Genes & Chemicals in Food & Environment

Prerequisites

Upper division or graduate standing, and two quarters of introductory biology.

Structure of the class

The class is offered for 3 credits, Tuesday and Thursdays Tu Th 11:00-12:20 / Peavy Hall 104.

Each week there will be two one-hour lectures, with each lecture followed by a 20 minute discussion where students will first form small groups to (5-10 min), then students will question the speaker and interact with each other (10-15 min). In the small groups students will 1) summarize 3-4 main points made in lecture and readings; 2) identify 3-4 areas where they desire more information; and 3) identify 3-4 issues where they agree/disagree with views of the lecturer or the readings.

Because of the inherently diverse nature of biotechnology, and the many kinds of issues it raises, the class will employ a number of guest lecturers. Hearing, questioning, synthesizing, and debating diverse views is a key goal of this class.

Grades

40% of grade, four summary-critique essays of lectures and their associated readings (two single-spaced spaced pages each for undergraduates; 3 single-spaced pages each for graduate students). For each essay first summarize the material and views presented in the lecture and readings, then comment on the quality of information delivery and biases/orientations in both. The essays will be graded based on content (40% summary, 40% critique), and quality of writing/organization (20%). To help ensure that the essays get the attention they deserve, please submit no more than one per week. All essays must be submitted by Dec 2 to count toward your grade.
25% of grade, term paper that focuses in more depth on a specific issue touched on in the class or readings (or a topic clearly relevant to the class, but not covered in lectures/readings). Contact instructor if unclear. 5% for outline (due Nov 18) and 20% for final product (due Dec. 2). Outline must cite at least 5 key references you expect to draw on, and be no more than 3 pages, double-spaced. Include expected title and expected abstract that states the issue/problem you are addressing, and scope of the paper. Paper must be 7 to 10 page s of double-spaced text (undergraduates), or 13 to 15 pages (graduate students), exclusive of references and figures/tables. Must include 1) summary/abstract, 2) introduction/background, 3) analysis, 4) conclusion, and 5) literature cited sections. Any figures/tables should be attached at the end and numbered. There must be at least 5 (non-honors college undergraduates) or 10 (graduate and honors college students) literature references cited, in a consistent bibliographic format that includes authors, year, title, and source. Web sites are acceptable sources (include date last accessed as part of citation).
10% of grade, oral presentation and participation: Five to 10 minute oral presentation during final class, and accompanying 1-2 page double-spaced essay or printout of powerpoint slides. Scores for oral delivery and printed essay/slides will each be worth 1/3 of this grade, with each third graded 70% for content and 30% for quality of delivery/writing. The final third will a rating of excellent (full credit), adequate (half-credit), or inadequate (no credit) based on quality and quantity of questions asked of speakers and participation in class discussions.
25% of grade, final exam. A comprehensive, closed-book final exam that focuses on your knowledge of the required readings (~60%) and lectures (~40%).
Honors students. Students taking the class through the OSU honors college will be expected to participate in two 1 hour discussion/debates on focus topics to be decided as a group after the second class meeting. These sessions are intended to stimulate broad, integrative, interdisciplinary thinking, so will tend to emphasize ethical and political, rather than technical, issues. Examples might include the roles of patents; mandatory labeling; role of the media; ethical conundrums; psychological factors; opinion surveys; government regulatory review; and ecological benefits and risks. Each student will take a different position/role and then present and defend it orally (it is not essential to agree with the position taken). Times to be arranged (evenings likely). Students will be graded no-pass (or absent), pass, or outstanding (score of 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5, respectively) based on content (70%) and delivery/organization (30%). These scores will be used as multipliers that will, in effect, increase or decrease the 10% grade for oral presentation and participation) in formulating the 10% of grade for oral presentation given above.

	Home \| Instructors \| Links

Home Registration Objectives Instructors Lecture Schedule Lecture Readings Other Readings Lecture Notes Assessment Web Resources	Assessment *Prerequisites* Upper division or graduate standing, and two quarters of introductory biology. *Structure of the class* The class is offered for 3 credits, Tuesday and Thursdays Tu Th 11:00-12:20 / Peavy Hall 104. Each week there will be two one-hour lectures, with each lecture followed by a 20 minute discussion where students will first form small groups to (5-10 min), then students will question the speaker and interact with each other (10-15 min). In the small groups students will 1) summarize 3-4 main points made in lecture and readings; 2) identify 3-4 areas where they desire more information; and 3) identify 3-4 issues where they agree/disagree with views of the lecturer or the readings. Because of the inherently diverse nature of biotechnology, and the many kinds of issues it raises, the class will employ a number of guest lecturers. Hearing, questioning, synthesizing, and debating diverse views is a key goal of this class. *Grades* 40% of grade, four summary-critique essays of lectures and their associated readings (two single-spaced spaced pages each for undergraduates; 3 single-spaced pages each for graduate students). For each essay first summarize the material and views presented in the lecture and readings, then comment on the quality of information delivery and biases/orientations in both. The essays will be graded based on content (40% summary, 40% critique), and quality of writing/organization (20%). *To help ensure that the essays get the attention they deserve, please submit no more than one per week.* All essays must be submitted by Dec 2 to count toward your grade. 25% of grade, term paper that focuses in more depth on a specific issue touched on in the class or readings (or a topic clearly relevant to the class, but not covered in lectures/readings). Contact instructor if unclear. 5% for outline (due Nov 18) and 20% for final product (due Dec. 2). Outline must cite at least 5 key references you expect to draw on, and be no more than 3 pages, double-spaced. Include expected title and expected abstract that states the issue/problem you are addressing, and scope of the paper. Paper must be 7 to 10 page s of double-spaced text (undergraduates), or 13 to 15 pages (graduate students), exclusive of references and figures/tables. Must include 1) summary/abstract, 2) introduction/background, 3) analysis, 4) conclusion, and 5) literature cited sections. Any figures/tables should be attached at the end and numbered. There must be at least 5 (non-honors college undergraduates) or 10 (graduate and honors college students) literature references cited, in a consistent bibliographic format that includes authors, year, title, and source. Web sites are acceptable sources (include date last accessed as part of citation). 10% of grade, oral presentation and participation: Five to 10 minute oral presentation during final class, and accompanying 1-2 page double-spaced essay or printout of powerpoint slides. Scores for oral delivery and printed essay/slides will each be worth 1/3 of this grade, with each third graded 70% for content and 30% for quality of delivery/writing. The final third will a rating of excellent (full credit), adequate (half-credit), or inadequate (no credit) based on quality and quantity of questions asked of speakers and participation in class discussions. 25% of grade, final exam. A comprehensive, closed-book final exam that focuses on your knowledge of the required readings (~60%) and lectures (~40%). Honors students. Students taking the class through the OSU honors college will be expected to participate in two 1 hour discussion/debates on focus topics to be decided as a group after the second class meeting. These sessions are intended to stimulate broad, integrative, interdisciplinary thinking, so will tend to emphasize ethical and political, rather than technical, issues. Examples might include the roles of patents; mandatory labeling; role of the media; ethical conundrums; psychological factors; opinion surveys; government regulatory review; and ecological benefits and risks. Each student will take a different position/role and then present and defend it orally (it is not essential to agree with the position taken). Times to be arranged (evenings likely). Students will be graded no-pass (or absent), pass, or outstanding (score of 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5, respectively) based on content (70%) and delivery/organization (30%). These scores will be used as multipliers that will, in effect, increase or decrease the 10% grade for oral presentation and participation) in formulating the 10% of grade for oral presentation given above.
	\| College of Forestry \| Disclaimer \| \| Search :