| Written Examinations (2, each worth 100 points) |
200 points |
33 % |
| Homework assignments (4, each worth 25 points) |
100 points |
17 % |
Agricultural Biotechnology Focus Group Exercises
(3 each worth 20 points) |
60 points |
10 % |
| Participation, Effort, and Discussion |
40 points |
6 % |
| Agricultural Biotechnology Product Summary |
100 points |
17% |
| Final Examination (comprehensive) |
100 points |
17 % |
Total |
600 points |
|
Total Points |
Letter Grade |
540-600 |
A |
480-539 |
B |
420-479 |
C |
360-419 |
D |
< 360 |
F |
I do not use the plus-minus grading system or a grading "curve".
The single most important factor related to success in this course
is regular attendance and coming to class prepared with notes printed
from the website. I do not take attendance, but some exam questions
will be derived from in-class discussion. Effort and continued
improvement during the semester are considered in the assignment of
the 40 points for Participation, Effort, and Discussion, which can
help those students on the borderline of two letter grades.
Written Examinations. Two written examinations employing mainly
short answer questions will be given for material covered in the first
then second five weeks. Review questions will be posted on the course
web site in advance and review sessions will be held in the afternoon
or early-evening the day before each exam.
Homework assignments. Four brief (1-2 pages) reports on different
aspects of a current agricultural biotechnology product will be turned
in for grading. Each student will choose one agricultural biotechnology
product at the beginning of the semester from a provided list and use
this same product as their topic in each of their five homework assignments.
Agricultural Biotechnology Product Summary. Each student will
write a 5-10 page summary of one planned agricultural biotechnology
product. The summary will describe the proposed agricultural solution,
scientific rationale, genetic engineering, business considerations,
and possible impacts of the product. The format of this paper will
closely follow that used in the homework assignments. A one page outline
of the summary is due Friday, March 21; this outline will be
returned with comments. The complete summary will be due Thursday,
May 1. Students have the option of turning in a draft version of
their summary for comments any time prior to Thursday, April 17, which
will be returned by April 24. Final revised versions are due Thursday,
May 1.
Agricultural Biotechnology Focus Group Exercises. During the
last third of the course students will form small groups that will
focus on different facets of the agricultural biotechnology enterprise,
ranging from biotechnology company CEOs to farm producers and consumers.
All groups will be presented with scenarios that impact agricultural
biotechnology and will then report their reactions and responses through
the course web site as well as during in-class discussions.
Final Exam. The final will mainly cover material covered in
the last third of the course, but will be comprehensive in the sense
that the material from earlier portions of the course will be required
to understand and answer final exam questions. Review questions will
be posted on the course web site in advance and a review session will
be held before the final.
Late assignments and makeup exams. Turning in assignments late
or missing an exam is not acceptable, except in cases of extreme emergency
that must be discussed with me either prior to or as soon as possible
after the due/exam date.
Academic Integrity. "It is the responsibility of the student
to refrain from infractions of academic integrity, from conduct that
may lead to suspicion of such infractions, and from conduct that aids
others in such infractions" - Code of Policies and Regulations,
Section 33. All students are responsible for knowing policies regarding
academic integrity. Suspected infractions of academic integrity will
be addressed as mandated by the Code.
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