.

Structure:
The Structure page contains information about the structure of the course and lessons. To access the Structure page the eOrientation link on the Course Menu and then click the Structure link.