GENERAL INFORMATION

Course Objective:

To learn the applications of scientific principles to commercial horticultural practices, and the improvement of those practices.

Student preparation time:

1 - 2 hours before lecture and 1 hour before lab class times.

Text:

Preece, John E. and Paul E. Read. 2005. The Biology of Horticulture, an Introductory Textbook. 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.

Laboratory Manual:

(included in the course pack titled, .HORT 221: Principles of Horticulture., Prepared by the Faculty of the Department of Horticulture. (Available at the University Book Store, may be available in other stores).

Attendance:

Attendance is expected at all lecture and laboratory sessions.

Any announcements regarding class assignments and schedules are made during these times, as well as quizzes and other worksheets.

Lecture:

10:00 - 10:50 a.m. M & W (Room 118, Horticulture)

[If an emergency exists and you need to miss a laboratory session, contact your laboratory instructor prior to the laboratory period. There may be the possibility to complete the laboratory class if sufficient notice is provided. Rescheduling is only for emergencies and is up to the discretion of the laboratory instructor.]

Outcomes:

Expected goals and objectives for each instructional unit/topic are listed at the beginning of each unit's material for the lecture.

Final course grades will be assigned on a scale no more challenging than the following:

Examination and laboratory make-ups are at the discretion of the instructors if the notice of absence is made PRIOR to the exam. You may e-mail or telephone the instructors, as this information is logged by time and date. A written excuse will be required to allow for a makeup examination, for both lecture and laboratory sessions, from a responsible third party (such as a medical doctor, student health center, advisor, clergy, Dean of Students, etc.).

Academic Accommodation Procedures:

If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Disability Resources (DR) Office, located on the main floor of the Student Services Building, Room 1076, Phone 515-294-6624. The disability resources staff can provide a SAAR (Student Academic Accommodation Request) form verifying your disability and specifying the accommodation you will need.

Classroom etiquette:

Appropriate student behavior and civility are expected for all lecture and laboratory sessions.

Student behavior and interactions affect your and other students' learning. Be sure to follow classroom etiquette and civility requests. Be respectful of students' learning needs, such as not talking or using other disruptive actions in class; follow instructions carefully; turn off your cell phone unless of an emergency and then inform the instructor prior to the class period; and use respect and courtesy to others - allowing for an excellent learning environment.

Lecture and lab periods begin on time unless of an unforeseen incident for the instructors. Please arrive to the class on time so as not to disrupt the other students. If you know that you might be late due to a previous class that is located far away on campus, please inform the instructor(s) so that arrangements may be made.

Do not exit out of the emergency exit door in the northwest corner of the lecture hall except in the case of an emergency. Place all of your garbage in the trash cans - remember: "If you can carry it in, you can carry it out"!

Introduction to the assignment

New discoveries and research results are published in scientific peer-reviewed journals. Horticultural scientists publish in many credible peer-reviewed journals in the plant sciences. This exercise is to allow students to investigate two peer-reviewed, horticulture journals, HortScience and the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, read and practice summarizing a research article, and reflect on scientific papers in the field of horticulture.

Procedure to complete the assignment

1. Select a research paper of your choice from HortScience or the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science from the past four years and the current year (total 5 yrs.). Both journals are available in the Parks Library. Do not use those issues of HortScience that contain only abstracts / summary papers*. Select full scientific papers only.

SUBMIT the citation of your chosen article to Dr. Arora on October 27, 2008.
(Be sure to strictly adhere to guidelines provided in the class to write the citation of your selected article).

2. Complete the summary.

#1. Include a correct and complete citation. (Use the ASHS format guidelines that were provided in class for you to use in citing the references). Remember, you had submitted this citation to Dr. Arora on October 18, 2006 and he provided feedback on the citation format.

#2. Summarize article in your words (use about 500 words).
Do NOT copy the abstract but write the summary in your own words.
A summary might include:

1. What was the researchable question or problem? (Introduction, hypothesis)
2. What was done to obtain answer(s)? (Materials and Methods)
3. What did the researchers discover? (Results, Discussion, Conclusions)
4. Was the data presentation useful?

Write one to two sentences in your own words to explain a major message that the authors intended to convey from one of their tables or figures (graphs) or photographs. In other words, interpret at least a part of any single table, figure or photograph from the paper. Be sure to include the table or figure number in your answer. Example: Figure 1 was prepared by the authors to illustrate that as temperature increased, the number of lesions on the leaves also increased.

#3. Reflect on the article by writing a separate paragraph that includes the following observations, (Complete A - F):

1. Did you understand the main points of the article?
2. What plant-science principles that you learned about or will learn about (i.e. listed on the syllabus) in Hort. 221 were used in the research project and paper? (Examples: light, water, temperature, soil, reproductive and vegetative structures, plant classification, post-harvest, biotic factors, etc)
3. What surprised you the most about the paper?
4. What aspect (s) of the paper was most difficult to understand? (This can be something about which you remain confused).
5. What did you notice in the paper that relates to the laboratory report assignments that you completed for the Hort. 221 laboratory experiments?
6. Does the research have potential for practical application? Why or why not?

Date assignment is due: Wednesday, DECEMBER 1, 2008

Fact Sheet for Horticulture Audience

Introduction to the assignment

Many enterprises and government organizations provide fact sheets to their customers and clients. Fact sheets are useful tools to provide important and timely information. For example, a garden center might distribute a fact sheet about correct planting procedures for containerized roses to customers purchasing rose plants. The fact sheet helps the garden center in many ways. The customer has information about proper planting procedures and when the rose plant grows and blooms, the customer is a happy one. The garden center derives benefit from customer satisfaction and loyalty and by the fact that although the rose plant is guaranteed, the garden center does not have to replace the plant.

Procedure to complete the assignment

1. Select a topic of your choice for the fact sheet. The topic should be of keen interest to you (i.e. something you would like to learn about). Examples of fact sheet topics that have been developed for an extension audience at the Reiman Gardens are listed at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pubs/ga.htm
   Example(s) of the fact sheet for horticulture audience have been included in your course pack which can be used as a preparation guide for your assignment.

   Be sure that the topic selected can be addressed in two pages maximum. Thus, the topic should be specific so that you can provide sufficient information (i.e. "Planting a Containerized Rose", not "Growing Roses").

2. Research a topic of your choice. Excellent references are available in the Parks Library. You can also interview Horticulture faculty members and check out the student reading room in Horticulture Hall.

3. Write the fact sheet. As occurs with the development of any written work, you should first write an outline of the topics to be included in the fact sheet. Then, when you are satisfied that the outline is complete, develop the fact sheet. You should have others review your written work through peer review.

4. Select fact sheet format. Fact sheets can be 2 pages, front and back using 2 columns or they can be formatted into a 2-page trifold with columns. Instruction on Microsoft Publisher (a desktop publishing program), will be provided by the Department of Horticulture computer specialist in your lab session. Desktop publishing programs are more convenient for page set-up than word processing programs.

5. Due dates and deadlines.
   Written draft (without page set up) but with any graphics due for Nov 4/Nov 6 laboratory session. E-mail to yourself or bring to lab on zip disc or memory stick for access in computer lab.
   Peer- review - do this before you leave for T-giving break - preferably the week of Nov. 10
   Instructor review - see me week of Nov. 17 with revised draft from peer review
   Final "Fact Sheet" due on Wednesday, Dec 3

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