Bios 211 Course and Instructor Policies

People who accept responsibility are part of the solution; people who demand that others be responsible for them are part of the problem.
Anonymous

Refer to the following list of topics for questions you may have about policies for this course.

• Honor code issues, as they pertain to this course; asking questions
• Attendance policies
• You must follow the rules for safe conduct in the laboratory, including cleanup and general conduct (this link takes you off-site)
• You are responsible for receiving and heeding all communications from the instructor to the class
• Instructor office hours are described here
• There are very specific requirements for submitting assignments
• Penalties for submitting late assignments are rather severe
• Grading policies are outlined here and in the assessment section
• Instructor policies toward letters of recommendation are described here
• This course employs undergraduate teaching assistants who have limited supervisory and grading responsibilities
• If you are under 18 you must have your parents complete a release form (PDF) in order to take this laboratory course. Please FAX it to the number printed on the form. Thank you.

Honor code and academic integrity

Academic integrity

For an educational experience to be effective, teacher and student must work together toward a common goal. If we work at cross purposes we are not going to succeed. Students who are focused on learning seldom run afoul of an honor code. Students who are focused on "getting" good grades may lose sight of the real goals of an education and be tempted to take short cuts. The default position of your instructors is that you are honest and that the work you turn in is your own.

You MAY seek advice from anyone on how to approach an assignment. Use any resource that helps you learn how to complete the work. It is critical, though, that you distinguish between learning how to do something and having someone do all or most of the work for you.

You must write each section of a paper or draft entirely on your own, using your own words. You must complete all pre-lab assignments yourself, although you are welcome to seek advice after you have looked at the questions. You may not consult the work of another student from this semester or from any past semester. The rules extend to all text, tables, graphs, and figures submitted in this course.

Although scholarly papers often do include direct quotes, they are seldom appropriate for a research paper. You are asked not to use direct quotes in any of your papers, from any source. We define paraphrasing as rewording the written work of another without making a significant change to the content. You may find it necessary to paraphrase short passages from the website simply because there are limited ways of making a particular point. However, extensive paraphrasing is forbidden. You should make an outline of points to be made, then make each point in your own words.

Plagiarism is a particularly egregious honor code violation because its practice defeats the very purpose of the course and renders the instructor's efforts worthless. It takes close to an hour to evaluate one complete research paper and provide comments. The assumption is that the comments will be of benefit to the student. To submit a plagiarized assignment is to show complete disrespect for an instructor's time. Lifting work from another and submitting it as one's own work is a form of plagiarism. Paraphrasing passages also constitutes plagiarism. After all, you can do a passable job of rewording material without really understanding its meaning. You must not furnish materials to anyone if you know or suspect that they will be used in violation of course policies. To protect yourself and others from possible accusations of plagiarism please do not allow another student access to your notebook, rough drafts, or computer files containing course materials (with the exception of data files that are provided by the instructor).

Some people attempt to rationalize cheating. Reasons may include: the student is overly stressed; the workload is too high but the student cannot afford to cut back on course work; the assignment isn't really worth doing in the first place; everyone does it; cheating is expected in the "real world." Baloney. People who hold such opinions share them with the scum-of-the-earth who sell term papers over the internet.

Permitted collaboration

You will work with other students in acquiring data, of course, and you will be permitted to share some responsibilities with others. However, the rules described above apply to every assignment unless an exception is specifically noted. You are, of course, encouraged to help each other with concepts as you prepare for course work. For example, it is fine (and encouraged, in fact) to work with another on how to work a TYPE of dilution problem. You may even work with a hypothetical example. You must not, however, work with another in solving the specific problem you were given. Learn how to do it, then apply your knowledge to the assignment itself.

Asking questions

Each of you is encouraged to obtain help with a difficult problem or concept when you have given it your best effort and have reached an apparent dead end. However, when you approach a teaching assistant or instructor with a question, be prepared to offer something first.

How far did you get in solving your problem? Where, specifically, did you have trouble? The instructor and teaching assistants are here to help you find ways to work though problems so that you are better equipped to do so yourself in the future. When we decline to give you a direct answer to a question we are not being uncooperative. This experience is of no value to you or to anyone if you are simply told what to do.

[bad question] "I don't get it. How am I supposed to dilute 3 mg/ml protein to 2 mg/ml using sample buffer?"

[good question] "Here are my calculations for diluting a sample of 3 mg/ml protein to a final concentration of 2 mg/ml, using a stock solution of sample buffer that has to be diluted to half strength.Whatever I do either the protein is too diluted or the sample buffer is too diluted. Where am I going wrong?"

Attendance

Lab work for this course will be completed over a seven week period. It requires considerable effort to set up each lab study and the teaching lab is heavily booked for most of the academic year. Makeup labs are not practical. You must attend every lab session. No excuses for missing a lab will be accepted other than illness or a family emergency. If a single lab is missed it may be possible to finish the course depending on the week missed, but the student will be held responsible for all material covered.

For week five the instructor will euthanize a number of Sprague-Dawley rats. Teams of students will dissect the animals to recover fresh liver tissue for fractionation. If for any reason a student does not wish to participate in that part of the study he/she may notify the instructor and will be permitted to remain away from the lab until all dissections are complete and carcasses removed.

Communication and feedback

Your instructor has several ways of delivering information to the entire class.

• Weekly lectures (only during the first seven weeks)
• Electronic mail (subject line will include "Bios 211")
• Announcements (and the rest of the course web site)

To communicate with individuals, particularly with feedback on assignments, electronic mail is the only practical choice. It is critical that lines of communication remain open.  It will be your responsibility to remain in touch by adhering to the following policies.

• Please use your Rice e-mail account for communications concerning this course
• Check frequently to ensure that you do not exceed your e-mail quota
• If you use a SPAM filter, ensure that you accept all messages from "David Caprette" or "DR Caprette"
• Send all new messages and replies to <caprette@rice.edu>
• If you use an alias, sign the message with your full name
• Frequently check the announcements page ("Schedules" section) on the course web site
• If you live off campus and have connection problems then please take advantage of your computer access on campus.
• As a back-up, do a little "networking;" stay in touch with other students in the class.

If you do not receive a message that you are sure was sent to you or to the class

• Check your SPAM settings
• Check to see if you have exceeded your quota on your server
• Report the problem to <bios211@rice.edu>

      Unless other arrangements are made, all feedback on assignments will be sent by electronic mail either in the body of a message or as a microsoft word attachment. You will receive periodic updates on lab performance, notebooks, prelab assignments, and writing assignments, as described under "Grading policies." As with any e-mail communication with the instructor you are responsible for receiving such feedback. Keep the lines of communication open; if your fellow students have received comments and you have not, then check into it.

Instructor contact information and office hours

Office hours for Dr. Eich <lizmc@rice.edu> are by appointment. Her office is BL 211C; Caprette's office hours are 11 to 12:30 Wednesdays and Thursdays, BL 211A) <caprette@rice.edu>. For simple questions or to set up a different time to meet please contact your instructor by e-mail.  Alternatively, (1) come by after class on Monday; (2) come to the laboratory classroom after 2:30 (we usually have time for questions during laboratory sessions); (3) call for an appointment; (4) stick a note in your insructor's mailbox in W100 GRB.

Submitting assignments

Parts of research papers are to be submitted to the instructor in printed form (hard copy). Do not send assignments electronically unless we make advance arrangements.

• Do not staple the pages. Use a paper clip (will be provided on request). All writing assignments will be scanned using a form feed
• Use 12 point black type, preferably Times or Times New Roman (nothing fancy or unusual)
• Double space all text, use 1" margins all the way around, and make all pages single-sided
• Number each page sequentially
• Include the requested identifying information in the header to each page
• Start each section on a new page, and begin each section with appropriate heading (e.g., Introduction, Results, Materials and Methods)
• Use a consistent style for headings
• No title page is needed; when you write the Abstract begin with the full title of the paper
• Please protect yourself by printing or photocopying an extra copy for yourself, and keep an electronic copy of your work.

When labs are in session, parts of research papers will be due at the beginning of your laboratory session. After lectures/labs are finished the following instructions apply. These instructions also apply to assignments that are submitted late. In order of preference -

• Deliver the assignment to the marked IN box in BL 211
• Drop the assignment off in an instructor's mailbox in GRB W100 (Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology)
• After 4:00 pm on a due date, on weekends, on holidays - write the date and time the assignment was completely finished on the title of the document, do the pledge thing, and submit at the next available opportunity
• Do ***not*** slide a paper under a door, pin or tape it to a door, or slip an assignment into an OUT box
• Do ***not*** send an assignment as an e-mail attachment unless arrangements have been made in advance

We must deduct 5% (of total available points) from any assignment that is submitted incorrectly.

Pre-laboratory assignments are to be submitted electronically. We cannot accept pre-labs that are submitted late. In anticipation of the unlikely event that an electronically submitted assignment does not reach the instructor, print off a copy of your responses with date/time noted. For most prelabs you are asked to run off a copy of your responses and bring the copy to the laboratory classroom.

Due dates and late assignments

Late assignments are penalized 10% (of total available points) each day late.

The learning value of any academic assignment diminishes with time. Every assignment builds upon what was learned in a preceding assignment. Delays in submitting prelabs and research papers compromise the entire learning experience. Therefore, every assignment must be submitted on or before the due date/time if it is to earn full credit.

Due dates will be posted on the assignments page and are subject to change. All assignments are to be submitted by 4:00 pm on the date due. Every day counts, including Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and semester breaks. If a late assignment is completed but cannot be submitted the same day the student should write on the paper the date and time completed along with the honor code pledge that the information is accurate. He or she can then submit the assignment by 4 pm the next working day.

When you cannot complete an assignment on time and have no reasonable excuse, complete it as soon as possible and write the date and time completed on the work, with your pledge that the information is correct. That way, you will at least earn some credit, although there will be a penalty. This is especially important if you miss a Friday due date, since the clock does not stop for weekends, holidays, or breaks.

When you cannot complete an assignment due to circumstances that are beyond your control, extra time will be granted. Confidentiality will be preserved in cases of illness or personal problems. Examples of such circumstances are:

• A serious illness (flu or surgery are serious - upset stomach or case of the sniffles is not)
• Serious emotional problems (will need confirmation from a counselor, college master, or college associate)
• A serious family emergency or death in the family
• You are the victim of a serious crime or accident

We all know that you can get in over your head sometimes. As much as we'd like to help, however, extensions cannot be granted because of poor planning. Learning to establish priorities, to take on a reasonable workload, and to budget one's time are all part of the process of undergraduate education. Examples of unacceptable excuses include:

• The computer ate the paper
• Several exams and papers are due the same week
• I haven't slept for three days
• I had to go on interviews all weekend

Grading policies

Grading of assignments, evaluation of performance, and providing effective feedback take more of the instructor's time than any other task associated with the course. Because of the time commitment on the part of the instructor and teaching assistants, we have to put limits on requests for re-evaluation of scores (see individual items below).

See the assessment section for how the final grade will be determined, and for details on each type of assignment.

Papers

Notebook, pre-lab assignments, lab performance

Feedback on notebook checks, pre-lab assignments, and lab performance will be provided weekly if possible. You will receive a raw score, percent score, specific comments, and/or an estimated grade, whatever is applicable. In addition, please heed any comments or suggestions made by your teaching assistants during lab. We are all partners in developing the skills that you need, and feedback is an important part of that partnership. You must do your part by reading and listening to criticism, constructive or otherwise.

Notebook scores

You will turn in notebook pages and your teaching assistant will spot-check them according to objective criteria provided by the instructor. It is inevitable that we will miss some specific item or items. If you find that you weren't given credit for something that you indeed entered in the notebook, then e-mail the TA with (1) the date of the relevant page, (2) the page number, (3) location of the item on the page, and (4) the code number for the item (appears in front of the comment that you received). The TA will check your carbons for the error. Such appeals are only permitted if the pages are properly numbered and dated, and if they are received within one week of your receiving a score.

Pre-lab assignments

Questions and problem sets will be returned electronically by students and results compiled and graded by the instructor. You will receive a score and individual comments, and occasionally a set of general comments may be sent by e-mail to the class. The instructor uses a complex key for scoring pre-labs. You may ask for clarification of comments, but appeals are not possible.

Laboratory performance

Actual performance in the laboratory is difficult to evaluate, in part because we can't watch everyone at once. We will try to evaluate your work as objectively as possible, but at least part of the evaluation must be subjective. For example, we have to take lab partnerships into consideration. You and your partner may be the last group out of lab each week, but perhaps that is because you are doing all of the work and your partner does nothing. We have to make judgment calls in such cases. Similarly, you are all responsible for care and cleanliness of common areas and apparatus on your side of the teaching laboratory. To ensure that everyone receives full credit for laboratory performance, please check all sink areas and other common locations, includng wastebaskets (for sharps, things that are not disposable, etc.).

Each evaluation will consist of a score with comments. If you take issue with a performance evaluation, then please discuss it rationally with your teaching assistant at the next lab session. Remember that the instructor determines the scores, not the teaching assistants, and no one has any hostile intentions.

Final exam

The exam will be a written evaluation of lab-related skills, with heavy emphasis on writing and quantitative skills. Exams will not be returned, however you may request your score if you wish, and it will be broken down by category. Because so many bonus points are available on the final, the scores will not be curved.

Teaching assistants

Any time that you feel that you need help, you may contact the instructor or a teaching assistant by electronic mail. Aside from e-mail and scheduled help sessions please respect the privacy of our undergraduate teaching assistants. Keep in mind that they are students just like yourself. It is reasonable to expect a reply within 24 hours of contacting an instructor or teaching assistant. Contact the instructor if you have any trouble communicating with a teaching assistant.

Letters of recommendation

Caprette's policy

Writing a letter of recommendation is an important, albeit voluntary, responsibility. I write each one individually and put quite a bit of thought into them. To write a credible recommendation letter I must know an individual well enough to defend that person's qualifications. Successful completion of Bios 211 does not, by itself, provide a basis for a strong recommendation.

If I decline to write a letter for you it is most likely because I have insufficient information for a credible recommendation. I would be writing the same things that any other teacher who gave you a satisfactory grade in a course would write. For competitive programs such as medical school or graduate school you need strong supporting letters, not wimpy, strictly academic letters based on completion of a single course.

The beginning of each new semester is an extremely busy time, and my attention must be focused on teaching. If a due date for a letter of recommendation falls during the first seven weeks of classes (fall or spring semester) I must receive all pertinent information for new letters before the first day of classes. Please plan ahead. With reasonable notice, I will provide letters for those students with letters already on file, provided no major modifications are necessary (i.e., the letters were written within the last 6 months or so). The following information may be of interest with regard to letters of recommendation.

• I will need a resume, unofficial transcript organized by semester (include your name on printed copies), program address(es), and minimal program information so that the letter can be appropriately targeted. The information can be provided as e-mail attachments.
• Many summer programs have due dates as early as January 15, with most coming due from February 1 to March 1. Start planning early, and if you want a letter from me and do not have all of the program addresses, at least give me the information needed to write the initial letter before classes start.
• Work with the advising office to plan for medical school letters. If you wish to inquire about the status of a letter contact the premedical advisor, not the instructor.

A good letter can carry a lot of weight once you make it through the initial screening process, so think carefully about choosing recommenders. You don't want to be like the student who asked me for a letter five years after taking my course, who opened his request with the line, "You probably don't remember me but..."