Joseph P. Ardizzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
 

SENIOR SEMINAR IN BIOLOGY 50.481.01/02
SYLLABUS AND RELATED INFORMATION

Below you will find the basic course syllabus with links to assignments and the seminar schedule as each is developed.

TEXT:

Pechenik, Jan A. 2007. A Short Guide to Writing about Biology, Sixth edition, Pearson Longman Publishers, New York.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

    This course addresses the practice of critical reading of the scientific literature in biology, preparing written and oral analyses of original research, and engaging in critical discussion.  This course requires one hour of lecture/discussion each week.  Prerequisites: Senior standing—90 semester hours of course work that includes a minimum of 26 semester hours of biology courses that apply to the biology major.

COURSE GOALS:

• To assess and reinforce the ability of senior-level students to utilize primary scientific sources.
• To practice oral presentation and communication skills.
• To increase the students’ facility in scientific writing.

METHODS:

The instructor will do the following tasks.

• Briefly review methods for searching and evaluating scientific literature.

• Explain the proper methods for preparing a written summary of a primary source and for preparing an oral presentation.

• Prepare and deliver a sample oral presentation of an appropriate scientific article including a background presentation and a research presentation.  Supply the class with study questions for the article chosen.

The student will be required to do each of the following tasks.

• Select an appropriate research article from a primary scientific source and prepare a written summary.  (Be certain to get the article approved by the instructor.)
• Select an appropriate research article from a primary scientific source and have the article approved by the instructor.  Prepare a short (10 min) background presentation on information required to understand the article.  Formulate questions to be used in evaluating the article.  (Four questions are sufficient.)  A copy of the questions must be supplied to each member of the class.  Other students must read the article and answer the supplied questions.  The answers must be turned in the following class period.  The article chosen must be available in Andruss Library, on-line, or copied for the class.
• Present on the week following the background material an oral presentation of the research article lasting approximately 30 minutes including discussion.
• When not responsible for a presentation, write two questions for discussion after critically reading the article.  Two copies of these questions must be prepared.  One copy of these questions will be given to the instructor at the beginning of the class in which the journal article will be discussed; the other copy is to be used by the student.
• Participate fully in the discussion of each paper.

EVALUATION PROCEDURES:

Participants will be evaluated in the following areas:

• A written summary of a scientific article from a primary source.

• The background information presentation, the background questions prepared, and the answer key.

• The oral presentation of the research article.

• Participation in discussion and the prepared discussion questions.

EVALUATION AND GRADING:

*The summary is due the class period following the research presentation.

Seminar Schedule (click here)

Attendance:  All students must be present for each seminar.  Absence will affect the grade for discussion.  Also, for each unexcused absence, 5 points will be taken from the final grade.  Due to the nature of the course, make-up seminars may not be possible or possible only outside regularly scheduled class times.  In order to be excused, the student must notify the instructor prior to the class period and must present a valid, verifiable excuse. (Please see PRP 3506—Class Attendance.)

Additional Notes:

1. If weather or other problems cause the university to close, the presentations will take place in the next available class period.  If no free class periods are available, a make-up period will be scheduled.

2. Proper behavior is expected in the classroom.  Failure to conform to university standards will result in a penalty applied against the final grade.  The point penalty will be determined by the instructor.  A warning will be given in the first instance; penalties will be applied for each succeeding instance.

3.  PRP 3512—Academic Integrity Policy will be followed as standard for this course.  All assignments are to be the result of individual effort unless an exception is explicitly granted by the instructor.  Collaboration in writing summaries and questions is considered cheating and appropriate penalties will be applied.  The use of texts and other sources in preparing presentations and assignments is acceptable provided the sources are cited appropriately.  Failure to cite sources is plagiarism and appropriate penalties will be applied.  If unsure about a possible violation, ask the instructor before submitting an assignment.

4. All discussion questions and answers to the background questions must be presented as typewritten documents prepared neatly using a 10 to 12 point script.  The author of the background questions must supply an answer key to the instructor.  The discussion questions and the answers to the background questions are to be provided on separate sheets of paper.

5. The summary must be prepared following the format presented in the text for the course.

6. If assistance is needed from Accommodative Services, the instructor must be notified by the end of the first week of classes.

This site was last updated 7 January 2008