Biochem 4M03 - MacInsiders - Student-run McMaster University Help Forum

devdjd

This course was amazing!
Every single concept I learned in class I know talk about to smokers and people on different diets. Everytime I go to the grocery store I know what to look for and what implicatations they may have in the long run.

There is one midterm, a group PBL, with 2 diet assesments and 2 papers. Its a bit of work, but what you come out of it is great. Just make sure you stick to your deadlines because I forgot to hand in one paper a week late because I forgot to write the due date down at the beginning of the term.

The midterm and final you will have to study for. But, the knowledge you come out with is great!

If you are up for the challenge and you love to learn, or just know about biochemistry and health and nutrition, this is the class to take.

Dr. McDonald taught this in 2010 fall term. Amazing prof!

s.ma · 07-16-2011 at 10:40 PM

THANK YOU! : )
i'm waiting till i am able to take this course! i love food! <3 loool

s.ma · 07-16-2011 at 10:41 PM

do you know any other nutrition courses because all i know is this one and life sci 2n03. if theres more of these kind of courses please tell me

thanks!

~*Sara*~ · 07-17-2011 at 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s.ma

do you know any other nutrition courses because all i know is this one and life sci 2n03. if theres more of these kind of courses please tell me

thanks!

Those are the only ones open to Life Science individuals. I believe there's some in the Kin department but those are only open to those in the Kinesiology program.

McUsed · 08-08-2011 at 08:47 PM

written component:
3% blog
3% pre-diet assessment
3% post-diet assessment
8% opinion piece on health/nutrition related topic
8% paper on biochemistry health topic
25% group project about a nutrient

test component:
15% midterm (short answer, case studying, fill in the blank)
35% exam (mc, t&f, fill in the black, short answer, long answer)

Overall, material was very dense as was the courseload. Dr. MacDonald was the prof for this course as mentioned. Although she tends to go through material at a rapid pace, she is very approachable to questions during office hours if needed. we go over protein metabolism, lipid metabolism, vitamins (especially vitamin D), cholesterol (LDL, HDL etc) and it's relationship with heart disease and other health problems, calcium metabolism, iron metabolism and much more. it terms of usefulness, it's definitely relateable and applicable to real life and i actually changed part of my diet because of this course!
Essentially the written component with the exception of the group project is free marks if you are a decent writer. As for the midterm/exam, emphasis is placed on memorization and application to real world situations. The average for the midterm was in the low 70s I believe whereas the exam was a bit more difficult. I wouldn't recommend buying the textbook.

starlover · 09-10-2011 at 06:05 PM

thankss for the reviews guys, it really helped!

kathialopez · 03-11-2012 at 10:18 PM

just a question... did you have to present?

lankan_4lif · 03-12-2012 at 08:38 AM

There was a 25% project, done in groups of 4-5 and it was just a final written paper. Two smaller papers and two reflection papers were done individually. A midterm (15%) and final exam (40%). No presentations at all.

kwyhan · 06-03-2012 at 06:44 PM

can you comment on the difficulty, testing style for this course?
Is it 12-able? thanks!

lankan_4lif · 06-03-2012 at 07:16 PM

It was a fair course. There was a big group project so that would depend on the group you pick. The testing style was MC and short answers. The exam was much more difficult than the exam and it was mostly short and long answers. The prof teaching this year is different so the course may be completely different.

lifesci09 · 08-11-2012 at 01:03 PM

hey, this year 2012/2013 the profs are
SCHERTZER, J
SLOBODA, D

anyone know if they are good profs? thanks!

DMe3 · 05-11-2013 at 04:15 AM

bumpp
/12chars

L'Étoile · 05-29-2013 at 09:05 AM

It's a hard course, very interesting though.

We had:

3 Assignments, lowest mark is dropped. 15%
These were basically a reflection on a "hot topic" in nutrition and health. These were marked very subjectively.

Midterm 20%
A combination of SA and MC, very broad questions. I wrote a ton! no specific details tested.

Group Project 25%
In collaboration with 3 other students, researching the evidence behind a new nutritional health claim.

Exam 40%
Again a combination of MC, SA and LA. Very broad questions, cumulative, I filled one whole booklet! it was intense. Again, no specific details tested.

I kind of hated the course during the school year, was very disorganized! Now that I look back though, I learned a lot! Highly suggest it!

whsdd123 · 02-20-2014 at 03:25 PM

First off, different profs taking different sections and don't post notes before hand simply doesn't work. The prof talks way too fast for you too take down any effective notes, and every time she asked a question you can see all the blank faces on the students.

There're also 3 paper assignments that are the real thing, these are the stuff to spend energy on so that you get a better grade. The 2 day midterm? Don't look forward to it.

I'm a 3rd year biochem student right now and I have 11.7 GPA thus far, but I expect to see some drops after I'm done with this course.