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Biology 101 Help Page

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Textbook

Check the syllabus for reading assignments from the text. Read the assigned chapters before each lecture.   After class, re-read the sections of the chapter emphasized in the lecture.  The text book is:

Cecie Starr and Ralph Taggart 2001
Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life
Ninth Edition. Published by Brooks/Cole

Lectures

Lectures and labs are the main sources of information covered on exams.  Make every effort to attend all lectures and labs.  Lectures are fast-paced and, more often than not, contain material not found in the textbook designed to help you understand the material.   Come prepared to take good notes, including making diagrams and drawings.

Videotapes

Each lecture is videotaped.  The tapes are on file at Odegaard Undergraduate Library to help you review lecture material.

Lecture notes

Drosera, an insectivorous plant, leaves with prey-capturing glandular trichomesYou will find your own carefully-taken notes to be the best study guide for course material covered in the lecture.   There is also an ASUW note-taking service to which you may subscribe for a fee. Information about the note-taking service will be posted on the first day of class.   The course Instructors do not proofread the ASUW notes, and are not responsible for errors in them.

Lab manual

Your Lab Manual and graded labs are important study aids.   Many of the exam questions will come directly from the labs.

Labs

The labs are a chance to discuss course topics in small groups with your Instructors, Teaching Assistants, and fellow students.   Make sure that you understand all aspects of each laboratory exercise.

Office hours

For one-on-one help with course material, Teaching Assistants will hold office hours every Friday morning from 9:00-11:15AM in 244 Hitchcock.   Often the Teaching Associate and Instructor also will be there.   Additional Instructor office hours can be arranged by appointment.   Contact information for Biology 101 course staff can be found in the Lab Manual or on the Biology 101 Syllabus Page.

Don't wait until the Friday of the exam to come to office hours!

Review sessions

One evening before each exam, course Instructors will hold a review session.   You will have an opportunity to ask questions and clarify items which have been covered in lecture and lab.   Very often students will ask a questions that are on the exam.   If you are present at the review session, you'll hear the answers!   One question you will never hear answered is:   'Will this be on the exam?' -- so don't bother asking.

Website

We are trying to make this website useful as a study aid.   Please offer your comments and criticisms to David Ford.

Email discussion list

The email discussion list (biol101a_au02@u.washington.edu) is an excellent way to ask questions of the course staff, obtain more information about a topic of special interest to you, and see what is on the minds of fellow students. Exam questions frequently are drawn from these discussions.

Study groups

You may find it helpful to form study groups to review course material.

Previous exams

Exams (and answer keys) from previous years may be found at the back of the Lab Manual or in special web pages that will be indexed with the relevant lecture notes.

Biology Program Advisors

If you need advice about academic and career options in Biology, communicate with an Advisor in the Biology Office.

Disabled Student Services

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