This is a lab course intended to complement the lecture course (ENT3003). It is designed such that students who are concurrently enrolled in ENT3003 can have a better understanding of selected topics covered in the lecture course. Students cannot take the lab course without concurrently taking the lecture course. Students who had completed an equivalent ecology lecture course in a previous semester may be allowed to take this course, but it is not recommended to do so because the lecture (ENT3003) and the lab (ENT3020) are not designed independently.

Attendance
Students are required to attend every lab. The following penalties are applied:
Late for < 15 min: −4 points
Late for >= 15 min: −6 points
Late for >= 30 min (including absence): −8 points

Assignments
Everything students are asked to submit in the course is an assignment (e.g., lab materials, data, quiz, report, homework). Submit an assignment on time. No late assignments are accepted. Lab activities (including simply listening to lectures) are also counted as assignments even if no materials are to be submitted. A missed assignment results in a deduction of 10 points. Therefore, a missed lab results in a deduction of 18 points (i.e., 8 points from attendance plus 10 points from assignments).

No cellphones or mobile computers are to be used in class unless otherwise instructed by the instructor. Poor attendance in terms of participation (e.g., using a cellphone, sleeping, not participating in lab activities, etc.) will greatly reduce assignment points (e.g., equivalent to missing a lab or worse).

Student who missed a lab with a legitimate reason may be allowed to work on a make-up assignment. Student wishing to have a make-up assignment must make an appointment and visit the instructor's office by the day before the next lab after the missed lab. Contacting the instructor on Wednesday may be too late to have an appointment for Wednesday (the day before a lab is Wednesday because labs are on Thursdays). Students who are unable to visit the instructor’s office with a legitimate reason must contact the instructor by the same time limit. Students who failed to make these arrangements will not be able to take a make-up assignment even when they have a legitimate reason for missing a lab.

Exam
There is one exam held at the end of the semester. The exam will ask the details of lab activities, including the interpretations of experimental methods and results. Engaging in each lab activity is the best way to prepare for the exam.

Grading
Attendance and Assignments 55%
Exam 45%

Each point described in the above sections (i.e., Attendance and Assignments) is 1% of the final grade, not 1 % of 'Attendance and Assignments'. For example, students who missed two labs (−36 points) will have 19 % (55 − 36 = 19) for ‘Attendance and Assignments’. Students who missed four labs (−72 points) will have 0 % for ‘Attendance and Assignments’ (55 − 72 = −17). The minimum possible % is 0 %.

Example 1: A student entirely missed two labs without a legitimate reason but did not miss any points in all the rest of the labs. If the student’s exam score is 70%, the final grade is (55 – 18*2) + 45*0.7 = 50.5 %.

Example 2: A student was late for 1 min in 9 meetings but otherwise completed all assignments well. If the student’s exam score is 80 %, the final grade is (55 – 9*4) + 45*0.8 = 55 %.

Example 3: A student attended all labs and did not miss any points from ‘Attendance and Assignments’. If the student’s exam score is 40%, the final grade is 55 + 45*0.4 = 73%.

Unlike the lecture course (ENT3003), bonus points are not offered in this course.

The schedule (described in the content section of this website) is subject to change throughout the semester.

It is uncertain how the situation regarding COVID-19 is going to be during the semester. In some cases, the semester schedule may change entirely in the middle of the semester.

Course related information and announcements may be sent to students' NTU email accounts (@ntu.edu.tw). Students should regularly check their NTU email accounts.

Office hours are by appointment only.