Economic Botany - Biology 350.001 Summer I, 2013

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Dennis A. Gravatt Office: S-239 Phone: 468-2418 E-mail: [email protected]

Office Hours: M-R 10:00am – 11:30am I encourage you to contact me for help. If my office hours are impossible for you to meet, I will arrange an alternate time to meet.

TEXTBOOK Plants and Society. E. Levetin and K. McMahon. 2012. Sixth Edition. McGraw Hill. New York, NY. 526 pp. ISBN 978-0-07-352422-1.

Objectives: • To learn the diverse human uses of plants and plant products. • To learn the taxonomic diversity of useful plants. • To learn the biological reasons why certain plant resources are important. • To acquire an increased awareness and appreciation of plants and plant products encountered in everyday life. • To recognize geographic, historical, & cultural differences in the uses and importance of plants. • To relate diverse aspects of human cultural endeavors to plant resources, and to gain a better understanding and perspective of the origins, histories, and roles of important plants and plant products to the development of human culture.

Student Learning Outcomes (Course Competencies): Knowledge and Understanding Students understanding will be evaluated with comprehensive objective exams covering each topic in detail. Students who successful complete Economic Botany will demonstrate:

 An understanding of botanical properties of flowering and non-flowering plants, algae, and fungi with a focus on the diversity and applications of phytochemicals.  An understanding of plants as a source of food – emphasis on major food crops with respect to the following: requirements for human nutrition, the origin of agriculture, legumes, and starchy staples.  An understanding of commercial products derived from plants that provide us with consumable products such as beverages, herbs and spices, and materials such as cloth, paper, and wood.  An understanding of plants and human health - historical foundations of Western medicine, the practice of herbal medicine, poisonous and allergy plants, and the chemistry of secondary plant products.  An understanding of the impact of algae and fungi on human affairs - economic importance of the algae and fungi, including their biology and crucial roles in the environment. These roles include key producers in aquatic environments, as sources of human food, industrial products, fermented beverages and foods, sources of antibiotics, toxins, and diseases affecting crops and people.  An understanding of plants and the environment with emphasis on the principles of ecology: the major biomes of the world, economic value of certain plants, and the strategy of extractive reserves in the rain forest.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLO):

This course will address PLO #1, Demonstration of good knowledge base in biological concepts, using the above mentioned Course Competencies.

TESTING AND GRADING PROCEDURE Four one-hour exams worth 100 points each will be administered. One major research paper on a topic germane to the course. Therefore, you will attempt 400 points in the course.

4 exams at 100 points each ...... 400 points 4 reflection papers 25 points each ...... 100 points 500 points

Letter grade determination: A = 100 - 90.0%; B = 89.99 - 80.0%; C = 79.99 - 70.0%; D = 69.99 - 60.0%; F= 59.99% or below

NATURE OF ALL EXAMS Exams are multiple choice, short answer and essay. You will not be tested strictly on the ability to memorize facts. Exams will be written such that you must be able to apply the concepts covered in the lecture.

REFLECTION PAPERS At various times videos produced by the History Channel will be shown during a portion of the lecture period. Each student will write a reflection paper for four (4) of the videos shown. These papers will be submitted via D2L in digital format, saved as either a doc, docx or rtf format. Each paper will be a minimum of 1000 words, double spaced with 11 or 12 point font size. Instructions on naming and how to post we can be found on the D2L course site. In your paper you will discuss the main points that you felt were interesting to you and why. In addition, you will describe the importance of these points to humans.

CLASS CONDUCT Proper classroom behavior is expected of all students enrolled in this course. You are expected to be in your seats and in an appropriate condition that enable you to participate in all classroom activities when the class starts. Any student leaving early, or coming in late, is considered distracting to the class and will be dealt with accordingly. Other troublesome behaviors are listed on the last page of this course policy and should be read thoroughly. I reserve the right to ask any student to leave the lecture room in order to prevent a student from distracting myself or the class. Any student who does not conform to this class policy, and is asked to leave the classroom, will be required to visit with me in my office before being allowed to return to the regularly scheduled lecture classes. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

In particular, the use of cellular phones, including text messaging, will not be tolerated. If you bring a cell phone into my classroom, be sure that it is turned off! At my discretion, a cell phone that audibly rings, is clearly visible, or is used in any way during lecture will either be turned over to me until the end of class, or the student will be required to leave the classroom for that lecture period. Any student that has a cell phone at their desk that audibly rings, or any student who uses a cell phone for ANY purpose during an examination, will receive a zero (0) for the examination. NO EXEPTIONS!

POLICY ON ABSENTEEISM Regular and punctual attendance is expected. The value of a college education depends upon the student’s full participation. Because students are expected not merely to receive information passively or to pass examinations but to participate actively in class, it is important that unnecessary class absences be avoided. Students are expected to be present for all classes and no absence will be automatically excused. Students will be responsible for all missed work. If you come in late you must check with me after class in order to clear any record of absence for that day. This is your responsibility. Reoccurring tardiness should be explained.

A seating chart will not be utilized in this course. Instead, an attendance sheet will be passed around on which you will put your signature next to your name. It is your responsibility to see that the role sheet is signed before leaving the lecture class. Do not sign in for another student, doing so will result in a significant reduction in your course grade and the assignment of seats for all students in the class.

Some appropriate reasons for absenteeism are: an illness with dated medical notes; death in the immediate family with clippings from a newspaper announcing the death; scheduled athletic events; scheduled academic events. Other reasons can be discussed, but may not be excused. You are responsible to know what was announced and what material was covered in class during your absence. Lecture notes are not available from your instructor.

MAKE-UP EXAMS: Make ups for hour exams will only be allowed in the case of a University approved absence (illness with a doctor's note, a family crisis, or a religious holiday) see Class Attendance and Excused Absence Policy (A-10); http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/class_attendance_excused_abs.asp . YOU MUST NOTIFY ME WITHIN 24 HOURS OF A MISSED EXAM TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A MAKE UP EXAM. It is your responsibility to inform me that you missed the exam and why.

In any other case, it is your responsibility to inform me that you missed the exam and why as soon as possible. All make up exams are at my discretion and will be given during dead week.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism.

Definition of Academic Dishonesty Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an Internet source or another source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper without giving the author due credit.

Please read the complete policy at http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/academic_integrity.asp

I expect everyone to do his or her own, original work. This includes all homework assignments, exams, and quizzes. I will take appropriate disciplinary action, as described in the University Student Handbook, against anyone that does not comply with this policy. It is my policy that anyone caught cheating on an exam, or plagiarizing a research paper, will receive a failing grade (i.e., a zero) for the assignment. (A-9.1; http://www.sfasu.edu/upp/pap/academic_affairs/academic_integrity.html).

Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54) Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average.

The circumstances precipitating the request must have occurred after the last day in which a student could withdraw from a course. Students requesting a WH must be passing the course with a minimum projected grade of C.

Students with Disabilities To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, and Room 325, 468- 3004 / 468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. For additional information, go to http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices/.

Troublesome Behavior in the Learning Environment (Adopted from the Stephen F. Austin State University, Civitas Program, Judicial Office, 468-2703)

Troublesome behavior may be classified as anything that disturbs or disrupts the learning environment. By avoiding the following negative behaviors, instructors and students can cooperatively establish a setting more conducive to learning:

 Use of cellular phones and beepers  Inappropriate or poorly-timed challenges to authority  Demanding unwarranted preferential treatment  Exhibiting an “I paid for this…” mentality  Eating and drinking in the classroom  Excessive tardiness  Leaving early  Making intentionally offensive remarks  Using vulgar language or gestures  Missing deadlines  Holding private side conversations  Reading unrelated publications  Talking out of turn  Dominating discussions  Shuffling backpacks and notebooks  Overt inattentiveness or sleeping  Poor preparation  Use of personal computers for other than note-taking

Important Notice: The lecture classroom is not a movie theater. Be respectful on not only your professor but of your fellow classmates by not displaying any of the troublesome behaviors listed above. In the event any inappropriate behavior is displayed, I reserve the right to ask any student(s) to leave the lecture room in order to prevent them from distracting myself or the class. Any student who does not conform to this class policy, and is asked to leave the classroom, will be required to visit with me in my office before being allowed to return to the regularly scheduled lecture classes. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

Official University Statement on Acceptable Student Behavior

Classroom behavior should not interfere with the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the instructional program (see the Student Conduct Code, policy D-34.1). Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students who disrupt the learning environment may be asked to leave class and may be subject to judicial, academic or other penalties. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including electronic, classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The instructor shall have full discretion over what behavior is appropriate/inappropriate in the classroom. Students who do not attend class regularly or who perform poorly on class projects/exams may be referred to the Early Alert Program. This program provides students with recommendations for resources or other assistance that is available to help SFA students succeed.

TENATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE M-R, 12:30 - 2:25

Lecture Day Date TOPIC* Chapter 1 Jun 3 Introduction 1 Origin of Agriculture 11 2 Jun 4 Human Nutrition 10 Biology of Plants – Structure & Reproduction 3, 5 & 6 3 Jun 5 Diversity of Plants 9 Fruits and Nuts I none 4 Jun 6 Fruits and Nuts II none TBA 5 Jun 10 EXAM I Cereal Grains and Forage Grasses I 12 6 Jun 11 Cereal Grains and Forage Grasses II 12 TBA 7 Jun 12 Legumes 13 TBA 8 Jun 13 Starchy Staples 14 TBA 9 Jun 17 EXAM II Fungi 23& 25 10 Jun 18 TBA Herbs and Spices 17 11 Jun 19 Vegetable Oils and Waxes none Latex and Resins none 12 Jun 20 Materials: Cloth, Wood and Paper 18 TBA 13 Jun 24 EXAM III TBA 14 Jun 25 Medicinal Plants I 19 Medicinal Plants II 19 15 Jun 26 Psychoactive Plants 20 Poisonous Plants 21 16 Jul 1 Stimulating Beverages 16 TBA 17 Jul 2 Alcoholic Beverages 24 TBA 18 Jul 3 Dyes and Tannins none Arrow Poisons none Jul 4 Holiday – Fourth of July 19 Jul 5 EXAM IV