This color plate is from an Aztec herbal. The figure was drawn by an Aztec physician, Martin de la Cruz and written in Latin by Juan Badianus, a native of Xochimilco and scribe  in the college of the Holy Cross. It was presented to Phillip the II, King of Spain, as a gift in 1552. It is currently stored in the library of the Vatican. The illustration is of five different Aztec medical plants:1. Fever flower, 2.Noble Lord flower, 3.Jewel of the Goddess, 4. Agreeable little plant, 5. Turning flower. No information, other than the name, is given in the Aztec herbal.
 
 

Course Description:  This course will present the relationship between plants and medicine.  It will explore the origins of knowledge about medicinal plants, the mechanisms by which they bring about an effect in various diseases and finally what approaches are used today to obtain new medicinal plants for diseases such as diabetes, cancer, acne, etc.  It is expected that this information will provide a background on medicinal plants which will be useful for general knowledge and for health sciences. This is an upper division biology course designed for the non-science student with at least one prior college level biology course.  It is the nature and purpose of this course to increase knowledge and awareness of how medicinal plant use developed, and how plant medicines and plant drugs are utilized for treatment of minor and major diseases.
 
 

Exam 1	Friday September 30, 2011	Multiple choice (100 points, 50 questions)	Sample exams in Blackboard  http://blackboard.sdsu.edu
Exam 2	Friday November 4, 2011	Multiple choice (70 points, 35 questions)	Sample exams in Blackboard  http://blackboard.sdsu.edu
Essay question on  Exam 2	Friday November 4, 2011	Essay-30 points	Sample Essay Question in Blackboard  http://blackboard.sdsu.edu
Final Exam	Monday December 12, 2011  1030-1230 Ten thirty to Twelve thirty am Com 207 (Communication 207)	Multiple Choice  (100 points, 50 questions)	Sample exams in Blackboard  http://blackboard.sdsu.edu

In the lecture several days before each exam there will be a review session. It is a wise decision to attend the review sessions as they cover the material presented in class that will appear on the exam. It is also useful to review the files in the library electronic reserve that illustrate the type of question that will appear on the exam. These are multiple choice, matching, fill in and other questions sometimes with labeled diagrams that ask for a multiple choice selection. These previews of the examination approach taken will increase your learning, and improve your understanding and performance in this class. You will ultimately leave this class as a better trained individual.
 
 

The majority of students will receive grades in the B to C range. Please remember that long-standing University policy considers a grade of A to  indicate  "outstanding achievement; available only for the highest accomplishment." A grade of B indicates "praiseworthy performance; definitely above average." See the University standards below. I  use numerical scores. Letter grades will be assigned to numerical scores for each exam based on the class average. The writing exam (exam 2) will have a standard letter grade distribution (A=>90, B=>80, C=>70, D=>60). There will be two hour midterms, one essay exam and a 1-hour final. Last semester's essay question will be posted in the Library Reserve Room. The midterm topics will be announced one week before the exam date and there will be a short review session at the end of the lecture before the exam.  The final exam will be  on Friday May 16 at 1030 in NE 60  (NE=North Education). The grades assigned follow the designations listed below. This means the final exam begins at 10:30 o'clock.

A       Outstanding achievement, available only for the highest
           accomplishment.

B       Praiseworthy performance, definitely above average.

C       Average, awarded for satisfactory performance; the most
          common undergraduate grade.

D       Minimally passing; less than the typical undergraduate
          achievement.

F       Failing.

U       Incomplete: failing to take an exam without contacting
          instructor.

Grading and Evaluation:  The two midterm exams (1 & 2) are objective. These exams consists of multiple choice, matching, and True/False questions. In addition, Exam 2 will also have an essay portion worth 30 points. The essay will be based on the book by Mark Plotkin, Tales of a Shaman's Apprencice. There is a video (Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice) that supplements the reading in this book. It is available for viewing in the library media center in the basement. The final exam (50 questions) is also objective with questions identical in form to the  other exams, except that there is no essay section.  Each exam (1, 2, & final exam) covers approximately 1/3 of the lectures given and is non-cumulative, unless the material is discussed a second time in a given lecture. The final exam covers only the last third of the semester. Like the second exam, the Final Exam is not cumulative. There are 2 lecture exams and a final exam. Exam 2 will have an essay question worth 30 points out of a total of 100 points for Exam 2.  The exams  are totaled as shown below.  Copies of earlier exams appear on Blackboard for Biology 326. Don't ask for the answers, they won't be given to you. You may ask general questions, but not specific ones listed on the exams. The testing process (exams) is designed and intended to contribute to your learning of the subject matter.

     2 Lecture Exams                                200 Points
     1 Final Exam                                        100 Points

                                                    Total      300 Points

Exams require a full page NCS Large Green Answer Sheet (O99B or sometimes PO99B) with circles for answers; #2 pencil. The in-class writing exam requires a pencil or pen. The answer will be  written on the last page of the exam. Do not  bring a blue book to exam 2. Blue Books are not useful or needed for this exam since you will do all your writing directly on the last page of the exam.

Grading Standards for Writing Assignments: The written essay answer (30% of exam 2) will be graded on the following points:  Ideas, significance, organization, coherence of presentation, clarity of thought, flow of thought, appropriateness of presentation (grammar), creativity, and overall impact.
 
 

Chapter 1 Lewis and Lewis Medical Botany: Main checkout desk, also called the Library Book Reserve.

Video: Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice, Downstairs in Basement of Library Video also called Media center, players are available here for DVD and Videotape copies.

Readings and Practice exams: click on this link,   http://blackboard.sdsu.edu