Biology 420
Senior Seminar
Spring 2005
Fridays 9:00-10:50, Malouf 202
Instructor:
Bonnie K. Baxter, Ph. D.
Associate Professor of Biology
bbaxter@westminstercollege.edu
801/832-2345
Office Malouf 208
Office Hours: M 2-3, T 8:30-10:30, 12-2
Text:
Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences (3rd Ed.)
by V.E. McMillan.
Objectives:
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To develop a sense of significance of communication of data (writing,
presenting) in the fields of science.
To understand the value of both primary literature and review literature.
To develop a proficiency in writing and communication skills with regards to
sharing scientific information.
To develop an understanding of how to use the current databases, journals,
and internet to access scientific literature.
Course Requirements

Reading: These assignments are front-loaded in the first part of the
semester as later we will be applying what we read. Please prepare for class
by doing your reading assignments so that you can actively participate in
discussion. Students who do not participate in discussion may lose points
on their final grade.

Mock Research Paper: You will be given a set of data and the information
you need to make conclusions and write a mock mini-research paper (4-5
ds pages as a loose guideline).

Review Paper: You will find 3-5 primary literature articles that cover the same
topic. From these sources, you will pull together information for a short
review paper (4-5 ds pages as a loose guideline). Writing a short paper is a
challenge! Which information is important to include? How will it be
organized? The first paper will be graded by myself and also critiqued by a
classmate in class, which mimics the actual scientific peer-review process.
A rewrite of the paper will be turned in for a second grade. An evaluation of
your peer-review

Presentation: Using Powerpoint, you will give a 15 minute presentation of
your review paper. We will have assistance available to learn the software if
you need it.
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Seminar Reflections: We will host 3 seminar speakers and you will also be
required to attend one off-campus seminar (see my web page for a link to
all the schedules). Following guest seminars or the assigned off-campus
seminar, you will be asked to do a “ free-write.” A hand-written page or
two will be plenty. Please try to do this immediately following the seminar,
or if later, take good notes. Your reflection should include:
A) Three take home messages from the science presented, to demonstrate
your understanding
B) Your evaluation and impressions of the speaker, including technical
comments on style, technique, target audience, etc.
C) Any points that are confusing to you or that you lack the background to
understand.

Other Graded Assignments: Assignments due on your syllabus schedule that
are not covered above will fall into this category as any other graded
assignments. You will be docked for not bringing the required assignments
to class on time or for not reading as assigned.

Attendance and Participation: This is a small class to afford the type of
discussion format necessary for the subject matter. Since we have one
class meeting a week, it is imperative that you bring yourself to class, and
that you prepare by reading and doing the assignments. Your perspective is
valuable to the learning experience of us all.
If you incur more than one unexcused absence during the semester, you
cannot receive an A or A- in the course.

Final Assessment Exam: This Exam will be administered during the final
examination period. I know this is strange advice, but PLEASE DO NOT
STUDY. This exam is given to assess the quality and content of our Biology
Program at Westminster, not you as a student. Please take this seriously
and approach the exam with integrity. You will be given a full 5% of your
grade if you take the exam and show good efforts; the questions you miss
will not be reflected in your grade.
Grading
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25% = Mock Mini-Research Paper
25% = Review Paper
10% = Rewrite of Review Paper
20% = Presentation
10% = Seminar Reflections
5% = Other Graded Assignments
5% = Final Assessment Exam
General Policies
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Grades will not be curved.
Excused absences include funerals and illnesses that warrant seeing a
physician, but not rafting trips, buying motorcycles, hangovers, or work
schedules that conflict with class. Unexcused absentees may not make up
assignments that were completed in class.
Students with disabilities (for example: dyslexia, testing anxiety, chronic
illnesses, and physical limitations) can be accommodated in this class and
others. To maintain confidentiality and to insure proper accommodation, all
such requests must go through the START center.
Honesty and integrity is expected from all of us as members of the
Westminster community. Cheating, lying, or plagiarism will not be tolerated
and will result in an “ F” in the course.
Schedule:
Date
Topic
Assignment Due
Jan 7
Scientific method and how we
use it
Puzzle experiment
14
Communication of the original
data and its distortion in the
media
 Finding primary literature
 How does the media
disseminate primary
reports?
Reading Due
21
Reading scientific papers
Article dissection activity
Ch1
pp14-19
Documentation of sources
Ch 6
Data- handling, manipulating,
etc.
Your Article
Ch 2, Ch 3 Bring a figure
from a journal
article to explain
28
None
None
Ch1
pp 5-14
Bring a
newspaper article
that reports a
discovery or
publication
In class- locate
the article from
the report and
order a copy
Bring article to
class ready to
discuss
How do we communicate
data?
Feb 4
Guest Seminar I
Writing a research paper
Ch 4
Literature search and outline for
mock data
11
18
Grant Workshop-convert
research ideas into a grant
outline
Guest Seminar II
Writing a review paper
Ch 10
pp 175183
Ch 5, Ch 6
Seminar
Reflection I
Outline due in
class
Work on research
papers
Outline due in
class
Bring a review
article to class
Research Paper workshop and
individual consultations
Feb 25
Feb 28Mar 4
Mar 11
18
25
No class- Attend an offcampus seminar this week.
See class website for
scheduled seminars
Spring Break
Giving a scientific presentation
 Oral presentation
 Poster presentation
Convert research paper into a
poster
Review paper workshop
From research papers to review
In class peer critique of review
papers
Apr 1
Guest Seminar III
Presentation workshop
8
Presentations
15
Presentations
WC Undergraduate Research
Fair
22 10:00
Seminar
Reflection II
Research Papers
Final Exam
(Biology Dept Assessment
Exam)
Ch 10,
pp 170174
Come ready to
do a 5 minute
blackboard
presentation of
research paper
Resources
during
class
Bring your
primary lit.
articles to class
Review papers
Bring work in
progress
Rewrite for
Review papers
Seminar
Reflection III
Peer evaluations
of presentations
Seminar
Reflection IV
(from off campus
seminar- you
may have turned
this in earlier)