Undergraduate Seminar BSC 4931

 Dr. Suzanne Koptur

Course Requirements

Internet Access

     Every FIU student is eligible for a Solix account - you can make your web page on Solix -
          go to signup page

     Computer labs available for your use are listed here
 
     You can use an independent internet service provider PROVIDED that YOU can create web sites (home pages).

    You can learn a lot by looking through the University Technology Support web page here

Course Performance

     Oral Communication

          You will present two 15 minute oral presentations (see Course Objectives); You may use either
    powerpoint presentations, web postings, or paper printout visualized with document camera in classroom.
          You will evaluate each classmate's presentation as acceptable or unacceptable.

     Written Communication

          You will write an abstract and outline of each oral presentation and post it on the web.  Abstracts must cite at least 5 articles from peer-reviewed scientific literature, and literature cited must be appended in proper format (see examples)
          You will evaluate each classmate's abstract/outline as acceptable or unacceptable

Course Attendance

     You will be required to attend the oral presentations by your classmates.
     You must be present at the beginning and end of the presentation to be considered in attendance.
 

Course Grade

     Your performance grade will be based on the proportion of acceptable evaluations for the oral and written
     communication components.
     Your attendance grade will be based on the proportion of presentations attended.
    We will also include your score on the standardized test.
     Your final course grade will be the PRODUCT, not average, of the performance and attendance grades, averaged with your score (doubled) on the standardized biology knowledge test.   The standard grading scale (90 & up -A; 80s - B; 70s - C) will be used to assign final grades.