Course Grading Structure
GRADING SCALE
Grades are based on a 400 point scale.
Your grade in MCB100 will be determined by how many points you earn in the following areas:
A+ to A- = 400 – 360 points or 100% to 90.0%
B+ to B- = 359 – 320 points or 89.9% to 80.0%
C+ to C- = 319 – 280 points or 79.9% to 70.0%
D+ to D- = 279 – 240 points or 69.9% to 60.0%
EXAMS
There are three hourly exams that are each worth 100 points. The final exam is also worth 100 points. Of the four exams, I will drop your lowest score. If you do a good job on exams 1, 2 and 3, I will not be personally offended if you get a zero on the final exam.
EXAM POLICY
Cheating on exams will not be tolerated. If you are caught cheating your exam will be confiscated and you will get a zero.
There are no make up exams. The score for a missed exam is zero. However I will drop your lowest exam score. If you must miss an exam, you can still earn a good grade in the course by scoring high on all three of the other exams. If you miss an exam, for whatever reason, you must contact me as soon as humanly possible. If you take all three hourly exams and are content with your grade you may safely skip the final exam. If through an unfortunate combination of disasters you must miss two exams, I may elect to prorate your grade on the basis of your scores from the other two exams. Circumstances like this will be considered on a case by case basis. If you know in advance that you will have to miss an exam because of participation in a University sponsored event, contact me as soon as possible and I will try to arrange a conflict exam for you on a case-by-case basis.
ON LINE HOMEWORK PROBLEMS
There will be fifteen homework problem sets worth 5 points each to make up 75 points of your grade. These problems will be done using the LON-CAPA system. A link to the LON-CAPA system can be found on the home page of the MCB100 course web site. More information about how to get on and use LON-CAPA is found on the last page of this document.
ESSAY
During the term you will write an essay that will be worth 25 points. Each essay is to be 2 - 3 pages long, single spaced typed, using 12 point font. Essays should be between 600 -1200 words. You should use and cite at least four references. At least two of your references must be from books, and at least two references must be from the internet. DO NOT plagiarize complete sentences or paragraphs!
ESSAY GUIDELINES
Broad Subject Area: Interesting Microorganisms
Choose one microorganism which you find interesting and write an in-depth informative essay about it. You may write about a few microorganisms that are related in some way, but limit the paper to no more than 3 specific microbes.
Describe the biology of the microorganism and its significance. If the microorganism(s) is/are involved in an infectious disease of humans, animals or plants, describe the disease (symptoms, historical epidemics, range, prevalence, mode of transmission, vaccines and preventative measures, treatment etc.) and the microbes (virulence factors, antigens, life cycle, physiology etc.). If the microorganism(s) is/are involved in an industrial application, describe the product(s) and manufacturing or treatment process, and the biology and physiology of the microbes. If the microorganism(s) is/are involved in a critical geochemical global ecological cycle, describe the steps of the elemental cycle and the microorganisms role in it as well as the biology and physiology of the microbes.
Topic Ideas: Write about microorganisms.
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Choose an infectious disease or intoxication and describe it in depth.
For instance: if you write about smallpox you can discuss: the virus itself, the course of the disease, the mode of transmission, history of the disease, major epidemics and their effects on human societies, vaccination and prevention, the global eradication program, related pox-viruses and the dangers they pose, and current uses of the vaccinia virus.
You could elect to write about a few closely related microorganisms, such as:
Three Sexually Transmitted Viruses: HIV, HPV and HSV.
Some infectious diseases you might find interesting:
Acne, AIDS, Aflatoxicosis, Anthrax, Athlete’s foot, Bird flu, Bladder infections, Botulism, Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, Brucellosis, Bubonic Plague, Campylobacteriosis, Childbed fever, Cholera, Colorado Tick Fever, Common Cold, Cryptosporidiosis, Dengue Fever, Dental plaque, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Ebola virus, Eczema, Foot and Mouth Disease, Fire Blight, Etc.
(You may focus on an animal or plant infection if you want to.) -
Write about a product that is made by or with the help of a microorganism or a process that involves microorganisms or microbial enzymes. Remember, this paper is about microorganisms, describe the product but not neglect to focus on the microbes. (Don’t just wax poetic about the glories of beer, discuss the yeast!)
Some suggestions: beer, cheese, wine, sourdough bread, yogurt, soy sauce, saki, enzymes for removing stains, degrading glues and breaking down complex carbohydrates.
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Write about microorganisms that are involved in some geochemical cycle or an ecologically important process.
Some suggestions: Methane production by Archaea in swamp and marine sediments or in biogas generators, Photosynthetic microorganisms or the evolution of chloroplasts, Nitrogen fixing bacteria, Cellulose degrading fungi, Microbial mining, The role of foraminifers and diatoms in the sequestration of carbon in marine sediments, Iron oxidizing bacteria and corrosion, Sulfide oxidizing bacteria in thermal vent communities