Woody Landscape Plants
PLS 212
Course Syllabus
Spring
2001
Objectives
The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with woody
plants that are commonly used in the landscape and build an appreciation of the
native flora of the mid-Atlantic region. Students will be responsible for the
identification of these plants from cut specimens and entire plants, with or
without leaves. Students must also develop a complete understanding of the
cultural requirements, ornamental attributes and naturalistic uses of all plants
studied. This entails knowledge of flower, fruit, fall and bark colors, design
attributes such as size, form and texture, and cultural factors such as sun or
shade tolerance, wet or dry and acid or basic soil requirements. In general,
students will be expected to become intimately familiar with all aspects of the
plants so they will be able to identify plants and make recommendations as to
their use in the landscape.
Personnel
Instructor:
Dr.
John Frett
141 Townsend Hall
phone/ v-mail 831-2531
e-mail jfrett@udel.edu
Course Time
/Location
Lecture: T R
8:00 - 9:15 AM
132
TNS
Lab:
T 2:00-5:00 PM 103 Fischer Greenhouse/Laboratory
W
2:00-5:00 PM 102 Fischer Greenhouse/Laboratory
R
2:00-5:00 PM 103 Fischer Greenhouse/Laboratory
Required
Texts
Dirr,
Michael A. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Stipes Publ. Co. Champaign,
IL. 5th Edition.
Grading
Points for each Total
points
Examinations
(3)
100
300
Quizzes
(10)
20
200
Final
(optional)
(100)
Total
points possible
500
Grades will be assigned according to the following schedule:
Total points
Grade
500 - 465
A
464 - 450
A-
449 - 435
B+
434 - 415
B
414 - 400
B-
399 - 385
C+
384 - 365
C
364 - 350
C-
349 - 335
D+
334 - 315
D
314 - 300
D-
299 -
F
Examinations will be given during the lecture period. Exams may cover any
information from lecture or lab since the last exam and will deal largely with
cultural, ornamental and landscape attributes of the plants.
Exams will begin promptly at the start of the period and will be
collected at the end of the period if they are not turned in prior to that time.
Make-up exams will be given only in the case of excused absences (illness
or family emergency) with written verification.
You must notify the instructor prior to the exam or you will receive a 0 score for that
exam. Upon returning, students will provide documentation of the illness and a
written request to schedule a make-up exam. All make-up exams will be ORAL.
Quizzes will occur weekly in the lab, and occasionally in lecture, and
will be comprehensive from day one. Quizzes will be mainly identification of
plant material. Approximately 13 quizzes will be given and the best 10 will be
used when determining the final grade. Since there will be at least two quizzes
dropped, there will be no
make-up quizzes given. Correct spelling of the plant names will count on
quizzes.
Students may take the optional comprehensive final examination.
The final will include both a written test (1 hour) and a 50 plant
identification practical (1 hour) and will occur during the scheduled final
time. If students choose to take
the final examination, then the highest 3 scores from the final and the 3 hour
examinations will be used to calculate the final grade. The final exam is scheduled
for 24 May 10:30-12:30 in 132 TNS.
Class
participation
The final determination of grades will include such factors such as
enthusiasm in class, class participation with pertinent questions, effort put
forth, improvement during the semester, lab attendance, taking the optional
final, etc. No special or extra credit projects will be accepted to improve
grades.
General
Policies
Attendance:
You are responsible for the satisfactory completion of this course. I
feel that this requires your attendance at all lecture and lab sessions. If you
are absent for any reason, it is your responsibility to obtain any material that
you missed. If it is an excused absence, I will be more than happy to go over
the material with you. If repeated unexcused absences occur, your academic dean
will be notified.
Classroom
Discussion:
I encourage students to interject pertinent comments during lecture and
lab sections. This will stimulate 2-way discussions, rather than monotonous
lectures, and allow students' input into the material discussed. You should feel
free, at any time, to ask questions.
Contention
of Grades:
Any grade may be contended after one day and within 2 weeks of the
time the exam is returned. After 2 weeks the grade stands as is. All
disagreements must be submitted in writing with supporting documentation (copy
of notes, book, etc.). The work will then be completely regraded and returned to
the student. The text for the class will serve as the definitive authority for
all disputes.
Plagiarism:
The temptation for plagiarism is often times great. The instructor will
do all that is practical to reduce the opportunity for plagiarism to occur but
inevitably the occasion will occur. If any student is caught plagiarizing, that
student's academic dean will be notified immediately.
Late
Work:
All late work will be assessed a late penalty of 10% per day to include
weekends and holidays. Thus, after 10 days a score of 0 will be recorded.