Supermarket Biology

Foundation Seminar, 090, Section 03
Syllabus
Fall, 1999

Dr. Sally E. Nyquist, Instructor
Office: Room 208 Biology Building
Office Phone: 577-1208; Home Phone: 524-2912
e-mail: nyquist@bucknell.edu
Lecture: TR, 1:00- 2:52 pm, Room 307, Dana.


 
 Date
 Activity
 Aug. 21
 Initial Meeting for Getting Acquainted
 Aug. 26
 Discussion of Course Organization and Goals

Assignment for Aug. 31 (to be done individually)

a) Write a one-page (typed, double-spaced, font size 12) paper describing some strong opinion(s) you have about food, nutrition, or the relationship of food/nutrition to health. (I want to see a sample of your writing.)

b) More informally, write down on a note card what strengths you think you would bring to a working group such as those that we will be using this semester. Afterward, show those notes both to your instructor and your working partners.

 Aug. 31
 Library Laboratory First Half of Period:

Mr. James Van Fleet, Engineering and Sciences Resource Librarian.

Introduction to searching the literature, Article Finder, First Search, and a general orientation to the library. Take the main stairwell down one floor; the library laboratory is on the right.

Literature Search (2:00 to 3:00 pm)

Return to 307 Dana and conduct the literature search suggested by your instructor. Turn in the results of your search before you leave, or at an agreed-upon later time.

 Sept. 2
 Introduction to Project One: Food Labeling:

How do you know what you are eating?

Small Group Examination of Selected Food Labels:

You will be presented with a selection of groceries and given a set of questions that you should be able to answer based on your observations of various food labels. Your group will send me the answers to these questions. You may need to seek out information about labeling law/regulations in order to be sure of your answers. You will then complete as a group all of the tasks listed on the Project One Homepage.

Demonstration: Cereal and Bioavailability Considerations

 Sept. 7
 Computer Laboratory

Lisa Veloz, Client Service Analyst. CCS.

Covers use of Word, Eudora, and the Internet

Brief Introduction to Project Two: Nutrition Analysis:

Using the software program suggested in the Project Two Homepage, you will evaluate your personal nutrient intake for a 3-day period. Complete details of this project are also listed in the Project Two Homepage.

 Sept. 09
 Group Work on Project One & Two

Come prepared to make significant contributions to the progress of your group.

 Sept. 14
 Introduction to Project Three: Food Additives

The tasks to be accomplished for Project Three are described on the Project Three Homepage. Also described there are a variety of resources for completing this project.

Large Group Discussion

Your group will turn in drafts of all material for Project One. These are to be turned in via e-mail as attachments.

 Sept. 16
 Small Group Work on Project Three

Part of this lab period (probably the second half) should be spent in the library examining the journal Food Technology and completing tasks that require use of that journal.

 Sept. 21
 Trip to the Supermarket

Work on collecting data for Project Three

Small Group Work on Project Three

Final Draft of Project One Due

 Sept. 23
 Small Group Work on Project Three
 Sept. 28
 Introduction to Project Four:
Natural (Organic) versus Conventional Foods and/or
Processed versus Non-Processed Foods
    What are the advantages of each?
    Details of the tasks associated with Project Four are detailed on the Project Four Homepage as are suggested resources for doing this project.
Large Group Discussion of Issues Related to Project Four
    All work related to the Project Two: Nutrition Analysis due.
 Sept. 30
 Small Group Discussions:

Organic Foods: What are they, and are they worth the effort?

 Oct. 5
 Trip to Walnut Acres
 Oct. 7
 Small Group Work on Project Four
Work on Project Three due.
Fall Recess Begins Fri., Oct. 8, 5:00 PM
Fall Recess Ends Wed., Oct. 13, 8:00 AM
 Oct. 14
 Presentation of Persuasive Talks, Project Four

Remaining Work on Project Four due.

 Oct. 19
 Instruction on the Use of Excel Including Graphics

Lisa Veloz, Client Service Analyst, CCS

 Oct. 21
Introduction to Project Five: Eating Muscle as Food

A detailed description of Project Five is contained on the Project Five Homepage. Some suggested resources are also presented.

 Oct. 26
 Small Group Work on Project Five
 Oct. 28
 Introduction to Project Six: Fat in Foods.

More complete details regarding the tasks required in Project Six are detailed on the Project Six Homepage as are descriptions of resources for accomplishing this project.

Large Group Discussion on food lipids including cholesterol, fats and fatty acids.

Work on Project Five: Eating Muscle as Food is due.

 Nov. 2
 Visit to the Supermarket

Complete the Questionnaire on food lipids that is a part of Project Six

 Nov. 4
 Large Group Discussion of Low Fat Substitutes in Food (first half of period)
Small Group Work to Complete Project Six (second half of period)
 Nov. 9
 Introduction to Project Seven: Fruits, Grains and Vegetables.

Details of Project Seven tasks are contained on the Project Seven Homepage as are resources for completing the project.

Work on Project Six: Fats in Food due.

 Nov. 11
 Small Group Work on Project Seven
 Nov. 16
 Mini-Research Project:

Formulate a mini-research project on some topic of interest to YOURSELF. You will be doing this project on your own. On Thursday, during a visit to the Supermarket, this project will be carried out. Details of the tasks required for this project are detailed on the Mini-Research Homepage. Note that a 5-minute oral presentation as well as an Excel graphic presentation of data is required.

 Nov. 18
 Trip to the Supermarket to Conduct Research Project.
 Nov. 23
Work and Conferences on Mini-Research Project

Work on Project Seven: Fruits, Grains and Vegetables is due.

 
Thanksgiving Recess Begins Nov. 23, 10:00 pm
Thanksgiving Recess Ends Nov. 29, 8:00 am
 Nov. 30
 Supermarkets of the World

See Supermarkets of the World Homepage for resources

Large Group Discussion and written comments due same day.

 Dec. 2
 Oral Presentation of Mini-Research Projects

Data & Graphs presented to instructor and class

 Dec. 7
 Oral Presentation of Mini-Research Projects (continued)

Data & Graphs presented to instructor and class

Class Evaluations
   Classes for the semester end Tuesday, Dec. 7, 10 pm
   FINAL EXAM WEEK OPEN