biology
Lecture students, your Topic Report is worth 100 points. Find a biology topic that interests you from an article in a newspaper, magazine, internet site or other publication. The article must be no more than five years old. To receive full credit, your report must include the following: 1) Summarize the information in the article 2) Discuss the importance to biology 3) Discuss how the information is relevant to your life 4) Include the citation at the end of the report. The report must be a minimum of 2 full single-spaced pages with 12pt font or smaller and 1 inch margins or smaller.
ASSESSMENT WEIGHTS 1) Summarize the information in the article = 1/3 of the grade -This is the book report summary part of your report. In your own words, summarize the key points in the article(s) that you reviewed. You may use more than one article but it is not required. Be sure to read the entire article at least twice before deciding how to boil it down into a 2-3 paragraph summary. 2) Discuss the importance to biology = 1/3 of the grade -In your opinion, why was this article published? To conduct scientific research and then publish a paper takes a lot of time and money and so why did the researchers think that their topic of choice was important enough to warrant such an investment? Why did the magazine or journal editors think that the article was important enough to publish? This is your opinion and so there are no right or wrong answers, there is the depth and the quality of your own opinions and arguments. 3) Discuss how the information is relevant to your life = 1/3 of the grade -Why did you choose this topic? How is it relevant to your life? How could it be relevant to your life? In your opinion, why is this an interesting topic? Ask a series of “what if?” questions and then come up with your own answers. This is your opinion and so there are no right or wrong answers, there is the depth and the quality of your own opinions and arguments. Note that 2/3 of your report grade is based on your own original thinking. If you complete every part of the Topic Report as outlined, if you do each of the three sections and you following the prescribed formatting, then you will receive an A on this report. If you complete 80% of what is required then you will receive a B, and so on. This is your chance to find a topic that is of interest to you and then dive deep into it, and then share your interest and your newfound knowledge in the form of an original paper. If you are concerned about your average headed into the final exam then this report can help boost you up. It is worth 100 points and if you put the time and thought into it then you can get an A and lift your score up.
