Instructor:
Office:
Telephone:
Dr. April DeLaurier
SBDG 106
641-3503
Office Hours:
Email:
Thursday, 4:30-5:45pm in SBDG 327
Friday 1:00-2:15pm in SBDG 327
None Credit:
Monday 1-3pm, or by appointment aprild@usca.edu
Lecture:
Seminar:
Text: One Semester Hour
Co-requisites: Students must be concurrently enrolled in BIOL499.
Textbook: Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, Victoria E. McMillan, 5 th
edition.
Course Description: Discussion and presentation of current topics in biology and geology by students, faculty, and visiting scientists. Emphasis is placed on effective oral and written communication and critical examination of scientific information and ideas. Students will critique peer writing and oral presentations, practice giving scientific presentations, and present a final formal presentation.
Course Objectives: Students will be introduced to current research in the fields of biology and geology through research seminars by attending the Department of Biology and Geology Seminar Series. Students will learn how to prepare a research proposal, give a formal research presentation, and critique the work of their peers in a constructive manner based on scientific principles. Students will write a proposal outlining a potential investigation. Students will present the results of an investigation at the end of the semester in the form of a PowerPoint presentation.
Students will be expected to:
1. Develop strategies for oral and written presentation of scientific work;
2.
3.
4.
Critically analyze written and oral scientific presentations;
Attend and participate in the Department of Biology and Geology seminar series; and
Prepare and present an oral presentation of research.
Methods of Evaluation: Performance in this course will be evaluated for a letter grade as outlined below.
Practice presentations
Peer-review of practice presentations
Seminar participation (critiques/questions)
Peer review of One Figure Reports
One Figure Report
Final oral presentation
Biology senior exit exam
10%
10%
10%
15%
25%
25%
5%
Grading Scale: A (90-100%), B+ (85-89%), B (80-84%), C+ (75-79%), C (70-74%), D+ (65-69%), D (60-64%), F (0-59%)
Grading: The peer review will require hand written answers. Answers will only be accepted if they are clearly legible.
Late assignments will receive an automatic reduction in score (10% per day). Assignments can be turned in early if needed. Graded materials will be returned in a reasonable time period.
Attendance Policy: The objectives of the course are best served by the observation of presentations by professionals and peers, and by the presentation of research. Thus, attendance is the most critical component of this course. For every
Friday seminar that a student misses, 5% will be deducted from the overall grade, and 5% will be deducted for missing a class. Attendance in this class is not a passive process. The speakers we recruit travel a long distance for no compensation, and deserve your respect and attention. Each student must ask one “good” (by the instructor’s standard) question of one of our speakers during the course of the semester. Attendance points will be deducted for behavior that is construed by the instructor as impolite or inattentive (including the use of cell phones for text messaging, or having a cell phone ring during the presentation). Students also will be expected to complete a critique of the style and content of the seminar presentation, which will be discussed during the next class period.
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Disability Statement: If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability which might affect your performance in this class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 126A B&E, (803) 641-3609, as soon as possible. The Disability Services Office will determine appropriate accommodations based on medical documentation.
Classroom Behavior: It is the instructor’s right to remove from the classroom any student who disrupts or disturbs the proceeding of the class. Disruption of the class includes but is not limited to the use of any portable electronic devices, including cell phones, MP3 players, iPods, etc. unless prior approval has been given to a student or unless required for the course. In extreme cases, the faculty member can request assistance from University Police. If the student who has been ejected causes similar disturbances in subsequent meetings of the class, he/she may be denied admittance to the class for the remainder of the semester and assigned a grade of F.
Writing Center: USCA provides a writing center located on room 201 of the H&SS building. If you need extra assistance on any writing assignment for this or any other class that you are taking, please try the writing center.
Honor Code: Students are expected to abide by the Academic Code of Conduct as described in the Student Handbook.
Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if academic integrity is violated. The following honor pledge is to be written, signed, and dated by the student on all exams and assignments turned into the instructor.
“On my honor as a University of South Carolina at Aiken student, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment/ examination. To the best of my knowledge, I am not in violation of academic honesty.”
CLASS SCHEDULE
Date Topic
Jan 15 & 16 Introduction
Discuss expectations for seminar etiquette, questions, and critiques
Jan 22 & 23
Brief discussion of the final products (Presentation, One Figure
Report)
Safety Training for BIOL499
Pg 191-194, Audience, Organization, Technique
Students provide research project titles and topics
Jan 29 & 30
Feb 5 & 6
Feb 12 & 13
Feb 19 & 20
Feb 26 & 27
Chapter 1, 3, 4, - Primary Literature Sources, Figures,
Components of a Research Report
Pg 194-201 PowerPoint Presentation
Students provide one primary literature article for their topic.
First practice using Powerpoint: Titles and Objectives
First practice using Powerpoint: Titles and Objectives
Second practice: Titles, Objectives, Methods
Mar 5 & 6
Mar 12 & 13
Mar 19 & 20
Mar 26 & 27
Apr 2 & 3
Apr 9 & 10
Apr 16 & 17
Apr 23 & 24
Apr 30, 8pm
Second practice: Titles, Objectives, Methods
One Figure Research Reports due by 6 PM via Turnitin
No class – Spring Break
Peer reviews of research reports
Senior exit exam
Final practice - complete presentation
Peer Reviews are due at the beginning of class
Final practice - complete presentation
Final practice - complete presentation
Final practice - complete presentation
One Figure Research Report Due
Seminar
Regular Friday seminar -
Faculty Candidate
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar -
Faculty Candidate
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
No seminar - Spring Break
Regular Friday seminar
Regular Friday seminar
BIOL499 Student Seminars
BIOL499 Student Seminars
BIOL499 Student Seminars
BIOL499 Student Seminars
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