Biology 101 Laboratory

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if I'm unable to attend my regularly scheduled lab?

Check with your TA as soon as possible.  Your TA will try to help you get into another section.  Don't put this off!  It can't be done on short notice.

With the grading system that was described for this course, it seems that all I need to do to get an "A" is to attend class.  Is this true?

The key to success if participation.  You need to be an active participant during the lab session and you need to do work between lab sessions.  Just sitting there is a formula for disaster.

I was sick and missed my lab.  I don't have a doctor's note.  What do I do now?

Go see your TA right away and explain what has happened.  To the extent possible, we'll try to devise something to help you catch up.  You'll soon notice that the lab exercises are cumulative, meaning that what you learn in one lab is likely to be used in a subsequent lab.  Catching up is important and doing this in a timely way is also critical.

I find the lab section in which I enrolled very inconvenient.  Can I switch to another one?

All the lab sections are generally full at the start of the semester.  As a result, there is rarely any section which can better accommodate your schedule.  If this is a critical concern, discuss it with your TA.

I really don't get the point of these labs.  They are not at all like the biology lab I had in High School.  Is it just me?

This is a course in Biology and Society.  It is not an introductory biology course, but a biology course that has a specific goal of integrating topics in biology and society.  You will be learning fundamental things -- largely based on viewing your role in society as a biologically literate person.  We want you to learn things about biology that you will continue to use after you graduate.

Last Updated: 01/08/2003