BSC 4931  Senior Seminar

Spring - 2012         Section 08   8:00-9:15 AM    OE 222
Instructor: John Makemson - Office (OE246/247) Hours: MTWThF afternoons by appointment.  For questions, comments, etc. PLEASE send e-mail to makemson or or phone for an appointment: 305-348-1907
 
Objectives:  to develop investigative skills through literatrue search culminating in presentation of a short research oriented oral presentation and writing a paper.  Through these exercises, students will be able to do literature searches, give oral presentations and have enhance writing skills.

Four Major Requirements (see Grading below):    1. Oral Presentation  (10 minutes + 3-5 minutes for questions)
                                                                               2.  Written Paper  (6 pages not counting Abstract and Literature Cited)
                                                                               3.  ETS-Major Field Exam  (Computer based Exam, see below)
                                                                               4.  Attendance
 

                    Tentative Schedule:

                    Jan 13     Introduction; Selection of subtopics.   Major Topic:  Biological Recycling Starting in the Cell

                    Jan 20   Literature Search Methods 

                    Jan 27   Scientific Writing, ; How to Write a Paper and see rubric below

                    Feb 3   List of 5 references (with abstracts) due

                    Feb 10    General outline of papers and your abstract due.

                    Feb 17   How to give a talk, see rubric below,  scheduling talks

                    Feb 24   PowerPoint pointers

                          Mar 2    Detailed outline of papers due; 5 additional references (with abstracts) due              

                    Mar   9    Presentations - Group 1         <>                   
                   
                    Mar 12-17 Spring Break

                    Mar  23  Presentations - Group  2

                    Mar  30  Presentations - Group 3

                          Apr   6   Papers due 

                    Apr 27   Exit exam - ETS Major Field Test in Biology:   7:30AM-9:30AM 
                                                                    in  PC 322     Come Early!

                                                

                 Exit Test Description

                 ETS scores - ranks and percentiles

                      Sample Questions

                Grading:  There will be 100 points total, as follows:

                            General outline:     5%

                            Detailed outline:    10%

                            Abstract:                5%

                            Talk:                      30%                Oral presentation grading rubric

                            Paper:                    30%                Paper grading rubric

                            Attendance:           10%

                            ETS exam:             10%

 

               Grading Scale: 90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; <60% = F          

            Grading standards: 

            All papers must be provided as a Microsoft Word document.  They will be checked for plagiarism using         'Turn-it-In'.  Any paper that includes any amount of plagiarized material will be given an F, and the grade for the entire course will be an F.  No exceptions!

                   Plagiarize:   "To take and pass off as one's own (the ideas, writings, etc. of another)."   from Webster's Dictionary

 

            "Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and
            imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous
            and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should
            respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and
            honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all
            students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which
            demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the
            educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the
            University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic
            misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and
            sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook."

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