Senior Senior BSC 4931          Fall 2010

Professor Laurie Richardson      Office: OE 167

Office hours by appointment

Class:  Tuesdays, 11:00 - 12:15    Golden Panther Arena room 121

 

Schedule:

Aug 24       Introduction; selection of general topics; division into mini-symposia

Aug 31       How to research your topic - GL 245 (Library)

Sep  7        Group discussion of mini-symposia themes and talks

Sep  14      List of 5 references (with abstracts of the references) due

                   How to write a paper - Guidelines for authors

Sep  21       General outline of papers due; your abstract due

Sep  28       How to give a talk;  scheduling talks

Oct   5         Powerpoint pointers

Oct   12       Detailed outline of papers due; 5 additional references (with abstracts) due

Oct   19       Presentations - Group 1      

Oct   26       Presentations - Group 2

Nov  2         Presentations - Group 3  

Nov  9         Presentations - Group 4 

Nov  16       Presentations - Group 5

Nov  23       Presentations - Group 6

Nov  30       No class - Papers due (email papers to richardl@fiu.edu)

Dec 7          Exit exam - ETS Major Field Test in Biology 

                   Time tbd     Location:  HLS 360 Biology Computer Lab (HLS2)

                   Exit Test Description

                   ETS scores - ranks and percentiles

                   Sample Questions

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

            General outline:         5%

            Detailed outline:         5%

            Abstract:                     5%

            Talk:                          30%                Oral presentation grading rubric

            Paper:                       40%                Paper grading rubric

            Attendance:              10%

            ETS exam:                 5%

 

Grading Scale: 90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C;       

                   60-69% = D; <60% = F          

Grading standards: 

Your talk, paper, and the exit exam are required. If you fail to do any of these you will get an IN.

All papers must be provided as a Microsoft Word document or a pdf.  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!  Late

Plagiarism:  "The act of plagiarizing."

Plagiarize:   "To take and pass off as one's own (the ideas, writings, etc. of another)."  from Webster's Dictionary.  This means do not copy material from your research sources. 

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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."