Senior Senior BSC 4931          Fall 2009

Professor Laurie Richardson      Office: OE 167

Office hours by appointment

Class:  Tuesdays, 11:00 - 12:15, HLS 125

Schedule:

Aug 25       Introduction; division into mini-symposia; selection of topics

Sept 1        How to research your topic - GL 280 (Library)

Sept 8        List of 5 references (with abstracts) due; how to write a paper

Sept 15      General outline of papers due; your abstract due (email to richardl@fiu.edu)

Sept 22      How to give a talk;  scheduling talks

Sept 29      Powerpoint pointers

Oct 6         Dr. Richardson at a conference - no class

Oct 13       Detailed outline of papers due; 5 additional references (with abstracts) due

                Guidelines for authors

Oct 20       Presentations - Group 1        

Oct 27       Presentations - Group 2

Nov  3       Presentations - Group 3 

Nov 10      Presentations - Group 4

Nov 17      Presentations - Group 5

Nov 24      Presentations - Group 6

Dec 1        Papers due (email papers to richardl@fiu.edu)

December 8 Exit exam - ETS Major Field Test in Biology 

                         12:00 - 2:00,  HLS 360 Biology Computer Lab (HLS2)

                 Exit Test Description

                 ETS scores - ranks and percentiles

                      Sample Questions

Grading:  There will be 100 points total, as follows:

            General outline:     10%

            Detailed outline:    10%

            Abstract:             10%

            Talk:                   30%                Oral presentation grading rubric

            Paper:                  30%                Paper grading rubric

            Attendance:            5%

            ETS exam:              5%

Grading Scale: 90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C;       

                   60-69% = D; <60% = F          

Grading standards: 

All papers must be provided as a Microsoft Word document.  They will be checked for plagiarism using 'Turn-it-In'.  Any paper that includes any amount of plagiarized material will be given an F, and the grade for the entire course will be an F.  No exceptions!

Plagiarism:  "The act of plagiarizing."

Plagiarize:   "To take and pass off as one's own (the ideas, writings, etc. of another)."   from Webster's Dictionary

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imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous
and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should
respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and
honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all
students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which
demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the
educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the
University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic
misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and
sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook."